Crane - Chapter 7 Posted

Yea, yea, yea. I know, the other story. But I pretty much figured out the rest of the plot and whatnot, so I'm mapping... it might take me a day or two, but when I get the next couple chapters done, they'll be fucking awesome. So until then, have fun with this! =) Also, thanks for the reviews, again, you guys are awesome.
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“So are you going to talk to Seth today?” Crane asked, watching Zeke with a tiny smile. “You won’t fall, just relax.”

“I don’t like heights.” Zeke grumbled. “And no, not today. I’m not up to it yet.”

“Up to what?” Crane asked, picking at the label on his bottle of cola. “Apologizing?”

“Why are we up here?” Zeke asked, scowling. “I hate heights.”

“I like it up here.” Crane said with a shrug. “You can get down if you want.”

Zeke sighed. “I’m not just going to apologize.”

Crane nodded. “You’re going to tell him the truth?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Why what?” Zeke asked, shooting Crane a glance, before peeking over the edge of the roof and feeling his stomach roll.

“Don’t look down, what’s the matter with you?” Crane asked, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and pulling him backwards.

“Don’t do that!”

Crane rolled his eyes. “Why tell him?” he asked. “I mean, he’s just going to flip out.”

“How do you know?”

“Please, he’s so uptight he makes you look experimental. And don’t give me any of that shit about his own promiscuity. A hundred bucks says that guy would turn tail and run if you so much as kissed a guy in front of him.”

Zeke sighed and leaned back against the pebbly surface of the roof. They were perched between the two peaks on the top of his house, in the small valley they made, on the backyard side of the building. They’d climbed out through Kay and May’s bedroom window, careful to make sure the girls didn’t seem them. Harrison and Evangeline were inside, discussing plans for letting Crane and Pearl stay with the Morrows while Harrison was in London. Zeke was dreading the decision.

“Maybe I’m just tired of lying.” Zeke said quietly. “Maybe I’m tired of feeling like all the time.”

“You could lose him.”

Zeke nodded. “I know that. I’m not stupid.”

“And you’re going to risk it anyway?”

Zeke bit his lip, frowning. “Do you have any idea what it’s like lying all the time? Hiding constantly? It’s tiring. It’s flat out fucking exhausting. And you know, a lot of it has to do with the fact that you don’t hide at all.”

Crane chuckled. “I hide plenty of things. Everyone does.”

“Okay, fine. But not who you are. I’ve wanted to tell my mom for a long time. And Seth deserves to know. He’ll be upset, and probably accuse me of the same thing everyone else does.”

“That you want to bang him?” Crane supplied, and Zeke nodded. “And you’re one hundred percent sure you don’t?”

“Crane, I swear I’ll kill the next person who even suggests it.”

“You protest too much.”

“You’re a jerk.”

Crane laughed. “Guilty. So how do you plan on telling him? Just the straightforward, ‘hey man, I like men.’?”

“Seems easiest, I guess.” Zeke pushed his hair back, and Crane reached over to rearrange it. “Why do you do that?”

“Because you have awesome hair and you’re always fucking it up. It’s a pet peeve.” Zeke closed his eyes, his body liking the feeling of Crane’s fingers in his hair way too much. He was almost getting used to that guilty, rolling feeling in his stomach all the time. Somehow, that scared him worse than the feeling itself.

“Anyway.” Zeke said, jerking his head away from Crane’s hand. “I’ll talk to him tomorrow. Today’s going to be busy enough.”

“I don’t have a lot of stuff, so it’s not like it’s moving day or anything. Mostly just books. It’s Pearl’s crap that’s going to be a problem. Besides, Dad hasn’t brought everything over from London. He will when he comes back.”

“How long is he supposed to be gone?”

“He’s not sure yet.” Crane sighed.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Zeke sat up and half turned to glare at his cousin. “You know, you’ve climbed all up my ass about my bullshit, and now you’ve got bullshit and won’t tell me. Isn’t that hypocritical.”

Crane shrugged, moving around Zeke to the window. “Yea, but I’m a jerk, remember?” he grinned before disappearing back into the house. Zeke scowled, frustrated, and after a moment followed him.

