We're Having A Heat Wave
By Sweet Anne, Anne, Kelly…whatever you know me by, lol
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Well…actually, I own the college. WOHOO!!!! I own a college. Where's the cash I should be getting? *pout* Though I've tried stealing them on numerous occasions, I do not own any of the Newsies *sigh*
Chapter one: Mush
I never asked for this to happen to me. I didn't just wake up one morning and decide to be gay. I wasn't jumping at the opportunity to come out when I realized I was in love with my best friend. I know everyone always says that college is the time to experiment, but he's…he isn't like me. I know he isn't. He's always with a different girl, so how could be possibly be like me??
And I know he'll get angry if I confessed that I was gay .A queer. A fag. An ass-puncher. The wheels would start turning in that brain of his and he'd question everything we've ever done together as friends. He'll wonder if, every time I comfort him after a bad breakup or jokingly thump his back with my fist, I was really hitting on him. Getting off by touching him.
It's not like that when I'm around him. I can control myself. I do. Got no other choice, really. I've been a real good boy. Sometimes I wish he'd look at me and realize that I loved him. I don't think I'll ever tell him, but maybe he'll figure it out on his own.
God, what the hell am I saying?? He doesn't need this on his mind. He's on a scholarship that requires an A for him to stay in the school. I know he can't pay if he losses that scholarship. He hates to admit it, but he's poor. If he realized that I was in love with him, he'd get distracted and his grades would drop and then he'd get booted from the school and I'd have it on my conscience that I was the reason he was gone.
God, Mush, what have you gotten yourself into? Why are you gay?
I didn't do this on purpose. I didn't ask to be different!
Different is a bit of an understatement, don't you think? You're riding shotgun in a car labeled "Faggots Only."
Great…I'm talking to myself. I've completely lost it.
God, Blink, why can't you be the same as me? Or why can't I be the same as you?
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"Mush, it's hot!! Why are we going up here?" Kid Blink asked as he followed me up the fire escape to the roof.
"Blink, it's a heat wave. Of course it's hot," I said slowly, my words labored as I tried to keep myself from looking at him. I said I was able to control myself around him, but that was when he had a shirt on. Which, at the moment, he didn't.
See, we're in the middle of a sweltering heat wave, so just about everyone is walking around shirtless. All the guys at least. Classes for the day had been cancelled because the air conditioning all over the campus was broken and nobody could bear being inside. I don't know if that can be considered ironic, that the only supplier of cool air has broken down, but it sure as hell is torture.
And I, being the moron that I am, decided today would be a perfect time to catch a few rays up on the roof. Yeah…three hundred degree heat and I decide to sunbathe. Smart little Mushie.
"You still didn't answer why we're here."
"I didn't tell you that you had to come, Blink," I said softly, sitting down on the slant of the roof and looking at the yard below me. Snitch and Skittery were setting up a sprinkler on the lawn and laughing while Racetrack ran across the grass from the direction of the laundry room, his only clothing being a towel that was wrapped around his waist.
Blink sat down next to me, looking down just like I had been doing. Only I was staring at him now instead of the activities below. He smiled and my heart beat a little faster then normal.
"How come we didn't think of running through a sprinkler?" He asked, turning quickly so I didn't have time to look away. His blue eye shone with a childish fervor that made me laugh.
"You can join Skitts and Snitch if you want," I said, turning away and looking back at the two brunettes on the lawn. They were wearing only their boxers by now, taking turns running through the water.
And the entire time I watched, I silently begged Blink not to go.
"Nah. I'd rather stay up here with you," He said, placing his hand on my shoulder and patting it. God, he didn't realize how much pain this was causing me.
"You sure?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly. I couldn't bear having his hand there, touching my skin, when I knew it was nothing more then a platonic gesture. It wasn't the way I'd like it to be and it literally burned my skin!
"Of course! Why wouldn't I want to spend time with my best friend, eh? Those two clowns aren't nearly as cool as you."
"Shut up!" I said, my cheeks burning red from embarrassment. I chuckled, though, and Blink didn't seem to notice my sudden "sunburn."
"Hey, you wanna do me?"
Yeah, is it even necessary to say that I almost fell off the roof? My eyes widened, my heart stopped and I knew for a fact that the sunburn excuse wasn't going to work anymore, "Uh…Blink…er…what?"
He smiled, but I could tell he felt a little uncomfortable, "You wanna do my back?" He waved a brown bottle of sun block in my face to emphasize his statement.
I sighed in relief, taking the bottle into my hands, which were shaking pretty badly. At least now he wasn't looking at me. That's the only reason I could be relieved. I seriously doubted my self-control once I started rubbing the lotion on his back. His skin was warm and smooth and soft, pale compared to mine, but beautiful all the same.
I'm losing it!! God, I don't really think I'm going to be able to control myself. Maybe I should leave. Maybe I should…
"Hey Mush. Look at those two," Blink said, interrupting whatever excuse I had forming in my head. I closed the cap of the bottle and took my seat next to him, following his gaze.
I smiled without realizing it. Snitch and Skittery were laying on the grass, completely oblivious to the world around them as they kissed.
