"Welcome to Beef Barn"
Chapter Four
Disclaimer: I own nothing mentioned in this story.
Warnings: Slash (Skittery/Snitch and Dutchy/Specs), language.
Early Notes: So so so so sorry for the wait. Okay, what to look forward to in this chappy: Snitch TALKS! Woo! To Skittery! Woo woo! There's only so much stuttering I can write^^ So yeah, he gets over it a bit in this one. Next chapter, it'll probably be back, but to a lesser degree. He'll loosen up again, though. But why am I telling you that now? I haven't even written the dang thing yet…
Tallyho!
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"Hello?"
Okay. Now would be a good time to speak, loser. That's what happens when you call someone. They say 'hello' and you say something. It's a lot like talking to someone in person, but you don't have to look at them. So yeah, talk now.
I coughed a little instead.
In all fairness, I meant to say an actual word, but…well, like I said, I coughed instead.
You know, if I was a country singer, that'd probably make a good song. Don't you think? 'I Coughed Instead.' Sounds like a hit to me.
"Um…"
Oh right, him. Great, so he's gonna hang up now. Probably for the best, seeing as how I am a loser.
"Okay, well, it was nice listening to you clear your throat and all, but…"
Shit. "No, Skittery, hey. Hey, man. Um. Sorry, I swallowed a um, grape wrong when I was trying to uh, speak. Sorry about that." I scrunched um my nose and slapped my forehead a little. "So, anyway, hey."
"Hey, Snitch."
I was beaming. I don't know exactly what a beam looks like, but I'm positive that's what I was doing. He knew my voice!
Or he had caller id.
Either way, he said my name and that's always good.
"I was hoping you'd call, man."
"Me, too." Oh just kill me, for crying out loud. "I mean—I uh, well…so, what's doing? " I cringed. Not only was a loser, but I was talking like my grandpa.
"Just wondering where I'm gonna get dinner tonight, seeing as how my favorite little farmer has the night off from this horrid little fast food joint I know of." I knew he was grinning and I couldn't help but blush.
And giggle.
What, you expected different? From me? Pssh.
"Yeah, well, it means I have a night away from the stench of frying flesh, so I'm sorry that I'm not sorry, man."
Dude. Where did that come from? That was a real sentence!! Granted, not a very romantic one, but still. Be proud of me.
He laughed and I sighed a little. I loved his laugh. It was definitely a sigh-worthy sound. "When you put it like that, how can I be upset? Even if I am so hungry my stomach's starting to eat itself…"
"Better than a Mad Cow Special eating it, right?"
"Ah, touché. So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call? Just feel like shooting the breeze a little?"
This time, I laughed. "'Shooting the breeze'? Okay, now I don't feel so lame for the 'what's doing' thing."
"Glad to help out, man."
I knew we were both grinning right now. I couldn't believe it. I was talking to him. Actually talking. Like I would talk to…well, anyone who wasn't him. Talking to him! Without stuttering! Slap my ass and call me Lulu!
Okay, that there, that's probably something I should try to refrain some saying out loud.
"Anyway, yeah. Just thought we could talk a little. Unless I'm keeping you from something…"
"No, no. Seriously, I was just up in my room, contemplating my hunger. So, what's up with you? Got any big plans for your night off?"
"Well, I—um, can you hold on? I got a beep." Who the hell dared to interrupt our casual banter?!
"Sure."
I clicked over to the other line. "Hello!" I said, probably a little too harshly.
"What's wrong, I interrupt your millionth viewing of 'Hair'?"
"Hey, dad." I rolled my eyes. I don't—well, okay, I have seen 'Hair' about a million times. But you know what? You can talk to my ass, cuz that's a damn good movie. Gliddy glub gloopy, baby. Lyrics just don't get better than that.
"Hey, kid. Really, anything wrong?"
"Nope. What's up?"
"I'll be later than I thought. Some singer just rented the place out for Friday, paid an arm and two legs. So I've got to call and reschedule reservations and get together an 8-courser menu for 200."
I grimaced. "Ouch. Will you be home this month?"
"Yeah, I know. I should be back by…well, let's just say, you'd better be in bed by then. No staying up all night just to see if you can, okay?"
"Dad." I dragged it out for about three seconds, because, well, I like to whine occasionally. You do, too, don't lie.
He chuckled and then sighed. "Alright, well, go ahead and get your friends to stay over if you want. I don't want you turning on every light in the house so you can sleep."