They went downstairs, and as they rounded the corner into the kitchen, Zeke heard his mother say, “…in the guest bedroom, and we can set up another bedroom area for Crane in the basement, like Zeke’s.”

Zeke halted, his heart slamming around in his chest, and just glared at his mother through the doorway. He couldn’t possibly have heard her right.

“You’re going to what?” Zeke asked, and Evangeline Harrison turned to look at their sons. Evangeline smiled. “I have to share the basement?”

“Oh, I think it’s big enough for both of you.” Evangeline said with a smile. “It’ll be fine, won’t it, sweetheart?”

Zeke’s mouth worked, but nothing came out. Crane cleared his throat and asked, “How long, Dad?”

Harrison shook his head. “Three months or so.”

“Three… wait, three months?” Crane sounded furious. “Are you kidding me?”

Evangeline looked confused. “Yes, three months. During that time I’ll be doing some research into a house suitable for you guys. Your father and I have decided it’s best that the three of you stay close to our family.” She beamed. “That’s a good thing.”

Crane turned and looked at Zeke, and for a moment Zeke was sure he was going to get punched. Crane looked furious. “Goddamnit.” he muttered, moving past Zeke into the living room. A moment later the front door slammed.

Evangeline looked worried. “What’s the matter with him?” she asked Zeke.

“How the hell should I know?” Zeke snapped, before ripping the basement door open and stomping downstairs. He threw himself face first onto his bed and fought down the urge to throw a full on, leg kicking temper tantrum. What the hell just happened? How did he get screwed like this? Three months, living in a windowless room with Crane? He was going to kill himself.

He rolled over when he finally ran out of breath and glared up at the ceiling. Furthermore, just what the hell was Crane’s problem? Scowling, he sat up and grabbed his book from his bedside table. Maybe reading would-

His cell phone rang.

“Fucking hell.” he hissed, digging the thing out of his pocket and answering with a short, “What?”

“Zeke?” Seth sounded excited and out of breath.

“Oh, hey. Listen, I-”

“Pearl’s gonna live with you, huh?”

Zeke sighed and closed his eyes. “Yea. Seth, we really need to-”

“Is she there?”

“What?” Zeke snapped. “No.”

“Good. Can I come over? I really need to talk to you.”

Zeke rubbed his hand through his hair. “Okay, but Seth, I really need to-”

“I’ll be there in ten.” and then the line was dead.

Zeke resisted the urge to throw the phone across the room. He set it down on his bedside table, then put his book back, too. He sat there, letting his brain wander, until Seth showed up. His best friend looked flushed and was grinning like an idiot. He tossed himself down on the bed.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” Zeke eyed his friend warily. “What’s up?”

“Pearl’s going to stay.”

“Yea, so?”

“I’m going to ask her to go out with me.”

Zeke rolled his eyes. “You’ve been going out with her for-”

“No, I mean, I want to go steady with her.”

Zeke frowned. “You’ve never asked a girl-”

“I know. Pearl’s different. Man, she’s wonderful. You think she’ll say yes?”

Zeke glowered. “You came over here to chat about your goddamned love life? We’re not even going to discuss what happened?”

Seth shrugged. “You were mad, it’s no big deal. People have bad days.”

“That’s it?”

Seth tilted his head to one side. “What else is there?”

Zeke sighed. “I need to talk to you about something. It’s really important, and I need you to hear me out before you lose your shit.”

Seth got serious quick. “Okay.” he nodded. “I’m listening.”

Zeke chewed at his bottom lip. “We’ve been friends all through high school. You’re the only friend I have, and I need you to understand that I never told you before because I wasn’t comfortable with it, and because I really don’t know what I’m supposed to do if you’re not around. I mean, we spend almost all our time together, you know?”

Seth nodded. “Well, you’re the weirdest guy I know, Zeke, but I can’t think of anything that would make me not want to hang out with you anymore. Unless, like, you’re a serial killer or something.” he chuckled.

Zeke shook his head, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. “I’m gay.”

Silence. No movement, no words, nothing. For almost two solid minutes nothing happened; Zeke counted the seconds. Then Seth burst out laughing. Zeke opened his eyes, startled, and Seth rocked backwards onto the bed, cackling and holding his chest.

