Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Timothy’s Terrible Prompt Stories - 6. Prompt 179 Well that sure didn’t go as I had hoped.
A Nelson POV chapter.
“Well that sure didn’t go as I had hoped.”
I caught up with Jasper at the end of the school day, and my best friend turned to me in surprise.
“What do you mean?”
I plodded along, knowing I looked morose and just a tiny bit pouty. “You know the great master plan of doing nothing for now and wait for Monday so you could ask Rob about his brother? Discover whether Eric is out and would like to date me?”
“Yeah, what about it?” Jasper looked decidedly worried now.
“Well, that’s all shot to Hell, thanks to Tina the Gossip Girl!”
“Shit, what happened?”
“Let’s go over there and I’ll tell you.” I led Jazz to our favorite spot under one of the old oaks at the edge of the schoolyard and we sat down on our raincoats. It was one of the first fairly warm spring days, but the grass was still damp from the showers in the morning.
“OK, so today in my free period before lunch I went over to the main hall. I had promised Ms. Neall to sort out the props and the costumes for our next play.” My drama teacher had been adamant that she needed a list of what we were lacking, because she was going up to a major theatre sale during the weekend.
“So that’s why you didn’t appear for lunch today?”
“I was done ten minutes after the lunch break began. I was just leaving the room when I bumped into Tina. She was all excited.”
***
“Nelson, guess what?!” The small brunette grabbed my arm, and I tried not to show my dislike of her. Tina was one of the girls who had flirted most persistently with Eric since they both joined the drama club, and even knowing Eric will never date her, I still resented her pushy behavior.
“I just found out why Eric keeps avoiding me! He’s gay! Did you know that, Nelson?!” All her sentences ended with a small gasp of excitement, an audible exclamation point which got immensely tiring after a while.
I couldn’t hide my disbelief. “I very much doubt Eric told you this.”
“No, no! I overheard him telling Ms. Neall! They were back stage, and I was behind the…”
I held up my hand to interrupt her. “Do you mean to say that you eavesdropped on a private conversation, and you’re now telling everyone you meet that Eric is gay?” Did the girl ever wonder why she had so few friends?
Tina pouted and defended herself, “Well, I’ve only told you! You’re gay too, so why should he mind?”
She smiled sweetly at me. "I thought you'd want to know. I've seen the way you look at him – you two would make an ideal couple."
Before I could answer, Eric and our drama teacher emerged from the door at the other end of the rehearsal room. They saw us, and Ms. Neall immediately walked towards me with my blond crush trailing behind.
“Nelson, did you finish the list?”
“Yes, here it is.” I held the paper out and did my best to avoid the steely gaze of Eric.
“Excellent, thank you. Oh, and Tina, did you manage to find the manuscript copies?”
Before I knew what was happening, the drama teacher had abducted Tina, apparently determined to get more copies of the play made during the lunch break.
Eric stayed behind, and as soon as the two women were out of earshot, I started to warn him.
“Eric, you should know that Tina overheard you talking to Ms. Neall, and I fear she’ll spread the news fast. I tried to tell her to keep quiet, but I’m not sure…”
I let my eyes slide up to his face during my speech, and the look in his deep blue eyes nearly undid me. Eric always seemed aloof and controlled, but now the hunger and determination on his face was unmistakable. My knees started to shake, and I felt a blush creep into my cheeks.
“Nelson…” My name was a whispered caress, and my mouth went dry. I’m sure I looked like a rabbit caught in blinding headlights. My heart was hammering in my chest, and ten-thousand butterflies took off in my guts.
“Nelson, it’s no good hiding – for either of us.” He took a deep breath. "It's just, I'm kinda crazy about you...no, actually I'm already a goner, and I think I'm in love with you. And according to my stupid but well-intentioned brother you feel the same. Is that true?”
My mouth opened, but I couldn’t have uttered a sound to save my life. I managed to nod, once.
The delighted smile, which lit up Eric’s handsome face, enabled me to produce a better reply for the guy I’d been in love with since the moment I set eyes on him.
“I guess I’m a goner too, Eric. And I’d be proud to be your boyfriend.”
***
“As you can see, Jazz, things didn’t quite go as we hoped, but a lot better. So can I please change our plans for the weekend? Because my boyfriend wants us to out go on our first official date.”
Jasper lunged for me and I jumped up, grinning from ear to ear.
“You fucking bastard,” he shouted. “You had me all worried, and now you tell me you spent your lunch break cuddled up with Eric!”
I took off across the grass field with my best friend in hot pursuit, shouting threats about what he would do when he caught me. Fortunately, I knew where to go, and my boyfriend came round the corner of the gym as if on cue. Eric had asked me to meet him there half an hour after the end of the school day and I’d timed my story-telling to Jasper perfectly.
I didn’t stop but ran directly into my boyfriend’s arms, crying “Help, help. Protect me!” before succumbing to laughter.
Jasper skidded to a halt in front of us, and I felt Eric’s arms tighten around me for a second or two, before he released me.
“Now, what did you do, Nelson? I’m sure Jasper wasn’t chasing you across the field for no reason.” He tried to sound stern, but I could hear the caring and his joy at being able to hug me.
I looked up at him, giddy with the knowledge that this hunk is mine. He’s only half a head taller and I know I can have him at my feet in three seconds flat if I want to, thanks to my prowess at martial arts, but I like the idea of him protecting me, holding me tight. Oh, and one part of me liked it specifically. Oops, better get a bit of distance, before this got too embarrassing.
“Well, I told him that our plans were shot to hell, but the outcome was better than my wildest dreams!”
I guess Eric thought this earned me another hug. Who am I to object?
- 27
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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