Chapter Text
Waxahachie was quiet, it was a growing city but it was still a tight community, especially out west where the population spreads thin. It’s a small city close to Dallas but far enough to have enough peace. It was the kind of place where everyone who was born here tended to stay, and new faces were rare. That’s what Evan liked about his home, everyone knew each other, and there wasn’t anything a group effort couldn’t solve.
BEEP BEEP
“Evan, darling! Your friends are here!” his mom called up the stairs. He grabbed his backpack and pocketed his keys, already sprinting down the stairs. At the last step, he almost tumbled, but his mom’s steady hand caught him.
“Thanks, Mama,” he grinned, planting a quick kiss on her cheek before heading toward the door.
“Evan” She sounded tired—probably from getting his siblings onto their bus for middle school, her hand clutching a steaming cup of coffee.
“Yes mama?”
“Have fun at school. And tell Reggie I said hi.”
“Yes maam, love you.”
He rushed out the door, waving towards his friends to wait. Another honk sounded as he reached the car door. And then, the handle wouldn’t budge. Evan looked up to see Dorcas laughing behind the glass.
“Hey, open the door you ass,” he banged on the window. Until seemingly Regulus finally unlocked the door.
Regulus’ car was fancy, it was nice big range rover, a gift for his sixteenth birthday from his big ol rich family. Regulus and him had been friends since they were babies, always hanging with each other despite the differences of their families. While Reg came from old money, Evan came from a large middle class family full of hand me downs.
He had sat next to Dorcas, due to the fact Pandora had stolen his usual front seat. He had also known Dorcas since he was a kid, and Pandora well she was his twin sister. Dorcas and Pandora had been best friends since they were young, and well Evan didn’t know much about her until middle school when they finally realized they could be friends with people of the opposite gender.
“Thanks Reg, Mama says hi by the way,” he said to his friend ruffling his hair as he sat down.
“Did Mama rose not say hi to me,” Dorcas said, feigning a pout and clutching at her heart.
“I’ll tell he you said hi,” he said shoving her arm with his shoulder playfully.
Reg dialed up the volume on the AUX, and Pierce the Veil exploded through the speakers. Evan let himself relax and sing along.
Do you know
I count your heartbeats before you sleep
I bite my fingernails to bone
And then I crawl back under the stairwell to a place I call my home
I really hope you enjoy the show
Because for me it's just a bad day
You need people like me to fail
When they reached the school, he was met with the face of James Potter, as he stood infront of their car waving aggressively. His caramel skin glowed in the sun, his glasses lop-sided. He wondered if he had a desire to get run over, but nonetheless.
Regulus jumped out of the car and the two grabbed onto each other like opposite sides of a magnet. Regulus and James had been dating since last year, and ever since they had been inseparable– they would spend every day together much to Evan’s dismay, he didn’t quite enjoy the thought of losing his time with his best friend.
They had been sweet though, and to Evan, it seemed like Regulus got a lot happier. Reg used to struggle with a lot of things, maybe James’ bravery rubbed off onto him.
“Anyways, whose got World History first block,” Evan asked, hoping for atleast one of them to be in his first class.
“Who’s got World History first block?” Evan asked, hoping at least one friend would be in his class.
“Econ for me,” Reg called back.
“Psychology,” Pandora shrugged from the passenger seat.
“Ev, I’m in World History too!” Dorcas yelled, crashing into him. Dorcas had grown over the summer, she used to be just slightly taller than Pandora, but now she soared way above her, even surpassing Regulus.
They walked together toward the massive brick building where their first class awaited. Inside, students filtered into the room, the murmur of early morning chatter filling the air. The teacher, a lean man with wire-rimmed glasses and a well-worn leather jacket, stood near the front, arranging papers on his desk.
Dorcas found a seat near the window; Evan slid in beside her. The room smelled faintly of weed, and textbooks
As the bell rang, signaling the start of class, the teacher called the room to order.
As he looked up his eyes caught with the boy standing next to the teacher. His eyes piercingly blue, caught straight onto his.
“Hello class, as you may know my name is Mr. Wilson. I’ve been teaching World History in this school for five years now. As you may see next to me we have a rare sight, we have a new student here at the school.”
Gasps filled the room, everyone turning to eachother. Evan could name everybody that was in the class, as well as their siblings– because thats how it was here. They rarely had any new comers, but usually from just a town away.
He looked back up at the boy. To his surprise the other had been staring at him the entire time, eyes reconnecting quickly. The boy was skinny, skinnier than most kids from here. He was tall though, he had atleast six foot on him. He had messy brown hair with pale skin, like a vampire, and the most noticeable was the amount of piercings he had.
