Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Pull Up For The J! ❯ Boulevard of Broken Dreams ( Chapter 24 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Manga-Chick 
It's perfectly okay to gossip on the court---after all, Quatre Winner's not the ONLY Quatre Winner in the world...
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Drama / Hentai | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 09.21.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 8.3K | Visits: 232 | Status: Completed
It's perfectly okay to gossip on the court---after all, Quatre Winner's not the ONLY Quatre Winner in the world...
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Drama / Hentai | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 09.21.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 8.3K | Visits: 232 | Status: Completed
Chapter Twenty-Four:
“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” Green Day
Nearly two weeks later, during the home game against Ferndale, Sylvia popped the question.
“Would you...ever think of me as something more than just a friend?”
Trowa, who had been watching both teams warm-up with a mixture of suspicion and remorse, looked at her questioningly. “What?”
Sylvia felt her cheeks redden slightly at the intense expression on Trowa’s face. Since the rumors of Quatre and Triton becoming a couple, she was quite aware that the former goth was somewhat depressed. As indicated by the sudden lapse into whatever it was that caused him to be so...wired.
She wasn’t familiar with drugs–only the common case ones that she saw on tv. To actually know a person that used them was a different story. She was learning, though, and what she learned only made her more determined to show him that she was the one to rescue him from this reaction to his ex’s actions.
While she was jealous that Trowa still harbored feelings for the sporty blond, she had to accept that he felt the way he had because his feelings were so intense for him. There was nothing short of Quatre returning to him that would change his mind otherwise.
But she had to try. She had to put some effort into things.
“I was just asking you what you thought of me,” she mumbled, feeling her face heat as she twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “...Like...could you ever be interested me in a different way?”
Trowa stared silently at her, mind jumbled with his thoughts and confusion. He knew Sylvia had a crush on him–he didn’t think she would ask this particular question. It was more than unnerving. For one thing, he was sure that he didn’t have any feelings for her–but then again, she was pretty, she was unusual, and she was someone different to talk to when he didn’t feel he could connect with anyone.
Quatre was suddenly off-limits–the fact that he did not want to get back together and with the rumors that he and Triton were suddenly an item had left him not wanting to talk to the dude. He had avoided the blond since that last game, and had outright ignored him when Quatre tried to talk to him.
It wasn’t because he was angry–it was just because it hurt. He just hoped that Quatre understood that. It hurt to talk to the blond, knowing things would never be the same between them. But he watched his ex’s games religiously–hiding himself up in the bleachers and appreciating the game simply because it demanded it. He’d also relapsed into his drugs–meth and bud did wonders in helping him forget reality for awhile. He was trying to keep himself from abusing, but that was a failure in itself–he suddenly relied on more and more just to get through the day. Forget withdrawal–besides, there was no one to clean up for, anyway. There was no point in being clean if the person he wanted to be clean for wasn’t interested in him. It was all for himself.
And now, sitting with Sylvia, who was asking if he were interested in her, Trowa had to think. Really, she was right–he should move on. But was he ready to?
“I don’t know,” he murmured, shrugging his shoulders. He was wearing a plain black t shirt over blue baggy jeans, and had contemplated reverting back to his gothic looks again. It just seemed appropriate. As it were, he’d even contemplated using Sylvia’s eyeliner, just for the comfort of applying and wearing it as he used to.
It was also frustrating that there was always a physical downside to drugs–using the stuff regularly produced effects that were less than pretty. Meth caused him to break out, rendering his pimple war inefficient; bud made him hungry; both gave him stomach problems. It was also harder and harder to think clearly and to find appropriate inspiration for his art. He was down spiraling once more, and it didn’t feel good.
He just wanted Quatre back.
Sylvia frowned, dropping her eyes to the various spectators around her. She figured that Trowa wouldn’t really have anything to say to it. It was a little...unexpected. For him. She really liked Trowa–and she knew that he still pined after Quatre. But it couldn’t hurt to try and figure out what the boy thought of her, if she had a chance with him.
She twisted a strand of hair, and tucked it behind her ear.
“I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable, or anything,” she said. “Just...just that I really...I don’t know. I like you, Trowa. I mean, more than a friend. I’m sure you know that. I was just thinking that maybe, you know, we could somehow...be different. You know?”
“I don’t know, Sylvia. That’s just...I don’t think I’d have interest in you like that...”
Sylvia felt crushed, but she was bound and determined not to let it show. “Well...that’s that, then, huh? I mean, no biggie. I mean, it’s not like I’m in love with you, or anything. Just...well, y’know...you still like Quatre, huh? I understand. It’s hard moving on, but I’m glad that you are. Just...I’m going to shut up, now. I’m rambling.”
She gave a nervous giggle and turned away from him, watching the game. She tried not to feel upset–but she couldn’t help it. Carefully, she reached up to wipe at her eyes, making it look as if she were checking her eyeliner, but they were tearing up.
The players on the court were laughing and having fun amongst each other–she settled her reddened gaze on Quatre, who was making threes from the far corner of the three point line, laughing at something Triton was saying. She’d heard the rumors that those two had hooked up at some party–but there hadn’t been any truth to it. They were just rumors. They didn’t act any different–Triton said something that made Quatre glare at him, and they both behaved as if they hadn’t “blown, fucked, blown again and fucked again that one Saturday night at this guy’s house downtown”. Wouldn’t two people that shared intimacies act differently toward each other?
She didn’t know. She couldn’t find an actual confirmation to these rumors, and neither were telling. Her usual suspect of gossip never spoke to her. She searched the court for her former friend. Felicia was busy gabbing a mile a minute with some guy off court, and shooting an occasional shot with a stray ball that came her way. Sylvia was still annoyed that the girl talked about her–it was obvious that Felicia disliked her, now. She didn’t get it–she wasn’t the boys’ keeper. Just because she had a big crush on Quatre didn’t mean that gave her rights to smear Sylvia’s name all over the school because she was chasing after Trowa. She wanted to get the girl back for being so mean to her, but that meant lowering herself to her level–she wasn’t about to pull a Middie Une. She just wasn’t like that.
She looked over at the other players for Darken. Looking over at Duo, she noticed that his shots were off, and he’d been playing like crap the last two games. He kept looking around the gym, and looking more than miserable, so Sylvia distracted herself with wondering why he looked that way. She noticed that he and Hiiro Yuy never talked. They didn’t acknowledge each other off the court. She wondered why when they were usually attached at the hip. She wondered if it had to do with the rumor that Relena had cheated on Hiiro with Duo...which had to be a rumor because she’d heard from her friends that Duo and Relena disliked each other, but tolerated one another for Hiiro. But that was something else she’d never know until one of them confessed, or until she had the actual facts.
Yay for high school drama! She thought with a frown. Why was it that teenagers took everything so out of perspective and totally dramatized every little detail? Still, it made things interesting...
While Sylvia was lost in her thoughts, Trowa took a deep breath, wondering if and ever he and Quatre would ever get back together. It just seemed impossible, at the moment. Quatre was just moving further and further away from him. He looked...happier. He didn’t look like he did when they had broken up–he’d always have this sad little expression on his face, and it looked painful to talk to him–but now he was all smiles and cheer as he moved his way through life.
Trowa wondered how the boy did it when he felt so down in the dumps. Of course, using drugs didn’t help things much, but that was his way of coping. It was faster, more convenient, and it wasn’t as if he were endangering anybody...he just wanted to escape for a little while, to a place where things didn’t matter so much. On a faint level, he was quite aware that he was taking it completely out of perspective, but there was really no one to tell him so. He just felt so...lost.
He was surprised when he felt a hand on his back. He turned, and stared in surprise at Lana and Rashid Kurama, both of whom were taking seats beside him. He was so surprised that he didn’t have anything to say as the friendly woman smiled at him, and embraced him fondly.
“It’s so good to see you again!” she said lightly, her chandelier earrings brushing against his shoulder. He awkwardly returned the hug.
“Hello, Trowa,” Rashid said, his deep voice making him wince.
“Hey–hi,” Trowa greeted, awkwardly as he pulled back from Lana. He stared at both of them in mute shock, unsure of what to think or say. The pair were oddly matched–Rashid was so tall and massive that he dwarfed his wife–who was a round, plump woman with a round face and a cheery disposition that made it difficult to dislike her. Being Quatre’s legal guardians because of his father’s disownment, the pair were ultra-supportive and quite likeable, and Trowa found no reason to snub or ignore them.
Though, now that he was a little over the shock at seeing them, he rubbed at his face nervously and hoped that neither of them suspected that he was currently tweaking. Though it was kind of hard when he wasn’t aware that he was already giving away signs to those that knew them.
Lana pulled away, looking at the court as the buzzer rang, signaling for both teams to ready themselves for the game.
“We made it just in time,” she declared, settling more firmly on the bench. She had a way of speaking that made every word seem drawn out and lazy. Trowa thought it was funny–everyone in New Park spoke as if their lives depended on cramming a million words into a single second. “I had thought we were going to be late...this city is so large! How can one even think to get used to it?”
“What are you guys doing here?” Trowa asked, looking at them curiously.
He wondered if Quatre even knew they were here, or if this was something planned. Christmas Break was Monday–they could be here to take him back to Laramie.
Lana held a finger to her lips, smiling at him.
“It’s a surprise,” she confided, dark eyes flashing with delight. “He doesn’t know we’re here. We were going to fly him back home for Christmas, but we’d saved enough to come here and watch him play. Then we’d take him home.”
“Those are bright uniforms,” Rashid noticed with a thoughtful frown.
