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Chasing Daylight
Type: Series 1/13
Rating: I could almost call this one PG -13 except for the occurrence of one word (bonus cookies if you can catch the word!) so it gets NC -17 *sigh* Please note I will NOT be adding any extra level of protection to this. This is your warning.
Word count: 3600+
Prompts: Euphoria(loosely), Midnight, Horror (loosely)
Advisories: coarse language, bullying, bitchy girls, jerky boys, annoying siblings, moody teenagers, bad stereo-typing, book abuse, adult conversations. Huge chapter is huge with 69 images plus two bonus.
X-posted:
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slash4sims Notes: M/M (pre-slash at this point). Written for
slash4sims. This is a bit different for me. An explanation as to how (and about the inspiration, thanks to Sister Hazel) can be read hereSummary: Angelo just wants to find a quiet place to read his book. Everyone else seems to have other plans.
Would you think you could meditate
in the middle of the eye of a hurricane
Would you now but somehow
If we were tethered here together
We’d weather out the weather here
- Swan Dive - Sister Hazel
Stopping outside the bookstore, Angelo reached inside the bag and pulled out his purchase. It was the last copy the store had, but now it was his.
He’d been waiting over a year for this. The previous book in the series had ended on such a cliff hanger and then with moving and finding a job he’d had to wait a few extra weeks. So many times over the past weeks someone had almost ruined it for him. He’d taken to avoiding the internet entirely because there were spoilers everywhere, but now, now it was finally his. The wait was over.
“Hey,” a voice called, sounding overly perky “You’re the new guy right?”
He spared the girl a brief glance, nodding, “Yeah,”
“I’m, Hollie,” she flashed him a wide smile, “I have been meaning to introduce myself. You know welcome you to the neighbourhood and all that.”
He nodded again slipping the book back into the bag, “Angelo. Nice to meet you.”
“So listen,” she said stepping closer, her smile turning sly, as she angled her body toward his giving him a clear view directly down her top, her eyelashes batting up at him innocently, “You want to go get a coffee or something? I can show you around a bit, maybe go see a movie?”
Angelo regarded her blankly for a moment. She had to be kidding? Did she honestly think the innocent act and flashing a little cleavage was going to work? Did it ever work? Well of course it worked, he admitted, the average guy was that easy.
“Uh, thanks, but no,” he told her taking a step back, indicating the bag with his book in it, “I have plans.”
“What, a book?” she scoffed rolling her eyes, “How boring. I am much more fun.”
Something about the way she said it, like he was infected with some sort of contagious disease simply for knowing what a book was, irked him.
“Maybe,” he said with a scowl, his annoyance getting the better of him, “But it sounds more interesting right now than hanging out with you. At least I know the book has something intelligent to say.”
With that he turned and headed toward home, leaving a rather stunned and angry Hollie staring after him.
***
By the time he arrived home he’d all but forgotten the encounter outside the bookstore.
He made his way across the small apartment heading for the stairs. He had the perfect evening planned: hide out in his room and read his book.
As he stepped around his little sisters playing with their doll house in the middle of the living room one of them glanced up.
“Daddy is looking for you,” Emma announced.
“Did he say why?”
She shook her head and went back to playing.
He made his way up the stairs to the tiny bedroom he shared with his younger brother. No sooner had he pulled his book from the bag than his father appeared in the doorway.
“Mr. Jacquet called,” his father told him, “Rein called in sick. He needs you to cover for her.”
His shoulders slumping Angelo gently placed the book on the bedside table. It would just have to wait until later.
“Thanks Dad.”
His father patted him on the shoulder, “Want me to save you some dinner?”
“Nah,” Angelo sighed pulling open the dresser to change for work, “Job perk. Work evenings and Mr. J. cooks you dinner. Almost makes it worth it.”
***
The next morning found Angelo sprawled on his bed engrossed in his reading. He had the day off. He’d elected to do his homework when he got home the night before so he wouldn’t have that looming over his head. His entire day was free. He had nothing to do except relax and enjoy his book.
“Angelo! Angelo! Aannngeeelllllooo!”
Frowning, Angelo tried his best to focus on the page before him through his little brother’s enthusiastic bouncing on the bed.
“What do you want Oren?”
“Basketball.”
“Maybe later and please stop jumping on my bed.”
