Happy World (7 page)

“Huh, okay.” Rory thought hard. “Do you have… um, that one that’s always trying to make trouble for Daniel.” Rory inclined his head slightly toward Charlie, still signing autographs with his blindingly white smile in place.

“Pierre?” Pierre was an evil knight that seemed to side with whatever dragon Daniel was trying to hunt. Part of Pierre’s costume was an enormous sword that was, at times, too heavy for him to lift. “Pierre was in the Heroes and Villains parade that Happy World did before I came here. I’ve never seen him in the Park, though.”

“Too bad. I’d give him some pointers on how to get that sword of his up Daniel’s ass.” Rory rolled his eyes and waited for the inevitable reprimand.

None came. Instead, Kyle choked out a laugh and darted a look around to see if anyone heard. “Rory,” he warned, but there was mirth in his voice.

That was encouraging. “What? He and Pierre would make a great couple. Charlie’s got a small brain and Pierre obviously has a small dick. Why the hell else would he carry that huge sword around?”

This time Kyle really did laugh out loud, much to Rory’s surprise. The sound made Rory smile too, and he considered making another dick joke to see if he could keep Kyle laughing. As he was about to smart off again, however, they were interrupted by a young lady in a nondescript Happy World costume. Since moments ago she’d been standing next to Charlie, Rory knew this was Daniel the Dragon Slayer’s handler.

Each costumed character that appeared in the Park was accompanied by another employee. This was ostensibly to protect the character from over-exuberant children or the occasional adult guest with wandering hands.

“Daniel requests that you move along,” she said politely.

Rory looked at her in disbelief. “Daniel requests it? Is he allowed to do that?”

The girl shifted a bit uncomfortably and glanced back at Charlie over her shoulder. “I… don’t know. He just told me to come and tell you guys that you were being too loud and you should find somewhere else to work.”

He knew if he looked at Kyle, Rory would change his mind about what he was about to do. So instead, he dropped his broom and dustpan on the ground with a loud clatter and stalked through the crowd that surrounded Charlie. He managed to wait until a small boy had retrieved his autograph book from Charlie’s hand, then pushed his way to the front of the line.

“I’m doing my job.” Rory met Charlie’s eyes and didn’t look away.

Charlie, to his credit, remained in character. “You sure are, my friend! It takes a village of friends and family to get all the work done around here!” He flashed his smile at the crowd and they all seemed to give one collective, dreamy sigh.

“So we’re not leaving the area until the job is finished. Got that?” His tone was steely and Rory didn’t give one shit what the guests were hearing.

The white grin remained in place, though Rory caught Charlie’s nostrils flaring slightly. “Happy World has many areas that need to be swept and cleaned, friend! Who knows what kind of rubbish dragons have left down there in Fairy Tale Land?” He gestured with his hand and Rory could feel the crowd’s gaze swiveling to him to hear his answer.

“There’s trash here.” And he reached out to poke Charlie in the pectoral region of his well-muscled chest. “I’m standing in front of it.”

Rory didn’t realize his whole intention had been to provoke Charlie enough to get a reaction until it happened. When Charlie finally dropped the smile and a snarl came over his handsome features, Rory felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

“I’ll have you fired,” Charlie hissed, stepping closer.

Rory didn’t move. “Try.”

“You’re nothing here,” Charlie continued. “You’re no one. You and that so-called trainer of yours. He’s been giving me puppy eyes for years, watching me when he thinks I’m not looking. He’ll never get anywhere with this company, and neither will you. I can make sure.”

It had gotten very quiet around them, though the Park still hummed with ambient noise and activity. The watching guests had pressed closer and Rory could detect a faint air of discomfort and concern.

Rory spoke very quietly, just loud enough for Charlie’s ears alone. “A douche like you can’t touch me. You think this company wants all your admirers to know how much cock you like to suck? I could have had my dick in your mouth that first day and you know it. I’ll make sure everyone else knows it, too.”

The sneer on Charlie’s face shifted into a twisted scowl. One hand reached out and grabbed the front of Rory’s costume. “You’re full of shit!” Charlie shouted, and Rory knew he’d won.

He stepped back and widened his eyes as far as they could go, schooling his features into an expression of shock. Rory put both hands up in the air, demonstrating to the avidly watching crowd that he was neither touching Charlie or trying to involve himself in a fight. That they could see, anyway. Inside, he was gloating over his triumph.

