Chapter Text
Japeth POV
"Look, who it is, the new one!" Someone said, he stroked his hair back and smiled, sitting across from me at the table I was sitting at. Two others followed.
"Hey, don't mind him. I'm Sophie!" A blond girl said and sat down next to me, still with quite a space between us, thankfully.
"Yea, he's a jerk." A pretty tall guy said, looking like the twin brother of the girl. Both had green eyes and blond hair with the same smile that showed straight white teeth.
"I'm Filip, and that's Aric." He nodded over to the black haired boy while he sat down next to him. I stayed quiet. I wanted them to leave me alone..
"So? How is the new school?" Filip asked and ate his sandwich. I simply shrugged my shoulders.
"Can you talk?" He asked and raised his eyebrows, I exhaled and rolled my eyes.
"No, I can't." I answered with a straight face and tilted my head. Filip chuckled and shook his head as he looked over my shoulder. I followed his eyes and turned around. My brother Rhian was standing there with a group of other students.
"Ugh, they're the popular ones.. They're mostly just mean towards everyone but they're in the baseball team." Filip explained after I turned back to him.
"I don't think Rhian plays baseball.." I mumbled and bit my apple.
"Rhian? The other redhead? Is that your brother?" Aric asked and I eyed him, he had a weird eye color, almost as if they were purple. I quickly looked away, nodding a bit.
"Great.." Aric mumbled and snatched a cucumber piece of Sophie's plate, she squealed and hit his hand away before he could grab another one. Then the bell rang and the hall started to grow on noise, I sighed and laid my hands over my ears but, so that it looked like that I just had them placed on my head.
"We should get going, what's your class now?" Filip asked and smiled. I lifted my head to look at him since he was already standing with the other two.
"History.." I mumbled and grabbed my tablet with the plate and a capri sun.
"Great, Aric, take care of him!" Filip said while taking my things out of my hands and placing it down on a wagon for the dirty things, then he waved and left with Sophie. Now I was alone. With Aric.
"So? Come on, I'll get us to Prof. Sader's classroom." Aric said and started walking, I followed awkwardly and put my hands into my pockets. Why were they so nice to me? I mean.. Come on, I'm the new student and a teacher must've told them to take me under or something.
The classes went on, and I had all of them with Aric which was quite a surprise. Also, he was sitting alone. Everywhere. But he always had a seat next to him which was now taken by me and it was pissing me off. I had to introduce myself so many times too and everything seemed so bright after I spent two hours in the biology rooms and left again.
Now we were sitting in math and I noticed that I already know the most, so I decided to doodle on my notes until a small paper slid over to my table side.
Hey, what is your answer to n2?
I sighed and wrote down:
It's 2.33°, bye
I folded it back and slid it over to Aric. He mumbled a thanks and was quiet for the next few minutes. I took some notes to the class, so I could compare it to the ones of my old classes at my old school.
A few more minutes went by when Aric moved his knee against mine. I ignored it but then he poked again, and again and again until I poked back slightly. He then poked HARDER and I looked over to him, shaking my head. He had a smirk on his face and I rolled my eyes.
"Mr. Lesso and Mistral, do you want to keep doing what you're doing or do you two want to pay attention?" The teacher asked, I flinched a bit and looked over to her. She had long brown hair, wearing a pink shirt with white pants and had asian features.
"Sorry." I mumbled and smiled awkwardly, she nodded and turned back to write on the board, so I angrily looked at Aric but he still had a grin on his lips, sliding a paper to me.
I dare you.. to stand up and leave. Right now. I'm right behind you.
I sighed and just put the note into my pencil case while hearing a small 'pussy' from the boy next to me.
"I'm sorry, Miss Anemone?" Aric asked loudly, raising his hand. She turned around annoyed.
"Yeah, Aric?" She asked with a deep breath.
"I don't feel so well, can I leave?" He asked and faked a coughing. Miss Anemone nodded with an eyeroll. Then, believe it or not, Aric grabbed my arm and pulled me out of my chair, I quickly grabbed my stuff like he did.
