Chapter Text
(Chapter Word Count: 2734)
Mark has never been the new kid before. He'd lived in a small apartment in Vancouver with his Mom, and never considered the possibility of leaving. He's never been the type to have a lot of friends. A few acquaintances here and there, people he knew from classes or sports, but he's never had a girlfriend, let alone even a best friend. But Mark has his Mom and his dog, so what else could he need?
Still, Mark is excited about the opportunity for a fresh start. His Mom had gone to Neo City High when it was still coed and tells him plenty of stories. Even if he wouldn't admit it out loud, Mark is eager to live in a dorm and become best friends with his roommate. All the people in his dormitory would have fun sleepovers and gossip together because that's what friends do...right?
What Mark did not expect was to open the door and start coughing excessively from all of the smoke in his room. Oh my god, smoke?!?! Is there a fire?? GREAT, it’s his first day, and he's already managed to set the dorm on fire.
"OH SHIT, is that a teacher!?"
"Fuck, man, I can't get caught again; my parents are gonna be pissed!!"
"Bro, just swallow the Juul, we can pump your stomach later."
"I can't swallow my Juul!!! This shit was expensive!"
"So you are willing to swallow dick no problem, but a Juul suddenly crosses the line."
"Yes, Jaehyun, of course, swallowing a Juul crosses the line, those are two VERY different things, you idiot."
What the fuck is going on? Who are all of these people in his dorm? It isn’t long before that question is answered though as he steps into the smoke-filled room. Mark looks up to meet the gaze of five older looking boys.
Two of them were very tall, one has chestnut brown hair and the other has a light strawberry blonde color. The third boy is extremely attractive (objectively of course) and has messy hair with an ashy brown color. But it is the last two who really catch Mark’s eye. One has fiery red hair and is wearing makeup while the other has silver hair and has more piercings than Mark thinks he’s ever seen. Actually, now that he thinks about it, Mark realizes he’s really never known any boys who wear makeup and have piercings and colored hair before.
"Oh shit, you must be my new roommate?" the boy with strawberry blonde hair announces interrupting Mark’s train of thought. “Mark right?”
Mark nods his head in reply, unsure of how to respond.
"Sup man, my name’s Yukhei, but you can call me Lucas. Sorry about all the smoke by the way. I honestly didn't think you were coming until later. I can tell these guys to beat it if you want."
"Hey, fuck you, Lucas I let you take a huge drag, at least let me stay," the other tall brown-haired boy snaps.
"Babe shut the fuck up, this kid looks scared out of his mind.” The boy with silver hair turns to face Mark with a large smile. “Hi Mark, my name's Ten. You’re fucking adorable and I'm sorry if we scared you!"
Mark is even more confused than before. This guy's name is Ten? Who names their kid Ten? Also, did he just say “babe”? Mark’s head swirls with questions.
"Uh, h-hi Ten, like the number? I'm Mark, Lucas' new roommate...but you already knew that." Wow, what a great first impression.
"Haha yes and don’t worry, I get that a lot. I’m from Thailand, so my real name is really long. Ten just makes more sense. Also, that scary douchebag over there is my boyfriend Johnny.”
The boy Ten referred to as Johnny scoffs and rolls his eyes in response.
Mark decides that Ten didn’t seem too bad. After all, he is pretty welcoming. Mark is still confused about the boyfriend thing though. He doesn’t have much time to think it over before the very handsome boy is holding out something that looks like a metal...pen? Wait, is this,
"Yo, dude I'm Jaehyun, Johnny's roommate. You want a hit?"
So he is offering Mark some kind of vape? Mark honestly still has no idea. How is he supposed to know? He’d always avoided the kids who did drugs in school so he did not have much experience when it came to these things. Mark internally smacked his forehead. He hasn’t even been at this school for ten minutes and he’s already being offered some kind of drug.
"Uh, hahaha, I'm good," Mark rubs his neck, "thank you for the offer, though, I appreciate it?" Mark’s dismissal came out more of a question than he originally intended.
Mark honestly has no idea how to respond, which seems to be a recurring theme at this point. He assumes that he’ll just have to get used to it.
"Well anyway," Lucas says as he flings himself back on his bed, "You can put your shit on that side. The dresser to the right is yours and there’s some extra storage under the bed. Welcome to Neo High, man.”
Mark later learns that the quiet boy with red hair was Taeyong. He also learns that they are all juniors with the exception of Lucas who is a sophomore and Johnny who is a senior. Although, that kid could definitely pass as a teacher.
Mark doesn’t think they were bad people for smoking and that stuff; most of them were actually pretty chill and seemed pretty welcoming. It’s just, they didn't look like the kind of guys who would want to be friends with an awkward new kid like him. But Mark is trying to keep an open mind about this new school, so who knows what could happen?
