Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Crowbar ❯ 2. Here it goes. ( Chapter 2 )

Tinkle Time Kelly- >] You are the only reason I actually remembered this story existed… and updated it. Thanks a lot for the review x]. I probably would have never gotten any further with this one if it weren't for you xD. So yeahs… sankuu.

 

For a guy who didn't have any friends Chaz sure paled around with a lot of people. First a group of four girls, then two guys at a gas station. Hell, Ally was the only person I'd seen that day that Chaz didn't know. It was starting to bug me that I didn't know him, I was supposed to be one of the top most popular, I knew everyone that was anyone.

 

“Please, Chaz, don't sit on the counter, I just wiped it down before I went to my appointment,” Ralph asked respectfully but obviously annoyed. Chaz got off the counter, but he jumped down behind it instead of in front, like a customer, as he was. Ralph didn't seemed to mind all that much, at least not enough to say anything, he was busy with the computer. Chaz put a hand on his shoulder, perhaps to make it seem like he wasn't getting into trouble, and reached for a pack of gum from the shelf behind.

 

“You gotta pay for that, you know,” Ralph informed, never turning his head and looking, he just knew Chaz was trying to take something. Allison was saying things to me, but I wasn't listening, I was just watching the somewhat amusing scene before me, and thinking. Thinking over the millions of negative things that randomly popped into my head now and then, sympathizing myself in my mind.

 

“Nah, don't trouble yourself,” Chaz leaned on him and opened the pack of gum. “It's on the house,” He popped a piece into his mouth, set one by Ralph and then tossed the pack to me.

 

“All right fine, but only because I like you, don't got around telling you're buddies I give out free gum,” Ralph hit the enter key on his computer and started setting up some small packages on the front counter that had fallen over. “Could you go on the other side of the counter man, come on, I'm trying to run this place,” Ralph requested. Chaz was still leaning on him carelessly, his arms crossed, reading the labels of the things on the shelves beside him.

 

“Chaz.” He repeated, nudging the blond with his shoulder.

 

“Come on, you like it. Everyone knows you're in love with me,” Chaz stood up straight again, leaning over the counter as an old man walked in.

 

“Yeah, well, not when I'm trying to work, now get your butt on the other side of the counter,” Ralph insisted. Chaz finally listened to him and hopped right over the door, falling next to Allison on the bench the too of us were sitting on.

 

“So children, what do we want to do,” He said in boredom, his words mostly directed at me. I shrugged, I should've been getting back home right then, but home didn't sound like the nicest place, knowing Uncle Blake would be waiting there with a baseball bat, and my head would be the ball.

 

“Actually, I'd better be heading home, I'm late as it is. It was nice meeting you Chaz,” Allison stood up, picking up her purse and waving. “I'll see you whenever Jayce, bye,” She said, looking back as she headed for the door.

 

“Bye,” I replied as Chaz waved, smiling as usual, and Ally smiled back. I began to get discouraged; looking at the two of them I noticed how good her black hair would look with his blond, her white skin with his tanned. Ally and I looked alike, almost like brother and sister, we wouldn't have made a good couple, and they would have. Maybe nothing was ever meant to work out for me, or maybe it would all pay off someday, but then all I felt was hate, and regret.

 

“She your girlfriend?”

 

I nearly jumped out of my pants when I heard him say that, it was probably one of the last things I wanted to hear at that time, especially from him. But instead of shooting up from my seat, I chose to freeze up and take a few seconds to make sure my answer would come out as a rude yell.

 

“No, no, she's just my best friend. I mean I… like her, but she doesn't like me… well, she doesn't know I do…” I stopped there to avoid embarrassing myself anymore than I already had.

 

“You're telling me you've known that girl for more than a day and you haven't asked her out yet? Hell, she's one of the few girls I've ever met who didn't right off invite me into her bedroom,” Chaz popped another piece of gum into his mouth. “Would you mind if I asked her, I mean, I don't want to steal her from you, but, if you're not going to take a shot at it…” His voice trailed off, he must have noticed the unsure expression I was wearing.

 

“Sure, I don't mind,” I lied silently. It took a lot for me to tell him it didn't bother me, even though I'd done things like it so often. It shouldn't have bothered me, I would've been a loser to say it did, if I was a cool guy, and I wanted her, I'd ask her out, and I was a cool guy so they all said.

 

“You sure?” Chaz asked. He leaned over and looked at my eyes, even though I'd been trying to avoid his. It was the first time in the short time I'd known him that he'd demonstrated caring.

 

“No, of course not,” I said, ready to burst into tears. Everything that happened that day was horrible, it was the worst day of my life, but it's the most important day in my history.