“But I don’t have anyone to play with!”
“Go play with Evie and Emma,” Angelo offered.
“They are playin’ with dolls!” Oren bounced harder, “I don’t wanna dress up dumb dolls in frilly clothes. It’s lame. Come on Angelo, puleeeeeze!”
Resigned to having no other choice if he wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible, Angelo closed the book.
“If I play basketball with you for an hour, will you leave me alone for the rest of the day?”
“Promise,” immediately Oren flopped down on the edge of the bed, “But if you make it two hours I won’t tell Dad you sneak out in the middle of the night for a cigarette.”
***
“Whatcha doin?”
“I’m fighting off rabid wolves with nothing but toothpaste and a broken salad bowl,” Angelo replied dryly, “What does it look like I’m doing?”
Evie giggled, “You’re silly Angelo. Will you read me your book?”
“No, I will not read you my book.
“How come?”
“Because it is too big for you.”
“Is there dead people and bad guys and words that Daddy uses but I am not supposed to know yet like shi…”
“I’m not reading you the book, Evie,” Angelo repeated cutting her off, “No matter how many of the words in it you already know.”
“Mrs. Snigglesworth thinks your book is boring because she isn’t in it,” Emma announced joining them.
“I would probably think my book was boring if Mrs. Snigglesworth was in it.”
“That was not very nice, Angelo,” Emma reprimanded him, her nose lifting in the air, “You made Mrs. Snigglesworth cry.”
“Emma!” Evie bounced excitedly as an idea occurred to her, “Let’s do a play! Mrs. Snigglesworth can be the star and Angelo can be the audience!”
“No,” Angelo moaned, “Guys, come on; I just want to read my book.”
“This will be better than your dumb book,” Emma assured him immediately latching on to her sister’s idea, “But I want to be the star!”
“Sure!” Evie agreed, “This is going to be so much fun!”
Angelo sighed and beat a hasty retreat to the kitchen.
***
“Angelo? What are you doing?”
“Reading, Nonna. Did you need something?”
“Such a pretty boy, Angelo,” his grandmother smiled ruffling his hair, “You should not have your nose in a book. Go out child; meet a nice girl.”
When he didn’t answer she huffed at him “This is not healthy for a boy your age. You are almost grown; almost ready for college. Your Momma was engaged to your Father at your age, Angelo; but not you. With you it is books, books, books all the time. How will you make new friends like this?”
Angelo sighed and closed his book. The kitchen was not proving to be any better for being left in peace.
He got to his feet and dropped a kiss on his grandmother’s cheek, “Love you, Nonna”
The old woman beamed at him, “There’s a good boy. Now listen to your Nonna and get your nose out of the books, yes? Girls, Angelo, you won’t find them in pages.”
Angelo grinned. He could argue that point, but he really didn’t think his grandmother wanted to hear about the porn collection his father kept stashed in the bottom drawer of his desk.
“I’m going out Dad,” Angelo announced making his way to the door.
“She means well,” his father told him.
“I know,” Angelo replied, “I just want to read my book.”
His father nodded, “Going to the library?”
“Nah, I thought I would try the park. It’s a nice day.”
***
Arriving at the park, Angelo smiled slightly. This was perfect. Being Saturday, he’d expected it to be a lot more crowded than it was.
The few kids skating were easy enough to avoid and the rest of the park was practically empty. Now he just needed to find a quiet corner to relax so he could finally read his book.
The playground was out. He’d only be in the way of the three younger kids playing there.
He certainly didn’t want to have to deal with the girls drinking coffee at the café tables. The bank of the pond looked appealing, but he hesitated. A man was fishing there and he didn’t want to disturb him.
Under the large willow would have been ideal. Obviously the picnicking couple had the same thought. Angelo grinned slightly to himself as the couple settled back on their picnic blanket. Cute.
He briefly considered the benches scattered around the central fountain, but no, that was just inviting someone to wander over and try to engage him in conversation and that was the last thing he wanted.
Then he spotted it. The single tree, away from any of the park’s other amenities, in the middle of an empty expanse of grass.
It was perfect. Quiet, out of the way of the main path and he could think of no reason anyone would disturb him there. With a slight spring in his step he made for his new found refuge.