“He doesn’t know you’re here?” Trowa repeated, looking back at the court. The starting players–Quatre, Paul, Duo, Felicia and Triton–were taking off their warm-ups and getting ready to walk back onto the court after the announcement of their names and numbers. The blond was busy giving the girl noogies while she wailed, struggling to get her armbands off. “He’s going to freak about that...”
“We had always made every one of his games in Laramie,” Lana said, frowning as she glanced around her. There were more people inside this gym than there ever could be back home. This gym was four times the size of the one back at Quatre’s old high school. It was a little unnerving. “We’d thought making his first home game of the season would start him off on the right foot. How’s he doing so far?”
Oh, God, they think we’re still together, Trowa thought as he watched the players from the opposite team move onto the court after the announcements.
“Good. He’s pretty good. But...that’s expected...”
“They have girls on the team?!” Lana exclaimed, touching her face. Then she grew excited. “A Native girl as well? Is that one Native?”
Trowa nodded. “One of two that go to this school. Her name’s Felicia.”
“Oh, how wonderful! You never see Natives anymore, unless you’re near a reservation, or–oh, Trowa! What’s wrong with him?! Has he lost weight?! Rashid, look at him!”
Trowa winced, feeling an internal spear of guilt and remorse flood through him at Lana’s concern. Emerging onto the court, Quatre was saying something to Paul, and Trowa tried to see him the way his auntie was–he was thinner than he was last year, in a wholly unhealthy way. Even though he was toned and muscular from his athletic activities, it was obvious that the boy needed to be fed in a serious way.
Trowa felt guilty for being the main driving force behind it. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“Is he sick?” Rashid asked, frowning over in Trowa’s direction.
“Um...no. Just...stressed,” Trowa muttered, unable to meet his eyes.
“About what?! His grades, probably,” Lana said on a sigh, rolling her eyes. “He never applies himself to his school work...does he want to go back to summer school?”
Trowa let them think what they will, and wondered if he should tell them that he and Quatre hadn’t been a couple for over a month.
“Well, Trowa! Tell us about you!” Lana said, looking at him. They were introducing the starting players of Ferndale, and she didn’t feel like paying attention to them. Trowa noticed that her hair was grayer than it was last year.
“Er...well...nothing new, really,” he muttered, looking at the floor. As Ferndale’s crowd clapped and cheered for their players, their meager pep band was playing “Eye of the Tiger”. Their corniness distracted him. He also felt speared by her gaze, which was both motherly and friendly, a very uncomfortable combination when one was high on illegal substances. “Um...I have something to tell you two. Uh...well, Quatre and I are not a couple anymore. We...we broke up over a month ago....”
Lana stared at him silently, blinking in that wise way she had. Rashid hadn’t heard; the large man stared out at the crowd, noticeably uncomfortable with his large size as people continued to crowd the benches. Darken’s own pep band began playing the school song, and the cheerleaders were doing their thing to pump up the crowd. All these distractions made it difficult for Trowa to concentrate on things.
“Oh,” she finally uttered. Her eyes then narrowed slightly as they took him in. He hoped that she was too tired to notice the difference in his appearance–he felt shamed that he was facing her like this. He respected her from the short time he’d known her. “Well...was it bad?”
“No...no, it was just...things weren’t going the way that they had...I don’t know. It’s just...”
“It’s not that I’m going to treat you differently, Trowa,” she then said gently, patting his knee. “You’re still a nice person. And it’s obvious, from the way you talk about him, that you still care about him. It isn’t as if we’re going to ostracize you because of this...unless you did something incredibly horrible to him, then I’d have to speak up...”
Trowa smiled at her, and decided not to mention any details. If Quatre wanted to tell his aunt and uncle the reasons why, then that was his job.
“No...I don’t know. It’s just...sometimes, I guess, people can’t stay together for certain reasons...I don’t know. I just hope that things change in the future.”
Lana made a sound of committal, then looked at him worriedly. “Trowa, you do know that he–”
She was interrupted by the start of the game, at which she clapped loudly and cheered for Quatre. Trowa looked at her questioningly, wondering what she was going to say to him. Then, reluctantly, he looked back at the court.
#20#20#20#20#20#20#20
Quatre focused on the players that were assembling on the court, Ferndale’s point taking her position before him. Since Triton had successfully batted the ball his way, Darken was in possession of the ball and were now facing the home basket as the crowd cheered. Uninterested in the crowd, he saw that his teammates were in position and ready to play. Duo signaled that he was open, so Quatre made a bounce pass in his direction, then cut through the middle of the key. He saw Triton step out from his position underneath the basket, Paul head out to the three point line, and Felicia darting up top. Duo dribbled carefully, keeping the ball out of reach from Ferndale’s players, and made a quick pass to Felicia. She then passed it to Paul, who passed inside to Quatre, who made an easy bank shot. The crowd cheered, and Quatre signaled for a full court press.
All four of his teammates kept up top, taking offensive positions along the key. Ferndale’s inbounds pass was made in panic, and Triton made the next shot with an easy tip. Hearing the point of the opposite team bark out orders, Quatre signaled for a full man-to-man press, taking on the shooting guard for their team so that Felicia could take over on their female. They had two of them on the court, and one of them was taller than Triton.
The inbounds pass was made, #52 taking the ball in easy stride despite Paul’s pressure. He dribbled it casually, looking for a way out as the ref counted down ten seconds. Seeing that he had none, he made a desperate drive against Paul, shoving aside the senior and slamming off of his teammates’s shield, which was set for Paul. He lost control of the ball, but Duo gained possession, making an easy three as he stepped out past the line. Darken’s crowd cheered at the very easy seven points, and Quatre rolled his eyes. This looked to be a very easy game, and he was not thrilled about it. He signaled for a half court press, wishing for a challenge as he and his team backed off from Ferndale.
“So,” Felicia whispered as she hurried to her position. “Is it true?”
“What?! Stop this bullshit and focus on the game!” he growled at her, taking position at the top of the three point line.
“We’re gonna win anyway!” she snorted, giving a Ferndale player a scoffing expression. “They’re pathetic!”
“I’m ignoring you!” Quatre growled as he focused on the point guard. She looked a little hassled as she conferred with a male teammate, who was pointing out a quick strategy before making his position as offense.
“You and Triton are fuck buddies?”
He was so startled and embarrassed by the question that the point swept around him with an easy dribble, passing out to #40, who in turn passed it to #52.
“Shut up!!” he yelped, turning to stop what he could as the centers below the net battled for possession.
“You and Triton are fuckin’?” Paul asked him, a little shocked as he looked from one player to the next. “Triton, you got in?!”
“PAUL!”
Even Ferndale’s players looked a little scandalized, the boys noticeably withdrawing from Quatre with disgusted expressions. Triton, oblivious to it all, held the ball so that the rebounding players couldn’t touch it, then passed it out to Duo.
“GODDAMMIT–! We’re playing ball, here!” Quatre growled, signaling for the ball. His face was reddening with embarrassment as he glanced around, wondering who else heard the startling comments. Duo passed it to him, ambling over to his position down court.
“Yeah, but, that doesn’t mean we can’t communicate as teammates,” Felicia said with a cackle as she moved down court. “This is communication, dude!”
“I’m going to have you benched!!” Quatre roared, mortification turning his entire upper body red.
“How is that possible?” Paul wondered aloud, giving Quatre an up and down. “Wasn’t it awkward for you two? I mean, he’s a head taller than you...Were you on top?”
“SHUT UP!!! FUCK!”
One of the refs ordered, “Watch what you say, #20.”
“Sorry...”
“I thought it wasn’t possible,” Felicia continued, moving around her guarding player, signaling that she was open. Once the ball was in her hands, she turned her back to her player, and cut through the middle of the action within the key, tossing it out to Duo, who made another three from his magic spot on the three point line. “I mean...you hate him! You sure must’ve been drunk, dude...”
“CAN WE NOT TALK ABOUT THIS?!” Quatre practically shrieked, growing red as he glowered at her.
When he looked over at Paul to see why the player hadn’t moved into position, he saw that he was talking to Triton, who looked a little embarrassed.
Paul then turned and shouted with a wave of his arms, “THEY DIDN’T!”
“YOU DIDN’T?!” Felicia screeched from her position down court.
“Who didn’t?!” Duo demanded as he took position. “What’s going on?!”
“You guys are gay?” #52 asked Quatre as he gave him a disgusted expression.
“What the hell, man?!” Triton shouted at him. “You talking shit?!”
“I didn’t say anything!” Quatre wailed as he moved after Ferndale’s point.
“Triton, you guys didn’t do anything?!” Felicia yelped, racing around her player and assisting Quatre.
Once Ferndale’s point passed the ball through an open space between them, she tore down the court, whistling that she was open. Until Duo merged in front of her, stealing the pass that was meant for her quick break. Duo tore down the court and made an easy bank. The crowd was going wild at his ability to rack up the points.
“FUCK YOU, Wrong Way!”
With a severely reddened face, Quatre glared at her. “It’s none of your damn business, you know.”
“But you wouldn’t tell me!” she whined, looking pained. “I have to find out somehow...”
“IT’S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!”
“I’m only looking out for my future interior decorator!!”
One of the girls giggled while one of her teammates muttered in disgust of homosexuals.
“How could you two have NOT done anything?!” Felicia asked, moving up to pressure the inbounds pass while her teammates moved back, Quatre covering the second Ferndale player up topside.
“I can’t believe you’re asking for this shit!!” he snarled, startling his player. “We’re in the middle of a fucking GAME!”