"Dad!" Okay, so now you know. I'm scared of the dark. Not scared of the dark, exactly, just…well, yeah, I'm scared of the dark. I'm secure enough in my masculinity to admit that. My favorite color is purple, too. How ya like them apples, baby, huh?
"Right, right, someone might hear. Anyhow, I gotta get going. Keep the doors locked and the house up and I won't ground you for eternity, deal?"
"Deal. Hey, can we have some beer?" I asked, hopefully.
"Uh-huh. Well, I do have that 6-pack I haven't opened…how many people are you having over?"
"Two!" I was getting excited. Dad was cool, but he didn't even let me drink Nyquil.
I heard him mumble something to himself. "Okay, so that means three of you…right, I'm thinking no."
"Damn it." He laughed. Jerk.
"No, I love you more."
"Yeah, yeah, you're funny. Love you, too, dad." I rolled my eyes again and clicked back over to Skittery. "Still there?"
"Yep."
"Sorry about that. It was my dad." I propped my feet up on the coffee table.
"No problem. Anything I can be nosy about?"
I grinned. Again. Hey, it's better than when I'm dropping stuff, right? "He's gonna be gone all night."
"Party at Snitch's!"
I laughed out loud at that. "Kind of, actually. Except it won't be so much a party as a make out session for Specs and Dutchy." Oh, oops. "I mean—"
"Dutchy? The guy whose mom's had like twenty kids?"
"Yeah…" Please let him be cool with it, please let him be cool with it…
"Awesome. How long they been together?"
YES! Even if he's not gay himself, he's not totally against it. Not that he's not gay. I mean, come on now…
"A little over a year, I think."
"That's great. Specs seems like a good guy."
"He is. A little on the crazy side, but he's a great friend. Okay, a lot on the crazy side, but still a great friend. He keeps things interesting," I said with a smile. "We're all best friends."
"What's Dutchy like?"
I shrugged. "Dutchy… Well, he's more serious than Specs, but still a fun guy. He's the one everyone goes to when they need advice or just need to talk. Him and Specs are good together because they balance each other out."
"And what's Snitch like?"
I smiled a little. "Snitch is…Snitch. Not as goofy as Specs, not as serious Dutchy. He talks a lot, usually." I took a deep breath and held it for a second. "Unless there's some…thing around to distract him."
"Oh yeah? Like what?"
"I dunno. Something…distracting." My smile got bigger. "When that happens, he can act like a real spazz…"
Silence. Nothing. No response.
I swallowed. "Um. Still there?"
"I'm still here."
"Okay, just checking…"
God, what'd I say? It's not like me spazzing out was some big revelation, was it?
"Sorry, yeah, I'm with ya."
"Something on your mind?"
"Yeah. Not really. Well, kind of. No. Sort of. No."
Huh? "Well, as long as you're sure." He was so cute. I sighed again.
"I'm just thinking. I tend to get a little spacey when I think," he said with a laugh.
"It's okay. I'll deal with the spacey thing if you deal with the spazzy thing."
"That won't be a problem..." He cleared his throat softly. "So, you don't feel like a third wheel around them? I think I would."
"Nah. It was kind of weird at first. I avoided going anywhere with them. Then, one night they showed up at my house with some movies and CDs. Specs spent the entire night in my lap." I laughed and get this, so did Skittery. Woo! "I know that sounds strange, but it's a very Specs thing to do. It made me realize things didn't have to change between all three of us, just because they'd changed between the two of them. If that makes any sense."
"Perfect sense."
"It does get a little uncomfortable when they start to go at it on my couch, though," I said with a grin. "That's probably what'll happen tonight, I'm sure."
"Aw, poor Snitchy. You need someone to make out with, too."
Sure as hell do. You offering?
Pssh! Yeah right. What are you on? I'd never say that.
"Sure as hell do. You offering?"
...shut up.
I sat stunned, waiting for his response. It came and it sounded a lot like…
Laughter. Yeah, yep, that was laughter. He was laughing…okay, laugh! Laugh with him and pass it off as a joke! Do it NOW!
So, I laughed. "I'm just kidding, man…"
"Aw damn. I was ready to grab my keys and head over to your place…"
Um. Eh?
"Yeah, well. Uh. Heh."
"Okay, come on, don't clam up now. You've been doing great."
Oh my God. I don't know why exactly, but that embarrassed the hell out of me.
