lost_boy | (no subject)

"It isn't me," I insisted, my face warm and red, as a young woman shoved a magazine in my face and asked me to sign it.

The magazine was the one Elio had done the photoshoot for, the October issue of Darrow News & Review, and for whatever reason, it was like the magazine cover with Elio on it had suddenly resulted in many more people realizing he and I looked alike. Even though we were terribly different in so many ways, our faces were nearly identical and people were taking notice.

"Oh, come on," the young woman says. She's a stranger, I've never met her before, and she rolls her eyes in an expansive way that make mine hurt just thinking about it. "This is obviously you, so just sign it."

"It isn't," I said again, feeling oddly meek. How strange that I could fight pirates and kill them, swim with sharks and keep just out of reach of ferocious mermaids, but I couldn't stand up to this woman who wanted Elio's autograph.

Then, from the corner of my eye, I spotted a familiar face. "Bill!" I called, practically begging. "Bill, please tell her I'm not Elio."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Definitely not Elio," says Bill, stepping in, doing his best to look adult, to look authorative. Jamie might not be a childhood friend, but Bill had promised him that, if he ever needed something like a father, Bill would do his best to be there. So here he is.

The girl looks at him like he's personally taking a shit on her dreams, and he shrugs, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Sorry."

I realized a little too late I didn't want to ruin Elio's reputation, not if he wanted to make loads of music and I said, "But I know him! I could get you his autograph!"

I looked at Bill, eyes a bit wide, wondering if that was the right decision. I think I looked a little stricken, but this was a strange situation and I had never been involved in it before.

"You could put your e-mail address inside the magazine and your name?" I asked, still looking at Bill, hoping he would help me figure out if I was doing the right thing.

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind signing," says Bill, nodding, stepping in behind Jamie and squeezing his shoulder. He hasn't seen the boy since the accident and his eyes are soft with concern. "And then we can go get that coffee we're supposed to be having?" He raises his eyebrow.