“So, who had the whiskey dick? You, buddy o’mine? Or Triton? Issat why ya’ll couldn’t do anythin’?”
“I’m going to fucking kill you as SOON as this game ends, you piece of shit!!”
Felicia whistled lowly, stealing the ball when her player made a desperate pass. Shooting a three that missed, forcing Quatre to rebound, she laughed. Ramos screamed at her from the sidelines.
“Promises, promises...I still remember you promising to give me godchildren, and I haven’t seen them, yet.”
“You guys are fucking weird,” #15 said, giving her an odd expression.
“Hey, you guys are losing. I have to do SOMETHING to entertain myself...maybe make this game a little more exciting and put some effort into playin’, all right?”
“Stupid skank whore!”
“WOW! You’re aware of my rep?! I’m fuckin’ famous if Ferndale knows of me!”
Sputtering, #15 ran off to chase after the ball, which was snagged by Paul. Duo once again made three points, putting Darken ahead of Ferndale by fifteen. Felicia sighed, shoulders sagging. She rolled her head from side to side, and looked back at Triton, whose reddened complexion wasn’t from all the running they were doing. They weren’t even winded.
“So? Were you pitcher or catcher?” she asked him.
“You know, someone should really gag you with that fucking hair of yours! You fucking man!”
“So you guys didn’t?!” she said, half-heartedly running about as Duo made another two. Ferndale’s players looked entirely depressed as Darken continued to slaughter them. “Were you too small and couldn’t compare to Boombastic Barton’s Amazing Pornographic Man Rod?!”
Triton reddened even more at the comment, and gave her an agonizing pinch just below her left shoulder blade as he passed by. She gave a howl, then slapped both hands over her mouth as the sting resonated throughout her entire body. As tears pricked her eyes, she gave a shaky giggle.
“It’s none of your fucking business!!!” Quatre hissed as he passed by. “GOD!”
“Hey, when ya’ll gonna start playing?” Felicia asked a Ferndale player as she set up position, awkwardly trying to reach behind her to rub at the spot Triton had pinched. “This feels like gym class with uniforms. Do something.”
“Fuck off, squaw!”
“Damn...no need to get all negative...”
“So,” Duo was lagging in the conversation, but had gotten bits and pieces of it. As he and Quatre backed off the frontal pressure against the other team, he asked, “From what I heard...you and Triton got it on?”
“NO!!”
“Both of them were drunk,” Felicia whispered as she ran past them. “Whiskey dick.”
“Ah,” Duo nodded in grave understanding, looking at them both. “I hate when that happens...”
Quatre waved at Ramos. “GET ME OUT OF HERE!!”
Ramos gave a questioning expression, looking entirely lost as to why one of his star players wanted out of this game.
“FELICIA! You’re going to die after this game!” Triton howled from beneath the net.
“WHAT?! What’d I do?! Who said I was talking about you?! I could be talking about another Triton Bloom and another Quatre Winner!! Who says there’s only one of each of ya on this planet?!”
Duo laughed, making a half-hearted attempt to go after the ball. Even with the lack of effort from Darken, Ferndale wasn’t able to produce a shot. As Triton rebounded the ball, hurling it the way a pitcher would with a baseball, Paul hurried to catch the ball and make a three point from the bottom left corner.
Wiping his hands on his jersey, he asked, “When did this happen? I thought you were all loved up with that Barton guy...”
“That’s fuckin’ OLD news!” Felicia scoffed, then gave him a disgusted expression. “Where the hell have you been all this time?!”
“What–?! Man, I don’t know this shit!” Paul exclaimed, shrugging.
“WILL YOU STOP TALKING AND PLAY BALL?!” Quatre screamed at them. He managed to steal the ball from #14, making an easy lay-up. Darken’s crowd was disappointed that this game was flying by so easily. Ferndale’s supporters kept up the shouts and cheers.
“And besides that,” Paul continued, jogging half-heartedly to his position, “I thought that Justin guy was your receiver?”
“ARGGGGHHH!!!!”
“No, man. Jigga J’s just a friend of his,” Felicia corrected him, waving a hand in the air.
“‘Jigga J’?”
“Yeah, man. Jigga. Jigga J!” she crowed in the deepest bass her girlish voice could muster.
Paul looked back at Quatre, respect evident in his face. “Man. For a guy scoring with other guys, you sure do rack up the notches on the bed post!”
“THEREARENONOTCHES!!!!”
Paul laughed, shaking his head. He barely caught the free ball that went bouncing his way after Ferndale’s point lost control of it. Dribbling aimlessly, he shuffled his way down court, looking for a pass. When Duo signaled for a catch, he swung the ball that way. Duo hesitated in shooting, and passed out to Triton, who passed out to Quatre. Quatre made the easy shot, still flustered over the content of his teammates’ words.
“You guys SUCK!” he shouted, glaring at Felicia and Paul.
The ref whistled, roughly ordering a warning on his language.
With an outraged expression, Quatre stared after her. Paul laughed again, slapping his thigh.
“I’m so glad I transferred here,” he muttered, taking position once more down the court.
#20#20#20#20#20#20#20
At halftime, while Ramos was busily arguing with Brian over several turnovers, Duo glanced over the team’s shorter heads and looked at Hiiro. The Japanese was busily conversing with Paul and Otto, the three of them laughing over something that Otto was saying. Feeling a very heavy tinge of regret coursing through his veins, Duo leaned against the lockers, sullenly hooking his thumbs in his game shorts. Just hearing the exchange between the other players concerning homosexual hookups made him feel very sorry that he hadn’t yet made any effort in replying to Hiiro’s declaration.
Hiiro had basically told him that he returned Duo’s feelings, and Duo had yet to say something in reply. He felt too ashamed and suddenly embarrassed whenever he looked over in that guy’s direction. Sure, doing practice and games they were fine, but when it came to alone time–Hiiro most often ignored him, doing his own thing, and Duo was left, flustered and dumb, standing on his own. He really wanted to talk to Hiiro–he wanted to confess what he felt. He wanted to confess everything!
But he felt, that as time continued to pass since that night, that every time was the wrong time to try and bring it up. Hiiro avoided him–he inadvertently avoided him due to his lack of words.
But as Christmas Break neared, Duo was feeling that race of emotion and surge of adrenaline in that he wanted to confess before parting. He wanted to let Hiiro know, in some way or form, that he returned all that he felt for the boy. But he wasn’t sure how to do it!
Looking at the openly bi and homosexuals of his team made his chest clench. He didn’t want to talk to Quatre–the boy would most likely turn it into a “And you were badmouthing me?!” sort of conversation, and was no help. Triton...well...Triton probably wasn’t the best person to talk to, as well. The senior would tell everyone he knew that two of the most unlikely guys in school were suddenly gay, too.
So he looked at Mariamaia.
“Hey,” he whispered, elbowing the frosh. She looked at him, large blue eyes glazing with embarrassment as she realized an upperclassman was talking to her. “I need to talk to you after the game.”
“All right,” she whispered, making her red hair bob.
A little relieved that things would look better afterward, Duo glanced in Hiiro’s direction. The Japanese had his back turned, fiddling with the tie strings on his shorts, and so didn’t see the expression that flittered across Duo’s face. Taking a deep breath, and psyching himself in determination for his confession, Duo turned his attention back to Ramos.
#20#20#20#20#20#20#20
After the game, Quatre and his teammates endured another ass-chewing from their coach–Ramos was not pleased that even though they’d racked up the points (104 to 34), they had played a crappy game. He was not satisfied with their productivity, and he certainly wasn’t pleased with their actions during the start of the game. After vowing revenge with serious running drills the next practice, he released them to the after-activities of post game fun. Quatre ran out from the locker room, flaming furious. Once he caught sight of his female teammate, he stormed after her, ignoring Trowa’s calls in his direction.
Felicia was laughing with some guys that looked college-aged, and looked up when she heard his snarls and heavy panting. She immediately turned to run, but he’d grabbed her by her hair, hauled her off her feet, and slammed her head first into the nearest trash canister.
When that didn’t satisfy him, he pushed the canister over and kicked the offending object away from him. The college kids laughed and walked off while Felicia dug herself out, laughing hysterically. Picking out gum, paper and melted goo from her clothing, she rose unsteadily to her feet.
“Damn, that’s the best greeting I’ve gotten from you in ages! Yay! Let’s get married! I want all ten of your babies! Hopefully, they turn out just as gay as you, and we’ll all be one big gay family–well, except for me, because I ain’t lesbian...Let’s go party! I know this one guy over in Sageville, and he wants to–!”
“You fucking suck! You fucking whore! Skank bag! You cum dumpster! You butchy lesbo!” Quatre howled, shoving at her. “I fucking hate you! I hope you die! You fucking suck!!”
“No! No! You love me–holy Jesus! Is that Trowa’s parents?! Oh my GOD! They’re back from the dead and looking to eat my brains!!” Felicia gasped, letting go of him.
“You don’t have the required equipment,” Quatre snarled, driving his elbow into her gut.
But he was curious as to what she was talking about, so he turned around. When he saw Rashid and Lana looking at him with horrified expressions, he was so exhilarated at seeing them that he raced over with a happy laugh.
He slammed into Rashid with an awkward hug, then remembered that he was in a public place with all his peers. He cleared his throat and backed away, looking at Lana. He enveloped her into a bone crushing hug, joyously surprised that they were actually standing there, looking at him...
He stepped back from them, glancing at an awkward Trowa as he stood to the side.
“You guys are here!!?” he exclaimed, looking from Rashid to Lana, and back again. “Wow! You never told me you were coming out here!!”
