Chapter One-Hundred Thirty-Eight: The Birthday Boys

Chapter 138

The Birthday Boys

It was over ninety-seven degrees Fahrenheit in Pink Top City on Deimos and Lazaros’ birthdays.

Celeste, Jaxon, Tristan, and Deimos sat at a banquet table in Lazaros’ backyard. Celeste wore a white Motley Crue tank top, a jean skirt, and black high-heeled sandals with studs on the straps. Jaxon wore a black button-up shirt with flames on the hem, opened up to expose his bare chest and tummy, jean cut-offs, and black flip-flops. Trista wore a light blue polo shirt, dark blue shorts, and dark blue Vans. Deimos wore a Helloween tank top, jean shorts, and black motorcycle boots.

The banquet table had a variety of food, including salads, fried rice, shrimp on skewers, barbecued chicken, chicken fajitas, lemon garlic parmesan herb shrimp pasta, Mediterranean chicken over basmati rice, creamy Cajun chicken pasta, and spinach lasagna roll-ups. Celeste eyed the food hungrily.

Jaxon: “Go take some, babe.”

He smiled at her and took a sip of his beer.

Lazaros stepped out dressed in a three-piece dark suit with shiny purple paisley patterns and a top hat. Deimos gaped at him, dressed like that in this heat.

Lazaros: “Today is Deimos’s birthday and mine! And today, we are doing something special!”

He jumped up and clicked his heels.

Celeste: “Can we eat this food?”

She asked.

Lazaros: “Hehehehehe, no!”

Jaxon: “Why is it out if she can’t eat it?!”

He huffed.

Lazaros: “And now for the real star of the show… ASHLEY!”

He announced and extended his hands to Ashley, who stepped out of the house. They wore an orange surface shirt with lantern sleeves, jean shorts, and sandals. They were carrying baskets of gifts for the twins.

Ashley: “Me? No, no, you and Deimos are the stars of the show! Today is the day the sun has revolved around you for twenty-three years!”

They chuckled and kissed Lazaros’ cheek. Lazaros reddened.

Lazaros: “Ashley, you are always the star of the show and my life!”

He beamed. Ashley’s cheeks reddened.

Ashley: “Awww, Lazaros, you’re so sweet! You're the star of my show and life!”

They beamed, wrapping their arms around him and embracing him. Lazaros embraced them and patted their back.

Jordi stepped into the backyard and waved. He wore a light pink polo shirt, beige shorts, and brown crisscross sandals.

Jordi: “Hello? Am I interrupting something?”

He asked and eyed up the food.

Jaxon: “Yo!”

Celeste: “Heyo!”

Tristan: “Hello, Jordi. You look well.”

He nodded. Deimos raised his beer to him.

Ashley: “Hello! Not at all! It’s Lazaros and Deimos’ birthdays today!”

They beamed.

Jordi: “Happy birthday to you both!”

He smiled.

Deimos: “Thanks.”

Lazaros: “Thank you!”

He beamed.

Jordi: “This looks good! I love fajitas!”

Lazaros slapped Jordi’s hand and shook his forefinger. Jordi drew back. Ashley tilted their head at Lazaros.

Ashley: “Lazaros?”

Jordi: “My apologies. I wanted to thank Ashley for helping my grandfather. I can leave if you want.”

He bowed his head.

Ashley: “Oh, I’m sorry for what happened to Abraham! Oh, no, no, please stay! Have something to eat and chill with us!”

They chirped, waving their hands.

Deimos: “You can stay, Jordi. You get to watch the most fantastic show, Lazaros will put on.”

He said dryly.

Jordi: “Really?”

He laughed and sat by Tristan.

Ashley: “Ooh, you’re doing a magic show, Lazaros?!”

Their eyes sparkled at him in his top hat.

Deimos: “Yes, he will make all this food disappear into your belly, Ashley.”

He said wryly. Ashley tilted their head and laughed.

Lazaros: “Deimos, you didn’t have to put it that way, but yes, you all get to watch Ashley eat all this.”

He grinned.

Ashley: “Oh, I don’t know if I can do ALL that, haha. There won’t be enough for everyone, and there’s plenty for everyone to go around!”

They laughed.

Celeste: “You can watch me eat, too!”

She grabbed some fajitas and shoved them into her mouth. Ashley chuckled and joined her.

Ashley: “Yay! Let’s all eat and watch each other!”

They jested and took a bite from a fajita. Lazaros screamed.

Lazaros: “NO, NO! BAD! THAT IS TAKING FOOD FROM ASHLEY’S MOUTH!”

He screamed. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “Don’t yell at the kitty, Lazaros! She can have food, too!”

Jaxon: “Dude, chill out. They don’t want to eat all this food. It’s enough food for an army.”

He huffed.

Lazaros: “I am feeding ASHLEY, NOT AN ARMY!”

He screamed at Jaxon. Deimos rolled his eyes.

Jordi: “So is this feeding thing a fetish?”

Ashley: “Yep!”

They chirped and nodded.

Lazaros: “NO!”

He screamed at Jordi.

Jordi: “Sorry…”

He whispered.

Celeste: “I gotta ask… why is Ashley’s car and garden covered with a blanket?”

She drawled as she took another fajita. Lazaros froze.

Lazaros: “Don’t ask about that in front of Ashley!”

He cried. Ashley tilted their head.

Ashley: “Ohhh, Lazaros, don’t be embarrassed! You’re so sweet! You didn’t want them getting cold last night!”

They smiled at him, stroking his chest. Lazaros smiled at Ashley and kissed their head.

Deimos: “What, you didn’t tell them what our cousin did to their garden and car?”