“I’m sorry,” Rory said, loudly enough for the guests to hear. “I just wanted an autograph for my sister. She loves you. I’m really sorry. I didn’t know it was the wrong time.” He made an apologetic face at the nearest soccer mom he could see and she nodded back at him.

Charlie let go instantly and stepped away. His grin was back in place, though his eyes still seethed. “That’s all right, friend! There are many villagers who’ve been waiting before you, so let’s let them have their turn!”

He’d never taken a drama class in life, but Rory pulled out all the acting he could muster. He dropped his eyes to the pavement and mumbled, “Sure, of course. Sorry, everyone.” Then he turned and shouldered his way back through the crowd, keeping his eyes on the ground and willing himself not to start laughing. That had been perfect.

Rory made his way back to Kyle and avoided the horrified expression he knew he’d see on Kyle’s face if he looked. “Come on,” Rory whispered fiercely and grabbed the short white sleeve of Kyle’s costume. “Follow me and don’t say a word.” Without looking to see if Kyle would follow, Rory made a beeline for one of the more secluded walking paths that would lead them out of the area.

When they finally reached a relatively quiet spot that didn’t have throngs of people milling around, Rory slowed his pace and turned to see Kyle. He couldn’t help the giant smile that creased his face as he remembered Charlie grabbing him and cursing. “Did you see that?” he asked Kyle. “It was perfect. Perfect!” He raised his arms over his head in triumph.

Kyle wordlessly handed back Rory’s forgotten broom and dustpan. His face was white and there was a deep furrow between his brows.

“Oh, come on.” Rory sighed and sat down on a nearby bench, not caring if he was in costume or not. “Seriously, Kyle. Do you realize what just happened? Charlie Taylor grabbed me and used the S-word. In front of guests. It was amazing. Someone’s going to complain, you watch and see.” Of this, Rory was absolutely sure.

Kyle blinked slowly and then sank down onto the bench next to Rory. “I can’t believe you did that,” he murmured, his eyes wide. “I just… you… I can’t do this anymore. I can’t train you. I’m sorry.” He stood again, abruptly. “I’m sorry,” he repeated, and then Kyle walked away, leaving Rory sitting on the bench.

Chapter Seven

During the span of his career at Happy World, Kyle had left work before the end of his shift on exactly three occasions. Even when they were overstaffed and his managers offered him an early release, he politely refused, and passed the opportunity along to someone who actually wanted to go home.

The first time was just six months after he’d begun work, when his Aunt Sally died. Aunt Sally was his mom’s sister, and his mom took the news of Aunt Sally’s demise very hard. So much so that she suffered a heart attack, and he’d left work to rush to her bedside at the hospital.

The second time was last December, and it hadn’t been his idea to leave. He passed out at work, slumped into a white polyester heap on the ground backstage at Fairy Tale Land, still clutching his retractable claw in his hand. He was transported from the Park’s backstage medical facility to the local urgent care unit by ambulance. The cough he’d been ignoring turned out to be a slight case of pneumonia. He’d still managed to return to work after only three days’ absence.

The third time was today.

After Rory’s stunt with Charlie in Wild West Land, Kyle snapped. Something inside, something he always made sure to keep caged, had broken free. He couldn’t even put a name to it. It wasn’t anger, not really. It wasn’t fear, either. All he knew was that he couldn’t tolerate being in the Park a moment longer.

He’d calmly declared he could no longer train Rory and walked away. Unfortunately, he found that putting distance between himself and Rory wasn’t enough. Kyle simply couldn’t find it in himself to continue working at all, something he’d never before experienced. He didn’t inform his supervisor that he was removing himself as Rory’s trainer -- there would be time enough for that tomorrow. He claimed illness instead and clocked out early.

It wasn’t a lie, not really. After Rory’s confrontation with Charlie in front of guests, and knowing the shit-storm the act was probably going to bring down on both their heads, Kyle found he actually did feel sick to his stomach.

He drove around for a while, not wanting to go home but not wanting to go anywhere else, either. Finally, he stopped at the grocery store, bought a couple of cans of tuna fish and a loaf of sliced bread, got back in his car, and went home.

