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Isaac pulled the paper bag that contained his lunch out of his locker. He closed the door, and jumped at seeing Cody leaning against the next locker,waiting for him. “Jeez! What do you want? I don’t have any money, see pre-packed.” He said holding up the bag, waving it around a bit.
Cody looked down at a list in his hand, rolled his eyes, and turned to Isaac before saying. “The boss has summoned you.”
The artist looked around the hallway for anyone else. “Where are the other minions?”
“Ed just sent me and gave me a list of rules.” Cody shrugged, looking over the list once again. “1. Don’t hurt Ink. 2. Don’t use brutal force. 3. If he says no just leave him be. 4. Only one crony should go.” He shoved the list into his jacket pocket, rocking on his heels. “I’m not really used to this so... do you wanna come?”
Isaac checked the hallway one more time just in case this was some strange prank and the punchline was around the corner. But it was mostly empty as everyone had headed to the cafeteria by now. “Sure?”
Cody seemed to be enjoying this just as much if the fidgeting was anything to go by. “Cool, we can go through the main entrance.” The jock spun around shuffling off towards the drama room, which was thankfully close by.
Isaac followed along, catching up alongside Cody. What should have been a short walk felt an excruciating journey. As if the situation wasn’t weird enough already, Cody knew how to bump it up a level. “Sorry. I hope there are no hard feelings about the past.” He didn’t look the artist in the eye, more interested in the wall.
He knew he would be pushing his luck but Isaac couldn’t help but slip out, “You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t just sweep everything under the rug.”
“Right…” Cody stopped abruptly obliviously forcing himself to look the other in the eye. “Look I know I shouldn’t say this, but Ed is my friend, one of the best ones I have. He had done a lot for me so I’ll do anything for him. That thing with Felix, whatever that was, and hell even with Fresh, you put yourself on the line to help Ed. So you have my word no more pranks, interrogation, stealing, or rough housing. But…” He broke eye contact to run a hand through his hair. Isaac rolled his eyes, of course this opportunity for some peace came with a but. “Please don’t tell boss I asked this, but are the rumours true? Are you two hooking up? Because I’m cool with that! And I’ll fight anyone who isn’t.”
Isaac would have laughed given it was under different circumstances but Cody had a point, just recently he got a concussion for some he apparently hated, and now this person has him on a ‘don’t harm’ list as if he was a Mafia boss (which was actually pretty in character for Error). At what point did this stop being a joke and became a genuine question? “No, we aren’t together. I honestly don’t know how I feel about him.”
“Then you're perfect for each other because I don’t think he does either.” He backtracked quickly. “Not that I’m saying you have to get together.” Cody held out his hand. “So we’re cool? Keep in mind I have to take no for an answer.”
Isaac stared suspiciously at the offered hand. “Can I have $50 to make up for all the lunch money?”
The jock let out a chuckle, “Seems fair. Sure”
Isaac shook the hand. “We’re good.” He shot a wink, “For now at least.”
Cody lit up, immediately wrapping his arm around the others shoulders, which was quite awkward given the height difference, and started back towards the lair. “Awesome. You know you kind of remind me of Blue.”
“Ugh, but that guys a creep. Why can’t it be anyone else?”
“Nah he’s cool he just has too much interest in other people.” He said, ruffling up the other's hair. They had by now reached the drama rooms and were heading for the side entrance. “You know your hair is really soft?”
“Thanks? I mean like, I know, it’s kind of always touching me.” The two stood in front of the door to under the stage, an idle thought drifting through his head. “I’ve never used this entrance. I always use the secret one.”
Cody smirked and once again ruffled his hair. “Which one?” He spun around heading off in the direction. “Anyway, boss wants to be alone with you, so have fun.”
Well that just filled him with so much confidence. He still has no idea what Edward wants. Eyeing up the door, Isaac shrugged it off, curiosity killed the cat, but he’d faced worse then curiosity.
Shoving open the door to the over glorified blanket fort. Edward chilling on a bean bag, phone in hand. He looked up at the creak of the door, a smug smirk formed. “You actually showed?”
