Billy returned to his room at Hillworth that night and promptly plopped on top of his bead. Laying on his back, he folded his arm behind his head. Rosey eyes looked unseeing at the ceiling above. So this was how it was going be be eh? Billy's little 'game' had taken on a whole new seriousness. Now he was left with two options - dump Ladon and find a new victim, or do what he had never wanted to do - was afraid to do - open up to the boy and fall in love with him.

No one had loved Billy. Ever. And like-wise, Billy had learned not to waste love on anyone. Of course he had started out with the love a young child always bares for its parents, but as he learned, that soon vanished. He wasn't even out of elementary school when all love, save for his art, vanished from his heart. He'd never had any grandparents either. Not on his father or his mother's side. They were all long dead by the time he came around, or in his mother's case, had disowned them.
It was no wonder, really, why Billy was so reluctant. No, damnit, afraid. In his mind, he simply wasn't lovable. Maybe that was why he acted like such a douche all the time. Self-fulfilling prophecy, or something like that. It was something that grated on his over inflated ego. He had such a high oppinion of himself, yet at the same time undeserving of love. So in his mind he twisted it. made it more acceptable to his ego. He was not 'unworthy' of love, but rather he was 'above being loved, or loving.' He was 'above such weak emotions.'

Well, now he was pondering giving it a shot. Lowering himself to such base emotions. His ego didn't like that. not one bit. So, once again he had to twist the truth. He had to give himself something else to believe.
Paris.
Paris had posed a challenge. Paris didn't think he was capable of loving Ladon. That right there was the fuel he needed. He would prove Paris wrong.

And so, just like that Billy had determined he would love Ladon. Open his heart to the innocent, caring, boy. Billy's brave advances before would be backed off on. For now at least. Billy was already plotting their next encounter in his mind. Billy would wait a week, hope his art sold well, and with that money Ladon and he could go to the store together. Grab the ingredients for a dinner - Billy wasn't sure just what yet - and together they would cook it. It would be a group endeavor. Billy, a much less experienced cook (and by that he meant zero experience) would depend on Ladon to instruct him. Yes, Billy would swallow his pride and allow Ladon that little scrap of power over him. If only for the duration of their kitchen activities.
Then after dinner~

Billy rolled off his bed and knelt down, lifting up the bed skirt and dragging out from beneath a box full of alphabetically arranged DVD's. Billy glanced over the titles before selecting one.

After dinner they could watch a movie. Billy would offer Ladon his arms to rest in. Yes, Billy would hold him. Endear himself further to the sentimental boy. This is where Billy, before this dramatic game change, would have allowed his warm breath to travel Ladon's neck, and take pleasure in the feel of the boy's body going rigid in his embrace. Billy would have nipped, kissed, nuzzled, and inside, he would laugh. That was before though. No, this time Billy would sit there and try and find it in him to,...cast ulterior motives, ego, aside. He'd try to enjoy the moment. Think about the love and all the good things the boy in his arms had to offer him, and think of ways to deserve those feelings.

Yes, this plan sounded good. And Billy wasn't the type to go in to something without a game plan.

~*~

A week, maybe a little more than that, passed before Billy even touched a payphone. Finally one snowy night, He was ready to set his plan into motion. He dialed the number, listened to the ringing, then;
"Hello, Ladon~"