"Japeth is joining me, so I won't faint or something!" Aric explained while he ripped the door open, hearing complaints from the teacher.
"Are you crazy!?" I asked and pushed Aric away from me. He rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"What!? Look, I can't do that okay?" I sighed and turned around, wanting to go to the classroom.. but I couldn't. Everyone would be looking at me.. Shit. And they'd be looking at me like I'm weird. I didn't want to be seen as weird..
Fighting with myself, I sighed, turned back to Aric and groaned, seeing his lips turning into a bright smile.
"Come on, I know an amazing frozen yogurt shop a few streets ahead." He said while starting to walk, so I followed, putting my pencil case into my backpack.
-
FEW WEEKS LATER
It's been a while since Aric and I had our frozen yogurt break. Now I was sitting on the floor of Sophie's room, doing homework with her and her brother, Filip. Aric was about to join us too later.
"Alright, come on, Japeth, what's wrong?" Soph asked. We've been hanging out for the past weeks and I started to like them, yet I didn't open up.
"Nothing, just tired." I mumbled and drew on the side of our homework papers. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed Filip and Sophie exchanging a glare and looking back at me.
"Yeah, no. You're a bad liar." Filip said and smiled.
"I think I know what's going on!" Sophie said then and jumped up. I looked at her, she had a bright smile on her lips, showing her white teeth.
"You got a crush! And I know whoooo!" She yelled and jumped on her bed. I shook my head with a scoff, feeling my cheeks beating up.
"I don't do crushes, Soph." I said and rolled my eyes, trying to ignore my burning face.
"Yeah, absolutely. We definitely believe every word you say!" She smiled. Then the door opened and Aric walked in, snacking his bag onto the ground and letting himself fall into Sophie's pink bed. She moved aside for him.
"What's wrong?" She asked and let her hair fall on his face while she looked down on him. He blew away some hair strands.
"My mom is working so much, that's all." He explained quickly, we heard Honora call then.
"Are you guys hungry?" Filip asked, placing his pen and paper away. I shook my head and continued to write down some notes for the classes. It was an interesting theme at the moment. Professor Sader was explaining Greek mythology and I love them. I knew a lot about it. It was the perfect subject for me to get some good grades.
"Nah, I just had a burger. I'll stay with Japeth. Sader wants us to google our favorite Greek god." He said with an eye roll.
"I love Greek mythology, it's interesting. And my favorite God is Ares and Morpheus, god of war and the god of dreams." I started, without thinking. The three looked at me, Sophie smiled and Filip chuckled. Aric just looked at me. I couldn't read him.
"Well, we're going to eat." Sophie said with a shoulder shrug, then she and Filip left.
Aric climbed down off the bed and sat across from me. I looked at him, then away quickly, he was staring..
"So, tell me more." He said then and waited for me. Aric was really confusing me. I didn't know if he's actually interested in me or not. Sometimes he seems like he cares, other times it's the opposite.
"Tell more about what?" I asked, fidgeting my fingers and clearing my throat nervously.
"About your favorite God of course! I think I really like.. Hades." He said and took his papers and book out of his bag, writing down the name.
"Mh.. I'm fine.." I mumbled and bit my lips. He was making me nervous and I couldn't tell if it was good or not and that was making me even more nervous and that was stressing me out.
"Nah, come on. You said Ares and Morpheus, why? What's so special about them?" He asked and leaned forward, I quickly leaned back. He wanted to know.. Really?
"Well,.. I like Ares because he is a feminist, he fights for his daughters. Also, I love weapons." I mumbled, waiting for his reaction, he nodded, listening.
"Cool." He said then. I smiled a bit.
"Cool.." I said back.
"And Morpheus?"
"Well.. I love dreaming, it calms me down and helps me with being anxious about things. And Morpheus is the god of dreams, it fits me. Also, I'm really connected with my dreams when I sleep, sometimes it feels so real that I can't tell that I'm even dreaming." I started and I felt less uncomfortable.
