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"A concert?"
"I wouldn't call it that way but technically it is! Please come if you can, David is going to sing and it must be amazing! Maybe being with people he trusts might cheer him up a little bit"
Brenda had approached Ken and me to invite us to Cup o Cat, the cafe owned by Jolie's mother, Ken's friend by the way. I heard about that cafe a while ago, Jolie said something about it and I went to visit it when I had the chance
They make very good lattes
"We'll be there then!" "Ken put his arm around my shoulders with a big smile, he's a pretty energetic boy. "When is it?"
"In four days!"
"Take it for granted" I looked askance at Ken, his face had a slight pink tone and a particular shine in his eyes
I know that expression very well, I have seen it on many girls I have had the pleasure to know. He is in love and I know it is reciprocated
"Okay! Then I'll see you there"
Brenda looked at me briefly, most of the seconds she spoke with us she was looking at Ken and that remained until the end of the conversation. They both had incredibly high chemistry, I could feel it even though my seat is at the back of the classroom.
"Hey! Huh...." Ken walked away from me and got more closer to Brenda, she was also blushing and smiling. "Would you like if I....well..." His hands were restless "If I'm going to pick you up at your house before we go to the cafe?"
My expression turned surprised just like Brenda's, unlike her face was turning redder if that was possible. She was silent for a few seconds, during that time her face went from happy to a little bit disappointed.
Brenda looked away and responded
"I would love to but...I'll go with David and Ron, I have to help them before the presentation*
Ron....the guy from Russia I guess, he's very tall
"Oh, that's okay!" He let out a nervous laugh "So I'll see you there?"
Brenda also responded with a laugh "You say it as if we weren't going to see each other again in our class seats."
"I know, it was for the dramatic touch"
Brenda laughed again, Ken did too. I think they forgot I was there too. Or so I thought until Brenda looked at me and coughed nervously.
"Anyway, I hope to see you both there or else you'll have to deal with me later!"
"Do not worry about me" I smiled quietly, Brenda smiled back.
Without letting us know, the teacher came to the classroom, he was already arranging his things on the desk. Brenda took Ken by the hand and started to walk away.
"See you later, Elijah!"
I just waved my hand in goodbye, Ken looked behind him to say goodbye too, he was still blushing. I could only laugh mischievously, and I could tell that Ken noticed my intentions. I hope whatever happens between them ends well.
They're both cute, I can feel they're meant to be together
I went to my seat, feeling Norman and Mariah's eyes on me. Ricky and Marty were talking about something I honestly didn't care about. I could already smell the questions they were about to ask me.
"Why do you talk so much to those losers? You have the best group in the school by your side!"
"Well....if we leave aside R&M, we are." Mariah responded to Norman's comment, looking at her perfectly manicured nails.
"They are good people"
It was the only thing I was going to answer, arguing with them about this would be like talking to a wall. His unjustified hatred of Ken and Brenda—more so of Ken— would never go away; They were about to tell me something, but fortunately the teacher started the class
The only time I'm going to thank my math teacher for something
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The day finally arrived
At the end, Ken and his friends plus me, agreed to go to the cafe together after school. It was quite surprising to see that the cafe was packed with people, if it hadn't been for Brenda waiting for us at a table, we would have been left out
"Hey!!" Brenda yelled, waving her hand quickly to get our attention
The first to go was Ken, nothing surprising to me or Jolie or Timothy or even Jackson. I can assume that they already noticed the tension between those two. I was going to sit next to Brenda, but Ken and Jolie went ahead, so I sat next to Jackson
"I am very VERY excited! I can't wait for the show to start"
Brenda hugged Ken's arm, shaking him a little with excitement. Even though the place was dark, a noticeable blush appeared on his face. I could hear Jackson's laughter clearly. I did it too, it was like watching a TV romance
A dark-skinned boy approached us a while later to ask us if we wanted something to drink, I ordered a latte, they are very good. I didn't pay much attention to what the others asked, I just looked back to the empty stage
"I'm very curious now"
I turned to see Jackson "why?"
"I've known David since the school year started and well, I never knew he could sing, he didn't even audition for the school play, I could say that he even hated musicals and stuff like that" He tapped his coffee cup rhythmically with his fingers. "And now that he does this, is... incredible."
"I guess"
David
I remember him well, he is the spitting image of Brenda, he is her twin after all. He's attractive, I'm not going to deny it
"When Brenda invited me I assumed that Exer was going to be the one singing."
Exer.....what a name
"He sings?"