 

 

Chaz and I chatted a little while after that, just about life. He made a few jokes, told some laughable stories, and I was pretty much cheered up to the point of average by the time I started heading home. He'd bought me a hot dog from the stand across the street; he seemed to have a lot of money to spare. I didn't have a job or anything; I barely ever got such good tasting food from Uncle Blake.

 

Despite the fact that he liked to make fun of any flaw I had, was about to take my heartthrob, and had seen more of me than any girlfriend I'd ever had, I looked forward to seeing him again. He made me laugh, one of the few people that could. Even when the joke was on me, he made it so apparent that he was just kidding around that I couldn't help but laugh. He was pretty crazy too, due to a dare I put on him, one that he'd come up with. He jumped up from the seat, practically flew over the counter and tackled Ralph to the ground. After Ralph was aware of what had happened, yet still extremely freaked out, Chaz picked up the dollar bill that Ralph had just put into the register.

 

“I just saved you from one hell of a paper cut my man,” He said. That was when Ralph kicked us out, I was pretty sure we saved him from a cut, but bruised his spine. Apparently Ralph wasn't Chaz's friend either, `acquaintance' was the word he used. Thinking back to all that happened I did something I hadn't done without someone else there to see for quite some time, I smiled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming home wasn't exactly the time of my life, as I imagined, Uncle Blake was pissed. I'd been gone an hour longer than I expected, longer than I'd ever run away before. He was probably worried about the trouble with the cops if it turned out I really had run away.

 

“Jeremy, is that you!” As soon as I let the door fall shut I heard his loud stupid annoying voice, using my birth name again. I preferred people call me Jayce, I didn't even introduce myself as Jeremy anymore, and I hated when he called me that.

 

“You stupid little ass wipe, I've been worried sick that someone kidnapped you or something. What are you an idiot, running off like that for so long, when there's stuff to do around here!” He hollered, kicking the garbage can after he finished speaking. “Damn it, just go do your chores, I got used to being relieved of looking at you, I'm going upstairs. If they're not done when I come down, I swear the whole street's gonna hear you scream boy,” He concluded before stomping up the stairs and slamming his room door. I supposed I should've gotten to work, after all, if the whole Crowbar heard me scream, they wouldn't have done a damn thing about it.

 

I was headed to the living room to see if all my pictures were still scattered all over the floor, but I found my portfolio on the kitchen counter. Amazingly, and almost incredibly, they were all taped back together, under a note that read:

 

Next time you run off like that you'll find these in the fire pit. I was stunned, yet relieved; perhaps Uncle Blake had fallen into one of his rare sorrowful moods while I was gone. Enough for him to tape all of them back together when he could've been getting drunk. Maybe he was more the parental figure than I'd given him credit for, at least now and then. Things were looking up so far, and I was actually not too grudging as I headed out to mow the front lawn. The yard was covered in plastic bags and beer cans that I had to pick up, all of it almost filled an entire garbage bag. It wasn't just Uncle Blake's trash, I'm happy to admit, most of it came from our stupid neighbors who looked at our front yard and saw a giant trash can. By the time I'd gotten the mower out, I simply glanced down the road and saw the most beautiful face in the world, oddly, I wasn't happy to see her.

 

“Jayce!” Allison called to me as she waved happily. I forced a smile and waved back, she was happy about something, and I was afraid to find out what it was. She jogged up to me and I leaned against the lawn mower coolly. “You'll never guess what just happened,” She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me. “I am dating the cutest guy,” She said after she'd backed away, gripping my shoulders anxiously. I was heartbroken, but I'd seen it coming, so I forced myself to widen the smile, I knew what had gone on in the past hour that I'd been picking up trash.

 

“Chaz?” I guessed as enthusiastically as I could be. She screeched out the word `yes' and hopped up and down in excitement. “Great! That's awesome, I'm happy for you. He's a good guy,” I said. But I frowned, and turned away so she wouldn't see.

 

“Are you okay? Did Blake do something?” She asked. She looked so concerned, as she always was when I was unhappy, I gave into her beautiful blue eyes, I couldn't help it.

 

“No, it's just I…” I stopped myself. I was stronger than that, I couldn't tell her, now was the worst time, I'd look like a total pussy, like I couldn't take a litter heartache. “I'm tired, I woke up too early today,” I finished.

 

“Oh well, you get some rest then. But Chaz and I were wondering if you wanted to come to a movie with us tonight? It's on him, he said he didn't want to leave you out because it was your fault he ended up meeting me. And well, you're my best friend so…” She stopped. It was so cute, the way she rambled on and suddenly realized it, and then she'd blush and turn away in embarrassment, biting her lip. I don't know if I would have been able to bare seeing her with another guy, but somehow, without even much thought, I blurted out a `yes.'

 

“All right, I'll see you there, 7:00, Ralph's gas station,” She smiled and waved, and then headed back up the street. Once again, I wanted to cry, but instead I yanked the switch wire on the lawn mower, and finished the lawn and my other jobs. When I knew everything was done, it was almost 6:45; I'd have to start walking right away to make it by seven. But first, I went inside and changed my pants.

