Chapter 23
Toady up to someone
Someone who attempts to gain or maintain support, approval, or advantage from one through fawning and flattery.
• o 🦋 o •
We were in line for a shooting game. There were eight targets, some closer than others. Generally the further the target, the bigger the prize. The prizes mostly consisted of stuffed animals. I wanted to win Mica something. It was stupid and totally ego driven. I just wanted him to have something that I gave him. I wanted to win him the best thing ever.
“I’m going to win Mica one of those teddies.” Dax whispered into my ear. He had an excited grin on his face.
“What?” I growled.
“Yeah. I mean, he’s totally into that kind of thing. Might give me a better chance with him.”
“I don’t know if he’d like that.” I said through clenched teeth.
“Well, it’s worth a shot.” Dax shrugged and we were next in line.
To my surprise, Mica also competed. He looked so serious.
The shop owner counted to three and then we begun.
This was much harder than I thought it’d be. I was aiming for the target furthest away. It was so tiny!
I looked to my right and saw Riley shooting all her ten bullets in under 5 seconds. “Dang it!” She exclaimed.
Mica was going slow and steady. He was aiming for the target in the middle. And of course, that snake Dax was aiming for the one I was focused on.
Well, bring it on, pal!
I concentrated and continued to shoot at it. “Come on, come on!” I muttered.
“I’m gonna get this!” Dax exclaimed.
“Not on my watch!” I answered.
“Might as well give up now, I go shooting with my dad all the time.” He smirked.
“Oh yeah? Have you ever shot a fluttering butterfly? Didn’t think so!”
“What?” Dax chuckled.
“They’re not easy to catch, bro, and I’ve done it multiple times!”
“Hey, who’re you calling bro?” I suddenly heard my brother’s voice behind me. I turned around. “Kyle?”
The bell went off. “And we have a winner! Oh, two actually!” The shop owner said.
“No!” I cried as I turned back to the game.
“Dammit, you lost me the game!” I gave Kyle a light push.
“It’s just a game, calm down.” He laughed. “Just thought it was suspicious you were cheating on me.”
“What?”
“Calling someone else bro. Disturbing.”
I looked behind me and saw both Mica and Dax picking out a stuffed animal. Dax was letting Mica choose one. It was disgusting.
I sighed. “What are you doing here, Kyle?”
“What do you think? I’m on a date.”
“Where’s your date then?”
“The ladies room.” Kyle smiled.
I was just so bummed out. The award for worst boyfriend goes to… me.
“Wow, looking great, Mica.” Kyle said when Mica approached us.
“Thanks.” He smiled.
Kyle leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Just remember he’s naked under there. Let that sink in.” Kyle patted my shoulder.
“Ew! Kyle! You pervert!” I screamed.
“Muhahaha!” Kyle laughed as he walked away.
“What did he say?” Mica smiled.
“Uh.. nothing. Anyway, why’re you holding your hands behind your back?”
“Look!” Mica revealed a beautiful, absolutely STUNNING butterfly plushy. It was soft pink and it was so masterfully crafted! It had such a cute, stunning little face!
“Oh my God, it’s so cute!” I squealed right before I realized this came from Dax.
“I won it for you.” Mica smiled. “I thought you’d like this one, so..”
“You won it?”
Mica nodded. “Here.” He pushed it into my hands.
Oh yeah, the booth owner just said there were two winners! But if Mica had won this for me then…
I looked up and saw Dax give Riley a huge bear. Oh.
Oh!
I looked at my cute little plushy and felt so honored.
“It’s so freaking perfect! I love it! Thank you!” I pulled Mica into my arms.
Best. Boyfriend. Ever.
• o 🦋 o •
We did some more games, bought some more snacks, some knickknacks and just strolled around the festival. It was dark by now and the lanterns were lighting up the way.
Evil snake had his arms wrapped around Mica again. “Hey, they should start the fireworks soon. We should go find a good spot to watch.” He said.
We all agreed and then he added: “Should be pretty romantic, don’t you think?” He smirked as he squeezed Mica’s arm.
“Yeah, I guess so.” Mica chuckled.
ARGHH!
He slid his slimy arm down and grabbed Mica’s hand. Mica looked very confused and this is where I would’ve punched him out if it wasn’t for Riley.
She pulled Mica away from Dax. “Why don’t you two go find a spot and we’ll get some more snacks. COME ON.” Riley dragged Mica into the mass of people, leaving me with snake-face.
We made our way out of the sea of lights to a dark hill. The perfect spot to watch the fireworks.