“Well if it isn’t our newest little fairy!” a girl’s voice called, “and all on his lonesome. I guess the other little fairies don’t want him either.”
Shooting the group leaning against the railing a fleeting glance Angelo briefly wondered what this was about.
“Can we even call that a he?” a male voice enquired, mocking, “Looks more like a she to me.”
“Oh, nice one Zane,” the girl’s voice sounded again laughing amongst the chorus of sniggering from the other teens.
“Leave him alone guys,” a second male voice spoke up, “he didn’t do anything to you.”
“His being a homo offends my delicate sensibilities,” the first male voice shot back.
“Maybe Adam is right though,” the girl stated laughing, “We don’t want to make the poor little pansy cry now do we?”
Angelo shook his head and kept walking. They’d have to do a lot better than that if they wanted to make him cry. The exchange did raise questions though. Like where they were getting their information about his sexual preferences from.
All other thoughts were quickly forgotten as he settled against the base of the tree. Finally he had found a quiet place to read his book.
He flipped open the cover and found his page. Within moments he was engrossed in the story, blissfully undisturbed, untroubled and left alone.
He should have known it couldn’t last.
“Okay,” The blond boy said as the group stopped beside him, “Here’s the deal. Adam says we were being jerks, and I guess we kind of were. So, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah,” the girl in the denim skirt agreed, “Sorry. I shouldn’t have called you a fairy, or a pansy, even if you are.”
“Jesus, Diane” the black haired boy in the shorts sighed, “Could you not be a bitch just this once.”
“Oh lay off, Adam. He knows I’m joking, don’t you Angelo?” the girl in the skirt shot back.
“Yeah, whatever,” Angelo agreed automatically not looking up, then a thought occurred to him, “How do you know my name?”
“My sister talked to you outside the bookstore yesterday,” the girl smirked, “she says you were kind of rude to her, she must have been mistaken though huh?”
Angelo shrugged. Well that explained a lot.
Could these people not take a hint though? He had pointedly avoided looking at them so far, why were they not leaving?
“So anyway,” the girl went on, “I’m Diane, and this is my boyfriend Adam,” she gestured to the black haired boy beside her, “and Zane, who is also sorry for being a jerk, and Vivien and Brad.”
“So how about we buy you a coffee or something?” Zane asked, “To make up for acting like asses?”
Sighing, Angelo closed the book and looked up at them. Maybe if he just got this over with they would leave him alone so he could read.
“Don’t worry about it,” he tried for a smile, “It’s already forgotten.”
“Sweet,” Zane grinned and the group turned to leave, “No hard feelings then?”
Angelo shook his head, “No, we’re good.”
He let out a sigh of relief as they nodded and turned to leave.
“We’re going to head over to J’Adore,” Adam put in hanging back as his friends started to walk away, “Want to come?”
“No thanks,” Angelo managed a genuine smile this time. Adam seemed different from the rest of them, “Not really into going to work on my day off and I’d kind of like to finish my book.”
The others paused at this, Diane and Zane exchanging a look.
“You work at J’Adore?” Adam asked.
Angelo was about to confirm that he did work for the small bakery when suddenly the book was snatched from his hands.
“What are you reading that is so fascinating anyway?” Zane asked examining the cover, “Oh, I’ve heard about this one. Is it any good?”
“Zane,” Adam protested, “Knock it off.”
Getting to his feet Angelo held out his hand, “I don’t know I haven’t had a chance to finish reading it yet. Give it back and I’ll let you know.”
Diane grabbed the book from Zane, “It’s not that great,” she said slowly backing away a wicked grin curling her lips, “They all die at the end.”
Angelo stared at her dumbfounded for a full minute before he found his voice, “I’d like my book back now.”
Exchanging a look with Zane, Diane halted her backward progress and burst out laughing, “You should see your face,” she gasped, “God, learn to take a joke. I’ve never read the stupid book. Here take it.”
She held the book out toward him.
His rage barely contained, Angelo took a step toward her.
Adam shook his head, “Why do you have to be such a bitch all the time?” he asked.
Diane glared at him her outstretched hand tipping over the fountain beside her.
“Oops,” she said with mock innocence as her fingers let go and the book slid from her grasp. With a splash it landed in the fountain.
Angelo stared, shocked, down at the book lying in the bottom of the fountain. He was vaguely aware of a heated exchange taking place between Adam and the others.