Isaac shrugged off his backpack, tossing it against another beanbag. “I’ll admit you peaked my interest.” He took advantage of the rare height difference to tower over the other. “So? What do you want?”
Edward crossed his arm over his chest, cocking an eyebrow. “Calm down squirt. You’re not intimidating anyone. It’s nothing exciting.” He handed Isaac a sheet of paper. “I just need someone to do an art project, thought I could call on my favourite nerd.”
“No.” Isaac had skimmed over the page shoving it back to the jock. Realism portrait, focusing on textures and shading, easy peasy but he wasn’t Edward’s pet. “Just because you're a ‘king’ doesn’t mean I’m a servant who comes at your beck and call.”
The jock lounged further back, that stupid cocky smirk ever present. “Funny you say that as if I forced you here. I know you’re here on your own accords.”
Isaac scowled, he had better things to do than have some up himself pompous douche talk down to him. “Well then you should be perfectly fine, if I decide it’s not worth my while.”
He went to leave, his eye catching sight of something he never expected… the flower, the exact one he made for Edward himself when this whole mess started. “What were you hoping I called you for? Something supernatural, a fight? A date? Are you listening to me!”
Isaac ignored him, still focused on his old creation. “I didn’t think it would last this long.” He muttered. His creations don’t last forever, a week or two if lucky. Approaching it, upon further inspection time was taking its toll on the flower as it seemed to be melting.
To his dismay Edward had gotten off the beanbag to stand behind and once again towering over him. He seemed less amused than a minute ago but thankfully no where close to his limit. Like Isaacs hair, slightly ruffled. “I’ve been telling them it's made of wax.” He poked the small pool of liquid ‘flower’ and wiped the artist with the residue that stuck to his finger. “I don't think they will believe it much longer. It’s not hot enough in here to melt wax.”
Isaac would have been mad had that ruined his flannel but thanks to the power of… well powers it wasn’t hard to remove. Gazing once more back at the flower, the next words tumbling out, there was no way he could have ever prepared himself for the absolute stupidity of “I could make you a new one.” Damn it!
Edward was mortified by the fact he could feel his face was flushed. “Whatever, I don’t care.”
Nevermind totally worth it. It's the little things that give life meaning, and for Isaac seeing Error flustered alway made his day. “Don’t worry tsundere, I'll just add it to the you-owe-me list.”
“What list? I don’t owe you anything.”
Isaac pulled his sketchbook out of his bag and lounged in Edward’s beanbag. “Sure you do, for example, helping you with your art assignment.” Ok so he was going to stick around in the company of Edward willingly but hey since they’re… whatever their relationship is now, they might as well get along. And if Felix is going to continue to be an ass he might need the help.
Edward was actually surprised that Isaac even bothered to help, given that he was more in Issac’s debt then Issac was in his. Might as well be nice if Issac’s going to act all reasonable. “You want any snacks?” He asked heading over to the mini fridge.
“Sure, I’ll take a pepsi.” Issac responded, opening up to a blank page in his sketchbook.
Edward stared at the back of his head. “I think you mean coke?” he corrected.
Isaac glanced back with a smirk. “I don't think I said coke.”
“Well you should have because coke is the superior.”
Isaac let out a highly dignified snort. “Do you even have pepsi?”
“No, because pepsi is for chumps. Now should I get you that coke?”
“No I think I’ll just take some chocolate, do you have white?”
“White chocolate is gross and isn’t even real chocolate.” Edward said as he came back and dropped a bar of white chocolate into Isaac’s lap. Even when it’s something stupid like food they still bicker, but Isaac could see the grin Edward was trying to hide.
The taller grabbed another beanbag and crashed onto it beside Isacc. “So? How's it coming along?”
“Great.” He said holding out the sketch book to Edward. The jock took it and looked down at a blank sheet of paper. “Ready for you to start.”
“What?”
“Oh did I not make it clear.” Said Issac feigning innocence. “I’m helping you, not doing it for you.”
Edward glared at the artist, gritting out, “Fine. Give me a pencil.”
Within ten seconds of drawing the lead snapped. “You should be sketching, if the lead broke it’s because you’re pushing down too hard.”