He asked sharply. Tristan threw his hands up. Ashley froze.

Jordi: “What do you mean? It’s covered because of your cousin?”

Deimos: “Yes, our cousin, Vasilos, got dumped at the altar and vandalized Ashley’s car and garden.”

He huffed. Ashley dropped their fajita as their heart sank.

Ashley: “Wh-What?! What happened to my car and garden?!”

They cried.

Jordi: “Oh, Vasilos…”

He rolled his eyes.

Jordi: “Yeah, that sounds like something he would do.”

He said bitterly.

Ashley: “What happened, Lazaros?! Wh-Why didn’t you tell me?”

They cried. Lazaros’ bottom lip trembled.

He saw Celeste shove the barbecue chicken in her mouth.

Lazaros: “HEY!”

He grabbed the chicken and tried to pull it out of her mouth. She sank her teeth in.

Lazaros: “LET GO OF THAT! I MADE IT FOR ASHLEY!”

He cried as he tried to pry the chicken out of her mouth. Ashley grabbed Lazaros’s shoulders, trying to pry him off her.

Ashley: “L-LAZAROS!”

They cried.

Jaxon: “Hey, man, Ashley wants to know why you didn’t tell her about the car and garden!”

He asked sharply. Lazaros crashed to the ground and bawled his eyes out. Celeste ate the chicken, and Tristan rose to go out to Ashley. Jordi joined him.

Ashley’s bottom lip trembled, and they headed to the car and garden, dragging the sheets off them. They gasped aloud, and their heart sank at what they saw. Their sunflowers were torn and trampled, and the entire garden was ruined, with torn herbs strewn around the soil.

Ashley: “...My Sunflowers!”

They cried. Tristan and Jordi ran out to join Ashley.

Tristan: “I am so sorry, Ashley. When Deimos came home, he saw this, and I saw it when I joined him.”

He sighed. Jordi looked at the car.

Jordi: “Ah, nice to see Vasilos is as original as ever, and since Andrew dumped him, he has nothing else to do with his time.”

He said bitterly.

Tristan: “You seem more upset about your garden than the car.”

He stated to Ashley. Ashley drew a breath and pursed their lips.

Ashley: “My garden is sacred to me and my sun energy…”

They sighed.

Ashley: “And I was growing herbs for Lazaros’ cooking…”

They added.

Ashley: “Blair gave me that car, and I’ve seen the same fat jokes a million times already…”

They sighed.

Jaxon, Celeste, and Deimos joined them. Celeste was still eating the chicken.

Tristan: “I don’t know what else to say in this situation, Ashley, other than I am so sorry.”

He rubbed the back of his head. Ashley wiped their eyes and forced a smile.

Ashley: “It’s not your fault, Tristan.”

Tristan: “I think Lazaros didn’t tell you because he wanted to spare your feelings.”

He offered. Ashley bowed their head.

Ashley: “That’s sweet…”

They smiled a bit.

Ashley: “But, like, I was gonna find this and I’m not a baby…”

They sighed, thinking of how Blair always treated them.

Tristan: “I don’t think Lazaros thinks this way of you. I think he tries to think of ways not to hurt your feelings or see you sad, but the stuff he thinks upsets you upsets him.”

He said to Ashley genially. Ashley paused and looked pensive, drinking in his words. Now that he mentioned that, they realized Lazaros cried much more than they did.

Jaxon: “Yeah, Lazaros is crying in the backyard.”

He added. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Jaxon: “So I think he tries to asses the situation and does this until he thinks of how to fix it.”

Deimos: “How can HE fix this?”

He waved his hand at the garden and the car.

Ashley: “I don’t know… but at least he’s trying and that’s really sweet!”

They smiled a bit and marched back into the backyard to go to Lazaros.

Lazaros was on the ground in a ball, crying loudly. Ashley approached Lazaros and knelt to him, stroking his hair.

Ashley: “It’s okay, Lazaros, I’ll grow a new garden, and… maybe it’s best I got rid of that car anyway… as he gave it to me…”

They said tenderly to him. Lazaros looked at them with tears in his eyes.

Lazaros: “I can get you a new one.”

He sniffled. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “R-really?! That’s so sweet, but you don’t have to do that!”

They wrapped their arms around him and held him close to their chest. Lazaros sighed.

Lazaros: “I want to. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you… I didn’t want you hurt and wanted to figure out how to fix it.”

He whimpered.

Ashley: “Aww, Lazaros, you’re so sweet! I’m so touched by how much you care about me!”

They cried and held him close in their arms, kissing him softly. Lazaros wrapped his arms around Ashley.

Deimos strolled out to them.

Deimos: “So, did you have a gift for me, Ashley? Want to give it now? We’re all going to Beach Town for our birthday, so if you two wanna join us, by all means.”

He nodded. Ashley looked up from their embrace and wiped their eyes.

Ashley: “Sure, Deimos! I’ll go get it! OOH! Beach Town?! Can we, Lazaros, can we?!”

They beamed, rubbing up against him.

Lazaros: “S-Sure, Ashley! I can’t wait for you to show off the swimsuit you modeled for Felipa’s Bikini Shop!”

He grinned. Ashley blushed all over.

Ashley: “Hehehehe, you flatterer, you!”

They kissed his forehead and rose, rushing over to get Deimos’s gift for him. They handed him a basket with a black ribbon around it. It contained turtle cheesecake slices, freshly picked chilli peppers, a handmade wreath with black flowers, onyx gemstones, and his name embroidered. Deimos smiled at the array of gifts.

