January 10th, 1981
David and Exer had been best friends for about two years now, and Exer had yet to go to David's house. So today was the day David awkwardly invited him over for a sleepover. Exer agreed very happily, but he couldn't help feeling nervous about meeting David's father. I mean, there must have been a reason David never wanted to go home, and always loved being at his house.
But nonetheless, his father had packed him a bag, wished him luck, and told him to call if he was needed. Exer walked to David's house alone. He'd walked there before, to either bike or walk David home. But this is the first time he'd step into the navy house with the well-manicured lawn.
When he knocked on the door, someone opened the door. Maroon hair, pasty skin, crooked nose, and a glare that shook him to his core, stood who he only assumed to be David's father.
Mr. Miller must have noticed the fear on his face, so he smirked a bit.
"So. This is the well renowned Exer Campbell, huh?"
I nodded simply. He clapped my shoulder and pulled me inside. I saw David watching and hovering around the corner. He had something in his hand. I'd seen them at the store, it was a frosty glass bottle with beer in it. I blinked.
Mr. Miller pulled me into the living room and sat me down on the foul smelling couch. It smelled like a metallic, stale, something. I couldn't place what it was however. I'm sure I'd think of it later. The couch was an ugly one, and it wasn't very comfortable. It was a awful brown color, with an occasional splotch. I attempted to not gag. It was hard, but I did it. I didn't really feel welcome here with Mr. Miller.
David handed his father the beer, and when Mr. Miller opened it, he offered it to David. David looked like he wanted to protest, but he must have done this before because he took a sip and looked green. Not magic green, nauseous green. Then, to my utter suprise, Mr. Miller offered me some. I shook my head no immediately.
"No thank you sir. I'm good." I said in my most grown up polite voice. He ignored me.
"Ah, Harry needs to loosen up. Come on kid, take a sip."
I shook my head no again. He glared. It was spooky. He held it out, and I reluctantly took a small sip. He pushed the back of the bottle to get more in his mouth. When Mr. Miller pulled the bottle away, Exer swallowed it with a sputter. It tastes like how David's mother's nail polish smelled.
Mr. Miller laughed to himself, before glaring at Exer and telling him to "be a man." He also mentioned that Exer was more 'manly' than David, because the first the time the blonde had tried it, he had spit the alcohol out. His mouth tasted bad. And his throat felt warm. He much preferred the weather smoothies his dad made him and David. He'd make a different theme for each one, depending on the weather. If it was raining it was a blend of purple and blue fruit.
He did not like being forced to take a gulp of this foul tasting liquid on this foul smelling couch in this foul house with this big ass foul leprechaun in front of him. David was like a ray of sunlight most of the time, but right now that sunshine was blocked by clouds because he was curled up on the opposite side of the couch.
This confused him. David would normally cuddle right up next to Exer, and Exer would adjust his body temperature with his magic depending on how David felt. He could tell David was cold, because he was all twisted up in a human knot. But maybe he was unhappy? Exer wouldn't be surprised. David spoke of his father with hope that he'd like him.
Mr. Miller started to yap about football, asking Exer if he likes it. Exer said he did. He didn't mind it, but it wasn't his favorite thing in the world. In fact, it was a bit confusing. His dad would watch cartoons with Exer, not football. But Exer sighed nonetheless and listened to David's dad, nodding occasionally and agreeing with him. David picked at his socks.
"David is going to be on the football team when he's in highschool, aren't ya champ?"
Mr. Miller asked David, who nodded. Exer already knew this. David had told him that he was going to join in high school to make his dad proud. Exer had said he would join too. "I'm joining too." Exer told Mr. Miller, who smiled and clapped him in the back. It kind of hurt. Exer definitely liked Ms. Miller more. Much more.
"Okay, well, there's food in the fridge, go to kid stuff. Go to bed at eight on the dot."
Mr. Miller told them before turning on the TV and getting into his chair to watch something on the television. Exer got off of the gross smelling couch, (he still couldn't tell what that smell was, and it was irritating him greatly.) and held his hand out to David.
David didn't take it, he stood up on his own. Exer let his arm fall awkwardly. David started up the stairs and disappeared from view. He was about to follow suit when Mr. Miller grabbed his arm.
"Hey Campbell, don't do that." He snapped. Exer was confused. What had he done?
"Don't hold another boy's hand, or else you'll be seen as a fairy."
Exer blinked. He looked away. "Sorry mister. I was just trying to be polite. I won't do it again. But I don't see how that'd turn me into a fairy."
Mr. Miller nodded. "Well don't. You're a man, you don't have to be polite unless you're trying to land a lady if you know hm what I mean."
Exer did not in fact know what he meant, but he didn't say that. He just blinked.
"But a fairy is another word for those... Queers. The boys who like boys like they should like girls."
Exer felt his eyes widen. Wait, he could love a boy like he loves girls? Like, he could get married to a boy? Wow! He didn't know that! Mr. Miller must have mistook his eyes widening for fear because he patted Exer on the shoulder.
"Don't worry kid, just don't hang out with them, and hell, throw a punch or two. Now go have fun. Talk about girls. Here, take this." He reached under his chair and pulled a magazine of some sort out. He handed it to Exer, who took it. Then he grinned.
"Have fun."
Exer nodded and practically ran up the stairs. It took him a minute to find David's room, but when he did, he couldn't help the suprise that slid onto his face. This room did not represent David in the slightest. It was boring, there were no fun posters or anything that David liked. Just football and plain colors. Gross. David shut the door and sat on his bed.
Exer went to sit with him, but David shook his head no. "Dad'll get mad." He explained when Exer gave him an offended look. Exer sighed and settled for the floor. David slid next to him. Exer opened the magazine and stared. It was filled with ladies in not a lot of clothes. He looked at David, who looked equally surprised.
"What? It's like that movie!" He exclaimed, and Exer nodded. They flipped the pages. Exer's favorite was a tall lady with pale skin, golden hair, and sky blue eyes. David liked the one with toffee skin, golden brown puffs of hair, and amber eyes. But they closed the book after awhile, went downstairs quietly, grabbed some food in the fridge, and bolted back up.
It was almost eight, and David yawned, so Exer turned the light off, made himself comfortable, and curled up on the floor. About ten minutes later, David was asleep and Exer was still on the floor. Then he finally realized what the couch smelled like. Blood.
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