“Did you fucking rehearse that?” Seth asked. “For a second there I thought you were serious. Goddamn, you scared the hell out of me.”

Zeke stared at him, shocked. “No, Seth, I really am serious.”

“Okay.” Seth agreed, rolling his eyes. He was still laughing. “Come on, Zeke, what did you want to tell me?”

Zeke was getting mad now. “I’m fucking serious, I’m gay. Stop laughing, it’s not a joke.”

Seth’s laughter stopped, and for a moment he just laid there, half sprawled at the foot of Zeke’s bed. Then he sat up abruptly, leaned forward, and scowled at Zeke. “Seriously?”

“Yes, fucking seriously!” Zeke snapped. “Why the hell would I joke about something like that?”

“Well, I…” Seth sat back, looking confused. “We make gay jokes all the time, and I just…”

“No, you make gay jokes.” Zeke told him. “And honestly, they bother the hell out of me.”

Seth frowned, reaching up to scratch the back of his head. “How come you never told me before? If it was bothering you, then why…” something flashed across his face, and he jumped to his feet. “Is that why you’ve been all pissed off lately? I mean, because of Pearl? Did I give you the wrong impression?”

Zeke was ready to kill him. He balled his hands into fists and closed his eyes. “No, Seth. Just because I’m telling you that I’m gay does not mean I’m telling you that I’m gay for you. And I really wish everyone would stop suggesting that.”

“Well, I wouldn’t really blame you. I mean, you’ve always looked up to me, and I-”

“What?” Zeke’s eyes snapped open. “Are you fucking mental? You’re my friend, not my fucking role model, and you sure as hell aren’t-”

Seth held up his hands. “Hey, man, relax. Just because you’ve admitted you’re a-”

Zeke snarled wordlessly in frustration. “I knew I shouldn’t have told you. I should’ve fucking listened to Crane.”

Seth snorted. “Oh, yea, that fucking figures.” he sneered. “Why are you even bothering to talk to me, anyway? You’ve got your new-”

“Jealous much?” Zeke quipped, and Seth kicked the footboard of his bed. “Look, Seth, I wanted to tell you the truth, so I did. I don’t want to sleep with you, and you can either believe me or not. I can’t make up your mind for you.” he glared at Seth for a minute, then asked, “You’re a fucking homophobe, aren’t you?”

“Hey, I’ve got not problem with lesbians.” Seth told him with a shrug. “But gay guys… that’s gross. I guess I can deal with it, if it’s you, you know… and if you promise you won’t try to-”

“Get the fuck out of my basement.” Zeke said, his voice low and furious. “Right fucking now.”

Seth looked confused again. “Why are you so mad? I just told you I’m cool with it. Is there something wrong with me expecting you to keep your hands to yourself?”

Zeke made himself remain sitting on the bed, telling himself that choking Seth to death was not going to solve anything. “Have I ever had a problem keeping my hands to myself before? I want you to go, Seth. Right now. Just walk away before you say something else so close-minded and stupid it makes me want to kill you.”

“I think you’re over reacting. I mean, I just want a little security that I can trust you not to-”

Zeke jumped up, and Seth stepped away from him, like he was dirty or sick. “Fuck you.” Zeke hissed, before turning on his heel and getting the hell out of the basement as fast as he could.

“Zeke, honey?” Evangeline watched him stomp through the kitchen. “Where are you-” he slammed the back door, ignoring her. He left through the side gate and started walking towards the park. He was so mad that eh was worried he’d kill the first person that looked at him funny.

He walked through the park, then down the back road that ran towards the river. When that road dead ended, he jumped the low snow fence that the city had put up and never took down, cut through the woods, and found the easiest way down to the water. It was nearly a two hour walk. He didn’t care, so long as no one was around. He found a place to sit; there was an outcropping of rock jutting out into the river that made a swallow, clear pool, so he climbed onto the outcropping. The pool was obviously used for spawning; there were tiny fish everywhere, and he sat there for a long time, watching them swim.

