I debated for a long time on how I would approach this relationship. I feel like this isn't going to be many people's favorite but I was trying to stay true to characters that have already developed. Eugene and Sheena are two very special people, but despite their endless optimism and their reassurance to everyone around them, I feel as if they both have deep inner problems. Nobody is completely perfect - nobody is okay.
Eugene & Sheena
Eugene looked into the mirror and smiled at his handsome grin close to Roni Matthews and his effortless attitude of wonderful days ahead. He could only chuckled that his arm would be in a sling on prom night and he had a black eye. It kind of made him look like one of the handsome tough guys in West Side Story.
His suit was modeled after Lawrence's in "Eugene, Eugene!" and Sheena couldn't have done a better job making it for him. It showed off all his best features. The doorbell rang and Eugene knew immediately it would be Sheena.
"Coming!" He yelled and skipped down the stairs proceeding to trip. "I'm okay…" he said quietly and came to the door to greet Sheena. She wore a dress made of recycled fibers and had colors in her hair.
"Oh Eugene, you just look darling, just ever so darling!" she cried.
Eugene struck a pose and stumbled over the welcome matt."
"Oh Eugene! Are you o…."
"I'm okay." Eugene said.
But, Eugene wasn't okay. He wasn't okay.
Sheena walked around the prom ballroom looking for Eugene. She asked Lila and Stinky, and she asked Phoebe and Gerald.
"Gosh Sheena," Lila had said. "I haven't seen him since the beginning of the night. But I'm ever so certain he's okay."
Sheena, usually peaceful and happy envied the love and lust that had blossomed between her fellow classmates. At the current moment, all eyes were on Helga and Arnold who held each other so close on the dance floor you would think that if they let go of each other, they would just fall down.
Eugene and Sheena had always been the best of friends. Each other's dance companions, their dates to the theatre happened biweekly. And as Sheena went off to the Peace Corps she could not be prouder that Eugene would be attending Julliard pursuing his dreams in theatre. She had an admiration for Eugene and his endless optimism that she had for no one else. She trembled at the thought of where he could be. He was, of course, known for his accidents. Eugene had broken more bones that their entire graduating class combined. And he was nowhere to be found.
She started to panic.
After searching the hotel twice, she went outside where it was raining. Rhonda and…Harold? She saw them both standing under the landing standing so close to one another hand in hand with their lust blossoming before her eyes. She saw Helga and Arnold tangled together in the rain and then run for Arnold's Packard.
Oh Eugene… she wondered nervously. Where could you be? Then she became angry, frustrated in her sexual tension and her need to be touched like everyone else were experiencing. She imagined that Eugene probably went with Curly, to drink and he'd be fine. He was always fine. He was never great, but he was okay.
Eugene stood on the stage in the auditorium of PS 118. He looked back at the seats and his past. His unbelievable experience as a young actor. He had taken his tie off and his jacket. He felt unbelievably handsome. Behind him was the set for Romeo and Juliet, apparently Mr. Simmons was performing the forth grade play once more before he retired. And on the edge of the stage, he tried to embrace everything he was privileged enough to do. It'll be okay…he thought endlessly. He tried to keep his optimism again and again. He thought of Sheena. His wonderful friend Sheena, and her misunderstanding of him. He couldn't even open up to her.
He thought of the handsome men in his graduating class, and he could not bear to look at them in gym class. He felt sinful at his need to dance with them at the prom, rather than gentle, beautiful Sheena. He thought he deserved to be tortured by his need, a dirty need. Oh god…it's okay…it's not okay…it's okay…no…
I want them, I need them…I can't do this anymore.
He lay on the stage on his back, took a swig of his flask and closed his eyes. It would be okay.
In his nightmares, he would relive his secret fate. It was late at night when it happened, and he had convinced himself long ago it was a dream. He was to buy a Yahoo Ice Cream pop from the Jolly Olly Man.
Eugene…you're getting tall….
You think so? I've grown another inch! I think soon I'll be able to play Eugene, Eugene in high school!
Is that so? You are certainly getting big and strong…in fact…do you think you could help me with something? Being so big and strong…
Well, I suppose so…
Great! You se there is a big box that I need help with unpacking, should only take a few minutes…how about you hop in the back of the ice cream truck and give me a hand…for that you can get a free Yahoo Ice Cream pop?
Oh boy, my favorite! Sure I can help you…
Sometimes he woke up during this part, sometimes the nightmare, the reliving continued; sometimes he climbed into the truck. Sometimes the truck would start moving fast…
Wait…Jolly Olly Man, where are we going?
Oh you'll see Eugene…
I think I should go…I'm sorry I can't help you…
Sometimes at the unbuckling of his pants, he would wake up…
No…please stop…
You're a big boy now Eugene, you're big and strong aren't you…I'm big and strong too…
Please…don't…
Sometimes when he pulled down his pants he would wake up…
I bet you like being big and strong…I like it too…
Sometimes when he entered him and he made him bleed he would wake it up…
Say you like it Eugene, you little fuck…
Please stop…
Say you like it and I'll stop…
I…I like it…
Oh you do…so I should go harder…because you like it…
No please…
Sometimes he would dream this, and the worse part about it was…he did like it…just not as the Jolly Olly Man did it. Sometimes he would have another dream…another reliving…
Yes…yes…oh god yes Lorenzo fuck me…fuck me harder…oh god…
Do you like it…
I love it…
Here it comes…
Sometimes in this dream, Lorenzo wouldn't move away. He wouldn't leave Eugene in secrecy. He wouldn't leave Eugene unable to function, unable to breathe, and unable to let go all the secrets he had. When he fell into his permanent sleep tonight, he dreamed this. He dreamed that everyone, including himself, was accepting and open and loving. And he dreamed, he was finally, okay.
Sheena didn't know she thought of PS 118 elementary school, she didn't know why she thought he would be there. She held his hand and read his note again. She couldn't cry, she couldn't even speak. She picked up her cell phone and dialed for the police and when there was an answer, she hung up. Her tears spilled out, and all she could do was lay there and cradle her dear friends body. Eugene would say, that he was okay. He was okay now, he was.
In the distance she heard a noise, right outside PS 118. She stood up and she left she ran out the door toward the ice cream truck song she knew well. She saw it pulling away so she ran. She tripped and ripped her dress and scrapped her knee. Her hair was a mess and she ran, she chased after it. It stopped. She caught her breath. She inhaled deeply. She felt in her purse for her wallet. She just wanted to look at him.
"Well hey there…"
The Jolly Olly man was older now, bags under his eyes, he was fat and he wore glasses.
"What can I get for you little missy…"
She swallowed; she couldn't make eye contact with him.
"A Yahoo ice cream pop."
"One Yahoo Ice Cream Pop coming up! That's the favorite of a friend of yours isn't it?" he asked.
His voice echoed threw her body. She continued to feel through her purse until she felt it…and thanked god that Rhonda had her as dress repairer of prom.
When her sewing scissors lunged at him, she no longer felt faint at the site of blood