Chapter 147
Dogsitter
Ivy and Deimos were in Tristan’s backyard patio as Deimos needed space from Blake and he felt Blake needed space from him. Right now, this wasn’t important but clearing the air on this, Deimos thought.
Tristan: “What do we do now?”
He asked as he inhaled a drag from his cigarette.
Ivy: “About what?”
She pressed.
Tristan: “Us…”
He drew a long breath.
Ivy: “What does your heart tell you?”
She offered. Deimos shifted in his seat. Feelings weren’t the best thing he could discuss, he thought.
Tristan: “I don’t want to ruin what you and Deimos have.”
He murmured.
Ivy: “Well, you haven’t…”
Tristan raised an eyebrow.
Tristan: “How not?”
Ivy: “Are we fighting right now? No.”
She pointed out. Tristan folded his arms over and nodded.
Tristan: “You’re right.”
He shifted in his seat and extinguished his cigarette.
Tristan: “How do we… approach this then?”
He folded his hands, leaned back in his seat, and rested his hands on his chest.
Ivy: “Deimos? You’re being quiet…”
She turned to him to get his thoughts too. Deimos turned to her and raked his fingers through his hair.
Deimos: “I don’t know what to say and don’t know what to do. I’m deep in thought. This is why I’m quiet.”
He declared and heaved a deep sigh.
Deimos: “But I should have known… You got really upset when Tristan went to that dinner for Moss. No one gets that upset when a friend does that.”
He said in a small voice. Ivy paused when he said that. She hadn’t realized this herself and wasn’t always aware of her own feelings.
Deimos: “And I defended Tristan when you got that upset with him ‘cause he was upset and I knew why he was going to that stupid dinner. He wanted to tell your mother to give your money to you and not to Moss.”
Ivy: “Oh… You told Deimos why?”
She asked Tristan. Tristan nodded.
Tristan: “You were angry and didn’t want to see me or speak to me, so I told him. Nevertheless, I told you when we had subs after I rescued you from Percy.”
He looked down at his lap. Ivy bowed her head.
Ivy: “Oh… I’m sorry.”
She pursed her lips. Tristan smiled.
Tristan: “I accept your apology. Anyway, as I told you, I never got around to mentioning it to Rosemary. Craig barged in like a bull in a China shop.”
He grumbled. Ivy’s demeanor soured at the thought of Craig.
Ivy: “I thought Craig pissed me off because he reminded me of Moss, but maybe there’s something more to it…”
She swung her gaze to Tristan. Deimos locked his gaze on her.
Tristan: “What do you mean?”
Ivy: “Well… Deimos doesn’t have a Moss in his life and his blood boils at Craig as much as mine does.”
She pointed out.
Deimos: “Why does yours then?”
He asked Ivy.
Ivy: “The same reason yours does…”
She said softly. Deimos folded his arms in front of his chest pouting.
Deimos: “He’s an idiot and not good enough for Tristan. No, really, look at that pen he got you! It was neon green! His feet stink and talking to him is like talking to a toddler!”
He ranted. Tristan smiled.
Ivy: “He’s a caveman. Me Crog! Me smash with fist! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Wicked sick! Ooga Booga, mate!”
She flexed her arms making an imitation of Craig. Both Deimos and Tristan laughed.
Tristan: “So how do we do this? Do I remain your friend and let our feelings remain or what?”
He shrugged and embraced himself. He felt torn, conflicted, and unsure of how to do this.
Ivy: “How can we be ‘just friends’ though? Clearly, it’s more than that…”
She said softly.
Deimos: “What do you suggest, Ivy?”
Ivy: “If we all want the same thing and our hearts want this, then why not?”
Deimos: “Like three-player chess?”
Tristan: “Yes, like three-player chess.”
He smiled. Ivy smiled at Deimos’ analogy and agreed. Tristan bowed his head.
Tristan: “However, I don’t know if I have romantic feelings for you, Deimos.”
Deimos nodded. He understood. He wanted Tristan to develop those feelings if he felt them and didn’t want to force them out of him.
Deimos: “I understand. We can resume being friends. If you don’t feel this—”
He gesticulated to him, Ivy, and Tristan.