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"I swear to god Kun if I have to hear one more thing about how a 'gender-bent heathers would be perfect for the show this year's, I'm going to shove Johnny's pen so far up your ass that the musical will be the least of your problems," Doyoung mocks as he sits down at his usual table, barely controlling himself from strangling his friend for having terrible musical taste.
"What about mean girls? That could be fun!"
"Mean Girls is such a piece of shit Jungwoo. God how am I even friends with you guys, I can't wait to go to college."
"Hey, take that back, Mean Girls was nominated for 12 Tonys bitch!!"
Jungwoo can not believe his friend would insult the great Tina Fey like that. And HE is the one with bad taste? Unbelievable.
"And at least it is from this century and not written by some old white man denying how gay he was."
"Oh, shit’s about to go down," Ten excitedly mutters to Johnny, who obviously has no idea what they were arguing about.
"Ten, why are we sitting here when we could be doing stuff that’s much more productive than watching your gay theater friends fight about musicals?"
Ten just rolls his eyes and laughs at Johnny. Sometimes he wonders why he agreed to sit with Ten’s theater friends. Johnny doesn’t have anything against them, but it’s just not his thing. Kun and Taeil were bearable, but Doyoung and Jungwoo always seem to be at each other’s throats for no specific reason.
Johnny reminds himself that he’s a good boyfriend and if Ten wants him to make an effort to connect with his theater friends, how can he refuse?
"So, what exactly are they even fighting about?" Johnny asks.
He might as well try to understand the argument if he's gonna be stuck here till the bell rings. But Ten is too enthralled in the banter going on between Jungwoo and Doyoung to even acknowledge Johnny’s question.
"The musical is being announced today,” Kun interrupts. “They are arguing about what this year’s show is going to be. Well, they were at first. Now they are just insulting each other’s musical tastes.''
"Taeil, what do you want the musical to be?" Johnny asks as he turns to the quiet boy.
"Honestly, I don't really care as long as I can sing a powerful ballad."
"Bal-"
"It's a touchy-feely solo song basically," Kun explains before Johnny can even finish.
But just as Johnny is about to speak, the argument between Doyoung and Jungwoo heats up quite a bit.
"This is exactly why twinks don't deserve rights."
"I might be a twink, but at least I can give a good blowjob you goddamn bunny rabbit."
"Hey! I give amazing blowjobs you fem boy bitch".
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A few tables over, Mark is very confused while watching the fight unfold in front of him. What are these two strange upperclassmen arguing about? Why are they comparing blowjob expertise in the cafeteria? And most importantly, what the fuck is a twink?
Mark assumed the transition into Neo City High would be a bit tricky. Still, he didn't anticipate that there would be pretty boys yelling about blowjobs while he’s eating his breakfast. Suddenly the eggs and bacon in front of him seem a lot less appetizing as the older boys continue their argument.
"Lucas, what is a twink?"
Lucas stares at Mark wide-eyed for a few seconds, blinks, and then starts hysterically laughing. Mark honestly doesn’t know what is so funny and just feels perplexed and frustrated.
So much for that fresh start.
The confusion is killing Mark at this point. To break the awkward moment, he would have asked someone else, but Lucas is the only person in the cafeteria who knows he exists. Well, Johnny and Ten were sitting at the upperclassmen table next to them, but that seems like a much worse solution.
Mark looks over at Lucas, who is still giggling to himself while finishing breakfast.
"What’s a twink," he laughs. "Hilarious Mark."
Mark sighs in defeat. A sinking sensation lows in his stomach in embarrassment, and utter confusion. It seems like he won't be getting a solid answer to his question any time soon.
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“Why are upperclassmen always so loud,” Jaemin whines over the sound of the older boys screaming at each other across the cafeteria.
“Jeno, who's the kid sitting with Lucas over there?” Donghyuck questions ignoring Jaemin's complaint. He is pointing at a shy-looking boy with black hair sitting next to Lucas.
“Oh it's Lucas's new roommate, Mark or something,” Jeno explains.
“Who the fuck comes to a new school in January, especially a boarding school? God that must suck, I feel bad for the kid,” Renjun says as he sits down at the sophomore’s usual table.
“You know where he's from?” Donghyuck asks. He doesn’t know why but he can seem to take his eyes off this Mark kid. He’s kinda cute but he doesn't seem like the type of guy who would acknowledge Donghyuck’s existence.
“No idea. Lucas quickly mentioned him at our morning workout but that’s about all I know.”
“God, you guys still do those? Isn't the football season over?”