Crouching down, he plucked the book from the fountain. If he was lucky and very careful it would dry without too many of the pages sticking together. Even then it was going to take days to dry properly, maybe weeks.
“Is it ruined?” Adam asked quietly stepping up beside him.
Angelo glanced up at him sadly, noting that the others seemed to have left.
“Look, I’m sorry,” Adam said running a hand along the back of his neck, “I’ll get you another copy.”
Angelo shook his head, “Last one in the store. Next shipment won’t be in until next week.”
“Can I at least …”
Angelo cut him off, “Just forget about it.” He said quietly, slowly turning toward home.
***
“Angelo,” his father called, “There is someone at the door for you.”
With a puzzled frown, Angelo made his way across the small room. The person waiting on the other side of the door was the last person he ever expected to be coming to visit him.
“Hi,” Adam said quietly nervously looking down toward his folded hands.
“Hi,” Angelo folded his arms and levelled a calculating look at the other boy, “Something I can help you with?”
“Umm,” Adam ran a hand through his hair, “Can we talk?”
“Talk away.”
“Privately?”
Sighing, Angelo stepped out the door and closed it behind him. He crossed the porch and leaned against the railing, waiting.
Adam stood quietly for a moment before turning to Angelo and shooting him a small smile.
“I guess it sucks being the new guy and not knowing anyone, and then things like today happen and that has to suck more,” Adam began hesitantly.
Angelo nodded slightly.
When no further response was forthcoming, Adam carried on, “I just wanted you to know we aren’t all like that. Not all jerks I mean.”
“So you are trying to say that you aren’t an asshole?” Angelo questioned when Adam paused again, “You just like to hang around with people who take asshole to the level of art form?”
“Yes,” Adam agreed immediately, only to hesitate cocking his head to one side, “Only it sounded better in my head.”
Angelo chuckled, “I imagine it did.”
Silence lapsed between them for a moment before Angelo spoke again, “For what it’s worth, I kind of already figured that you weren’t so much of an asshole as your friends.”
“But still an asshole?” Adam countered looking dejected.
“Well,” Angelo shot him a grin, “You know what they say about the company you keep.”
Adam laughed, “I do, and I really need to fix that.”
Silence again, more comfortable this time.
“I really am sorry about the book,” Adam murmured at last, moving to lean against the railing, “Diane can be a skank sometimes.”
Angelo shrugged, “Not your fault and I might have had a small portion of it coming. The fountain was a bit much though.”
Adam arched a questioning brow and Angelo ducked his head grinning.
“It’s possible I was a bit of a dick to her sister the other day.”
“Ah, so that is why Diane hated you on sight,” Adam nodded smirking, “Though Hollie is the one who started the rumour that you’re a cock-jockey.”
Angelo turned, levelling a steady gaze at the other boy.
“What?” Adam flinched inwardly; the scrutiny had him on edge.
“That’s the best description you can think of?”
Adam’s jaw dropped in shock, “Holy shit, you are aren’t you? They guessed right?”
“Whether I am or not is not the point,” Angelo scowled, “Cock-jockey? What the hell does that even mean?”
Adam blushed “Well you know, it means that you, um, well, that they, ride …”
“Yeah, I get the physics of it,” Angelo interrupted, “But come on. What the hell? Would you call a straight woman a cock-jockey?”
“No!” Adam snorted, laughing.
“Why not? It would be accurate wouldn’t it?”
Adam stared open mouthed, unsure what to say.
“What about you?” Angelo arched a brow pinning Adam with a questioning gaze, “Been called a rug muncher lately?”
Adam shook his head.
“I bet that girlfriend of yours or your jackass friend Zane have called Heather that though haven’t they?”
Adam didn’t know how to answer that. Heather was the only openly gay girl in school and ‘rug muncher’ was probably the kindest thing Diane or Zane had called her since she’d come out.
“Well its different isn’t it?” Adam said at last, “Certain parts are meant to go together aren’t they?”
Angelo folded his arms and leaned back against the railing, “Really?”
“Yeah,” Adam lifted his chin defiantly, “Really. Biology and all that.”
“Biology?” Angelo shot him a smirk, “So you will of course be abstaining from anything that is not strictly vaginal sex. No more jacking off for you; it’s biologically wrong, and watch out for that evil blowjob, those parts aren’t meant to go together.”
