Billy had to stop himself from doing a backflip off his seat. (He didnât really know how to do one anyway, but still.) He had been disappointed for a second when Teddy had called Kate Winslet âstunningâ and he had been ready to make up an excuse to run away to the stockroom and hide. But when Billy heard âFreddie Prinze Jr.â as Teddyâs example, his heart leapt into his throat. Straight boys donât remember Freddie Prinze Jr., let alone know that heâs not a natural blonde. He could feel a blush rising up on his own cheeks to match Teddyâs.
He all but leapt to his feet, locking the register screen and rounding the corner of the desk. Billy kept his chin up and his shoulders square as he stood in front of the other boy, gesturing with his arm to the rest of the store. âRight this way!â he beamed, leading him to the book display with the monthâs top sellers. âIâm Billy, by the way,â he said, sticking his hands in his pockets as they crossed the store.Â
At the stand in question, Billy grinned and picked up a copy of one of the books closest to him, The Name of the Wind. âDo you like magic?â he asked, turning the book over in his hands. âThis one is really good! Itâs got all the usual fantasy novel requirements - misfit orphan with magical powers, a pretty blonde sidekick, monsters, murder - all that fun stuff!â
Teddy felt his eyes widen a little as the other boy stood up rather quickly, making his way in front of the desk he had been sitting behind. Perhaps he took this opportunity to... maybe.. dunno check him out? The boy was a little bit shorter than him, and that sort of made him grin, probably noticeably. His whole life up until this point had been a blur, but what he did know for sure was up until just recently he had been afraid of being out. A few days ago he had just said heâs gay to someone in his class, someone he barely knew, and while that must have been weird for the other person, it felt nice to him. With all of that being said, the one thing he was completely unsure about was having a boyfriend, he had never had a girlfriend for that matter. But seeing the bo-- Billy standing there, he discovered he quite liked the idea of his boyfriend being shorter than him, he could lift him up and carry him, and be all cutesy.Â
He followed Billy right over to the display, his eyes glancing over the different titles, it was a lot to take him. His attention turned back to Billy as he held up a book and started describing it to him. âWell I donât know much about magic, but I think I could be the pretty blonde sidekick.â He joked, letting out a soft chuckle, as he reached up to rub at the back of his neck. âI um... Iâll sign it out. Since you recommend it.â He said, getting that same shy smile on his face as he reached out to take the book from Billy.