Some of his other friends had piercings, Pandora and Dorcas got matching septum piercings, and Reg had a very well hidden eyebrow piercing. But him, he had– well alot of them. An eyebrow piercing, a nose piercing, snake bites, and probably more if he could see. He had on black baggy jeans, and an overside band tee, that covered his entire frame.
“He will be joining your World History class and, im sure you’ll see him in your other classes, uhh please introduce yourself.” Mr. Wilson turned to the boy expectedly.
“My names Barty, I came from New York,” the boy– Barty, spoke. His voice was calmer than he expected, maybe he was expecting him to sound like the metal singers he listened to.
New York, who would come all the way from New York to little Waxahachie. Evan looked to Dorcas who looked just as confused as he was.
“Barty, you can sit over there next to Peter, uh Peter please raise your hand.” Barty nodded strolling down to his seat, an aisle across from him. His eyes met him again as he sat down, and Evan felt his face flushing. He turned his face immediately, shoving his face in his hands.
Dorcas gasped next to him. “Ev, I did not expect your type to be emo boys,” Dorcas whispered loud enough for only him to hear.
“Shut up he is so not my type,” Evan groaned, begging for Mr. Wilson to just quickly start the lesson.
Dorcas knew he was gay, all of his friends knew. Despite being a little southern town, most teenagers here knew better, almost his entire friend group was queer. Evan knew, he always knew in his heart, he didn’t really like girls, not in the way others did.
****
Evan was at lunch, desperately scrolling through instagram. Barty had not given a last name, just Barty– and who knew if that was his actual name. He was looking at every profile under the sun. Despite the fact “Barty” was an odd name he couldn’t find him.
“Ev, stop being addicted to your phone for goodness sake.” He felt someone smack him across the head. He knew who that bony hand belonged to. Sirius Black grinned up at him, comfortably sat in between James and Regulus.
Sirius Black, also somehow his friend. Sirius was in the same year as him, he was Regulus’ big brother. Sirius had been in the same class as him since first grade, until Regulus had ended up skipping a year, going in the same class as him. Embarrassed Sirius demanded to switch classes.
“He’s stalking for emo boy’s instagram,” Dorcas said winking over at Sirius. To that Pandora giggled loudly, staring way to obviously to Barty across the cafeteria.
“Who knows he could be that type to not have social media, y’know,” James commented.
“Does anyone know his last name?” Evan groaned, he wanted to smack his head against his phone.
“Oh, he said it was Martínez, I asked him during second block,” Pandora said stealing quick glances at Barty.
To that James almost spat out his food, choking and coughing while Sirius pat his back.
“He’s latino?” James sputtered looking extremely shocked.
Regulus rolled his eyes at him. “A latino? In Texas wow thats rare,” he said sarcastically, side eyeing James.
James was also latino, his dad was Puerto Rican and his mom was Indian. James had always prided himself in being the “whitest brown boy in Waxahachie,” as Sirius often joked, which only earned him several well-earned slaps upside the head.
“He just looked pale,” James defended, voice still a little hoarse from choking. “Didn’t peg him as one of us, that’s all.”
“I know plenty of white looking people who are Mexican,” Dorcas muttered, taking a bite of her sandwich.
“Well now that I know his last name, I will be stalking properly,” Evan said, already back to scrolling. “Martínez… Martínez… Ugh.”
“He probably spells it with an accent. Try that,” Regulus offered, lazily sipping a juice pouch.
“Where the fuck would the accent go,” Evan asked in desperation.
“You’re so dramatic,” Pandora said, flicking a carrot stick at him. “Why don’t you just talk to him?”
“Yeah,” Sirius grinned. “Just go over there and say hey, I like your lip rings, wanna kiss behind the stadium? Easy.”
Evan shot him a glare so sharp it could've pierced metal. “I’ll pass, thanks. I don’t even know if he likes guys.”
“He was looking at you like the entire class,” Dorcas whispered.
“Can y’all not,” Evan hissed, cheeks burning again. He risked a glance across the cafeteria. Barty was sitting alone at the corner, scrolling away on his phone.
“Poor guy,” Pandora said gently, following his gaze. “He looks like he hates it here.”
Sirius hummed. “If I had to go to Waxahachie High after living in New York, I’d be mentally relocating too.”
“You think he’s got no friends?” James asked, now serious. “Maybe someone should—”
“No,” Evan cut in. “Don’t. I’ll go.”
They all turned to him.
“Wait, what?”
“You’re gonna talk to him?” Dorcas blinked.
“No! I’m just—gonna see if he’s okay. Y’know. Because no one else will,” Evan huffed, already standing up and stuffing his phone in his pocket.
“Because you care , ” Sirius sang behind him.
“Because shut up , ” Evan snapped over his shoulder, walking over towards the boy.
He walked up to the boy, the boy that looked the complete opposite to him. Him Evan Rosier a typical good southern boy, went to church every sunday, was on the football team, and loved his parents very much, and Barty a city boy from New York, who looked like he hated everyone, and would curse infront of babies.