Deimos: “Thank you, Ashley! This is lovely and thoughtful. I will hang this wreath in my bedroom and put the food in the fridge.”

He nodded.

Ashley: “You’re meowst welcome!”

They beamed.

Deimos: “We’ll see you both at Beach Town!”

He said as he jogged back to his house. Ashley smiled and waved at him.

~

Sylvia drove everyone to Beach Town, one of the largest waterparks in the country, for Blair’s birthday. Sylvia was driving with Yoshi in the front seat. Blair, Ivy, and Vanessa were in the second seat.

Sylvia wore an old-fashioned men’s red and white striped swimsuit with a crew neck shirt, long shorts, brown sandals, and a straw boater hat. Yoshi wore blue swim trunks with scuba goggles, a snorkel, and yellow flippers on his feet. Blair wore blue swim trunks with light blue cat paw prints, a black TMNT t-shirt, and a white bucket hat on his head. Ivy wore a crisscross black one-piece swimsuit, a large floppy black sunhat adorned with a black rose, high-heeled sandals, and a teal sarong. Vanessa wore a pink one-piece halter swimsuit with pineapple patterns and a pink flower in her hair.

Sylvia: “Oh, I am so delighted to come with you to the park! I wish you agreed to go to a train museum, but it’s your party, Blair!”

She sang and smiled. Blair folded his arms over his chest.

Blair: “I didn’t decide this; Vanessa did.”

He huffed.

Sylvia: “I can talk your ear off about trains! I recently traveled to Argentville and collected every pamphlet from The History of Nouvelle Gaule trains!”

She raved on. Blair rolled his eyes.

Sylvia: “I even bought a conductor hat, and they let me operate one of the older models!”

She made a right turn into the parking lot for Beach Town. It was an enormous waterpark with a high wooden fence, palm trees, and tall waterslides.

She parked her van in the parking lot, and everyone got out. Yoshi cheered and hollered as they walked down the parking lot to the entrance. The ticket booth was a large hut with a hay roof. Sylvia paid for their admission, and they entered.

They went across the bridge to an enormous waterpark. There was a lazy river, tons of giant water slides, a wave pool, slides for tubes, a restaurant, a picnic park, a gift shop, and a place to rent cabanas.

Ivy examined the park and only agreed to come because she remembered it was Deimos’ birthday and Tristan would be with him.

Jaxon and Celeste entered the park. Jaxon wore a black Speedo with red flames, black flip-flops with red straps, and sunglasses perched on his head. Celeste wore a shiny, metallic purple bikini, cat-eye sunglasses, a black sunhat with a purple band, and black high-heeled sandals with purple straps and gold studs. Ivy looked at them with disgust. Ugh, she looks like a tramp, and he seems no better, she thought. They look like something from a disgusting porn movie, she mused.

Jaxon draped his arm around Celeste.

Jaxon: “Ready to go on some thrill rides, babe? After my best friend, Deimos, and his man, Tristan, arrive?”

He asked her. She smiled up at him.

Ivy: “Excuse me, but Tristan is not Deimos’ man and you two look like something from a porn movie! So disgusting!”

She clicked her tongue. Jaxon rolled his eyes.

Jaxon: “And how would you know that? Did you watch them, or does your loser boyfriend watch them because he gets no action from you?”

He spat. Celeste laughed. Ivy rolled her eyes.

Ivy: “I wouldn’t know, but my father did when he married my mother.”

Jaxon: “Like father, like daughter.”

He said bitterly. Celeste glanced up at Jaxon.

Jaxon: “You and your father share the ‘brainrot’ escapism mentality.”

Ivy: “Well, you wouldn’t know a lady if you saw one.”

She said loftily. Jaxon narrowed his eyes at her.

Jaxon: “Of course, I do. I have my Green Queen, and you’re the annoying queen.”

He hissed and rubbed Celeste’s back. Ivy clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes.

Ivy: “Surely, you can do better than that, Jiro.”

Tristan and Deimos arrived. Deimos wore blue swim trunks, blue clip-on shades over his glasses, and black flip-flops. Tristan wore light beige swim trunks, a black Hawaiian shirt left open, a beige straw hat, and black flip-flops. Ivy froze when she saw Tristan, and her jaw dropped.

Celeste: “I love how you don’t have that reaction for Blair… but looking at him, who would?”

She glared at Blair in his dorky ensemble. Ivy rolled her eyes. A broken clock is right twice a day, she thought. Blair marched over and glowered at them all.

Blair: “What are you beatniks doing here?”

He pouted.

Deimos: “What most people do in a water park. It’s not pouting around.”

He said dryly.

Blair: “Cover up! You’re dressed inappropriately!”

He scolded Celeste and Jaxon in their Speedos and bikinis.

Celeste: “And you’re dressed like a dork but you don’t see us bitching.”

She huffed. Blair gasped at them.

Blair: “I’m sorry if being sun smart is dorky to you!”

He pouted.

Jaxon: “...Were you one of those kids who had to wear knee pads, elbow pads, and a helmet during recess?”

He asked wryly.

Blair: “Of course, I was because I’m smart and smarter than you! Safety first!”

He exclaimed. Jaxon winced and shuddered. Celeste laughed. Deimos rolled his eyes, and Tristan sighed.

Jaxon: “I was being facetious…”

He muttered through clenched teeth.

Tristan: “Blair, since you’re so ‘smart’, why don’t you go off with Sylvia, your fiancée, friend, and cousin?”

He waved his hand. Ivy gazed at Tristan lovingly, staring at his bare chest and torso, wanting to caress and run her hands down it.