Deimos: “Arrangement works out, you can back out and we can remain friends. I am not going to pressure you into doing something that brings you discomfort.”
He said firmly but gently. Tristan smiled a bit. He wished Craig had this same approach. Craig is going to Craig, he thought. Ivy read his thoughts and understood. She knows how consent and communication are important.
Ivy: “I feel the same, Tristan. I love you and want this but if you’re unhappy, I don’t want to make you unhappy. Please tell Deimos or me anything that upsets you.”
She said softly. Tristan nodded. He always wanted to be with Ivy but bowed out gracefully when she got with Deimos. He liked how both Deimos and Ivy still understood him and wanted him to be happy, unlike Craig, Tristan thought.
Tristan: “I extend the same to you. I want you to address any issues you have with me, too.”
Deimos: “I never held back.”
Tristan cleared his throat and turned to Ivy.
Tristan: “Oh, by the way, when will you be available to paint the murals on my niece and nephew’s walls?”
Ivy: “Mmmm… Whenever!”
Deimos turned to Tristan.
Deimos: “You didn’t seem close to your nephews and niece. Why are you doing this?”
Tristan wagged his head.
Tristan: “I wanted to give Ivy a job and Christian mentioned they wanted murals on their walls. Win-win.”
He smiled. Deimos harrumphed.
Deimos: “I should have known this was to get closer to Ivy.”
Ivy had a hunch it was for that reason since Tristan was standoffish to his niblings at the event.
Ivy: “Do they still want the same thing?”
Tristan nodded.
Tristan: “Yes. Asashi and Lucas share a room. Asashi wants something to do with basketball on his wall and Lucas wants space. My niece, Katie, would like something with Zabney Princesses or fairytales.”
Piper came out to the back patio.
Piper: “Young master, your secretary is here to see you.”
Tristan: “Which one?”
Piper: “Rosemary.”
Ivy groaned and shifted in her seat. Rosemary came out to the patio.
Rosemary: “Hello, Ivy! I am glad you’re here with Tristan! You’ve been with him a lot lately! Anyway, I have FANTASTIC news for you all!”
She pulled tickets out of her purse and handed them to Tristan, Ivy, and Deimos.
Rosemary: “Moss finally landed a role in this upcoming blockbuster!”
She said as she hardly contained herself. Ivy gaped disbelievingly. Deimos looked at the ticket.
Deimos: “GNOMEZ? Is it a horror movie?”
Rosemary shook her head.
Rosemary: “No, it’s a kid’s movie about Raijin and his wife raising two gnomes that a tree gave birth to!”
Deimos gaped disbelievingly at her.
Deimos: “You sure it’s not a horror movie?”
Ivy: “It sounds like one.”
She deadpanned.
Rosemary: “Moss landed his first movie role after they let him go from Pink Top City Vice!”
Tristan: “He was fired?”
He asked her.
Rosemary: “No! They let him go because he was too good for them!”
She insisted.
Deimos: “Makes sense. One of the highest-rated TV shows couldn’t handle Moss’ talent but the creators of GNOMEZ certainly can.”
He said dryly. No, Mum, he got fired because things didn’t go his way or it wasn’t “Goffick” enough, Ivy thought bitterly.
Rosemary fished in her purse and pulled out tickets for them to attend the film premiere. The trio took the tickets and examined them. I’m not going to see this bullshit, Deimos thought. He flipped the ticket over and raised his eyebrows. What’s this? He wondered. Deimos’ violet eyes sparkled and both Ivy and Tristan knew food influenced him.
Deimos: “All you can eat at the canteen!”
He said breathlessly as he pointed to the ticket. Tristan laughed awkwardly. Ivy looked at her mother and felt bitter that she knew Deimos would agree to it for this but didn’t do anything she would like.
Deimos: “I am getting the XXXL popcorn with a soda and maybe eight chocolate bars. I hope they have ice cream and those PRETZELS!”
He relayed the food with delight in his eyes. Ivy felt hurt that Deimos wanted to go and all it took was food. Tristan locked his gaze on Ivy. He knew something upset her but didn’t want to pry until Rosemary left.
Rosemary: “I gave tickets to Erin for her family and Karam, but he insisted on another. I didn’t know he had a partner.”
