Broken Toys

Chapter 51

Zeke leaned against the doorway peering into his dorm room, arms crossed and an amused expression on his face. The music was so loud that neither Casey nor Billy had heard him arrive and Zeke enjoyed the chance to watch them unnoticed.

The furniture had been pushed back and the two bodies careened through the open space, faces flushed and skin shining with moisture as they danced. Neither of them were particularly good dancers, but their joyous smiles eclipsed the lack of skill.

Casey had his eyes half-closed, trusting instinct and Billy to keep him from colliding with walls or furniture. His overshirt was dangling off the edge of the desk where he'd thrown it and his plain white t-shirt was half-untucked from his jeans. One sneaker was balanced in the corner and the other was upside-down on the bed. Casey was dancing in his socks.

Zeke grinned at Billy, finally catching his eye. They shared a look, then Zeke pushed away from the door and toed off his shoes. He moved in behind Casey and caught him neatly as Billy spun him away.

"Fancy meeting you here," Zeke commented, leaning in to kiss Casey before grabbing his hand and spinning him back to Billy.

"What am I, a yo-yo?" Casey gasped, coming up hard against Billy's chest.

"Yup," Billy agreed, wrapping his arms around Casey and swaying with him.

The song changed to something a bit slower and Billy pulled Casey closer and rested his chin on his shoulder. Zeke moved up behind Casey and matched the pair's movement.

"I take it we're celebrating."

"Oh, yeah. Last day of Exams for the Rejects. Definitely celebrating." Billy looked up at him. "Four days 'til graduation. Three days 'til the hordes arrive. Yup. Celebrating."

"I think he gets the idea," Casey laughed, leaning back against Zeke while Billy still held on tight. They finished out the song like that, but broke apart when someone pounded on the door.

"Geez, you trying to make us all deaf?" Snuffy demanded when Zeke opened the door.

"What? Sorry, can't hear you." Zeke swung the door closed but Snuffy stopped it.

"Ha, ha. Dork." He pushed his way in, then waved to Ric who was still in the hall. "Come on!" he yelled. "We're gonna help Billy find the volume control."

"Okay!" Billy yelled, turning the music up louder. The windows rattled and Zeke threw his head back and laughed before grabbing Ric and pulling him into the chaos. Billy caught Snuffy and twirled him around while Casey dodged arms and bodies to get to the door. Most of the doors on the hall were open and it sounded like every room had the stereo on full volume playing a different song.

Yogurt was hurrying towards them, grimacing at the cacophony. Casey reached out and grabbed him as soon as he was close enough and pulled him into the room.

By the time the final track on the CD wound down, all but Ric and Yogurt had collapsed onto the furniture. Billy reached over and switched off the stereo, then dropped back into the chair with a happy sigh.

"Who's hungry?" Casey asked from where he lay sprawled across the end of the bed.

Snuffy raised his hand, followed by Billy, then Yogurt and Ric. Casey looked over at Zeke who was smiling and shaking his head.

"What?"

"You'd think all we ever do is eat, Case."

Billy snorted and Snuffy rolled his eyes. Casey tried to look innocent.

"We're teenagers, Zeke. We're supposed to eat all the time."

"Thank you, Mr. Spock," Billy sniped.

"That's Dr. Spock." Snuffy tapped Billy with his foot. Billy kicked back and then reached out and pulled Yogurt between him and Snuffy.

"For humans, yeah... but we're not sure Billy..." Casey's words were cut off as Billy reached over and pretended to strangle him. Yogurt just laughed and moved closer to where Snuffy was perched on the edge of Billy's desk.

"Low blood sugar can lead to random acts of violence," Snuffy said calmly, watching the show.

Zeke just sighed and stood up, digging into his jeans pocket for his car keys.

"Come on, time to feed the wild animals."

"Hey!" Billy and Casey chorused in protest.

*****

"You're spoiling us, Zeke." Snuffy leaned back in the old lawn chair and sighed in contentment. "I'm going to miss this house and your cooking when I'm off at college." He turned his face into the cooling breeze, lifting his arms up for a stretch. Yogurt reached over and caught Snuffy's empty paper plate before it blew away.

"Thank Ric. The cookout was his idea. I just cooked the burgers." He looked over at Billy and raised his voice a bit. "That doesn't mean I'm doing all the cooking."

"What?" Billy said innocently. "Did I say anything?"

Snuffy laughed. "Better expect a lot of mac and cheese."

"Hey!"

"Soup," Ric suggested.

"Hey!"

"Peanut butter and jelly," Yogurt chimed in, laughing.

"Hey!" Billy harumphed and stood up. "I'm not going to sit here and listen to this abuse. I'm off to find different abuse." Billy bounced off towards the summer house where Casey had disappeared a few minutes before.

Thanks to Billy's dad, the inside and outside were freshly painted. The floors were scrubbed clean and the windows washed, but there wasn't much furniture. They'd managed to wrestle the old double bed up to the second floor along with a dresser missing only one drawer. They'd found some old sheets to use as curtains for the windows and around the toilet and sink that were tucked away in the corner on the first floor. There had been some straight-backed wooden chairs in the attic that had cleaned up okay. An old steamer trunk worked for a coffee table.

Casey had found some cushions and a throw rug in the house and although they didn't match, it made the place look a bit more comfortable. He'd wanted to use sheets for curtains downstairs as well, but after watching Billy hem the ones upstairs with a stapler, he decided to wait and get some real curtains later. Preferably when Billy ran out of staples.

"Thinking of moving out on us?"

"Nah, just wondering if this would be okay, just temporary. In case somebody needed a place to stay for a day or two."

"Maybe Stokely or her 'Aunt'?" Billy looked around. "It's okay, but there are plenty of rooms in the house."

"I know, but..."

"Too weird?"

"Definitely."

"You think she'll really come?"

Casey looked away, shrugging.

Billy threw his arm around Casey and steered him towards the door. "You know what I think?" He stopped and looked into Casey's eyes. "I think it won't matter one bit how fancy this place is. She'll be so busy spending time with you she won't even notice. Zeke and I plan to be very jealous."

Casey smiled weakly and looked away.

"Come on, it's time for the ritual sacrifice of marshmallows."

"Got chocolate and graham crackers for s'mores?"

"You kidding? Of course. That's like basic survival rations. And, I might add, the only acceptable way to eat marshmallows."

"I like the way you think, Billy."

Billy smirked. "I knew it. You only love me for my mind." He half-draped himself over Casey and batted his eyes.

Casey just snickered and shook his head. "Lead the way..." He paused for effect then added the nickname he'd given Billy a few months earlier... the one Billy hated... "Mal!"

He was off and running as soon as he spoke, Billy's outraged, "Hey!" chasing him across the lawn.

Return to Broken Toys