He had no idea what he was going to do. Seth had offended the hell out of him, and he saw no reason to put up with that kind of bullshit. If Seth was willing to retract his previous bullshit and actually work something out, Zeke was willing to listen to him, but he at least had enough self respect not to let someone treat him that way. Crane… he wished he knew what the hell that little outburst of his had been all about. He was just as pissed off about it as Crane had acted, but at least he had a reason to be pissed off. What the hell was he supposed to do for three months?

He sat there until it started getting dark, then got up and walked home. It was late when he got back, late enough that the kids were all in bed, and when he let himself into the house it was to find his mother standing just inside the front door, looking furious.

“Just where in the hell have you been?” she asked him, swatting him in the arm. “I’ve been worried sick! You storm out of the house and don’t tell me where you’re going… you know better than that!”

“I’m sorry.” he said softly, not having the energy to even joke with her about the painless slap she’d given him. He sighed and pushed his hair back.

She went from angry to concerned in less than a second. “What happened with you and Seth, sweetheart?” she asked, taking his hand and pulling him to sit on the couch with her.

Zeke told her the whole story, and by the time he was done, she looked furious all over again. She hugged him hard, hurting his neck a little, and muttered into his hair, “If I wasn’t so much older, I’d beat the crap out of him for you.”

He laughed and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Ma.” he sighed. “What am I supposed to do?”

She shook her head. “I can’t tell you that, sweetheart. If I were in your position, I would wait it out. He’ll either figure out what he did wrong, or he won’t. You can’t make him understand.” she brushed his hair back from his forehead. “But don’t you put up with that bullshit, either.”

He promised he wouldn’t, and she let him go downstairs finally. There was already a bed put up on the other side of the basement, and Crane was sitting on the foot of it, bouncing a tennis ball on the floor and looking moody. Apollo and Hestia were in crates along the far wall, sleeping. Crane looked up when he came in, but wouldn’t meet Zeke’s eyes.

“Why are you mad at me?” Zeke asked, and Crane sighed and tossed the ball away.

“Pearl told me what happened with Seth.” Crane said. “I’m sorry he was such a dick.”

Zeke shrugged. “Don’t change the subject.”

“I’m not mad at you, Zeke.” Crane stood up. “I just didn’t think it would be like this.”

“Like what? You’re obviously pissed about having to stay down here with me, which doesn’t make any sense at all, unless you’re a freaky privacy nut. I mean, I’ll build a fucking wall, if that’ll-”

“That’s not the problem.” Crane told him. “I don’t want to talk about this. I just want to go to bed.”

“Crane-”

“Good night, Zeke.” he said, sounding so final Zeke shut up and went to his own side of the basement. They both went to bed without speaking again.

Zeke woke up in the middle of the night, and it took his sleep muddled brain a moment to realize someone was shaking him. He jerked away, annoyed. “What?” he grumbled.

“You were talking in your sleep.” Crane said out of the dark, and Zeke’s whole body tensed, his skin breaking out into goosebumps. “Yelling. Are you okay?”

Zeke sighed and rolled over onto his back. “What did I say?” he asked.

Crane’s weight settled beside him, and Zeke started to sweat. “I couldn’t make it out, until the yelling, and then it was something about someone being wrong. I don’t know.” Crane leaned forward, coming into focus in the dark, his hair tangled around his face. “It sounded bad though, like a nightmare. You’re sweaty.”

“No shit.” Zeke muttered. He shoved his hair back. “Well, I’m sorry if I woke you up.”

“You didn’t.” Crane said quietly, and Zeke glanced at the clock. It was a little after four in the morning. He frowned. “Go back to sleep.” Crane told him, standing up.

“Crane?” Zeke squinted; Crane had moved away too much for Zeke to see him.

“What?”

“Why can’t you sleep?”

For a minute Crane was quiet. Then he said, “That fits into the ‘I-don’t-want-to-talk-about-it’ category.” Zeke heard him move across the basement, and then heard him get back into his own bed. With a sigh, Zeke rolled over, trying to get comfortable again, and attempted to go back to sleep. It took a while, but eventually he did.

The next morning he woke up to Evangeline shouting down the stairs that breakfast was ready. He dressed and went upstairs. “Waffles?” he asked, kissing his mom on the cheek before taking his seat. He looked around the table. “Where’s Crane?”

