Pus Junkies

—3—

“Hey, Toad! I bet your zits are bigger than your balls!”

Kip didn’t even turn to see who said it. He could tell by the voice that it wasn’t Chuck, and at that moment, that was all he was worried about.

He caught the usual looks, the other kids smiling and laughing at him as he passed, the quieter kids elbowing each other and whispering things, but most shouting out insults, throwing balls of paper or other harmless things. It seemed like the word Toad was on each and every one of their lips.

Kip balled his hands into hard fists as he stomped his way across the school parking lot and toward the street. He couldn’t wait to get home. Couldn’t wait to hide in his room, his treehouse, and leave all this behind him for another day. Each day felt like a small victory, though he wondered how much of a victory today had been after his run in with Chuck.

Which, of course, was nothing new, but today Chuck had a look in his eye. A look that Kip knew meant this wasn’t over.

Kip hurried his walk, felt a sort of calm wash over him as he stepped off school grounds and onto the public street. But then he realized he was actually probably safer on school property where the staff could intervene, stop Chuck from stomping Kip’s face in.

Kip checked left and right, saw that the coast was clear, and rushed down the street on his way home. Though the incident with Chuck weighed heavy on his mind, it was his cousin he was most upset about. He had really believed Zak at breakfast this morning, actually felt sorry for him.

And then after all of that, he skipped class anyway. For what? A piece of ass? Drugs?

Probably both.

Kip told himself that if he were in Zak’s position, he would have blown Jade off and gone to class like he was supposed to. Then again, being in Zak’s position was as much of a fantasy as galloping down a rainbow on a unicorn’s back.

Can I really blame him? It’s Jade Brewster for crying out loud. Staring at her tits was like staring into God’s face.

Kip stopped in his tracks. Zak’s car was parked up against the curb down the street, his cousin leaning against it with a cigarette smoldering between his lips.

“Oh great,” Kip said under his breath. His head drooped as he walked forward, purposefully not heading toward Zak’s car. He wanted the guy to know he was upset, to know that it hurt Kip that he had broken his promise to him.

Zak pushed off his car with a backwards thrust of his hips, dropped his cigarette, and stomped it out. He held both arms out as if beckoning Kip toward him for a hug.

That’s when the blue Mustang came roaring down the street, from just behind Kip. The tires squealed as the car hugged the turn and then roared right for him.

Kip dove, smacked the right side of his face on the dry, hard grass next to the sidewalk. The Mustang flew by, and Kip had hoped that would be the end of it, that Chuck would be satisfied by nearly running Kip over.

But then the sports car stopped. Both doors swung open.

“Did y’all see that Toad leap? Damn, looks like the name fits better than I thought.” Chuck wore only a white muscle shirt now, tucked into his blue jeans. Cash and Jerrod followed close behind, both smiling, flexing their muscles and flaring their nostrils.

Kip struggled to get to his feet, his massive backpack weighing him down. He carried all of his books in it at all times, never used his locker. The last time he opened his locker, there was a pile of dead flies in it, and a handwritten note that said, “Bon appetite, Toad.”

A tear escaped his eye and rolled down his cheek, and Kip tried to wipe it away before the boys saw it, but was too late.

“Aw. What’s the matter, Toad? You were such a brave man before. Remember?” Chuck rushed forward before Kip could make a run for it, grabbed him by the arms with both hands. His grip was like two pit bulls biting into the meat of his upper arms, and Kip hissed through his teeth, thought about kicking Chuck but held back, didn’t want to make things worse.

The whole time, the chorus of his buddies’ laughter hit Kip in bursts.

Throb… throb… throb.

“What, your girl isn’t here and now you’re back to being a pussy? That it, Toad? I’m disappointed, man. I was hoping you’d grown some balls overnight, but I guess your vagina is alive and well.” Chuck’s knee thrust upward and slammed into Kip’s groin, exploding the air from his lungs and twisting his guts into knots.

But Chuck still held him there. Wouldn’t let him fall even though all Kip wanted to do then was curl into a ball and weep.

He had forgotten all about Zak.

When his cousin’s face suddenly appeared over Chuck’s shoulder, it was like seeing Batman come to his rescue.

