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 Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2024 5:48 pm
“I think he’ll be okay. He’s surprisingly good with the people he knows,” Atticus hummed thoughtfully, but he was thinking more about Riker as Reims. He knew Riker wouldn’t want to make Énna feel harassed by being in the same place as him, and Atticus wouldn’t want Énna to have to be forced to face his bully, but maybe they could figure something out.
Atticus smiled and gently petted Cassidy’s hair once more. “You are stubborn and hard on yourself. So you should definitely let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you. Even if it’s just staying over for the night so we can watch movies and have snacks. Oh, and I’m sure Lucien would like to see you. He looks pretty comfortable. Hold on, let me take a picture,” he offered with a grin, pulling out his phone so he could snap a picture of Lucien completely stretched out over Cassidy’s back to then show him.
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2024 5:49 pm
Cassidy leaned over so he could see the picture better. “Aww, I love him,” he gushed. “Such a smart, handsome boy.”
He felt spoiled right now, even if he was trying to distract himself from Riker running off. Atticus was probably trying to distract him, too.
He was stubborn and hard on himself, but when Atticus said it the words didn’t come across as even remotely insulting. “I’d love to spend the night sometime, you’ll have to let me know when you’re free. I’ve got a lot of flexibility. If I ask my parents I can pretty much get away with whatever I want. Does Mr. Gallo let you have people over on a school night or is he a strict ‘weekend friends only’ kinda guy? …The Reids are pretty good with whatever as long as you do your homework, I’ve spent the night a few times with Elliot so we could just carpool. But that’s how I know his parents’ food is so good and why I wanted to bother them for help.”
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2024 5:51 pm
“He’s pretty lenient about a lot of things,” Atticus chirped fondly about his Papa, excited about the idea of Cassidy spending the night. “As long as your parents are okay with it -- although, if I told him someone didn’t want their parents to know, then he’d do whatever he could to help out and make sure they were comfortable. Elliot’s parents are like that too.”
He knew he was pretty lucky, having such understanding and kind parents. And it was even better that they trusted him to do what was right. Sure, they would direct him and Elliot in the right direction, but they’d never had to ground him or take away his things.
The closest they got to telling him and Elliot no was when they were going to Alastor to get rid of the Chaos, but after a lot of convincing, they let them go.
Surely, having a friend over was simpler than fighting Chaos.
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2024 5:53 pm
“Nice. Dad’s been talking about taking some later hours at the hospital. He was thinking about doing some nights, too. Like, I guess it’s fine to be home alone but it gets so boring. I can only doom scroll for so long, you know?”
As if he wasn’t regularly posting on social media about doing things. Last night he’d posted some pictures of his popcorn ceiling and traced lines over some of the shapes and pictures he could make out of them. Earlier today he’d been posting himself wearing a few of his new outfits, some weird caterpillars in the backyard, and a floor covered with packing peanuts he’d just spilled.
“Your dad’s cool. I don’t want to intrude on family night or anything, but yeah. If you guys wouldn’t mind me spending the night every now and then, that’d be cool. I’ll try not to be too clingy, I’m sure I’ll get back in touch with people and be able to bother them too. And don’t be modest, Atticus. I know you’ll say ‘but Cassidy, you don’t bother me! You can come over whenever you want!’ but I know you and Elliot will want some time to smooch too.”
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2024 5:53 pm
“You don’t bother me!” Atticus laughed, but his cheeks flushed a bit and he wiggled on his spot on the couch, before finally having to cover his cheeks with his hands because they were getting too red.
“We would both be happy that you’re around,” he insisted, trying very hard not to think about how much he would like to have time to smooch. But they could wait! They didn’t have to all the time!
“I think they like that we have friends over. They do their own thing, too. Daddy goes to a fighting tournament every month or so and wins all kinds of awards. He’s very strong. Well, they both are. But Daddy really likes fighting. You wouldn’t think so since he always dresses so nice. Oh, I mean, they both do, but…”
There was obviously a difference between Michael and Devyn. Devyn was beautiful and elegant first, and handsome second. And Michael was handsome and mature. They were both wonderful.
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2024 5:55 pm
Cassidy would have rolled over to look at Atticus if Lucien weren’t on his back. “What? Your dad with the long hair and the makeup and the jewelry is the fighter? I was hoping you were going to say like, Mr. Gallo did cage matches or something. He seems like he could, he’s got this ‘Mr. Tough Guy’ look.” For a guy that taught poetry, especially.
“He gets awards for it? That’s crazy, I had no idea. Okay, well remind me not to get on his bad side. Or make you cry,” he laughed.
“I thought Mr. Gallo was going to be the scary one, I didn't realize I was going to have to be careful around both of them!” he said, as if he hadn’t already been around Michael enough just through his support of Elliot at their games, or any of the other times he was around while Elliot was, too. Never mind knowing him at school. He respected Michael for the most part. He was cool, for an adult. And a teacher.
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2024 5:58 pm
Atticus laughed again, pleased to be talking about his dads. He couldn’t tell people enough how wonderful they were.
“Papa could probably fight, too. He was in the military for a while. I guess there was a bad accident and he left-- Oh! Oh, don’t tell anyone I said that. He tells everyone it was a motorcycle accident where he got all his scars from, but, um… I mean, I guess other than his arms you can’t really see them.”
Unless he had his shirt off, which he often did on the boat, or at the Springs.
“You don’t have anything to worry about though. I know they like you, and they know I like you. You’re a good friend Cassidy. And if Lucien wasn’t hogging you, I’d be hugging you again!”
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:00 pm
“His secret’s safe with me.” What was Cassidy going to do with that information, harass Mr. Gallo? A guy in the military? No, thank you.
“You really think they like me? That’s an ego boost. Not just because I was in that accident, right? I’m kidding. They’re cool. Do you hear that, Lucien? You’re lucky you got to me first. I’ll have lots of hugs for you soon, Atticus. Promise. I’ve got a lot to make up for.”
And, hopefully a lot of time to do it.
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