Chapter Text
The ride to Patroclus’ house only took five minutes. He didn’t live far and would walk about 15 minutes every morning to school. He looked over to Achilles, taken back when he noticed the blond was staring at him.
“Why do you keep doing that?”, Patroclus asked.
He heard Achilles shrug. “You’re worth looking at”, he said as if it were obvious. Patroclus watched the other boy for a while, searching his face in hopes to decipher what the other was trying to do. Achilles just continued to stare back slightly amused.
“Well thanks for the ride”, Patroclus eventually said as he reached to undo his seatbelt. He needed to get out of there.
“No goodbye kiss?”, the Achilles asked teasingly and Patroclus stopped, hand hovering over the door handle.
“Excuse me?”, Patroclus sputtered, yet making no move to draw away from the other boy. Achilles had begun to move in closer, not stopping until he was half an inch away from the other’s mouth. Still, it was close enough that Patroclus could feel the heat emitting from Achilles on his lips. Could feel the small warm puffs of breath dancing across his skin. It would be so easy, to move in and place his lips over Achilles’. The hand holding Patroclus’ wrist started to rub circles against the skin, causing him to shake lightly. The darker boy started moving forward, hesitantly closing the space between them before suddenly jerking back, remembering the reason why he couldn’t fall for Achilles.
Stunned from the sudden change, Achilles stared at him, eyes wide with confusion.
“I should go”, Patroclus said, fumbling with the seatbelt in a rush to leave. “Again, thanks for driving me”, he said before closing the car door. He turned and walked quickly towards his house, not looking back once no matter how badly he wanted to.
The moment Patroclus entered his room, the teen dropped his bag and threw himself face first onto his bed, wishing burying oneself in blankets and never coming out again was a reasonable option for a functional member of society. Sadly, it wasn’t, and tomorrow he would have to go to school friendless again. It was depressing, he really enjoyed the people he had met. But, there was no way they’d want anything to do with him after he ran off on Achilles. Well, at least tomorrow was Friday, he’d have an entire weekend to stay inside and not think about his social life.
Eventually, Patroclus decided he couldn’t waste all his time on teen problems. Dragging himself out of bed, he grabbed his bag and headed for his desk. Doing mindless math was always a great way to forget about other problems for a while.
A little after 9:00 pm his phone vibrated, signaling a text message. That was odd, he wasn’t close enough with anyone from his old school for them to text him, and he hadn’t given anyone at his new school his number.
He grabbed his phone and saw a message notification from an unknown number. He had certainly never seen that strand of ten digits before. Puzzled, Patroclus unlocked his phone and read the message.
Unknown Number
[9:03 PM]
Hey this is Briseis
Are you free on weekdays after school?
Patroclus blinked. He stared dumbfounded at the text message for a good amount of time wondering what he was supposed to do. Maybe Achilles hadn’t told Briseis about what happened yet. Or maybe she didn’t care? Patroclus prayed it was the latter before replying.
Patroclus
[9:06 PM]
Oh hi Briseis
Yeah I’m free everyday
[9:07 PM]
BTW how did you get my number
[9:08 PM]
I have my sources.
[9:09 PM]
Um
[9:09 PM]
Anyways, I have a friend who needs math help. I’d tutor him myself if I weren't so busy with student council.
[9:10 PM]
You in?
[9:11 PM]
Yeah sure. Is it everyday?
[9:12 PM]
Not sure.
[9:12 PM]
Wait, I’ll text Achilles to see when he’s free for tutoring.
Well, that probably meant she didn’t know Achilles was pissed at him for running off. Now she’ll find out and he’ll be stuck alone again.
Patroclus stared at his phone anxiously. One minutes passed. Then two. Groaning, the teen slumped down on his chair and set his phone on the table. Yeah, she was probably not talking to him anymore. Patroclus sat there in silence, wishing he could drown in his own problems. A few moments later, he was pleasantly surprised to hear his phone vibrate again.
He checked the screen, another unknown number. Nervously, he unlocked his phone with an idea of who it was.
Unknown Number
[9:20 PM]
Hey its Achilles
Hmm. Guess Achilles wasn’t the type to get upset over rejection. Unless this was part of an elaborate scheme to mess with him.
