Chapter Text
Noel Gruber had his day to day schedule down to a science. On weekdays he would wake up, take a shower, brush his teeth, put on a small amount of makeup, go downstairs to have a cup of coffee and be off to school. Occasionally he would wake up a little earlier and help himself to a light breakfast before starting on his way to school, usually just a piece of toast, but for the most part the routine had stayed consistent for the past twelve years.
School itself was no different, with each day having its own designated schedule. If Noel was anything in this life it was consistent. Today was a Monday, meaning that after Homeroom first period, he’d have Algebra on the side of school opposite the homeroom, followed by Literature right after. The school bell rang to signify the end of first period. Noel packed his bag and started to make his way across the school halls to reach his math class.
The hustle to and from classes was always the worst part. When he wasn’t worrying about being late to class, he was worried about the actual people in the hallways. Saint Cassian’s, while being a catholic school, was filled to the brim with hateful people. Noel was familiar with pretty much all of them at this point, so it was just a matter of being able to avoid them long enough.
“Just mind your business and keep your head down,” he’d tell himself, repeating what his mother used to say. If he walked quick enough and minimized his interactions with people then he would minimize his chances of getting targeted as well. It was a win-win really. Those guys didn’t want to see Noel, and Noel didn’t really feel like getting his shit rocked again today anyway.
As Noel reached his locker, he took an extra second to check himself out in the little locker mirror he had. It had only been about an hour and a half since he put it on, but the boy couldn’t help but worry that the makeup he so meticulously put on that morning was running, especially with how hot it could get in the homeroom since Mrs. Mendez hated turning the AC on.
As he was looking at himself, Noel heard a snicker. He focused on the top right corner of his mirror and noticed that there was a group of boys standing a few lockers down from him, with Jack and Danny glaring daggers at him. He knew those guys wouldn’t try anything, not this early on in the morning anyway, and especially not right in front of Mr. Tuff who just happened to be standing in that hall at that very moment, but still. Noel knew better than to get that group riled up. Especially not Jack and Danny.
Noel quickly grabbed his math and english books and made his way to class. As he entered the math classroom, he heard the shrill, grating, annoying voice of Satan herself. Ocean O’Connell Rosenburg .
“There you are! You can’t keep being late to class Noel,” the red head nagged. Noel couldn’t stop the groan that escaped from him, it was way too early to be dealing with her.
“It’s called being on time Ocean. The bell hasn’t even rang yet,” he said as the bell started to ring. “Ok well now it rang, but I’m still not late! You hate this class just as much as me anyway, why do you care if I skip it or not?”
“I’ll have you know Noel that math is the thing that makes the world go round. I may not enjoy it completely but how else am I supposed to be at the top of this class if I don’t at least try to get here on time fully prepared?”
Noel rolled his eyes as he sat down at his assigned seat next to her. Even teachers at this school had it out for him, why else would they sit him next to the worst person imaginable? After about thirty seconds of Noel ignoring whatever Ocean was rambling about, he felt a smack on his arm.
“Ow!”
“Are you even listening to me?!”
“How could I not with how loud your voice is?” The boy muttered under his breath.
“As I was saying,” she continues, “Father Marcus needs us all to be on time for choir. He has a special announcement for us.”
“What special announcement?”
“I don’t know yet. I’m going to go speak to him during lunch.”
With that, the teacher announced the lesson plan for that day and the class began. Noel tried to pay attention, but opted instead to just absentmindedly doodle in his notebook
The class bell finally rang signifying the end of the period. As he was walking out the door, he heard Ocean call out to him.
“Remember Noel, you can’t be late for choir. I’m serious about this!”
He smiled and nodded. He was definitely going to be late for choir. He’d take any chance he could to piss Ocean off.
Literature came and went, and eventually it was time for lunch. Lunch at St. Cassian’s was never the most enjoyable. Most students would use the cafeteria as expected. Noel used to use the cafeteria as well. That was before he came out though. Everything got a lot worse after that.
Now, he tends to spend lunches sitting with Ricky in the art classroom. They don’t talk much, but they enjoy each other’s presence. On the rare occasions they do talk, Noel can’t help but feel that he should make a better effort to get to know the other boy better. Richard Potts is one of the most imaginative and creative people Noel has ever met, and his stories of ‘Zolar’ do, in some way, help fuel Noel’s passion for writing as well. Even if the sexy cat women are kinda off putting….
A few minutes before the lunch bell rings, Noel waves his goodbyes to Ricky and makes his way towards his science classroom. On his way there, he encounters one very pissed off looking Ocean Rosenburg.
“What’s up with you?”
“I talked to Father Marcus just now and, turns out, we’re getting a new choir member two weeks before the fall fair! Does he even realize how many plans this throws off? Now we have to teach this jerk all the songs and choreo while still perfecting our own performance!”
While Ocean keeps rambling, Noel couldn’t help but get continuously more annoyed. He really hopes she calms down before choir practice, otherwise she’s going to be even more unbearable.
He looks up and notices that Ocean’s ranting has brought along some unwanted attention, especially from a certain group of guys that Noel knows all too well. Unfortunately, they all stare right at him. “ Oh no” he thinks to himself. He turns to Ocean and shuts her down as best as he can.
“Yea that sucks Ocean.” He hears his voice crack as he desperately tries to maneuver out of this conversation that he technically started. “I’m gonna be late for class so I better go!”
Noel quickly walks away, leaving behind a befuddled, yet still pissed off, Ocean.
