After the Climb (River Rain 0.50)

God, Corey didn’t want that for Genny.

“No, the drive-in will be for like, when we’re going together. Like, officially,” Duncan declared.

Because that was going to happen.

Like…

Officially.

He could hear it in the sound of Dun’s voice.

And that officially would be soon.

“Right,” Corey mumbled.

“Do it proper-like, you know. Start with something fancy.” He turned his head back to Corey. “It’s Genny.”

That said it all and Corey didn’t have to force that nod, that agreement.

It was Genny.

Proper-like and fancy was the only way to go.

Duncan was just about to say something, but he didn’t.

They heard the door behind them open before whatever Dun was going to say could come out and Corey felt his spine tingle.

In other words, he knew who was there before he even turned his head to look up.

“Jesus, what the fuck? You two bums got nothin’ better to do?” Mr. Holloway asked.

Another feeling shot through him.

And this feeling, Corey knew.

He knew it real well.

It didn’t feel like anything. He knew exactly what it was.

He knew he wanted to get up, turn around and punch Duncan’s dad in the throat.

“Boy, trash needs taken out, your mom’s got dinner ready, and you better not have brought my goddamn car back without any fuckin’ gas,” Mr. Holloway said.

“There’s plenty of gas, Dad,” Duncan replied.

Mr. Holloway didn’t even acknowledge Duncan spoke.

He looked at Corey like he was a pile of warm, steaming shit marring the broken concrete of his back steps.

“Don’t you got homework or something to do?” he asked.

He didn’t.

He’d already done it.

Corey never fucked around when it came to homework.

That was his way out of this shit town, his shit family, and his shit life.

So, no.

Hell no.

He didn’t have homework to do.

Corey did his homework and then he did more of it to get extra credit because, just as well as he knew Duncan and Genny were into each other, he knew he was going to get out of this shit town, away from his shit family and say goodbye to this shit life.

“Yeah,” he said, pushing up to his feet, glancing at his friend, muttering, “Later, Dun.”

“See you tomorrow, Corey,” Duncan replied. “Thanks for hanging and waiting for me.”

“No probs,” he mumbled, and took off.

It was no surprise that he didn’t even get around the side of the house before he caught Mr. Holloway saying in a voice that begged to be heard, “Watch that kid, Bowie. I think he’s a fag. And you’re a good-lookin’ guy. He’s here all the time because he’s pantin’ after your ass. Even when he was young, always thought he was a little pervert. But he’s older now and kids your age think with their dicks. Don’t let him get a shot at yours.”

That burn coming back, feeling like it would consume him, Corey stopped out of sight and listened.

“Corey’s not gay, Dad,” Duncan returned, voice firm.

Always.

Even with his huge freaking dick of a father.

Dun never let anyone shovel shit on Corey.

“Did I ask for your fuckin’ opinion?” Mr. Holloway demanded.

“He’s my friend,” Duncan clipped out.

“If he’s not a fuckin’ fag, he’s a fuckin’ dweeb. Don’t know why you waste your time with him.”

“Because he’s smart and because he’s funny and because he likes football and basketball, but he knows there’s a whole lot more in this world than just that. Like I do.”

Corey didn’t really like football and basketball.

He was just supposed to like them.

So he pretended he did.

“Whatever, the trash needs taken out. Get on that. I don’t want to eat a cold dinner,” Mr. Holloway ordered.

There it was.

That was what people like Mr. Holloway were like.

Duncan was sixteen years old, and Mr. Holloway was his dad.

But Duncan didn’t back down.

After that whole hunting thing, Duncan stopped backing down.

Sometimes he’d be grounded, or Mr. Holloway would yell at him forever or make up stupid chores for him to do, but still, Duncan never backed down.

Corey had noticed when Mr. Holloway had started petering out and then he started doing it faster and faster.

He’d say shit, Duncan wouldn’t eat it, and Mr. Holloway would shut up.

He heard the screen door slam, and he knew they’d gone in and Duncan would be bringing out the trash, so Corey rushed away.

And he walked home thinking Genny and Duncan would look real good together. He was dark and she was light. They were both tall. They were both beautiful.

And okay, so he thought that about Dun, that didn’t make him gay or anything.

It was just fact.

Corey felt safe in facts and that was a fact.

And those two liked each other, all the way back when, when they went to the fairy stream.

Maybe even before.

Maybe even when Dun threw that frog at her, he liked her.

And she liked him.

So they were going to date.

No surprise.

No biggie.

Whatever.

He wasn’t going to lose either of them. He knew that for a fact too.