“Quatre...” Lana started, looking from him to the girl that stared at them curiously. She could not believe the acts that had taken place before their very eyes. To see her nephew beating up on a girl, so callously and deliberately, made her extremely ill. She was at a loss for words.
Rashid was as well, staring down at his nephew with a silently disturbed expression.
Felicia then gave a squeal of panic and ran as Triton charged at her, welding a baseball bat. Paul, Derrick and Brian were running after him, the small train of students creating some chaos within those that were milling about.
Completely forgetting that his loved ones had no idea of Felicia’s superhuman abilities, he gestured after her.
“That’s Felicia. Pay no attention to him,” he ordered, waving his hand about. “He deserves all that he gets. When did you get here?! I didn’t know you were coming into New Park!! Did you watch me play?!”
Trowa snorted, shaking his head as Lana and Rashid glanced at each other in mute concern. Quatre looked at him, smiled briefly, then looked back at his loved ones.
“Lana, Rashid...she’s superhuman,” Trowa explained quietly to the stunned adults that watched the actions with confused expressions on their faces. “They’re always like this. Everyone just treats her like a guy.”
Lana looked at him with a confused expression. “She’s...he...that...er...that child is a...boy? Dressing as a...female?”
“I’m pretty sure of it,” Quatre said with a firm nod. He waved his hands about, hugging her again. “Forget about that. You guys didn’t answer my question!”
Rashid, still a little sluggish over seeing his nephew slam that girl around as if she were nothing but...well...a boy, blinked his eyes into focus.
“We came in over two hours ago,” he answered smoothly. “Yes, we watched your game. Your team could perform a little better...granted, that display was nothing more than casual horseplay.”
“But Ferndale sucked,” Quatre pointed out, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, we racked up the points, but towards the end, it was like, we weren’t even trying...”
“You should never give up trying, Quatre. That’s not how you played,” Rashid said with a low sigh. His nephew’s once firm belief that going all out for every single game had changed. Once upon a time, Quatre would have never played this way. He would have never slacked as he had. Watching him play was like watching a overpaid athlete lumber through set games. He was disappointed and stunned to see it.
Trowa began moving away from the group, feeling wholly uncomfortable. He felt he no longer belonged with them now that he and Quatre were broken up. But it had been so nice to visit with them...
“Well, Lana, Rashid–it was nice seeing you again.”
“Oh–! Where are you going?” Lana asked, turning away from Quatre to look at him.
Trowa shrugged and turned to walk off. “Later, Quat.”
“Bye!”
“Quatre!” Lana turned back to him, blinking in confusion. “What–?! Why–?”
Quatre snorted, waving his hand carelessly in the air. “Don’t even ask, auntie. Looooooong story. But things are cool...I think. Anyway, where are you guys staying at? I’m so happy you guys are here! This was really unexpected!”
Lana smiled weakly at him, trying to keep up with his quick chatter. He was behaving so differently from his country boy roots that it was startling. She didn’t know how she was going to keep up with him. Rashid looked away from the various alien students that milled about with their odd hairstyles and colors, a little embarrassed that he was behaving as a country mouse would within the city. He looked back at his nephew, then reached out to squeeze one shoulder.
“Can we borrow you for the week?”
“YEAH! Hey, let me get my stuff! This is so awesome! I really wasn’t expecting to see you guys until Monday!” Quatre exclaimed excitedly, walking with them toward the gym doors.
Lana had to laugh. “Well, I’m happy that you’re excited about it...we’ve really missed you, Quatre. But I can see why you always want to stay here–this is a very nice school.”
“Very...roomy,” Rashid decided, frowning as he looked over the many people lingering about.
“Yeah, it’s big. But, hell–it’s awesome. There’s so much people to mess around with...I mean, you know, to meet and stuff. Hey, let me show you my room! It’s way cool!” Quatre said, leading the way, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that they were following.
Lana and Rashid exchanged expressions as he turned, greeting various students as they passed through the crowd on the first floor of the gym. Quatre didn’t see the expression–but it was clearly something of regret.
#20#20#20#20#20#20#20
That Sunday, Hiiro was just making his way toward one of the many taxis that were lined up in the parking lot, tugging his suitcase behind him, when he heard his name called. He froze only because it was Duo’s voice. He turned with a curious expression, then quickly shifted it to a guarded one. Duo had not acknowledged him since his confession–which made him quite embarrassed. He had hoped for some sort of reaction from the braided one–having none at all was more than disconcerting. He knew Duo’s views on homosexuality–and while he was sure he wasn’t, sure that all he felt for his former friend was something that couldn’t be defined as such, he had just hoped Duo would just give him a reaction.
These past weeks had been hell for him, being unable to talk to or even behave normally around the other boy because of these feelings.
But Duo was calling him, and running over to him...was it possible he had something encouraging or disappointing to say?
He rolled his eyes at his own vague question.
Duo slowed to a walk as he neared him, frowning as he took in the suitcases and overstuffed backpack. He then shifted his eyes to Hiiro’s feeling that spear of mortification for himself and that thrill of knowing that his friend had feelings for him. He stopped just before Hiiro, nervously cracking his knuckles as he tried to remember all that he was going to say to him.
Mariemaia had been quite helpful, for someone her age–she hadn’t yet come out to the school, or to those she hung out with, but Duo had known that the girl harbored same-sex feelings. It had been so obvious. She oogled Felicia every time the girl was around. To correctly guess her true preference was something Duo had juggled with, but he’d been right. Her shy words of encouragement and respect had more than helped him with this Hiiro situation.
“Hey,” he said rather lamely. He frowned at his own lack of conviction.
“Hey,” Hiiro muttered, frowning as he gripped the handle of his suitcase tightly, staring at Duo with apprehension.
“I...wanted to talk to you before you left,” Duo started, taking a deep breath. He hid his arms behind himself, swallowing hard. “Look...about that night–”
“Just forget about it,” Hiiro snapped, stepping in an agitated way toward the taxis. Duo quickly cut off his path, holding his arms out to his sides.
“Just, please! Please listen to me,” he begged, then lowered his voice as he realized people were glancing their way curiously. He felt his face flush with nervousness and embarrassment as he tucked his hands into his pockets. “I...I did a lot of thinking, Hiiro, and–I haven’t been...I haven’t been honest with you. I mean, I have, but not completely. I mean...well...you see...shit.”
Hiiro lifted an eyebrow, looking at him curiously, but with a sense of hostility as he waited for something cutting from the boy. At least, with these words, there would be finality to the free-floating questions. At least he would know what Duo felt. That was much better than not knowing at all.
Duo flushed again, withdrawing his hands to nervously play with the end of his braid. Then, he tried for a smile, but it was weak and sadly strange on his face. Both of Hiiro’s eyebrows rose with question, indicating for him to go on.
“You see...uh...look, to be honest–I–God, this is so hard.”
“Just spit it out! My flight leaves in two hours. You know how security is at Aprexal,” Hiiro snapped, gesturing in the vague direction of the airport.
“I’vehadfeelingsforyouforthelongesttimeandIneverwa ntedtotellyoubecauseIthoughtyou’dneverfeelthesame!” Duo blurted out, making Hiiro blink curiously.
“What?”
Duo hung his head, then shook it. His voice was in a very low whisper, that Hiiro had to lean slightly forward to hear them. “I’ve had feelings for you for the longest time and I never wanted to tell you because I thought you’d never feel the same.”
Hiiro then stared at him with a sense of disbelief, blinking repeatedly. Did he just hear–?
“So, see? I mean...that night...when you told me that you–Christ. That you had...feelings...well, you didn’t exactly say it like that–! Just...I was so shocked, Hiiro! I was so shocked and stunned and surprised and really, really shocked to hear that you had...that you felt that way about me,” Duo ended in a whisper, hunching his shoulders. He kicked at the sidewalk nervously. “Look, I’m always talking shit to–to the ones that are–and then here I had feelings for you–I have for, like, forever, but...I could never tell you. I never knew what you would feel. I didn’t want to...I didn’t want to risk our friendship. But...but that night, when I didn’t say anything...and then we didn’t talk...it made me realize that I...I was ruining things. I should have said something to you. I should have–! But I was nervous, Hiiro. I mean–”
“You...feel...the same?” Hiiro asked quietly. He suddenly saw interest in the sidewalk, feeling his own heart race with excitement and euphoria. Nervous euphoria. Little did he know, Duo was feeling the same thing. Now that he was able to talk, it seemed he couldn’t shut up.
“Then I had to talk to you, Hiiro. I mean...let you know that I feel for you–I mean, as...more than a friend. I mean, always. I always have. It just grew from...from respect and admiration. I mean, I just admired you! Then I was thinking about how much I liked being with you, about how...God, about how attractive you are–! And here I was, badmouthing all the gays and shit, and I felt this way about you–! I don’t know myself, anymore! I mean–! I’m so happy that you–”
“Duo...”
“–feel the same...yes?”
Hiiro searched the sidewalk for answers. When none was revealed to him, he looked up nervously. “I... I don’t know what to say.”
Duo stared at him in silence, then began to crack his knuckles. He had to swallow a sudden lump in his throat. As his eyes searched Hiiro’s, he began to realize that he didn’t know the next step from this. He scanned the campus of the school as Hiiro shuffled with his suitcase. Looking at New Park’s skyline, Duo swallowed hard and tried to think of what to do now.
The awkward silence between them was long and undisturbed until a classmate of theirs called and waved at them. At the automatic reply in form of waves, they both looked at each other. Then slowly smiled.
“Call me,” Hiiro muttered.
