V-Day story
Feb. 13th, 2005 11:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrA bit early, but I figure what with work and V-day tomorrow, everyone is going to be a trifle busy. It isn't much, but my betas assure me it's not a lost cause. Entire thing was inspired by one line in this song. Hope you enjoy!
"Silver with gold fletching. If found, please contact Cupid at 1-800-363-5683." Billy let out a snort of laughter as he finished reading the ad his sister had pointed out. "What the heck kind of joke is this?" He found his place and kept reading, "Warning: Arrow is DANGEROUS. Do not touch. Please contact Cupid immediately if found." Laughing even harder, Billy threw the paper down on the kitchen table and picked up his orange juice. "That's funny."
"Isn't it?" his sister asked, munching on buttered toast. "I want to call the number, just to see what happens."
"That's stupid," Billy scoffed.
Claire rolled her eyes, "Whatever. You were going to call it on your cell phone the minute I left."
"Was not," Billy muttered, fidgeting in his seat. "So why are you up this early on a Saturday? Hot date?"
"As if." Claire made a face, "Felicia and I are going to check out the new mall downtown. Why do you think I worked so much overtime this month?" She carried her plate and coffee mug to the dishwasher, and shut the coffee machine off on her way back to the table.
"I had been wondering." Billy stood to poke through the cabinets, "Seen my cornflakes?"
"You finished them all yesterday, dork."
"Dang."
He looked pleadingly at Claire, who rolled her eyes and answered before he could ask. "Yes, I'll get you some from the store on my way home. Sheesh."
"Thanks, Sis."
"Yeah, yeah." She looked at him, pausing as she dug through a pink purse to make sure she had everything she needed. "Why are you up so early? Got a hot date?"
"As if." Billy shrugged, "No reason really."
His sister looked surprised, "Not hanging out with Corey?"
"Nah - he's with his girlfriend."
Claire glowered at the absent Corey, "If he keeps that up, I'm going to call his mother and--"
"It doesn't matter - I'm sure he'll remember I exist eventually." He shrugged again, and attempted to smile at his sister. "It's okay. Really."
Sighing, Claire crossed the kitchen and kissed the top of her brother's head. "Whatever you want, Billikins." She ruffled his strawberry blonde hair, "Do you want to come shopping with me?"
"Good god, no. You'd probably make me try on clothes and go in some hideous girl's store with lacey things and silky things and other things that I really don't need to know you wear."
Claire clutched his shoulder as she bent over laughing, "Okay, okay. Well - want to meet up for an early dinner? I promise I won't show you the lingerie I buy."
"…Are you sure?"
His sister smiled and ruffled his hair again, "It's fine. All that overtime I've been working, I think I deserve to eat out with my brother for one night." Claire hefted her bag, smoothed her curly blonde hair and grabbed her keys from the countertop beside the back door. "Meet me at…The Shellhouse around four-five-ish?"
"Sounds cool to me," Billy grinned.
"Later then," Claire waved and was gone.
Billy sighed softly and plopped back down at the small kitchen table. The house was quiet, except for the sounds of the heat kicking on and from the dining room, their cat - Nickel - was attacking a Horrible Dustbunny of Doom.
He picked up his cell phone and almost idly flipped it open, scrolling unhappily through the many text messages he'd exchanged with his best friend throughout the week.
Helping A study.
Game with A.
Going to dinner with A.
Choir practice with A.
Movie with A.
Shopping with A.
A. A. A.
Billy was sick of A - Anita Koffman, the most worshipped and obeyed girlfriend in all of Black Ridge village.
Of course, that level of worshipping required that Corey give up communication with everyone else he knew. Or at least, giving up his best friend. The few times Billy had seen him, he'd seemed to have plenty of time for A's friends.
Sighing, Billy threw his glass and plate in the dishwasher, flipped off the light and padded up the carpeted stairs to his bedroom. His shirt and sweatpants landed on the floor near the bed. He dug through his dresser and closet, grabbing the first things he saw - a pair of jeans just a shade too big for him and a dark red, long sleeved crew neck shirt his sister had gotten him for Christmas last year. He spent several minutes debating which watch to wear, finally settling on a black and gold analog. Sneakers, wallet, keys and he was ready to go, locking the back door behind him. Halfway down the drive, he realized he'd forgotten to brush his hair and reached to smooth it as best he could with his fingers.
He was just in time to catch the bus at the corner stop, flashing his pass and grabbing a seat somewhere in the middle. Luckily it was still early, and most of the freaky people he saw on the bus - but thankfully never anywhere else - were absent.
Claire had said she was going to the new mall, so Billy rode the bus until he reached the older shopping district in downtown. It was crowded, but not crushing like it would be later when the afternoon shoppers appeared.
He wandered aimlessly for a bit, lingering at a watch kiosk but finally resisting the urge to buy one - even though he really liked the purple, green and orange digital one. But if he bought the watch, he wouldn't have enough money to buy his sister's birthday gift.
Which reminded him - he should probably be looking in the electronics store, at their prices on mp3 players. Claire had been wanting one, and her birthday was in a couple of months, and he'd been babysitting the rats across the street long enough he could almost afford to buy it.
He hummed quietly to himself as he wandered out of the mall and back onto the street - the store he wanted was a couple of blocks down. His steps slowed as he passed by the bookstore, eyeing a science fiction book he'd been wanting for awhile - maybe he could get it if he had enough money left over after the mp3 player.
"Oof!" Billy went stumbling back as a couple of older elementary school kids barreled into him. "Hey. Watch where you're going! That hurt!" He snatched away whatever it was that had jabbed him, glaring at the kids. "Don't go running around like that."
"Maybe you should watch it," the first kid said defiantly.
Billy looked at what he'd taken from them - a silver arrow with gold feathers at the end. He frowned, "Just be more careful, 'kay?"
