THEME: rebound

MUSTs

Main action must be set in September.

Must use the words: ocean, reverie, smoke, sulky, nowhere, absurdity and frost in any way you want so long they’re in the story.

One character must say: “The thing about Georgette is that she’s…she’s a widespread kind of woman, you know?”

MUST BE SLASH (duh!)

A kiss that makes the reader go ‘WTF?!’ (whether in surprise or delight or horror is all up to you)

-

NO-WAYs

No excessive angst.

No obvious mention of love by a character. Therefore, no ‘I like you,’ ‘I love you’ ‘My heart belongs to you’ etc. If you need a character to let another character know of his love, find a super-subtle/obscure way to put it.

AN: This was like uber rushed and so it's not exactly how I wanted it. But I hope it's at least decent. I hope you enjoy especially Freak-of-Spade!

Everyone knows relationships are not easy.

I never expected to fall in love and live a fairytale or find my soul mate. None of that interested me and my rational mind. A relationship to me involved sexual and emotional intimacy with commitment between two people. It was nothing less and nothing more. I could love my parents but I never considered that sort of passionate love some people had. Not even sweet puppy love that I often saw couples sickeningly display in public. I’ve never been that kind of guy. I am not a sap for romance and can easily live without flowers, heart-shaped candy boxes, and candle-lit dinners. I’m an easy guy with simple needs. I don’t expect much but I do expect some respect.

So when I get a text while I’m having coffee with a friend, it’s quite unexpected. Lorna paused in her gossip about one of the interns and we both looked down at my cell phone vibrating on the table.

It isn’t if I didn’t know I was a person whom was difficult to get along with. Lorna was one of my few friends. I doubted either my mother or father would be texting me. So it had to be my boyfriend. He should have been in the middle of work at that time so I was at a loss at what he would need to text me about. I knew if it was something sappy I might be annoyed. Lorna I always insisted I secretly loved that and I always responded with a question. Usually it was “how do you know me so little?” or something along those lines.

I set my coffee down carefully and replaced it with my cellular device. I hesitated for a split second before pressing the button to take me to the newest message. I read it curiously.

It’s amazing how things turn out. Maybe it is for the best but it never stops the full shock especially with something like what is displayed on the little digital screen. I read it over again just to be certain that it actually says what it does. I stand up in an alarming rate sending my chair backwards to create a loud “clack” sound on the tile floor of the coffee shop. My first thought is: WHAT. THE. FUCK.

“Simon?”

Her voice was a distant ring in my ear as all I could do was stare flabbergasted at my fucking phone.

It’s over. We don’t fit. Sorry.

- Kyle

That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever read. But what is even more ridiculous is how I received such a declaration. “What kind of douche bag dumps someone via text?!” I toss the phone down on the table as if it had scalded my fingertips.

“What?” Lorna looks bewildered and she cautiously picks up my phone to look at the message. I watched her face change from confused to shock to angry. I up righted my chair and plopped down seething, arms crossed tightly and face narrowed like I’m ready for the attack.

“The absurdity of sending a text to do this! What does that even mean we don’t fit?” I ranted which would be only the beginning of the tirade. “I think I deserve more respect, like a face to face talk. Fuck, he never mentioned anything or complained. Where the fuck is it coming from? I mean really, this isn’t high school. How immature! Could he not even tell it to my face? He can’t even explain himself, the bastard. Who does he think he is? And after two years, he suddenly decides this?!”

Lorna remained silent as she listened to me go off, almost amused by the fact I didn’t seem sad about being dumped just appalled and angry at being broken up with by text. It was true that I wasn’t as miserable as someone in a loving relationship might be after being dumped. I was not in love with Kyle. He was simply my boyfriend that I had a fondness for at best. Or rather ex-boyfriend now since I started to abhor him more with each passing minute. Plus, as he had so eloquently put it, we were over and didn’t fit.

Lorna all of the sudden laughed. It was only right that I glare daggers at her as she did so. Was it really a laughing matter? I voiced this.

“It’s just so ridiculous it’s funny. Besides weren’t you just thinking of doing the same thing last week, though more properly of course,” she smirked a little and picked up her latte. “You don’t love him, do you?”

“No,” I sighed heavily. “But it’s the principle of the thing. Plus I was only contemplating. I would have actually voiced my thoughts if I felt the need to. This is the first time I’ve heard—well read—of his feelings if that’s what you call it. I just really can’t believe it!”

