Chapter Text
You're here, that's good. Now we can start.
The way he parted his hair.
The way his nose twitches when he's confused.
The way he bites the end of his pencil when he's concentrating, or finding an answer.
I may not know Noel Gruber very well, but he is a cutie.
It would be nice to hold his hand. His dark brown eyes captivate me.
I am a member of the St. Cassian Chamber Choir along with Noel. It's the closest thing to a rap club. Noel is our tenor, or whatever you call it. Whenever he hits a high note, his face always lights up and I find it adorable. I may have a gangster persona, but I never seem to have the confidence to actually introduce myself to him.
I wonder what is would be like to kiss him, and that's not even weird because it is totally natural in my country for two men to show affection by kiss...
Mhm.
"MISCHA BACHINSKI!" an adenoidal voice shouts from the front of the classroom.
Oh, that's right, I'm am in French class.
"Care to explain why you are showing no participation in my lesson!?" Ms. Martel questions, with a hand on her hip. God, I hate Ms. Martel. She is such a hypocrite. She would get mad at me for having a loud water bottle (it makes a loud squeaking noise), so she would forbid me and everyone else from drinking in her class. Then she would drink from her own water bottle, which would also squeak.
From the seat next to me, Noel glances at me as he turns his head. QUICK, SAY SOMETHING COOL...
"...shut up! I do what I want." I yell back. Wow Mischa, Very gangster of you...
Ms. Martel breathes deeply, "Office. Now." she points to the door.
With a huff, I stand up and grab my things. Stupid A-hole. I take one final glance at Noel, to which he continues to write on the worksheet, and then head off. Ms. Martel mutters something in French, and since Noel is at the top of the class, he covers his mouth in surprise. Whatever, I'm going to hide in the bathroom rather than obey the teacher.
---
Change of plan.
A bunch of losers were vaping in the bathrooms, so I couldn't use them. As a result, I accepted my fate and am now doing homework that was due yesterday in the principal's office.
Geography.
I'm trying to focus, but I just can't. Noel is on my mind, and whatever Ms. Martel said. Noel is not much of a reactionary person, so whatever she said must have been offensive.
I start to fantasize about Noel caring about me.
"Oh, Mischa. I'm so sorry about what that old lady said..." Noel apologizes, hugging me. I brush his silky hair away from his eyes before lifting his chin with my thumb. We begin to get closer as both of our eyes begin to shut. We are only millimeters away from contact.
My face shines beet red. I immediately get back to work after the principal coughs and interrupts my trance. That was wack...
I need to get this work done, I will see Noel after school in choir.
---
When I finish my work, the principal hands me a note for my teacher explaining why I am late for my next period. Leaving to attend my least favorite class, physics, I shove the note into my trouser pocket. The reason it is my dreadful class is because I am with that little orphan a-hole; Ocean O'connell Rosenberg.
As I approach the stairs, I spot Noel hurrying into the bathroom. He looks like he's trying to hide his face. I try not to think anything of it and continue on my way downstairs.
Standing at the doorway of hell, I adjust my cap before entering.
Ocean is the first one to notice;
"Mischa!? You're late! This is very unprofessional!" Ocean thunders, "Now explain to poor sir, who now has to edit the register, why you are so late!" Shooting a glare at Ocean, I walk up to our physics teacher and drop the, now crumpled, piece of paper onto his desk. I was dismissed to my seat after he silently read it.
---
The rest of the day was boring; I had to stay back in class to finish work, nearly got into a scrap with my history teacher, and quietly admired Noel from the seat behind him in art class. You know, the usual. "Hey Mischa!" I hear someone call from behind me as I walk to the choir room. I turn around to see Constance Blackwood, the nice girl. She runs to walk beside me. "How are you?" she asks with an innocent smile on her face.
"I am good. Ms. Martel was being douche again." I reply as we near the entrance of the choir classroom.
"She can be a bit annoying at times..." Constance laughs awkwardly.
The choir classroom was originally supposed to be an orchestra room, but the school never could afford any actual instruments apart from tambourines and cow bells.
We both enter the classroom to see Ocean doing vocal warm-ups by herself. I never enjoy vocal warm-ups. They are embarrassing, even if I do them alone. I walk to my self-assigned seat near the window as Constance greets and hugs her best friend. As soon as I take my seat, I hear footsteps in the hallway.
I assume it's Noel. As I peer out of the window, I try my best to appear mysterious.
My accusations are correct, as Noel walks into the classroom with Ricky and some other girl following close behind. No one pays attention to her. When did she join the choir? When they arrive, Noel holds the door open for them and walks to the front of the class.
As soon as Ocean realizes everyone is present, she starts ranting about how Father Marcus wasn't in today, like he hadn't been all week.
"Father Marcus sent out an e-mail to tell us that his niece had to go home early because she caught the flu." Ocean "sadly" explains. I put speech marks on "sadly" because she isn't actually disappointed. "However, that's great news! It means that I am in charge today, as choir president!" she almost brags.
