Erinsborough Bay, Part 2
“Icarus, have you seen my keys?”
Icarus sighed and slid his bookmark between the pages he was reading before making his way downstairs. His mother was forever losing her keys. How someone could be so brilliant on a dig site or in the classroom but so hopeless with every day activities was beyond him.
His mother was on her hands and knees looking under the couch.
“Mother, what are you doing down there? Your keys are right here, in the key dish by the front door, where they always are.” Icarus dangled the keys from his finger to drive his point home.
Petra Ramsay laughed, and brushed her hair back from her face. “Why do I never remember to look there? I throw them in there as soon as I get home, I know.” Petra groaned as she pulled herself to her feet, and took the keys from her son.
Cupping his chin in her hand, she planted a kiss on his forehead. “I’ll be home late. I’m giving a lecture at La Fiesta Tech about my latest paper on the Zombie Flu.”
“I hope it goes well. I’ll keep some dinner for you. Oh, Jessica will be coming over tonight, is that ok?”
"Of course it is! You two are so cute together," she said over her shoulder, as she walked down the front stairs.
Icarus watched as his mother leapt into her pick up truck, and drive away. His mother had transitioned into elderhood not long after his toddler transition, and she tried to keep active. He was a late in life surprise for her, and he never knew his father.
All she would say of him was that he was a fellow scientist she had met on a dig site in the deserts of Strangetown, and had never heard from again. She didn't even get the chance to tell him she was pregnant.
As he walked back towards the stairs, he caught a glimpse of himself in the hall mirror, and yet again, had to wonder about his father.
Pushing his long blonde fringe out of his eyes, he stared at himself. He could easily see his mother reflected in his features, but he just couldn’t imagine what his father would look like. It was harder to see a resemblance to his mother these days, ever since she contracted the Zombie Flu.
It was almost inevitable that she’d get it, given how active she was with the paranormal peoples that inhabited Erinsborough Bay and the neighbouring cities. They were still researching exactly how the Zombie Flu started, but they had discovered that the flu only gave the semblance of zombiism. That is, they only looked like a zombie superficially, but didn’t have any of the same physical attributes or limitations the ‘true’ zombies had.
Icarus was fascinated by zombies, the living dead, even before his mother was infected. His mother had instilled a deep love of knowledge in him from a very early age, and she had taken him on many of her adventures, and would let him sit in on some of the lectures she gave at La Fiesta Tech.
He’d been able to meet zombies, werewolves, plantsims, aliens and all sorts of magical creatures thanks to his mother’s contacts. He was hoping to study at LFT himself, not only was the university extremely well regarded, but it boasted the largest paranormal research department out of any of the universities nearby.
Trudging back upstairs, he sighed again, wishing life would always be as easy as his mother thought it was. She took everything on the chin and kept going.
She looked at being infected as a gift, the chance to study the condition to her heart’s content. He was equally fascinated with everything around him, but he couldn’t separate himself or how others viewed him. He desperately cared what the other kids at school thought of him, and knew that he’d never be one of the cool kids.
He actually enjoyed doing his homework, and he always aced his classes. That alone set him apart from everyone else, even at Bayside High, which was known for its academic excellence.
He found more acceptance online, where people weren't obsessively shallow like they were at school. He spent more time socialising with people in cyberspace than he would ever do offline.
And online...that was where he met him.
"Icarus! Where are yoooou?"
Icarus started, he was lost in his dream world, and had forgotten that Jessica was coming over. He got up from his desk, flicking his hair out of his eyes.
"Come on, lazy bones! The movie's starting!"
He smiled, it was just like her to let herself in and get things started this way.
Jessica was his best friend, someone who accepted him as he was and kept his secrets. She'd come over once a week to watch trashy horror movies with him, while her mother would mind Carrie.
She knew he was gay, and it didn't bother her one bit. In fact, she realised it before he did, and helped him come to terms with it. She had a boyfriend, and he wasn't her type. She definitely wasn't his type, but he loved her all the same.
But he wasn't ready to come out to his mother yet. Jessica didn't mind pretending that they were keen on each other.
And to keep his secret for longer, they let his mother 'catch' them canoodling.
