1. A Chance

Pepito sighed to himself as he flicked the ash of his cigarette. He gazed across the street, hoping to see the sight of his friend walking towards him. However, he wasn't.

For the past three hours he had been sitting on the hood of his black Tiburon waiting. Although school had started two hours ago, he still sat.

Every day, he waited for him.

Every day, he waited longer and longer.

This day was different, it was Halloween, and Pepito was promised to be met with at a precise time, eight thirty.

Not much of a promise keeper, are you, Todd?

Pepito took such a long drag of his cigarette, he had forgot he was taking a drag.

He inhaled and coughed as he had already filled his lungs full. Shaking his head, he pulled out his cell phone.

Of course no one had called him, Todd was too poor for a cell phone, and as far as phoning him went, Todd never seemed to return his calls.

Ever.

Pepito looked into the black paint, his reflection looked back to him. He grinned, admiring himself, and asked, "Shall we look for Squee?"

His reflection shrugged, "You're a bit too nosey when it comes to him, I think you should just go to your class so they don't call your Father again."

Pepito frowned to the serious looking reflection, "Fuck you."

Pepito had not changed much throughout his life, his hair was choppy, cut with a razor almost resembling Edward Scissorhands, he was only five foot three, and his horns were still the stubs they were when he was just a small child.

He had one red eye and one blue, his skin was very tan, and his clothing fashion usually consisted of a black shirt and jeans, complete with his bulky black combat style boots. On "special" days, he wore a black dress shirt and a nice pair of jeans.

Being Halloween, it was a special day.

Pepito flicked this cigarette into a puddle and got into his car. He drove to Todd's house and parked in the drive way, where his father's car usually sat.

He got out and let himself in, seeing Todd's mother spiraled out onto the kitchen table.

She looked up to him a bit dazed, "Is the mail here?"

Pepito shook his head as he headed up the stairs and to Todd's room.

The house was a complete mess and in disorder.

Papers were thrown about, wrappers were flooding the floor, clothes were sprung all over. Dust was thick along the railing, and Pepito wrinkled his nose in disgust.

He stepped over a pizza box that had a horrible rank and pushed the door to Todd's room open.

Pepito smiled to himself at the sight.

Todd was laying in his bed, looking ever so comfortable with his blanket tightly wrapped around him, his head placed perfectly in the middle of his pillow, and his bear, Shmee, pulled tightly against his chest.

Pepito sat on his bed and gently stroked his hair.

Todd opened his eyes and groaned as he rolled over.

Pepito smiled as he pulled the blanket off him and whispered, "Squee, get up."

Todd looked over his shoulder and muttered, "What time is it?"

"About eleven thirty."

Todd groaned.

He had very dark brown hair, almost black, but not quite. He had stunning large blue eyes, and a tender shape to his face. He was taller than Pepito, which annoyed him, he was almost six feet tall.

Pepito leaned to him and whispered, "Todd, don't make me get you out of bed."

Todd slowly sat up, reveling his shirtless self. He scooted to the wall and leaned against it, "What're you doing here?"

"To get you," Pepito said softly, knowing how Todd's mood was when he woke up.

He nodded.

Pepito crawled beside him and sat close, "Do you want to go to school or want to catch a movie?"

Todd looked to him dully as he scooted away, "Jesus Christ, Pepito, I just want to go to school then come home and go to bed."

Pepito frowned at the name Todd used, "Fine."

Todd rolled his eyes, "Get over it, it's not that big of a deal…besides, isn't it a sin to use it in vain?"

Pepito grinned slightly as he thought, "I guess so…come on," he grabbed Todd's hand and laced his fingers into his.

Todd flung his hand and said, "Stop it," in a very stern voice.

Pepito looked to him and sighed slightly.

Ever since he had told Todd about his feelings he had been drifting away from him, pushing Pepito away.

It was hard for Pepito, ever since he had been twelve he had begun to feel a longing for Todd. The boy he had made friends with in kindergarten was the boy he now felt was meant for him.

Todd slid off the bed and pulled a trashy black shirt on, then looked over to Pepito just as he was about to pull his flannel pants off to put jeans on.

Pepito narrowed his eyes as he looked to the wall away from Todd.

Very quickly, Todd had changed into his jeans.

Pepito took offense, it was not like he was a forty year old man that had a driving sexual desire for younger boys, he was a sixteen year old who happened to have a sexual desire for Todd.

Once they got back to school, Pepito locked the doors on his car and worked up enough strength to ask, "What's wrong?"

Todd shook his head, "Nothing, why?"

Pepito checked the time and shrugged, "It is lunch period, so we have a good hour to talk." He then lit a cigarette up and handed it to Todd, then lit himself one.

"What?"

Pepito took a drag and exhaled, "You haven't even wanted to drink with me."

Todd laughed slightly, "Maybe I'm trying to stop."

"Maybe you think I'm going to do something," Pepito snapped, "I'm not. I couldn't do that to you, I've been getting trashed by myself, and you have, too. That is a very depressing thing, getting shit faced alone."

Todd nodded, "Isn't it, though?"

Pepito nodded very slowly, "I think we should get trashed tonight, it's going to be a good day, and tomorrow is Friday."

Todd sighed.

Pepito knew that Todd new better than to try to get out of a drinking date, for he usually got drunk and then tried to find Todd.

Todd looked over to Pepito for a second then asked in a small voice, "You promise not to…you know…."

Pepito nodded, even though he knew he would love to tear him apart and take his body.

After a few cigarettes they decided to head inside the school.

They went their separate ways and Pepito went to his History class.

He sat in the back row, not bothering to bring any pencils, paper, or even the text book. He propped his head on his hand and sighed.

The teacher, Mr. Dell, came into the room and grabbed a piece of chalk.