“Haa! This is great! Best seats in the house.” Dax smirked.
“Yeah.” I agreed listlessly.
“You know.. I think Mica might like me too.”
“What makes you say that?” I grumbled.
“The way he smiles at me. And how he held my hand. I thought he’d pull away but he seemed pretty content until Riley interfered.”
“Are you blind? He looked super uncomfortable-”
“I think I’m going to kiss him tonight.” Dax nodded. “It’s the perfect time. Maybe you and Riley can go sit somewhere else, give us some space..”
“Huh?!” I screamed.
“We’d make a great couple. And have you seen him in that yukata? He just looks amazing and then to think that underneath-”
“Hey, shut up! You’re not kissing anyone tonight! You’re talking about my boyfriend here! And how dare you lead Riley on when you’re really into Mica! Giving her that teddy bear! Stay away from her and stay away from Mica!” I screamed angrily. “He’s MINE!” I yelled and pushed Dax to the ground.
“…What?”
“You heard me. Stay away from him!” I demanded.
Dax pulled up his eyebrows.
“He’s mine.” I repeated, scrunching up my butterfly.
Suddenly Dax began to smirk. He slowly clapped.
I was so confused.
“Well, well. That took you long enough.”
“What?!”
“So you and little Mica are together after all.” Dax shook his head. “I knew it.”
“What are you talking about?!”
“I just wanted to know the truth. So I pretended to like Mica so you’d admit it. Dude, you looked so angry for the entire night. It was quite interesting to see you that way.”
“Wait, so this was all an act?!”
“Sort of. I gotta say, it was pretty weird doing all those romantic things to Mica. He’s like a brother to me. It felt so perverted.” Dax chuckled as he dusted himself off. He got off the ground.
So this whole time he’d been acting? Really?
“Well, you can’t tell anyone. Mica doesn’t want anyone to know-”
“I figured as much. Your secret’s safe with me. Promise.” Dax held two fingers in the air.
“The reason I wanted to know was because I just wanted to say something to you. Two things, actually. Firstly, as I said, Mica’s like my little brother. So that means that if you hurt him in any way, I’ll find you and kill you.” Dax said casually.
A chill ran down my spine.
Then he smiled again. “But I’m sure I don’t have to worry about that with you since you’re friends with Riley, which brings me to point two: She is the most attractive woman I’ve ever met and I need advice on how to win her love.”
My mouth dropped. “Say what?”
Dax smiled and sighed. “She’s just so wonderfully energetic! She’s lively and cool! Do you know how hard it is to find someone like that? She’s special! And those smiles! That hair!” Dax gushed on. The dude was actually blushing. I could totally see the difference between how he was when talking about Mica versus when he talked about Riley. It was clear. He wasn’t lying. He really liked her.
“You’re insane. You tricked me!”
“Hey, I had to know if it was true so that I could threaten your life.” Dax shrugged.
“I repeat: you’re crazy.”
And now that I thought about it, so was Riley. Maybe they were made for each other. I was still so shocked. I had to sit down. Dax sat beside me.
“Tell me how to win her affection. Please. It’s my life goal now.”
I shook my head. Nut-job.
“Fine. Guess it’s my turn to give you two announcements. Firstly, never do that again!” I smacked Dax on the forehead. “I was about to behead you.”
“Alright, done.” He chuckled.
“And second: you don’t have to do anything.” I sighed. “Riley already likes you. She called you a speci-man.”
“A what?”
“A- Never mind, the point is, she likes you. So just ask her out, take it slow and see how things go from there. You’ve totally got this.”
“Seriously?! She likes me? Are you sure?”
“One hundred percent. And you should feel special cause most guys are instantly friend-zoned.”
“Like you, you mean?”
“We’re not like that. I’ve never seen her as more than a friend. My best friend, in fact, extended family, which brings me to my next point-”
“That’s one point too many.”
“Shut it.”
Dax chuckled and listened. I smiled.
“All that stuff you said about Mica? Ditto. Hurt her and consider yourself beheaded.”
“Clear.” Dax nodded.
“Good.” I rose to my feet and just that moment Mica and Riley came up the hill.
“We’re back!” Riley said excitedly.
I glanced at Dax and he smiled as he saw her. He was so in love. Oh wow.
Mica came in behind her and I felt the corners of my mouth lift up too.
“Hey, Riley. Why don’t we go sit somewhere a little more private?” Dax asked.
Riley smiled bright. “Really? With.. With me?”
Dax nodded.
“O-okay!”
