Chapter Text
Felix wasn’t really sure what happened.
It was the beginning of summer holidays and Christmas was right around the corner. Felix ran through the streets of Bremin over to his dad’s shop. “Dad! Mum needs you to call her, somethings up with Oscar again.” He said as he rushed over to the counter, where a boy shorter than him was paying for snacks.
“Why didn’t she just ring me?” His dad asked.
“She did. Several times. You’ve probably got your phone on silent again.”
Ken reached into his pocket, grabbing out his mobile. “Ah, okay.” He said, seeing the notification for multiple missed calls. “Felix, close up shop for me.” He turned to the shorter boy standing next to his son. “And here is your change.” With that, Ken picked up his things and ran out the door.
Felix sighed, collapsing on the counter, his head hitting it with a thud.
“Uh, Felix, right? Felix Ferne?”
Felix moved his head slightly and looked up. “Yeah, what’s it to you?”
“Nothin’, really. Just not used to seein’ you in shorts.” Said the shorter boy.
It was an interesting sight. Felix, who was known for wearing black skinny jeans, black, white or gray graphic tees and black Doc Martins, was wearing a black Fall Out Boy tank top, black basketball shorts and a pair of black hi-top vans. It was still very much Felix just kinda… sporty.
“Yeah, well. I can’t wear skinny jeans all the time.”
“Nah, I guess not. By the way, I’m S-“
“I know who you are, Sam. I’ve known every kid in our year level since year 3.”
“Oh… So, do you maybe… wanna hang out?” Sam asked.
Felix stood up, crossed his arms and leaned his back on the counter. “…Why?” He asked cautiously.
Sam shrugged. “I dunno, I’m kinda bored. My mates are all on holiday and my brothers are with their friends.”
“So… you want me to be your… replacement friend?”
Sam winced. “Okay, when you say it like that…”
Felix looked up at the ceiling and huffed. “I can’t believe I’m doin’ this.” He said under his breath. “Fine.” He replied, looking down at Sam. “I’ve got nothin’ better to do.”
-/-/-/-/-
“So, what are your family plans for Christmas?” Sam asked as Felix locked up his dad’s store.
“Uh, not much really. Just me, mum, dad and my brother. So, probably just gifts in the morning, lunch in the arvo and straight to bed.”
“Lucky! We’ve got relatives coming down from all over the place. My house is gonna be packed.”
They continued to talk a little bit while they walked out of town to the outskirts of Bremin where a rickety old shack stood.
“My brothers and I used to come up here all the time when we were little.” Sam told Felix as they walked towards the shack.
“Oscar and I used to climb trees.” Felix replied with a small, sad smile.
“Oh… I-is that how-“
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Felix said, cutting Sam off.
“Right…” Sam paused and thought about what to say next. He and Felix didn’t seem to have much in common, but Sam was a very social being and having no one to hang out with was driving him crazy. “So, um… you have a favourite food?”
-/-/-/-/-
They ended up staying and hanging around the shack for a few hours until Felix received several texts from Oscar.
*Back home, nothing serious*
*Where are you?*
*Mum and Dad are suffocating me*
“I’ve gotta head home.” Felix said, standing up from where he was sitting. He was actually kind of sad that he had to go back. Turned out Sam wasn’t as bad as he thought.
“Oh, okay, dude.” Sam replied, getting up and stretching after lying on the ground for a solid hour or so.
-/-/-/-/-
They made their way back to town and went to split up when Sam spoke up.
“Hey, could I maybe… get your number?”
Felix was confused, he thought that the afternoon was just going to be a one-time thing. “Why?”
“So, we could hang out again?”
Felix looked at Sam like he had a screw loose.
Sam sighed. “Look, I know you’re not really good with the whole ‘friend’ thing-“
“Wow, thanks.” Felix cut him off, sarcastically.
“But…” Sam continued. “I think you’re actually pretty cool.”
“I don’t know…” Felix was hesitant, rightfully so. When you’re six feet under the social ladder, popular kids wanting your phone number seems a bit suspicious.
“Give me your phone.”
“Jeez, Sam. A please would be nice.”
Sam sighed dramatically and held out his hand. “Give me your phone please.”
Felix unlocked his phone and handed it to Sam while the shorter boy muttered about his mum making him say shit like that constantly.
“Well then, you should listen to her.”
“Shut up.” After typing Sam proceeded to take a photo of himself, sticking his tongue out.
“You having fun there?” Felix asked him, snickering.
“Here,” Sam said, giving Felix back his phone. “If you wanna hang out again, text me. If you don’t, don’t. Simple as that. Your choice.” Sam said walking away backwards.
“Don’t get your hopes up.” Felix replied, turning around to leave.
As he started to walk off, Felix looked down at his phone, thinking if he should risk it. ‘What the hell, Ellen won’t be back ‘til January.’ He stopped and turned around, still seeing Sam walking off in the opposite direction. He texted three words.
-/-/-/-/-
Sam stopped and grabbed his phone out of his pocket when it beeped.
*Unknown Number: Sk8er Boi, really?*
Turning around, he saw Felix smirking at him.
“Yeah, really. Who doesn’t love Avril Lavigne?” He shouted, smiling widely.
Felix rolled his eyes and shook his head slightly. “You’re a dork, Sam Conte.” He shouted back as he turned around and continued to walk back home.
-/-/-/-/-
While walking home, Felix and Sam texted each other back and forth and continued to once they had both arrived back home.
“So once again, nothing was wrong, and mum overreacted.” Oscar looked up from his sketchbook to see his older brother smiling and laughing to himself while typing on his phone.
“What’s up with you?”
Felix glanced up from his phone. “Huh?”
“You’re never this attached to your phone unless your iPod dies on a long car ride. Is Ellen going through hell on her holiday or something?” Oscar asked, wheeling himself over to Felix.
“Nah, it’s nothing.”
“Yeah, sure. Nothing.” Oscar said in a mocking tone as he snatched Felix’s phone.
“Oscie! Give it back!”
“Who the hell is ‘Sk8er Boi’” Oscar muttered to himself as he saw the screen. Clicking on the contact profile, an image popped up next to the name. “Wait a minute, isn’t that one of the Conte boys?”
“Yes, it is.” Felix huffed, grabbing back his phone.
“When did this happen?”
“Today, at dad’s shop actually.”
Oscar raised an eyebrow at his older brother. “So, while I was bored out of my mind in hospital, you were making out with one of the most popular kids at school?”
“We were not making out!” Felix felt his face flush. “We just hung out for a bit, that’s all.”
“But you wanna make out with him.”
Felix chucked a pillow at Oscar, hitting him in the face. “Shut up!”