BL of a Wimpy Mangaka

late august

fregley sat on the back of the park bench, his feet resting on the seat. he took a long drag on his cigarette and let the smoke out in a sigh, making a cloud reminiscent of steam in the air on a cold winter day. but today was not cold, nor was it winter. it was a swelteringly hot summer day, a true "dog day" if you will, and the sun was so bright that fregley had to squint through his glasses to watch the road in front of him.

rodrick heffley, the brother of his childhood crush, gregory heffley, was practicing skateboard tricks on the ashpalt, gracelessly wiping out every now and then. his long hair was tied up in a small knot at the back of his head, exposing his sunburn-ruddied face. he was wearing a black t-shirt and shorts, despite it being around 35 degrees Celsius outside. fregley had to admire his dedication to an aesthetic.

fregley was fifteen, as of last february, and puberty was hitting him hard. lately, it was manifesting in angry outbursts at his family, whos cult bullshit had been hitting a high recently. he had had no time to focus on his taxidermy or even to just hang out in his front yard like he usually did, because his parents were constantly having people over for their idiotic Spirituality Sessions. fregley believed in the basis of the religion, that humankind needed to follow a specific set of rules to prepare for doomsday and all that- but having to carry the ceremonial garbs and do the sacrifices every single time his parents had an appointment was getting him down.

he finished his cigarette, and after a moment's hesitation, put it out on his forearm, hissing at the pain. it just seemed like the right thing to do. his eyes watered, and he closed them and licked his lips. with his senses heightened he could hear the telltale clatter of rodrick's skateboard flipping wrong for what must have been the twentieth time that day. he opened his eyes at the racket, and lit another cigarette just for the hell of it. sitting there and smoking was the first time that day that fregley had relaxed.

but the overwhelming heat was impossible to ignore, and as he wiped a warm, salty droplet of sweat from his temple, he found himself getting up just to move around, maybe even to find a breeze. he made his way closer to the young man in front of him, walking through drooping green grass and past a single skinny tree until his feet came to stand on the sidewalk right next to him.

"greetings, rodrick" fregley intoned, and drew again on his cigarette. then, he offered it to him in a sign of good will. 

"would you like a drag? it may behoove you to take a short break from your labours, it being such a hot day." he smiled, and blinked slowly three times to let him know that he didn't mean rodrick any harm.

rodrick looked at him hostilely for a moment, but accepted. he took the cigarette from the freckled boy's delicate fingers, slightly brushing them as he did. he drew in, and then exhaled, and then repeated. then, he passed it back.

"kids shouldn't smoke." he grunted.

"so be it" fregley smiled, and took a drag on the cigarette to punctuate the irony, then blew the smoke out through his teeth and giggled.

rodrick turned away, and went back to trying to do a kickflip. fregley watched him for a while, then made his way back to the park bench he had been sitting at before. but instead of sitting down again, he walked along the path, until it curved back into his neighborhood. he passed his house and kept going, until he saw figures moving around in the distance.

strolling closer, fregley made them out to be greg, rowley, and chirag, all standing together on the sidewalk talking. all three of them had popsicles that were melting as fast as they could eat them. as they spotted him, they ceased talking.

"salutations, gregory, rowley, and chirag. beautiful day outside, isn't it?" he smiled with his teeth in the way one would if someone were taking a picture of them.

"i guess so," was the unenthusiastic reply from sweet gregory. 

he must just be tired from the heat, he thought. if he's tired, perhaps he wouldn't mind if fregley stole some of his popsicle.

" mm, do you mind?" fregley asked, and before gregory could respond, fregley took the liberty of leaning down and taking a long lick from his popsicle, maintaining direct eye contact with him the whole time. gregory's mouth popped open, and his face reddened.

"mmm, how refreshing. thank you gregory." fregley licked his lips and took one last drag from his cigarette before dropping it onto the sidewalk and mashing it into the concrete with the toe of his shoe. looking down, he noticed that both rowley and chirag were carrying duffel bags. 

"ooh, a sleepover, i see. how exciting!" fregley giggled. "there is safety in numbers, that is something to be sure of. i hope you have fun without me, unfortunately i am busy this evening" he winked.

"speaking of, i must be off now... yes, i am very busy this evening indeed." fregley turned on his heel, leaving the three boys standing together on the sidewalk.

it was unfortunate that gregory would have guests tonight, he had been hoping to pay him a visit. then again, everything happens for a reason, fregley supposed. tonight would be the perfect night to carry out his plans, and perhaps the other people in the residence could be used as an advantage.... perhaps he would not have to postpone his call on the heffley household after all...