Duo slowly grinned, feeling a skip in his heart as he realized that things were good between them. Possibly even better. He nodded, backing away. “Yeah. You too.”
They then waved at each other, and took their separate paths toward Christmas Break hell, both of them incredibly happy that feelings were reciprocated, and a valuable friendship restored.
“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” Green Day
Nearly two weeks later, during the home game against Ferndale, Sylvia popped the question.
“Would you...ever think of me as something more than just a friend?”
Trowa, who had been watching both teams warm-up with a mixture of suspicion and remorse, looked at her questioningly. “What?”
Sylvia felt her cheeks redden slightly at the intense expression on Trowa’s face. Since the rumors of Quatre and Triton becoming a couple, she was quite aware that the former goth was somewhat depressed. As indicated by the sudden lapse into whatever it was that caused him to be so...wired.
She wasn’t familiar with drugs–only the common case ones that she saw on tv. To actually know a person that used them was a different story. She was learning, though, and what she learned only made her more determined to show him that she was the one to rescue him from this reaction to his ex’s actions.
While she was jealous that Trowa still harbored feelings for the sporty blond, she had to accept that he felt the way he had because his feelings were so intense for him. There was nothing short of Quatre returning to him that would change his mind otherwise.
But she had to try. She had to put some effort into things.
“I was just asking you what you thought of me,” she mumbled, feeling her face heat as she twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “...Like...could you ever be interested me in a different way?”
Trowa stared silently at her, mind jumbled with his thoughts and confusion. He knew Sylvia had a crush on him–he didn’t think she would ask this particular question. It was more than unnerving. For one thing, he was sure that he didn’t have any feelings for her–but then again, she was pretty, she was unusual, and she was someone different to talk to when he didn’t feel he could connect with anyone.
Quatre was suddenly off-limits–the fact that he did not want to get back together and with the rumors that he and Triton were suddenly an item had left him not wanting to talk to the dude. He had avoided the blond since that last game, and had outright ignored him when Quatre tried to talk to him.
It wasn’t because he was angry–it was just because it hurt. He just hoped that Quatre understood that. It hurt to talk to the blond, knowing things would never be the same between them. But he watched his ex’s games religiously–hiding himself up in the bleachers and appreciating the game simply because it demanded it. He’d also relapsed into his drugs–meth and bud did wonders in helping him forget reality for awhile. He was trying to keep himself from abusing, but that was a failure in itself–he suddenly relied on more and more just to get through the day. Forget withdrawal–besides, there was no one to clean up for, anyway. There was no point in being clean if the person he wanted to be clean for wasn’t interested in him. It was all for himself.
And now, sitting with Sylvia, who was asking if he were interested in her, Trowa had to think. Really, she was right–he should move on. But was he ready to?
“I don’t know,” he murmured, shrugging his shoulders. He was wearing a plain black t shirt over blue baggy jeans, and had contemplated reverting back to his gothic looks again. It just seemed appropriate. As it were, he’d even contemplated using Sylvia’s eyeliner, just for the comfort of applying and wearing it as he used to.
It was also frustrating that there was always a physical downside to drugs–using the stuff regularly produced effects that were less than pretty. Meth caused him to break out, rendering his pimple war inefficient; bud made him hungry; both gave him stomach problems. It was also harder and harder to think clearly and to find appropriate inspiration for his art. He was down spiraling once more, and it didn’t feel good.
He just wanted Quatre back.
Sylvia frowned, dropping her eyes to the various spectators around her. She figured that Trowa wouldn’t really have anything to say to it. It was a little...unexpected. For him. She really liked Trowa–and she knew that he still pined after Quatre. But it couldn’t hurt to try and figure out what the boy thought of her, if she had a chance with him.
She twisted a strand of hair, and tucked it behind her ear.
“I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable, or anything,” she said. “Just...just that I really...I don’t know. I like you, Trowa. I mean, more than a friend. I’m sure you know that. I was just thinking that maybe, you know, we could somehow...be different. You know?”
“I don’t know, Sylvia. That’s just...I don’t think I’d have interest in you like that...”
Sylvia felt crushed, but she was bound and determined not to let it show. “Well...that’s that, then, huh? I mean, no biggie. I mean, it’s not like I’m in love with you, or anything. Just...well, y’know...you still like Quatre, huh? I understand. It’s hard moving on, but I’m glad that you are. Just...I’m going to shut up, now. I’m rambling.”
She gave a nervous giggle and turned away from him, watching the game. She tried not to feel upset–but she couldn’t help it. Carefully, she reached up to wipe at her eyes, making it look as if she were checking her eyeliner, but they were tearing up.
The players on the court were laughing and having fun amongst each other–she settled her reddened gaze on Quatre, who was making threes from the far corner of the three point line, laughing at something Triton was saying. She’d heard the rumors that those two had hooked up at some party–but there hadn’t been any truth to it. They were just rumors. They didn’t act any different–Triton said something that made Quatre glare at him, and they both behaved as if they hadn’t “blown, fucked, blown again and fucked again that one Saturday night at this guy’s house downtown”. Wouldn’t two people that shared intimacies act differently toward each other?
She didn’t know. She couldn’t find an actual confirmation to these rumors, and neither were telling. Her usual suspect of gossip never spoke to her. She searched the court for her former friend. Felicia was busy gabbing a mile a minute with some guy off court, and shooting an occasional shot with a stray ball that came her way. Sylvia was still annoyed that the girl talked about her–it was obvious that Felicia disliked her, now. She didn’t get it–she wasn’t the boys’ keeper. Just because she had a big crush on Quatre didn’t mean that gave her rights to smear Sylvia’s name all over the school because she was chasing after Trowa. She wanted to get the girl back for being so mean to her, but that meant lowering herself to her level–she wasn’t about to pull a Middie Une. She just wasn’t like that.
She looked over at the other players for Darken. Looking over at Duo, she noticed that his shots were off, and he’d been playing like crap the last two games. He kept looking around the gym, and looking more than miserable, so Sylvia distracted herself with wondering why he looked that way. She noticed that he and Hiiro Yuy never talked. They didn’t acknowledge each other off the court. She wondered why when they were usually attached at the hip. She wondered if it had to do with the rumor that Relena had cheated on Hiiro with Duo...which had to be a rumor because she’d heard from her friends that Duo and Relena disliked each other, but tolerated one another for Hiiro. But that was something else she’d never know until one of them confessed, or until she had the actual facts.
Yay for high school drama! She thought with a frown. Why was it that teenagers took everything so out of perspective and totally dramatized every little detail? Still, it made things interesting...
While Sylvia was lost in her thoughts, Trowa took a deep breath, wondering if and ever he and Quatre would ever get back together. It just seemed impossible, at the moment. Quatre was just moving further and further away from him. He looked...happier. He didn’t look like he did when they had broken up–he’d always have this sad little expression on his face, and it looked painful to talk to him–but now he was all smiles and cheer as he moved his way through life.
Trowa wondered how the boy did it when he felt so down in the dumps. Of course, using drugs didn’t help things much, but that was his way of coping. It was faster, more convenient, and it wasn’t as if he were endangering anybody...he just wanted to escape for a little while, to a place where things didn’t matter so much. On a faint level, he was quite aware that he was taking it completely out of perspective, but there was really no one to tell him so. He just felt so...lost.
He was surprised when he felt a hand on his back. He turned, and stared in surprise at Lana and Rashid Kurama, both of whom were taking seats beside him. He was so surprised that he didn’t have anything to say as the friendly woman smiled at him, and embraced him fondly.
“It’s so good to see you again!” she said lightly, her chandelier earrings brushing against his shoulder. He awkwardly returned the hug.
“Hello, Trowa,” Rashid said, his deep voice making him wince.
“Hey–hi,” Trowa greeted, awkwardly as he pulled back from Lana. He stared at both of them in mute shock, unsure of what to think or say. The pair were oddly matched–Rashid was so tall and massive that he dwarfed his wife–who was a round, plump woman with a round face and a cheery disposition that made it difficult to dislike her. Being Quatre’s legal guardians because of his father’s disownment, the pair were ultra-supportive and quite likeable, and Trowa found no reason to snub or ignore them.
Though, now that he was a little over the shock at seeing them, he rubbed at his face nervously and hoped that neither of them suspected that he was currently tweaking. Though it was kind of hard when he wasn’t aware that he was already giving away signs to those that knew them.
Lana pulled away, looking at the court as the buzzer rang, signaling for both teams to ready themselves for the game.
“We made it just in time,” she declared, settling more firmly on the bench. She had a way of speaking that made every word seem drawn out and lazy. Trowa thought it was funny–everyone in New Park spoke as if their lives depended on cramming a million words into a single second. “I had thought we were going to be late...this city is so large! How can one even think to get used to it?”
“What are you guys doing here?” Trowa asked, looking at them curiously.
He wondered if Quatre even knew they were here, or if this was something planned. Christmas Break was Monday–they could be here to take him back to Laramie.
Lana held a finger to her lips, smiling at him.
“It’s a surprise,” she confided, dark eyes flashing with delight. “He doesn’t know we’re here. We were going to fly him back home for Christmas, but we’d saved enough to come here and watch him play. Then we’d take him home.”
“Those are bright uniforms,” Rashid noticed with a thoughtful frown.
“He doesn’t know you’re here?” Trowa repeated, looking back at the court. The starting players–Quatre, Paul, Duo, Felicia and Triton–were taking off their warm-ups and getting ready to walk back onto the court after the announcement of their names and numbers. The blond was busy giving the girl noogies while she wailed, struggling to get her armbands off. “He’s going to freak about that...”
