Going going gone

Sometimes, Henry felt he had mega strength. He'd never felt this strong before. Sometimes, everything zoomed by. He could hardly stand it. But there was Alf to catch him if he did fall. Nobody else could.

What was the deal with Shan? He was ignoring him, lately. Especially, at school. But then Henry forgot about him. There were new things to do. Going out with Alf. The parties. It was nonstop. Kind of like at home. He didn't even care how his Dad felt about his short comings. Like, skipping school. Late nights. Some nights he didn't come in, at all.

"I swear, I'm going to call the cops on you!" That was his Dad's thunder. It only made Henry laugh. He'd get in his face hoping his dad would hit him so then he'd call the cops on his Dad.

"Child abuse!" Henry would scream back in his face, leaving his Dad baffled. Still in the end there was no controlling Henry.

Before he knew it, his parents had Aidan and Audrey over.  That was a laugh, too.

"Is this an intervention?" Henry's irresistible smile prevailed. What were they complaining about? Wasn't like he was hurting anyone even if he'd missed a few days at work. They could talk until they were blue in the face, for all he cared.

His Dad rummaged through his room. Nothing. There was nothing to cause alarm because Henry took what ever Alf gave him. Henry really had his parents going crazy.

"You know, we can't afford rehab." It felt like the funniest joke ever. He could handle this. He could. Especially if he had Alf around, to keep everything golden, pulsing through his veins. There were fleeting moments of his life he'd soon not take a second look at, because his life was fine. It was everyone else's that was terrible.

Chocolate Crack

Shan stayed more than just a night at Fish's, but Fish was all right with that. He slept in a sleeping bag on the floor and let Shan have his bed. After all, Fish helped him with the paper. Fish soon learned there was a lot more than just a paper Shan needed typed up.

Actually, Shan had worked on the paper at home on his Dad's computer. At first he claimed there was a computer glitch and the paper couldn't be saved. Shan really knew his George R. Martin information. His paper was on the new literary hero of modern times. The work of George R. Martin.

Shan's Dad sabotaged his last term paper. They'd had a major blow up. Things were worse at home than Shan ever let on, until now.

"Why didn't you, tell me?" Fish began to wonder about Shan's home life. It wasn't nearly as hunky dory as Shan let on. He didn't trust his Dad. Especially, when he drank and he was drunk, a lot, lately.

"We just don't like each other." Of course, Shan didn't want to talk about it. There were bits of Henry that surfaced too. Shan hated him now. He didn't dare want to see him.

"I don't believe that." Fish couldn't imagine Shan changing his tune about the love of his life. "You've always been there for him. Always."

They went round and round on this. Of course, each time Shan would cut him off with harsh phrases like. "I don't care what happens to Henry."

At least the paper got in on time with the extension. That was one little feat they were both thankful for. Naturally, Shan wanted to celebrate in the only way he knew how. Smoking a joint.

"I don't think so." Fish decided if Shan must, then he could do it without him. Fish did have this concert to tend too. He needed to stay focused.

 Instead, Fish grabbed a pot in the kitchen and heated up two sticks of butter and a some brown sugar.

"What are you doing?" Shan looked at him as if they had places to go. Not be stuck in the kitchen.

"Chocolate crack." Basically, it was the only thing he knew how to make. His mom always had all the ingredients he needed for this quick fix.

"I'm not sure I like the sound of this." Shan didn't leave though. He watched Fish spread out saltines on a cookie sheet.

"I dunno. Something I do, when I need something to do." He sighed. He didn't know if it were meant for celebrations, but after all Fish was one to make do with what he had.

Soon enough he had the concoction in the oven. A few minutes later the toffee was on the counter. Then Fish sealed it with chocolate chips.

"And you're making it, just for me?" Shan was warming up to the fact it was a special treat. He was ready to eat it while it warmed on the counter, but Fish stuck the cookie sheet in the freezer.

"Now what?" Shan looked at him as if he hadn't a clue about cooking. The candy needed to freeze.

"What do you live on?" Fish wondered.

"Jerky. Fruit. Nuts." Shan shrugged in thought. "That's about it."

Shan talked about how it was all going to be better once he got to Austin.

Fish watched Shan's genuine smile as he talked of the future. Fish had never felt so sad before. Not this kind of sadness. He missed Shan, already. Honestly, he hoped they made the best of the last few days together before he graduated. He hoped Shan would want a picture with him before he left.

