it had been a few days since cassius had given valentín his number, and everyday valentín stared at the phone that sat on his dresser wondering if he should. he stared at the number on the slip of paper. valentín laughed to himself, remembering how cassius had just taken it out of his pocket, waiting to give it to a special someone.
———
cassius spent the day doing what he always did. getting high and ignoring his mother. he wanted valentín to call him. he wanted to speak to him and hear his voice again. valentín was so small, smaller than most. cassius remembered looking him up and down, and how he first noticed how small his ankles were in his navy blue socks and how he had lots of freckles on his nose and cheeks. and how his eyes were really pretty under the street lamp. he almost got lost in thought before the phone began ringing. he shot up and grabbed the phone.
"hello?"
———
valentín's voice shook as he spoke.
"h-hi this is valentín... is this cassius?"
he waited for a response and hoped he hadn't made a mistake when putting the number in.
"yes! i was beginning to think you'd never call!"
before valentín could say anything else, cassius spoke with an eager tone to his voice.
"i was wondering if you'd like to hang out...?"
valentín had been blushing ever since he dialed the number but the question seemed to make his cheeks go even redder. it took him a while to get the words out. "yes, i'd love to!"
"alright, how about tomorrow? we can meet at that book store in the city."
valentín thought his heart would burst out of his chest at the thought of it. a whole entire day with just cassius? that's all he wanted ever since they met.
"i can't wait!" they exchanged temporary goodbyes before hanging up. after the phone call was over valentín had to figure out what to wear, bring, even say. he stood up from his bed and began digging through his closet to find the perfect outfit.
———
cassius couldn't wait. he hoped he hadn't made it too obvious that he just asked valentín on a date. he stared at his ceiling with a big smile on his face, thinking about everything they'd do the next day.
he stayed like that for almost two hours until his mother interrupted. she burst into his room, her hair messy and frizzed. she wore an expensive wine red satin robe, which was bought with both divorce money and the money that cassius's father sent her to keep quiet about him and his whereabouts. almost everything they owned was. she leaned on the doorway, smoking a cigarette. she was a pretty woman, despite the excessive amounts of sex and alcohol and cigarettes she had everyday.
"what are you so happy for?" she slurred, staring her son straight in the face.
cassius shot up, and looked back at her. "just thinking about the fact how someday you'll die and i won't have to look at you any more."
his mother speed walked toward him and slapped him hard in the face. she bent down to where her face was level with his and shoved her finger in his face. "you'd best be grateful for me, you pezzo di merda. i brought you into this world and i can take you out of it just as fast."
cassius held his red cheek in pain. it was stinging and getting hotter by the minute. he waited for her to leave his room before changing into his pajamas and going to sleep. nothing was going to ruin his plans with valentín.
not even his whore of a mother.