“We had always made every one of his games in Laramie,” Lana said, frowning as she glanced around her. There were more people inside this gym than there ever could be back home. This gym was four times the size of the one back at Quatre’s old high school. It was a little unnerving. “We’d thought making his first home game of the season would start him off on the right foot. How’s he doing so far?”
Oh, God, they think we’re still together, Trowa thought as he watched the players from the opposite team move onto the court after the announcements.
“Good. He’s pretty good. But...that’s expected...”
“They have girls on the team?!” Lana exclaimed, touching her face. Then she grew excited. “A Native girl as well? Is that one Native?”
Trowa nodded. “One of two that go to this school. Her name’s Felicia.”
“Oh, how wonderful! You never see Natives anymore, unless you’re near a reservation, or–oh, Trowa! What’s wrong with him?! Has he lost weight?! Rashid, look at him!”
Trowa winced, feeling an internal spear of guilt and remorse flood through him at Lana’s concern. Emerging onto the court, Quatre was saying something to Paul, and Trowa tried to see him the way his auntie was–he was thinner than he was last year, in a wholly unhealthy way. Even though he was toned and muscular from his athletic activities, it was obvious that the boy needed to be fed in a serious way.
Trowa felt guilty for being the main driving force behind it. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“Is he sick?” Rashid asked, frowning over in Trowa’s direction.
“Um...no. Just...stressed,” Trowa muttered, unable to meet his eyes.
“About what?! His grades, probably,” Lana said on a sigh, rolling her eyes. “He never applies himself to his school work...does he want to go back to summer school?”
Trowa let them think what they will, and wondered if he should tell them that he and Quatre hadn’t been a couple for over a month.
“Well, Trowa! Tell us about you!” Lana said, looking at him. They were introducing the starting players of Ferndale, and she didn’t feel like paying attention to them. Trowa noticed that her hair was grayer than it was last year.
“Er...well...nothing new, really,” he muttered, looking at the floor. As Ferndale’s crowd clapped and cheered for their players, their meager pep band was playing “Eye of the Tiger”. Their corniness distracted him. He also felt speared by her gaze, which was both motherly and friendly, a very uncomfortable combination when one was high on illegal substances. “Um...I have something to tell you two. Uh...well, Quatre and I are not a couple anymore. We...we broke up over a month ago....”
Lana stared at him silently, blinking in that wise way she had. Rashid hadn’t heard; the large man stared out at the crowd, noticeably uncomfortable with his large size as people continued to crowd the benches. Darken’s own pep band began playing the school song, and the cheerleaders were doing their thing to pump up the crowd. All these distractions made it difficult for Trowa to concentrate on things.
“Oh,” she finally uttered. Her eyes then narrowed slightly as they took him in. He hoped that she was too tired to notice the difference in his appearance–he felt shamed that he was facing her like this. He respected her from the short time he’d known her. “Well...was it bad?”
“No...no, it was just...things weren’t going the way that they had...I don’t know. It’s just...”
“It’s not that I’m going to treat you differently, Trowa,” she then said gently, patting his knee. “You’re still a nice person. And it’s obvious, from the way you talk about him, that you still care about him. It isn’t as if we’re going to ostracize you because of this...unless you did something incredibly horrible to him, then I’d have to speak up...”
Trowa smiled at her, and decided not to mention any details. If Quatre wanted to tell his aunt and uncle the reasons why, then that was his job.
“No...I don’t know. It’s just...sometimes, I guess, people can’t stay together for certain reasons...I don’t know. I just hope that things change in the future.”
Lana made a sound of committal, then looked at him worriedly. “Trowa, you do know that he–”
She was interrupted by the start of the game, at which she clapped loudly and cheered for Quatre. Trowa looked at her questioningly, wondering what she was going to say to him. Then, reluctantly, he looked back at the court.
#20#20#20#20#20#20#20
Quatre focused on the players that were assembling on the court, Ferndale’s point taking her position before him. Since Triton had successfully batted the ball his way, Darken was in possession of the ball and were now facing the home basket as the crowd cheered. Uninterested in the crowd, he saw that his teammates were in position and ready to play. Duo signaled that he was open, so Quatre made a bounce pass in his direction, then cut through the middle of the key. He saw Triton step out from his position underneath the basket, Paul head out to the three point line, and Felicia darting up top. Duo dribbled carefully, keeping the ball out of reach from Ferndale’s players, and made a quick pass to Felicia. She then passed it to Paul, who passed inside to Quatre, who made an easy bank shot. The crowd cheered, and Quatre signaled for a full court press.
All four of his teammates kept up top, taking offensive positions along the key. Ferndale’s inbounds pass was made in panic, and Triton made the next shot with an easy tip. Hearing the point of the opposite team bark out orders, Quatre signaled for a full man-to-man press, taking on the shooting guard for their team so that Felicia could take over on their female. They had two of them on the court, and one of them was taller than Triton.
The inbounds pass was made, #52 taking the ball in easy stride despite Paul’s pressure. He dribbled it casually, looking for a way out as the ref counted down ten seconds. Seeing that he had none, he made a desperate drive against Paul, shoving aside the senior and slamming off of his teammates’s shield, which was set for Paul. He lost control of the ball, but Duo gained possession, making an easy three as he stepped out past the line. Darken’s crowd cheered at the very easy seven points, and Quatre rolled his eyes. This looked to be a very easy game, and he was not thrilled about it. He signaled for a half court press, wishing for a challenge as he and his team backed off from Ferndale.
“So,” Felicia whispered as she hurried to her position. “Is it true?”
“What?! Stop this bullshit and focus on the game!” he growled at her, taking position at the top of the three point line.
“We’re gonna win anyway!” she snorted, giving a Ferndale player a scoffing expression. “They’re pathetic!”
“I’m ignoring you!” Quatre growled as he focused on the point guard. She looked a little hassled as she conferred with a male teammate, who was pointing out a quick strategy before making his position as offense.
“You and Triton are fuck buddies?”
He was so startled and embarrassed by the question that the point swept around him with an easy dribble, passing out to #40, who in turn passed it to #52.
“Shut up!!” he yelped, turning to stop what he could as the centers below the net battled for possession.
“You and Triton are fuckin’?” Paul asked him, a little shocked as he looked from one player to the next. “Triton, you got in?!”
“PAUL!”
Even Ferndale’s players looked a little scandalized, the boys noticeably withdrawing from Quatre with disgusted expressions. Triton, oblivious to it all, held the ball so that the rebounding players couldn’t touch it, then passed it out to Duo.
“GODDAMMIT–! We’re playing ball, here!” Quatre growled, signaling for the ball. His face was reddening with embarrassment as he glanced around, wondering who else heard the startling comments. Duo passed it to him, ambling over to his position down court.
“Yeah, but, that doesn’t mean we can’t communicate as teammates,” Felicia said with a cackle as she moved down court. “This is communication, dude!”
“I’m going to have you benched!!” Quatre roared, mortification turning his entire upper body red.
“How is that possible?” Paul wondered aloud, giving Quatre an up and down. “Wasn’t it awkward for you two? I mean, he’s a head taller than you...Were you on top?”
“SHUT UP!!! FUCK!”
One of the refs ordered, “Watch what you say, #20.”
“Sorry...”
“I thought it wasn’t possible,” Felicia continued, moving around her guarding player, signaling that she was open. Once the ball was in her hands, she turned her back to her player, and cut through the middle of the action within the key, tossing it out to Duo, who made another three from his magic spot on the three point line. “I mean...you hate him! You sure must’ve been drunk, dude...”
“CAN WE NOT TALK ABOUT THIS?!” Quatre practically shrieked, growing red as he glowered at her.
When he looked over at Paul to see why the player hadn’t moved into position, he saw that he was talking to Triton, who looked a little embarrassed.
Paul then turned and shouted with a wave of his arms, “THEY DIDN’T!”
“YOU DIDN’T?!” Felicia screeched from her position down court.
“Who didn’t?!” Duo demanded as he took position. “What’s going on?!”
“You guys are gay?” #52 asked Quatre as he gave him a disgusted expression.
“What the hell, man?!” Triton shouted at him. “You talking shit?!”
“I didn’t say anything!” Quatre wailed as he moved after Ferndale’s point.
“Triton, you guys didn’t do anything?!” Felicia yelped, racing around her player and assisting Quatre.
Once Ferndale’s point passed the ball through an open space between them, she tore down the court, whistling that she was open. Until Duo merged in front of her, stealing the pass that was meant for her quick break. Duo tore down the court and made an easy bank. The crowd was going wild at his ability to rack up the points.
“FUCK YOU, Wrong Way!”
With a severely reddened face, Quatre glared at her. “It’s none of your damn business, you know.”
“But you wouldn’t tell me!” she whined, looking pained. “I have to find out somehow...”
“IT’S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!”
“I’m only looking out for my future interior decorator!!”
One of the girls giggled while one of her teammates muttered in disgust of homosexuals.
“How could you two have NOT done anything?!” Felicia asked, moving up to pressure the inbounds pass while her teammates moved back, Quatre covering the second Ferndale player up topside.
“I can’t believe you’re asking for this shit!!” he snarled, startling his player. “We’re in the middle of a fucking GAME!”
“So, who had the whiskey dick? You, buddy o’mine? Or Triton? Issat why ya’ll couldn’t do anythin’?”
“I’m going to fucking kill you as SOON as this game ends, you piece of shit!!”
Felicia whistled lowly, stealing the ball when her player made a desperate pass. Shooting a three that missed, forcing Quatre to rebound, she laughed. Ramos screamed at her from the sidelines.
