Toy Soldiers: Expectations (PG-13)
Summary: "He always seemed like the best of us, you know?"
Notes/Warnings: Next up, in Christmas-to-New-Year's. Post-canon. Dark. See cut after the story for details if you want 'em.
EXPECTATIONS
*
Billy --
Excellent job on your paper (as usual). Don't forget the tutoring session -- more new people this week!
-- P
*
Dear Mr. Tepper,
Thank you for stopping by. Attached please find a list of times and places for testing, as we discussed.
On a more personal note, it was a pleasure talking with you. I followed the news during the hostage crisis at Regis School, and even at the time, I took note of the boy who was able to remain calm and collected enough to assist the military in their rescue of the hostages...
*
hey --
freshman rush starts tomorrow. jack said he'd get everything, but the fridge is bare. your help is greatly appreciated! *smirk*
- mark
*
Dear Billy,
I know you're busy, but is there any chance you could make it down this weekend? Besides your stepfather's birthday, it would mean a chance to sit down and talk. We haven't had that chance in far too long, and with graduation looming...
*
Billy,
I stopped by to see you, but you were out (obviously). Come over to my place when you get back? I promise to be wearing only a t-shirt! ;-)
Love,
April
*
Dear Mr. Tepper,
Thank you for your interest in the Harvard Journal's newspaper internship program. Interviews are still being scheduled. We will contact you as soon as possible with a time and date.
Thank you again, and the best of luck!
Sincerely,
Christopher T. Binder
(Hey, Bills - just talk to 'em like you did me, and you're in, trust me! -- Chris)
*
Billy --
What's up, dude? Haven't heard from you in months. You are remembering to breathe, right (ha ha)?
-- Snuffy
*
William --
I wanted to just thank you for sitting and listening to me last night. It's harder to find that kind of guy than it should be. Thanks again -- and I don't regret anything. You shouldn't either.
-- Jamie
*
Mr. Tepper --
Attached please find your graded paper. It's a fascinating, if rather bleak, view on the poem. Unfortunately, I must remind you that you still have two more papers that must be turned in by the end of next week...
*
Hey, Billy -
Haven’t heard from you in ages, and with graduation coming up I figured I'd email you. How ya doing? School still going good? Have you met anyone?
-- Hank
*
Final stretch, dude - just two more weeks to go before we are done! Don’t forget to bring the beer -
*
-- finish your papers (15 pages minimum, and don’t forget the citations this time, Mr. Tepper!) -
*
-- come to our party (I swear, there’s gotta be a dozen girls who want to meet you, Billy, and I can’t wait for you to rock their worlds!) -
*
-- come to our party (yeah, I know, but you’re the best there is at calming down the newly out ones - don’t think of it as ‘breaking them in for someone else,’ or whatever it was you said, think of it like that heaven we read about in Eastern Religions, where you get a continual supply of virgins!) -
*
-- looking forward to hearing from you: I think it’s a great opportunity -
*
Hey, Billy!
So here we are graduated! Who’d’ve thought we’d make it this far, huh? And how’s that Harvard diploma looking? World is your oyster, man! How did you do it? Not a single foot wrong. Amazing, dude. Amazing.
Just thought I’d check in, though - Amy said you seemed kind of quiet to her. Don’t know what she’s talking about, but you know how girls are. So how’s things?
Pete
*
Billy -
Okay, so I’m maybe being stupid. But I haven’t heard from you since June, and you’re not answering your phone, so…
Just. Call me, okay?
-- Nick
*
Billy -
A couple of your high school classmates have called me, wondering if I knew where you were. I’m not certain why they thought I would, but in case you’d listen to an old teacher: could you please give one of them a call? Failing that, my phone number is still the same.
Sincerely,
Parker
*
...found in his bathtub. They finally broke down the door, I guess. There was a note and everything, but it was addressed to Joey. Snuffy's kicking himself - I don't know how he was supposed to do anything, but he says he should've known somehow. I don't even want to think about the people Billy knew at Harvard. I always got the impression he had lots of friends. Maybe he did, and he just...couldn't tell them.
I wish there was something we could've done. He always seemed like the best of us, you know? Like he could do anything. Guess he got tired of trying.
-- Nick
-end-
WARNING: Character death (Billy Tepper), suicide. Fills prompt #3, 'Ends'.