[9:21 PM]
Hello, how did you guys get my number anyways?
[9:22 PM]
That's a secret
[9:25 PM]
Ugh
[9:20 PM]
what?
[9:21 PM]
You and Briseis both sound really shady. You’re not the son of a mob boss are you?
[9:21 PM]
lol no
[9:21 PM]
Odysseus is the shady one, u can get anything from that guy seriously. I dont even want to know how he got ur number or your locker number
[9:22 PM]
Hmm.
Fine I’ll believe you
For now
{9:23 PM]
But I’m blaming you if I wake up one day in a bloody bathtub missing a kidney
[9:23 PM]
Lmfao. u watch too much CSI kid
[9:23 PM]
Now lets talk math tutoring. ur free everyday after school right
[9:24 PM]
Yeah kinda sad I know
And you?
[9:25 PM]
Well, I’ve got track practice after school on tues
[9:25 PM]
So everyday except tues?
[9:26 PM]
Wow that’s four days a week you’re wasting doing math with me
[9:26 PM]
Are you sure you want to do that to yourself?
[9:27 PM]
It’s not wasting
I enjoy ur company
[9:28 PM]
thanks
[9:28 PM]
My house or urs?
[9:29 PM]
Umm
[9:30 PM]
How about the library?
[9:31 PM]
Sure that works
[9:32 PM]
Oh shoot!
I was supposed to sleep half an hour ago
[9:32 PM]
..
Dude
[9:32 PM]
What kind of teenager sleeps at 9
[9:33 PM]
Can you not
I need my sleep or I won’t function
[9:33 PM]
Haha that’s adorable
[9:33 PM]
Goodnight Pat
[9:33 PM]
Hush you I’m not adorable
[9:33 PM]
Goodnight
The next day, Patroclus walked out of his last period class to find Achilles waiting for him. He looked great like always, somehow making a simple red shirt and jeans look stylish.
“Got your books?” Patroclus asked.
“Yep”, Achilles confirmed as they headed for the library.
“So why the sudden need to seek math help?”, he asked.
Achilles shrugged. “It was Briseis’ idea”, he eventually said.
The library was only half full when they arrived. The pair ended up sitting side by side at a table slightly hidden behind a shelf. They spent most of the time going over what he didn’t get in class. Achilles was a good student. He listened intently when Patroclus was explaining a concept and asked thoughtful questions when he didn’t understand something.
When Patroclus was satisfied with Achilles’ understanding, he had the other boy work on a few textbook questions while pulling out his own homework. The two sat in mostly silence, only broken once a while when Achilles had a question.
“Hey Pat I’m done. Could you go over my answers?”, Achilles eventually asked.
“Yeah sure”. Patroclus accepted the notebook and started going over the problems. Once in a while he circled a mistake, a few misplaced negatives and calculation errors. For the most part, Achilles was doing pretty well.
“Just a few minor errors”, he briefed as he handed Achilles back his notebook, “but for the most part, you’ve gotten everything down. You wouldn’t need a tutor if you were more careful with your equations”
“Maybe I’m only doing well right now because you’re just a really great teacher?”, Achilles said as he took his notebook back.
Patroclus ducked his head blushed. “Thanks”, he said, smiling softly.
“No problem”, Achilles said and Patroclus froze up slightly at how close the other’s voice was. Looking up, he saw that Achilles had leaned in.
“Are you free tomorrow night?”, Achilles asked. He was so close that Patroclus shivered at the way the words tickled his skin.
“No”, he replied.
“Good”, the blond said, then continued in a hush tone, “Briseis is having a small party, you should come”
“It’s not really my scene”, Patroclus said, “I don’t like parties, they’re too loud and crowed”
“This one isn’t”, Achilles assured, “just a small group of friends”.
Patroclus hesitated. Whenever he went to gatherings similar to this, he always found himself standing alone in the corner. At the same time, he didn’t want to disappoint Achilles. He always looked like a kicked puppy when upset, giving Patroclus the urge to just give in so Achilles would stop pouting.
“Alright”, he eventually said.
“Cool I’ll pick you at 8:00”, Achilles said grinning and Patroclus instantly regretted his decision, no clue how he was going to survive being in the same room as Achilles for so long.