Blair: “Fine, I will! Come on, Ivy, let’s get our sunscreen on and ride on the lazy river!”

He pouted. Ivy turned to Blair and winced.

Jordi joined them. He wore a white tiger stripe Speedo, a black button-up shirt left open, and black flip-flops.

Jordi: “Hey, guys!”

Tristan, Jaxon, and Celeste waved. Blair growled at him. Ivy lowered her sunglasses. Oh, he’s easy on the eyes, she thought.

Blair: “What are YOU doing here?! And in THAT?! Don’t you know this isn’t a porn video land, Jordi?! Or do you want money from my family for sun smart clothing?!”

He hissed. Jordi glared at him.

Deimos: “The fuck are you on about?”

He asked sharply.

Blair: “Oh, your new friend didn’t tell you he stole food from our family?!”

He snapped. Jordi reddened. Tristan raised an eyebrow.

Jaxon: “Dude, you have plenty of money. If he stole, it probably wasn’t much. Celeste steals Ivy’s snacks.”

He shrugged. Ivy pouted, and Celeste grinned.

Jordi: “I told you what I did and didn’t steal! Why can’t you drop it?!”

He asked sharply.

Blair: “Because you’re a thief!”

He countered.

Ivy: “SHE steals MY snacks and you say nothing to her?!”

She snapped at Blair and pointed to Celeste. Blair drew back and bowed his head.

Blair: “It’s not the same thing, my sugar cup.”

Ivy: “No, it’s WORSE! She stole MY snacks!”

She snapped at Blair.

Blair: “B-But my grandmother made food for him and his grandfather!”

Ivy: “That’s not stealing!”

She hissed. Tristan cupped his mouth and observed Ivy’s action. She’s standing up for Jordi? He wondered. Ivy doesn’t do something unless she can benefit from it, he thought.

Blair’s bottom lip trembled, and he heaved and sobbed.

Blair: “Y-YES IT IS AND NOW HE’S TRYING TO STEAL YOU FROM ME, TOOOOOOOO!”

He bawled his eyes out, pounding his fists on the ground. Ivy glared at him.

Ivy: “Can you just STOP, Blair?! I just met him! You’re being irrational now! Stop crying over everything!”

She snapped. Blair bawled harder.

Blair: “They’re trying to turn you against meeee!”

Jaxon laughed at Blair’s tantrum. Jordi rolled his eyes.

Celeste: “But you’re irrational and cry over everything.”

She drawled.

Ivy: “SHUT UP!”

She snapped at Celeste.

Deimos: “He’s not irrational; he’s sun smart.”

He said dryly. Tristan and Jaxon both laughed.

Lazaros showed up with a smile and waved to them. He wore purple gloves, a glittering Speedo, and brown crisscross sandals. Ashley was with him, dressed in a paisley orange swimsuit with a flowy, transparent fabric draped over the top with a blue and yellow gradient. Blair glared at Ashley through tears.

Blair: “You look like a big, fat jellyfish! And you are one! You can’t see a true prince before you!”

He spat at them. Ashley recoiled and their smile faded when they saw Blair in all his dorky glory, seething at them with hateful word vomit.

Lazaros: “A true prince doesn’t insult his lover!”

He cried.

Ashley: “That’s right! I can see the prince before me.”

They smiled at Lazaros, touching his chest wall and gazing lovingly into his violet eyes. Lazaros smiled at Ashley and nodded.

Blair: “A prince doesn’t use someone just for his fetish!”

He spat.

Lazaros: “I don’t have fetishes and I don’t use Ashley!”

He cried.

Ashley: “What do you want, Blair?”

They asked exasperatedly, holding onto Lazaros.

Blair: “You're so fat and losing! You are fat and a loser, Ashley! I gave you everything, and you used me! That’s the story of every nice guy!”

He cried.

Deimos: “You’re not a nice guy, Blair. You’re sun smart.”

He said dryly.

Ashley: “Nice guys don’t insult people, Blair! Sun smart? You don’t have sun powers.”

They sighed. Blair glared at them.

Blair: “You’re so stupid!”

He spat.

Blair: “I upgraded to someone smarter and more beautiful who isn’t fat!”

He grinned at Ivy.

Ashley: “Then go be with her, then!”

Ivy approached Jordi and smiled.

Ivy: “Nihao! Sorry about… Blair. He’s not happy on his birthday.”

Jordi: “Oh, I’m here with my friends for Deimos’ birthday!”

He nodded. Tristan appeared behind him. Ivy clasped her hand over her chest. Two handsome men before me?! She thought.

Tristan: “Stay away from Poison Ivy. You don’t need extra stressors in your life.”

He drew a long breath.

Ivy: “Nihao, Tristan!”

She purred.

Tristan: “Go away, Ivy. Go with Blair; he’s busy insulting Ashley.”

He sneered at her.

Ivy: “Yes, I know, Airen!”

She crooned. Tristan glowered at her.

Tristan: “Never call me that again.”

He spat.

Blair peeked his head over Ivy’s shoulder.

Blair: “She’s right, you’re an airhead!”

He spat.

Tristan: “Wow, she never called you that? How telling.”

He rolled his eyes.

Blair: “Because I’m smart!”

Tristan rolled his eyes.

Tristan: “Right. You’re sun smart.”

He muttered.

Jordi: “Are you with that guy?”

He asked Ivy.

Blair: “We’re ENGAGED!”

He thrust Ivy’s hand with her engagement ring. Ivy yanked her hand away.

Jordi: “Oh, sorry about that.”

He said to Ivy.

Tristan: “Don’t be; she’s just as bad as he is.”

Jordi: “I see.”

