Page 19 of The Not So Super Hero
Zane shrugged.He left Bailey, who attempted to stuff everything he could into his arms.The turkey alone was too much.Going to the lounge was likely the best option.He could get a bag from upstairs or something, then come back down to get them.Bailey prepared to head towards the lounge when something soft hit the back of his head.
Pivoting on his heel, he spotted Zane opening the doorway to another part of the dorm.Then he looked at the floor, where a bag sat by his feet.It wasn’t one of the plastic ones Zane had, but a cloth bag that was likely passed around during some fundraiser.
Smiling, Bailey wished to thank Zane.However, the custodian had vanished.As if he’d want a thank you.Bailey put the groceries in the bag and made his way upstairs with his food intact.Though that good feeling didn’t last.He knew homesickness would settle at some point.He attempted to watch shows, gaming videos, then even studied.When he realized he was willingly studying during his break, he couldn’t deny how desperate he was.The idea of sitting alone in his room for five days sent a shiver down his spine.The world seemed so quiet.Even with all the things he had to do, tests to study for, games to play, nothing could occupy his mind enough to keep it from straying to home.
He missed his bed, the soft comfort of his own room, and hearing his parent’s voices in the mornings.He missed the knickknacks on his shelves, friends that stormed into his room insisting on having fun.All that was gone.Though Bailey understood that was part of growing up, it didn’t mean he couldn’t stop himself from missing home.
Bailey decided that remaining in his room moping would not help his mood.It was best to go outside and do something, anything honestly, so that was what he did.He left with no idea what or where he planned to go.Consciously or not, Bailey lingered on the first floor, allowing his eyes to scan the hall for a familiar head of silver that never showed.After exiting the building, Bailey went for a stroll, hoping to calm his thoughts.It didn’t work.The only thing Bailey could think of doing was calling his parents.
“Hey sweetie,” his mother, Emilia, said over the phone.“What are you up to?”
Bailey’s throat tightened.He had talked to her over the phone a few days ago, but being home sick amplified his feelings by a thousand.“Nothing, walking around.What are you doing?”
“Getting ready for a massive meal.You know everyone was so sad to hear you weren’t coming home.Oh, and it’s such a pain getting this all done by myself!”
“Dad’s with you, though?”
Emilia laughed, straight up howled, and Bailey couldn’t help but laugh as well.
“You’re funny, sweetie.You know your dad isn’t allowed in the kitchen, for obvious reasons.He could burn ice cream.”
Bailey snorted.“True, but he can at least help chop vegetables or pick up anything you forgot.”
“I suppose he has some usefulness,” Emilia said reluctantly.Bailey heard a loud hey from the background, which was likely his father.It caused him to snicker again, and he remained on the phone with his mom for a good half hour.It was after Bailey hung up and was about to return to the dorms when he spotted that familiar head of silver.
Zane was no longer in his uniform.He hadn’t seen Bailey since he had his nose buried in his phone.Bailey approached him.Bailey’s mouth moved on its own and asked without his permission, “Are you busy tomorrow?”
His cheeks flushed when Zane offered a peculiar expression.It wasn’t like he meant to ask anything.Bailey’s body kind of moved on its own, as did his mouth.It did that a lot.He was wondering if that was healthy.
“Depends on why you’re asking,” Zane responded hesitantly, as if he knew that Bailey was about to ask him to spend time together.Did he have to look repulsed by the idea?Bailey wasn’t that bad to be around, right?
“I’m just curious if you have plans tomorrow…being so antisocial, I figured you wouldn’t.I’m going to make turkey—”
“You mean try to?”Zane interrupted.“With your luck, you’ll burn down the dorm.”
That was definitely a possibility, and it pissed Bailey off that Zane brought it up.Grumbling, Bailey pursed his lips.Why couldn’t someone have stayed behind to spend the weekend with him?Now he was stuck asking the rudest man on earth to hang out.
“Whatever, I just thought I’d ask,” he mumbled.Bailey spun on his heel and went inside, feeling more homesick than ever.By the time he reached his room, he felt physically sick.He spent the rest of the day in bed, curled up beneath the covers with the TV on.
Thanksgiving arrived.Bailey attempted his turkey dinner in the lounge.He called it an attempt because things weren’t going so well.His mood likely wasn’t helping either, since he felt as miserable today as he did yesterday.Cooking was meant to make him feel better, at least he had hoped it would, but it wasn’t working.Bailey blamed his luck for that.
Bailey had no idea how to keep the turkey from ending up dry.Did it have to do with putting juice on it or something?He called to ask his mom, but she only stayed on the line a short while since she was preoccupied.Bailey was really regretting not going home, but he didn’t want to spend the money or ask his parents for it.He was going to have to get used to it.He was an adult!An adult who couldn’t cook or keep himself from sniffling like a toddler while cooking, but an adult none-the-less.
Bailey wanted to make stuffing, but every time he looked at his creation, it just looked like mush.Well, at least he had his macaroni salad, mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans.He knew he wouldn’t mess up any of that.He patted himself on the back for his end product, even if the turkey was dry and the stuffing looked more like liquid.As long as it was a decent tasting liquid, right?
A few students passed by the lounges.None stopped to inspect what Bailey was up to.He found himself alone on the couch, waiting for the last of his food to be done.When the microwave went off, Bailey got up to retrieve some food.Being the idiot that he was, he tried to take the bowl of green beans out without a cooking mitt.The poor boy hissed when his fingers touched the hot surface, successfully burning them.He shoved his finger into his mouth as if that would magically heal his wound and, of course, the door had to open at that exact moment.
Bailey stared wide-eyed, a finger shoved in his mouth, at the person he least expected to show up.Standing in the lounge with a confused expression was Zane.His headphones hung around his neck.Silver strands of hair framed his shark cheekbones, the rest had been pulled into that damn loose ponytail that looked fantastic on him.Bailey hated himself for thinking about that again.Zane wasn’t in his work clothes, but a simple pair of jeans and a black sweater.
Zane glanced at the finger Bailey had shoved in his mouth before asking, “You burned yourself, didn’t you?”
He chose not to answer that as he took his finger from his mouth to run it under some cool water.Clearing his throat, he pretended not to be overjoyed that Zane showed up.The fact that he was going to have someone to eat dinner with made it hard not to smile.It was a relief to think about, even if his company was Zane.Bailey chose not to look at the man either, since he knew his face would likely prove how happy he actually was.
“No, I…cut it,” Bailey lied.
“You say that as if it isn’t just as bad.”
Bailey mentally slapped himself for thinking that somehow changed anything.“What are you doing here?”