After sharpening the pencil and trying again this time lighter Issac spoke up. “You do know I’m supposed to be your muse. If you're doing a realistic portrait then you should be using me as a reference.”
Edward scrunched up his face. “I can’t if I turn in a portrait of you then that would just confirm the rumors about us.”
“Well you want a good grade and i don't see anyone else around here.” The jock huffed and went back to drawing. “Why does this grade matter so much to you?”
“Janet said she’ll buy me NBA tickets if I could get more than two B’s on an assignment.” He said, focused very much so on the sketch book. He seemed legit about it.
“And Janet is?” Isaac asked.
“My step mom. Geno’s biological mom. She’s kind of cool for a mom but she thinks I could do better academically.” Well she certainly knows how to encourage him, albeit a very expensive way.
“I thought step mothers were evil.” Isaac joked.
“She’s absolutely ruthless. Sometimes she makes me clean my room.” There was something sweet about Edward talking about his family, like he could drop the tough guy act for them and be a genuinely nice person. “Anyway I’m done. Tada!” He proudly held up his drawing. To put it simply it was awful.
“Really? At best that’s a doodle. Why is my head square?” The drawing wasn’t sketched at all, it was just bold lines and wonky eyes.
“Well what else should I do? You're supposed to be helping me!” Now Isaac was wearing on his patience.
Isaac sighed, not out of impatience but knowing that he had to be nice. “Go to a new page. Do you have a spare sketchbook anywhere?” Edward mopely pointed behind the artist where an almost entirely blank sketchbook lay. “That will work. Now follow along with me.” he mimicked exactly what he said on the page. “Draw a circle… now outline the face and notice how i don’t look like i’ve stepped out of minecraft.”
Edward shuffled closer to Isaac’s side to get a better look at how he’s doing it. They finished the outlines with a lot of guidance from Isaac because if ‘he made it look all weird now then it will only get worse later’.
When they were ready to move on to putting details in the faces, the bean bags were placed opposite each other. “Do you have any music in here?” Isaac asked. He usually had some background music even if he eventually ignored it.
“Sure.” Edward pulled a small remote out of his letterman jacket pocket and at a small stereo speaker that Isaac just realised.
“~~Pacify her,~~ she’s gettin’ on my nerves.~~”
“Crap!” Edward smashed down the volume till it was practically nothing.
“Was that Melanie Martinez?” He knew the answer but asked anyway because of the unspoken social law that you must ask stupid question when you already know the answer.
“Yeah so what?” Edward’s got the Defensive Chad mode engaged.
Isaac rolled his eyes, not the usual roll of annoyance but of fondness, a delicacy of Isaac Beamer. “Calm down. I like her.”
“Oh.” Edward blushed again, 2 points : Isaac! “Well good because I kind of have her playlist shuffle.”
Pacify her continued to play at a slightly louder level as they worked. “Do you have a favorite song of hers?” Ask Isaac, in an attempt to make conversation.
“Yeah, I like a lot of them but I think Mad Hatter is my favorite.”
“Of course you would, it's got that crack energy that you just radiate.”
Edward huffed a laugh, “What about you? Have you got a least favorite?”
Isaac raised an eyebrow at him. “Who has a least favourite song? Sort of a weird thing to keep track of.”
“I do.” Edward said
“Fine, I'll bite. Oh dear Error, why do you have a least favourite song you poor broken man.”
Edward rolled his eyes, “Why do you need to make everything weird? For your information, it’s Pity Party.” He went back to his drawing as he continued. “It’s not that I think the song is bad. It just makes me a bit sad to listen to.” His attention was solely on the paper as he continued. “Geno had a party a few years ago. He isn’t a social butterfly like me so he only invited a handful of kids that he was friendly with. Well the day arrived and no one showed up. He was devastated, not one of them thought to go. Of course he was heart broken, no one wants to share a birthday cake with themselves. I called a few of my friends and told them to bring party games and a present if they could. We got him out of his room eventually and gave him the best birthday possible... That night he crawled into my bed and held onto me the entire night.” He blinked down at his page a few times and remembered who he was talking to. “So yeah the song is ok I guess.”