Sigh, Its okay
“Uhm, Hi you’re Barty right. I’m Evan, Evan Rosier, I was in your World History class. I, Its just I saw you and you seemed lonely, I mean not that you’re lonely or anything, just well you looked different with your piercings and stuff, and like not in a mean way like super cool and like–”
He looked at Barty and realized he was saying way too much.
“Anyways, what I meant was, uh do you kind of maybe wanna join me and my friends at our table?” He hoped that his very earnest sounding voice would cover up his rambling.
“Yeah, No” Barty said, taking his feet off of the cafeteria table. He looked over at Evan smiling.
“I’m just about done eating so,” the boy looked over his shoulder, probably at his friends. Before looking back at Evan.
“But, you didn’t eat anything,” Evan commented, the boy hand’t even bothered to pick up a tray.
“Exactly, well, see you Rosier.” Barty gave him a salute before turning his back on him and walking off.
Evan did not expect this
What should he do?
Evan turned around to see his friends, gesturing wildly at them. Only for all of them to start pointing over at Barty, signalling him to go after him.
He did, he went following in the direction Barty went.
He ended up by the lockers, where Barty stood outside of a classroom he recognized, Calc I. Evan’s next class.
“Barty, wait up,” Evan shouted over at the boy. Evan walked up to the panting boy ready to ask him why and just convince him to just consider sitting with them. He looked up ready to see him scowling at him, only for him to be grinning.
“Good boy,” Barty said, he starting patting his hair like he was some sort of dog. Evan stood there confused. He didn’t know what to do, why was he petting him?
What?
“Actually, you seem nice Rosier. I’d rather talk to you alone, than with all your ‘super friendly’ looking friends.” The boy let go of his hair, instead laughing at him.
What
Talk to him alone?
“No, I swear my friends are cool people. They’re like totally normal people, just we thought you were cool and stuff. Like we’re gonna hang out after school. ”
Evan looked up at him pleading, Barty looked confused for a moment eyeing him before nodding.
“Sure,” Barty said.
“So, next class Calc I aswell?”
“You’ll see”
****
Turns out Barty was indeed in his Calculus class. In all honesty Evan never wanted to take Calculus, but he wanted to be a nurse– like his mother, and for some forsaken reason Calculus was mandatory. Evan always struggled in math, the numbers never sit right in his head, he almost failed middle school because of it.
By the end of the school day, Evan dragged Barty to ensure he didn’t escape. Dragging the boy by his wrists– which were extremely thin to his concern– all the way to the bleachers outside.
He spotted his friends almost instantly, they sat at their usual spot at the very top of the middle bleacher.
“Guys, this is Barty as some of you may know, he’s knew from New York,” Evan said sitting himself next to Regulus. Barty eyes them like a hawk, and sat down close next to Evan.
“Hi, I’m Pandora, Evan’s sister. We talked before we had second block together,” she stated, waving her hand softly. Pandora seemed to be drawing tarot cards for Dorcas across from her.
“I’m Dorcas, I was next to Evan during World History. Born and raised in Waxahachi.”
“Regulus, I don’t think we had any classes together today.” Regulus smiled, a small one. James wasn’t here to everyones surprise, wherever Regulus went James often followed, and where James went Sirius went.
“Reg, wheres Sirius and James”
“They’re out fixin to something with Remus and Peter,” Regulus said with a shrug.
“Anyways, what brought you all the to Waxahachie?” Dorcas said hushing Evan from speaking. Everyones head turned to Barty wondering the same thing.
“Change of scenery, my grandparents live here and I’m staying with them.” Barty shrugged like it was not a big deal to him. If Evan was told one day he had to move across the country for his last year of high school he would’ve flipped.
“Anyways, how long have you been here, in Waxahachie,” Evan asked raising his eyebrows.
“About a week, flew in last tuesday, just been keeping my grandparents company,” Barty spoke, his voice was pretty he thought, there weren’t much people around here without a slight southern twang.
Barty pulled something out of his pocket, a cigarette along with his lighter. Lighting it up without a care in the world. To which Regulus very obviously and loudly started coughing.
“Reg stop being dramatic,” Dorcas said shoving his shoulder giggling. Pandora looked over to Barty before continuing.
“Don’t worry, Regs just pretentious he’s actually a vape addict.”
“Panda don’t act like you and Cas aren’t either,” Evan pointed out which made Dorcas gasp dramatically.
“And you are the exception Rosier?” Barty quickly asked, playfully blowing smoke into his face.
“Evans a good little catholic boy, so he’s never done anything,” Reg spoke and predictably fishing out his vape from his backpack.
