Page 100 of Icarus

“You’ll be all right,” he said. “You have a good rest of the school year, man.”

Icarus couldn’t talk, he knew his voice would crack, so he just nodded again.

Akeem grinned and started to walk away. “See you round. And let me know if you change your mind on that football shit. Agility like yours? It ain’t never too late.”

Icarus laughed and wiped his eyes. By the time he was ready to answer, Akeem was already gone.

“Yeah. Okay.”

Bite

The saw felt bulky and strange in his hands. Icarus couldn’t afford to be unpracticed with it.

So, he went back to the hardware store and bought some steel rod. Spent an hour cutting it in the parking lot behind the store. Power cord hooked up to their external outlet.

He tossed the chunks of steel in the dumpster.

The blade was loud, but not much louder than an argument. The soundproofing material he’d bought would definitely help, but it might not be enough.

He couldn’t test it at home, or anywhere else really.

This would have to do. It would have to.

He had four more days until Helios would be ready for him.

Soft

Luca was still shying away from him the next day, but Icarus couldn’t take it anymore. They had to get it together for Celestina’s dinner. They couldn’t carry this into her home.

He pulled Luca from his corner in the boys’ locker room and into a stall. Pushed him against the wall and locked the door.

“Stop running from me.”

Luca’s cheeks were stained red, and he twisted to avoid Icarus’s gaze.

“Have you told her yet?” he mumbled.

“I haven’t had time; I’m doing it tonight after dinner,” Icarus replied.

“Why is it so weird to you that I’m uncomfortable?” Luca griped. “There are so many things to be uncomfortable about.”

Icarus backed away, created room between them in this small space.

“You said you wanted to know me, and here I am.” He stretched his arms out. “Here I am, Luca, and you know me now. You and Celestina are the only ones.”

“Except for Helios,” Luca mumbled.

“Helios is . . . he’s . . . He’s like my birthright, it’s not the same,” Icarus said, and he wasn’t ashamed of it. Helios wouldn’t be either, if he were here. He would understand.

“I’ve never had a best friend before,” Icarus admitted. “I don’t know how it works. Is it supposed to be like this?”

“Icarus, I just . . .” Luca closed his eyes. “I wish I could be angry at you. It feels like I’m not allowed.”

Icarus leaned back against the stall divider and rubbed his eyes until lights sparked behind them.

“I’m sorry, Luca,” he said, at last.

“It’s fine, I’ll get over it. But now you’re leaving and I just . . .” Luca sighed. “Everything is happening very fucking fast.”