Reaper's Touch

Gus: Plans

"And it came to me then that every plan is a tiny prayer to Father Time."
- Death Cab For Cutie, "What Sarah Said"

"Jeff, I'm goin' out!" Gus called as he walked down the hallway, pulling a t-shirt over his head.

Jeff leaned out of his bedroom doorway. "Hanging out with Hex again?"

Gus nodded. He felt his face warm and realized he was blushing.

"This is becoming an every day thing huh?"

"I don't know," Gus said. "I guess it is. She's lonely. Doesn't have anyone but me and Ember."

"Are you being careful?" Jeff asked.

Gus rolled his eyes. He wasn't used to being asked all these questions. He was used to answering to no one but himself and running around as he pleased. As annoying as it was, though, it was also kind of nice to know he was cared about.

"I told you! She has a year clean! Longer than me! We never even talk about drugs!" he said defensively.

"Yeah that's... not the only thing I'm talking about," Jeff said slowly.

"What else do I have to be careful about?" Gus asked impatiently.

Jeff raised an eyebrow, and it hit him like a semi-truck.

"Oh wait- you think... me and Hex? No way, man." Gus turned and picked at an old nail hole in the wall. Now he was really blushing. "It's like this... she's beautiful, and I've had a crush on her forever, but I don't stand a chance with someone like her."

"Don't sell yourself short," Jeff said.

"Huh?" Gus asked. He didn't get why Jeff had to bring his height, or lack of it, into the conversation.

Jeff chuckled. "It's a saying."

"That I'm short? Yeah I fuckin' know, dude. Don't be a dick about it, damn."

But Jeff laughed again, harder this time. "No, Gus! No! It's a saying that means you should think more positively about yourself, because maybe she really likes you."

"Oh."

Gus felt stunned. After a pause he shook his head and said,

"Pshh... Doubt it. Either way, she gotta make the first move 'cause I ain't about to make myself look like a jackass."

—————

Gus could hear Ember's apartment even before he rounded the last corner of the stairwell. A kid was screaming and crying, and he could already tell it was Cricket. He knocked on the door, and his suspicions were confirmed as soon as Hex opened it.

"Thank God! Get me the fuck outta here," Hex said impatiently.

Behind her, Gus could see Ember and West trying to coax Cricket into eating a spoonful of peas. The kid's lips were pressed together so tightly they were white, and he shook his head every time they got close to his mouth with the spoon. His little hand swatted at it, and peas went flying. Ember looked annoyed and exhausted, and Gus assumed West was wearing the same facial expression, but his back was turned.

"Hey, Ember!" Gus called, waving a hand.

"Hey, Gus," Ember replied flatly, not looking over at him.

"Like I said," Hex repeated quietly. "Get me the hell out of here."

"No problem," Gus said with a smile.

As they walked out into the warm evening, Gus stole a glance at Hex.