Mute Songbird (boyxboy) -Complete-

Tuesdays with Danny

I'd been waiting and when I knew it was almost time for the bus to arrive I pulled back my curtain and peered down the street. Finally I saw the bus pass by and a few minutes later he came walking towards the house, his book bag so stuffed that they could probably see it from the space station. I went downstairs and opened the door.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked quietly.

I should have said, or tried to say 'better' but I was suddenly really, really nervous. I hadn't really talked in front of him yet. I'd said 'slim' this morning and we'd done the whole tickling episode, but I suddenly worried that he really didn't know just how bad it was. I was going to make a fool of myself and I had no right to expect him to put up with me. It was annoying enough when I had to write everything and now---

"Earth to Asher. Maybe you should go back to bed."

"Hello Slim" I did it! That was great. Thank god. I reached out to take his bag, he was literally leaning over due to the weight. He kept a tight hold on it though.

His eyes lit up and he pulled me into a hug. "Holy shit Ash!" he whispered. "Hello to you, too." He released me before asking: "Your mom still home?"

I nodded gently, although I didn't see her. I pointed upstairs towards my room.

"She's upstairs? Can we take over the table? Any chance you can go over some trig with me or will your head explode and your brain start leaking out of your nose?"

No, I wanted him to myself. I wanted US upstairs. "No, slim" and I pointed up again.

"You want us to go up? Okay. Here, can you carry this?" He handed me the trig book and followed me up the stairs rather slowly. Once we were in my room he collapsed on my bed. "My baaaack" he whined. "Books are so heavy!"

I wondered why he thought he needed them ALL tonight but there wasn't play practice so he would have time to get a lot done. We weren't exactly flying through trig though.

"Did you get my note? I'm sorry I had to leave school without seeing you" he mumbled half into the mattress. "We had to move them into a rehab center apartment. Um, assisted living, that's it. So we moved their entire house. We did most of it while he was still in the hospital but my grandmother was a mess. Gramps isn't doing well, he had to have surgery and he's so weak and old-looking now. It's weird. Aging."

I nodded and sat on the bed next to him and started rubbing his shoulders.

"That feels so good, please keep going. I'll pay you."

You couldn't have paid me enough to STOP touching him. I wanted to be close, I needed him. What I really wanted was a kiss. I leaned down and pecked his cheek, hoping he'd get the hint. He didn't move though, only smiled.

"Missed you like crazy Ash. I kept my phone charged the whole time, even slept with it under my pillow just in case you could get yours. I get it though, it's okay and all. Not trying to guilt-trip you or anything. I just missed you. I was worried about the whole therapy thing and how you were doing but I shouldn't have been, you're doing great." And just that quick he was up again. Boy never stayed still. "So how are you? What did I miss?"

He missed that I couldn't really talk. "I.... nu num nother nothing." I nodded, that was it. Nothing. And then I waited. For him to realize what a lost cause I was, or laugh, or worse look at me like... it's a hard look to describe. But I've seen it. A lot. I didn't want to see it on his face though.

"I didn't miss anything?" It was the same Dan, he didn't even seem phased by my sucktastic talking.

I nodded.

"I missed you getting DRUNK. Hello!"

Oh, his letters! I jumped up and ran over to my desk, grabbing the manila envelope I'd kept them in. I handed them over and he took them even though he seemed confused.

He slid them out and started flipping through the pages. "You wrote all of this to me?"

Yes.

"In a week?"

Yes.

"Well I guess I'm not getting any homework done tonight."

Not what I wanted. I practically climbed on top of him and tried to take them back but he stuck his arm out towards the wall and I couldn't reach.

"Nuh uh, you gave them to me and I'm going to read them. Back off, bucko." He realized right then that I was practically straddling his lap. I saw the recognition all over his face. He dropped the papers carefully and pulled me into a kiss that lasted for about twenty minutes.

"ASHER!" my father yelled from downstairs.

I jumped up, frantic. I smoothed my shirt, made sure my zipper was still up and that I was presentable before practically running down the stairs.

"Asher, go mow the yard. After dinner you're going to do the dishes. Got it?"

I was stupid to think he was going to let me get away with last night. I nodded and then pointed upstairs. "Ssss Slim"

"Oh, Danny? Tell him good-bye and then head outside."

I told myself that it was for the best and he needed to get caught up on school work. He was just finishing packing up his bag when I walked in.

"I heard. I'll see you at school tomorrow?"

Yes. Absolutely.