"I can remember dreams I had as a kid, also nightmares but I don't mind. Sometimes when I wake up and fall asleep, I'm able to continue my dream if I want to. And other times I just like to stay in my dream or I have some kind of vision and when I wake up I'll google what they mean. I even see numbers in my dreams, which doesn't happen often but it does happen and that's important!- Sorry." I stopped and pulled my stuff closer to me. Aric shook his head with a smile.
"No, it's fine. Keep going, I'm listening. You like your dreams, sometimes you see numbers other times you can continue your dream, which I tried many times but it never worked, lucky you! I'm listening." He said softly. That took my off guard. I cleared my throat and shook my head.
"No, sorry. I'm talking too much, haha.. Sorry. It's not important anyway, so.. yeah.." I stumbled, then I stood up and left the room, heading to the toilet. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, exhaling.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Why am I talking so much? I shouldn't be so comfortable around him.. that's not good. He'll think I'm weird and that I talk too much. I can't let that happen.
Someone knocked.
"Are you okay?" I heard Aric's voice.
"Yea.." I mumbled and went to the bathroom sink, I quickly washed my face and my hands. Then I left again, pushing myself past Aric and went back to Soph's room.
A few minutes later, the two came back and joined us again. I left first, just walking home, thinking about Aric. Something about him makes me happy and I didn't like that.
I didn't like that he had this thing over me, I have no idea what it was but I don't like it. I didn't like the way he smiles at me, with his black messy hair and his slightly crooked teeth that nobody would notice unless you actually pay attention to it. And I didn't like the way his eyes switched along my body, how he was analyzing me with his glare. I didn't like that he kept telling me to keep talking when I stopped. Or when I say sorry and he says there is nothing to be sorry for. And that he holds my hand when I feel anxious in class or when I had that panic attack one time, he helped me calm down outside of class. And I didn't like that he would say my name and I would look at him like he was something special. And I didn't like that Sophie knew. She knew and it made me angry.
-
ONE WEEK AFTER
"Hey!" Someone yelled, I ignored it and kept walking out of the school. It just ended and I wanted to go home since we had the weekend now.
"Hey, we're talking to you!" Tedros grabbed my arm and pulled me around. I pushed his arm away and tilted my head.
"Well, I'm not talking to you, piss off." I said and wanted to leave but got pushed. I caught myself before I could fall and sighed, then I walked faster. Can't they just leave me alone..?
"Oh, come on!" Tedros whined mockingly, I heard his friends laughing. If I say something they won't stop, so just stay quiet Japeth, it will go away. They'll leave me alone. I'll be fine.
"Ah, come on. He's boring!" They barked and I watched them leave out of the corner of my eyes, then I headed home.
I will enjoy the weekend, I had the house all by myself. Rhian was spending the two days at Tedros' and mom was on a job vacation. All alone. Amazing! I was thinking about inviting Aric, Sophie and Filip though. At least tomorrow.
When I got home I went to my room and jumped on my bed, looking at the ceiling that was covered in small green butterflies. My room wasn't really big. I had a table with my computer and two displays, all three connected with my headphones and my micro. I play a lot.
Then there was my bed filled with stuffed animals from different anime I've watched (my favorite is Faceless from Spirited Away and definitely the big cat bus from my neighbor Totoro), also my pride flag and above it, just like a guitar in the corner that I do not play anymore. And a big shelf with books was across the room. It was cozy.
I haven't told the others that I was gay yet but I didn't care. As much as I understood it, Filip was bi and so was Sophie, I had no idea about Aric though. I also didn't ask and I don't think I will.
SATURDAY
I called my friends already and they said they'll be here in an hour. I made some pizza and for Sophie a cucumber salad. She also said something about facemasks and I love self care facemasks, so I made some myself but also bought a few in the morning.
We said that we would either watch a movie but since Sophie had a patience span of a fly, I don't think we'll come to that part, so I asked them and they said they'd like to play games. I never had friends before that play GAMES, like kid games. I also thought about playing 'Just dance' on my playstation, so I put out the controllers and already put the CD inside.
The bell rang. I jumped up from the couch, I opened the door and let Aric walk in.
"Wow, looks cool here." He said, while taking off his shoes and hanging up his jacket. They haven't been at my house yet. I didn't want them to meet my mom, so I always said no.