He said as he left Ivy to be with his friends. Ivy pouted as she watched Tristan go.

~

Celeste excitedly took Jaxon’s hand, leading him up the steel tower with the long purple waterslide perched at the top of it. It was called “Stingray Speed.”

Jaxon buzzed with excitement as they stomped up the stairs together until they finally reached the top. Screaming and cheering filled the air around them as each patron sped down the long slide.

They drew closer to the slide, and the sound of cascading water surrounded them. At the top of the slide, they climbed into a floating raft together. Celeste smiled at him, baring her fangs.

Celeste: “Scared?”

She teased and tickled his sides. Jaxon gasped and squealed.

Jaxon: “OHOHOHOOHOHOAHAHAHEHE!”

The light turned green, and she thrust them into the slide and through the tunnel. They were suddenly surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colours and patterns dancing around them. It resembled an aquarium, with cool hues of blue and holographic images of fish swimming around the walls. They twisted and turned as the slide curved and spiraled around itself, until they finally crashed into a pool of water at the end.

Celeste: “That was fun!”

She said as she jumped out of the tube. She took his hand and helped him out.

Jaxon: “Hell, yeah, babe!”

He laughed as they exited the pool.

Celeste: “Let’s do another one!”

She jumped up and down.

Jaxon: “Sure! I’d love that, babe! Lead the way!”

He smiled and waved his hand.

~

Deimos and Tristan were on a shared tube sliding down the Ray of Rad sun slide. They were spinning around a colossal water sphere, and Tristan held Deimos’ hand from behind.

Tristan: “Oh God, I’m feeling nauseated!”

He complained as they spun around, and the tube splashed down a tube that resembled a disco, with flashing neon lights dancing around it. Then, they slid through an arch waterfall and crashed into the pool.

Deimos: “Let’s go on another one!”

He insisted.

Tristan: “Another one?!”

He knit his eyebrows. Deimos nodded eagerly. Tristan groaned but smiled. He wanted to do this for Deimos’ birthday.

Deimos and Tristan went down another slide in a couple’s tube, sliding down a dark hole until they landed in a tunnel with a view of the Barrier Reef.

Tristan: “Oh wow, this is so beautiful…”

He looked around, mesmerized by the serene, calm view before his eyes. They slid down another hole and crashed into the pool.

When they climbed out, Deimos pointed to the love tunnel river.

Deimos: “Let’s do that one. It’s not a thrill ride.”

Tristan smiled and nodded.

Tristan: “All right.”

Deimos held Tristan’s hand to guide him to the love tunnel river. He had him on the couple’s tube, and they floated down the river with islands of palm trees. They floated past a waterfall and through a sprinkler arch of water. They floated down the tunnel, granting them a serene view of the fish underwater. Tristan’s eyes widened.

Tristan: “Wow…”

He said breathlessly. Deimos gazed at Tristan, mesmerized by his beauty and how the sparkling water highlighted his snow-white hair.

Deimos: “This is the best birthday I’ve ever had… I thought I would hate it because Blair showed up to be a bitch to Ashley and just be… Blair… But when I focused on… us, it was better.”

He said softly. Tristan smiled and reddened a bit. He leaned back and ran his hand through the water.

They watched a dolphin swim by.

Deimos: “Remember when we first met?”

He began.

Deimos: “The time in my pool?”

Tristan paused and heaved a deep sigh.

Tristan: “Yes, of course.”

He smiled sadly.

Tristan: “Do you want to bring up… Dougal on this day, Deimos?”

He locked his gaze on him. Deimos grimaced. He was always worried Dougal would kill the mood during their intimate moments.

Deimos: “N-No, I wasn’t thinking of that fat whale!”

He looked away.

Deimos: “I just thought… of holding you in my arms in my pool.”

He reddened. Tristan smiled at him.

Tristan reached out to grasp his hand and caressed it. Deimos locked his gaze on him, took his hand, and kissed it. Tristan melted to his touch. He leaned over and kissed Deimos softly on the lips. Deimos threaded his fingers through Tristan’s soft, white tresses and kissed him deeply. Taking him in his arms, he rested his head on his chest.

~

Blair: “No, Ivy, that’s too dangerous!”

He shuddered at the water slide, blocking her way to it. Ivy checked out Tristan’s and Jordi’s asses as the two men were headed to the waterslide.

Ivy: “How is it dangerous, Blair? What do you want to do?”

She folded her arms and tapped her foot.

Blair: “I don’t want you getting hurt, my sweet pea.”

He smiled at her. He scanned the area and smiled at the small water slide with the children lining up for it. It was called “Tiny Tubes.”

Blair: “Let’s go on this one, I’ll ask if it’s safe enough to ride!”

He smiled and went up to the operator. Ivy gaped at him.

Ivy: “Blair, this slide is for toddlers!”

She whispered hoarsely at him.

Blair: “Perfect! So, it’s safe and not dangerous!”

He clasped his hands together and lined up in the queue. Ivy felt rage and humiliation seeing Blair in a lineup with toddlers.

Toddler: “Mommy, why is the man in the lineup here?”

He pointed to Blair. Blair smiled at the kid and turned to Ivy.

Blair: “Ah, imagine taking our future kids here together, Ivy?”

He smiled at her. Ivy forced a smile.

Ivy: “Sure!”

She said through clenched teeth.

Blair spotted the flotation devices and life jackets for hire under the marquee by the ride. They were advertised for children in the children’s section of the park.

Blair: “Oh, perfect! Come on, Ivy, safety first!”

He beamed and marched over to the marquee.

Blair: “E-Excuse me, do you have any adult sizes for me and my lovely girlfriend, please?”