But he was right. I had been doing great. Well, I dunno about great, but I'd been doing not so awful. That was good enough for me.
"Yeah, sorry about that. I'm—I'm good. I'm cool. I can use sentences."
He laughed again and I felt some of the tension leave my body again. I slumped back against the chair and sighed. He was a lot easier to talk to when he wasn't around being all sexy. "I have a confession."
"What's that?" He sounded curious.
"You distract me."
Woo, bet you didn't think I'd go there, huh? Yeah, baby. See now, as far as you knew, I was just a shy little dweeb who did nothing but work and hang out with his only two friends, right?
Okay, so yeah, that's mostly true, but I'm not shy. I'm just not. Skittery made me forget that for a bit, but let's move on from that, please.
"And how do I do that?" He asked quietly.
"I don't know."
"You don't?"
"No." I knew that was vague, but it was the truth. I had no idea why I couldn't be comfortable. He was great and the kind of guy I should have been completely at ease around. For some reason, though, I wasn't. "I just—I don't feel like I can be myself around you. I don't know why."
He sighed. "I'm sorry. Listen, I know I probably came on too strong, right? I'm sorry about that. That's just me. It's how I am. And I really am sorry if I've… you know, freaked you out." He sounded a little sad. "You should never feel like you can't be yourself around me. Around anyone, yeah, but especially me. It'll be too hard for me to get to know you then." I knew he was smiling then, so I smiled too.
"Listen, if you're not busy tonight, you can come over here and keep me company while the lovebirds do…whatever. We can just hang out or something. Watch a movie. I'm gonna order pizza."
Okay, now even I didn't know I was gonna do that, so don't feel like I just purposely left you out of the loop.
"Um. If you want." Damn. Damn damn damn. Why do I let myself get so caught up in the moment like that? Why would he want to come to my house? I'd done nothing to prove to him that I was anything less than a loon! What if he was a loon? In disguise! That's the worse kind of loon!
No, he couldn't be. He was too…too. He was just too. You know? Too sexy, too sweet, too cute, too too.
…shut up. Lust makes you think stupid things.
He sighed and I squeezed my eyes shut. "I have this," he paused for a second. "…thing I have to go to tonight. For my little cousin."
"That's okay, I uh, really, I just—"
"No, no, I'd like to hang out with you guys. Um…what time?"
Dude. Anytime you want. Come over now. Bring all your stuff. You can have the left side of the bed and the top two closet shelves. "Specs gets off work at about nine, so anytime after that." Or that. Whatever works for you, lovah boy.
Again, shut up. What'd I tell you about lust and stupid thoughts?
I heard him moving something around and muttering to himself before talking to me again. "Okay…okay, this thing shouldn't last past 9:45, ten at the latest. Would that be too late?"
"No, that's perfect!" I grimaced when I said it a little too quickly. "I mean, that's a good time. Not too late."
"Alright. Sounds like a plan then, huh?"
"Yep, it does…"
"You gonna give me your address or should I just drive up and down every street in the city and scream out your name?"
Oooh. Skittery screaming out my name…ahem. Sorry about that.
I shook the thought out of my head and rattled off my address and quick directions.
"I know where that is. So, I guess I'll see you tonight? At about ten?"
"Yeah, about ten. Um. Just—yeah, just come on over whenever you can."
"Will do. Talk to you later, Snitch."
"Yeah. Bye, Skittery." Right as we hung up, I remembered something I probably should have mentioned, but heard the dial tone right as I started to say it. Oh well, I'd be able to tell him that night, hopefully.
Oh, God. That night. Skittery was coming to my house. MY house. What the hell was I thinking ?!
I panicked and quickly dialed Dutchy's number. Please be home, please be home…
"Yes yes?"
"Dutchy!"
"Yes, sir, what can I do for ya?"
"Skittery's coming over tonight."
"…"
"Dutchy? Dutchy, come on, man!"
"He's coming over? To your house? Tonight?"
"Yes!"
"Are you sure that's a good idea, Ands? I mean you barely know the guy…"
"I know! Hence my current freak out session! What do I do?"
"I don't know, man, you already invited him."
"Yes. I know. I know!" I slapped the heel of my hand against my forehead repeatedly. "Oh. You and Specs are coming over, too."
"We are?"
"Yeah, man, please. Please? Please please?"
He sighed, but I knew he wouldn't refuse. "Okay. What time is he gonna be over there?"