Zak’s hand slammed down on the back of Chuck’s neck, squeezed hard. Kip could tell Zak was squeezing hard because the grin stretching across Chuck’s face flipped into a grimace, and Chuck released Kip and sent him crashing to the concrete.

Kip’s knees slammed against the pavement, and he yelped, rolled around for a minute clutching them. That’s when he noticed Cash and Jerrod. Chuck’s minions rolled around and moaned in the street, neither one of them worried about Chuck anymore, too engulfed in their own pain to care.

Chuck spun in place, shrugging off Zak’s hand. The jock threw a punch, and even Kip could tell it was sloppy.

Zak sidestepped it easily, actually smiled at Chuck as he put his fists up.

He really is like Batman.

Chuck studied his friends writhing in pain on the ground. Cash clutched his stomach, and Jerrod cupped his face with both hands and squealed like a stuck pig.

“You think you can take me, motherfucker?” Chuck spat on the street, cracked his knuckles. “I’m gonna fuck you up so bad, your face’ll look worse than Toad’s over here.”

“Don’t fucking call him that,” Zak said as he rushed forward.

Chuck stood his ground, threw a couple of punches at the approaching boy. They weren’t as sloppy as the last one, but neither of them landed true. His right fist brushed the side of Zak’s head, but did nothing to slow him.

When Zak’s fist slammed into the side of Chuck’s face, Kip’s skin reacted with an orgasmic burst of pleasure. Every inch of him pulsed now, and he smiled wide as he watched his cousin’s fist hit home again, this time throwing Chuck off his feet.

Chuck rocked back and forth on the ground, eyes pinched tight, mouth bleeding. He growled, forced himself back to his feet. His eyes rolled toward Kip, and he spat a wad of red mucus into the street, breathing hard through his nose.

The other boys were getting to their feet too, and for a second, Kip thought they would surround Zak, jump him from every angle. And if they did, Kip didn’t know if Zak could take them, not all at the same time.

And I’m the only one who could help him. Oh no…

But they didn’t do that. Chuck’s minions limped and dragged their sorry asses back to the Mustang. Chuck shot them a look, twisted his mouth in disgust. He turned back toward Kip, pointed a hard finger like a stick of dynamite.

“This shit ain’t over, motherfucker. You hear me?”

Kip noticed that Chuck left the Toad part out. Kip smiled wider, and Chuck’s face got redder.

Chuck turned toward Zak, looked about ready to say something, but then just stomped off, slammed his car door, and peeled out. The car tilted onto two wheels when it turned, and then was out of sight, though Kip could still hear the engine roaring in the distance.

“You okay?” Zak held out a hand, pulled Kip to his feet.

Kip reminded himself that he was mad at Zak, that he was going to give him the silent treatment. But that was before he kicked Chuck’s ass. And Chuck’s minions.

“I didn’t know you could fight like that,” Kip said, unable to make himself stop grinning. “That. Was. Awesome.”

“Thanks,” Zak said, and dusted his hands. “All in a day’s work.”

“Where’d you learn to kick ass so hard?” The throbbing in his skin began to calm, and the euphoric sensation dissolved bit by bit. Made it easier for Kip to get his thoughts together. He couldn’t wait to get home and pop some more of the zits, though, especially the whopper on his bottom lip.

“I learned with you. All those super hero fights we use to have? You remember that?”

“Of course I do! You couldn’t have learned how to fight from that. If that was the case, I’d be a bad ass. And… uh, I’m not.”

Zak cackled, patted Kip on the back, then slid Kip’s backpack off his back for him and tossed it into the Corolla. “Okay. Maybe I had to learn to defend myself when my mom’s boyfriend decided it was fun to kick our asses all the time. But still… our battles helped.”

Kip smiled, rubbed his shoulders where the backpack’s straps had been digging in.

“I’m sorry about today. I promise I didn’t mean for that to happen,” Zak said.

They walked back to the car and Kip slid into the passenger seat. He faced Zak and shrugged. “I was kind of mad. But not anymore. Thanks for sticking up for me… and for telling that asshole to stop calling me Toad. I hate that name.”

“Of course you hate that name. It’s an awful thing to call someone. If that dickhead messes with you again, he won’t get off so easy.”

It’s true. Things really are going to get better now that I have my cousin back. This is great!

“So… um…”

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“Did you… you know. You and Jade. Did you skip class because you wanted to screw her?”