"He was the antagonist in the school play, I was the protagonist"
"You in a play? You've changed, Smith."
Jackson laughed "Brenda convinced me, it wasn't among my plans"
I could only laugh, since I arrived at Jeans High I have been able to notice that this place changed Jackson, in a good way, of course. Now he is excited about more things and seems happier than in Maine, I am happy for him
Minutes later, the boy from earlier came on stage with a mic in hand.
"Good night! Thank you so much for coming to tonight's show here at Cup o Cat!" The public audibly alluded "Tonight we will have our first presentation ever! Ladies and gentlemen, David Miller and Co.!"
The audience began to applaud, Brenda stood up from her chair and began to shout and applaud much louder than the rest of people. Several people looked at her strangely, I could only laugh, she is really unique
When I looked at the stage again, I could see them
But there was something... different
On stage was Ronald, Brenda's Russian friend in charge of the drums, To his right was Ever, He played the guitar. And then there was David, who looked different than usual, or well, different from what I knew
When I met him he seemed like a somewhat insecure and sad person, or at least that's what I felt. His gaze was a little bit dull. Now on that stage he gave me a totally different vibe: He looked more confident, more cheerful, more attractive
They were all wearing shadows and makeup that were almost red-pink, but he looked better than the rest, much better. He wore a leather jacket with rolled up sleeves, and brown leather boots.
God, he looked so good. His smile and slight blush on his face gave him extra points, I was seeing a totally different person in that scenario.
When I met David Miller, I only thought of someone with an attractive looking but really ordinary at the same time, but now I totally take back what I said.
Now I understand Jackson, I'm totally curious of who really is
Ronald started the first song, followed by Exer who skillfully played the guitar. I could tell he had experience in this, his chords sounded clean. I could ask him for advices later
And finally, the vocalist began to sing. I could hear Ken murmur to Brenda about this, she only responded excitedly; I was frozen. I couldn't take my eyes off David, he looked so... dreamy, his voice was so dreamy
He smiled with every word, his eyes shining with such an adorable glow that I just couldn't help but feel my face heat up. He looked so magical on that stage.
He had such a strong stage presence that I felt overwhelmed
"Elijah?"
I came back to reality thanks to Jackson
"Yeah?"
"You're okay? Your face is very red"
Oh damn it
I quickly removed my red scarf and I pretended to feel hot "It's nothing, I'm sure the latte made me feel very hot all of a sudden."
It wasn't entirely a lie, with all the people there and the latte I had just finished my body heat went up a lot, but David Miller is guilty for that too. His shine burned me, he was shining with his own light and that caught me
I wanted to know him better
But it wouldn't be tonight, surely all his friends would go to see him and his friends after the concert. I need to know who he really is
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Some days have passed, I still can't talk to him and I don't get why
It has never been difficult for me to make friends, people usually approached me even if it was just for appearances, sadly. And I consider myself a social person, so I don't understand why it's so hard for me to talk to David
I feel like a little girl trying to confess her feelings to her crush, it's ridiculous, I'm almost an adult!
I mean, I feel attracted to him, a lot, but I just wanted to say "hello", nothing else! These things weren't so complicated in Maine
I've tried to get close to him on these days, but he's always with Pamela or one of his friends. And when he's alone, I just don't have the guts to approach him. I'm an idiot
The only time I was "close" to him was when he ran past me and made me fall to the ground. Yes, it sounds bad but there is no better way to explain it. And he didn't even stop to see me, but I want to think that he had his reasons. He looked very scared that day, Maybe he didn't even notice me
And that sounds worse
I decided to stop trying and just ask Brenda if I could get to know him better, he's her brother so I didn't think there would be a problem
The thing is, my luck is so bad that he didn't return to school until three days after he collided with me in the hallway of the school. Brenda told me that he was sick and resting at home
I thought about visiting him at his house, but then I remembered that he shouldn't even remember me or my name, it would just be embarrassing.
After all the 'signs' I decided to let everything flow, there would be more opportunities considering that Brenda is his sister, we would have to meet again at least once
I noticed that he was back because I saw him passing by in the hallways, unfortunately we don't share a schedule. I tried to approach and greet him, but there was something different in him
Something was off
He had that dull look from the time I met him, but it looked worse. Giant dark circles were under his eyes, showing very noticeable fatigue. There was no one around him, and that's why he was wearing headphones. I began to suspect that he wasn't actually sick
The bright person I saw in Cup or Cat had disappeared, and now a sad presence with their name roamed the halls with a severe sadness. It was depressing, and even more so after seeing his beautiful smile disappear. I had to know what had happened, or at least try to make him feel better.
