High And Dry

I Froze Up

here have a little insight to David's world *magic sparkles*

“She looks like the real thing. She tastes like the real thing. My fake plastic love.” Ian put his hands on Anthony’s shoulders.

“But I can't help the feeling, I could blow through the ceiling if I just turn and run.” Anthony buried his face in his father’s shirt and cried, “I miss him, Daddy.”

“I know, buddy.” Ian kissed the top of Anthony’s head, “I miss him too.”

“It wears me out, it wears me out.” Anthony sighed, not even smiling at his own joke.

“It wears me out too, Little Man. It wears me out.”

“We can do this.” Anthony hugged him.

It had been almost a month since David dropped off the earth. Anthony had been having minor panic attacks more often when he came home and found that David wasn’t there. This only made Ian worse.

The two had just gotten over a duel hardship. Ian began having another emotional triggered asthma attack and it only made Anthony stressed, so he had begun to panic as well. It went on with neither of them saying anything, just breathing deeply and shaking for almost half an hour until Ian had calmed down and moved on to help Anthony.

“We can.” Ian smiled, “Now go put your pajamas on and I’ll be there in a few minutes to read you The Night Before Christmas.”

Anthony smiled, “Can we leave out cookies?”

Ian ran his hand through his hair, “I completely forgot.”

“Daddy!” Anthony put his hands on his hips, “It’s Christmas Eve! How could you forget that?”

He shrugged, “I’ve just been….”

“Thinking about Newbie?”

Ian sighed and nodded, rubbing his face, “Yeah.”

Anthony cocked his head, “You really liked him, didn’t you?”

Ian nodded again, “I did.”

“Did you love him?”

Ian paused. He didn’t know what to say. He completely froze up. Did he love him? Ian had only known him for a few days before the incident happened, but David had been gone for almost a month, and he’s all that Ian could think about. Was it love? Ian used to think that love didn’t come that easily. It took time and patience and caring for each other. Now, he found love in a man who completely abandoned him when he needed him most, when Anthony needed a father.

“Did I love him?” Ian muttered to himself.

He barely knew him. They dated for a few days, but it had felt like forever. Absence really does make the heart grow stronger.

“I think so.” Anthony sniffled, “I think you did.”

“Go put your pajamas on. I’ll be right up.” Ian said shortly, not wanting to continue this conversation any longer.

When Anthony left, Ian called David again.

David leaned over to get a better look at his phone. Ian. David hadn’t actually opened his phone in over a week, so the lock screen was crowded with dozens upon dozens of missed calls from everybody.

“It that the guy?”

He looked back at Dan, “Yeah. That’s him.”

Dan looked like he wanted to say something, but didn’t.

“Don’t ask.” David turned back to the television, turning the volume up, “Please don’t ask.”

He watched his phone settle down and stop vibrating and the screen went black. He reached for it, but withdrew his hand and let it rest along his leg as he directed his attention to whatever show he was watching. He wasn’t really watching it. He couldn’t focus on anything else but Ian.

“Do you want a drink or something to eat?” Dan asked.

David shrugged, “Can I?”

“Of course you can. You’ve been here for almost a month now; you’re always welcome here. Eat what you want.”

“Look, Dan, you’ve been nice and all, but you don’t need to pity me.”

“I don’t pity you, bro.” He pushed David’s head lightly as he sat next to him, “Plus, the missus and the kids love you.”

“I know.” He smiled, “When will they be back?”

“Anytime now. We’re supposed to spend Christmas Eve together, you know, as a family.”

That echoed in David’s head.

“I have to make a call.” He grabbed his phone.

“David where the fuck have you been? I’ve been up to my eyeballs in calls and messages from everyone asking me! Get your ass back here and do some explaining!”

“Jesus Christ.” He muttered, “Calm down, Mari.”

“Calm down?” He could tell she was angry, “If you don’t get your ass back here in a day, I’m getting the police to trace this call.”

He was silent.

"Are you okay?" Mari said, sounding more serious, "Are you hungry? Are you sick? Are you hurt?"

“Mari, I’m alright. I promise. I’m at my brother’s house.” He gave her the address, “I’m coming home.”

“A merry Christmas to all, and to all….”

“A good night.” Anthony rested his head on Ian’s arm, “It is a good night.”

“It sure is.”

“Am I visiting grandma tomorrow?”

“Of course, but not after you and I see what Santa got you.” Ian bit his lip and pulled a manila envelope from the back of the book, “I don’t know what this is, but it’s from Newbie.”

Anthony nodded and grabbed for it. His little fingers struggled to open it up, so Ian had to help him.

His eyes grew wide when he dumped it out. There were three of nearly every amusement park pass you could think of in California. Anthony looked through all of them.

“Santa Monica Pier, Six Flags, Universal Studios, Disney, California Adventure, the Zoo, Balboa Park….” Ian read them aloud, “The list goes on and on, Ant. You’d better write him a thank you letter.”

“But where would we send it?”

Ian paused, “I’ll just let him know that you wrote him one. You can write it tomorrow at Mama’s, okay?”

He smiled widely, “I can’t wait to go to all these places!”

Ian kissed the top of Anthony’s hair, “You’ll get the rest of your presents tomorrow. I think there’s one from Kalel….”

Anthony’s eyes widened before he quickly shut them, “I’m sleeping. Good night, Daddy.”

“Good night, Little Man.”