Evangeline shrugged. “He took the dogs for a walk this morning. He’s not back yet.”

Pearl finished eating first, announced she had plans, and disappeared upstairs. Kay and May went outside after breakfast to play in the yard, and Theo was still on dish duty. Zeke went back into the basement and laid on his bed, reading, until he heard Crane come downstairs. Then he set his book aside and sat up. Crane stopped at the foot of the stairs, his eyebrows arched.

“What?” he asked.

“What?” Zeke countered.

“You’re staring at me. What?”

“Can we talk?”

“Not if it’s about what my problem is.” Crane informed him, moving to his side of the basement and pulling off his shirt in the process. Zeke’s mouth went painfully dry and he looked away in a hurry. “Is that what you want to talk about?” Crane asked.

“No.” Zeke said, his voice sounding a little squeaky to his ears. “It’s something else.”

“Okay.” Crane came into his line of sight again, in a new tee shirt. “What’s up?” Zeke pointed at the foot of his bed, so Crane sat down.

“I’m having an issue, and I wanted to talk to you about it.” he said, fidgeting with his own hands, and Crane nodded. “I have this friend, right? And he’s really cool, and I really like hanging out with him, but sometimes he can be a total fucking jerk.”

“Okay.” Crane said, sounding on guard.

“And it seems like he doesn’t trust me with anything. He never really tells me anything, even when I ask. He acts like I’m the problem, but won’t-”

“Zeke-”

“What should I do?” Zeke asked.

“Giving him his space sounds like a plan.” Crane suggested, his eyes narrowed. “Let him deal on his own.”

Zeke sighed. “But he’s totally shutting me out. I mean, we haven’t been friends for very long, but I feel like we were really close and now all of a sudden he doesn’t even want to be in the same room as me. I want him to trust me, but he just keeps lying-”

“I’m not lying to you.” Crane snapped.

Zeke sighed. “Crane, come on, I’m not half as naïve as you think I am.”

“I don’t think you’re naïve.”

“Liar.”

Crane threw his hands in the air. “Why is it such a big deal if I just don’t want to fucking talk about it? It’s fucking stupid and embarrassing and there’s nothing I can do about it, so the last thing I want to do is discuss it. I’m sorry, Zeke, I’m just not the sharing type. Deal with it.” he rubbed his face with his hands. “I wish I’d gone back to London. Then I wouldn’t have to…” he shook his head. “Whatever.”

“Why didn’t you?” Zeke asked. “Why stay here, if you didn’t want to be here?”

“I’m a masochist at heart, what can I say?” Crane chuckled dryly. “God this is such bullshit.” he glared at Zeke. “You know, you’re the one who got all pissed off and weird on me, and now when I’ve got a problem you act like I’m the biggest asshole on the planet.” he smirked. “Which is pretty fucked up, considering the fact that you’re totally in love with the person I’d label as the biggest asshole on the planet.”

Zeke grit his teeth together. “Is there some special code word I’m missing to make people understand that I don’t want Seth? And why is he suddenly your arch fucking nemesis?”

“He’s a prick, and he’s nailing my sister, and he treats you like shit but you still worship the goddamned ground he walks on. It’s disgusting.”

“Where do you get that? Half the time I can’t even stand to be around him, and you-”

“You get all cow eyed and stupid around him.” Crane shook his head. “You are so much better than that, and you’re too twisted up to realize it. He’s not worth it, and he wouldn’t be even if you had a chance with him, which you don’t.”

“Well, that’s good, because I don’t want a chance with him. I already told you-”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Excuse me if I don’t lose sleep over that.” Zeke remarked, and Crane snorted and looked away from him. “So let me get this straight. You’ve been walking around being a complete jackass because you think I’m lusting after a guy that doesn’t deserve me.”

“That’s not what I said.” Crane said quickly, and Zeke narrowed his eyes. “I just don’t think you get it.”

“Get what?” Zeke asked.

“Exactly.” Crane stood up. “Now if you’ll fucking excuse me.” he turned and moved towards the stairs.

“You are such a coward.” Zeke told Crane’s back, and Crane stopped walking, his shoulders tensing. For a moment Zeke thought he’d turn around, but eventually he just went back upstairs.