 

Both Chaz and Allison were having a friendly conversation with Ralph when I walked in, so it seemed, and I caught all three of their attention.

 

“Hey, you're late, no popcorn for you,” Chaz joked. “All right, we gotta run now that the doe doe showed. See-ya Ralphy,” He said, heading toward the door. Ally waved to Ralph and he waved back, and just for the mood of things, I waved to him too as I followed Chaz outside.

 

“Isn't he perfect?” Allison whispered to me with a squeak of happiness in her tone.

 

“Don't gossip, children,” Chaz turned his head and warned. “Even though what she said is oh-so-true,” He smirked, opening the passenger side door to a nice, black car for Allison.

 

“You have a car!” She gasped, apparently she'd been unaware, but it didn't impress me, after all, he was Mr. Perfect.

 

“Nah, it's Bob's, Ralph's buddy, but I definitely know how to use her, buckle up,” Chaz said and shut the door after she'd sat inside. I opened the back door, having no other choice as Chaz went around to the driver's seat. It was a long, boring ride, I expected Chaz to bring up some crazy story about when his nuts caught on fire, but all he did was continuously tell Ally how pretty she was. It was annoying, and really quite sappy, but Ally just giggled every time. I don't know why he had to say it, especially in front of me, a girl like that has to know she's pretty.

 

“Hey Chaz? Can you turn on the radio or something, I'm dying of boredom back here,” I said half way through the moderately long ride.

 

“Oh yeah, Picasso, you've been so quiet back there I forgot about you,” He smiled through the rear view mirror and turned the dial. Conveniently Ally's favorite song had just begun, one that I liked too, and by the way Chaz sang along it was apparent that he liked it as well.

 

After arriving, and after we'd got out of the car, Chaz and Ally walked up front, while I was shunned to the back. I watched in terror as he put his arm around her waist, and then when she leaned against him. I hated seeing them together, but hell, I'd never complained, so they really weren't doing anything against me to their knowledge. Still, I felt an urge to walk up in between them and keep them from getting to close to each other.

 

The movie went well for the most part, Chaz and Allison sat next to each other, but they didn't hold hands or cuddle, so I was eventually able to take my eyes off them and put them on the screen.

 

The three of us decided to hang out around town for a while; just to take a walk since none of us had any money for shopping. Things weren't so bad then either, Chaz was giving us both about the same amount of attention, as if all three of us were just friends.

 

“Fags,” I mumbled under my breath as two men walked by holding hands and smiling at each other as they conversed. Chaz watching them go by with a chuckle.

 

“How cute,” He said, “Why don't we hold hands sweetheart,” He joked. At first I thought he was serious and the words were directed at Allison, but when I heard her giggle, I realized he was talking to me.

 

“No, and don't ever call me sweetheart again, or Jaycee for that matter,” I said.

 

“Aright fine,” He shrugged. He slowed his pace for a moment and whispered something in Allison's ear. I couldn't hear it, but whatever he said it caused Allison to bite her lip nervously, nod, and shrug. I realize that I was the topic of conversation until she glanced at me and then back at him, which made it obvious.

 

“Oh,” Chaz said shortly and then simply continued walking, scratching the back of his head. He seemed uncomfortable all of the sudden, and he was silent, but what bothered me the most was that he wasn't smiling anymore.

 

I ended up in the back of them, they were talking to each other, about little things that didn't concern me, nor did I care about it. It was dark by the time we arrived back in the theatre parking lot where the car was. I was glad to be close to getting home too, I was a little nervous now, Chaz wasn't talking to me, wasn't even making fun of me, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd done something wrong.

 

“Well, Picasso, you want shot gun this time?” He smiled at me. I raised an eyebrow and stepped back a bit, it was a pleasant surprise of course, though I hadn't expected him to speak to me.

 

“Well, all right, if Ally doesn't mind,” I shrugged. Ally smiled at me and shrugged.

 

“No, I don't mind,” She strolled around the car and reached for the passenger side door. But before she got hold of it Chaz reached out and pulled the handle, opening it for her. She rolled her eyes and practically fell into the car, shutting the door herself to her liking it seemed.

 

“Not a fan of being treated like a girlfriend should be, is she?” Chaz turned to me.

 

“She doesn't believe in that stuff,” I shrugged, heading for the passenger side door. Ally really was strong in her personal beliefs, too, for instance she couldn't stand when one gender was more or less benefited than the other. Not to mention she was strongly against my personal religion, but somehow we got along just fine. I reached for the door and to my surprise a tan hand shot out and opened the door for me. I looked at Chaz with question and he just winked at me. I glared at him and took a step to enter the car, before a hand shot out and grasped my shoulder.

