The Magic Ring

[Tinker Bell]

Matthew had just gotten back from college for summer vacation. While his friends had planned amazing trips to places like Spain or Hawaii. Matthew, he was stuck in Massachusetts. He didn't think this place was all that exciting. Thankfully, though, he didn't have to spend it working for his parents again. He'd done that last summer and hated it. He still had to attend all the functions and everything however. Which, he guessed, wasn't so bad.


Today he had nothing really planned, so he decided to go to his favorite cafe to get an iced tea. He was not the sort who liked coffee, but he drank tea all year round. He ordered a sweet tea and sat down in a corner table. He could spend hours there just reading. Usually he did. This time it was reading for a course he was taking over the summer. He wanted to get ahead with his classes so he didn't have to take so many.

 

[Toxic Tears]

Ace watched him. He always did, really, it had become all he wanted to do. Ever. he watched those full lips against the dainty little teacup, blue eyes sliding over the book like nothing else existed. His name was Matthew, they'd only spoken once or twice in passing, but his mind played those moments over, and over like a favorite 45 record until it drove him mad. That was when he began watching, following him here, looking in a window there, desperate to learn more about the boy, his mind now hungrily lapping up the details of this natural moment, sso intimate to him. One day soon he'd get tired of watching,

 

[Tinker Bell]

Matthew had relaxed a bit as he drowned out the world. It was what he usually did when reading something. It definitely helped him when in college. Here it was just a bit harder to do. He had always felt like someone was watching him, but he never saw anyone who looked like they were. Recently he'd stopped looking around, telling himself he was just being paranoid. After all, it was bound to happen. His dad was big in politics and he owned a huge company with his mother. People tended to recognize him from all the pictures taken and interviews were he was sitting off to the side. It had stopped bothering him after a few years. Finally he couldn't ignore the feeling of being watched. He looked up for a moment, but he didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

 

[Toxic Tears]

His heart skipped a beat when the beautiful little boy looked up, concerned, looking for /him/


it almost felt like he'd been acknowledged and the thrill of nearly being caught was exhilarating, but he couldn't risk it. It had broken his heart when Matthew had stopped working with him, and if he was too looming, he'd stop coming to this cafe. His eyes return idly to his coffee, which he hadn't payed much attention to but game him a reason to stay, and brought out his phone so he could scroll through nothing in particular. He wanted to slyly video tape the boy and might attempt to do so when, or if, he let his guard down again. Ace just sat there pretending to text, praying he hadn't unnerved the boy to the point he would leave.

 

[Tinker Bell]

After a few moments of not seeing anyone looking, Matthew went back to reading. It took a few moments longer than the last time, but he slowly lost himself in the reading again. His tea was all but forgotten along with the world as he turned page after page. He relaxed again, telling himself he'd just imagined it. It was easier to ignore feelings of eyes on him after checking once and seeing nothing. He could tell himself he was just being paranoid and to just stop.

 

[Toxic Tears]

not much time had passed before the watching and longing became too much for him. He left money for the coffee and a little change on the table as he made for the door, absent-mindedly bumping into the object of his affections in his haste, mumbling an apology and praying he hadn't been recognized, making his way toward a bus stop so he could catch one into Salem, planning to use his day off to see what he could do about ensnaring the beauty. If he was to do so, he'd more than his lacking charm and non-existent people sklls.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Matthew hadn't expected to get bumped into, that was for sure. He didn't even have time to really react before the guy had left. He watched him for a moment, but he didn't recognize him. It didn't help that he'd only really seen his back. He went back to reading after a moment. After several hours spent at the cafe, he decided it was time to go. After paying, he walked out, putting his messenger bag on his shoulder. He didn't want to go home, knowing the house would be empty. So instead he just walked around the town for a bit. He had put an earbud in one ear and he was listening to his favorite song on repeat.

 

[Toxic Tears]

the bus ride wasn't too long but it felt like an eternity he was so anxious. he got off the bus stop and ran straight into a store he trusted for simple charms for protection and headaches, but inducing love was another matter. He'd told the trusted storekeep what he wanted last time, and she said she' look into it.


"This is some messed up stuff you're getting yourself into." she warns.


"Do you have what i asked you for or not?" he asks impatiently.


She answers the question by sliding a box to him.


"So long as he wears this, he will be yours the next he sees you. Just remember that if you do this thing and he didn't already feel for you, the emotion will be strong but it will be chemical and manufactured. He won't be able to get enough of you, but he won't know why. This will change him."


He brushed that comment off and paid the price, shockingly low considering the items value and rarity, got home and wrote a simple note to His love, saying that he'd seen it in a store and it made him think of Matthew. He kept it anonymous, only writing it at all out of fear that the boy would otherwise think it was meant for someone else and not wear it. He dropped it at the door to the boys apartment on the long walk home, his heart pounding with joy and hope and fear, knowing he'djust have to return to the cafe tomorrow to see the results.

 

[Tinker Bell]

When Matthew did get home, he saw the letter waiting there. It confused him. He'd only gotten the apartment since being home and no one knew where he lived yet. Still, he opened the letter and read it after getting inside and closing the door.


He didn't know for sure if he wanted to wear it, but he figured trying it on couldn't hurt. He slipped it on his finger and felt just a bit weird. However, he didn't entirely want to take it off, which was weird.