He stammered and smiled, draping his arm around Ivy. Ivy’s face turned beet red, and she wanted to crawl away and die. The man behind the booth awkwardly shifted his eyes, as normally the adult sizes were for the mentally challenged, and they didn’t appear to be. He awkwardly cleared his throat, handing them the adult-sized life jackets and arm floaties.

Blair: “Perfect! Go on, Ivy, put on your safety gear!”

He smiled, putting on his life jacket and helping her put on her life jacket and arm floaties.

They heard cackling and saw Jaxon and Celeste both laughing at him.

Celeste: “You two look great!”

She laughed. Ivy’s face flamed red with anger and embarrassment.

Blair: “Finally, a compliment from you two!”

He scoffed, taking it at face value.

Ivy: “SHUT UP!”

She hissed.

Blair: “Well, safety first, and we need to ride ‘Tiny Tubes’!”

He grinned. Jaxon and Celeste cackled loudly.

Jaxon: “Seriously, dude?!”

Ivy: “GOD, STUFF IT, JIRO!”

She snapped at him.

Blair: “That’s right! Stuff it, you’re holding us up, and Ivy is antsy for some tiny tubes fun!”

He smiled at her.

Jaxon: “Yeah, she sure looks ready and rippin’ to go!”

He said wryly.

Ivy’s jaw dropped when Tristan and Jordi stood by them and gaped at her.

Jordi: “...Why the life jackets and arm floats? Aren’t those reserved for people with an intellectual disability?”

He asked with strain and awkwardness. Ivy was on the verge of crying.

Blair: “Well, they wouldn’t have intellectual disabilities if they practiced good safety measures!”

Jordi gaped at him incredulously. Is this guy for real?! He wondered.

Jaxon laughed and looked at Ivy.

Jaxon: “I dunno, man, you can’t read the room, really?”

He said as he cringed.

Blair: “We’re not in a room, Jiro.”

He huffed. Jaxon rolled his eyes.

Jaxon: “Thanks for the reminder.”

He said dryly.

Tristan: “Life jackets for a child’s slide. …I’ve seen it all.”

He sighed.

Ivy: “I-It’s NOT what you think, Tristan!”

She blurted and waved her hands.

Tristan: “What is it, then? You two wear life jackets and flotation devices for a child’s ride. It can’t get clearer.”

He rolled his eyes.

Blair: “It can’t get clearer that safety is important and you beatniks don’t have good safety! Don’t come crying to me when you all end up with intellectual disabilities for not wearing safety gear!”

He pouted, folding his arms across his chest. Tristan, Jordi, and Jaxon all gaped at him. Celeste laughed.

Tristan: “...Did you ever hear of the quote ‘it’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt’?”

He asked disbelievingly.

Blair: “I’ve been silent for years to your bullying! No more Mr. Nice Guy!”

He cried.

Tristan: “Right, silly me for thinking you would comprehend what I was trying to say.”

He muttered.

Celeste: “Too bad for ‘no more Mr. Nice Guy’ because Ashley missed out on a real prince who practices safety.”

She grinned. Blair glared at her and bared his teeth, shifting his demeanor.

Blair: “They missed out on a real prince for a creepy feeder fetishist who ruined them!”

He pouted.

Ivy broke down crying into her hands.

Celeste: “If you make a drinking game out of Ivy crying, you would die of alcohol poisoning. And that’s not safety!”

She said wryly.

Deimos came and stopped at what he saw.

Deimos: “What the fuck am I looking at?”

Tristan: “Blair is practicing safety for a child’s ride.”

He said dryly.

Blair: “Laugh all you want, but I’ll be safe while you get injured!”

He pouted.

Deimos: “So what? You two look fucking stupid.”

He rolled his eyes.

Blair: “You’re just jealous that you missed out on a princess, and now she’s mine!”

He draped his arm around Ivy, who glared at him.

Blair: “Come on, Ivy, forget these beatniks and let’s go on our ride!”

He smiled at her and led her over to the water slide. People stared and laughed at them. All the children in the queue pointed and laughed at them. Their parents shook their heads and rolled their eyes. Blair led Ivy to the waterslide and sat down.

Blair: “Hold my hand, Ivy, it could be scary!”

He took her hand and shuddered with fear as they slid down the slide. Blair cried and screamed in terror, gripping onto Ivy’s hand as they slowly made their way down the small slide and into the warm water at the end. People surrounded the pool, laughing at them and taking pictures. Ivy threw her head back and cried.

Deimos rolled his eyes.

Deimos: “Well, whatever makes you jealous, Tristan.”

He said dryly. Tristan winced.

Deimos: “Anyway, I came to tell you Lazaros rented a cabana and we got some food. No, we’re not watching Ashley eat; we get some ourselves.”

He nodded.

Celeste: “Oh, boy!”

She said giddily.

Jaxon: “Snacks for my babe!”

He draped his arm around her.

~

They all approached the Cabana Lazaros rented for the group. He brought out trays of food. There were fries, hot dogs, Maine Coon Cat Tail Pastries, mozzarella sticks, pizza, and sweet teas and lemonade. Celeste’s eyes lit up at the array of food.

Celeste: “Is this ALL for me?!”

Lazaros: “Have as much as you want!”

He smiled. Ashley smiled at Lazaros, happy to see him sharing his food. Celeste cheered and grabbed a bucket of fries, dipping them in Cajun mustard as she ate them. Jaxon had some mozzarella sticks and sipped on some iced tea. Ashley ate with them, snuggling up to Lazaros as they nibbled on mozzarella sticks, maine coon tails and tea. Lazaros snuggled them close.