Suddenly a loud buzzing went off from someone’s phone, Reg’s phone
“Jesus Fuck, Yes?” Regulus held up the phone to his ear.
“Uh, James’ inviting us to his house, wanna come?” He asked, quickly Pandora and Dorcas agreed jumping up to grab their bags.
“I think I’ll stay,” Evan spoke. He didn’t feel like dealing with that many people, and maybe he could have some alone time with Barty.
“Same,” Barty said looking over to meet his eyes.
By the time the others left, the sun was slowly starting to come down, making it a perfect golden hour.
“If you don’t mind me asking, why’d you get so many piercings,” Evan asked carefully. Barty was sitting so close to him, he didn’t know how to breathe. He couldn’t lie the boy was extremely attractive.
“For fun, I guess, I’m a bit impulsive. Also to piss off my Dad.”
“Your Dad? Is he not here”
“Nah, he’s still in New York. He works there, I’m glad though, he’s kind of an asshole,” Barty confessed before moving onto to put his face closer to Evans.
“I have a secret piercing, you wanna know what it is?”
“What?”
Barty stook out his tongue, revealing a shiny silver bud, A tongue piercing .
He must’ve looked obviously shocked because Barty had started laughing loudly. Taking a lousy drag from his cigarette.
“What’s New York like? Is it really that different from down here?” Evan asked, he wanted to know, was life really that different on the east coast. He’d never actually been outside of Texas, he really wanted to.
“Its more crowded, a lot more, and loud, it’s quiet here, I like it. And there are more animals here, back in the city theres only rats and an occasional raccoon.”
“D’you like animals then?”
Barty nodded, puffing out smoke. Evan didn’t necessarily dislike the smell, his parents smoked, especially his dad. Maybe he was just too used to Reg’s blueberry or Panda’s cotton candy smelling vapes.
“Theres a place nearby, a ranch, Mr. Everyone called him Old man Tony though. He has a bunch of horses, and cattle. Sometimes we go there and explore around with his horses. I can teach you to ride them,” Evan spoke.
Tony had been in Waxahachie for all his life, he always let the town kids ride around on the horses. Sometimes though, he would leave and take some horses for some competition down town, he would ask Evan and his friends to take care of the barn animals. He did a lot of that over the summer and had grown fond of the animals.
Barty smiled. “That sounds fun,” his smile was wavering and Evan wondered what he was truly thinking.
The silence haunted them, Evan had to fill it, with something.
“So, Martínez?”
Barty flinched, like something in him switched, he quickly laughed.
“Yeah, grandparents are Mexican, originally from a border town but moved before my mom was born”
“Ah, cool, our friend uh James Reg’s boyfriend was excited cause he’s well Puerto Rican.”
“Aren’t there lots of latinos here in Texas?” Barty laughed, the crinkle of his eyes and the dimples popping made him want to squish his cheeks.
“Yeah, but I don't know, you’re like the first new kid in a while so, also something about you being a little pale,” Evan muttered, to which Barty shoved him with his shoulder.
“Like a zombie?” Barty tilted his head.
“No, I was uh, thinking more Vampire”
“So like Edward Cullen?”
“Hope, you’re not a hundred years or nothin,” Evan joked. They had been talking for a long time, most of the other students hanging around the bleachers had left. Leaving them by eachother.
“Think its better we get going,” Evan nudged at the other who nodded in response. Evan pulled out his phone, maybe Panda or some one could pick him up.
“I have a ride, I could drop you off,” Barty spoke, to which Evan was abit confused, the parking lot had been empty beside for one truck, which he knew belonged to Ms. Lucy.
Barty walked off past the truck, and to Evan’s surprised a beat up looking motorcycle came into view. Evan’s jaw dropped.
“It’s actually my Grandpas, but he can’t drive it anymore, so I started using it.”
Okay Evan, this is completely fine, your mom only told you countless stories of motorcycle crashes, very silly
It was a very bad idea, Evan was clutching onto Barty’s waist with his entire life, his life was in the hands of Barty.
“Relax Rosier, It’s not that bad if you don’t stress over it.”
Evan only shook his head furiously, how could he relax in this situation
“Uhh so Rosier, which way’s your house,” Barty asked, over the roar of the engine of the bike.
“It’s on the same street as the Church, just past it,”
“There are like a hundred, which one”
“Bible, Bible Church”
“Like I know the names”
“By the Lake, just head towards the lake, the Church should be visible, on that street”
“Aye Aye Captain”
By the time he arrived at his house, he felt like his heart was going a hundred miles an hour, like it was just about to burst. He felt relieved when the bike finally came to a stop.
“Thanks, uh for the ride,” Evan murmured.
Barty chuckled, ruffling Evans’ hair. “Don’t worry about it, see you tomorrow,” Barty turned around ready to leave. Evan waved towards him, smiling.
“Yeah, see you”