Noel visibly groans, "I've had to listen to your annoying voice for 3 days in a row without Father Marcus shutting you up. Maybe we should just skip choir today-"
"Noel. The carnival concert is in 3 WEEKS. We need to practice as much as we can so we don't come in second place-" Ocean's nose crinkles.
"Oh SHUT UP," Noel yells. I stifle a laugh at his outburst. "We have been rehearsing for WEEKS and have not made ANY changes. I think we all know our parts well enough to take a day off."
Ocean breathes sharply through her nose, like she just got punched in the ribs. Her face shines bright red in frustration like she's about to have a temper tantrum.
Constance intervenes before the argument gets uglier. "Hey, why don't we just... pick up on the choreography?" she laughs timidly. Ricky nods rapidly in agreement. Noel pouts like a toddler outside an empty ice cream van.
"I can't deal with this today." He groans, rubbing his temples.
"Thank you, Constance." Ocean says with contentment. "Alright everyone, stand up and get into your positions!"
We all do as she says.
---
Ricky and the girl had already left the choir room after it finally ended. Constance and Ocean had just finished packing up and are about to leave with me following close behind. This is when Constance turns to Noel, who is still sitting in his seat. "You coming, Noel?" she asks.
He looks up from the carpeted floor. "Um... it's alright, I'll stay here for a while longer."
"Okay, but make sure to turn the lights off when you leave." Ocean remarks as she skips down the hall with Constance, hand in hand.
Closing the door behind me, I start to head off in the opposite direction of the girls, when I hear soft sobbing coming from the choir classroom. I turn on my heals to check what's up. Through the window on the door, I see Noel crying into his arms as he leans on the desk in front of him.
My chest tightens at the sight of sweet Noel crying.
Before I knew it my hand reached the door handle. He jumps up when he hears the door open. I just kind of... stand there for a second. Noel's face turns red in embarrassment as his eyes shoot to the floor.
"...You good?" I ask awkwardly. I can see my sneakers walking toward him. I take a seat next to him, placing my bag down by my feet.
"Yeah... no..." Noel uttered as he picked at his painted nails. He looks at me with his puffy eyes, "Who are you again?"
Right, we've never actually communicated before.
"Mischa Bachinski." I answered. Noel's eyebrows raised.
"Right, you're the guy that got sent out of class this morning..." He acknowledges. I internally roll my eyes. "I'm Noel Gruber."
"...I know." I murmur as my cheeks grow hotter. It is silent for a bit, me staring at Noel, who is staring at the wall. "What's up?" I ask.
He faces me. "Hm?" he hums.
"You were crying, man."
"Oh."
"...Yes?"
"Well, being the only gay guy in town and stuff. Some people just can't keep their mouths shut..." Noel says softly, trying to stop his bitter tears from rolling down his cheeks again. "And my mom isn't any help either. She just tells me to ignore them, like that's going to stop it all. I love my mother but I wish she was a bit more present. She's been so upset about the divorce even though it was years ago..." He sighs.
"Also, not to mention, she is never home either because she is always at her weekday aerobics class at the mall." Rolling his eyes, he says faster than I could rap.
Now what do I say to that?
"Sorry... for venting like this. We barely know each other and-"
"I know bunch of things about you, Noel Gruber." I blurt out.
"what-"
"Nothing, yo." My face reddens in embarrassment. Maybe this is the reason he ran to the bathroom earlier...
"Thanks for listening." He smiled warmly, making butterflies swarm in my stomach. "Well, I'm gonna head off. My mom needs help with making dinner." He said as he got to his feet.
Wow. My first ever conversation with Noel Gruber, mad wicked awesome. But, something doesn't feel right.
"Bye Misc-"
"Wait." I stand up abruptly. Noel waits for me to continue.
"Yeah?"
I shrink at Noel's curiosity. "штопати...*"
(*darn)
"...May I have your telephone number?" I inquiry, scratching the back of my neck. My face is probably the same color as my sleeveless vest by now.
Noel smiles brightly at this. "Sure!" he says as he hands me his phone. His lock screen is a picture of a cat which I'm guessing is his.
"Locked." I chuckle.
"Right." Noel squeaks nervously, his voice cracking.
Giving Noel his phone back, he unlocks it and hands it back to me. I exchanged our numbers and sent him a text to make sure it was right.
B4dEgg: HELLO
His phone pings and I give Noel his phone back.
Noel quickly types something.
HeartOfBlackCharcoal 💄: :)
I beam at our first text messages.
"Thanks Mischa. I'll see you around!" Noel grins, walking out of the classroom.
"Bye." I reply, watching him walk until he disappears.
When I know he can't hear me anymore, I start jumping around with my fists in the air. I finally talked to him. I do a stupid celebratory dance before grabbing my bag and putting my headphones in, playing my rap playlist.
I switch off the lights before leaving the classroom and trekking down the school hallway with my hands in my pockets.
My life right now is awesome.
Можливо, у мене з ним буде шанс!
(*I might have a chance with him)