Jesse Potter returns home to his parents' neighborhood to housesit for one week. He expects to get some school work done, maybe watch some movies, but nothing else too extreme. Even when the cute neighbor named Patrick catches his eye, he knows he's out of reach. Not only is Patrick married, but Jesse's not sticking around.
Then there's the clown to consider.
Patrick's lawn is filled with Halloween decorations, all of which are terrible to the Halloween-hating Jesse, but the clown with a red outfit is the worst. Especially since the clown seems to have it out for Jesse. As stranger and stranger things keep happening, Jesse falls more and more for Patrick. And when Patrick's husband divorces him one night -- it means there's nothing in the way between the two men.
Except for that clown again ...
"Yeah, well," he went on. "I don't normally get freaked out by clowns. I hate Halloween --"
"You do?"
"Yeah, ever since I was a kid."
"How can a kid hate a holiday where they get free candy?" The man shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. His professional tone disappeared. "You allergic to peanuts?"
"No. Thankfully. Reeses are amazing. But I hate being scared."
"Okay, fair enough." He looked past Jesse towards his evergreen, where the clown hung. Jesse did not need to follow his gaze to remember how exactly the clown looked. "Okay, don't worry," the neighbour said. "I can take it down."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I mean, it is really creepy. Even for me, and I like this holiday. My husband doesn't, and I think I was mostly keeping that up to spite him."
"Husband?"
"Yeah, he's at work right now. And has been for about a week, so I had to put the decorations up by myself. Busy season for lawyers, I guess." He shrugged and didn't seem that convinced. He soon stepped outside, close to Jesse. "I'm Patrick, by the way."
"Jesse."
"Right. Marty's mentioned you a couple times."
"All good things, I hope."
"So far." Patrick smiled. It lingered for a moment before he walked past him on the porch and towards the decorations. He sighed as he looked at the clown. Jesse followed, maybe for posterity, maybe for another extended thank you, or maybe to let go of the crush that had so soon developed -- but now had to be put away. Patrick had a husband.
Damn. Always his luck.
Still, Jesse could watch Patrick and only Patrick as he stretched to grab the clown's arms and fold them down from the fastenings against the evergreen. He could examine Patrick's thick back muscles and his butt while he was here, too. Nothing wrong with looking. When Patrick nearly dropped the clown, Jesse was at his side.
"Overcoming your fear?" Patrick asked.
"Sort of. Also can't let someone go down by themselves."
They shared another coy smile as they took down the remaining ties for the clown. Once it was folded in Patrick's arms, Jesse thought the whole thing was dumb. Was this cheap thing what he had been scared of? The head wasn't even filled in all the way through. It was a flimsy rubber, easy to fold. It didn't even have legs, more like random bits of fabric that floated down as its legs. Ridiculous. Jesse knew he was being ridiculous.
But if this whole thing let him get a little closer to Patrick, hey, maybe it was worth it.
"Well," Patrick said as he walked back to his front porch. "I hope this helps."
"It should. My room's right there." Jesse pointed to the front second story window, right above the garage. "The clown guy was sort of staring me down each night."
"Yikes. Buzz killer. Well, enjoy your Saturday, then."
"Thanks," Jesse said, his heart warming to Patrick's slightly crooked grin. "You too."
Jesse still felt as if he was being watched as he walked to his parents place. This time, however, he had a feeling it was Patrick.