Dax and Riley disappeared down the hill, leaving me alone with my boyfriend at last.
I pulled him into my arms. “Finally.” I sighed.
Mica sighed contentedly and wrapped his arms around me. We held each other for a few minutes before letting go. I kissed him and the fireworks went off.
I grabbed Mica’s cute little cheeks and stroked them as we kissed. This moment was blissful and warm.
We lay down in the grass and stared up at the colorful sky as bright lights flashed above us. I held my butterfly on my chest and I just felt so proud. Mica was laying next to me, watching me.
“How do you feel about spiders?” Mica asked suddenly.
“Yikes. Disgusting little creatures. They’re my worst fear.”
“Well.. there’s a spider on your nose.”
“What?!” Chills ran over my skin and I frantically slapped my nose.
“Hey, be careful!”
“I don’t care about the spider!”
“You’re beating up my boyfriend!” Mica said and made my heart pound. “Sit still.”
I sat still as a statue and Mica pinched the spider off my face and threw it down the hill. Then he kissed my nose. The fireworks stopped.
My skin tingled.
Mica leaned on my chest and caressed my face.
“Are you afraid of anything? You’re like a superhero. So cool.” I stroked Mica’s hair.
“I’m not. A hero, I mean.” Mica chuckled.
“Oh really? What’s your biggest fear?”
“Um..” Mica looked away. It was the look he gave when he got uncomfortable. When he was about to change the subject.
Give it time, give it time, give it time. I repeated to myself. The last thing I wanted was another fight.
“It’s really stupid.” Mica mumbled.
“Nothing you say is ever stupid. I promise I won’t make fun of you.”
Mica fiddled with the fabric of my yukata.
“Probably.. food.”
I frowned. “Food?”
Mica nodded. “I just.. don’t like eating unhealthy things. I just feel like I’m ruining everything when I do.. I get scared that I won’t be able to dance anymore or that something bad is gonna happen..”
Oh. That explained everything. When we made sandwiches and he looked upset, skipping meals, the way he looked at his dad before cutting himself a piece of cake… barely eating at a festival.. It all made sense now.
“When did that start?” I asked.
“When my mom passed. When things got serious with ballet, I guess. I had to focus more on being healthy and they’re pretty strict about it.” Mica chuckled. “But it’s totally fine. I do eat. It’s not that serious, it’s just that it’s a hassle. Eating.”
“I see.”
“It’s silly.” Mica chuckled.
“You’re talking to the guy that’s afraid of spiders. Your fear is not that silly.”
Mica nodded. He avoided looking at me. He looked very unsure.
“I’m glad you told me. And.. you’ll tell me if it does get bad, won’t you?”
Mica looked into my eyes. “Promise.”
“There’s nothing you can say that’ll make me stop loving you, okay? Seriously.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Of course!”
Mica played with the grass.
“What if I told you I wasn’t human?” He mumbled.
I frowned.
…Is this the part where he tells me he’s a magical creature?
“What if I was a spider?” Mica’s playful eyes met mine.
I smirked. “A spider?”
Mica nodded and stared at the ground. “You wouldn’t love me if I was a spider.”
“Hmm… would you still look like this?”
“Imagine a spider body with my face.”
I laughed. Mica smiled at me. “See? Your love’s conditional.”
“I would still love you if you were a spider. In fact, it might make me love spiders in general!”
Mica chuckled. He leaned on my chest again. I gazed into his eyes and stroked his hair.
Mica played with my yukata. “I’ve never told anyone that before. Only my brother knew about it.” Mica said quietly.
I rubbed his back.
“I don’t know. I thought you’d think I was crazy. I feel like I am sometimes.” Mica frowned.
A tear rolled down Mica’s cheek.
I sat up and held Mica’s face. “You’re not. Everyone is afraid of something and everyone has quirks and problems. It’s okay. It doesn’t make you crazy, I promise.”
“James, I’ve..” More tears streamed down his face, I wiped them all away. “I’ve never felt this safe with anyone. I’m scared..”
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. I won’t hurt you.”
“I know. I’m scared I’ll ruin this somehow.”
“Look, whatever happens, I’ll never let you go. You couldn’t lose me if you tried. You have nothing to worry about.”
Mica sobbed quietly. I stroked his cheek and kissed his forehead.
Mica leaned in and kissed my lips. He wrapped his arms around me. The next round of fireworks shot up into the sky. We heard the loud bangs all around us.
I looked up for a moment. Then I watched the fireworks light up the tears on Mica’s face.
“I love you, James.” He whispered.