“It is, isn’t it?” I ask as Leland heads in.
“Did you pick this?”
“Definitely not. I had no idea about any of this and didn’t find out until he parked in the parking lot. But Leland wassoexcited about it that he could barely sleep. I think it took all of his attention to make plans,” I say while I watch him fly with the instructor. I can already tell he’s wishing he could shoot someone like this. It would be a dream for him to get to fly around and shoot shit.
When Leland comes out, Cassel goes in and takes to it with ease.
“Look at that annoying shit being all perfect at it,” Leland grumbles as he scrutinizes him.
“He’s always been good at aerial stuff, so I’m not surprised,” Jeremy says.
I glance over at Waylon who’s acting like he wants to say something to Leland, but he can’t seem to get it out. Even though he’sdefinitelymore stubborn when it comes to Leland, I can tell he cares about what Leland has to say and really looks up to him. I think it’s easier for him to latch on to someone who also went through hell and back during his childhood.
Cam is closer to the tube, watching them gear up Jeremy, so he doesn’t hear Leland as he goes, “You know what would be fun?”
“To shoot a man in one of those?” I guess.
Leland looks shocked that I knew what he was going to say. Like… really? How is he even remotely surprised that I could guess what he’s daydreaming about doing? “YES! That!”
“I thought you once shot a man from a tornado,” Cassel says as he watches Jeremy go in.
“I did.”
“You were like in the eye of it, riding it like your little bitch, right?” Cassel asks.
“I weirdly feel like you aremaking fun of me,” Leland says.
Cassel does this gasp and heart grab. “NO! I wouldnever.”
“If you’re making fun of anyone, make fun of that,” Leland says while Jeremy spins a bit out of control. The instructor is trying to steady him as he proceeds to show off his inability to fly like his boyfriend.
“He’s sexy. That’s all that matters,” Cassel declares.
Leland turns to me. “Jackson, what if you did this…naked?”
“I’m out,” Waylon says before he rushes off to stand close to Cam where they can’t hear us.
“I wonder if people have tried having sex while in this thing. I would,” Cassel muses.
“It’d probably blow your balls back into your body,” Leland says. “Do you think I could pay them enough to let us try?”
“To blow your balls or to have sex?” Cassel inquires.
“No, I don’t think you should,” I say. “Please don’t ask. You’ll get us thrown out of here.”
Leland isn’t discouraged at all. “Everyone is willing to do just about anything… for the right price. They might even watch. Add a little spice.”
Jeremy comes out and gives us an odd look as he steps into the conversation. “I regret joining any part of this.”
And now it’s my turn. Leland waves me forward.
“Go on, honey… just… be happy it’s not a fence. You can do this!”
“This might be the only way he’ll be able to scale a fence,” Cassel says.
“Why are you being mean to me too?” I ask as I head over to the opening.
“I don’t know!” Cassel admits. “It’s like… the more I’m around Leland, the more horrible of a person I become. Save me from this!”