Jeno looks up at Donghyuck from his plate of eggs with a very done expression on his face.
“Well you see Hyuck, the football season never truly ends. It’s like how you don’t just quit working on your singing, dancing, and acting skills when the musical is over. Besides, I have to show Coach Minho I'm committed to the team so I can become the first-string left end for the varsity team next year.”
“What?”
“The fuck does that mean?” Renjun questions looking completely puzzled.
“Jeno, you should know by now that these theater kids know nothing about football,” Jaemin states planting a hand on Jeno’s shoulder and leaning in.
“Jaemin you don’t know anything about football either?”
“ACTUALLY, Renjun, for your information, I had Jeno explain football stuff to me and now I know everything there's to know, right Nono?” Jaemin asks with huge puppy eyes.
“Simp,” Yangyang mumbles agitatedly, not even looking up from the algebra homework he's been working on all morning.
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“Mr. Lee, Mr. Jung, nice of you to join us. Now tell me, what’s today’s excuse for being late to breakfast?”
Everyone knows to avoid Onew when he is the lunch monitor. His punishments for being late tended to be ruthless. Taeyong and Jaehyun were only able to make it so far without being caught by their teacher.
“Jinki, god leave the kids alone,” Taemin sighs, walking up behind Onew who is now very irritated.
“Taemin you can’t just…”
“Go get you breakfast boys, and don't be late again, ok?” Taemin interrupts, raising an eyebrow at the frazzled looking boys.
“Thank you, Taemin!!” Taeyong and Jaehyun babble as they scurry away before Onew could say anything else.
The pair got their lunch trays, heads hanging low trying not to draw any more unwanted attention to themselves. Of course, that's hard to do when you come into the cafeteria looking like you got in some sort of fight beforehand.
“Christ Yong, you look like you got mauled,” Lucas says with little shame “I feel like you should get checked out by a doctor.”
Taeyong and Jaehyun approach the table Lucas is sitting at with Mark. To be fair, Taeyong looks like some sort of spotted animal with all of the patches of brown and purple splattered on his neck while Jaehyun barely has half the buttons on his shirt done up.
“Are you guys together or something?” Mark questions before thinking. He instantly regrets asking as the two boy’s faces both turn a deep crimson red.
“Or something,” Lucas mumbles, shoving more eggs in his mouth.
“Nah it's just a casual thing,” Taeyong laughs embarrassedly, dismissing Mark’s question and picks at his bowl of fruit.
Jaehyun shrugs it off as he buttons up his top. He then proceeds to bring his wrist up to his mouth and he takes a hit from his Juul, discreetly blowing the smoke back into his shirt.
“Jae, how about you eat actual food,” Lucas mocks. “I heard Juul smoke doesn't have a lot of nutritional value to it.”
“Dude it's mango flavored so it's basically the same thing as what Tae is eating,” he protests, taking another hit. He passes the Juul over to Taeyong who takes his own hit.
“Well, you're lucky. Coach Minho isn't on breakfast duty today. He wouldn’t be happy about you being late again.”
Lucas picks up his tray and abruptly leaves the table.
So much for friends, Mark thinks.
Lucas just abandoned him with the two upperclassmen he barely knows. Not to mention they just made a very unique entrance so now all eyes are on his table. An odd first impression is a memorable first impression, but not when the entire room knows about it.
“I haven't missed a single morning workout or practice in 3 years. Minho can kiss my ass if he isn’t able to handle me being late to breakfast every now and then,” Jaehyun grumbles, shoving a spoonful of cereal into his mouth.
“So Mark,” Taeyong asks, turning his attention to the younger boy. “How's your first official day of Neo High been going?”
“Uhhhh it's fine so far. There's definitely a lot of, um, interesting personalities at this school.” Mark carefully places his words into a simple reply.
“That's what makes it so fun, or insufferable. It depends on who you're with, right Jae?” Taeyong turns to Jaehyun tilting his head waiting for a response.
Just as Jaehyun is about to answer, the bell rings signaling the start of first period.
“Mark, do you need help finding your classes?” Taeyong offers, getting up to return his tray to the counter.
“No, I think I'm good,” Mark replies quickly, wanting to get out of there as fast as possible. “Thank you though! Uh, I guess I'll see you guys later. And Good luck with your neck, Taeyong.”
Good luck with your neck?! Really?! Out of all the things that could come out of Mark’s mouth, why that?! He immediately realizes how strange of a comment that is and runs out of the cafeteria incredibly embarrassed. Mark doesn’t even bother looking back to see Taeyong’s expression. Oh, he could only imagine. But there is one question Mark has yet to find an answer to as he follows the herd of students into the hallway.
Where the fuck is his honors biology classroom?