"Yea.. I cleaned everything. And all the food is cooked perfectly, I tried a bit. The games are on the table in the living room and the facemaks Sophie asked for are ready too." I explained and slightly bobbed up and down.
"Cool, where is your room?" He asked and walked upstairs, I quickly followed.
"The last door on your right!" I said before he could go to the left. He nodded and walked into my room. He looked around.
"Uh, you got some cool plushies!" He said and took the cat, I quickly out of reflexes snatched it out of his hands.
"Mine. And faceless is mine too, the others are fine." I mumbled, then I realized what I did and placed the stuffed animal back to its place. Aric just smiled. Was he amused by me? How I act? Is he making fun of me?!
"Okay, don't worry." He said easily then and went to my desk. I exhaled quietly and watched him. Aric was just sitting on the chair, then he turned around with it. Facing me. I cleared my throat nervously and smiled awkwardly.
"You're pretty." He said.
"What?" I asked in a very, high-pitched non-manly-way-at-all and felt my face burning up. Aric's eyes widened, he stood up and left.
"Nothing, I think the others are here, come on!" He said and walked downstairs. Left me standing in my room. He called me pretty..
Sophie was putting on the slimy facemask on my cheek and forehead, around my nose and on my chin. She smiled brightly and grabbed a cucumber piece and ate it. First I didn't like the feeling of the mask on my face but then I got used to it and the coldness let my face cool down.
The two boys were dancing in front of us, Filip winning.
"You're cheating!" Aric called out and annoyingly pushed Filip aside only to give Filip even more points. He laughed while Aric almost threw away the controller but when they finished they laughed and joined me and Soph on the couch.
"Alright, me and Japeth next!" Aric claimed but I let out a small "Mh-mh!" He looked at me disappointed and pulled his bottom lip up and made puppy eyes.
"Not now, later. I don't want the mask to drop on the carpet." I explained carefully. Sophie nodded and looked at her work, then she smiled.
"It's perfect!" She said and jumped up. I smiled too, carefully of course. Aric sighed but was fine with having the dance battle later. Then he and Filip grabbed both a pizza piece and started eating.
"Alright, so.. What else do you want to do?" I asked around. We already have played a few table games, drank some alcohol and almost finished the pizza.
"We can play.. Truth or dare?" Filip asked. Sophie made a face but then shrugged her shoulders with an eye roll and agreed.
"Yea, fine by me." I said and nodded, Aric agreed too. We made small rules, nobody is allowed to use truth three times one after another, the same is for dare, we have to choose someone who at least didn't have their turn for the second time and the last rule was that if you refuse to say the truth or do the dare you have to take a shot.
I wasn't the biggest alcohol fan, so I tried to keep everything on an easy level. I answered the truth questions pretty honestly and the dares I did too. 'First crush?' Or 'Who was your worst kiss' or 'Kiss Sophie'. I kissed Sophie, she was my best friend, I didn't think that kissing someone means that you have to love them right away, so I was chill about those things.
"Alright, Aric." Sophie hissed teasingly and smiled. Aric rolled his eyes and leaned back, he sat on the floor after a few rounds so we could see each other all better.
"Truth." He said and waited for Sophie's question.
"Would you rather kiss Japeth through a dare or because you want to?" She asked slowly, I was smiling but it dropped after the question and I looked over to Aric. He seemed a bit uncomfortable, he wasn't sure what to say. He grabbed a shot glass and tossed off the drink. My heart was pounding against my chest and I moved a bit around on my place.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh! Now that's interesting!" Filip and said and laughed, Aric looked away.
"Okay, okay. Filip! Your turn, did you make out with Tedros at the party two weeks ago?" Aric asked and tilted his head. I waited for Filip's answer, the three knew that Tedros and my brother weren't the nicest towards me but I personally don't care if he'd make out with anyone who didn't like me, it just surprised me because Tedros was together with Agatha.
"Yea, yea I did and I'm not ashamed." Filip said and wiggled his eyebrows.
"Ew! Filip! Tedros is my ex!" Sophie cried out in disgust, I laughed and the others joined too.