He let himself into his apartment, tossed his keys on the kitchen counter along with his groceries, and sank down on the sofa in the living room, staring up at the ceiling. He realized he felt more confused than anything else. He wasn’t angry at Rory. He wasn’t even sure why he’d told Rory he couldn’t train him anymore. In fact, he admitted he was flattered because Rory thought enough of him to go after Charlie.

Sure, Rory was irksome at times, and didn’t follow the rules as he should, but he was also good with the guests, fun to work with, and often made Kyle laugh.

Being honest with himself, Kyle admitted he enjoyed the bloom of pleasure he felt at Charlie’s loss of control and public humiliation. The crowd had definitely not been pleased with Charlie’s use of vulgarity, particularly since they didn’t know Rory had goaded Charlie into it. Although Kyle felt Charlie definitely deserved a little payback, was secretly delighted to have witnessed it, he knew it was wrong and would only come back to bite them in the ass.

But that didn’t explain why he’d bolted. No, it was something else, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

I don’t understand any of this. This just isn’t like me. He forced himself to his feet, into the kitchen, and began to go through the motions of making a tuna salad sandwich. Just as he plopped a spoonful of Miracle Whip onto the small mound of chunk light tuna -- albacore was outside his meager budget -- he froze.

That’s it, exactly, isn’t it? That’s the problem. This isn’t like me. I never make waves, never make trouble. I take whatever ball of crap anyone flings at me, and brush it off with a smile. It was me Charlie humiliated. I’m the one who caught the heat from Garrett about the complaint Charlie filed, and accepted it, even though I knew Charlie was lying. I’m the one who should’ve stood up to Charlie and defended Rory from Charlie’s lies, but I didn’t. Par for the course for me, right? It’s just another example of good ol’, bend-me-over-may-I-have-another Kyle. Everyone walks all over me and I let them.

Why? Because I love my job? That’s no reason to put up with being embarrassed and harassed at work. If anyone knows the rules, I do. There are channels I could use, procedures in place for things like this. I could’ve reported the incidents to my manager. If Garrett wouldn’t cooperate, I could’ve gone to my union rep, filed a grievance.

I didn’t, because I was afraid. I was afraid the Company would pick Charlie over me. Why? Because Charlie is handsome? Because he’s a face character and I’m only a lowly Groundskeeper? What makes face characters so much more important than the other Happy World employees? We work just as hard as they do. If it wasn’t for us, the Park wouldn’t be as magical. It sure as shit wouldn’t be as clean.

I’ve got a stellar work record. Spotless. No points, no unexcused absences, no written warnings. Great reviews, and commendations from guests and management alike. I’m nice, polite, never make trouble, and always follow the rules.

Charlie’s nothing but a good-looking douchebag.

I’m a coward.

He dropped the spoon in the tuna, set the Miracle Whip jar on the counter, and sat down on a kitchen chair, staring into space.

That’s it. That’s why I couldn’t stand to be at Happy World another minute. That’s why I told Rory I couldn’t train him anymore, and why I ran. I’m a fucking coward, and I’m mad because Rory had the balls to go after Charlie and I didn’t. I’m sick and tired of being invisible, and even more tired of being stepped on, but I still couldn’t find the nerve to say anything to Charlie.

It’s not Rory’s fault. Oh, sure, he shouldn’t have gone after Charlie onstage, and especially not in front of guests, but the one who lost control was Charlie. Rory’s new --Charlie should have known better.

It’s me I’m pissed off at. Too bad I can’t walk away from me.

A knock at the door startled him. He wasn’t expecting anyone, and he wasn’t particularly friendly with the neighbors. He would wave and nod when he saw them in the hallway, but that was the extent of it.

Solicitors weren’t allowed inside the apartment building, but that didn’t always stop the occasional, over-enthusiastic entrepreneur, or Girl Scouts selling cookies. He went to the door fully expecting the person on the other side to be one or the other. He peered through the peephole and gasped.

Rory stood outside the door, looking slightly distorted through the peephole’s fisheye lens. He was still dressed in his white Groundskeeping costume.

Kyle glanced at the kitchen wall clock, visible from the front door. Their shift had ended a half-hour ago. Rory must have come straight to Kyle’s apartment from work.

Kyle unchained and unlocked the door and flung it open. “What are you doing here, Rory? How did you get my address?”