I felt that I needed to
As the days went by, I saw that he was having lunch alone on the outskirts of the school, so I decided to go and talk to him once and for all.
"Elijah! Where are you going?"
I was forgetting my "friends" group
"I'll be back in a moment, Mariah, don't worry"
I turned around before anyone could ask me anything else, I could hear some words between Ricky and Martin
"Surely he will talk to the puppets idiot again"
I still don't understand the hate they have for Ken
Finally, despite the growing anxiety in my chest, I decided to look for David, and it wasn't difficult at all. He was always in the same area every day at the same time. Now I notice how creepy I am being, damn
I could see him from afar, he was sitting on the grass wearing his headphones. He had a notebook in hand and was writing something. Despite being somewhat far away, I could notice that he was crying
I don't know when I started to approach, but before I knew it, David noticed my presence. It doesn't surprise me to have scared him, it's not normal for someone you don't know to watch you like a psychopath from a distance.
How strange this is, I could have simply approached and talked like a normal person
We are staring at each other, it's weird, he is stiff in his place and I don't Know What to say
David takes off his headphones "Do you need anything?"
"Huh..." I'm frozen, this has never happened to me before "I just- I just wanted to say hi"
David went from being confused to simply sighing, putting his hands on his face for a few short seconds
"Elijah, right?"
He remembers me! I shouldn't get as excited as I did now
"Who sent you? Brenda? I'm surprised that it wasn't Ken this time. Anyways, tell her that I don't want to talk about....what she knows what I don't want to talk about, is just-...." He sighs again, it's a trembling sigh. Oh no, I bothered him "Forget it, just tell her that"
Quickly David put on his headphones and wrote something in his notebook again. I wanted to leave, but I also wanted to stay and explain that really no one had sent me
"No one sent me" I didn't think much about this decision "I just wanted to... see if you were okay, genuinely, of my own free will, you know?"
Suddenly David stopped writing, he didn't look up until a few seconds later. He avoided looking at me, And I could understand why. I am also embarrassed to be seen crying.
"I know you like my sister"
What.
"So stop trying to get close to me so desperately for my approval, it's not the first time this has happened to me"
Brenda?? I mean she is very cute but she's not even within my tastes. What makes him think that?
"What? I don't like Brenda- I mean, in a romantic way, she's pretty but she's not my type"
I wonder if he hasn't noticed that she's very interested in certain japanese guy who is her best Friend or he just doesn't want to talk to me and is looking for excuses
Finally he looks at me, I can notice that his face is slightly red from the tears for a while ago, he still looks cute despite the noticeable tiredness in his face. David judges me with his intense blue eyes, I can't help but tense up again
"I do not have enough energy to check if you are lying to me or not" his voice sounds tired "Also, I think she is more interested in Ken"
"I can say everyone has already noticed, I think it's mutual
Now I notice that was a test, because he laughs sarcastically after my Words
"He's a good boy, although sometimes he's a little bit strange" He looks calmer now, so I sit on the grass at a safe distance from him "But... I have faith that, if something happens between Brenda and him, it will turn out well"
"Me too"
For the first time that day I see him smile. It still seems like a very nice smile to me. Unfortunately, it doesn't last long and his expression becomes somber again. He falls silent again.
I also didn't know how to continue the conversation so I stayed quiet.
"I don't Look any good, I know"
I felt confused again "why do you say that?"
"You've been looking at me in a certain way since you arrived, I know well what that means, everyone has let me know on these days"
Ouch
I think I am very obvious
"You look tired"
"I Know"
Once again I debate whether to ask him or not
"Can I know why?"
"Why are you so interested in knowing what happens to me?" David responds to me with another question, more confused than annoyed
"We are not even...friends, I am just your friend's brother"
Suddenly I felt ashamed to confess the reason why I wanted to talk to him in the first place. David just stopped looking at me and started looking at the ground.
He looks....so sad
"Is weird, I Know, but I just really wanted t-"
"There you are!"
That somewhat annoying voice that I know so well appears. David quickly raised his head and looked with surprise at the pair of friends who arrived. Ricky and Marty looked at us with amusement in their eyes
I Don't Have a good feeling
"You were taking too long to be with Ken, I told you I wasn't crazy and I saw Elijah leaving the school!" Marty elbowed Ricky
"Ouch! That hurts!"