Isaac got that soft feeling again. “I get that. It’s probably why I like the song. Having a party by yourself can be crushing as a kid. Some people still try every year to see if people will bother to come. But some don't. They can’t take the heartbreak again and just pretend they don’t want a party, and then their birthday shows up and they hate it, and try to pretend it never happened because deep down I wish that it didn’t.” Isaac smiled bitterly at Edward. “What I would give to have a brother that cares about me like you with Geno.”
Edward was thrown for a loop, he didn’t mean to vent, but rather than making fun of him Isaac opened up and complimented him. Who was this and what did they do to Isaac?
“How about this when your birthday rolls around, I’ll buy you something you don’t want or need. The true birthday experience.”
Isaac leaned towards Edward with a heartfelt expression. “I can’t wait.” Isaac lit up so quickly that it’s a good thing faces can’t get whiplash. “This is the best song!”
Edward tuned back into the music, which had become background noise at this stage. “Play Date?”
“Walk into your house, nobody's home.” Isaac sang along as he leaned into Edward’s personal space. “Just me and you and you and me alone.”
Edward joined, not nearly as flustered as Isaac had hoped. “We're just playing hide and seek. It's getting hard to breathe under the sheets with you.” Edward leaned forward causing Isaac to move back, to risk touching faces. “I don't want to play no games, I'm tired of always chasing, chasing after you.” Oh how the turn tables. The roles were quickly reversed as Isaac was the one pressed against his beanbag with Edward practically topping him. “I don’t give a fuck about you anyways.”
Isaac regained what little dignity he had to seem cocky as he sang back. “Who ever said I give a shit ‘bout you?”
“You never share your toys or communicate.”
“I guess I’m just a play date to you.”
‘Oh Shit!’ He thought to himself. Edward gently brought a hand up to tuck a strand of blonde hair behind his ear. ‘Oh Shit!’ You know people talk about their stomach doing flips, technically Isaac was feeling something like that as Edward’s face inched closer and his eyes fluttered shut. ‘OH SHIT!’
Isaac shoved Edward off him in time to turn his head and throw up on the ground beside him. Isaac’s body shook as he processed what happened. ‘Edward Quinton tried to kiss me and rather than stopping him… I puked… Fuck.’
He risked taking a peek at Edward to find the jock glaring at him. “Get out.”
Isaac didn’t need to be told twice as he ran out of the lair, wiping at his mouth with the sleeve of his flannel. He ran through the cafeteria and out to the courtyard. Most people ignore him, except for Drew, who on this occasion was sitting with his brother and Chris, since he could find Isaac.
The artist once outside went behind one of the classrooms, where he was away from prying eyes. He took off his flannel and tossed it to the side. He turned to the wall ready to punch it. He glared down the brick as if it were its fault. But it wasn’t. It was his.
All the fight drained from him, he slumped against the wall. “Isaac?” Drew slowly came into his line of view. “Are you ok? What happened?” Drew rested a hand on Isaac’s cheek wiping away a few tears he had realised. “Did Felix do this? He didn’t hurt you did he?”
Isaac leaned into the touch. “No it wasn’t Felix. It's Error.”
Outside of Isaac line of view Chris stormed off determination written on his features. He knew exactly where to find Edward. “Chris where are you going?” He didn’t stop to answer, but he didn’t need to. Nevin caught up alongside him grabbing him by the sleeve of his jacket. “Think this through Jackson. What are you going to do? Go up to Quinton and kick his ass? I’ll tell you now, that's not a fight you’ll win.”
Chris pulled himself out of Nevin’s grip. “What else do I do? He can’t get away with this!”
“Of course he can! And he has.” Nevin placed himself in front of Chris. “What does it matter anyway? It's not like you and Isaac are friends.”
Chris paused for a moment, why did he care so much? He and Isaac were on weird terms but seeing him so distraught made him feel.... “I don’t know but I'm confronting Error about it anyway.” He shoved himself past Nevin making a beeline for the lair.
He made his way through the drama room ignoring Harley as he tried to greet him, clearly not in the mood. Before he could get to the lair entrance the same voice called out. “Chris wait!”
“What!” It was the first time he snapped at Nevin, he’d feel bad about it later but now wasn’t the time.