The next morning, he went to the cafe unusually early. He hadn't been able to sleep and the building always made him feel better. He had both earbuds in with music playing. He couldn't hear anything else as he opened the same book from yesterday and started to read again.

 

[Toxic Tears]

Now it was morning and he knew he'd fucked up. His plan was less so a plan with a flaw as a flaw with some plan around the edges. As terrible of an idea as the letter and anonymous deliver had been, he was pretty sure the youths curiosity would not have allowed him not to put it on, and he was fairly sure the magic wouldn't let him take it off. He stopped allowing himself to stress, walking into the cafe and allowing whatever he found there to be his answer

 

[Tinker Bell]

Matthew had just finished the book and closed it when someone walked in. The only reason he knew that someone had come in was because of a lull in the music that aLower him to hear the door. He found himself looking at the ring again. Usually he hated jewelry, it always felt weird. However, he couldn't take this one off. He'd felt a slight wanting to, but he couldn't make himself.

 

[Toxic Tears]

As he walked into the cafe, his heart skipped as he saw Matthew from behind, and Ace hurried ahead so he could see him. What he saw made him want to laugh and cheer or maybe throw up- Matthew was wearing the ring and soon he'd see Ace. Ace ordered a large coffee and sat at the table right in front of Matthew, nearly facing him

 

[Tinker Bell]

Matthew put the book away in his bag. As he straightened up again, he saw him. It was like everything stopped. He'd been in love once before, but this was so different. It was stronger. Suddenly he remembered those few encounters with him while working. Which was strange as he could never remember all the people that worked for his parents. Slowly he took the earbuds out and put his phone away. He stood up only to slip into a chair at the same table right across from him. "Hi..." He was suddenly nervous, probably due to being suddenly in love with this guy he really didn't know and who probably didn't care about him at all. "You're Ace, right?" His name had become burned into his mind, like it was never going to leave.

 

[Toxic Tears]

It was a blink of an eye, a glance as he sat down, and before he could come to terms with what was happening Ace was face to face with Matthew, the object of his affections sitting across from him, greeting him with his name on his lips. He grinned, more sincerely than he has in a very long time "Matthew." He says in greeting

 

[Tinker Bell]

Ace smiling made him smile too. He also blushed a bit, not sure why. Before he could think about what he was doing, words just flew out of his mouth. "I think I love you." His cheeks suddenly burned bright red. "I, um, I mean..." Why had he said that? He knew it was true, but he had no idea why he had said it out loud. He was thoroughly embarrassed.

 

[Toxic Tears]

Ace could feel his heart jump. The boy had said the words he'd thought a thousand times. Ace sat up and scanned the boys face for signs of distress but found none. Impulsively, he leaned across the table, capturing th youths lips with his own

 

[Tinker Bell]

Matthew went wide-eyed for a moment. Then it sunk in what was happening and he could feel his body fill with happiness. Slowly he closed his eyes as he kissed him back. It felt like every dream he'd ever had had come true in that moment. He didn't care about anything else in the world, just him.

 

[Toxic Tears]

Ace couldn't believe that his beautiful little bird was kissing him back. The warmth of his mou that was like some sniper sniper holding oh th, those plump soft lips... He could get drunk on it, but he pulled back looking into those damn bright eyes murmuring "let's go someplace"

 

[Tinker Bell]

Matthew opened his eyes when Ace pulled away. Then he said they should go somewhere else. "Okay." His voice was quiet. He'd go anywhere Ace told him to. He felt certain that if Ace said to jump off a cliff, he would with no hesitation.

 

[Toxic Tears]

Ace dragged the beautiful youth out of the cafe and down the street to a playground and park. He leading him up one of the structures to sit at the top so they could talk, kiss, laugh, be. He final had the boy, after months of watching, he never had to sit by and watch again.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Matthew willingly followed Ace to the playground. He was smiling and he didn't think he would stop. Ace made him really happy. He sat down when they'd reached the top of the structure, right next to Ace. He didn't want to be any further away from him than he was.

 

[Toxic Tears]

Ace couldn't tear his eyes off Matthew. Well he never could. But the warm body next to him, the eyes full of wonder. It was all so intoxicating. He remembered something he'd forgotten earlier.


"I love you too."

 

[Tinker Bell]

Matthew rested his head on Ace's shoulder. He smiled more when Ace said he loved him too. He leaned up and kissed him again. He knew that, if he could, he would never stop kissing Ace.

 

[Toxic Tears]

Ace couldn't comprehend how his life had changed so much so quick, he wanted to know everything there was about the beauty, everything that couldn't be learned by following or watching. He wanted to know what it was he was doing on ten computer for hours, what he was thinking about when he stared out the window a million miles away. His favorite memory, his favorite color. But it would all come in time, and he didn't want to turn this beautiful moment into an interrogation. He held the boys hand, allowing his fingers to brush the ring that he owed his life to, curious how it would affect his love to have Ace's energy against his at such a weak point.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Matthew held Ace's hand back. He felt a weird sort of tingly feeling when Ace touched the ring. But he felt that sort of all over right now. It was kind of like the caffeine buzz he would get when studying late for an exam. Only less stress and more happiness. He didn't care that he only knew two things about Ace and one was just his first name. It didn't matter. He'd come to know it all in time, he wanted to know it all.