"Whatever," the kid flipped him off and ran off with his friend.
Rolling his eyes, Billy pulled up his sleeve to examine where the arrow tip had jabbed him in the arm. A small, red mark was forming halfway up his arm - the jab had almost but not quite punctured the skin. It made his arm feel funny, sort of warm and tingly.
"Stupid kids," a voice said. "They all need to be sent to detention."
"Huh?" Billy looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. Suddenly he felt warm and tingly all over. "Oh, hey Kevin. What are you doing here?"
Kevin - a year older than Billy, a year younger than Claire. They lived on the same street - in fact, Kevin lived right next door to the kids Billy babysat for all the time. But they seldom spoke, really only on those rare occasions they walked home from the bus stop together. His sister had tutored Kevin for a while last year, but he'd only come to their house once or twice and Billy had been hanging out with Corey.
He was something of a celebrity at their school, did a lot of writing for the school newspaper, head of the student council - and rumor had it he'd been accepted to a prestigious college. Billy usually saw him every day, for a minute or two at a time. They nodded politely, asked how the other was doing, then went their separate ways. Familiar strangers; he'd never given Kevin a second glance.
So why now was he suddenly wanting to give a second, third and fourth? Had Kevin always had those pale freckles on his cheeks and nose? Had his eyes always been that green? And he'd never noticed Kevin's hair was more red than brown before.
What the hell?
Billy wanted to smack himself. He shook off his strange thoughts with effort. He realized Kevin was staring at him oddly.
"Are you okay?"
"Huh?" Billy managed, and then mentally smacked himself again. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry."
"You sure? Those kids were running ninety miles an hour. I hope their parents bust their sorry asses." Kevin stepped closer, looking at his arm. "Looks like it hurt."
Billy shrugged and let his sleeve slide back down his arm, "Not really. More surprise than anything. What I get for walking while I'm a million miles away."
"Yeah? What's got you so distracted?"
"Different things..." Billy kept staring, not realizing his confusion and wonder were plain on his face.
Kevin frowned, "Hey man, are you sure you're okay? You don't look so good."
"Ah..." Billy shook his head, desperately trying to clear it and get his thoughts working properly. "I dunno...I feel funny. Do you think this stupid thing had something on it?"
"It's possible." Kevin took his arm and pushed the sleeve back up. His thumb brushed softly over the red mark, which had increased to the size of a marble. "Does it hurt?" he asked when Billy shivered. He glanced up, face creased with concern.
Billy's face was flushed, eyes wide. "I'm really, really sorry."
"Sorry? About what?"
"This," Billy said, then stepped in close and leaned up to plant a shy but firm kiss on Kevin's parted lips.
Kevin stared at him, blinking. His cheeks turned pink, and he looked as though he wanted to smile. "Why did you do that?"
"I don't know!" Billy looked stricken. "Just suddenly I really wanted to do it." He hunched his shoulders at a couple of jeers thrown their way, and didn't protest when Kevin dragged him into the nearest shop.
The bookstore was relatively packed with weekend shoppers, more than a few workers looking harried as they worked the registers and assisted customers. Billy spared them only a glance as Kevin dragged him away from the storefront and toward the nonfiction section, which was empty. "I'm sorry!" he said again, unable to look at Kevin.
If he did, he was willing to bet he'd just kiss him again. Jeez, even thinking about it was a bad idea. Because it had only lasted a moment, but it was a moment he wouldn't be forgetting for a long, long time.
"Don't be," Kevin interrupted his panicked thoughts.
"Huh?" Billy looked up, startled.
"I said - don't be." Kevin's hesitant smile vanished. "Unless you were just messing with me."
"No!" Billy said, panicked. "I don't know why I did it - suddenly it just seemed like…like a really good idea." He paused. "Wait. Why aren't you mad? Shouldn't you be punching me or something?"
Kevin smiled sheepishly, "Only if you're messing with me. Which I don't think you are. Seems a weird way to go about it. And, uh…" he was turning pink again. Not red, like Billy knew his face must be. Just a soft pink, and it was the cutest thing ever. "I've been trying to work up the guts to say something to you forever." He shrugged, "I could never figure out how to do it. Especially with your sister being an old friend and stuff."
"You. You. What?" Billy gaped at him. "Are you saying you like me?"
"Yeah," Kevin smiled hesitantly.
Billy was having trouble processing his thoughts. They had seemed to give up functioning all together. Kevin had a crush on him? He stared up at Kevin, knowing he probably looked like a wide-eyed idiot. Probably he should be more weirded out by this than he was.
Except all he was really thinking about at present was that he wouldn't mind trying to kiss Kevin again. Well, that and he was wondering how he'd never really noticed him before.
Clearly he was blind. "I…why do you like me?"
Kevin shrugged. "We've lived on the same street since I moved here right before we started high school. Didn't really know you until I saw you the first night I came over while your sister was tutoring me." He shrugged again, "I thought you were really cute, but I never figured out how to talk to you and stuff. We don't really move in the same circles."
Yeah, that was certainly true. Claire and Kevin were socialites. Billy leaned more toward reclusive.
"I tried, whenever we walked home…but I always felt like an idiot."
Billy shook his head, "I think I've been the idiot." He made the mistake of looking straight into Kevin's too-green eyes, and moved without thinking. It wasn't until he felt fingers in his hair and lips responding to his that he fully comprehended that he'd kissed him again.
This was freaking him out. He rarely ever talked to the guy and suddenly all he wanted to do was make out with him in a bookstore? That wasn't right. Something was wrong. Pulling back with a gasp, he stared wide-eyed at Kevin.
Who was frowning and looking concerned again. "Billy, are you okay?"