“Promises, promises...I still remember you promising to give me godchildren, and I haven’t seen them, yet.”
“You guys are fucking weird,” #15 said, giving her an odd expression.
“Hey, you guys are losing. I have to do SOMETHING to entertain myself...maybe make this game a little more exciting and put some effort into playin’, all right?”
“Stupid skank whore!”
“WOW! You’re aware of my rep?! I’m fuckin’ famous if Ferndale knows of me!”
Sputtering, #15 ran off to chase after the ball, which was snagged by Paul. Duo once again made three points, putting Darken ahead of Ferndale by fifteen. Felicia sighed, shoulders sagging. She rolled her head from side to side, and looked back at Triton, whose reddened complexion wasn’t from all the running they were doing. They weren’t even winded.
“So? Were you pitcher or catcher?” she asked him.
“You know, someone should really gag you with that fucking hair of yours! You fucking man!”
“So you guys didn’t?!” she said, half-heartedly running about as Duo made another two. Ferndale’s players looked entirely depressed as Darken continued to slaughter them. “Were you too small and couldn’t compare to Boombastic Barton’s Amazing Pornographic Man Rod?!”
Triton reddened even more at the comment, and gave her an agonizing pinch just below her left shoulder blade as he passed by. She gave a howl, then slapped both hands over her mouth as the sting resonated throughout her entire body. As tears pricked her eyes, she gave a shaky giggle.
“It’s none of your fucking business!!!” Quatre hissed as he passed by. “GOD!”
“Hey, when ya’ll gonna start playing?” Felicia asked a Ferndale player as she set up position, awkwardly trying to reach behind her to rub at the spot Triton had pinched. “This feels like gym class with uniforms. Do something.”
“Fuck off, squaw!”
“Damn...no need to get all negative...”
“So,” Duo was lagging in the conversation, but had gotten bits and pieces of it. As he and Quatre backed off the frontal pressure against the other team, he asked, “From what I heard...you and Triton got it on?”
“NO!!”
“Both of them were drunk,” Felicia whispered as she ran past them. “Whiskey dick.”
“Ah,” Duo nodded in grave understanding, looking at them both. “I hate when that happens...”
Quatre waved at Ramos. “GET ME OUT OF HERE!!”
Ramos gave a questioning expression, looking entirely lost as to why one of his star players wanted out of this game.
“FELICIA! You’re going to die after this game!” Triton howled from beneath the net.
“WHAT?! What’d I do?! Who said I was talking about you?! I could be talking about another Triton Bloom and another Quatre Winner!! Who says there’s only one of each of ya on this planet?!”
Duo laughed, making a half-hearted attempt to go after the ball. Even with the lack of effort from Darken, Ferndale wasn’t able to produce a shot. As Triton rebounded the ball, hurling it the way a pitcher would with a baseball, Paul hurried to catch the ball and make a three point from the bottom left corner.
Wiping his hands on his jersey, he asked, “When did this happen? I thought you were all loved up with that Barton guy...”
“That’s fuckin’ OLD news!” Felicia scoffed, then gave him a disgusted expression. “Where the hell have you been all this time?!”
“What–?! Man, I don’t know this shit!” Paul exclaimed, shrugging.
“WILL YOU STOP TALKING AND PLAY BALL?!” Quatre screamed at them. He managed to steal the ball from #14, making an easy lay-up. Darken’s crowd was disappointed that this game was flying by so easily. Ferndale’s supporters kept up the shouts and cheers.
“And besides that,” Paul continued, jogging half-heartedly to his position, “I thought that Justin guy was your receiver?”
“ARGGGGHHH!!!!”
“No, man. Jigga J’s just a friend of his,” Felicia corrected him, waving a hand in the air.
“‘Jigga J’?”
“Yeah, man. Jigga. Jigga J!” she crowed in the deepest bass her girlish voice could muster.
Paul looked back at Quatre, respect evident in his face. “Man. For a guy scoring with other guys, you sure do rack up the notches on the bed post!”
“THEREARENONOTCHES!!!!”
Paul laughed, shaking his head. He barely caught the free ball that went bouncing his way after Ferndale’s point lost control of it. Dribbling aimlessly, he shuffled his way down court, looking for a pass. When Duo signaled for a catch, he swung the ball that way. Duo hesitated in shooting, and passed out to Triton, who passed out to Quatre. Quatre made the easy shot, still flustered over the content of his teammates’ words.
“You guys SUCK!” he shouted, glaring at Felicia and Paul.
The ref whistled, roughly ordering a warning on his language.
With an outraged expression, Quatre stared after her. Paul laughed again, slapping his thigh.
“I’m so glad I transferred here,” he muttered, taking position once more down the court.
#20#20#20#20#20#20#20
At halftime, while Ramos was busily arguing with Brian over several turnovers, Duo glanced over the team’s shorter heads and looked at Hiiro. The Japanese was busily conversing with Paul and Otto, the three of them laughing over something that Otto was saying. Feeling a very heavy tinge of regret coursing through his veins, Duo leaned against the lockers, sullenly hooking his thumbs in his game shorts. Just hearing the exchange between the other players concerning homosexual hookups made him feel very sorry that he hadn’t yet made any effort in replying to Hiiro’s declaration.
Hiiro had basically told him that he returned Duo’s feelings, and Duo had yet to say something in reply. He felt too ashamed and suddenly embarrassed whenever he looked over in that guy’s direction. Sure, doing practice and games they were fine, but when it came to alone time–Hiiro most often ignored him, doing his own thing, and Duo was left, flustered and dumb, standing on his own. He really wanted to talk to Hiiro–he wanted to confess what he felt. He wanted to confess everything!
But he felt, that as time continued to pass since that night, that every time was the wrong time to try and bring it up. Hiiro avoided him–he inadvertently avoided him due to his lack of words.
But as Christmas Break neared, Duo was feeling that race of emotion and surge of adrenaline in that he wanted to confess before parting. He wanted to let Hiiro know, in some way or form, that he returned all that he felt for the boy. But he wasn’t sure how to do it!
Looking at the openly bi and homosexuals of his team made his chest clench. He didn’t want to talk to Quatre–the boy would most likely turn it into a “And you were badmouthing me?!” sort of conversation, and was no help. Triton...well...Triton probably wasn’t the best person to talk to, as well. The senior would tell everyone he knew that two of the most unlikely guys in school were suddenly gay, too.
So he looked at Mariamaia.
“Hey,” he whispered, elbowing the frosh. She looked at him, large blue eyes glazing with embarrassment as she realized an upperclassman was talking to her. “I need to talk to you after the game.”
“All right,” she whispered, making her red hair bob.
A little relieved that things would look better afterward, Duo glanced in Hiiro’s direction. The Japanese had his back turned, fiddling with the tie strings on his shorts, and so didn’t see the expression that flittered across Duo’s face. Taking a deep breath, and psyching himself in determination for his confession, Duo turned his attention back to Ramos.
#20#20#20#20#20#20#20
After the game, Quatre and his teammates endured another ass-chewing from their coach–Ramos was not pleased that even though they’d racked up the points (104 to 34), they had played a crappy game. He was not satisfied with their productivity, and he certainly wasn’t pleased with their actions during the start of the game. After vowing revenge with serious running drills the next practice, he released them to the after-activities of post game fun. Quatre ran out from the locker room, flaming furious. Once he caught sight of his female teammate, he stormed after her, ignoring Trowa’s calls in his direction.
Felicia was laughing with some guys that looked college-aged, and looked up when she heard his snarls and heavy panting. She immediately turned to run, but he’d grabbed her by her hair, hauled her off her feet, and slammed her head first into the nearest trash canister.
When that didn’t satisfy him, he pushed the canister over and kicked the offending object away from him. The college kids laughed and walked off while Felicia dug herself out, laughing hysterically. Picking out gum, paper and melted goo from her clothing, she rose unsteadily to her feet.
“Damn, that’s the best greeting I’ve gotten from you in ages! Yay! Let’s get married! I want all ten of your babies! Hopefully, they turn out just as gay as you, and we’ll all be one big gay family–well, except for me, because I ain’t lesbian...Let’s go party! I know this one guy over in Sageville, and he wants to–!”
“You fucking suck! You fucking whore! Skank bag! You cum dumpster! You butchy lesbo!” Quatre howled, shoving at her. “I fucking hate you! I hope you die! You fucking suck!!”
“No! No! You love me–holy Jesus! Is that Trowa’s parents?! Oh my GOD! They’re back from the dead and looking to eat my brains!!” Felicia gasped, letting go of him.
“You don’t have the required equipment,” Quatre snarled, driving his elbow into her gut.
But he was curious as to what she was talking about, so he turned around. When he saw Rashid and Lana looking at him with horrified expressions, he was so exhilarated at seeing them that he raced over with a happy laugh.
He slammed into Rashid with an awkward hug, then remembered that he was in a public place with all his peers. He cleared his throat and backed away, looking at Lana. He enveloped her into a bone crushing hug, joyously surprised that they were actually standing there, looking at him...
He stepped back from them, glancing at an awkward Trowa as he stood to the side.
“You guys are here!!?” he exclaimed, looking from Rashid to Lana, and back again. “Wow! You never told me you were coming out here!!”
“Quatre...” Lana started, looking from him to the girl that stared at them curiously. She could not believe the acts that had taken place before their very eyes. To see her nephew beating up on a girl, so callously and deliberately, made her extremely ill. She was at a loss for words.
Rashid was as well, staring down at his nephew with a silently disturbed expression.