The hours went by and I got tired after a while, yet I stayed with my friends. I watched them playing 'two truths, one lie' while I sat on the floor. It was more comfortable than on the couch. Leaning against it though, Sophie was fondling my hair. It made me all fuzzy but I enjoyed it.
"Oh, by the way, Filip and I can't sleep over tonight." Sophie said suddenly, I snapped out of her hand and looked up at the two siblings.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Stephan and mom want to go to some castle and Soph and I have to come with them to watch after Adam and Jakob, because they want to have some time alone." Filip explained and rolled his eyes. I sighed but nodded.
"Okay, sad. But that's okay! We'll make another sleepover." I said and Sophie nodded quickly, then she stood up.
"Alright, well good night. Oh, and Japeth you kill Aric in that dance battle!" Sophie said, I hoped they'd forget it but they didn't. Filip barked, literally barked and then he and Aric did some handshake. Sophie and I hugged and I slightly hugged Filip too. Then they left.
Aric turned towards me with a smirk on his lips and he wiggled his eyebrows. He was a bit tipsy.
"Alright, one round." I warned and grabbed the controller.
"Yes!" Aric jumped towards me and grabbed the other handler. I put on my favorite song to dance to (Say my name - David Guetta ft. Bebe Rhexa). It was a half duet dance, which is weird but I didn't mind. The only thing was.. when the two dancers started dancing together, Aric and I tripped over our own feet and we fell down.
Aric on top of me, he looked down and smiled a bit. I was breathing heavily not only because of the dance.. and I felt my cheeks heating up again.
"Hey." He whispered.
"Hi..?" I whispered back and looked away from his eyes. It made me nervous, yet I kept switching to his purple eyes and looking away again while he kept staring at me.
"Stop it.." I mumbled.
"Stop what?" He asked and tilted his head, making his hair fall aside.
"Stare at me.." I answered.
"Why?" Aric carefully grabbed my chin with his thumb and his pointer, he then pulled my face back to him. I looked him in the eyes. After blinking a few times I relaxed somehow. I calmed down. He calmed me down.
"See, not that bad." He still whispered, while I let out a small whine. What will he do..? What is this between us?
I snapped back to reality and placed my hands next to his and pushed myself up. He moved away and shook his head. Laughing nervously.
"Hey, I won!" I said and broke the awkwardness that grew around us. Aric let his shoulders hang and stood up.
"Aw man, I lost too many times today." He said.
"Let's go to bed, we'll clean everything up tomorrow. I'll help." He said and I nodded.
"Uh, I put some mattress up, in my room." I said and we walked upstairs. What is this fucking feeling? Why is he looking at me like that? Why? Why? Why?
-
Aric POV
NEXT MORNING
I woke up next to a red tuft of hair, my arms wrapped around him. Why was I on his bed again? Then I remembered, Japeth had a nightmare and couldn't fall asleep anymore. Right.. yea, I remember that.
I carefully stood up, trying not to wake him and put on my shirt from yesterday and the same pants. Looking at Japeth while changing, I smiled. He seemed so peaceful while he was sleeping. Like he finally calms down and rests after having the day all stressed.
He did a lot, I'm not sure what it was but he was different from the others, I didn't mind though. I could actually watch him all day and I wouldn't mind anything.
Then I went downstairs and started cleaning up. It wasn't much because Japeth always cleans up right after something was used. But I whipped over the table, threw the carpet out or at least the small crumbs of the pizza, crisps and what else we ate.
After half an hour I heard water running upstairs, Japeth must've woken up. I walked upstairs and knocked at the door to the bathroom.
"You up?" I asked, something fell down inside and I carefully turned the doorknob around. It was open.
"No- don't come in-!" But it was too late. Japeth was standing in front of me. Only his shirt and boxer shorts. He seemed to be panicking but at first I didn't know why then my eyes switched to his thighs. They were covered in scars.
"Oh.." I whispered, Japeth had tears in his eyes. Carefully trying to walk towards him, he flinched back, his hands halfway stretched out to push me back. I held my hands up and stayed where I was. His chin was quivering.