"I…I don't think I am. I'll talk to you later." In a blind panic, Billy turned and fled the bookstore. He thought he heard Kevin calling his name, but didn't stop. Exiting the store he plunged back onto the crowded street, walking at random until he felt reasonably certain Kevin wouldn't find him.
"What's wrong with me?" Billy lifted a hand to wipe sweat from his forehead - and suddenly realized he was still holding the weird arrow he'd taken from the kids. He started to throw it away - but after a second thought decided to hang onto it.
It was pretty, pale shiny silver with bright gold for the feathers at the end. He thought maybe it was too short or small or something to be a real arrow. Maybe a decoration or something? The point was sharp - if he hadn't been wearing long sleeves it probably would've drawn blood. Maybe it was tipped with something, and that's why he was acting funny? But what kind of drug made you want to kiss your neighbor? And who would put such a thing on a stupid arrow?
Billy went cold. "No way…I must be losing my mind…" Stopping, he looked up and down the street for a newspaper stand - there was one across the street. He had to be more cracked than he thought if he was thinking of believing that stupid ass prank ad.
He fished through his pocket for coins, cursing in irritation as he came up with just nickels and pennies. The sound of laughter momentarily distracted him from the handful of useless change in his palm and he looked up.
And felt more miserable than ever. Because he could see stupid Anita with Corey practically attached. He caught his friend's eye and wanted to scream, his eyes burning. Because Corey had obviously seen him already, and surely he knew Billy was upset about something. But did he come over, or call out?
No. The bastard gave a half-assed wave and led his girlfriend into a restaurant that Billy knew the two of them used to always make fun of, for being too fancy and too expensive and reliant upon the money of suckers.
He didn't want to be here. Arrow and newspaper forgotten, Billy took off back to his bus stop as quickly as he could. Maybe he should just call Claire and ask for a rain check or something. But somehow 'Sorry, Sis. I've been struck by Cupid's arrow and molested Kevin, and Corey is still being a major jerk' didn't sound like something that would get her to leave him alone.
Funny how thoughts of Kevin made him feel a bit better. Billy puzzled over that thought as he clambered onto the bus. He'd kissed him! Twice! And he wouldn't mind a third - at least. What was going on here? It was too damn weird. The arrow lay harmless across his lap, and Billy tightened his grip on it. He'd make the stupid call when he got home. And no doubt get laughed at, because how fucking stupid was it that he was holding Cupid's Arrow? More likely he'd just been given a free sample of some new street candy and poor Kevin had been the one to suffer.
Except…Kevin had said he'd liked him. The thought made his head spin. Kevin? Superstar, prize pupil of high school and destine to become world famous Kevin? Who smiled at everyone and acted like he had a million friends and not a single enemy? If ever he'd wondered why Kevin had agreed to let Claire tutor him, he'd figured the poor guy had been another one to develop a crush on his sister.
Not him. It…well, at the moment it made him smile and want to go to Kevin's house and do lots of stupid things.
It made no sense and was freaking him out again. But thinking of Kevin was a hundred million times better than thinking of stupid Corey. Thinking of his best friend - ex best friend, apparently - made him feel sick and sad and miserable and confused. Like he'd done something wrong, or wasn't good enough, if Corey was ashamed to hang out with him around Anita. And he knew that wasn't right, knew that Corey was the one in the wrong but it still made him feel like there was something wrong with him.
He shifted back to Kevin, whose smile made him fluttery and hot, who had tasted like cinnamon candy when he'd kissed him, who had said he'd liked Billy. Maybe he was just reacting like this because it was a nice opposite to being ignored by Corey. But it didn't feel that way.
Hell, he didn't know which way was up anymore, never mind how he felt about anything. He'd been out of the house, what? Two hours or so? Close to three and he was in shambles.
And okay, maybe he'd already been heading toward a breakdown because of stuff. But did everything have to get him at once? Billy barely noticed as he clambered down from the bus and wandered back to his house, was barely aware of anything until the back door shut behind him and he for once felt relatively safe.
His hand trembled slightly as he set the arrow down and reached for the newspaper, spreading it out on the kitchen table, opening it to the ads and almost immediately finding the one he sought.
Missing: One Arrow
Silver with gold fletching. If found, please contact Cupid at 1-800-363-5683.Warning: Arrow is DANGEROUS. Do not touch. Please contact Cupid immediately if found.
"This is stupid," he whispered to himself. So he'd had a spazz out and decided to kiss Kevin. And wanted to do it again, and just watch him smile, and play with his hair and see what was underneath that soft green sweater. That didn't mean it was because he'd been struck by Cupid's Arrow. Most likely the kids had stolen it from someplace on a dare. But even as he argued with himself, Billy was reaching for his cell phone - cause he really didn’t' want to explain to Claire why he'd actually called the dumb number - and keying in the eight hundred number.
"Hello?" a voice as smooth and rich as chocolate answered. Chocolate filled with worry, the voice sounded as haggard as it did smooth. "Hello?" the voice said again.
"Umm…" Billy bit his lip, feeling stupid again. "I was calling about the arrow…"
The chocolate voice hardened, "This had better not be another damned prank."
Some of his confidence seeped back into his system at the sound of the reprimanding tone. "Shouldn't I be asking you about pranks?" He looked at the silver and gold arrow on the table. "I don't much like whatever it is your stupid arrow is doing."
There was a pause. Billy could somehow tell the man was startled. His voice was softer, almost apologetic, when he finally spoke. "You got hit, didn't you?" he asked gently.
"Yeah," Billy said softly. "Yeah, I did."
"Hang on a sec, kid. I'll be right over."
Before Billy could reply, the line went dead. He glared at the phone.
A sharp rap on the back door shot him at least a foot in the air, and Billy hoped the girly shriek had been a figment of his imagination. He stalked to the back door and jerked it open.