This entry is crossposted at Dreamwidth.
Notes/Warnings: Next up, in Christmas-to-New-Year's. Post-canon. Dark. See cut after the story for details if you want 'em.
EXPECTATIONS
*
Billy --
Excellent job on your paper (as usual). Don't forget the tutoring session -- more new people this week!
-- P
*
Dear Mr. Tepper,
Thank you for stopping by. Attached please find a list of times and places for testing, as we discussed.
On a more personal note, it was a pleasure talking with you. I followed the news during the hostage crisis at Regis School, and even at the time, I took note of the boy who was able to remain calm and collected enough to assist the military in their rescue of the hostages...
*
hey --
freshman rush starts tomorrow. jack said he'd get everything, but the fridge is bare. your help is greatly appreciated! *smirk*
- mark
*
Dear Billy,
I know you're busy, but is there any chance you could make it down this weekend? Besides your stepfather's birthday, it would mean a chance to sit down and talk. We haven't had that chance in far too long, and with graduation looming...
*
Billy,
I stopped by to see you, but you were out (obviously). Come over to my place when you get back? I promise to be wearing only a t-shirt! ;-)
Love,
April
*
Dear Mr. Tepper,
Thank you for your interest in the Harvard Journal's newspaper internship program. Interviews are still being scheduled. We will contact you as soon as possible with a time and date.
Thank you again, and the best of luck!
Sincerely,
Christopher T. Binder
(Hey, Bills - just talk to 'em like you did me, and you're in, trust me! -- Chris)
*
Billy --
What's up, dude? Haven't heard from you in months. You are remembering to breathe, right (ha ha)?
-- Snuffy
*
William --
I wanted to just thank you for sitting and listening to me last night. It's harder to find that kind of guy than it should be. Thanks again -- and I don't regret anything. You shouldn't either.
-- Jamie
*
Mr. Tepper --
Attached please find your graded paper. It's a fascinating, if rather bleak, view on the poem. Unfortunately, I must remind you that you still have two more papers that must be turned in by the end of next week...
*
Hey, Billy -
Haven’t heard from you in ages, and with graduation coming up I figured I'd email you. How ya doing? School still going good? Have you met anyone?
-- Hank
*
Final stretch, dude - just two more weeks to go before we are done! Don’t forget to bring the beer -
*
-- finish your papers (15 pages minimum, and don’t forget the citations this time, Mr. Tepper!) -
*
-- come to our party (I swear, there’s gotta be a dozen girls who want to meet you, Billy, and I can’t wait for you to rock their worlds!) -
*
-- come to our party (yeah, I know, but you’re the best there is at calming down the newly out ones - don’t think of it as ‘breaking them in for someone else,’ or whatever it was you said, think of it like that heaven we read about in Eastern Religions, where you get a continual supply of virgins!) -
*
-- looking forward to hearing from you: I think it’s a great opportunity -
*
Hey, Billy!
So here we are graduated! Who’d’ve thought we’d make it this far, huh? And how’s that Harvard diploma looking? World is your oyster, man! How did you do it? Not a single foot wrong. Amazing, dude. Amazing.
Just thought I’d check in, though - Amy said you seemed kind of quiet to her. Don’t know what she’s talking about, but you know how girls are. So how’s things?
Pete
*
Billy -
Okay, so I’m maybe being stupid. But I haven’t heard from you since June, and you’re not answering your phone, so…
Just. Call me, okay?
-- Nick
*
Billy -
A couple of your high school classmates have called me, wondering if I knew where you were. I’m not certain why they thought I would, but in case you’d listen to an old teacher: could you please give one of them a call? Failing that, my phone number is still the same.
Sincerely,
Parker
*
...found in his bathtub. They finally broke down the door, I guess. There was a note and everything, but it was addressed to Joey. Snuffy's kicking himself - I don't know how he was supposed to do anything, but he says he should've known somehow. I don't even want to think about the people Billy knew at Harvard. I always got the impression he had lots of friends. Maybe he did, and he just...couldn't tell them.
I wish there was something we could've done. He always seemed like the best of us, you know? Like he could do anything. Guess he got tired of trying.
-- Nick
-end-
WARNING: Character death (Billy Tepper), suicide. Fills prompt #3, 'Ends'.
This entry is crossposted at Dreamwidth.