Sweet Clematis by R. Cooper

Author:R. Cooper [Cooper, R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-64080-818-8
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2018-11-27T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

CLEMATIS STOPPED in the break room on his way out of work to collect his jam. He’d need it if he was going to stick to his plan of trying to eat more like the others when at work. He’d thought of the idea when Sasha had brought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for his lunch. If that was acceptable human food, Clematis could eat that, and show Mr. Harbaugh and the others that he wasn’t immature or thoughtless enough to bring candy down into the archives anymore.

It wasn’t a terrible meal, although the bread and peanut butter stuck in his throat, and eating only one apple with it was not very satisfying. Sasha had eaten his with a carton of plain, cold milk, which seemed revolting, but Clematis made a note to get some small pints of chocolate milk like they used to give him in school when Anise had remembered to pay for his school lunches.

He smiled at several of the students as they went by, and then again at the reception desk when Collette loudly cleared her throat.

He didn’t want to stop. He’d arrived to work half an hour early and had worn a buttoned shirt with pants, shoes, and a belt for far too long already. And he was hungry. But Collette glanced around, then crooked a finger at him to indicate he should come closer.

She had her puzzle books in front of her and a pen in one hand, but she put the pen down to lean forward on her arms. “Look,” she hissed, like this was a secret conference, “this place isn’t for you.”

“Fairies can work in offices,” Clematis defended himself in a tight voice. “During the Second World War, fairies and elves were often typists and switchboard operators.”

“I said, ‘this place.’ Not all offices.” Collette rolled her eyes. “There’ve been some changes around here. You might have noticed.”

He clutched his bag. “I can work harder.”

Collette blinked twice as if she hadn’t expected that, then sighed. “If they left you in the sun and gave you candy regularly, you could work harder than all of them,” she agreed. “They probably know that. But they aren’t going to do it. It’s not about the work.”

It pierced him, made his eyes sting. “You know that for sure?” he asked, looking down at his sneakers for a moment. “Are you a seer?”

It made her blink again, thrown. “My aunt had the sight,” Collette finally answered. “But me? I just have sense. And so do you. I know you can read the writing on the wall, because, well, look at you. Next you’ll show up in a blazer and bow tie, but it won’t matter. You know it won’t.”

“I can be better,” Clematis insisted anyway. “If I’m good—”

The pity on Collette’s face made him go silent. “Good? You could be beyond amazing, never make a mistake, and it wouldn’t even register to these assholes. You can’t destroy yourself to make someone care about you. Even if it worked, there would be nothing left of you.

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