"WOOOO!!! Goddamn, I'm good!!! Knew they'd get together!!!!!"
Blink and I both laughed at Race's comment, though I was kind of wondering why he was in Spot's room. Wait…I don't want to think about that. Gross mental images explaining why Race was only wearing a towel.
"Have you ever thought about that?" Blink asked quietly, his gaze somewhere near his ankles.
"About what?" I thought he meant Racetrack.
"Being gay."
Oh…that.
I bit my lip, knowing that I couldn't answer that question without telling him I was gay, "Blink…you should take your patch off. You'll have a weird tan line."
"Have you?" He asked, his voice even quieter as he removed the patch from his eye. I've seen the scar before, seen the unnatural paleness of the eye, but it never ceased to shock me. I think he expects that reaction from me now because it doesn't bother him anymore.
"Why do you want to know?" I asked, my mind racing to think of something to say that would get me off the spot.
"Why shouldn't I want to know?" He countered, glaring with his good eye as he put the patch back on. He did it to piss me off. He'll always do things that are incredibly stupid just so I'll tell him what he wants to hear.
It worked. I got pissed and cracked.
"Blink, of course I've thought about it! How can you not when you're always around guys who have no problem taking off their shirts or stripping down in the shower? I live with guys, Blink. How can I not think about it?" I didn't mean to raise my voice. I really didn't. I just…couldn't take it.
He was silent for a minute, but I could see the wheels turning in his head. After what felt like an eternity, he glanced up, his face placate, "You're gay, aren't you?"
I looked away, my heart beating faster then I ever thought possible. How fast does your heart need to go before it explodes?
"Why didn't you tell me? I thought we told each other everything," Blink said, his voice low. Not a whispering low. An angry low.
"God, Blink! Because I knew you'd act like this!! I could tell that I'd blow up everything if you knew. I knew that you'd rethink our entire friendship and realize that I was in love with you. That I wasn't just the reliable friend. That I was always there for you because I wanted a reason to be near you! A reason to punch your shoulder or ruffle your hair. And, once you knew, you'd want nothing to do with me because you aren't the way I am. You don't look at me and find me attractive or beautiful. You just see Mush. That's all you'll ever see…and I can't stand it!!" Every word I said echoed through my head as I stood up, almost falling off the roof. I had just confessed that I loved him. God dammit!!
I walked past him as he sat, silent, right where I'd left him. It was like he hadn't heard anything I said.
But, just as I got to the fire escape, he called me back and I turned, tears falling silently from my eyes.
"Mush, don't leave, ok?"
I shook my head. He couldn't say that without knowing what it meant. How much it hurt to hear it, "Blink, don't even say anything, ok? I can't control my self around you. It's too hard." I turned again, a lump forming in my throat as I tried to stop my tears.
I heard him stand, his footsteps approaching me as I stood still. I half-expected him to punch me or something. Call me a fag and let me fall off the roof to my death, "Mush, how do you know I want you to control yourself?"
My eyes widened and I turned to face him, "Wh…what?"
"How can you be sure that whatever you'd do if you lost control isn't exactly what I want?" His face was serious, but his eyes were sad. I didn't know if he really meant it.
"Don't…please don't say that just because you're my friend." Yeah, so my voice kept cracking. And I was crying again. Big deal. I'm allowed!
"Dammit, Mush! Why don't you just listen to me, ok? I'm not saying anything because I'm your friend! I don't want to be your friend!"
My breath caught again and I literally collapsed, landing hard on the shingles of the roof. Blink kneeled down next to me and his face was too close for comfort. His comfort at least, "What are you saying, Blink?"
He sighed, closing his eye for a second before meeting my gaze again, "I'm saying that I don't want to be just your friend. I'm…I…" He look a deep breath, "I'm trying to tell you that I think I'm in love with you, Mush. I think…no…I know I love you."
"You…you do?" He laced his fingers through mine, the pale of his skin melting into the oatmeal color of mine. And that was his answer. He didn't need to use big words or fancy expressions like they always do in movies. He just held my hand and all I could think was 'He loves me.'
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Two weeks, five days and eight hours. That's how long we've been together. I could give you that time in seconds if you wanted me to. I've thought about it long enough to know.
We stayed up on that roof for hours, long after Snitch and Skittery put the sprinkler away and Race went back towards the laundry room, Spot close behind. There was just such satisfaction in the silence between us that neither of us really wanted to move. We only did when it started raining.
The rain broke the heat wave that had nearly killed everyone on campus. I can't say that I was thrilled. I've come to like heat waves. At least ones with Blink.
Oh, and I was right about the eye patch. He did get a weird tan line from it. But only I've seen it, mostly because he only takes it off when we're alone.
So I see it a lot.
END
Next Chapter: Snitch and Skittery playing in the sprinkler. Yeah…great image, right?
SOs
Anne: Ok, I've kind of been feeling guilty since I never do shout-outs for my one-shots, so here goes. Brace yourself…there's quite a few. If you haven't reviewed any of my other one-shots, then just review this one, lol, and ignore the others. Please!! Don't make me make Mush beg
Mush: Hey!! When'd I get whipped into this??