Adam blanched, “That’s not … I didn’t mean …”
“Mmm, careful there hetero-boy,” Angelo chuckled, “Your double standard is showing.”
“I’m not … I mean I don’t …” Adam stammered, “shit.”
“You’re not what?”
Adam glared at him, “Nothing.”
“Didn’t sound like nothing, but whatever,” Angelo tried his best to hide a grin. This just kept getting more interesting.
“So are you gay?” Adam asked after a moment.
“Depends why you are asking,” Angelo countered.
“I’m not a damn faggot,” Adam insisted defensively.
Angelo shook his head and pushed off from the rail, “And you were doing so well. Almost had me convinced you weren’t a dick.”
“I’m sorry,” Adam reached out a hand to stop Angelo leaving, “I just …”
“Don’t,” Angelo snapped, “You say you’re sorry your friends were jerks, but you know what, you are just as bad as they are.”
“I didn’t mean …” Adam tried again.
“Your kind never does,” Angelo countered with a humourless laugh, “I don’t need your shit. Do me a favour, stay the hell away from me and unless you are applying for a position, my sex life is none of your business either.”
Adam stared after him frowning. That had not gone at all how he’d planned it. He’d hoped that maybe he could make amends, show Angelo that not everyone here was an asshole and all he’d managed to do was prove that he was an asshole too.
He didn’t even know why he’d said half of what he had said. He didn’t have a problem with gay people, did he? He didn’t think he did, he’d never noticed that he did before. If anything he admired the courage of the few he knew about. It couldn’t be easy with the way other people treated them. So why would he have an issue now and what in hell was that last comment about?
It was nearly midnight, long after Angelo had gone inside. The lights had been extinguished more than an hour ago, the only illumination now came from the faint glow of the street lights. Adam still stood leaning against the railing with Angelo’s parting words running circles through his head.
“Unless you are applying for a position, my sex life is none of your business either.”
*****************
Chapter 2
Outtakes:
♥ Lilith! Oren (Lorenzo) did have someone to play with, I just needed him to be a pain.
World of pain in 5 ... 4 ... 3 ...
Outtakes:
♥ Lilith! Oren (Lorenzo) did have someone to play with, I just needed him to be a pain.
World of pain in 5 ... 4 ... 3 ...
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And that is when I knew I loved him.
Angelo being harassed about his reading and going to the park...god, that was me as a teenager too. I feel a kinship to him already.
Srsly, I love this so much.
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:D Thanks, for the comment.
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Entirely too much attitude and it seems I had something to prove at the time. I will be damned if I can remember what that something was though I seem to recall much alcohol, the conversation "Here smoke/take this" "What is it" "Just do it, you'll like it" being repeated a lot, and many teen aged boys (and a few girls) in various states of nudity.
Yeah, in hindsight, nerd sounds totaly like the way to go.
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I do not usually respond in kind, cause I'm a bitch like that sometimes.
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Right there is the common thread between the two situations. It's funny how much time you can spend with the same people supposedly having fun and never get to know them, or have fun for that matter. Quite the opposite really.
Ah well. See now I have gone and gotten all gloomy. Blah! The grass is always greener and all that I guess right? lol
*Hugs*
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*hugs back*
Now, I've got to go do something happy...ooooh, editing smutty videos. That makes me happy XD
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“Promise,” immediately Oren flopped down on the edge of the bed, “But if you make it two hours I won’t tell Dad you sneak out in the middle of the night for a cigarette.”
I know I shouldn't but I found those two comments really cute. xD
I'm incoming into high school next year, and I never knew these types of things happened. I live in a semi-rich district, where the kids are rich but not enough to all go to private school, so the school's pretty good, and they expel everyone who's ever been caught doing drugs to prevent it from spreading to other students. Otherwise it's pretty typical. I've never been the pinnacle of being made fun of; it's not like I'm in any way popular, but it's not like I'm hated either. The worse thing people who don't know me have ever called me is a chink. People who have known me for a bit ... they change a little in high school, pretty much only the girls that aren't really my friends to begin with, they start to fight each other and I get into the mess, though some people have attacked me for my bad habit of liking things on facebook from people who don't consider me cool enough....
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