Chapter Text
Todd didn’t think about it too hard the first time it happened. It was a day like any other at Hellton. Slow, dull, agonizing. The only thing getting him through the day was the promise of a Dead Poet’s meeting that night, leaving him buzzing with excitement all day. A smile was already threatening to break out on his face in Chemistry, anxious and fidgeting for the taste of the night air, of the low hum of adrenaline.
Todd really did love the meetings, each one he memorized and with every night spent in that dark wet cave he felt more alive than ever. Todd sighed. He lifted his head to stare once again at the clock, but his stubborn hair blocked his path. He flipped it aside, and squinted, only for his eyes to land on soft brown eyes across the room.
Neil’s. Neil was…staring at him. Staring at him like Todd was a new script, like he was engraving every word in his brain. Todd felt his face flush and he rubbed his cheeks. Was there dirt on his face?? Neil suddenly jolted, looking like he was caught with his hand in a cookie jar.
His face changed in a blink of Todd’s eye, going from the new script focus to a goofy, cross eyed toothy grin. What a weirdo. It wasn’t even funny, it was barely even a joke. A stupid, mediocre joke at best.
Todd giggled.
Neil grinned an impish grin, finally seeming to get the attention he wanted. Todd rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t help but smile. Neil leaned back in his chair, and winked. Todd blanched. Did he just…wink at me? Todd flushed and shot his eyes away from Neil. He bit his cheek. That doesn't mean anything, Anderson. Pull yourself together. It was just a silly wink from Neil Perry. He does it all the time. Todd watched the second hand tick, tick, tick, but his heart wouldn’t slow down. Todd’s eyebrows furrowed as his mind was at war. It was a stupid wink, after he just made that dorky face. It wasn’t cute, he wasn’t attractive, and he definitely wasn’t the most devastatingly handsome boy Todd had ever known.
Fuck.