Icarus wanted to tell his mother, he didn't like keeping secrets from her. He was sure it wouldn't bother her that he was gay. But he knew how absent minded she could be, and he wasn't ready for everyone else to find out. If he told her, she'd be likely to let it slip.
He dreaded telling her that he was a freshman at LFT, the age difference was something she might not be so understanding about. He wasn't being taken advantage of at all, his feelings were real, and reciprocated. But his mother could be old fashioned with some things.
They met face to face for the first time after one of his mother's lectures, one that he'd tagged along on, under the premise of meeting more paranormal people.
His mother's lecture was fascinating, as per usual, though it was one he had heard before, as it was part of the mandatory study the students had to take to understand the paranormal people better.
But Icarus only had eyes for him. They'd had months of chatting online, hours on the phone, and exchanged countless photos, but this was the first time they'd met.
As the lecture hall emptied out, he moved closer to Frances.
Icarus had to play it cool, even though his heart was beating rapidly, and he was tingling all over.
He was more than acutely aware of the differences in their ages when they were finally standing together. It wasn't that much, only a few years, but it seemed like a lot more.
Frances was even more handsome in person, and Icarus felt his knees grow weak.
Those lips...were so luscious. He just wanted to kiss them.
Those eyes...he could just lose himself in them for hours.
He even loved that crooked nose.
Icarus knew he was out of his depth, he'd never been physical with another guy before, let alone one that was so much older.
"You shouldn't hide behind your hair like this. You have beautiful eyes," Frances had said, brushing the hair out of Icarus's eyes.
Icarus just blushed, unable to think of anything witty to say.
"Why...why don't we go outside? It's a bit noisy in here," he managed to blurt out, acutely aware his mother was so close.
"Sure," Frances said, smiling.
Frances led him to a park bench outside the lecture hall, where they sat and talked. Icarus wanted to reach out and hold his hand, but he was too nervous.
"I have to use the bathroom," he blurted, wincing. How immature did that sound? He wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole.
Frances smiled, understanding. "Come on, there's one just around the corner."
Once inside, Icarus could see they were alone. Frances pulled Icarus into a hug, holding him close.
"I am so glad we've finally been able to meet," Frances whispered. Icarus shivered.
"Me too, it's like...like a dream come true," he replied, losing himself in Frances's eyes.
"Are you sure...?" Frances asked, gently stroking Icarus's cheek.
"Yes," Icarus said, reaching for Frances's hand.
Icarus felt himself floating and falling at the same time, as his lips pressed against Frances's. He was thrilled to find they were as soft as they had looked, and just as luscious. They slowly pulled apart, and Icarus had never felt so happy.
"I've fallen head over heels for you, Icarus Poseidon Ramsay," Frances murmured, gently kissing Icarus's hand.
"I have too. For you, I mean, Frances J. Worthington the third," he whispered, his voice faltering.
Frances smiled, "Don't worry, you'll be here soon enough. Then we can be together properly."
Frances gently kissed his forehead. "Your mother's probably looking for you, and I don't want you to get in trouble."
"I don't think she'll notice, she was too busy hitting on Professor Fuentes. But I think I should go. You're...you're too tempting."
"Oy!" Jessica said, nipping him on the neck. "Pay attention! The movie's over and you're ignoring me!"
"I'm sorry, Jess, I was a little distracted," he said, rubbing where she'd bitten him.
"Uh huh. Suuuure. Thinking about your Frances again, weren't you?" she asked, smiling. She stood up and stretched. "Walk me out?"
Icarus followed her outside, grinning sheepishly.
"You have to tell her one day, Icarus," Jessica said, when the reached her car. He pushed her hair back behind her ear.
"I know. I know. I just...it's hard. You know what it's like to have everyone stick their noses in. I'm not ready for that type of social invasion. And...I kind of like keeping him to myself."
Jessica rolled her eyes, but smiled. "I get ya. I do! You're just lucky Grant likes you!"
"I'm so lucky to have a friend like you, Jess," he said, hugging her.
"Damn straight!" she giggled, before getting into her car and driving home.
Icarus sighed, and climbed up the stairs of the astronomy tower his mother had insisted they build.
He looked through the telescope, picking out his favourite constellations.
Knowing that Frances could be looking at the same stars made him happy.
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[ Part 1]