Tristan raised an eyebrow. He doesn’t have one, he thought. Ivy felt like crying. Her mother was going all out for Moss and Deimos is going to see this movie. Tristan put his hand on Ivy and smiled at her. Ivy gazed into his green eyes. He always knows when I am hurt or down, she thought.
Rosemary: “Okay, hope to see you all there!”
Deimos: “I’ll be there!”
He had his eyes glued to the ticket. She smiled and left. Ivy turned to Deimos with tears in her eyes.
Ivy: “Why are you going?! You know how I feel about Moss!”
She cried. Deimos gaped at her.
Deimos: “I am not going to support Moss; I am going for the free food and to laugh at this trainwreck of a movie.”
He said exasperatedly.
Deimos: “Just roll with it and mock Moss. He just got fired from the set of one of the most successful and highest-rated television shows and is now starring in this trashfire. Bear in mind, he was an EXTRA and not in a major role in Pink Top City Vice. This I gotta see.”
Ivy softened when he said that.
Ivy: “...All right, Deimos, I see your point.”
She nodded. Tristan scrutinized her, still unsure.
Tristan: “Are you sure you’re all right?”
He asked softly. Ivy smiled back at Tristan.
Ivy: “Yes… Now let’s laugh at the trainwreck and get some free food!”
She nodded.
Deimos: “It’s Thursday evening.”
Tristan: “...How many of these did she buy for others?”
He flipped over the ticket.
Deimos: “Did she buy out all the tickets and give them to every kid and their mom so the movie will be sold out to pamper Moss’ fragile ego?”
He leaned his head on his head, unimpressed. Ivy scrunched her nose and folded her arms.
Ivy: “That’s Mum…”
~
Tristan drove to Wool-Mart to pick up some old photos he brought in to be restored at the photo studio in the store. Tristan paid for the photos and took them out of the envelope. He was smiling down at them. The pictures featured a tall, slim white man with feathered white hair, and rectangle-shaped glasses, and looked like Tristan. He was dressed in a white striped shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, two large gold bracelets on his wrists, a mulberry sweater vest, light brown bell bottom pants, and brown loafers. One picture had the man holding a 4-year-old Tristan in his arms. Another picture was a 5-year-old Tristan pulling the plush kitten out of the box with the man smiling at him. Next to him was a cat loaf cake with five candles on the cake. One picture had Tristan sleeping on the man’s chest with the kitten plush in his arms. The next picture was the man sitting at a desk using his typewriter. There was a picture of the man in swim trunks with a Hawaiian shirt opened up and a sunhat on his head with little Tristan at the beach.
Craig was in the store shopping for beer, chips, and other necessities. He saw Tristan and smiled, approaching him. He looked over his shoulder at the pictures.
Craig: “Hey Tristan, wicked sick pics!”
He remarked. Tristan turned around and gasped.
Tristan: “Th-Thanks…”
He muttered and held them close to his chest.
Craig: “Who is he?”
Tristan paused and drew a breath.
Tristan: “My father… My father and I were very close.”
Craig: “Oh! Me too! Yeah, me ‘n my dad were very close, too! We’re so alike!”
He beamed, latching onto any hope of any common ground.
Tristan: “Yeah, as was my father and me.”
He nodded.
Craig: “Did he introduce ya to metal, too?”
He asked. Tristan shook his head.
Tristan: “No, he was never into it. He was into jazz and classical music. I got into it when I studied abroad over here.”
He said flatly.
Craig: “Oh, well, what’s your fave band then?”
Tristan stared at him.
Tristan: “You could have asked that when you lived with me. You never paid attention to anything I said or did. If you did, you would know this.”
He put the photos in the envelope and started to walk away.
Craig: “Tristan, please! I’m sorry I fucked up! Let’s try this over!”
He begged him as he followed him outside to the parking lot.
Tristan: “Craig, you need to find someone else.”
He said as he walked to his car.
They heard someone crying in the parking lot. Tristan thought that crying sounded familiar. Then he heard the sound of someone scraping their shoes against the pavement. Tristan saw Hector sulking around in the parking lot. He was not alone. He held onto a leash.