On any other day of the week, the gold curls and bright blue eyes would have had him struggling to remember how to breathe. And the trim, sleek body underneath the t-shirt and jeans - both way too tight - would have done him in for good.
But Billy's thoughts were only for Kevin, and the arrow still sitting on the kitchen table. "Who the hell are you?"
"Call me Cue," the man said as he gently pushed Billy aside and stepped inside. He made straight for the table, picking up the arrow with a loud, happy sigh of relief. "Oh, thank Zeus. I didn't think I'd ever get this back."
There were a million questions floating through Billy's head, including one for the contents of his breakfast that he was actually believing this day was happening, but he couldn't seem to pick one to voice.
His mouth decided for him, "Shouldn't you have more than one of those?"
The man - 'Cue' - looked at him, pink lips quirking in amusement. "Hades, no. Look how much trouble one has caused me. It's taken me ages to find this damnable thing and man is Anti going to pay when I get home."
Billy struggled for something to say.
"Anyway," Cupid rolled his eyes. "Thank you for finding the arrow. I'm sorry you got stung, it must have made things rather awkward."
That did it. "Awkward,” he repeated in disbelief. "I just about molested Kevin because of that stupid thing! And I can't even believe I'm buying this. What the hell kind of drugs are on that thing? Am I even awake?"
Cupid contemplated him in silence, stowed the arrow somewhere Billy couldn't see and crossed the room to place his hands - warm and soft and somehow Billy suddenly felt a bit bitter - on his shoulders. "What happened?"
Wearily, Billy told him.
"Aw, heck. That's nothing."
Billy glared at him.
"Calm down kid. It's not as bad as you think." Cupid winked at him.
The glared didn't fade. "How could it not be? Kevin thinks I like him as much as he apparently likes me when really I've just been struck by your stupid arrow and-"
A finger on his lips stopped Billy's tirade. "Come on, I'm Cupid. Have some faith. Do you really think my arrow would do something as cruel as make you like someone you didn't really like?"
"Yes? No?" Billy frowned. "What's going on here?"
Cupid smiled faintly. "It's like this. I don't make people fall in love - that's a power beyond anyone. Even ol' Aphro can't do that. It's a common misconception." He pulled out his arrow, twirling it nimbly in his fingers before holding it out for Billy's perusal. "But you mortals are as dense as Ares on a bad day. And trust me, that's pretty damn dense. All my arrow does is wake you up, so to speak, when the time is right.
"I don't think I'm following," Billy stared at the arrow a moment, then clutched his arm and looked away.
Returning the arrow to wherever he'd pulled it, Cupid was suddenly holding what looked like a small notebook or day planner. He flipped through several pages, skimming past names and line after line of careful notes. "Ah ha, here we go. William Renkin"
Billy started at the sound of his name.
Cupid read on, "William Renkin, age 16. Love Date: March 11th."
"Love Date?" Billy asked, confused.
"Mmm, yeah. The day you're meant to fall in love," Cupid explained. "March of this year," he continued. "With one Kevin Welliver."
"What…"
Cupid spared a moment to give him an amused smile. "Let's see…falling out with friend…Kevin at football game…" He snapped the book closed, "See what I mean?"
"No."
"Kids. They never pay attention." Cupid stowed his book and patted Billy on the shoulder sympathetically. "All it means, kid, is that you were always going to fall for ol' Kevie. Plans just got moved up a month because my idiot brother lost my arrow."
Billy was silent, slowly processing what Cupid - gods he wished he still believed he was asleep - was telling him. The words finally fell into place. "You mean I really like Kevin? I won't stop liking him tomorrow?"
"No, kid. Consider this a free month of nookie from Eros and his moron of a brother."
Unable to come up with more of a reply than flushed cheeks, Billy endured Cupid's soft chuckles in silence.
Cupid's laughter eventually faded, and he tousled Billy's hair. "Take care, eh kid? Thanks for getting my arrow back for me."
Billy managed to smile back, shaking his head. "Try not to lose it again?"
"Oh, don't worry. Bye, kid."
"Bye."
Cupid opened the back door stepped outside. Billy followed him, seeing no one in the yard or out on the street. Somehow he wasn't surprised. Walking slowly out to the sidewalk, he glanced down the street toward Kevin's house. Was Kevin back at home? Would it be too weird to go see him? Or had his spazz out ruined things.
He's home kid. A familiar voice spoke as if from a distance. Billy smiled and nodded, and headed for Kevin's house.
Missing: One Arrow
"Silver with gold fletching. If found, please contact Cupid at 1-800-363-5683." Billy let out a snort of laughter as he finished reading the ad his sister had pointed out. "What the heck kind of joke is this?" He found his place and kept reading, "Warning: Arrow is DANGEROUS. Do not touch. Please contact Cupid immediately if found." Laughing even harder, Billy threw the paper down on the kitchen table and picked up his orange juice. "That's funny."
"Isn't it?" his sister asked, munching on buttered toast. "I want to call the number, just to see what happens."
"That's stupid," Billy scoffed.
Claire rolled her eyes, "Whatever. You were going to call it on your cell phone the minute I left."
"Was not," Billy muttered, fidgeting in his seat. "So why are you up this early on a Saturday? Hot date?"
"As if." Claire made a face, "Felicia and I are going to check out the new mall downtown. Why do you think I worked so much overtime this month?" She carried her plate and coffee mug to the dishwasher, and shut the coffee machine off on her way back to the table.
"I had been wondering." Billy stood to poke through the cabinets, "Seen my cornflakes?"
"You finished them all yesterday, dork."
"Dang."
He looked pleadingly at Claire, who rolled her eyes and answered before he could ask. "Yes, I'll get you some from the store on my way home. Sheesh."
