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The echoing halls of Coronado High School bustled with younger and older students. Sounds of slamming lockers and endlessly chatter filled the small hallways, going either outside or to the other rooms for detention. Jimmy put his school textbooks in his dull-colored locker, shutting the locker door forcibly. He let out a long sigh, pressing his forehead against it. “Wassup?” said the random deep voice, causing Jimmy to yelp and jump back. “Mew? The hell?!” Jimmy exclaimed, widening his eyes at his laughing best friend. “Hi shortie, wanted to know if you wanna hang out later.” Mew grinned, placing his hands in his pockets. “I thought I told you to stop calling me that! I have a name, y’know!” Jimmy muttered, looking up at the tall Mew, “I’m only short to you, you big-ass… Giant!” Mew rolled his eyes, patting the top of his head. “You’ll get your growth spurt some day, James.” he said reminiscently, only to get his hand smacked away.
“Anyways… ‘Bout that hang-out…” Mew continued, looking at his brightly painted nails. “Yeah, yeah, let’s hang out… What do you wanna do?” Jimmy blubbered his lips, walking alongside him as they walked out of the god-forbidden school together. Mew gave him a signal to carry his large backpack, so Jimmy reluctantly gave it to him, helping him put it over his shoulder. “Y’know…” Mew suddenly dropped his voice low, leaning his head closer to Jimmy’s ear, “You should steal that pack of cigs your mom got.” Jimmy scoffed, immediately turning his head away. “Jimmy! C’mon! Your mom’s a piece of shit, and she doesn’t deserve the comfort of having a good smoke after a long day of work!” Mew took his hands out of his pockets, putting them on his hips. Jimmy put his head down, seemingly in thought. He certainly thought for a long time. “Fine, I will. If I get in trouble though…” he finally responded, cracking up uneasily... only to go quiet. He exhaled heavily, pushing up his round glasses whilst he put his head back up.
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Jimmy tossed his heavy backpack onto the couch, which smelt heavily of the bar’s new case of beer. He winced, souring his face. There was nothing more close to his hatred of the smell of alcohol. He began to search for the pack of cigarettes, quickly finding it in one of the kitchen drawers. “James?” the woman’s voice croaked, calling from the bedroom, “Is that you?” Jimmy jolted, shutting the drawer and hastily hiding the sticks of tobacco in his ripped jeans. “Y-Yeah, ‘Ma? Do you need something?” he called out, only for her to respond with a grunt. “I got a massive fuckin’ hangover… Get me a glass of water, that’ll make me feel better.” she groaned out loud. She knew she didn’t need to hear a verbal “yes”, Jimmy always did anything she said. If he didn’t…
Well, she’d handle it.
Jimmy came into the bedroom with timid feet, placing the fresh, cold cup of water on the nightstand beside the disheveled mother. She didn’t even mutter her gratitude; she just chugged the drink down and struck the cup down. “Go do your homework. I swear if I get one more call from your damn teachers about it…” She shook her head, slightly clenching her fist. Jimmy widened his eyes, nodding, before scurrying off down the stairs. The sounds of him rustling through his backpack with mumbled curses filled the house. He eventually sat down in his room, opening his history book with narrowed eyes. “What is the point of this?” he thought to himself, flipping page after page with irritation, “I’m dropping out anyways…” he finalized with a slam of his pencil.
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Mew checked his flamboyantly-decorated Blueberry every once in a while, flattening his face with the message of “meet me @ dat football field ^_^”. He knew which place Jimmy was talking about: it was the place all the jocks would go to make out with the popular girls or the dorky kids would hold their “nerd-fests” (as Mew called it). He panted heavily whilst jogging as quick as he could, seeing the small wave of a pale hand in the distance on top of the bleachers. Mew made his way up, sitting on the spot beside Jimmy, who had a small smile on his face. Jimmy pulled out a lighter with the used pack of cigarettes, making Mew pump his fist. He lit one, then another, and handed one to Mew. Mew took a puff of it, inhaling it out slowly. “Didja do your homework?” Mew asked, glancing over at him with a raised brow. Jimmy grumbled, huffing a puff of smoke. Mew took that as a “I don’t want to talk about it.” sort of grumble. He shrugged, looking back up at the dim lights past in the coliseum.
Jimmy watched the way Mew watched the night sky with awe, seeing how it made his mismatched eyes twinkle. It made him happy seeing Mew show emotion for once in his damn life… But, he felt like he oddly got too excited about it. His heart would flutter and beat out of his chest, alongside his stomach feeling sick in a shockingly-good way. His cheeks would get embarrassingly flushed after Mew would prolong his contact even for a second or flash that damn smirk with his pointy canines. He’d even sometimes daydream what it’d be like to caress his lips against his… Even for just a moment…
But would Mew ever like somebody like him?
No, Mew would never fall for his best friend.
He already would gush about someone else, but never mention who or what they looked like.
“Does my makeup look good?” Jimmy randomly questioned, glancing at him with a sadden expression. He had thick, black eyeliner covering his entire eyelids, making him look like an edgy raccoon. “Of… Of course it does. Why?” Mew tilted his head at Jimmy’s dark lips forming into a tight frown. He turned his head away, taking the butt out of his mouth. He then dropped it on the ground, grinding it with his boots. “I just feel like it looks stupid.” he muttered, trying to keep his voice from heightening, “I gotta stop stealing from my mom. I steal her makeup, her cigarettes… What’s next? Her money?” the guilt that was eating him alive was evident. Mew frowned, pulling him closer by wrapping his arm around him. “James…” he said his name in an oddly-soft voice, wiping his tear-brimmed eyes carefully with his thumb, “Your eye makeup always looks amazing. I wish I could do my makeup half as good as you.” Jimmy peered into his eyes, feeling the previous emotion wash away, only for that pounding heartbeat to return.
It felt so right to just lean in and to take the fearful plunge.
The pondered graze of his lips tinged on his while he glanced down at them.
“Jimmy, hello? Are you okay?...” Mew tilted his head, his expression becoming more concerned, “You’re starting to worry me.” Jimmy blinked, his brows shooting up. “O-Oh, u-uh… Yeah, yeah, I’m okay, I’m good! Yeah…” he stammered, before pulling away from Mew’s grasp. Mew shared the same blinks, saying an audible “Huh?”.