Chapter Text
“Ah, High School. My favourite one of the nine circles of hell.”
“Did you just use High School and Favourite in one sentence?”
“Well, at least I get to hang out with my friends and annoy people all day.”
Race had his legs sprawled over the seat next to him, keeping the seat reserved for when the rest of his friends came on the school bus. “Besides, we are seniors now, Al. We basically rule the school.” Albert was hanging over the back of the seat in front of him, his hair still messy from sleeping. “Still I don’t see how High School could be your favourite circle of hell. I would say maybe third favourite.” The red-head ran his fingers through his hair, yawning shortly. “Then what would be your favourite one?”
Before Albert could answer the question, the bus stopped. Quickly the loud voices of their friends filled the bus. Jack sat down next to Albert, he looked even more tired than Albert with dark circles under his eyes. Romeo threw his bag on the floor, draping himself over Race, his hand rested dramatic on his forehead. “Oh, what is wrong, my sweetest Romeo?” Race cupped Romeo’s face with his hands. The boy now had covered his eyes with his lower arm, the most dramatic sigh came from him. “I don’t know if I can go on like this, my beloved Racer,” he said, voice slightly shaking. Race would bet ten bucks on Albert rolling his eyes, even though he could not see it.
“My dearest Romeo, please oh please tell me what is bothering you on this beautiful autumn morning.”
“I don’t think I can, my precious Racer. It is too hard,” the boy lifted his arm so his eyes met Race’s. “We were out of chocolate sprinkles this morning. My heart is broken. I cannot live like this, everything is so dark.” Jack and Albert sighed simultaneously. Everyone in their small group of friends had a flair for drama, they all took drama class for a reason, but Race and Romeo were the worst. They had the intense urge to make the smallest things into big dramatic moments. And fuck yeah, the both loved doing it.
“Oh, my treasured Romeo, I cannot imagine what you must be going through in these hard times. I can only pray that you find the will to live again,” Romeo sat up within a second. “Treasured? Is that even a thing?” he asked, his eyebrow raised. “I think so? I was running out of ideas,” Race admitted, leaning against the window of the bus. “Are y’all finished?” Jack asked, his fingers drumming on the back of his seat. “My sweet, sweet Jack Benjamin Kelly- “
“My middle name is not Benjamin.” Jack interrupted him.
“Pretty sure it is Benjamin.”
“Racer, I think I know my own name better then you do.”
“Well apparently not, if you did not know your middle name was Benjamin. Besides I thought Medda taught you better then to interrupt people.” Race was convinced Medda was the coolest mom to ever exist. Except for the fact she was not biologically Jack’s mom. But she allowed them to have small parties in the weekend, and mostly just looked away when they drank alcohol.
“I really could not care less about what you were going to say.”
“Rude, Benjamin. Rude.”
Davey got on the bus at the next stop, sitting down in front of Jack and Albert. Race was sure Jack would’ve thrown Albert out of the window if it meant that Davey could sit next to him. Everyone was well aware of the intense sexual tension and loving stares between the two boys. Everyone except them, it seems. If there was something Race loved, it was a great gay romance.
Race was not sure when he first got a crush on a boy. But he remembered vividly the day his dad told him that gay people would go to hell and that if ‘one of his kids’, which meant only Race, would ever turn out gay he would disown them and kick them out. Two days later he left Race and his mom for a younger girl. So, he always felt that having a crush on a boy was one big fuck you to the man. Not that his dad would ever care, he hadn’t called once since he left four years ago.
“Davey, my man!” Race called out. “Kelly over her claims Benjamin is not his middle name. With you knowing him so well I was hoping you would clarify.”
“Fucking hell, Higgins, I did not know you were able to talk so fancy,” Albert spoke, his back against the window and his arm casually over the back of his seat. “Did you not listen to a word Race and I just said?” Romeo asked, almost offended.
“I’m pretty sure Jack does not have a middle name,” Davey said. He sounded quite confused but not surprised.
“Oh man, Davey. I thought we had something really special. You can’t let me down like this,” Race pushed away Albert’s arm to lean over the seat, reaching out for Davey. Davey just leaned back a bit, staying out of his reach. “Race, it’s not healthy to flirt with everyone,” Albert said, pushing the boy back in his seat. “You never give Romeo crap for flirting with everyone,” the boy snapped back, leaning against the window again. “Oh, come on, he is called Romeo for god’s sake,”
“My parents saw my gift the moment I was born,” Romeo grinned. “They knew I was destined to be the biggest flirt of school.”
“You were destined to be the biggest slut of school.”
“Same thing, different name.”
“Only Romeo would be proud to be a slut,” Albert said as Race almost shoved Romeo off the seat when the bus came to a halt. “What can I say, it’s my talent. Nothing to be ashamed off!” He grinned, grabbing his bag. Race picked up his bag from the floor, following his friends out of the bus.
The moment he laid eyes on the big ugly building, he wanted to take back his words on school being his favourite circle of hell. There had to be a more fun place in hell then this prison. Even the building looked boring, the brown bricks truly remined him more of a prison then a school. And to think that this was only the building, the teachers were not even in sight yet.
Crutchie was waiting for them at the doors. “Hey guys!” he called out, his left shoulder leaning on his crutch. “People are saying that Weasel is sick,” A wave of relief went through Race’s body. Weasel was their maths professor and they had a test today which he did not study for. “Please let that be true,” he heard Romeo call out. “I cannot stand that man’s bald head. Did you guys know he is married? The poor girl must have been desperate.”
Crutchie softly chuckled at Romeo’s comment. “I would say, or maybe he is rich. But if he was rich he would’ve bought a wig,” Race added, quickly looking at his phone to check his schedule. The bell rang loudly, cutting the conversation short. “See ya at lunch!” Albert said before he and Crutchie disappeared into one of the hallways. Jack and Davey barely said bye to the boys, too busy in their conversation. Romeo wrapped his arm around Race’s shoulder as they made their way towards their English classroom. “We should set goals for this year,” he proposed.
“Like what? Passing our finals?”
“I was thinking more about how many times we want to make out and get laid.”
“Romeo, my beloved Romeo. You are just scared I’m gonna be more slutty then you are.”
“You know you cannot beat me at my own game.”
“I’m betting twenty bucks, I’m gonna get laid more times than you are before graduation.”
“Deal.”
The two boys managed to get two seats at the back of the room, dumping their books on the tables. “Do you think Miss Hannah was a slut in her high school time?” Romeo asked, referring to their English teacher, who was late. “Definitely. School paper posted an old picture of her and she was hot.”
Race his eyes wandered the room as he talked. His eye falling on the blonde guy who entered the room. Spot Conlon, his least favourite circle of hell. He had an intense hate for the boy and vice versa. It was not like they ever had a real conversation, one that lasted longer than a minute and did not contain at least five insults within that minute. He just despised the boy. The way he walked around like he owned the school. Dickhead.
“I could totally imagine her being hot. If I was straight I would’ve totally hit that,” Romeo leaned back in his chair, his eyes on the chalkboard as his mind wandered. Race’s eyes moved back to his friend. “Dude she is a teacher, even if you were straight it would’ve been gross,”
“Love works in mysterious ways.”
“Wanting to sleep with someone is not being in love.”
“And since when are you an expert on love, Higgins?”
Race opened his mouth to snap back, but words failed him. That did not happen often, Race was a master with words, he had always a comeback ready. But sometimes Romeo managed to outsmart him. Race closed his mouth, crossing his arms like an angry kid. Romeo just grinned wide, knowing he had won.
“Okay class, sorry I’m late. Let’s open your books at page 45!”