 

“Jayce,” The voice was a purr, almost in a seductive way. I looked back for a moment and suddenly felt a pair of lips crush against my own. My eyes widened and I stumbled backward into the passenger seat of the car, unable to say anything even after the kiss was broken. A man. A goddamned man had just kissed me, not just any man but my heartthrob's boyfriend. I was going to kill him.

 

“For the record I'm still straight,” He smirked and shut the door. I paused for a moment, watching him go around the side of the car. Feeling a sudden burst of rage I shoved the door open and ran around the car with heavy steps, almost stomping at him. He must've known my intentions, because he immediately rushed around the front of the car to avoid getting his pretty boy ass kicked.

 

“Hold on, now,” He was walking backwards as quickly as he could as I came at him, holding a hand out in front of him, trying to signal me to stop. My brain was set to kill, and not much would've stopped me, but of course, the one thing that would've…

 

“Jayce! Don't! It was just a joke,” Ally yelled at me, hanging her head out of the car window. I groaned and turned fully around toward her. I didn't know what to do; it was even upsetting me that it hadn't bothered her at all, that her boyfriend kissed someone else. It made me wonder if they'd been planning it, if she was sort of aware before it happened, but I liked to think not.

 

“What kind of joke was that?” I scowled. “Do you realize that this is the first time…” I paused. “…The first time I've ever kissed anyone and it's a fucking man!” I trudged away from both of them. “Nice joke asshole, I'm walking home,” My hands turned to fists as I stomped at from both of them, I wasn't sure about which direction home was, but I'd find it, eventually.

 

“Come on Jayce, you don't even know the way, get in the car!” Chaz called to me. I scoffed to myself and quickened my pace, hoping eventually I'd get too far away to hear either of them. “Okay, I'm sorry aright, there's rapists out there though, all sorts of genders and preferences, so get your ass back over here!” He yelled. I finally stopped, I didn't really believe what he said, but I'd known from the beginning that I'd end up riding home in that car anyway. It was only a matter of time before I decided to stop and turn around again, and I didn't get very far.

 

“Whatever,” I wanted to hit him as I slid into the car, but I kept my fist clenched by my side, and the door was shut before I got a chance to change my mind.

 

“I heard you were a homophobe,” Chaz shrugged as he started the car. “I really couldn't help myself,” He chuckled. I sneered at him, I hated when people called me that. Using his definition it was what I was really, but still, it felt to me like such a hateful insult whenever anyone said it.

 

“Yeah, and what are you?” I looked at him. Before that night I never actually recalled him saying he was straight, all I knew is he seemed to really like women. Then again I didn't know any straight guys that would willingly kiss a man as a joke, a dare maybe.

 

“Whatever I wanna be,” He shrugged. I just stared at him for a moment, I thought of a million comebacks for that one, but I couldn't let them out. That was my first argument I'd ever had with him, and the first time I ever couldn't help but admit I was wrong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chaz dropped Ally off first at her house, we said our good-byes, they hugged, and then Chaz was back in the car headed for my house. I didn't say much, I wasn't mad at him anymore really; I just had so many thoughts going through my head I didn't even think to talk.

 

“Hey, Jayce?” The car slowed to a stop. I looked around, we were on The Crowbar but we weren't near my house, then again I hadn't yet told him where my house was.

 

“It's up a ways, I'll point it out when we get there,” I said shortly and then turned back to stare out the window again.

 

“I figured,” The car still wasn't moving. “I just wanted to ask you something… my uh… my parents are always making attempts to kill each other. I mean… it's not the most fun thing to hang around, and I take any chance I can get to stay over someone else's house, so I was just wondering…” He was playing with the sleeve of his shirt as he spoke, staring down at it. Doing nothing in particular, just tugging on the edges and keeping his eyes and hands occupied.

 

“Why didn't you ask Ally?” I really didn't want any guests, Uncle Blake would probably just throw us both out in the morning, but I didn't want to deal with anyone. I just wanted to lie down and go to sleep that night, no annoyances.

 

“Well, she's a girl and I'm a guy… so spending the night at her place would be a little awkward, don't you think?” He shrugged, looking at me in askance with a kind-of hopeful expression.

 

“You try to explain that to me after you kiss me?” I asked, not really expecting an answer. “Okay, sure, tonight, just don't bother me, I'm tired,” I nodded. Chaz started up the car again without a word, just a thankful smile. I sighed, asking myself over and over again in my head why I'd said yes.

 

 

 

A/N- Chaz is such a little devil :]. I loves him, you's know? Yes, I have finally updated this one x]. If it hadn't been for a certain review I don't think I ever would have :D. Well… as far as I know the good stuff may be pretty far away as the plot outline is thought out already and it doesn't seem like they'll be room for anything tasty anytime soon xP.