On the leash was a black kelpie shepherd with tan paws and markings on his face. He was a buff and clingy animal, howling for affection and attention. Digging up all kinds of trouble and sticking his nose where it didn’t belong. Craig’s eyes lit up and his attention immediately shifted to the dog, eagerly rushing up to him and petting him.
Tristan: “What’s wrong, Hector?”
He asked with pity in his eyes. Hector threw his head back and cried.
Hector: “Jaclyn said she was going to kill him! She said she was going to kill my dog! Now she said I have to get rid of him or she will him!”
He bawled. Tristan knit his eyebrows and felt sympathetic toward Hector. He was going to have a talk with Harry about this.
Craig: “WHAT?! Oh, no she AIN’T!”
He rasped, wrapping his big arms around the dog as he licked him.
Hector: “Do you want to take him?”
He sobbed. Craig’s eyes lit up.
Craig: “Really?! Oh, FUCK YEAH!”
He grinned petting the dog. Hector’s bottom lip trembled but he was happy to see the dog go to a new home. He handed Craig the leash. Craig beamed when he took the leash.
Craig: “Fuck yeah, I got me a wicked sick doggo!”
He exclaimed with joy. The dog barked and wagged his tail.
Hector: “He doesn’t have a name yet. I adopted him today and Jaclyn made me give him away.”
He used the sleeve of his sweater to wipe his eyes.
Hector: “He needs dog food, a bowl, and toys. I didn’t get those yet.”
He wept.
Craig: “Yeah, sure! Cheers mate! I’m gonna name him Dingo ‘n I can get him to bite her for ya!”
He grinned. Hector smiled a bit.
Hector: “Okay!”
Craig: “Oooh, whoooo’s a good boooy!?”
He cooed at Dingo patting his head. He lead Dingo back into Wool-Mart to buy him some kibble, bowls, toys, etc.
Hector heaved a deep sigh. Tristan patted his shoulder and hugged him. Hector sobbed on Tristan.
Tristan: “He’s in a good home now, Hector.”
He said softly. This may be what Craig needs now, he thought.
Hector: “By the way, I am planning a surprise birthday party for Trevor! It’s at Barry Bear’s tonight at six o’clock! Trevor would love it if you came!”
He beamed. Tristan smiled and nodded.
Tristan: “I’ll be there.”
He looked back at Wool-Mart to get a gift for Trevor and decided against it. He wanted Craig to forget about him so he would go to another Wool-Mart or a toy store.
Hector: “See ya later, Tristan!”
He waved to him as he left.
Cedar lurked around the corner and bowed his head.
~
Cedar was in the facility with Dr. Duerr. He informed him Craig adopted a dog and Dr. Duerr froze.
Dr. Duerr: “When did he do this and why didn’t that manager of my creature inform me?”
He asked sharply.
Cedar: “He just did it.”
Dr. Duerr pursed his lips and nodded.
Dr. Duerr: “Okay, I will have to bar Craig from entering that house. I cannot have him interfere with my research.”
He put his sunglasses on.
Cedar: “Why?”
Dr. Duerr: “I never was a dog lover but my son was… He owned a farm. I do know dogs love peanut butter.”
He said coolly and left.
~
Craig drove down the road in his jeep with Dingo in the passenger’s seat next to him. He saw Rock outside the mobile home speaking with Dr. Duerr, Cedar, and Ellis. Who are those cunts? He thought.
He parked his jeep and before he got out, Dr. Duerr removed his sunglasses and smiled.
Dr. Duerr: “Hello, your stuff will be sent to your new place. You are banned from entering my magnificent creature’s home.”
He said icily.
Craig: “Who the fuck are you? Oh, new place ey?”
He beamed, feeling hopeful it was with Tristan. Dr. Duerr eyed him and glared at him.
Dr. Duerr: “Rude, just like my grandson, Klaus.”
He muttered. Cedar approached Craig.
Cedar: “We’re so sorry, sir. This house belongs to us and… so does Maxx. My superior thinks you’re going to interfere with whatever Maxx does, which is nothing.”
He said with some sharpness in his tone.
Cedar: “We spoke to your manager and he arranged for a new house for you to live in.”
Craig: “Pfft, you don’t gotta worry ‘bout that mate, I ain’t gay ‘n I don’t wanna date that clown fuck!”
