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 Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 7:42 pm
Elliot Reid was the most beautiful boy Chad had ever seen. Eyes as blue and deep as an ocean, as bright as the summer sky. Fluffy black hair that looked so soft. His expressions were always so full of life and energy. Whether he was focusing on hitting a homerun, or that little shimmer he got in his eyes when he knew he was about to completely destroy his debate opponents with logical and factual arguments, or when he was laughing with other classmates during recess.
Chad had only watched Elliot from afar, too anxious about making a bad impression, and too nervous about making Elliot hate him.
Which was why Chad was positive that his soul had left his body when he heard that sweet boy’s charmingly concerned voice. He hadn’t heard what he said, but he would recognize his voice anywhere, and spinning around to confirm just solidified his nightmare into reality.
Maybe Elliot didn’t recognize him. Maybe he was just worried about some random kid who decided to go rummaging around in a dumpster at night. Maybe Chad could pretend like he hadn’t heard him and just… sink into the filth and just never get back out. Maybe if he dropped the perfectly good, if not a little stale, bag of bagels he managed to fish out, he could pretend like he just… fell… into the dumpster. Somehow. No, that wasn’t very realistic.
Instead, he just froze, like a deer in the headlights, wondering if he stood still enough he could just disappear.
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 7:46 pm
Elliot had never had a class with Chad and knew him only from word of mouth, or the brief run-ins they’d had in the hallways or out and about. He’d never really thought much of Chad–not that it was a bad thing! He just hadn’t ever been alone with him like this, or in any real situation that would have warranted a conversation.
Chad always seemed nice enough, albeit a little jumpy. Kind of scatterbrained, but not in an annoying kind of way. Elliot got the impression that he just daydreamed a lot. But then, he was pretty sure he was one of those artistic types, so that just seemed pretty normal.
He wasn’t too far from home; the park was within walking distance from his house and he’d just been hanging out with some friends before he broke away from the group so he could head home. Alone. His parents trusted him to walk home, he didn’t even need for them to come pick him up.
But. In all of his time out here, he’d never seen Chad. Were they neighbors? Was he lost?
–Did he lose something?
What was he doing? He looked like a deer-in-headlights.
But then, he always did seem to spook easily.
Elliot came a little closer, in case Chad hadn’t been able to hear from where he’d called before.
“You are Chad, right? Did I call you the wrong name? I’m sorry, you surprised me. I thought you were a bear. What are you doing in there, are you okay?”
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 7:59 pm
Was he Chad? Unfortunately. It was as though a little part of him died every time he heard that name. He’d never felt like a Chad, but that was the name he was given, and the name he’d lived with for his thirteen years of life.
But Elliot was still speaking to him. Asking if he was okay.
Chad laughed. It was forced. Nervous. Light and fleeting. He quickly shook his head to make sure Elliot didn’t have to worry about bears.
“Oh, yes, I’m okay. Thank you! I’m sorry I surprised you. You’re, um… Elliot?”
Chad knew his name, of course. Everyone knew Elliot Reid. He showed Elliot a bright smile, as if that would somehow make it less obvious how his eyes were suddenly wet. He wasn’t sad! Just embarrassed. This was Elliot Reid who was seeing him in gross, dumpster filth clothing, holding a bag of old bagels. He was sure there were some more bread products and other food that hadn’t gone bad, but he would have to come back when Elliot wasn’t right there.
Carefully, Chad climbed through the opening of the dumpster and hopped down.
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 8:08 pm
Chad hadn’t really answered all of his questions, but he’d gotten the most important one–he said he was fine. So, Elliot smiled brightly and rocked on his heels as he slid his hands back into his jacket pockets. “Yeah, that’s me.”
He didn’t know how long they’d gone to the same school but he knew they were in the same grade, at least.
As per usual, Chad seemed uncomfortable. Briefly, Elliot wondered if it was because he’d seen him in the dumpster, but given how Chad always seemed to avoid him…
“Do you live around here?I only live a few blocks away from the park. I was just on my way home.”
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 8:25 pm
Oh. Elliot was still talking to him. He wasn’t just leaving now that he was out of the dumpster. Oh, and his clothes would need a good wash, too.
Chad swallowed nervously, but kept the bright smile because how could Elliot not make him smile? And because he knew it was easier to prove he was okay if he was smiling. Instead of some weirdo in a dumpster.
He casually hid the bag behind his back.
“Oh you do? It’s a very nice park. Um, yeah I live around here,” he answered. He knew it wasn’t very descriptive. Maybe Elliot would get bored. Maybe Chad could run away before he made a bigger embarrassment of himself.
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 8:34 pm
Elliot nodded and did not miss the way he hid something behind his back. He’d noticed the bagels when Chad first came out, he just hadn’t thought much of them until Chad was trying to hide them. Which was weird, they were just bagels.
Was he bothering Chad? He was smiling but he still seemed like a mouse ready to scurry off. Was this awkward? Should he leave?
No, he was too curious.
“Did you accidentally throw away your bagels? They must be pretty good.”
He rocked on his heels because that was probably the weirdest thing he’d said to someone in a while, and he wasn’t sure if he was intruding.
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 8:46 pm
Somehow, Chad’s heart hadn’t completely stopped, despite it pounding a million miles a minute. He kept the smile plastered on his face, because it was the only thing he could control -- for the most part. It was starting to waver, so he laughed awkwardly to make up for the slip.
“Oh, yes! They… fell in. Oh.” Chad had glanced around at the dumpster, and then up at the sign indicating that there was a bagel shop just around the corner.
Even as they were speaking, a gruff looking employee trudged his way out of the back door of the bagel shop, ignored the boys, and tossed a couple large bags of what was probably the leftover bread and bagels and other expired foods from the day.
Chad’s heart sank as the man trudged his way back inside.
“Um… okay, I should go I think,” Chad laughed again. “My dad will probably be worried.” He wouldn’t. “It was nice seeing you. Good luck at your game this weekend!” Because of course Chad was going to watch every baseball game Elliot played.
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 8:52 pm
Elliot turned to look at the sign even though he knew it was there. He’d been there the other day.
“Oh! Yeah, that makes sense. Okay! Well, I’m glad you weren’t a bear, I didn’t bring any pepper spray tonight.”
…That employee looked annoyed, but at least he hadn’t threatened to call the police or shoo them away for loitering or whatever.
“Get home safe! It’s supposed to rain tonight. My parents are going to be worried if I don’t get home soon, too. Are you going to come to the game? If you do, you should stick around afterwards! We’re gonna have pizza. And I’m bringing cupcakes. I don’t know why, my dad’s just really proud of this recipe. He’s made it like five times this month, I can’t eat anymore.”
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 9:01 pm
Elliot Reid was telling him he should stay after the game. He was talking about his dad’s cupcakes. And pizza. Chad’s stomach growled at the thought, but quickly covered it up with a laugh and nodded.
“I’ll try! I don’t know what I’m doing this weekend yet.” He was going to go to Elliot’s game, of course. He always did. He just made sure he stayed out of sight, usually at the end of the bleachers so he could escape before anyone realized he was even there. Sometimes he got lucky and someone would drop their hotdog.
But he was lucky that he was allowed to escape. He quickly turned to escape down the alley, clutching tightly to the bag of expired bagels as he tried not to cry about how his first real interaction with Elliot was after being caught in a dumpster.
He never stood a chance at not crying.
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