Unravelling Zeke - Casa Del Tyler (2/3)
They drank beer and passed the joints between them. The video went barely noticed as Zeke told stories of the stupid shit he and his friends had done under the influence. The stories got funnier as the night went on until they were both reduced to giggling wrecks.
Casey clutched his ribs. “Shit… I can’t breathe.”
“Easy, man. No one ever died from laughing too hard.” Zeke struggled to his feet and dropped his cushion to the floor. “Curl up, chill. How do cookies grab ya?”
“Oh my God I’m so hungry!” He let his head rest on the arm of the couch and spread his legs out. “This is one comfy fuckin’ couch, right here.”
Zeke was grinning when he came back with beer, cookies and chocolate. “Dude... You are so fuckin’ stoned!” He collapsed down onto the cushion and leant against the couch close to Casey’s head. The offered munchies were snatched and devoured with relish. “Ever had a cookie taste so good?”
“Nuh-huh! This shit’s amazing!” He swallowed his third cookie. “Whoah… how fucking wrecked am I?”
The giggling fit resumed. Zeke was the first to recover. “So… how’s it feel to be a Stoner?”
“Fuckin’ …cool. Please tell me you’re as wrecked as I am...”
“I smoked more, you drank more. We’re even.” Zeke turned back as the video rewound itself. “Shit… we didn’t even watch that.”
“You have dorky hair...”
Zeke snorted. “This coming from the expert on fashion disasters? Who cut yours? Your mom?”
“Quiet, you!”
“I like mine.” He ran his fingers up through his hair. “It’s tactile.”
Casey had an overwhelming desire to run his fingers through it too. He wasn’t quite drunk enough to ask but the closeness made it sorely tempting. Jesus, Zeke was pretty. Like… totally fucking pretty. It wasn’t just the full pouty lips he’d fixated on. It was those beautiful… fucking intense eyes. In fact it was more than that. It was everything Zeke was. He was just… cool! Casey realised he’d been chewing his lip and gulped down his beer. “Wanna play twenty questions?”
Zeke’s expression slowly morphed from confused to amused. “Let me guess… you ask me twenty personal questions and I have to answer them all truthfully, right?”
“Ooh… you’ve played this before.”
Zeke shook his head with a smile. “No way, man. You’ve had way too much out of me already.”
“Aww…” He pined, “Please?”
“One.”
“What? But… No… No fair! Five.”
“One. You ask one, I ask one. Take it or leave it.”
“I can’t choose just one! Gah! Why do ya make me choose when I’m wasted?”
“That your question?”
“No!” Casey sighed and frowned in deep concentration. Zeke thought it was cute. He lay on his back to stare at the ceiling. Less visual distractions. The room was trying to spin. “I may be a little drunk…”
“Maybe a little.”
“I think I should stop drinking now… How much did I have?”
“That your question?”
“NO! God, you’re annoying!” Casey could barely think straight. “You go first while I think of something.”
“Alright… but you might not like it.” He watched for Casey’s reaction as he asked. “What… besides physical attributes… do you see in Delilah?”
“What? Shit Zeke! You really don’t like her do you? You’re still convinced she’s a bitch.”
“Answer the question, man.”
“Fuck sake… Um… I dunno… She’s really nice to me. She makes me feel special, like I’m not the nerdy loner anymore. Like I’m worth something.” Zeke glared at him. Casey looked apologetic. “Sorry... I don’t know ok? She’s my girlfriend, she does girlfriend stuff.”
“Wow… she sounds great. You’re so into her.”
“What’s your fucking problem with her?”
“That your question?”
“Yes! Actually! That’s my fucking question!”
Zeke turned away and stared at the blank TV screen. He took a swig of beer and picked at the label. He spoke quietly in a soft, low voice. “She’s using you, man. That’s my problem.” He finished his drink.
“What? What do you mean, she’s using me?”
“Who was she with before you?”
“Stan.”
“Star Quarterback. School hero.” He shot Casey a look a pity. “From hero to hero.”
“What? No. That doesn’t mean she’s using me.”
“Case… She’s fickle. She was always far more excited by the publicity than you ever were. This week there’s been hardly any media at school. I bet you haven’t had a single interview this week. I bet this is the first week she’s blown off a date. Just… protect yourself, ok?”
Casey looked crushed. “That’s coincidence…”
“Perhaps.” He let it drop there. He didn’t need to say any more. The seed of doubt was sown.
She didn’t deserve Casey. She neither needed nor particularly wanted him. She wanted attention, she wanted a hero on her arm. Easy popularity. Casey deserved better than that. He’s a good kid. He deserves to be happy. Needed. For no other reason than the fact Casey was Casey. He’d done the right thing. He’d told the truth, hadn’t he? She was using him. He was justified.