"Thanks, Sis."
"Yeah, yeah." She looked at him, pausing as she dug through a pink purse to make sure she had everything she needed. "Why are you up so early? Got a hot date?"
"As if." Billy shrugged, "No reason really."
His sister looked surprised, "Not hanging out with Corey?"
"Nah - he's with his girlfriend."
Claire glowered at the absent Corey, "If he keeps that up, I'm going to call his mother and--"
"It doesn't matter - I'm sure he'll remember I exist eventually." He shrugged again, and attempted to smile at his sister. "It's okay. Really."
Sighing, Claire crossed the kitchen and kissed the top of her brother's head. "Whatever you want, Billikins." She ruffled his strawberry blonde hair, "Do you want to come shopping with me?"
"Good god, no. You'd probably make me try on clothes and go in some hideous girl's store with lacey things and silky things and other things that I really don't need to know you wear."
Claire clutched his shoulder as she bent over laughing, "Okay, okay. Well - want to meet up for an early dinner? I promise I won't show you the lingerie I buy."
"…Are you sure?"
His sister smiled and ruffled his hair again, "It's fine. All that overtime I've been working, I think I deserve to eat out with my brother for one night." Claire hefted her bag, smoothed her curly blonde hair and grabbed her keys from the countertop beside the back door. "Meet me at…The Shellhouse around four-five-ish?"
"Sounds cool to me," Billy grinned.
"Later then," Claire waved and was gone.
Billy sighed softly and plopped back down at the small kitchen table. The house was quiet, except for the sounds of the heat kicking on and from the dining room, their cat - Nickel - was attacking a Horrible Dustbunny of Doom.
He picked up his cell phone and almost idly flipped it open, scrolling unhappily through the many text messages he'd exchanged with his best friend throughout the week.
Helping A study.
Game with A.
Going to dinner with A.
Choir practice with A.
Movie with A.
Shopping with A.
A. A. A.
Billy was sick of A - Anita Koffman, the most worshipped and obeyed girlfriend in all of Black Ridge village.
Of course, that level of worshipping required that Corey give up communication with everyone else he knew. Or at least, giving up his best friend. The few times Billy had seen him, he'd seemed to have plenty of time for A's friends.
Sighing, Billy threw his glass and plate in the dishwasher, flipped off the light and padded up the carpeted stairs to his bedroom. His shirt and sweatpants landed on the floor near the bed. He dug through his dresser and closet, grabbing the first things he saw - a pair of jeans just a shade too big for him and a dark red, long sleeved crew neck shirt his sister had gotten him for Christmas last year. He spent several minutes debating which watch to wear, finally settling on a black and gold analog. Sneakers, wallet, keys and he was ready to go, locking the back door behind him. Halfway down the drive, he realized he'd forgotten to brush his hair and reached to smooth it as best he could with his fingers.
He was just in time to catch the bus at the corner stop, flashing his pass and grabbing a seat somewhere in the middle. Luckily it was still early, and most of the freaky people he saw on the bus - but thankfully never anywhere else - were absent.
Claire had said she was going to the new mall, so Billy rode the bus until he reached the older shopping district in downtown. It was crowded, but not crushing like it would be later when the afternoon shoppers appeared.
He wandered aimlessly for a bit, lingering at a watch kiosk but finally resisting the urge to buy one - even though he really liked the purple, green and orange digital one. But if he bought the watch, he wouldn't have enough money to buy his sister's birthday gift.
Which reminded him - he should probably be looking in the electronics store, at their prices on mp3 players. Claire had been wanting one, and her birthday was in a couple of months, and he'd been babysitting the rats across the street long enough he could almost afford to buy it.
He hummed quietly to himself as he wandered out of the mall and back onto the street - the store he wanted was a couple of blocks down. His steps slowed as he passed by the bookstore, eyeing a science fiction book he'd been wanting for awhile - maybe he could get it if he had enough money left over after the mp3 player.
"Oof!" Billy went stumbling back as a couple of older elementary school kids barreled into him. "Hey. Watch where you're going! That hurt!" He snatched away whatever it was that had jabbed him, glaring at the kids. "Don't go running around like that."
"Maybe you should watch it," the first kid said defiantly.
Billy looked at what he'd taken from them - a silver arrow with gold feathers at the end. He frowned, "Just be more careful, 'kay?"
"Whatever," the kid flipped him off and ran off with his friend.
Rolling his eyes, Billy pulled up his sleeve to examine where the arrow tip had jabbed him in the arm. A small, red mark was forming halfway up his arm - the jab had almost but not quite punctured the skin. It made his arm feel funny, sort of warm and tingly.
"Stupid kids," a voice said. "They all need to be sent to detention."
"Huh?" Billy looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. Suddenly he felt warm and tingly all over. "Oh, hey Kevin. What are you doing here?"
Kevin - a year older than Billy, a year younger than Claire. They lived on the same street - in fact, Kevin lived right next door to the kids Billy babysat for all the time. But they seldom spoke, really only on those rare occasions they walked home from the bus stop together. His sister had tutored Kevin for a while last year, but he'd only come to their house once or twice and Billy had been hanging out with Corey.
He was something of a celebrity at their school, did a lot of writing for the school newspaper, head of the student council - and rumor had it he'd been accepted to a prestigious college. Billy usually saw him every day, for a minute or two at a time. They nodded politely, asked how the other was doing, then went their separate ways. Familiar strangers; he'd never given Kevin a second glance.
So why now was he suddenly wanting to give a second, third and fourth? Had Kevin always had those pale freckles on his cheeks and nose? Had his eyes always been that green? And he'd never noticed Kevin's hair was more red than brown before.
What the hell?
Billy wanted to smack himself. He shook off his strange thoughts with effort. He realized Kevin was staring at him oddly.