Marty shrugged with an insensitive look, I could feel David's sharp gaze on my neck
"Are you friends with these two jerks?!"
He's mád, really mad
"Hey! Respect your elders!"
"We are the same age!"
"He refers to hierarchies, idiot. You should respect us, loser! The popular duo of Jeans High!"
"Yeah! What Ricky said!"
David can only look incredulously at the two boys, his face quickly turning to an irritated one.
"Yeah, of course, hierarchies. If You two think you're superior for being "popular" then the two neurons you share with eachother are not working properly. What a shame"
Damn.
That went hard, but I must stop them or this will end badly
"David, listen-"
"No, I heard you enough. I knew this was too good to be true" He replied angrily, turning his back to gather his things and put on his headphones. "All of you are the same, I know I can't trust anyone that easily anymore, surely you just wanted to know about me to laugh at my misfortunes with your little friends"
"No, please! You're getting me wrong!"
"Don't you dare to hurt Brenda, if you do something to her, you will regret it"
"Hey! Don't threaten him!" Marty yelled
"And if he were to do something, what would you do? You're totally alone now, Miller"
What? What does Ricky means?
"Exer left you totally on your own, you don't Have a chance against us"
"You don't Know a shit about me, shut up"
The two idiots chuckled arrogantly, looking down on David with superiority. I turned to look at him again, he was frozen, his face expressing pain and anger, tightly gripping his notebook between his arms.
"Come on, we all saw how you ran away like a scared little girl a few days ago"
"And you were bleeding, so we highly doubt that you won that fight"
A fight? Exer stopped being friends with David? What did I miss?
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Didn't you hear?! Do you remember that time a few days ago when we told you there was a fight outside the school?"
I don't remember anything, I usually don't pay attention to either of them
"So this idiot got beaten up by Jackson and Exer! Can you believe it?!"
"That isn't true!"
"Oh sTop, you look pitiful denying the obvious stuff"
"Looser! Haha!"
David turned halfway, starting to walk away from there. I was about to go after him, but Ricky stopped me by holding my arm.
"Why are you stopping me?!"
I should have defended him, why did I stay quiet?
"Why do you want to go after him?"
"Yeah! He's a loser, cool people should be surrounded by cool people! Not idiots like Ken or that little Lady"
I'm done with this idiots
"Why are you so arrogant?"
"What?"
"You think you are better than others for no reason and bully people who have done nothing to you!"
"That blondie is a bully! I'm not surprised that Jackson hit him, he was actually taking too long"
David? A bully? It doesn't make sense, he's Brenda's twin! He's Jackson's friend. Well, he was....this is very far-fetched.
"And what about Ken? Why do they treat him so badly?"
"He's a weirdo, What other reason would we need?"
Yeah, they are as disgusting as I thought. How low did I fall to associate myself with people like this?
"You are unpleasant, You are exactly the kind of people I hate: people who hate unusual things. Ken is an unique guy and David surely is not a bad person! You are just jealous of not being like them and that's why you give airs of greatness every second. I don't want to be part of this anymore, I'm leaving"
I pulled abruptly from the grip that Ricky had on me, but I couldn't get away from him. Ricky took advantage of having my arm in his hand and pulled me towards him, taking advantage and holding the neck of my shirt in that same hand
Damn, I forgot that I was messing with two idiots taller and stronger than me
"Are you taking his side then?"
Ricky's intimidating tone doesn't scare me
"And what if I do?"
I was already angry enough to regret it. Ricky threw the first punch at my face, and I must admit it was stronger than I expected, I was stunned for a few seconds
"We thought you were better than this"
"The same goes for both of you"
And when I was about to receive the next blow...
"Hey you two! What are you doing?"
A teacher had arrived at the scene, my savior at this point. Although I was also involved in the issue and sent to the principal's office, but it was worth it, totally worth it
Now I was in the nurse office holding an ice bag to my cheek, I thought the pain would be momentary but it wasn't. It could have been worse anyway
Apparently my only chance to talk to David was gone, but there wasn't much I could do about it. It's understandable that he would think I was a jerk just like those two idiots, I would also stay away
I think it's time to look for better friendships
"Elijah?"
I quickly turned to look at the entrance of the room, David was looking at me with surprise. I Can't Believe he's back
"Hey" I couldn't help but quickly look away, after what happened I don't have the courage to see him in the face
I hear his steps approaching, he keeps at a somewhat close distance from me
"I heard that Ricky hit you, are you okay?"