"About ten or so."
"Specs gets off at nine. Do you want me to come over early to help you get ready?"
"Get ready? I don't—what do you mean? Should I dress up? Should I like cook or smell good or something? Is that what you mean?" I was panicking.
"No, I mean help you with you make-up, because you are a girl, Specs was right. You dork, I just mean to help you stay calm. Keep you from getting too nervous while you wait. I know you over-think things when you're alone."
"Right. Um. But, no, man, just tell Specs to pick you up after work and you two can come over here. I'll order pizza, I guess. And…what? Music? No, that'd make it seem like I want to dance. Um. A movie. A movie maybe? Would that be okay with you?"
"Sure thing."
"We had the piano tuned last week. You could work on that new song of yours."
"Ah, you know me too well, Sugar Toosh."
"I'm a girl?" I teased.
"You love my pet names."
"I know, but don't call me anything in front of Skittery."
"Like I would! This is your first date with this guy. Right?"
"Well…"
"Okay, so we don't know if it's a date. Alright. But this is your first getting together on personal time hang out, right?"
"Right."
"Okay, so I won't call you 'Sweet Muff' and you won't wear make up and we'll all have a gay ol' time." He chuckled at his joke. I just rolled my eyes because now I was going to have the them to The Flinstones in my head for a month. "Don't bust out 'Hair' just yet. Hey, how about Moulin Rouge? I love the soundtrack, man, it's awesome."
"What's wrong with 'Hair'? Dude, c'mon. It's best that he learns early on—love me, love my 'Hair'."
"Whatever, Snitchy. Just maybe don't admit to knowing every word to the entire movie? In English and Pig Latin?"
Hmph. I think he was exaggerating a little, but—well, okay, he wasn't. "Yeah, okay…what about—hell, what if we just turn on Comedy Central and leave it at that?"
"Hey, sounds good to me. So, I'll talk to you later?"
"Yep."
"You get too panicky, call me. I'll get over there somehow."
"I know." I smiled. "Thanks, Dutch. Later, man."
"Bye."
I dropped the phone to the floor and tried to sprawl. Didn't work too well on the chair, so I moved to the couch. As I sprawled, I stared at the ceiling (slightly more interesting than the one in my room, thanks to a big bubble where the attic was threatening to cave in), and I started to seriously wonder about my sanity.
End of Chapter Four
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Note: I thought this was gonna be a big, huge, great chapter, but nyet. Well, they made a sorta date! That's good, right? It's a long story how this ended up just being a little short chapter, but yes, that's how it ended up and with reason. Umm… oh yeah! Thank you to Bones, who assisted me greatly with chapter four and didn't care when I totally abandoned that chapter four and wrote this one instead.
Sorry if there are any mistakes in this. I finished it up a week or so ago and have done my best to edit it and crap, but I'm sick and frankly I just wanted to get the damn thing posted, so yes. Sorry 'bout mistakes.
I'm very excited about the next chapter! There's gonna be actual interaction. *squeals* And four characters at once! I've never written four in one scene before.^_^
Shout outs!
Thumbsucker Snitch: LUTE! Dude. Um... *curtsies* Now I know how Britney Spears must've felt singing 'The Beat Goes On' in front of Cher. I'm so glad you're reading! And fairly intimidated, since this is your couple I'm playing with. I'll give you more Snitch/Skitts next chapter, I promise. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing, it means a lot!
SpecsGlasses: LOL Llamonk, I don't even know where to start with that review of yours. I'll just say that it was the best review EVER! Seriously^^ Thank you for it! WOO! I rock, you rock, we all rock! I gotta email you soon, so be on the lookout. I LOVE YOU TOO! *sends llamonk 48 llamas and 12 monkeys* Thank you for your sweet sweet sweet reviews!!
studentnumber24601: lol Wait'll you read the backstory to 'The Experiment' I'ma write soon! It'll be…well, interesting. Maybe even good! lol! I'm so glad you like airhead!Specs. I like making him totally opposite of how he is in most stories. Even though he wasn't actually supposed to be this way…oh you'll find out why next chapter^^ I hope you liked this chapter, even if all they did was talk and make plans^^ Next one, I promise, more action! Thank you so much for reading!