"Are you okay?"
"Huh?" Billy managed, and then mentally smacked himself again. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry."
"You sure? Those kids were running ninety miles an hour. I hope their parents bust their sorry asses." Kevin stepped closer, looking at his arm. "Looks like it hurt."
Billy shrugged and let his sleeve slide back down his arm, "Not really. More surprise than anything. What I get for walking while I'm a million miles away."
"Yeah? What's got you so distracted?"
"Different things..." Billy kept staring, not realizing his confusion and wonder were plain on his face.
Kevin frowned, "Hey man, are you sure you're okay? You don't look so good."
"Ah..." Billy shook his head, desperately trying to clear it and get his thoughts working properly. "I dunno...I feel funny. Do you think this stupid thing had something on it?"
"It's possible." Kevin took his arm and pushed the sleeve back up. His thumb brushed softly over the red mark, which had increased to the size of a marble. "Does it hurt?" he asked when Billy shivered. He glanced up, face creased with concern.
Billy's face was flushed, eyes wide. "I'm really, really sorry."
"Sorry? About what?"
"This," Billy said, then stepped in close and leaned up to plant a shy but firm kiss on Kevin's parted lips.
Kevin stared at him, blinking. His cheeks turned pink, and he looked as though he wanted to smile. "Why did you do that?"
"I don't know!" Billy looked stricken. "Just suddenly I really wanted to do it." He hunched his shoulders at a couple of jeers thrown their way, and didn't protest when Kevin dragged him into the nearest shop.
The bookstore was relatively packed with weekend shoppers, more than a few workers looking harried as they worked the registers and assisted customers. Billy spared them only a glance as Kevin dragged him away from the storefront and toward the nonfiction section, which was empty. "I'm sorry!" he said again, unable to look at Kevin.
If he did, he was willing to bet he'd just kiss him again. Jeez, even thinking about it was a bad idea. Because it had only lasted a moment, but it was a moment he wouldn't be forgetting for a long, long time.
"Don't be," Kevin interrupted his panicked thoughts.
"Huh?" Billy looked up, startled.
"I said - don't be." Kevin's hesitant smile vanished. "Unless you were just messing with me."
"No!" Billy said, panicked. "I don't know why I did it - suddenly it just seemed like…like a really good idea." He paused. "Wait. Why aren't you mad? Shouldn't you be punching me or something?"
Kevin smiled sheepishly, "Only if you're messing with me. Which I don't think you are. Seems a weird way to go about it. And, uh…" he was turning pink again. Not red, like Billy knew his face must be. Just a soft pink, and it was the cutest thing ever. "I've been trying to work up the guts to say something to you forever." He shrugged, "I could never figure out how to do it. Especially with your sister being an old friend and stuff."
"You. You. What?" Billy gaped at him. "Are you saying you like me?"
"Yeah," Kevin smiled hesitantly.
Billy was having trouble processing his thoughts. They had seemed to give up functioning all together. Kevin had a crush on him? He stared up at Kevin, knowing he probably looked like a wide-eyed idiot. Probably he should be more weirded out by this than he was.
Except all he was really thinking about at present was that he wouldn't mind trying to kiss Kevin again. Well, that and he was wondering how he'd never really noticed him before.
Clearly he was blind. "I…why do you like me?"
Kevin shrugged. "We've lived on the same street since I moved here right before we started high school. Didn't really know you until I saw you the first night I came over while your sister was tutoring me." He shrugged again, "I thought you were really cute, but I never figured out how to talk to you and stuff. We don't really move in the same circles."
Yeah, that was certainly true. Claire and Kevin were socialites. Billy leaned more toward reclusive.
"I tried, whenever we walked home…but I always felt like an idiot."
Billy shook his head, "I think I've been the idiot." He made the mistake of looking straight into Kevin's too-green eyes, and moved without thinking. It wasn't until he felt fingers in his hair and lips responding to his that he fully comprehended that he'd kissed him again.
This was freaking him out. He rarely ever talked to the guy and suddenly all he wanted to do was make out with him in a bookstore? That wasn't right. Something was wrong. Pulling back with a gasp, he stared wide-eyed at Kevin.
Who was frowning and looking concerned again. "Billy, are you okay?"
"I…I don't think I am. I'll talk to you later." In a blind panic, Billy turned and fled the bookstore. He thought he heard Kevin calling his name, but didn't stop. Exiting the store he plunged back onto the crowded street, walking at random until he felt reasonably certain Kevin wouldn't find him.
"What's wrong with me?" Billy lifted a hand to wipe sweat from his forehead - and suddenly realized he was still holding the weird arrow he'd taken from the kids. He started to throw it away - but after a second thought decided to hang onto it.
It was pretty, pale shiny silver with bright gold for the feathers at the end. He thought maybe it was too short or small or something to be a real arrow. Maybe a decoration or something? The point was sharp - if he hadn't been wearing long sleeves it probably would've drawn blood. Maybe it was tipped with something, and that's why he was acting funny? But what kind of drug made you want to kiss your neighbor? And who would put such a thing on a stupid arrow?
Billy went cold. "No way…I must be losing my mind…" Stopping, he looked up and down the street for a newspaper stand - there was one across the street. He had to be more cracked than he thought if he was thinking of believing that stupid ass prank ad.
He fished through his pocket for coins, cursing in irritation as he came up with just nickels and pennies. The sound of laughter momentarily distracted him from the handful of useless change in his palm and he looked up.
And felt more miserable than ever. Because he could see stupid Anita with Corey practically attached. He caught his friend's eye and wanted to scream, his eyes burning. Because Corey had obviously seen him already, and surely he knew Billy was upset about something. But did he come over, or call out?