He had a very over dressed look.

Mr. Dell was about five foot seven with red hair, very shaggy and as if he had just randomly took scissors to it himself. He wore a suit every day, and was very aggressive.

Pepito hated him.

Every one did.

Mr. Dell ran the chalk over the board, making an evil squeaking sound, causing people to cringe.

Pepito gritted his teeth and tightly shut his eyes as a chill scampered up his spine.

"HITLER," Mr. Dell shouted as he put the chalk back to the top of the board and repeated the cycle, "WAS A BAD MAN," he tilted his head to the side dramatically and showed his teeth in rage. "HITLER," he screamed, "was BORN on National Weed Day…IS THAT A COINCIDENCE?"

A girl in the front row screamed as Mr. Dell slammed his fists on her desk. He cocked his head to the other side and asked in a very maniacal way, "Is it?"

She shook her head.

Pepito rolled his eyes.

Mr. Dell stood straight and started to scribble all over the chalk board. He stopped himself for a moment threw the small bit of chalk at a student, making him choke when it flew inside his mouth, and got himself two new sticks.

With a piece of fresh white chalk in each hand, he scribbled hysterically on the board, "HITLER, committed suicide. That's what he did. He killed himself," he paused and looked over his shoulder.

Everyone seemed to be holding their breath.

Pepito could not help but to crack a smile.

Mr. Dell blinked a few times and started to scream. He didn't scream words, just shrill cries. He then turned his attention back to the board and scribbled on it more as he screamed.

Some students ran out the room, knowing he was lost in his poor mind.

Pepito closed his eyes as he tried to ignore the cries, however, he could not.

He got up and left the room.

He walked own the halls and went inside the bathroom. He pulled out his pack of cigarettes, and just as he was about to light one up, he saw two pairs of shoes in a stall.

He rolled his eyes as he figured he would, yet again, have to listen to he sounds of a quick "bathroom break."

He sat himself on the sink and lit it up. It was not long after he finished it before the bell rang.

He grinned, knowing that Todd would be in his next class.

He went down the hall to Todd's locker and felt himself once again grow into rage.

Todd was talking to a girl.

Not just a girl, the girl one talked to when they wanted a blow job for five dollars, or sex its self for a bottle of vodka.

Pepito clenched his fists when he saw Todd slip her a bill.

As if one scare wasn't enough for him.

He grabbed Todd by the shoulders and drug him into the bathroom. He narrowed his eyes to him and screamed, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Todd narrowed his eyes as he stood up, "What is you deal?"

"Why did you give that skank money?"

Todd turned red as he shouted in defense, "What? What's the big deal? So what?"

Pepito walked to him and shoved him, "I have been trying so hard to get you to understand…Do you even care that I have been waiting for you? That I have not whored myself, only because I want you?"

Todd narrowed his eyes, "And because of that fact you have to fuck up every chance I get? Every time, you stand in the way and scare the bitch off!"

Pepito widened his eyes as Todd shoved him.

He didn't know that Todd would have the nerve to do such a thing.

He pushed Todd back, "You are better off with me!"

Todd walked up to him and slammed his hands onto his shoulders and shoved Pepito to his knees, "THEN DO IT."

Pepito felt his heart sink in the anger Todd projected. He sunk himself to the ground and wrapped his arms around Todd's legs.

He felt utterly stupid, beyond humiliated.

The feeling was crossed with shame and the feeling that he was a jack ass.

Selfish?

Pepito didn't know.

All he knew is that he himself was the son of the Devil, the Anti Christ, and what he was doing was weeping to Todd about being a virgin because he knew Todd didn't like "seconds."

All for Todd, every party he had ever been to, all the girls he could have had, all the chances he had handed to him, he refused just for him, and this was what he got?

A couple minutes pass with Pepito tightly clinging to Todd's legs before he slid down next to him and hugged him, "I…I'm sorry."

Pepito pulled him closer and said in a feeble voice, "I…I can't help it. I know, I know, I just can't help it."

Todd's arms curled tighter around him as he whispered, "It's okay."

Pepito choked the tears he felt forming away and stood up, "I just feel like…."

"I'm rejecting you?"

Pepito's eyes stayed looked onto Todd's as he stood up, "More than that, amigo."

Todd shook his head, "You…," he sighed, "I don't know, I like you…but…."

Pepito waited very impatient, he clung to the word, waiting and longing for his finish.

But? But what? You like me buy what?

Todd scratched the back of his head, "I'm not sure if I want to go down that road…there's a lot of ridicule and cruelty that goes along with being gay."

Pepito dropped his shoulders, "That's it? Squee, you know that nothing will ever happen to you…even the most simple minded crack would get blow up."

Todd shrugged, "I guess."

Pepito opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the bell. He narrowed his eyes to it, knowing Todd would want to get to class.

In spite of that, Todd stayed put.

He leaned forward and asked, "What?"

Pepito again interrupted by a couple students coming into the bathroom. He pointed to them and hissed in a deep threat, "Leave now, we're talking."

They looked at him and slowly left.

Everyone knew better than to go against Pepito.

He shook his head irritated, "Give me a chance."

Todd put his hands behind his back as he blushed slightly.

Pepito smiled wide at his adorable way of saying, "Yes."

He hugged his friend and put his head to his chest.

Todd hissed and gently pushed him off, reveling a tear in his already ratty shirt.

Pepito shrugged sheepishly, "Sorry."

Stupid horns.

"Let's go."

Pepito rolled his eyes and walked out the door.

He headed down the hall then realized that Todd wasn't at his side, he turned around and saw him walking to the exit.

Pepito quickly ran to him, "What are you doing?"

Todd looked at him slightly confused, "I thought we were leaving?"

Pepito made an, "Oh," expression, "Yeah, let's go."