Our conversation drifted to other things though my mind was still boiling about this. If it wasn’t any clearer, I am a bit of a hot head. Was that why we didn’t fit? Just because I could be a little snappy or that I was cynical at best doesn’t mean I am an unfit person. He never had a problem with me before. What’s with the sudden change? It was all complete ludicrous to me.

“Then he said ‘the thing about Georgette is that she’s…she’s a widespread kind of woman, you know?’ and Casey is like ‘no, I really don’t know.’ Then he just walked away, it was hilarious the expression on Malcolm’s face!”

I managed to smirk but my heart wasn’t into our lame gossip stuff we always did as a ritual. It was usually entertaining, but at the moment I was all half-hearted. Mostly because I was still ticked and I could definitely hold a grudge forever. I have a feeling if I don’t get killed I am still dying at an early age.

“Malcolm really doesn’t get it, but…” Lorna paused. “You know what you should do?”

“Hmm?” I took a sip from the coffee but set it down again. It had gotten cold.

“Get even,” she said simply and tossed some of her wavy red hair behind her shoulder. The gesture was fluid and graceful. I had noticed quite many stares from the few males in the coffee shop directed at her. She could have been a model with her tall slender form if she wasn’t pursuing a medical career.

“Even?” I repeated.

“Yes, that is exactly what you should do,” she grinned and stood up. We headed back to the hospital, her continuing to chat up a storm and me in contemplation of this concept of getting even.

It was the first week of September.

--

It was Friday the next week and I had the day off. I work at the Sacred Heart Hospital in the city as a radiologist. It’s an easy job and I get paid extremely well.

Last weekend I had the inevitable exchange of things with Kyle. I went over to his apartment with a box of his things and he had a box of mine. The coward didn’t give me an explanation of course. The air had been thick with tension and conversation was awkward, well on his part while I was rather coherent and vehement. I wanted some answers, but he kept saying the same shit or finding ways to go around everything I brought up. It was annoying to say the least. But I am a clever young man. I saw something from the corner of my eye, next to a picture of Kyle, me, and a few other friends near the ocean was something I knew wasn’t his. Kyle’s cell phone was sticking out of the front pocket of his jeans, a flip phone black. The cell on the table beside the framed photo was fancy and sleek, blue, with a charm of a frog that hung off the side from it. I hadn’t said anything about it, but I knew that he had found some twink to shack up with. Apparently he couldn’t have just told me that in the beginning, what a loser.

I had left there with only the thought that had been planted in my head by Lorna.

I decided to go out by myself to just have some me time maybe buy something and go see that new action film or maybe I’ll rent movies and take them home to watch on the couch with only my cat for company. I was ever so glad that Kyle and I never got to the point of moving in together, but then again he had always brought it up and I had always turned him down. Good thing too. I hate sharing my things.

I was going down the sidewalk with a small plastic bag in hand. I had just bought a death metal CD. I thought it fitting, though I am more classic rock and punk. I was contemplating to what to have for lunch when I noticed there was a long line outside of the bookstore up ahead. What’s that all about? Did Rowling decide to make an eighth book? As I got closer I noted the number of women out weighed the men one to twenty at least. Okay, was Rachael Ray signing cookbooks or what?

Being much like a cat by nature in some ways, I was curious. Of course also being a dick, I just went through the other door bypassing the long line. I got dirty looks from soccer moms. The line seemed to go straight to a table. So it was a book signing, though it definitely wasn’t Rachael Ray. It was hard to tell who was sitting there what with the horde of people blocking my view. I stayed off to the side and wandered down aisles till I found one that would give me a safe view. Of course any sort of spying must be conducted nonchalant and innocuous. So I picked a random book of the shelf and opened it up as if I was going to read it. Instead I looked over the top.

It was a man with a Cheshire like grin and a chiseled face underneath a spread of rough facial hair. He was sort of that ruggedly handsome, manly type that often got me weak in the knees. His since of style was small town in just a pair of jeans and a flannel over a t-shirt. His brown hair was cut short but unruly though I couldn’t tell his eye color from this distance and he wasn’t looking in this direction. He appeared to be that sort of slender muscular, but he definitely either worked out or had worked hard for a living. The sleeves of the flannel were rolled up to his elbows and I spotted a tattoo on the inside of his left wrist. Though I couldn’t quite make out what it was.

I bit my lip. He was possibly the most attractive thing I had seen in a while, including Kyle. He was blond and blue eyed and fit, but a little more plain and his smile definitely did not look as captivating. I cleared my throat and reminded myself not to get a boner in a bookstore. Then set the book back on the shelf.