He cackled. Cedar just stared at him, wanting to die.
Anthony popped up with Rock.
Rock: “Hi, Craig! Sorry about this! Maxxy doesn’t want you here anymore because you didn’t write a good review of Sex Bees! Anyway, Anthony will take you to his newly rebuilt cabin in the woods! It’s on a nice beach and now you don’t have to wake up to Maxx screaming the tabloids didn’t write good things about him either!”
He grinned tightly.
Craig: “Oh, wicked sick! See ya, Sex Bee!”
He grinned, starting the engine. Anthony rushed to the jeep.
Anthony: “Craig, I never gave you the address! I am Anthony Ramires! You’re going to live with me in my newly built cabin!”
He put his hand out to Craig. Craig shook it.
Craig: “Oh, that’s fine with me, I’m up for an adventure ‘n anything is better than livin’ with that clown!”
He grinned excitedly. Anthony raised his eyebrows and drew a long breath.
Anthony: “Believe me, I know. I know.”
He said with exasperation.
~
After driving several miles outside the city, they arrived at the cabin. It was a one-story rustic cabin with a patio that had a roof over it. The cabin was about a few yards away from the beach. An oversized glass door welcomed them into the vaulted living room which freely flowed into the kitchen. In the living room was a couch, coffee table, a Zenith Wooden Television, a small wooden desk with a computer, and shelves of movies.
The kitchen’s island featured an eating bar and a window above the double-bowl sink offered views into the backyard.
A barn door retracted to reveal a laundry room and pantry combo. The two bedrooms framed the central living space, are identical in size, and include a walk-in closet and personal bathroom, which includes a sink, toilet, and a shower.
Craig’s bedroom was on the right. It was a medium-sized bedroom with a queen-size bed with a wood log bed frame and a green plaid bedspread. On the side of the bed, was a wooden nightstand. There was a large window looking out at the beach where a green canoe lay and there was a firepit with logs to sit on.
Anthony: “This is your room, Craig.”
He smiled and helped Craig with his luggage.
Craig: “Oh, wicked sick!”
He grinned.
Craig: “I don’t need help with that!”
He insisted, taking his luggage from Anthony.
Anthony pulled out a picture he had in a frame of Craig and Tristan at the beach. Craig was in his black swim trunks with neon green stripes on the side and next to his neon green surfboard. Tristan was dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt with colorful flowers that opened to expose his bare chest, khakis shorts, and a tan straw hat on his head. He examined it for a moment and put it on the nightstand. Craig drew a long and sad sigh.
Craig: “It’s not fair… Deimos ‘n Lazaros ruined everything!”
He pouted. Anthony looked at the picture on the nightstand noting Tristan looked happy with Craig. He saw the remaining pictures of Tristan with Craig and he looked more and more unhappy with him as time went on.
Anthony: “I got us some take-out. Let’s eat.”
He smiled tightly.
Anthony went out to the kitchen and opened the Fred’s Burger Castle bag. He got a Coke for Craig, a root beer for himself, a double bacon cheeseburger and fries for himself, and two spicy chicken burgers with extra pickles and fries and onion rings for Craig.
Craig: “Fuck yeah, my fave! You bloody legend! How did ya know?”
He grinned and bit into his burger.
Anthony: “Tristan told me.”
He smiled back and took some fries. Craig’s eyes lit up.
Anthony: “When you two first met, he talked about you a lot to me and shared his thoughts with me. He took special care of the stuff you liked and disliked him.”
He took a sip of root beer.
Craig: “Oh, really now?”
He beamed.
Anthony: “Then Tristan started speaking of you less and less until one day, he stopped and didn’t want to discuss you at all.”
He ate a few more fries. Craig’s smile faded.
Craig: “Yeah ‘cause those Katsaros cunts ruined it!”
He said angrily, taking a large bite out of his burger. Anthony locked his gaze on Craig.
Anthony: “Craig, this was long before… you and Lazaros had sex in his hot tub.”
He said sternly. Craig huffed.
Anthony: “Can you tell me Tristan’s favorite food?”
Craig: “...Is it bananas?”
Anthony shook his head soberly.
