Chapter Text
School in its entirety was a mediocre, unrelenting blur; an unfortunate drone of life that abruptly became a chore of reality.
Until him.
Meeting Andrew was much like finding the light that leads out of the same, agonizing mantra. The way out of a hole dug for oneself without a choice.
They met by chance, being paired for a dull project in an uninspiring English class.
Andrew admired Ivan’s ability to concoct a captivating narrative seemingly out of air, and Ivan admired Andrew’s easygoing attitude and unconventional approach.
One could imagine Ivan’s surprise when Andrew continued to speak to him beyond the confinement of the project, not to mention his specific incessancy of seeking him out.
Their friendship was a quick, inevitable one. Andrew was funny, and Ivan was perplexed to have found himself laughing so often that it ached to smile for weeks.
It became a typical experience of Ivan’s to find Andrew waiting unconcernedly by his locker at the beginning of the day, walking with him to class while rambling about nothing as Ivan listened with avid, yet drowsy, interest.
Ivan, at first, was deeply unnerved that somebody like Andrew would be willing to speak with a quiet, peculiar loner such as himself outside of what is required.
He was quick to get used to it, however. Or, rather, he was forced to be. He quickly found that Andrew was hard to shake once he found interest in one, no matter the steadfast refusal of befriending him, or even merely speaking to him, Ivan initially conveyed.
Andrew and Ivan were polar opposites; Ivan was quiet where Andrew was loud, Andrew was fervid where Ivan was stoic.
Regardless, it was easy to fall into step with the other. After all, opposites attract, or so they say.
Ivan was awkward, rather socially inept, friends far and few, while Andrew was one with a natural charm many couldn’t resist.
Despite that, Ivan was the only real constant in Andrew’s life; the one he stuck next to despite being greeted in the hallways every turn as if he were a celebrity.
It made Ivan feel honored, if not a slight sense of envy.
When Ivan began to fall into step with someone with a status such as Andrew’s, others began to notice that he existed.
It made Ivan’s skin crawl. He was content with the silence, the rejection of others, as it became something he was used to.
So, naturally, when others began to truly see him, it made him squirm in discomfort.
Eventually, Andrew noticed this. Whenever Ivan began to fidget uncontrollably, stumbling over his words with a harsh rasp, Andrew would inconspicuously shun others with a lighthearted excuse.
At first, Ivan believed it was simply coincidence, but it quickly became a pattern. It was certainly the little things that mattered, and it made him feel heard for the first time in his life.
At the same time, however, it made him feel as though he was burdening Andrew, or as though he’s simply embarrassed of him. The idea of Andrew’s embarrassment of their friendship became the sudden forefront of his thoughts.
“Andrew,” he murmurs nervously while the man in question walks with him on the sidewalk after abandoning yet another friend of his.
“Yeah, wha’sup?,” Andrew hums, his steps light and bouncing as he ambles next to him, the sun shining through his blonde hair.
“I’m sorry for being so weird,” He averts his eyes, his feet heavily dragging.
Andrew stops, eyebrows raised as he turns to him. “Man, what are you talking about? You’re not weird,” He chuckles lightly.
“It’s just- I’ve noticed that you kinda…avoid your friends around me,” Ivan fidgets with his hands, eyes wandering everywhere but Andrew’s confident form.
Andrew stares for a moment before he begins to laugh, a loud, boisterous noise that is difficult not to smile at, despite not even knowing what could be funny.
“What’s funny?,” Ivan says, a smile almost forming before remembering that he’s serious, defense coiling in his chest.
“Ivan, come on. I don’t avoid my friends ‘cause I think you’re weird, y’know?,” He claps a hand on Ivan’s shoulder, smile bright and blinding in the sunlight.
“Then…why do you?,” Ivan’s brows furrow, eyes lifting to meet Andrew’s bright ones.
“Because, man, I know you don’t like people. And you’re my best friend, I’d rather hang around with you than them anyway,” Andrew says this with such genuine honesty that it gives Ivan pause as he continues to meander along the sidewalk like he didn’t just release such a bombshell on Ivan’s mind.
He quickly catches up to Andrew, falling in step with him once again as he looks at him with bewilderment, “Wait - Andrew, you’re not just saying that, are you?,”
“Ivan, if I thought you were weird, I wouldn’t be, like, deliberately choosing you to be around,” Andrew laughs, glancing at him as he rests his hands in the pockets of his pink hoodie.
He says these heartfelt words with such ease as if it were obvious from the start. It makes Ivan’s chest fill with a warmth that captivates him.
Ivan smiles, a small, unconscious quirk of the lip. “Well, thank you. And for the record, you’re my best friend too. And, y’know, you’d pretty much be the first to think I’m not. Weird, I mean,” He idly rubs the back of his neck, suddenly feeling bashful.
Andrew looks at him, eyes soft as he gives him a small, genuine smile. “Oh, well that’s good. You almost had me worried,” he jests, voice lilting with gentle amusement. “I mean, I’m more surprised you don’t think I’m the weird one,”
As they stroll down the sidewalk, basking in each other’s simple comfortable presence, Andrew lightly knocks his shoulder against Ivan’s.
“I still don’t think you’re weird, by the way,” Andrew mumbles through a grin like it’s a secret.
Ivan gives him a toothy grin, breathing out a short chuckle. “I guess I’ll just have to believe that, huh?,”
“Man, I’ll beat it into your head if I’ve got to. I’m your friend, you’re my friend. Believe it, or my fist is seriously coming your way and all you’ll remember is that,” Andrew jokes lightly, holding a faintly bruised fist up.
When they part ways toward their abodes, Ivan feels lighter than he’s ever allowed himself to express.