He can still feel the eyes on him. The sneers and disgust creeping into their irises. No matter how hard he tried, Noel always somehow found himself under scrutiny. Their hatred bubbling up to the surface and presenting itself on their faces. Once Noel tried staring back at them, in an attempt to stand up for himself. That only made it worse. They thought his staring meant admiration. And at Saint Cassian’s, any admiration from the school fairy was a fate worse than death.
Noel felt his breath quickening as he ran down the school's halls. He couldn’t let them see the panic on his face, it’d just give them more ammo to use against him.
He hears his own shoes hitting the floor with each step he takes, the ringing in his ears growing louder and louder as his vision starts to blur. His mother’s words keep bouncing in his head. “Tone it down, Noel. You’re just going to put a target on yourself,” “Keep your head down and no one will notice you.”
Noel can still feel their eyes on him. He lowers his head. “Keep your head down and no one will notice you. No one will hurt you, and you won't have to go home bruised and beaten for the millionth time. Just keep your head down. Keep your head down. Head down, head down, head down, head down.” As Noel turns a corner, he feels himself ram into someone before falling backwards onto the floor. “ Ok, maybe don’t literally keep your head down!”
“Дивись, куди йдеш!” Noel doesn’t recognize that voice, or any of the words that were just said for that matter. He looks up at the stranger and sees one very angry looking boy around his age, with light brown hair on his head that is mostly covered by a sideways hat. Noel observes the other boy and sees that the sleeves on his uniform are rolled up to his elbows, revealing a variety of tattoos. He looks back up to see the stubble covering the stranger’s face. He peers into the other boy’s blue eyes before noticing the scowl on his face, immediately causing the panic and fear to seep into Noel’s body again.
“Great, now he’s gonna say something about me being into him and then he’s gonna beat me up in front of everybody while they all watch and laugh. And then there’s gonna be rumors that I was making eyes at him in the hallways and then everyone’s gonna be on his side and he’s gonna be even more pissed o-”
“You good bro?”
Noel quickly realizes that he’s still sitting on the floor, unharmed with the other boy sitting in front of him, the anger on his face having morphed into a confused yet concerned expression.
“I- I’m good I think yea.” Noel tries to slow down his breathing, seeing how it had quickened once again. “I just got startled a bit that’s all,” he said, lying through his teeth. Noel hadn’t been ‘good’ for years! Definitely not in these halls at least.
“If you say so?” the other boy got up from the floor picking up his phone, which had fallen from his grasp. He turns back to face Noel and offers a hand to help him up. Noel felt his face cringe at the sheer embarrassment of needing a stranger to help him stand up after he bumped into them. Noel hesitatingly took the other boy’s hand, muttering a quick thanks under his breath.
Once he got up, he took another glance at the older boy, and found himself somewhat mesmerized by his blue eyes. However, before he could dwell on the thought any longer, he remembered where he currently was. The feeling of eyes on him came back full force and Noel wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.
He took a deep breath. “Thanks,” he said awkwardly before quickly passing the other boy and finally entering the door to his classroom. Behind him, he could hear the other boy confusingly mutter “Your welcome?” as Noel finally passes the threshold of the science lab and takes his seat.
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Needless to say, Noel was having a tough time focusing on any classes for the rest of the day. His mind kept wandering back to the close call he had with those assholes back in the hallway. And everytime he would think about that, his mind would wander back to that other guy that he bumped into. The way his beard accentuated his face. Or the way the tattoos, along with the disheveled uniform that was definitely against school dress code, gave him a sort of bad boy vibe.
He pictured himself talking to the boy again, but this time actually having a proper conversation. Noel wondered what he would say to him, what the other boy would say back. Would he actually be interested in getting to know him? Or would he think of him as just ‘the school fairy’? Would he show concern again? No one had ever shown any emotion other than disgust towards Noel before, especially not concern. The only other person he could think of was maybe his own mother, but even then, the ‘concern’ was rather iffy. But this guy, this stranger, had no hesitation to ask him if he was okay.
He could recall the way the other man’s hand felt under his own, as he got helped up. Rough, yet gentle at the same time. Noel was rather touch starved, so you can’t really blame him for wanting to remember the feeling can you?
The more he thought about it, the more Noel wanted to talk to him again. “Maybe I could apologize to him, that way I have somewhat of an excuse right?” He quickly brushed off this idea. Going out of his way to talk to another guy at school would only get the rumors going.
Oh well, he could always write him into his Monique stories instead. Besides, he did seem to fit the right vibe. Rebellious and angry. Plus, he was quite handsome aswe-.
“NO! Noel you just met the guy. And he barely talked to you anyways.” Of course, just his luck. A cute guy is nice to him once and Noel instantly develops a crush on them. Is the bar really that low?! (Yes. Yes it is.) Well great, now he has to deal with all the longing stares he can already predict himself giving to the unknown boy, and then someone is gonna catch on and make fun of him and then the other guys are gonna catch on and it’ll just be hell from there. “He’s probably just like everyone else anyway. If you get too close to him you’ll just end up hurt again.” Noel sighs. “Like mother says, just tone it down. Mind your business and keep your head down”
Noel’s inner monologue is interrupted by the final bell, indicating the end of the school day. As exhausted as Noel feels right now, he still has to get through choir practice…… and Ocean. He had a long hour ahead of him. Standing in front of the classroom door, Noel takes a deep breath and once again enters through the halls of St. Cassian.