I made a casual bee line for the display of books this guy supposedly authored near the signing. I picked one up and put on a half-interested expression as I read the title and author.

The Avery Manor by Liam Steppe, it said.

Realization hit me quickly and changed my expression to one of shock. This is the guy Kyle is nearly obsessed with. He has all of his books, so he’s told me. I’ve always shrugged it off whenever he tried to get me into these novels. Regency romance rubbish is not my thing. I prefer science fiction or suspense spy novels. According to Kyle, Mr. Steppe was the best gay author out there, but I would beg to differ. Another thing occurred to me as I set the book down. If this was advertised around town, then Kyle had to be here.

I turned around and scanned the crowd for the familiar blond locks and immediately spotted him closer to the door with a book under one arm and a the twink in the flesh under the other. Ugh, I needed a smoke right then. The kid was dark haired and extra thin with a big mouth and buggy eyes. He was shorter than both Kyle and I and looked younger too. A flamer if I ever saw one. It was disgusting really. I wanted to hurl too then have a cigarette. Gag me.

My gaze returned to the hot lumber jack writer, or supposedly Liam Steppe. I always thought he would be a chick with just a pen name. I guess I was wrong and kind of glad I was. My mind begins to wander into fantasies of licking frosting off his body and other kinky activities. I love frosting.

I was pulled out of a particularly exotic reverie when someone cleared there throat. I blinked and looked up into a pair of vibrant mischievous green eyes. Whoa. I jumped back and realized it was that Liam guy. Oh shit. What should I say? I didn’t have to say anything though because he spoke first.

“Hey there, mind if I have a cup of coffee?” he said with that grin. He had dimples.

“What?” I was embarrassingly confused and stunned.

He just motioned behind me, seeming at ease. I glanced in his suggested direction to see a portable coffee dispenser, sugar, cream, stirs, and Styrofoam cups. Oh. I feel like an idiot. I frowned at it and then moved out of the way. He actually chuckled and moved over to the table to make himself a cup. As he did so I got a quick glance at his rear end. That’s nice. He turned back to me and I sat up straight. He was smirking at me and somehow that got me annoyed. I crossed my arms and frowned.

“What?” I asked sharply.

“I am just wondering what you were thinking about before to get such an expression on your face,” was his reply and he took a sip from the cup.

That made me blush since I had been thinking about him in an inappropriate way. But I managed to control myself ready to take this guy on. I could be cool and composed.

“I was thinking,” I paused when I saw Kyle looking this way with a weird expression. He almost looked…envious? His twink was looking sulky in comparison. He most likely preferred to be out shopping with his girl friends or hitting some new club. He chose this guy over him? Then the most brilliant plan came into fruition in the ever great mind I possessed. “That you could do me a favor,” I finally finished looking up at Liam with a Cheshire smile of my own. I was going nowhere before in my ideas but this one seemed to perfect to be true.

Liam seemed to be the confused one now. “Um, sure?”

I placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered into his ear, going up on my toes. I revealed my ingenious plan to him and he glanced over his shoulder at Kyle when I finished. He turned back to me and laughed, “Why not?” Despite his lame books, this guy was really growing on me and fast.

He stepped closer to me and threaded his fingers in my black curly hair and pulled my face forward. I lips met in a heated kiss and eventually his tongue pried my lips open. He didn’t have to, but I didn’t mind. Christ, he was a devastatingly good kisser. Since this was to get back at Kyle for his cowardly, loser way of ending things with me and hooking up with the colorful stick, I put a lot of show into it. My hand even traveled down to grasp Liam’s ass, which was pleasantly firm. I hear a variety of gasps, shrieks, squeals, and “oh my god’s” from the crowd.

We finally pulled a part breathing a little heavier and shared a smile. There was something there in that moment, but it passed quickly and I didn’t think on it. I peered over to see Kyle’s reaction. He looked like a very surprised blushing cod fish. Mission accomplished. I chatted with Liam while he was on his break before I said farewell and made my way out with a wink at Kyle and his new boy toy. He glared at me and I felt happier than I had been in a long while. Revenge can be very sweet sometimes, even the smallest kind.

When I got home, I found Liam’s book in my bag from the music store. The inside cover had a message in printed handwriting. I liked how untidy it was.

Lunch. Tomorrow. 12:30. Then it was followed by a number. I smirked and sat back on the couch stroking my fingers over my cat’s fur. The rest of September was going to be much more pleasant.

Relationships, cell phones, and love may be overrated, but getting even was definitely not. It had its perks. Note to self: Lorna is a genius.