“Screw her? Really, cousin?”

Kip just shrugged, felt his zits start to move again, but he calmed himself down and just smiled.

“The plan was to take her to school, but she was… insistent. That girl is nothing but trouble, I’ll just say that. I won’t be seeing her again.” Zak’s brow lowered a bit and he shook his head slightly.

“You’re breaking up with Jade? But she’s so… she’s got such big—”

“I know. Trust me, it’s not worth the trouble. And it’s not like we were a couple or anything… I just need to stay away from her. She’s bad news for me.”

“I guess. I can’t imagine having the chance to be with her and passing up on it.” But even as the words left his lips, it wasn’t Jade’s face he was seeing in his mind, but Gwendolyn’s. That last look she had given him before walking out of the cafeteria, eyes slightly squinted, almost like she wanted to say something to him.

“You got a thing for Jade, cousin?”

“Doesn’t everybody? I mean… look at her!”

“Oh I looked at her, all right. And I saw nothing but tits and crazy. You think her tits are big, you should see her crazy.”

“But there’s someone else.” Kip smiled. “She’s the only girl who’s ever talked to me.”

Zak punched Kip in the arm. “Oh yeah? Who is this?”

“It’s not like you think. She talks to me because she feels sorry for me. That’s all… but I don’t care. She’s perfect.”

“I’m still waiting, cousin. Who is she?”

Kip almost said her name, but chewed it back down. “Just… somebody. That’s all.”

When they got back to Kip’s house, they went straight toward Kip’s room. He stood on his tiptoes and pulled the attic door down, pulled out the stairs.

“Nice fucking spread, man.” Zak walked straight to Kip’s bookshelf and started flipping through the comics. Every issue in a plastic sleeve with a cardboard back. Superhero and movie monster action figures stood atop the shelf, all lined up as if frozen in the middle of some epic mash up battle.

“Holy shit,” Zak said. “You kept all your old comics from when we were kids?”

“Yep. Every one. I’ve got all my comic cards in binders too. All still in perfect condition.”

“I’m having a nerdgasm over here. I haven’t even thought about comic books since… well shit. Since I used to come over to your house and play.”

The two of them spent the afternoon playing video games, going through comic books, and flipping through Kip’s binders. It felt like old times, and Kip couldn’t remember a time when he had felt happier.

“Hey, Kip?” Zak said.

Kip paused his game. “Yeah?”

“I’m sorry for lying to you, man. About going to class, you know? I’ve been feeling bad about it all day.”

Kip rolled his eyes, unpaused the game. “Don’t worry about it. You broke it off with Jade, right? So you won’t have to miss anymore class. And don’t forget… you got me if you need any help with your schoolwork. From what I hear, I’m kind of a genius.”

Zak reached over and decked Kip in the shoulder. “Yeah yeah, rub the shit in.”

Kip could hardly catch his breath. The controller slipped from his hand and he leaned back, let his body fall onto the carpet as the feeling spread from his shoulder all the way down his spine. There must have been a zit on the verge of bursting where Zak had hit him, and when Zak’s fist collided with it, it popped, filled him with elation.

“Kip? What… what are you doing, man?”

Kip forced himself back to a sitting position, gripped his knees to calm the shaking. “N-nothing. I was just… just messing around.”

“Okay,” Zak said, one eyebrow higher than the other. “So… there’s something I want to talk to you about. It’s gonna sound bad, okay? Just… just trust me on this. And don’t get all worked up either.”

“Um…”

“Have you ever heard of Senior Skip Day?”

Even through the vibrating pleasure radiating up and down Kip’s back, he was able to frown. “What are you talking about, Zak?”

“It’s like a student holiday, man. Had the same thing back in California. Everyone does it, I’m telling you. It’s not a big deal.”

Kip just shook his head, was hoping Zak was just messing around.

“Come on, Kip. Everyone skips on this day. Everyone. Even the teachers know about it.”

“Are you being serious right now? You just apologized for lying to me.” Blood trickled down Kip’s back, felt like a feather tip sliding down his skin. He wanted so bad to check the ruptured pimple in the mirror, finger the pus out.