Obsessed wit' Aaron Lohr: lol! Craaaazy review! Cornflakes do suck. Frosted flakes rock, though!! Thank you for reviewing! I hope you keep reading^^
kattabean: You're not annoying! I adore you! Yay! I love your reviews, they make me happy^^ I'm so not like Snitch, which is why he changed a bit in this chapter. I can't write shy anymore, I drew a blank. So yeah, things'll be progressing with these two since I've lost my shy-ability, lol. I hope you still like Snitch after he comes out of his shell! Please keep reading and reviewing^^ Thanks!
kellyanne: Ewww, you're a big lump of flesh!! Our cheese children will have bones and stuff, right? OH! OH! I found a new cheese yesterday! Taleggio! Woo! I love it cuz it reminds me of Veggie Tales which just rules! Hope you enjoyed the Skitchy (love that! LOL!) conversation enough to birth lil' Cheddar! lol! Next chapter should be enough to get Pepper and Monty Jack! Thank you for reading and reviewing!!
Holiday: Yay! I'm so glad you like it!! Especially Specs, cuz he's SO much fun to write! There's gonna be lots of Specs (most likely) in the next chapter, just so ya know^^ Dude, know what? Update the Bus Rides story! Cuz after one chapter I was already in love with it, so yes, please! Thank you so so much for reading and letting me know you liked it, it means a lot! Thanks!
Nakaia Aidan-Sun: Okay, I'll tell you a secret. I didn't even know I had written a cliffhanger. Lol! I think it's cuz I wrote it without having any idea what was gonna happen with the conversation, so I wasn't even…like, picturing it…and I so suck at explaining how I think, so I'ma stop there and just say thank you thank you for reading! And for reviewing!! I appreciate it so much!
Soaker: Yeahhh! Me too, dude, I had to have my main char be adopted. I'm so glad you liked the chapter! Thanks for letting me know and please keep reading!
Dakota-Jones: Yay! You like it! I'm so glad cuz you rock! I hope you liked this chapter since Snitch was finally acting a little normal around Skitts. Like I said, I don't think I can do 'shy' anymore, so things will be moving along for our boys starting with the next chapter^^ Dunno if he's gonna follow your advice yet or not….but, we'll see^_~
Saturday: Dude, I gotta say that I love you so much right now cuz you reviewed like ALL of my stories and that totally made my day! It really did! Thank you so much! Okay, second, omg, that was a huge great fabulous compliment! Thank you!!! BUT! You must go read all of Lute's (ThumbsuckerSnitch) stories, cuz every time someone writes Snitch/Skitts, it's cuz of her—she's our queen^_^ Still, thank you SO much! I've got the biggest smile on my face right now cuz of your super wonderful reviews. Thanks for reading and reviewing, I hope you continue to like the story!
Chronicles Bailey: Brothers suck, which is why they all need to be kicked. ^^ I'm so glad you like this story! Thank you for letting me know, it really means a lot to me!
Highland Lassie: Y'all are making my head big with all this cliffhanger jazz^^ I didn't know I was writing them till y'all told me! I love it, so I'ma have to keep writing them^_~ No no, just kidding, there won't be too many cliffhangers, I promise. Hehe. No, for real. Hehehe. Okay. ^^ There's gonna be lots of Specs/Dutchy for ya in the next chapter! I hope you like it! Thanks for reading!
Checkmate: COOKIES! WOOO! Hope you liked this chapter! Thank you for reading and reviewing! Please keep reading^^ And please keep the cookies comin'! Woo!
Chrissy Pen: Dude, I SO understand. I wish it would snow here, too. It's dang cold enough to, but snow always passes us by—the only winter weather we get is ice storms that knock our city on it's ass for like a month! Ugh, so yes, I sympathize with you completely. That doesn't mean you're gonna be let off the hook for keeping me in suspense over the final (nooo!) chapter of the Friday story, though^_~ I need more, so write more soon! Thank you so much for the review, it means a lot to know you like this! And yes, it'd be hard to make Skitts not sexy in a story, wouldn't it? He's so…well, sexy. He just can't help it.
sugarNspice2: Yay! You didn't jump! Good cuz you're right, you never woulda found out what they talked about^^ And you can't jump now either cuz then you'll never know what happens when Skitts shows up at Snitch's house! Thank you for reading and reviewing!!
Thanks to allllll y'all who are reading! I can't get over all the nice things y'all come up with in these reviews! It's unreal! I swear, I'm gonna print them off and take them to ever English teacher I've ever had and say "HA!" Thank you all so much. It means more than you know!