No. The bastard gave a half-assed wave and led his girlfriend into a restaurant that Billy knew the two of them used to always make fun of, for being too fancy and too expensive and reliant upon the money of suckers.
He didn't want to be here. Arrow and newspaper forgotten, Billy took off back to his bus stop as quickly as he could. Maybe he should just call Claire and ask for a rain check or something. But somehow 'Sorry, Sis. I've been struck by Cupid's arrow and molested Kevin, and Corey is still being a major jerk' didn't sound like something that would get her to leave him alone.
Funny how thoughts of Kevin made him feel a bit better. Billy puzzled over that thought as he clambered onto the bus. He'd kissed him! Twice! And he wouldn't mind a third - at least. What was going on here? It was too damn weird. The arrow lay harmless across his lap, and Billy tightened his grip on it. He'd make the stupid call when he got home. And no doubt get laughed at, because how fucking stupid was it that he was holding Cupid's Arrow? More likely he'd just been given a free sample of some new street candy and poor Kevin had been the one to suffer.
Except…Kevin had said he'd liked him. The thought made his head spin. Kevin? Superstar, prize pupil of high school and destine to become world famous Kevin? Who smiled at everyone and acted like he had a million friends and not a single enemy? If ever he'd wondered why Kevin had agreed to let Claire tutor him, he'd figured the poor guy had been another one to develop a crush on his sister.
Not him. It…well, at the moment it made him smile and want to go to Kevin's house and do lots of stupid things.
It made no sense and was freaking him out again. But thinking of Kevin was a hundred million times better than thinking of stupid Corey. Thinking of his best friend - ex best friend, apparently - made him feel sick and sad and miserable and confused. Like he'd done something wrong, or wasn't good enough, if Corey was ashamed to hang out with him around Anita. And he knew that wasn't right, knew that Corey was the one in the wrong but it still made him feel like there was something wrong with him.
He shifted back to Kevin, whose smile made him fluttery and hot, who had tasted like cinnamon candy when he'd kissed him, who had said he'd liked Billy. Maybe he was just reacting like this because it was a nice opposite to being ignored by Corey. But it didn't feel that way.
Hell, he didn't know which way was up anymore, never mind how he felt about anything. He'd been out of the house, what? Two hours or so? Close to three and he was in shambles.
And okay, maybe he'd already been heading toward a breakdown because of stuff. But did everything have to get him at once? Billy barely noticed as he clambered down from the bus and wandered back to his house, was barely aware of anything until the back door shut behind him and he for once felt relatively safe.
His hand trembled slightly as he set the arrow down and reached for the newspaper, spreading it out on the kitchen table, opening it to the ads and almost immediately finding the one he sought.
Missing: One Arrow
Silver with gold fletching. If found, please contact Cupid at 1-800-363-5683.Warning: Arrow is DANGEROUS. Do not touch. Please contact Cupid immediately if found.
"This is stupid," he whispered to himself. So he'd had a spazz out and decided to kiss Kevin. And wanted to do it again, and just watch him smile, and play with his hair and see what was underneath that soft green sweater. That didn't mean it was because he'd been struck by Cupid's Arrow. Most likely the kids had stolen it from someplace on a dare. But even as he argued with himself, Billy was reaching for his cell phone - cause he really didn’t' want to explain to Claire why he'd actually called the dumb number - and keying in the eight hundred number.
"Hello?" a voice as smooth and rich as chocolate answered. Chocolate filled with worry, the voice sounded as haggard as it did smooth. "Hello?" the voice said again.
"Umm…" Billy bit his lip, feeling stupid again. "I was calling about the arrow…"
The chocolate voice hardened, "This had better not be another damned prank."
Some of his confidence seeped back into his system at the sound of the reprimanding tone. "Shouldn't I be asking you about pranks?" He looked at the silver and gold arrow on the table. "I don't much like whatever it is your stupid arrow is doing."
There was a pause. Billy could somehow tell the man was startled. His voice was softer, almost apologetic, when he finally spoke. "You got hit, didn't you?" he asked gently.
"Yeah," Billy said softly. "Yeah, I did."
"Hang on a sec, kid. I'll be right over."
Before Billy could reply, the line went dead. He glared at the phone.
A sharp rap on the back door shot him at least a foot in the air, and Billy hoped the girly shriek had been a figment of his imagination. He stalked to the back door and jerked it open.
On any other day of the week, the gold curls and bright blue eyes would have had him struggling to remember how to breathe. And the trim, sleek body underneath the t-shirt and jeans - both way too tight - would have done him in for good.
But Billy's thoughts were only for Kevin, and the arrow still sitting on the kitchen table. "Who the hell are you?"
"Call me Cue," the man said as he gently pushed Billy aside and stepped inside. He made straight for the table, picking up the arrow with a loud, happy sigh of relief. "Oh, thank Zeus. I didn't think I'd ever get this back."
There were a million questions floating through Billy's head, including one for the contents of his breakfast that he was actually believing this day was happening, but he couldn't seem to pick one to voice.
His mouth decided for him, "Shouldn't you have more than one of those?"
The man - 'Cue' - looked at him, pink lips quirking in amusement. "Hades, no. Look how much trouble one has caused me. It's taken me ages to find this damnable thing and man is Anti going to pay when I get home."
Billy struggled for something to say.
"Anyway," Cupid rolled his eyes. "Thank you for finding the arrow. I'm sorry you got stung, it must have made things rather awkward."
That did it. "Awkward,” he repeated in disbelief. "I just about molested Kevin because of that stupid thing! And I can't even believe I'm buying this. What the hell kind of drugs are on that thing? Am I even awake?"
Cupid contemplated him in silence, stowed the arrow somewhere Billy couldn't see and crossed the room to place his hands - warm and soft and somehow Billy suddenly felt a bit bitter - on his shoulders. "What happened?"