Blink: Whipping? Kinky ^ _ U (heehee…Kid Blink smiley!!!)
Mush: 0 _ o?
Anne: To the Batmobile!!! Erm…I mean…the shout outs. ^ _ ^
Do You Remember
Thistle: Heehee, very, very glad you liked it!! And I find it amusing that you found the whole ripping-out-his-heart thing awesome. Actually…I found it extremely amusing. My nutty psycho babble usually turns out weird, so it's cool that you liked it.
Gothic Author: Hey!! Ax-Murderer Race is sexy!! Come one, I know you think he is *drools at Psycho! Race* And Spot had to die in one of my fics. It was…just inevitable. *nods*
Copper bandit: Race was being dumb. He didn't see the Jack thing coming…so he went nuts. Simple, lol. Thanks for reviewing!
Stage: *cracks up* You chased Spot with a rake? Heehee…priceless. And yes, Race is the one to be cuddled in this fic, lol.
Geometrygal: Pretty until the end then psychotically pretty? LOL!! And then you called it lovely. Ah, I love you, lol!!! You're insane just like me!!
Shot Hunter:*gapes* I rendered someone speechless?!?! How did that happen? Yeesh, the world's going crazy! *grins* I totally agree with the Psycho!Race thing. You gotta love him!! Otherwise he'll kill you ^ _ ^
Depends Solomon: Race and Davey should join forces and kill all the cheaters, lol. Heehee, and I LOVE strange pairings! This one isn't that weird, but I LOVE THEM!!! Whheee! Write more ficcage!! Otherwise I won't finish the Jake/Oscar one I've been procrastinating about :p
Nakaia Aidan-Sun: It made me laugh too. Which does mean you're insane. Only an insane person can read this and laugh…heehee. But Spot had it coming so there!! Nee ner nee ner nee ner!! Heehee.
Tess: Isn't it great when you enjoy things you shouldn't? *stops to think* That could be interpreted as SOO dirty, lol!! Oh well.
And Everything Fell Into Place
Goldstranger: Lol… "Hi Mom, I have a fetish with alleys!" Ah, how I love being obsessed, lol. And I love Jack/Oscar pairings. It just…GEHH!! They're lovely together!! *glomps Oscar and Jack*
Gothic Author: Lol, you're right. Alleys are just associated with Newsies in my mind. I see one, I think, "hey, I wonder if Oscar and Jack are making out down there." Ok…maybe not an exact thought, but close…heehee. And Oscar's charming because he's an ass. Heehee, I love my logic ^ _ ^
Stage: Lol, glad you like. Oscar and Snoddy, eh? Never really thought of that. Maybe I'll play with it and work a fic out of it? Who knows?
Thistle: Isn't Narcissist! Jack sexy, though?? He's always the arrogant one in my mind, lol.
The Omniscient Bookseller: I got a wow! I love getting wows ^ _ ^ I'm glad you liked!
Prefer It That Way
Thistle: You are such a loyal reviewer, lol. I love you to pieces!! And I made you grin like a fool. That makes me proud, lol.
Sita-chan: I made you speechless! *dances around* I love doing that to people!! It makes me feel special! And you love Race and Spot!! Heehee. *grins* I've been Favorite-Listed!!! But…I killed you twice in that review, too. Hmm…but I was Favorite-Listed!!! Wohoo!!
SugarNspice2: Terrific? Jeez, thanks!! Race and Spot are one of my faves too!
Funkiechick: Thank Gothic Author for the Race/Spot fluffiness of this fic. She asked for it, lol. Wise of her, don't you think? ^ _ ^ Heehee, you did wonderfully reviewing, my dear. Wonderfully. Heehee, that part of your review was classic!!
Gothic Author: Yes, my dear, it was all for you! I wrote it only because you asked. I'm not a very…fluffy person, lol. Well, I am now, but I wasn't when you asked, lol. Does that make sense? Nah, probably not. At least it does to me
^ _ ^ Now stop melting before you can't write anymore!! I live off Matchmaker, lol. You can keep jigging for Spot and Race fluff, though ^ _ ^
FidgetConlon: Heehee, you're loved for loving this story!! Heehee…I love your reviews. They do numbers for my ego!
Studentnumber24601: I have to agree with that. Pissed!Race certainly is creepy…in that sexy kinda way ^ _ ^ I kinda wrote about how I felt after…bleh…boys suck…but, anyway, I felt like that so I made Race kinda fixed on getting Dutchy and Specs caught. And Concerned! Spot is uber-adorable!! I love him to bits!! Fabulously adorable? God, another number on my ego, lol.
Stage: Glad you liked it! Heehee…love how you started the review with two exclamation points. Found it funny, lol.
Obsessed wit' Aaron Lohr: *beams* My story's cute!! Woohoo!! Hear that Spot and Race?? They like you!! They really, really like you!!! ^ _ ^
OK…if you actually read these, then you've been tormented for about two and a half pages. Sucks for you, now review (HA!! I rhymed!!)