Anthony: “Tristan took this time to get to know you and you never got to know him?”
He asked with pain in his eyes.
Craig: “Of course, I tried to get to know him! I wanted to date him!”
He countered. Anthony cleared his throat.
Anthony: “Then shouldn’t you know basic stuff like his favorite food? His fears? His goals? His desires?”
He asked gently. Craig shifted his eyes.
Craig: “Hey! I know basics about him! He’s a hot lawyer ‘n he loves metal!”
He huffed.
Craig: “And I know he desires me! How could he not?”
He flexed and looked at himself in the kitchen mirror.
Anthony heaved a deep sigh.
Anthony: “Before I took you in, Makayla reached out to me. She needed space from Brad and Lazaros. She told me about you chasing Tristan.”
Craig: “Pfft, funny they both ran off together. Good riddance!”
He said bitterly. Anthony heaved a sigh. Makayla wasn’t kidding here; I got my work cut out for me, he thought.
Craig: “Yeah, well, she was jealous!”
Anthony raised an eyebrow.
Anthony: “What is she jealous of?”
Craig: “ ‘cause Tristan is better than those two losers!”
He growled and folded his arms over pouting. Anthony drew a long, aggravated breath.
Anthony: “I have worked with Lazaros for shoots and sessions. He’s great to work with and has nice, ticklish feet. I don’t know Brad beyond Maxx mocking him in his shitty songs repeatedly. As near as I can tell, Brad agreed with a critique Blair gave to Maxx’s garbo music… and posed innocuously with Felipa for her catalog. That’s why I had to rebuild my cabin. Maxx ruined it.”
He relayed his thoughts to Craig with irritation in his tone, especially when he spoke of Maxx.
Anthony: “Anyway, Makayla told me about Andreas and said what you’re doing with Tristan mirrors you trying to get Andreas back, except Tristan never agreed to date you. I can see this has earned you ridicule and mockery.”
Craig furrowed his eyebrows and squirted ketchup all over his fries. Anthony’s eyes grew large at the ghastly amount of ketchup. Yeah, she wasn’t kidding about that either, he thought.
Craig: “Tristan crushed on me! He told me he did!”
He said unwaveringly.
Anthony: “I know he did but crushes can fizzle out and die, Craig. Tristan’s crush on you was gone long before Deimos and Lazaros. Deimos can tell me Tristan’s favorite food, his favorite color, his favorite animal, etc. but all you seem to know about him is that he’s handsome and loves metal. Yeah, well, so do many guys.”
He shrugged.
Anthony: “You can’t control how Tristan feels about you, Craig. You can’t control his actions. I think your time spent here with Dingo and me will help you. I think you need space from Tristan and the city, or you will become the next Maxx and neither of us wants that.”
He explained firmly but gently.
Craig: “But he won’t crush on me again!”
He whined. Anthony shook his head.
Anthony: “I don’t think he ever will, Craig. He didn’t tell me anything; his expression told me a lot. Tristan is private and reserved. I firmly believe he told Deimos and Ivy why his crush on you died out and he probably told you at some point but you didn’t listen because he told you what you didn’t want to hear.”
He said solemnly and plaintively. Craig had pain in his eyes.
Craig: “I wish it would go back to the way it was when Makayla didn’t hate me ‘n Tristan was with me…”
Anthony: “You can’t go back, Craig. All you can do is move forward and try to do better and be better.”
Craig grunted and scowled.
Anthony: “Tristan started going on and on about Ivy and Deimos the way he did you. He seemed happy to discuss them and showed me the pen Deimos gave him.”
Craig clenched his teeth and fists, crushing the fries in his hand. The ketchup squeezed in the palm of his fist, running down his arms like blood.
Craig: “Deimos…”
He growled bitterly. Anthony paused, surveying Craig’s expression and body language.
Anthony: “Craig…, Deimos knows Tristan well. The pen you gave him? It had neon green ink. Tristan couldn’t use it. Deimos got him a fountain ink pen that Tristan could use.”
He stated and folded his hands.
Craig: “What’s wrong with green ink?! It’s wicked sick!”
He threw his arms up. Anthony cleared his throat.
Anthony: “Craig, you cannot sign legal documents in neon green ink; it has to be blue or black ink.”