“And that’s why I’m telling you up front. There’s a big party. From what I hear, all the… you know… cool kids will be there. I bet even your mysterious dream girl might be there.” Zak reached over as if to nudge Kip again, but Kip avoided it. “I want you to come with me. This could be your chance to lose the Toad label, man. Break out of your cocoon… become a butterfly.”

“A butterfly?”

“Okay, I don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about. But seriously… I want you to come with me. It’s one day. Teachers don’t teach anything important on Senior Skip Day. I bet every one of them shows a video or some shit.”

Gwendolyn wouldn’t be caught dead at one of these parties. No way. But… but what if she was there? What if this is my big chance to talk to her? Really talk to her.

“I don’t know. I don’t think anyone is going to want me there. It’ll ruin the party.”

“Not if you’re with me. And besides, they don’t know you. Not like I do. They’re just a bunch of stupid kids being mean… it’s what they do. They can’t help it, man.”

“Right. It’s basic instinct to make my life a living hell every single day. Is that what you’re saying?”

Just then, Kip heard his mom’s car pull into the driveway.

“I can’t. I’m sorry, Zak. You go if you want… and I won’t even get mad. I don’t care, okay? But I can’t.”

Before Zak could say another word, Kip jumped to his feet and dashed toward the door. He always greeted his mom when she got home from work, and he meant to keep the tradition going. Well, that and he didn’t want to hear his cousin try and persuade him to skip class anymore.

“Kip,” Zak called out from behind him. “Come on, man.”

Kip was already halfway down the stairs. Zak followed, worry distorting his face like he had a mouthful of spoiled milk.

“You won’t… you know. You won’t tell Aunt Jenny about any of this shit, right? Me skipping, or even the fight. She can’t know. Please.”

“Relax. I’m not going to say anything. I’m just going to say hi and give her a hug.”

They walked down to the first floor together, Zak becoming more nervous-looking the closer they got to the front door.

“You’re a real good kid, Kip. Seriously.”

“Thanks. But it’s not like I—”

The front door exploded open and Kip’s mom stormed in. At first, Kip thought something was wrong, thought something had happened to her. His heart got to thumping and his skin got to boiling.

Thump… thump… thumpthumpthumpthump.

But then he saw the smile on her face. She dropped to her knees in front of Kip and immediately hugged him, squeezed him tight.

“Mom… what’s going on?”

“Honey,” she said, grabbing Kip by both shoulders. Her grip tightened over the wound where Zak had popped his zit, and he had to concentrate to keep his eyes from rolling. “They’re sending me to New York. Can you believe it? Me! Out of everyone in the office, they chose me!”

She made a sound like eeeeeek and then hugged Kip again.

“Wait… what do you mean? New York?”

“A business trip. To meet with a big client there. This is huge, Kip. Huge. This could mean bigger and better things for us, baby.”

“You’re leaving to New York, Mom? When?” He tried to hide the shakiness from his voice, but it was loud and clear.

His mom noticed it too, because she let go of him, stood up, straightened out her pant suit. “I leave on Monday. I’ll be gone for a week. Kip… aren’t you excited? You know how hard I’ve been working and—”

“Mom, of course I’m excited. But what am I going to do?”

Zak cleared his throat, and Kip shot him an ugly look.

“Honey, you’re seventeen years old. I trust you. You are a smart boy and can take care of yourself. At least for a week you can.” Then she turned her attention to Zak, and whatever smile she had been presenting hid behind her scowl. “And I expect you to behave yourself, Zak. If I find out any funny business went on here while I was gone…”

Zak held up both hands. “It won’t be a problem. Kip and I will have a great time together. Just like we used to when we were kids. Right, Kip?”

Kip didn’t answer, just crossed his arms and pouted his lips. He knew he was being childish but didn’t care.

“Kip, honey…”

“It’ll be like a weeklong sleepover, man. It’ll be fun… you know. After our homework is done and everything.” Zak shot a nervous smile at Kip’s mom.

“I trust that the two of you will do just fine.” She had her eyes on Kip, the wrinkles on her forehead deepening by the second. “Well… I was going to order pizza for dinner to celebrate. But I guess we can just—”

“I’m sorry, Mom. I’m happy for you, I really am. I guess I’ve just never been away from you for that long before.” Kip commanded his mouth to smile, and though it fought back, it eventually gave in. “Let’s order pizza. We should celebrate. I’m proud of you, Mom. I know you’ve been working your… a-ass off. You deserve it.”

