“Well, maybe he’ll be back. You never know. Maybe next time he’ll even knock on the front doorlike a normal person would,” Az stressed.
Yeah, yeah, Beel got the hint.
“Maybe? I kind of doubt it though. He hasn’t been back in the last two days. Anyway, how’s the trip going? You guys are back tomorrow, right?” Jon asked.
“Ah, well, actually, I think we’re going to extend the trip a bit. Would you mind frogsitting for a few more days? You wouldn’t, would you? That would be ok, right? Maybe another week, or even two, yeah?” Az asked quickly.
“Umm, sure? But doesn’t Gabe have school?” Jon wondered. Poor guy was really lost in this whole conversation.
“Great!” Az boomed out. “Well, gotta hop to it! Gabe’s back, and time for us to burn up the sheets! Not literally, of course, because, you know, sex and lava pools totally don’t mix, although hot tubs are quite a bit of fun!” he chuckled.
Beel wanted to croak his annoyance at Az. Really, the demon had the nerve to accuse Beel of not being able to act like a normal person. He could barely pass as human most of the time. Beel did very well as a frog, and just fine as a human, too, darn it. He’d been living topside far longer than Az had, for demon’s sake.
“Um, ok,” Jon replied.
“Just remember, sometimesfairy tales do come true,” Az intoned. “In the meantime, good luck with the mystery guy! Hopefully he hops back into your life soon!” Az gleefully snorted at his own word choice, and then the line went dead.
“Well, that was…” Jon started, and Beel croaked in agreement.
Jon just sighed. Poor guy hadn’t gotten any answers, but Beel really wasn’t ready to be outed. He liked Jon too much. People might say they liked everyone and didn’t judge, but then suddenly theyfound out you were a frog and they weren’t attracted to you anymore. He didn’t think Jon would be like that, but you never could tell.
Despite that worry, though, Az, for all his idiocy, had given Beel an idea. No reason Beel couldn’t pop back in to visit in his human form. The problem was that so far Jon took him along everywhere (which Beel actually really did love). He just had to figure out a time when his froggy presence wouldn’t be missed, and then he could, as Az suggested, knock on the front door.
If he had visions of Jon and him ravaging each other thoroughly once he was in the apartment, well, could he be blamed? It had been a wonderful kiss.
And if Jon didn’t want him there, he would just go back to being the adored pet frog.
Nothing could possibly go wrong, right? Totally foolproof.
Chapter
Twelve
DAY 7,605—BEING HUMAN IS AWKWARD
Yesterday after the phone conversation, Beel figured he would take Az’s advice and show up at the front door, because he really wouldn’t mind another kiss. Only it was already late by then, and Jon had headed into bed. Beel would have woken him up—after all, when Jon was half asleep was probably the best time to not be missed in his frog form—but, well, the heated rock was really warm, and it had been a stressful day, and Beel might have dozed off.
Being topside had made him really enjoy snoozing. It was a lovely human pastime, and Beel had embraced it with all his little froggy self.
Needless to say, the next morning came, and Jon had brought him everywhere, including down to the pet shop. That would’ve been the perfect time to stroll in wearing a human form, only Jon kept looking at him.
His cute shopkeeper was totally suspicious.
But Az had planted the idea in Beel’s head, damned lust demon, and now Beel couldn’t stop thinking about being in his human form and hanging out with Jon. He loved when the sexy shopkeeperrubbed his back, but he wanted to be able to touch Jon in return. And yeah, definitely kiss him too.
The day dragged, and by the time they were heading back to the apartment, Beel was losing hope. Then an idea hit him. Jon always showered after work, and (most unfortunately) he didn’t bring Beel in the bathroom with him. He usually came out wearing pj pants or sweatpants and a t-shirt, and Beel figured if he timed it exactly right, Jon would have to rush to the door without stopping to get him. He’d already be dressed, so he wouldn’t need to pop into the bedroom.
What could go wrong, right?
So yeah, he was already suspicious, but Jon had to realize how crazy the idea was. Who would believe that his friend’s pet frog turned into a human, put on a pair of Jon’s boxers, scared off his ex, kissed him, and then came back for a visit a few days later?
Humans tended not to believe the unbelievable, even when they were faced with it. Hell, Gabe hadn’t known he wasn’t a normal frog for twenty years, and heknewabout demons and angels and all that stuff.
So Beel sat in his aquarium and figured out what he would wear. (And yeah, last time he had sort of forgotten he could just appear with clothes. But really, Beel hadn’t worn clothes in twenty years, so he couldn’t be blamed.) He thought maybe black jeans and a sweater would work. He wanted to be casual, but he didn’t think sweatpants were the right look. Gabe had a thing about never wearing sweatpants out of the house, so Beel would follow that lead, although he thought some humans did that.
As Beel was imagining his outfit, he heard the water in the bathroom shut off. He was oddly nervous. His stomach felt kinda funny and flippy. But what was the worst that could happen? If Jon turned him away at the door, so be it.
He heard Jon puttering around in the bathroom, and he gave it a minute before he transported to the outside of Jon’s apartment.
