Without Sin by Tomas J

Author:Tomas, J. [Tomas, J.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Queerteen Press
Published: 2012-07-15T04:00:00+00:00

The first store they come to is a Rite Aid. Avery has never stopped here before. He thinks after today, he’s never going to step foot into this store again.

Parker pulls into the first empty spot in front of the store. It’s marked handicap but there’s no one around to complain. The only other two cars in the whole lot are both parked at the far end, so Avery thinks they’re employees. There’s not a cop in sight.

Inside the store is cold, like a meat locker. It’s bright, too bright. Behind the counter, two employees, both women, lean against the register, talking. They look up as the door opens, then turn back to their conversation, dismissing them.

“So,” Parker starts. He looks uncomfortable in the bright lights. He frowns at the aisles that stretch away from them. “Where do you think they keep these things?”

Avery doesn’t know. “Why don’t you ask?” He grins at the look Parker throws his way.

“Very funny.” Parker doesn’t smile. Instead, he heads for the first aisle. “Come on.”

Avery trails behind him, up and down every aisle. Greeting cards and shampoo and deodorant. Toothpaste and tampons and aspirin. Finally Parker stops. “Here we go.”

He keeps his voice low, as if he’s afraid the employees at the front of the store might overhear them. He stands too close to the shelf, shoulders hunched. Avery thinks he looks like he’s shoplifting.

Avery glances at the shelf. He expects to see one, maybe two different tests, maybe a generic brand that’s a few dollars cheaper. But instead, the whole damn shelf is overflowing with boxes, each one marked 100% Accurate or Results in Just Minutes. He wonders how these things work. They look like sticks and he doesn’t want to think about where they go. Pluses and minuses and circles and dots… he’s confused. “Which one should I get?” Parker asks.

“Hell if I know,” Avery replies. “How about the cheapest one?” That’s what he would go for. “I mean, if they’re all the same…”

“Cheap?” Parker squats down to look at a lower shelf. “You get what you pay for, right? I’d rather get thirty dollar results than ten bucks.”

Avery shrugs. “Parker, I don’t know.” He points to a teal box. “I like this color.”

Parker turns to stare at him. The look on his face tells Avery he’s not really helping all that much. “It’s blue.” He speaks slowly, like he’s talking to an idiot. “I want one that works, Avery. I’m not buying it for looks.”

“Maybe you’ll have a boy,” Avery suggests, “if you buy a blue one.”

“Maybe you can find something else to do,” Parker tells him, “while I pick out one of these damn things.”

Avery sighs. “Don’t even know why you brought me along,” he mutters beneath his breath. “You aren’t bothering to listen to me.”

But he knows Parker didn’t want his opinion as much as he just didn’t want to do this alone. He knows if the tables were turned, he’d want someone with him, too. But he

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