Casting Bones

Chapter 1 - Part 2

Holding a hand up in surrender, Desi slowed Casper to a stop with the other before continuing. "Just hear me out, okay? I'll pay you, if you want to do it. If not then we'll just forget about it. But you're like, my only option so I have to ask."

"Jeez, I'm glad to hear I'm your last resort," Casper said, his sarcasm flat and thick.

"That's not how I meant it." Desi gave an exasperated sigh. "I need a logo designed for my band for Friday. I don't really know anyone else that does that sorta thing, so I'm asking you."

Casper hummed, failing to conceal his brief curiosity. "I didn't know you were in a band."

Desi shrugged casually. "I mean, it's kinda a new thing. We're still at the 'in our garage' stage but, maybe not after Friday? If you... draw us a logo?" He added a begging inflection to the end of his words, trying his best to work off Casper's barely existing sympathies.

The dark-haired boy looked like he was considering momentarily, but quickly offered an excuse. "I don't really do that sort of thing. I doubt it'd be very good."

Desi waved his deprecation away. "I'm sure it would be great."

Casper exhaled hard, biting at a black fingernail in contemplation. "And you'll pay me?"

"Whatever you want." Desi held up a scout's honor for good measure.

Beginning to cave, but still not entirely convinced, Casper probed more. "What's your band's name?"

Desi gave an awkward laugh and ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to deflect the question. "We don't really have an official name, per say..."

Casper dropped his hand along with his shoulders. "How am I supposed to make you a logo if you don't have a name?"

He was right. Desi couldn't expect this kid to pull a name and design out of his ass on a night's notice like this. Fuck it, the others would just have to deal with Desi taking the reins on this one. "Well I was playing with some names and there was one I liked so I guess it'll have to do. I was thinking... 'Night Creatures'?"

Casper gave no reaction to the name reveal, despite Desi clearly tensing up in preparation for his opinion. Instead he simply asked, "and the logo?"

Desi gave an awkward grin, thinking for a second before adding, "what about one of those big owls, the 'horned' ones, you know?"

"I've never really drawn an owl before..." Casper offered another excuse, but it was weak, clearly almost convinced to agree. Desi had him on the hook. Just reel him in a little more...

"No way! It's Casper the Faggy Ghost. I didn't know you went here too? Did you guys have class together?" Ashley couldn't have picked a worse time to be her usual obnoxious self, barging into the conversation without notice, snatching up Desi's arm as she neared and grinning in Casper's direction with her closed-lip fake smile.

Desi forced his own also, but it was more of a clenched-teeth, silent apology, praying that Casper would let the uncomfortable moment pass and Desi could condemn his girlfriend's insensitivity later. Casper didn't owe Desi anything though, and with the interruption, the bit of interest in Casper's expression sank to unimpressed.

Stoney-faced again, the dark-haired boy lifted his dulled eyes from Ashley to Desi and said, "I'm going to go."

Desi nearly reached out to stop him but resisted his impulsive desperateness, instead calling after Casper as the boy turned to leave.

"Okay, cool. Think about it, yeah? I'll see you tomorrow." He watched Casper go, not even turning back to look at them, then once he was out of earshot Desi let his smile fade to a frustrated groan in his girlfriend's direction. "Thanks a lot, Ash. You just ruined my chance at getting a logo done for the band by Friday."