Nevin walked straight past him standing by the open entrance peering inside the room. “Something didn’t feel right. Look.” he whispered.
Chris begrudgingly watched from the doorway. Edward had his back to the door, surrounded by cleaning supplies. Quiet singing could barely be heard from where they were but he could just make it out. “You know I give a fuck about you everyday. Guess it's time that I told you the truth.” He dropped a rag in a nearby bucket. “If I share my toys, would you let me stay. Don’t wanna leave this play date with you.”
“I don’t think they fought Chris.” Nevin was right, and it was his job as Edward’s ‘friend’ to be civil.
He walked up behind Edward crutching down beside him, giving him a startle. “What happened Ed?”
“Nothing. Ink just thinks I’m revolting.” He said as casually as he can, standing up moving the bucket to the other side of the room and picking up a clean cloth. Seeing Chris patiently waiting he continued. “It was stupid… I tried to kiss him.” He gestured down at the mess. “You can see how well that worked out.”
“Why would you do that? He hates you. You know he hates you.” It was beyond Chris why Edward would think it was a good idea.
“But I don’t hate him!” He took a few deep breaths and said quietly, “I really really like him. And I can't stand that he hates me. I have tried so hard to be nice and got along. And finally when that happens,” he crossed his arm glancing away and over to the flower. “I screw it up.”
“Go apologise to him.” Edward looked back to Chris as if confused by the premise. “He was upset, the most upset I've seen him. I don’t know if he’ll want to hear it but it's worth a try.”
Edward groaned like the bratty baby he is, knowing there was no other way out. “Fine. Do you know where he is?” Chris gave him an encouraging pat on the back gesturing to follow. As they left Edward and Nevin locked eyes. Thankfully all they did was sneer at each other which for them was quite tame.
In the cafeteria they tried to weave their way through the crowd but of course the almighty pain in the ass was present. “Yo Quinton.” Felix blocked their path, his friends blocking any exits. “Couldn’t help but notice your little boyfriend causing a scene earlier. Thought maybe I should stop by and check on him. I know how you queers can be.” Felix got up close to Edward, who was trying to use his height to intimidate as much as he could, but it seemed to no avail. “I heard Dillian got his hands on a book of tricks. Maybe little Ink would be interested. All I need is a test subject, broski.” Edward rushed grabbing a handful of his shirt, slamming him down onto the nearest table, his fist at the ready for pounding in the snob’s face.
“I can and will use the water gun. Don’t test me boys.” Edward glanced over to see the most beautiful team of Dez, her girls and his boys. The two groups combined greatly outnumbered the Wolfe Pack. Dez pointed her supersoaker at the two. “Let him go Eddy, I don’t want to get you wet.”
Isaac popped out of the gang on the chair of the table Felix was currently pressed against. “Don’t mess with my boyfriend.” The girls squealing could be hurt over the sounds of disgust of Wolfe’s lackeys. Isaac hooked his finger at Edward. He shoved Felix before going over to Isaac for the artist to whisper in his ear. “I’m sorry about earlier, but I think I know how to make it up to you.” He wrapped an arm around the other's neck and ran a hand through his short dark hair. “How about another try? It would really piss them off.”
Edward wrapped his arms around the artist’s waist, the chair making him look up to Isaac. “Nothing would give me more pleasure.”
“We’ll see about that.” Isaac leaned down and locked lips with Edward, he couldn’t tell what was giving him more glee, the deep kiss or the whining and gags that came from some of the boys.
Felix was fuming. “You F-”
“I’d watch your next words.” Threaten Dez water gun at the ready. Felix switched between the PDA and the supersoaker. Deciding to not take the risk he stormed off.
Isaac pulled away from the kiss, Edward’s head trying to follow. He looked utterly blissed. “Was it what you dreamed it would be?”
Edward snapped out of it enough to sweep Isaac off his feet and into a bridle hold. “Not bad for your first time.” He placed a kiss on Isaac’s neck. “Now what was that about you calling me your boyfriend?”
The artist traced his finger along the other's jaw. “Well you do owe me. How does a date sound?” As the jock went back in for one more kiss, one question was on his mind.
“Did you have a mint?”