Jason vs. Ash Williams

"Lin..dsay," he replied catching himself just before he said 'Linda'.

Jason grinned.

"Are you sure you don't mean....Linda, Ash?

"My name...." He frowned. "Is Jace, Jason. Don't...make me call your parents!" Why was he even threatening him with that? Jace wasn't sure.

"My parents don't care," he said, shrugging. "They just don't want me to do stuff worse than hash."

Jace wanted to threaten him, but he didn't have the heart. Obviously if the kid's parents didn't care, they didn't care. It reminded him of his own parents, and he felt a familiar pang of loneliness.

Jace sighed.

"Jason, I'm not going to be your friend. I'm your teacher, it would be inappropriate. Do you understand?" He hoped Jason did...but he knew he wasn't getting off that easy.

"Nah, man, they can't arrest you for friendship," he replied, laughing and shaking his head. "Come on, I just wanna know if you wanna go to the marathon this weekend, man."

Jace sighed heavily, taking a deep breath and calming himself.

"What marathon?"

"The Evil Dead movie marathon at the Deacon Theater, duh," he said, rolling his eyes. "What other marathon is there?"

Jace wasn't sure how to respond. Before he could even think, excitement overwhelmed him.

"Are you serious?" he asked, his eyes lighting up. "You mean, they show the movies on the big theater screen and everything?!"

He nodded eagerly.

"Fuck yeah, man! The theater's huge and dark, too--really spooky! And not many people know about it, so there aren't many people who have sex in the back. It's fucking awesome."

Jace had never wanted to go to something more in his entire life. In fact, if he hadn't quickly remember he was in a high school, he probably would have had to go somewhere private for some alone time.

"...I'm totally going," he said, but he wasn't talking to Jason or even looking at him. He didn't even care Jason was right there. When he did realize he was, he added, "I'm gonna take Lindsay, it'll be a great date."

"I'll see both of you there, then," he said suspiciously, narrowing his eyes. There was no way in hell her name wasn't Linda--it was far too perfect.

"Uh, yeah," he replied. "Well, see you...then," he said, trying to sneak away to find a fake girlfriend.

"I know what you look like, but what does Linda look like? Who am I keeping an eye out for?"

"Uh, she's...pretty, you'll know her when you see her, she'll be with me, so..." he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck and then adjusted the glove on his hand.

"Ah, cool. How long have you two known each other?"

"A few months, it's not very serious yet," he lied quickly. "Uh, if she's like, busy or something and can't come 'cause it's kind of short notice, so don't be surprised or whatever..."

"I'm totally fine with that," he replied, leaning closer. "More time for you and me to talk, right? Just the two of us. Two dudes who really like The Evil Dead." He smiled at him again, tucking some of his greasy hair behind his ear.

"I'm straight, you know!" he said suddenly. Jace had never lied about his sexuality before, and he had never expected he'd have to, but this was certainly not a normal event.

"Me too," he lied, still smiling. "But sometimes things change--whatever, right?" He hoped he wasn't being too subtle.

"...Wait...so you...haven't had been hitting on me?" he asked, unsure of exactly where they stood on the issue.

"Not unless you want that--if you do, I totally have been."

Jace sighed, but at least now it made sense.

"No, that'd just add to my problems," he grumbled. "Well, I guess I'll see you at the marathon, alright? Stay out of trouble."

He nodded, smiling.

"See ya, Ash."

-x-

Jace, as he'd expected, could't convince of his few female friends to pose as his girlfriend. They were either busy and willing or unwilling and free. So, he would go alone, and probably just fess up to the ridiculous lie. Still, he hadn't spotted Jason yet, and he was rather happy. Though he'd promised to never wear the cosplay again, he couldn't help himself. He was dressed as Ash Williams from Army of Darkness, his shirt ripped open and donning the metal glove he'd made himself. It was all handmade, proving he had too much time on his hands.

Maybe, he hoped, Jason wouldn't find him before the marathon started.