He said evenly.
Anthony: “Also, most lawyers use fountain pens, not ballpoint pens.”
Craig: “How was I supposed to know that?!”
Anthony: “...He told you, Craig…”
He said flatly and slowly.
Craig: “Well, it doesn’t matter now. He broke my pen ‘n he hates me now!”
He pouted. Anthony nodded and smiled sadly.
Anthony: “You’re right. It’s history now.”
Anthony: “Right now, you’re living on a beach and got a cool dog! Plus, your band is getting great reviews… unlike Sex Bees.”
He raved. Craig brightened.
Craig: “Really?”
Anthony nodded.
Anthony: “Yeah, man!”
Craig: “Well, it ain’t the real Nuklear, but it’s something, I guess.”
He smiled.
Anthony: “What IS the real Nuklear, then?”
Craig: “Nuklear is a THRASH metal band!”
He exclaimed.
Anthony: “Why didn’t you write thrash songs for it?”
He challenged. Anthony heaved another sigh. Craig shifted his eyes. He didn’t want to admit he had reading and writing difficulties and that in the past, he’d get Andreas to write them down for him or have him write the songs.
Anthony: “You weren’t doing anything with Nuklear until Rock became your manager and Deimos wrote songs. You made Tristan your world and you don’t even know his favorite color.”
He said with some irritation in his tone. Craig paused.
Craig: “...I fucked everything up.”
He wallowed in self-pity.
Anthony patted Craig’s shoulders.
Anthony: “Don’t worry, bud. We’ve all been there.”
Craig: “Oh, you fucked up, too?”
He asked. Anthony heaved a deep sigh.
Anthony: “Yeah, I made the mistake of bringing Maxx under my wing. He drained me and when he saw Brad posing with Felipa innocuously in her bikini shop catalog, his screams destroyed my cabin. I didn’t know Maxx wasn’t human. I mean, I knew something was wrong but I didn’t know to what extent.”
He heaved another sigh.
Anthony: “I built that cabin… It was my first home away from Apple City and he destroyed it.”
He closed his eyes and blew another gusty breath.
Anthony: “No use dwelling on it. I can’t use that land anymore because Maxx destroyed it, so I will make new memories here.”
He smiled and patted Craig’s back.
Anthony: “But as for Tristan…, he does have sexy feet.”
He beamed and wiggled his eyebrows.
Craig: “OI! Back off, mate!”
He growled. Anthony heaved a deep sigh.
Anthony: “You don’t agree?”
Anthony knew why Craig was acting this way but he wanted to challenge him more.
Craig: “Of course, I agree, but he’s mine!”
He snarled. Anthony sank in his seat.
Anthony: “Did you not listen to a thing I said? Tristan doesn’t want to be around you and you admitted this a few minutes ago.”
He said languidly. Craig scowled and snorted.
Craig: “It’s not fair!”
Anthony: “Life isn’t fair, buddy…”
He patted his back.
He glanced at Dingo and smiled.
Anthony: “Maybe this worked out for the best because Tristan doesn’t like dogs and now you got a new friend.”
He nodded to Dingo.
Craig: “Yeah, it’s good I got Dingo now!”
Anthony: “Tristan wouldn’t have a dog at his place. He loves cats… and so does Deimos!”
Craig: “Hmph, Deimos this, Deimos that! What’s he got that I don’t got, huh?”
He grumbled and wagged his head.
Anthony: “He got to know Tristan!”
He smiled.
Craig’s fury rose. Anthony knew Craig was angry so he handed him a frisbee.
Anthony: “Show me how you play with Dingo. He wants to play.”
He pointed to the dog with his tongue out and wagging his tail.
Anthony: “I’ll go out and watch.”
Craig’s demeanor brightened as the dog did when they saw that frisbee. He went outside with Dingo and they ran down onto the beach.
Craig: “Ohh, I’ll show ya mate!”
He chuckled and flung the frisbee across the beach. Dingo’s eyes grew wide and he barked with glee, running after it. He jumped in the air, catching it in his mouth. He then ran back to Craig, rubbing the frisbee against his leg to throw it again. Anthony sat down on the porch and smiled as he watched them.