Wearily, Billy told him.
"Aw, heck. That's nothing."
Billy glared at him.
"Calm down kid. It's not as bad as you think." Cupid winked at him.
The glared didn't fade. "How could it not be? Kevin thinks I like him as much as he apparently likes me when really I've just been struck by your stupid arrow and-"
A finger on his lips stopped Billy's tirade. "Come on, I'm Cupid. Have some faith. Do you really think my arrow would do something as cruel as make you like someone you didn't really like?"
"Yes? No?" Billy frowned. "What's going on here?"
Cupid smiled faintly. "It's like this. I don't make people fall in love - that's a power beyond anyone. Even ol' Aphro can't do that. It's a common misconception." He pulled out his arrow, twirling it nimbly in his fingers before holding it out for Billy's perusal. "But you mortals are as dense as Ares on a bad day. And trust me, that's pretty damn dense. All my arrow does is wake you up, so to speak, when the time is right.
"I don't think I'm following," Billy stared at the arrow a moment, then clutched his arm and looked away.
Returning the arrow to wherever he'd pulled it, Cupid was suddenly holding what looked like a small notebook or day planner. He flipped through several pages, skimming past names and line after line of careful notes. "Ah ha, here we go. William Renkin"
Billy started at the sound of his name.
Cupid read on, "William Renkin, age 16. Love Date: March 11th."
"Love Date?" Billy asked, confused.
"Mmm, yeah. The day you're meant to fall in love," Cupid explained. "March of this year," he continued. "With one Kevin Welliver."
"What…"
Cupid spared a moment to give him an amused smile. "Let's see…falling out with friend…Kevin at football game…" He snapped the book closed, "See what I mean?"
"No."
"Kids. They never pay attention." Cupid stowed his book and patted Billy on the shoulder sympathetically. "All it means, kid, is that you were always going to fall for ol' Kevie. Plans just got moved up a month because my idiot brother lost my arrow."
Billy was silent, slowly processing what Cupid - gods he wished he still believed he was asleep - was telling him. The words finally fell into place. "You mean I really like Kevin? I won't stop liking him tomorrow?"
"No, kid. Consider this a free month of nookie from Eros and his moron of a brother."
Unable to come up with more of a reply than flushed cheeks, Billy endured Cupid's soft chuckles in silence.
Cupid's laughter eventually faded, and he tousled Billy's hair. "Take care, eh kid? Thanks for getting my arrow back for me."
Billy managed to smile back, shaking his head. "Try not to lose it again?"
"Oh, don't worry. Bye, kid."
"Bye."
Cupid opened the back door stepped outside. Billy followed him, seeing no one in the yard or out on the street. Somehow he wasn't surprised. Walking slowly out to the sidewalk, he glanced down the street toward Kevin's house. Was Kevin back at home? Would it be too weird to go see him? Or had his spazz out ruined things.
He's home kid. A familiar voice spoke as if from a distance. Billy smiled and nodded, and headed for Kevin's house.
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Date: 2005-02-13 05:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-13 06:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-14 06:03 pm (UTC)I always worry people will finally get fed up with the insane amounts of poitless fluff I write. Clearly my worries are grondless ^_^ Thankee!
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Date: 2005-02-13 06:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-14 06:03 pm (UTC)Thankee!
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Date: 2005-02-13 07:50 pm (UTC)I must tell you, I am not the mushy type. But every time I read one of your stories I giggle and swoon like some sort of.... girl!
Ridiculous!
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Date: 2005-02-14 06:04 pm (UTC)Heh. These stories are about as girly as I get (which is funny considering there are seldo any girls in them), so it's good to know I'm affecting others ^_~
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Date: 2005-02-13 09:02 pm (UTC)is there more??
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Date: 2005-02-14 06:05 pm (UTC)is there more??
Not at present, no. But I wouldn't put it past me to come up with something eventually. I have a bad habit of doing that.
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Date: 2005-02-14 06:14 pm (UTC)as it is... *goggles at your chatter at the bar* I NEED THE BOOK NOW!! *blink*
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Date: 2005-02-14 06:18 pm (UTC)It's hysterical, you really do need it.
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Date: 2005-02-13 10:28 pm (UTC)*poke*do you remember the rose story i won in the kiriban*poke*
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Date: 2005-02-13 10:33 pm (UTC)I remember it, it's always at the back of my mind - I just never came up with an idea I liked. I keep hoping inspiration will strike. If you want to change/alter/add stipulations, lemme know. By this point I should probably owe you two or three stories *sighs and smacks self*
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Date: 2005-02-13 10:37 pm (UTC)And just the one is fine. I love all of your other stuff so much; I don't want to take your time away from them!
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Date: 2005-02-14 06:05 pm (UTC)I don't know what you said that put the pieces together, but it worked. I just hope you like the story.
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Date: 2005-02-15 01:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-14 12:51 am (UTC)*love, love, love*
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Date: 2005-02-14 06:05 pm (UTC)I aim to please ^_^
*loves back*
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Date: 2005-02-14 01:42 am (UTC)Definitely not a lost cause. It's adorable!
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Date: 2005-02-14 06:06 pm (UTC)Thankee muchly! I was afraid it was too short or whatnot, but I guess not.
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Date: 2005-02-14 09:16 pm (UTC)*coughs* Though more wouldn't offend too greatly.. ^^'
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Date: 2005-02-14 02:54 am (UTC)*luffs you and squishes you happily* ^_______^
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Date: 2005-02-14 06:07 pm (UTC)I get the feeling maybe I should have done more with this story, but I liked it as was.
Cue is my personal favorite, but I'm probably biased.
Thankee!
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Date: 2005-02-15 03:24 am (UTC)*gives V-day hugs*
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Date: 2005-03-12 07:23 am (UTC)