Jordi: “Mind if I have some?”

He asked.

Lazaros: “Go ahead! You’re kind to Ashley, so please!”

He smiled. Ashley’s eyes lit up on the verge of happy tears. He took a sweet tea and some pizza. Celeste gaped at him.

Celeste: “If you dip fries in Cajun mustard, it’s soooo good.”

She drooled. Jordi laughed.

Jordi: “I actually never tried that!”

Celeste: “Try it!”

She said doggedly.

Jaxon: “Yeah, it’s pretty good.”

He smiled. Jordi took a bucket of fries, dipped one in Cajun mustard, and ate it. His eyebrows raised.

Jordi: “I love the tangy, spicy kick to this!”

He smiled tightly.

Deimos approached the cabana.

Deimos: “Hey, guys, did any of you see Tristan?”

He knit his eyebrows.

Jaxon: “I thought he was with you. Last I saw, he was laughing at those two fucking idiots in the kiddie pool.”

He laughed.

Lazaros: “Huh?”

Deimos: “I went to the cabana and I lost him.”

He wrung his hands. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “Oh, maybe he went to the change rooms?”

The offered, trying to put him at ease, and hoping he was okay.

Jaxon: “Do you want me to help you look for him?”

He rose. Deimos bowed his head and nodded.

Jordi: “I can help, too, if you like!”

They heard a familiar cackle. Turning, they saw Maxx in his neon yellow mankini and pink pointy boots.

Maxx: “Well, well, well, it’s da whale’s birthday and he looks like a fat jellyfish in dat suit! LOOK EVERYONE! LOOOOOK!!”

He pointed to Ashley and laughed. Ashley frowned at Maxx.

Ashley: “You look like an orange dressed as a banana.”

They replied.

Maxx: “NAH-AH! YOU LOOK LIKE A WHALE!”

He cried.

Jaxon: “Who ordered the party clown?”

He asked wryly. Jordi laughed. Ashley smiled a bit and laughed.

Ashley: “Blair.”

They shrugged.

Maxx: “NAH-AH, Fatley! I came here to meet and greet da fans!”

He thrust his hips.

Celeste: “What fans?”

She asked wryly.

Ashley: “Then why are you here?”

They asked.

Deimos: “Okay, you guys can fuckin’ argue with this clown, I’m going to find Tristan!”

He huffed and marched away.

Maxx: “NAH-AH! I’m not a clown, Lame-os! Pfft, dat’s so gay!”

Deimos: “Yeah, you say the same shit over and over again. We know Ashley wears XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXL underwear! So funny! Get a new line, dickhead!”

He snapped.

Maxx: “I AIN’T A DICKHEAD, LAME-OS!”

He stomped his feet and whined.

Deimos: “Oh, really? ‘Sex Beest’ is a metaphor for your penis and you like to call your wig a ‘Sex Beest Mane’ so does that not make you a dickhead?”

He asked wryly. Ashley snickered, and Lazaros laughed.

Celeste: “That is a good question.”

Maxx gaped at Deimos.

Maxx: “NAH-AH! IT’S NOT A METAPHORY FOR DICKHEAD, YOU LAME NERD!”

He barked. Celeste punched him to the ground.

Maxx: “OOOOOOOOWWWWHHH!!”

He whined. Lazaros smiled and clapped.

Lazaros: “Bravo!”

Jaxon: “Good job, babe!”

Celeste: “Shut the fuck up! No one gives a shit, loser!”

Ashley smiled at her.

Ashley: “Wow! You’re so awesome!”

Celeste: “Thanks!”

She grinned.

Jordi: “Come on, Deimos, Jaxon, and I will help you find Tristan.”

He placed his hand on his shoulder.

Deimos: “Whatever, I don’t care. It’s not my problem; you’re a joke to everyone.”

He snapped at Maxx and started to march away, but people started screaming and running away.

Deimos: “Wh-What’s going on?”

He asked breathlessly as his heart thundered in his chest. They heard an announcer over the speakers stating there had been an emergency and people were to evacuate the park.

Deimos: “We have to find Tristan!”

He stared at everyone with fear in his eyes.

Jordi: “Okay, we will!”

Jaxon went to Deimos.

Jaxon: “Let’s go, man!”

Deimos: “What is going on?! Why are people running away?!”

He cried.

Celeste: “Maxx’s stink?”

She teased.

Maxx: “NAH-AH! I don’t stink, baby! Dat’s Fatley!”

He rose with rocks on his face. Celeste elbowed him in the face, and Maxx fell back crying.

Deimos: “I have to find Tristan!”

He snapped on the verge of tears.

Jaxon: “Let’s go then!”

Lazaros sighed. Ashley clung to Lazaros in terror as the emergency sirens blared and people hastily panicked around them. Lazaros held them close.

Lazaros: “He will meet you at the exit, Deimos. Come on, we should go.”

He put his hands on Deimos’ shoulder, and Deimos smacked his hands away.

Deimos: “YOU’RE NEVER THERE FOR ME!”

He cried and ran away. Lazaros looked deeply hurt and grimaced. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “We have to help Tristan!”

They cried. Lazaros closed his eyes and sighed.

Jaxon followed Deimos, and Jordi and Celeste followed after them. They tried to dodge and get out of the running, panicking people.

Deimos stopped when he arrived at the hot tub, which was a pool of blood with white foam. Inside the hot tub were eight bodies lying face down in the water with their skin and hair burned off, their innards sinking to the floor, melting away. The color drained from Deimos’ face when he saw the horror before his eyes.