She chuckled, one hand on her hip. “Well okay! What kind of pizza do you boys want? I’m going to crack open a bottle of wine, and I’ll even let you boys have a glass each. A small glass.”

“No thank you, ma’am,” Zak said. “But maybe we could get some Sprite?”

She arched her mouth and nodded. “Okay, fine. Kip?”

“Sprite for me too. And can we get Hawaiian pizza?”

“Sprite and Hawaiian it is then!”

The pizza was damn good. For the first time since he’d gotten there, Zak was finally starting to feel comfortable. Starting to feel like he was part of the family.

He had to admit, it felt good to see his cousin. Ever since that asshole Ernie came into his and his mom’s life, Kip hadn’t even entered his mind. But being back at Aunt Jenny’s house, it felt like old times. He really did feel like the kid that used to play superheroes and read comic books.

He felt wonderful.

Aunt Jenny was in the best mood he’d seen her in. She was actually kind of pretty when she was smiling and laughing. Zak could tell that Kip still didn’t like the idea of her leaving out of town, but Zak couldn’t help but see opportunity there. Not to throw a party or do anything stupid, but it was his chance to show Kip a really good time. Try and break the kid out of his shell a little, maybe even get him laid.

Though Zak had to admit that last part might be a little tricky.

Kip wasn’t an ugly kid. Not really. Sure, his acne was awful, looked like red fungus growing all over his face and the back of his neck, but that would go away in time. It was his shyness he had to get over, and that was something Zak was sure he could help with.

He’s coming to the Senior Skip Day party. Even if I have to club him on the head and carry him over my shoulder.

Zak knew that Chuck and his two jock buddies would be there. And he knew that they wouldn’t let the fight go. Especially when they were fueled by alcohol. He would have to bring some protection just in case. The gun belonged to Ernie, and Zak had swiped it just before heading to Aunt Jenny’s. He didn’t take it because he thought he would need it, but he didn’t like knowing the gun was at home while he wasn’t. He didn’t trust that motherfucker with it.

He hoped he wouldn’t have to flash it, but he would feel a lot better knowing it was there if he needed it.

“So,” Zak said as he patted his belly and tossed the last chunk of pizza crust into the now empty box. “Kip said he’d tutor me. Isn’t that right, Kip?”

“Yeah. Zak said he’s really trying to do better, Mom. I believe him.” Kip shot Zak a smile that would have screamed homo if it came from anyone else. Zak just smiled right back.

“Is that right?” Aunt Jenny reached over and patted Zak on the back of the head. Her face was a little pink from the bottle of wine she had polished off on her own. “I’m so glad to hear that.”

Zak beamed, slugged Kip on the arm. His cousin got that faraway look in his eye again, almost like he was cumming in his pants. It was weird, gave Zak the creeps a little bit.

Is this kid some kind of closet pervert or something? When Aunt Jenny leaves, is he going to wear her underwear and lipstick and dance around the house?

No. Zak knew that wasn’t it. The kid was probably doing his best to hide how bad it hurt him whenever Zak playfully hit him. Kip was so skinny, Zak realized his knuckles were probably hitting bone.

After dinner, Zak and Kip headed back up to his room. Zak sat on the bed and frowned when Kip went right back to his video game.

“Hey, man. What about that movie? Are we still going?”

“Nah. Don’t feel like it anymore.”

“Come on, Kip. Are you really that upset that your mom’s leaving? Most kids would be happy about that.”

Kip shot Zak a side glance. “Well I’m not like most kids, remember? I’m the Toad. And I guess I’m just a fucking pussy because I don’t want her to leave.”

Whoa. Where the hell did that come from?

“Relax, man. It’ll be great, just the two of us. We won’t throw a party or anything, don’t worry. But maybe we can get some girls to—”

“Nope. Nobody’s coming over to my house. Nobody. I’m not breaking a promise to my mom, okay?”

“All right, all right.”

Zak decided not to press the matter too much. He was just about to bring up Senior Skip Day again, but knew the timing was bad. Let the kid sulk for a little while.

Zak lay on the floor, propped his head up on a folded pillow. He opened up a comic book, an old X-Men he remembered reading years ago. Before long, he was out.