"Yeah, don't worry about me"
I feel my face burning more than it already does from the hit, even though David is mad at me, he came to see if I was okay. He's so kind.
"Can I...." David coughed " Can I sit there?"
I raise my gaze to see where he was pointing, I saw that it is the place next to me in the nurse's office bed. I can't help but blush again, I definitely get nervous about ridiculous things.
"I Don't mind"
He quickly sat next to me, it took him a few more seconds to resume the conversation
"It hurts too much?"
"Not really" Yes, it hurts, but I'm not going to tell him that "Don't worry, I'm fine, really!"
"If you say so..." He moved his hands nervously "Were you given detention?"
"No, everything really turned out better than I thought. There was an anonymous witness who supported my side of the story, thanks to that I didn't suffer any consequences."
"That's really nice"
"It is! Although it's....weird, I didn't see anyone nearby when this happened. Anyway, I thank that anon, he saved me from a big one"
"You're welcome"
I quickly turned to look at David, seeing that he had a slight blush on his face. I am still stunned, why did he do it?
"It was you?" Unconsciously, I removed the ice pack from my face, leaving it between my hands "But- why? Weren't you mad with me?"
"I was, I absolutely was" David crossed his arms "I was about to leave there, but I decided to stay and listen to the 'conversation' between you. I ended up quite surprised, to be honest."
My face doesn't stop being red, I still feel linda weird by his words
"I thought you were like them, a brainless idiot blinded by popularity" Ouch? "But now I see that you are a good guy, I mean, you took a hit because me"
I don't know what to answer so I just laugh.
"I just wanted to tell you.... thanks for standing up for me, I was about to go and get you out of that trouble but I have to avoid being in trouble, the director will expel me if I end up in another one"
I was very surprised when I heard that.
"Why?"
"Let's just say this year has been crazy in many ways." David let out a nervous laugh. "On the first day of the second semester I got into a fight with an idiot who was bothering me. I was almost expelled but in the end I got a warning and a week in detention"
"That's awful" I said sadly "Why do they bother you so much?"
David remained silent, I think I shouldn't have asked that.
"There are many reasons, but the main one is..." He stopped looking at me, he decided to look at his restless hands "I was a bad person with Jackson a few months ago"
Wait, it was true?
"Even though we fix things, the school still sees us- sees me as a bad person. I don't blame them, I would hate a bully too."
I was silent, processing what David had told me.
"I know what I did was wrong, but right now I don't know what to think about Jackson. I think I should start getting to know people better."
As I understand their relationship went from bully-victim to friends and then to strangers? What happened? why did they fight? Why did Jackson never mention this to me?
"Why....why do you say that?"
"...I can't tell you, is very complicated" He's nervous but his look is sad "I just wanted to clarify that for you, Ricky and Marty weren't lying. I felt bad knowing that you had such a good perception of me thanks to Jackson, but that really wasn't the case."
David got out of bed, still avoiding looking at me. I keep processing everything. I should be angry, but I don't feel that way. He perfectly could have hidden the truth and just apologized, but he didn't.
I don't think he's a bad person, I still stand by my opinion. It's a shame that he considers himself that way.
"Can I ask you something?"
David was turning his back on me, at some point I wasn't aware when he had walked to the nurse's office entrance
"Why were you so interested in knowing me?"
I thought for a moment whether or not to tell him the full context why I decided to talk to him. He was honest with me, it is fair that if I'm also honest with him.
"I saw your presentation on cup or cat a few days ago" David turned around quickly looking at me in surprise. "I don't know exactly what caught my attention about you, maybe everything, but I wanted to get to know you better. You looked very....bright there"
His expression became sad, sadder than it already was.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you but I don't think that version of me still exists."
What happened to make him lose his light?
"It doesn't matter, I want to know the new David then"
He just looks at me confused, but then he lets out a small laugh, the first laugh that is for me. Again, and not at all surprising, my face turns red
"If you want to"
The class bell rings in the hallways, ending lunch. I thought there was half an hour left to be honest. I am very excited to enter class and be on everyone's lips because of the blow to my face.
"I'm leaving, I have class on the other side of the school. It was nice getting to know you better, and again, thank you, Elijah."
A sweet smile appears on his lips, I just wave goodbye, right now I'm a little too stunned by his smile to say a word. Damn, it's happening again
I'm not only find him cute, I really like David. The cycle repeats and I can't help it. At least he's not moving to another city, maybe this time will be different
I really hope so