Chocolate Crack

 4 ounces saltine crackers, 1 sleeve
1 cup butter
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
12 ounces chocolate chips, semisweet
3/4 cup chopped pecan pieces, I prefer to chop to a finer texture in food processor

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Line a jelly roll pan with foil. Coat with nonstick spray.
3. Cover the bottom of the pan with a single layer of saltine crackers.
4. Melt butter and sugar over med-low heat. Whisk until butter melted and mixture begins to boil. Boil for 3 minutes, whisking constantly. All the sugar granules should be melted.
5. Carefully pour over the crackers.
6. Bake for 5-6 minutes until bubbly. The crackers may bubble & lift off the bottom of the baking sheet, don't worry!
7. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let rest for a couple minutes until choc chips begin to get glossy and soft.
8. Spread the chocolate over the toffee, sprinkle with nuts, pressing the nuts into the warm toffee.
9. Cool completely. *Best results when cooled in in the fridge.
10. Cut or break into pieces.

How to train your puppy

Alf definitely smiled a lot, lately. Of course, it helped that Henry was so easy to talk too. It also helped that it was just so simple with this kid. Actually, Alf hadn't felt this comfortable in a very long while. He could talk Henry into anything. Like his bank card. His parents credit cards.

Yes, Alf was very good at what he did. He was the supply in demand. These parties of Cedric were quite delightful and very handy. He'd made quite a few friends during his stay with Cedric. And to think he'd came here to help an old friend. Meanwhile, he'd helped himself, and things were very comfortable at the moment.

Not to say they'd always been that way. But somehow Alf always seemed to suffice. Perhaps it was his good looks. Or he preyed on the naive of others. He thought he was a good judge of character. Besides, he could take Henry places. Introduce him around. And if it all worked out, he could definitely use him to his benefit.

Drugs weren't cheap. He had to make money someway. Sometimes, it was a vicious circle. It didn't always work out to his advantage, but he was definitely doing his best to get Henry ready for the next phase.

Henry did like those little pills, and it would be any day now that he'd have to have them. And he'd probably do just about anything to get them. So if Henry needed a ride, he was sure to be there for him. Just a text away. If Henry needed new clothes or just a friend, Alf was sure to be the best. It felt as if everything was like clockwork. It wouldn't be long until it paid off.

"Just what are you doing with him?" Cedric finally asked. It was like he woke up. Of course, he'd been down for some time now. Even before his little sister died. He'd lost his job at the theater. He'd lost weight and was never actually aware of Alf.

There had been a time when Alf thought a awful lot of Cedric. Not so much anymore. He was just as much a mystery to Cedric as Alf was to him.

"Hey, your awake." Alf smiled as if to say welcome back. "Don't worry so much, OK? I gotta go."

Henry was needing something and Alf was definitely his Go-To guy.

Some are luckier than others

"I found out something." Willow had put off telling Dorian about seeing Ruben. But it was official now.

"Like what?" Dorian looked at her puzzled, as he was near the end of his shift.

"Ruben got a job at the University." She wasn't sure she believed it a first, but she'd seen him on campus. She spotted him with some professors, her mother was friends with.

"Oh really?" Dorian made a face as if she must have been joking. "Doing what? Modeling for the University magazine?"

"He actually teaches French and Spanish." Willow didn't mean to snarl her nose, but obviously Ruben was quite talented.

"Isn't that wonderful," Dorian snidely remarked. "Some people have all the luck." He blew a breath.

"I just wanted, you, to know, that..that he is around." Willow gritted, hating to be the barrier of bad news.

"OK, its good to know. Really good to know." He went back to cleaning up before he was off.

"So have you heard anymore from Eli?" She wanted to know, hoping she wasn't bringing up a sore subject.

"Not really. I think he was going to take off for the summer. Maybe travel." Dorian shrugged as if he was OK with it. He wiped down the counter, and then looked back at Willow. "Luc wants to ask Jason to dinner. But it'll look so weird."

"Weird?" Willow winced.

"You know, Luc and Olivia. Then I'll need a date and I'm sure Jason would want to bring along his fiancee. I mean, I..I don't want him thinking that I'm..I'm interested..in something...with him." Dorian looked sad as if he was the odd guy out. "I wish I had a date. Like a girl."

"Maybe you could ask..ask..Josie." Willow shrugged with a smile as if it might be her brightest idea yet.

"I don't think so." He shook his head, no. He told her about Derrick living at Josie's place now.

"Well, there must be somebody." Willow hugged herself. She wouldn't go. "Are you sure you just wouldn't want to bring a guy?"

"I haven't actually gotten around to telling Jason, I'm gay." Dorian hugged himself.

"Why not?" Willow went to put some clean dishes away.

"It just hasn't came up. He might not like me..if..if he knew." Dorian told her.

"Well, he's not much of a friend, then." Willow shrugged.

Dorian nodded and walked away, as if he had the worst luck.