Felicia then gave a squeal of panic and ran as Triton charged at her, welding a baseball bat. Paul, Derrick and Brian were running after him, the small train of students creating some chaos within those that were milling about.
Completely forgetting that his loved ones had no idea of Felicia’s superhuman abilities, he gestured after her.
“That’s Felicia. Pay no attention to him,” he ordered, waving his hand about. “He deserves all that he gets. When did you get here?! I didn’t know you were coming into New Park!! Did you watch me play?!”
Trowa snorted, shaking his head as Lana and Rashid glanced at each other in mute concern. Quatre looked at him, smiled briefly, then looked back at his loved ones.
“Lana, Rashid...she’s superhuman,” Trowa explained quietly to the stunned adults that watched the actions with confused expressions on their faces. “They’re always like this. Everyone just treats her like a guy.”
Lana looked at him with a confused expression. “She’s...he...that...er...that child is a...boy? Dressing as a...female?”
“I’m pretty sure of it,” Quatre said with a firm nod. He waved his hands about, hugging her again. “Forget about that. You guys didn’t answer my question!”
Rashid, still a little sluggish over seeing his nephew slam that girl around as if she were nothing but...well...a boy, blinked his eyes into focus.
“We came in over two hours ago,” he answered smoothly. “Yes, we watched your game. Your team could perform a little better...granted, that display was nothing more than casual horseplay.”
“But Ferndale sucked,” Quatre pointed out, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, we racked up the points, but towards the end, it was like, we weren’t even trying...”
“You should never give up trying, Quatre. That’s not how you played,” Rashid said with a low sigh. His nephew’s once firm belief that going all out for every single game had changed. Once upon a time, Quatre would have never played this way. He would have never slacked as he had. Watching him play was like watching a overpaid athlete lumber through set games. He was disappointed and stunned to see it.
Trowa began moving away from the group, feeling wholly uncomfortable. He felt he no longer belonged with them now that he and Quatre were broken up. But it had been so nice to visit with them...
“Well, Lana, Rashid–it was nice seeing you again.”
“Oh–! Where are you going?” Lana asked, turning away from Quatre to look at him.
Trowa shrugged and turned to walk off. “Later, Quat.”
“Bye!”
“Quatre!” Lana turned back to him, blinking in confusion. “What–?! Why–?”
Quatre snorted, waving his hand carelessly in the air. “Don’t even ask, auntie. Looooooong story. But things are cool...I think. Anyway, where are you guys staying at? I’m so happy you guys are here! This was really unexpected!”
Lana smiled weakly at him, trying to keep up with his quick chatter. He was behaving so differently from his country boy roots that it was startling. She didn’t know how she was going to keep up with him. Rashid looked away from the various alien students that milled about with their odd hairstyles and colors, a little embarrassed that he was behaving as a country mouse would within the city. He looked back at his nephew, then reached out to squeeze one shoulder.
“Can we borrow you for the week?”
“YEAH! Hey, let me get my stuff! This is so awesome! I really wasn’t expecting to see you guys until Monday!” Quatre exclaimed excitedly, walking with them toward the gym doors.
Lana had to laugh. “Well, I’m happy that you’re excited about it...we’ve really missed you, Quatre. But I can see why you always want to stay here–this is a very nice school.”
“Very...roomy,” Rashid decided, frowning as he looked over the many people lingering about.
“Yeah, it’s big. But, hell–it’s awesome. There’s so much people to mess around with...I mean, you know, to meet and stuff. Hey, let me show you my room! It’s way cool!” Quatre said, leading the way, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that they were following.
Lana and Rashid exchanged expressions as he turned, greeting various students as they passed through the crowd on the first floor of the gym. Quatre didn’t see the expression–but it was clearly something of regret.
#20#20#20#20#20#20#20
That Sunday, Hiiro was just making his way toward one of the many taxis that were lined up in the parking lot, tugging his suitcase behind him, when he heard his name called. He froze only because it was Duo’s voice. He turned with a curious expression, then quickly shifted it to a guarded one. Duo had not acknowledged him since his confession–which made him quite embarrassed. He had hoped for some sort of reaction from the braided one–having none at all was more than disconcerting. He knew Duo’s views on homosexuality–and while he was sure he wasn’t, sure that all he felt for his former friend was something that couldn’t be defined as such, he had just hoped Duo would just give him a reaction.
These past weeks had been hell for him, being unable to talk to or even behave normally around the other boy because of these feelings.
But Duo was calling him, and running over to him...was it possible he had something encouraging or disappointing to say?
He rolled his eyes at his own vague question.
Duo slowed to a walk as he neared him, frowning as he took in the suitcases and overstuffed backpack. He then shifted his eyes to Hiiro’s feeling that spear of mortification for himself and that thrill of knowing that his friend had feelings for him. He stopped just before Hiiro, nervously cracking his knuckles as he tried to remember all that he was going to say to him.
Mariemaia had been quite helpful, for someone her age–she hadn’t yet come out to the school, or to those she hung out with, but Duo had known that the girl harbored same-sex feelings. It had been so obvious. She oogled Felicia every time the girl was around. To correctly guess her true preference was something Duo had juggled with, but he’d been right. Her shy words of encouragement and respect had more than helped him with this Hiiro situation.
“Hey,” he said rather lamely. He frowned at his own lack of conviction.
“Hey,” Hiiro muttered, frowning as he gripped the handle of his suitcase tightly, staring at Duo with apprehension.
“I...wanted to talk to you before you left,” Duo started, taking a deep breath. He hid his arms behind himself, swallowing hard. “Look...about that night–”
“Just forget about it,” Hiiro snapped, stepping in an agitated way toward the taxis. Duo quickly cut off his path, holding his arms out to his sides.
“Just, please! Please listen to me,” he begged, then lowered his voice as he realized people were glancing their way curiously. He felt his face flush with nervousness and embarrassment as he tucked his hands into his pockets. “I...I did a lot of thinking, Hiiro, and–I haven’t been...I haven’t been honest with you. I mean, I have, but not completely. I mean...well...you see...shit.”
Hiiro lifted an eyebrow, looking at him curiously, but with a sense of hostility as he waited for something cutting from the boy. At least, with these words, there would be finality to the free-floating questions. At least he would know what Duo felt. That was much better than not knowing at all.
Duo flushed again, withdrawing his hands to nervously play with the end of his braid. Then, he tried for a smile, but it was weak and sadly strange on his face. Both of Hiiro’s eyebrows rose with question, indicating for him to go on.
“You see...uh...look, to be honest–I–God, this is so hard.”
“Just spit it out! My flight leaves in two hours. You know how security is at Aprexal,” Hiiro snapped, gesturing in the vague direction of the airport.
“I’vehadfeelingsforyouforthelongesttimeandIneverwa ntedtotellyoubecauseIthoughtyou’dneverfeelthesame!” Duo blurted out, making Hiiro blink curiously.
“What?”
Duo hung his head, then shook it. His voice was in a very low whisper, that Hiiro had to lean slightly forward to hear them. “I’ve had feelings for you for the longest time and I never wanted to tell you because I thought you’d never feel the same.”
Hiiro then stared at him with a sense of disbelief, blinking repeatedly. Did he just hear–?
“So, see? I mean...that night...when you told me that you–Christ. That you had...feelings...well, you didn’t exactly say it like that–! Just...I was so shocked, Hiiro! I was so shocked and stunned and surprised and really, really shocked to hear that you had...that you felt that way about me,” Duo ended in a whisper, hunching his shoulders. He kicked at the sidewalk nervously. “Look, I’m always talking shit to–to the ones that are–and then here I had feelings for you–I have for, like, forever, but...I could never tell you. I never knew what you would feel. I didn’t want to...I didn’t want to risk our friendship. But...but that night, when I didn’t say anything...and then we didn’t talk...it made me realize that I...I was ruining things. I should have said something to you. I should have–! But I was nervous, Hiiro. I mean–”
“You...feel...the same?” Hiiro asked quietly. He suddenly saw interest in the sidewalk, feeling his own heart race with excitement and euphoria. Nervous euphoria. Little did he know, Duo was feeling the same thing. Now that he was able to talk, it seemed he couldn’t shut up.
“Then I had to talk to you, Hiiro. I mean...let you know that I feel for you–I mean, as...more than a friend. I mean, always. I always have. It just grew from...from respect and admiration. I mean, I just admired you! Then I was thinking about how much I liked being with you, about how...God, about how attractive you are–! And here I was, badmouthing all the gays and shit, and I felt this way about you–! I don’t know myself, anymore! I mean–! I’m so happy that you–”
“Duo...”
“–feel the same...yes?”
Hiiro searched the sidewalk for answers. When none was revealed to him, he looked up nervously. “I... I don’t know what to say.”
Duo stared at him in silence, then began to crack his knuckles. He had to swallow a sudden lump in his throat. As his eyes searched Hiiro’s, he began to realize that he didn’t know the next step from this. He scanned the campus of the school as Hiiro shuffled with his suitcase. Looking at New Park’s skyline, Duo swallowed hard and tried to think of what to do now.
The awkward silence between them was long and undisturbed until a classmate of theirs called and waved at them. At the automatic reply in form of waves, they both looked at each other. Then slowly smiled.
“Call me,” Hiiro muttered.
Duo slowly grinned, feeling a skip in his heart as he realized that things were good between them. Possibly even better. He nodded, backing away. “Yeah. You too.”
They then waved at each other, and took their separate paths toward Christmas Break hell, both of them incredibly happy that feelings were reciprocated, and a valuable friendship restored.