Broken Toys

Chapter 21

Zeke staggered into the room and dropped a huge stack of textbooks onto the nearest bed before collapsing beside them.

"Should I ask how your first day went?" Billy inquired mildly, looking up from his desk. The room had been rearranged to accommodate a third desk and dresser that had been delivered just an hour ago and he still wasn't quite used to it.

"I think Parker's trying to kill me."

"Oh, you got Sorens."

"Yeah. Case tried to warn me, but I never imagined anyone could be so boring." Zeke rolled over onto his stomach and surveyed the room. "So where is Case?"

"Where else?" Billy replied, turning his attention back to his homework. "So what's your schedule like?"

"It's really not that bad," Zeke admitted. "Case is in most of my classes, except for Physics and P.E."

"Who'd you get for P.E.?"

"Coach Patrick. Brown for Physics."

Billy nodded. "Patrick's not bad - yells a lot but he's really ok. Brown's kind of absent-minded, you can get him off-track by asking questions that don't have anything to do with Physics. Works great if you need more time to study, but don't over use it. He's not that absent-minded."

"Thanks," Zeke said, smiling as he dragged himself off the bed and lugged his books to his desk. He settled himself into the uncomfortable chair and consulted his assignment book.

Not quite ready to start working, he idly flipped through the top text, then gave up and closed it, standing up and stretching.

"Hard time getting started?" Billy asked looking sympathetic. Zeke didn't exactly strike him as the study for hours type.

"Yeah," Zeke shrugged. "Not used to the idea of wanting to graduate, I guess."

"That why you're repeating your senior year? Just not ready for the real world?" Billy asked the question without accusation, honestly curious.

"Never really had a reason to graduate. Now," Zeke shrugged again. "Can't let Case go off and leave me behind."

"Or me," Billy reminded him, trying to be cheeky and not quite managing it.

"Or you, Billy." With a sigh, Zeke dropped back into the chair and picked up the textbook again. He made a valiant effort to get started on his homework while Billy sat and watched.

"You know what the problem is, Zeke?" Billy asked finally. "You're not really settled in here. It's been what, a week? You don't have any of your stuff."

Zeke looked around. Billy's part of the room looked lived in, and even Case had his cds and some photos. All Zeke had was what he'd packed in one suitcase for an impulse trip.

"Yeah," Zeke agreed, surprised at how much he suddenly wanted to be surrounded by familiar belongings. He thought about calling his mother or a friend and arranging for them to pack up and send his things, but then admitted that the only person he'd even consider trusting with such a task was the person he'd come to Virginia to see.

"Wonder if Case would be willing to go home with me this weekend and help me pack some stuff."

"You sure that's a good idea, Zeke?" Billy asked carefully. "It'll be hard for him to be that close to his parents."

"I know," Zeke nodded, looking thoughtful. "I could make the trip alone."

"In a weekend? No way. What if the three of us went? That is if you don't mind the third wheel. We can take turns driving."

"You're hardly a third wheel, Billy." Zeke raised his eyebrows. "You need a reminder?"

Billy smiled back. "Not right now or I won't get my homework done." He cleared his throat awkwardly. "You know, I'm still not quite sure how things worked out the way they did at the beach, but I don't ever intend to get between you and Casey, Zeke. You want me out, just say so."

"Really? That easy?" Zeke studied Billy for a long moment. "You care for him that much that you'd walk away from your own feelings?"

"Not just him, Zeke." Billy looked away, embarrassed. "But I don't ever want to...cause a problem between you. I'd rather leave than see that happen."

"Oh, bullshit."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. I was there in that cottage, Billy. I was in that bed. You're not that good an actor." Zeke leaned forward, all dark-eyed and intense, his full focus on Billy.

"So what? We live happily ever after in our gay little circle?" Billy scoffed.

"Bi, actually, Billy, but that's beside the point."

"Oh, excuse me, yes, let's be accurate. Three bis in a triangle."

"Why not?" Zeke challenged. "Case needs us both. We need each other. We both need Case. Circle complete. We're not using you, Billy. And I don't think you're using us. So where's the harm?" He leaned forward, holding Billy's gaze, lowering his voice. "Could you really walk away from either of us?"

Poised, teetering, ready to fall with the weight of the lie he wanted to believe... the ring of the telephone saved him.

"Answer," Zeke demanded and he wasn't referring to the phone. Billy reached for the telephone but Zeke was there in an instant, an obstacle between Billy and the ringing instrument.

Billy's eyes darted around nervously, searching for some way to avoid the question but finding none. He struggled with himself and against Zeke for a moment as the ringing phone jangled his nerves.

Surrendering at last he whispered, "No."

Zeke snatched the handset off the hook and thrust it at Billy. "Good," he mouthed as Billy took the phone and answered the call.

"Hello," Billy almost growled into the phone. "Hold on," he said after a pause and shoved the receiver at Zeke. "For you."

Zeke frowned as he accepted the phone and answered it. "Hello?" A pause and then, "Stokes? Stokely? How did you find me?"

Billy sat down at his desk and watched Zeke pace a short path around the phone, not even pretending he wasn't listening to the one-sided conversation.

"Well?" Billy demanded as soon as Zeke hung up.

"Stokely, a former classmate. Suddenly she's very anxious for Case and I to come back to Ohio. Says she's got something important for Case?"

"You trust her?"

Zeke shrugged, "I don't think she'd hurt Casey, but she wasn't exactly his best friend either."

"Any idea how she knew you were here?"

Zeke shrugged. "It's a small town; not too hard to find things out if you're determined."

"So you're going?"

"Guess so. When's your last class on Friday?"

"Finished at 11. What about you?"

"Noon." He walked over to Casey's bulletin board and checked the schedule posted there. "Same for Case." Zeke looked up. "You really want to come along? It's a long trip."

Billy nodded. "Never been to Ohio. Besides, I can help with the driving."

"Okay, we'll be packed and ready to go. Meet back here after class and leave as soon as we can. We'll pick up some lunch along the way."

"Casey will like that."

Zeke laughed.

*****

"Do you think she knows?" Casey asked quietly. His eyes were wide, almost fearful and Zeke wished he could find some way to reassure him.

"I don't know, Case, but Stokely's our friend. She's not going to give you a hard time about what your parents did."

"I don't have parents," Casey corrected him quietly.

"Case..." Zeke really had no idea what to say.

"Sorry," Casey held up his hand to stop whatever Zeke might say. "That wasn't necessary." He lowered his hand, absently playing with the bandage on his arm. The room was warm and he'd pushed the long sleeves of his shirt up, exposing the dressing.

"How's your arm?"

Casey looked down at it as if he'd forgotten about the self-inflicted injury. "Okay," he said at last. "Hurts a little now and then. Not as annoying as the leg, though."

"Still itches?"

"Like you wouldn't believe." He made a face and squirmed. "Better change the subject."

"So you feel like taking a road trip?" Zeke grinned at him already knowing the answer.

"Yeah, smartass."

"Excuse me? Was that a term of endearment I just heard?" Zeke placed a hand dramatically on his chest and batted his eyes.

"Dork."

"But you love me anyway, right?"

"Yeah." Casey welcomed Zeke's hug, snuggling against his side.

"Me too," Zeke assured him, still holding on with one arm while he reached out with the other to snag the textbook he'd been reading. Leaning against each other, they worked on their homework in comfortable silence.

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