He realised Casey had been quiet for some time. He turned to see the boy fast asleep, frowning still, in slumber. He reached over to lightly touch his hair and whispered. “Sorry buddy.”
The boy was in for a world of hurt. The shit was about to hit the fan and Zeke was the one throwing it. For what? For shits and giggles? For a slight chance Casey might actually be into boys? Well it doesn’t fucking matter now does it? Whether he is or he isn’t. He’s about to lose his dream girl cos Zeke just fucking HAD to throw a spanner in the works. Stupid, selfish bastard that he is! On the other hand… if she really is true to him she won’t get her head turned by the first cute Linebacker he set stumbling across her path, would she? If she was true she’d stay with Casey. Casey would remain ignorant and happy and Zeke would remain alone with at least a shred of… of what? Dignity? Gone. Conscience? Kicking his ass right now. Self respect? That’s a laugh! Selfish, stupid, greedy, cocky bastard. Fuck it, damage is done, wheels are turning. He can’t take it back. He WON’T take it back.
He took a deep breath and leant over. “Case… Case wake up, buddy.” Casey murmured but didn’t open his eyes. Alcohol… great. “Casey! Wake up!”
“Wha? Oh…” He smiled sleepily. “Hi, you.”
Zeke smiled back. “Hey… come on, you need to get up.”
“Dun wanna!”
“Tough. You’re not sleeping here.”
Casey blinked in obvious disappointment. “What? But… you’re too drunk to drive.”
“Couch, Casey. You’re not sleeping on the couch. You wanna cab? Or you wanna crash in the spare?”
“Whatever…” His eyes flickered closed again.
“Oh, no ya don’t. UP!” He dropped Casey’s feet to the floor, grabbed him under the arm and dragged him into a sitting position. “Move!”
“I’m up!” He protested. “I’m up!” He allowed Zeke to pull him upright and staggered forward. “Fuck… I’m like… drunk, dude.”
“No shit. Just keep walking.”
“You not drunk? You don’t look drunk.”
“I’m drunk and stoned, I’m just not as drunk as you. Come on.”
“Sorry…”
Zeke groaned. “Shut up. Nothing to be sorry about, alright? You got drunk and fell asleep. It happens.” He heaved Casey up the stairs, swaying dangerously.
“K…” He let out a huge dramatic sigh. “I had a really good night ya know. Ain’t laughed like that in like, forever… Thank you. And…and… and WAIT! My BOOK!” He tried to twist back to the staircase.
Zeke was having none of it. “Will still be on the coffee table in the morning.” He wrestled Casey to the spare room.
“Sorry.” Casey peered up from Zeke’s chest with the biggest, bluest eyes Zeke had ever seen. He had to hold his breath. This was taking way more self-control than he knew he possessed. They were both drunk. Inhibitions down, common sense out the window… It would be so easy…
Zeke put the brakes on that train of thought. You are NOT going to fuck this up. You are not stealing him. You are not taking advantage of a drunk with a crush. This is not a quick fuck. In Casey’s state that would be rape. Do NOT fuck this up!
He opened the door, flicked the light and ushered Casey inside. Casey turned in his arms and smiled up at him. “You’re not supposed to be in here…”
Zeke merely grabbed his shoulders, spun him back round and pushed him forward. “Bed! If I don’t get you back to Del in one piece she’ll kill me.”
“Oh… Del… yeah… shit.” He let himself be guided until he hit the bed and sat down. He sat there doing nothing but smile up at his impatient host. “What?” he asked, innocently, “…I’m just looking.”
Zeke shook his head and leant down to pull the covers back. Casey’s face followed his every move. “Lie down!”
Casey sighed and fell sideways, facing Zeke. He pulled his legs up and stretched out like a cat. “D’ya know what?” he cooed with a sleepy grin, “You’re so-”
“Case!” Zeke cut him off quickly. He crouched down next to Casey’s head. “Is this something you’re gonna regret saying in the morning?”
“No…” He puzzled over it. “I dunno…”
“If you’re not gonna regret it tomorrow then you can tell me tomorrow, ok? When you’re sober.” He smiled affectionately. “It’ll mean more…” Casey seemed satisfied with that. “Now sleep.”
He turned the bedside lamp on and walked to the door, switching off the main light. A sleepy voice called after him. “Night Zeke.” He stopped. He hadn’t heard those words in years.
He turned back before leaving. “Night Case.”
~*~
When Zeke got to his room he collapsed face down on his bed, gripped his pillow and half screamed a frustrated growl into it.
So. Fucking. Close!
So Close!
Just breathe…
So open!
Breathe…
So willing!
Breathe…
Drunk…
Breathe…
Do NOT fuck this up!
Just breathe…
So. Fucking. Close!
Breathe…
Breathe…
FUCK!
Breathe…
Part 3