Growing Pains by Cass Lennox

Author:Cass Lennox [Lennox, Cass]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Published: 2017-01-02T16:00:00+00:00

Eight years ago

Toby blinked as the spotlight hit his face. He shifted his weight to one foot and waited while the tech crew adjusted it. Tech crew meaning Brock, hopefully. He could just picture those amazing large hands steadying the heavy lamp in place and that frankly adorable frown Brock got when he was concentrating.

God. Toby was about to pop a boner right here on stage, for real. Cute guys should be banned from tech crew. Stop thinking about him. Think about . . . think about math. Yeah. Freaking binomial functions should be banned.

“That’s perfect!” Ms. Vankampp shouted from the stalls. She strode down to the stage. “Brock, Tina, get a secondary in position, upstage right.”

Another light flickered on behind Toby. He shifted his weight back to the other foot. He desperately wanted to do something, like practise the pirouettes he’d been learning or turn and shout lines at his costar, Marjorie, who stood upstage from him looking as bored as he felt. But they were supposed to stay quiet and still so Ms. Vankampp could communicate with the tech crew.

“We’re almost done,” she said to them before whirling around. “Brock! Your other right!”

The secondary light flickered on over Marjorie, who hissed and pretended to shy away from the weight of the glare. “Nooo! It burrnnnsss.”

And Toby thought he was a drama queen. He arched an eyebrow—which was exciting because he’d practised it for months until he could do it perfectly. Not that Marjorie would appreciate the subtle art of a raised eyebrow. “Wow, Marj. Dying undead bloodsucker comes so naturally to you.”

She flipped him the finger as she sank to the floor, breathing heavily.

“There is no need for dramatics, Marjorie.” Ms. Vankampp regarded the stage carefully, then raised a thumb. “Good enough! Mark those positions down for Reno and Billy in scene five.”

“Ms. Vankampp, do we have to be here for this?” Toby asked, ignoring Marjorie’s rattling gasps behind him.

“Yes, Tobias, you do.” Her gaze flickered between him and Marjorie. “Practise your lines.”

Toby sighed loudly and side-eyed Marjorie. “You learn your lines yet?”

“No,” her undead corpse said.

“Of course you haven’t.”

“I have a life,” she sneered. “It gets in the way of lines.”

Toby refused to visibly bristle. “Well, Reno, you might want to get on that instead of on your boyfriend.”

She surged to her feet, her face furious. “You’d know all about having a boyfriend,” she hissed, “wouldn’t you, fag?”

Toby felt himself blush. He wouldn’t, actually. Truth was, he hadn’t even kissed a boy. Didn’t seem like he’d ever kiss anyone at this rate. But if the truth hadn’t stopped rumours and bullying when he’d started high school, it wouldn’t stop them now. And actually, it was okay. He was seventeen now and in his final year. After this, he was off to Toronto and a way better, way gayer life. This is the last year I have to put up with this shit from her. From anybody.

“At least my cocksucking skills are only rumours,” he deadpanned.

Her jaw dropped.

“Ms. Vankampp?”

That was Brock’s low voice.

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