Celeste, Jordi, and Jaxon arrived to see the gruesome sight.

Celeste: “What… the… fuck?”

She mouthed. Jordi cupped his mouth. Lazaros and Ashley arrived and stopped dead in their tracks. Lazaros gaped at what he saw. Ashley cupped their mouth and teared up, nestling their head into Lazaros’ chest. Lazaros held them close.

Deimos’ heart raced, he trembled and shook like a leaf blowing aimlessly in a hurricane, and sank to the ground, gasping for air. He tightened his hands into tight balls as tears dropped onto the ground. Jaxon rushed over to comfort him and wrapped his arms around him.

Jaxon: “I’m so sorry, Deimos!”

Deimos let out a howl and bawled as he hugged him back.

Deimos: “NOOOOOOOOO!!! NOOOOOOO!!! TRISTAN!”

He cried and tried to go in. Celeste grabbed him to prevent him. Jordi cupped his mouth.

Deimos: “LET ME GO, CELESTE! I CAN HEAL MYSELF!”

He bawled.

Celeste: “There’s nothing you can do!”

She said with worry in her eyes.

Deimos: “NO, I CAN HEAL ANYONE! YOU KNOW I CAN!”

He bawled through hot tears.

Deimos: “JAXON, WE CAN HEAL TOGETHER! DON’T STOP ME!”

He wailed. Jaxon held him close as tears filled his eyes.

Jaxon: “I’M SORRY, DEIMOS!”

He cried. Ashley trembled and sobbed into Lazaros.

Ashley: “O-oh god… Tristan.”

They cried. Lazaros held them close.

Maxx: “Oh, dat. I didn’t know where da toilets were so I took a shit in it.”

He chuckled. Everyone turned to face Maxx, glaring at him with hot fury, but Deimos glared hatefully at him.

In a flash, he delivered a right hook to Maxx’s jaw.

Maxx: “OWWWW!!”

He cried. He got on top of Maxx, punching him in the face repeatedly.

Maxx: “STOP IT, LAME-OS! H-HELP! HELP ME, ROCK!”

He cried as his blood splattered on Deimos’ face and glasses with each blow he landed.

Maxx: “WHAT DOES DIS GOTTA DO WITH ME?!”

He whined. Deimos rose from him. He ran to a changing station and opened the glass door to grab a fire extinguisher. He bashed Maxx over the head with it. Maxx slammed down to the ground, blood spilling out.

Deimos smashed the fire extinguisher on his arms, breaking them.

Maxx: “OWWWHHHHHH!!!!”

He wailed in pain and wheezed. When Maxx lifted his head, blood bubbled from his lips. Deimos threw the tank on his head, crushing it to the ground.

Deimos: “I fucking hate you so much, you useless piece of SHIT!”

He cried. Maxx wheezed as blood dripped down his face. Deimos marched to Lazaros, removed his gloves, and grabbed his arms.

Lazaros: “What are you doing, Deimos?!”

Deimos stood behind Lazaros, holding his arms. When Maxx rose, Deimos forced Lazaros to clap his hands over Maxx’s head. The impact caused Maxx’s head to explode, and gray matter blood, and his eyeballs splattered on Lazaros and Deimos. Deimos crushed his eyeball under his foot. Ashley buried their head into the face, looking away in horror.

Lazaros cupped his mouth. Deimos tossed his gloves to him and spat on Maxx’s headless corpse. Celeste’s eyes widened. That was so fucking awesome, she thought. Jordi’s eyes widened, and he swallowed hard.

Deimos knelt on the ground as he stared at Maxx. Jaxon knelt by Deimos, hugging him close. Celeste sighed and stared at the hot tub. She knelt by Deimos and hugged him, too.

Deimos heard someone walking behind him and looked up at the sky with tears in his eyes. Tristan stood in front of everyone. Deimos lowered his head and widened his eyes. Is this a dream? He wondered. Celeste, Jaxon, and Deimos brightened. Lazaros smiled a bit, relieved for his brother.

Jordi: “OH, thanks goodness!”

He placed his hand on his chest. Celeste and Jaxon rushed to hug him. Tristan hugged them back.

Celeste: “Well, I knew he wasn’t dead!”

She nodded. Tristan looked awkwardly at her and patted her head.

Tristan: “Who killed Maxx?”

He smiled and held up a keychain of a waterslide with Deimos’ name on it. Jaxon pointed to Deimos.

Jaxon: “We thought he killed you, so Deimos killed him!”

Tristan looked at him and smiled at Deimos. Jaxon and Celeste let him go.

Tristan: “I bought a souvenir for you!”

Deimos sniffled, and tears dropped down his cheeks. He grabbed and hugged Tristan, who raised his eyebrows and hugged Deimos back. Deimos cried on his chest, and Tristan patted his back.

Tristan: “Deimos, I never died, I am fine.”

He said softly.

Tristan: “I don’t go in hot tubs. Those are cesspools of bacteria.”

He crooned.

Deimos: “I just thought I lost you!”

He cried. Tristan raked his fingers through Deimos’ hair. He leaned over, and the two shared a deep kiss.

Lazaros: “I think we should get out of here now.”

He nodded. Ashley sighed with relief and wiped their eyes.

Ashley: “I’m glad you’re okay, Tristan!”

They said earnestly.

Tristan: “Thank you, Ashley! Yes, let’s depart.”

He said as they all headed toward the park’s exit.

~

A black van pulled up, and people in hazmat suits got out. A team gathered Maxx’s body in the van. Inside the truck was Cedar. He watched as the rest vacuumed the water out of the tub and removed the bodies with a blank stare on his face.