"I won't do anything, okay?" I asked, he swallowed and nodded slowly. I reached my hand out for him, he took it.
"You're fine, okay? I'm not judging, okay?" I said, he nodded a tear running down his cheek. He sniffed. It hurt to see him that way. I wanted to pull him into a tight hug and never let go again. I wanted to make sure that he was okay. I wanted to rip the person apart that made him feel like doing such things and I wanted to hurt them.
"I'm sorry.." He whispered gasping, grabbing both my hands and slowly sliding on the ground. I followed him.
"There is nothing to be sorry for." I claimed and held his arms. He was so… vulnerable. I wanted to protect him.
"Please don't leave.." He mumbled under trembling breaths, I shook my head and kept holding him. Then he was quiet. Quiet, didn't say a word. He didn't cry. He just sat there and I felt everything tenths time heavier on me, I didn't mind. Japeth made it lighter. All the heavy things were lighter with him. It was like he took all the bad things away from me. It was scary.
"I'm scared.." I said suddenly, not knowing why I just said that. Japeth looked at me.
"Scared?" He asked, I nodded.
"Scared.. You know.. Scared, you.. you do something with me and I'm not sure what it is." I explained, his face lit up and I was confused.
"I'm.. I'm scared too." He said after a while. I tilted my head in surprise.
"Nobody.. nobody ever cared about me.. as much.. as you do. And it's.. it's scary. But I want you here.." he whispered and looked at me with his ice blue eyes. I smiled softly.
"Then.. Well, I'll stay here." I claimed, he smiled and breathed out relieved. I chuckled and smiled. Then my eyes switched to his legs again.
"Please don't.. say anything." Japeth mumbled, I nodded and helped him up. He put some new pants on and we walked out the bathroom, down to the kitchen in which everything was already cleaned up. Japeth seemed surprised.
"Did you-?" I nodded before he finished.
"Thanks.." he whispered slightly and looked around. I watched him, god, to kiss him right now. I quickly shook my head and followed him around his house.
"So..? What do you wanna do?" I asked after a while. Japeth turned to me and shrugged his shoulders.
"What do you want to do?" He asked back.
"I kinda.. you know." I carefully grabbed Japeth by his waist and pulled him closer, I know that he isn't the best with touch but I also know that he told me once that somehow he didn't care if I touched him.
Japeth's face went all red, I chuckled, then leaned in a bit, placing my hand on his neck, but my thumb on his cheek. Then I kissed him. First only softly but when I felt him kissing me back, I put more effort into the kiss, sliding my tongue through his lips and pulling him closer to me. Japeth let out a small gasp but still kissed back.
Then we went apart again, Japeth's eyes widened and his face tomato red. He looked like he forgot how to function and I chuckled, my hand still on his neck.
"You good?" I asked, he nodded without a word. A bright smile slowly making its way onto his lips. Then he pulled his shoulders up and pressed his lips together trying to hide how happy he was. I noticed how he was fidgeting one feet over the other and how he grabbed his shirt and pulled it a bit down.
"You good?" He nodded again but he didn't good at all. I knew he was about to explode.
"Should I.. go outside for a while?" I asked, but he shook his head. Then it started, first it was just a small squeak but then he hugged me and buried his face into my shoulder, letting me ago again and there it was.
Japeth started jumping around happily and I watched with a bright smile and chuckled. His hand was on his mouth as he looked at me with widened eyes. Then he jumped like a penguin again while having his hands in fits and opening them again.
"Hey, hey!" I grabbed his hands as he kept jumping, yet he looked at me. Then he stopped, still tipping his feet on the floor.
"Can you.. can you do it.. can you do it? Again?" He trembled and smiled. I chuckled and nodded, then I pulled him in again and kissed him again. He kissed back. As we pulled apart the whole jumping thing started again.
We walked upstairs, Japeth let himself fall into his bed, his feet up in the air like some kind of insect. He grabbed his Totoro cat and hugged it tightly, if it was alive, it would be dead by now but I didn't say anything about it, just watched Japeth being happy. His happy self. He was being his happy self and that made me happy.