Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1: Late Troubles with a Side of School
| MONDAY / AUGUST _ 2:42am _ WEATHER: COLD AND DRY |
< " That morning just Me & You with azure views for two " >
Rustle.
Rustle.
It was all quiet in his house except for Cody's tossing in his shared room, being on the bottom bunk while his two other little siblings were sleeping soundly and peacefully, one above, another on the single bed on the other side of the room. His parents were asleep in the next room, hearing his father's snoring and his mother's little mumbles as she lightly slept. Something about tonight's dinner and his siblings being too loud.
Cody sighed, tossing around in his bed for the nth time and not being able to sleep and a certain someone on his mind as he fumbled with his blanket and blew a strand of hair out of his face, it having been bugging him for the past 20 minutes. It was stupid, thinking like this and having Keith on his mind, out of all of the people he knew, even girls didn't drift into his mind that badly… Sure, he knew a few girls here and there, and he knew that one at least had to catch his eye like how Jack always described it (even though he goes through like… 20 girls a week and flexes his muscles and what not) but it never really came?
No crushes, or at least 100% full crushes.
No ‘Jeez, that girl looks good af’
No one really stood out.
No one.
Definitely, no one, except Keith but that would be gay, wouldn't it? Like really gay.
He never liked those type of people.
“Fuck my life, dude, everyone had some relationship or is in one right now except me,” Cody muttered before staring right at the picture frame of his friend group on his bedside table (specifically focusing on Keith, how he looked so happy, so comfortable, he looked nice) with the moonlight outside framing it; casting blue-silver-y light across his room with wind blowing from that stupid draft under his window sill. He kept thinking about that party, about the things Jake kept spilling out information like relationships and whatnot, although he and Keith and a few others in the raving house party were iffy on what he was about to do to Manon. He means, he ain’t gonna point it out but he also is gonna keep a small tab but nothing much, just shuffle it under the rug and act oblivious. Just say he kinda thought the girl stole something or took some of the more expensive shit. Dunno, people did that all the time at parties.
Cody always assumed he had a type, maybe brown hair, chill, didn't fret about shit, looks good.
He always assumed looks were what got people.
It was. Like. The most man type thing.
No one wants to walk with an ugly girl, you know?
Ugly never looked good for your image.
Some said the opposite attracts or something like that. Although he never believed in this… fictional stuff.
‘Okay… that can work, I mean, I can probably ask Jack for some girls that might suit.’ Cody thought, sighing out, planning how that would go. He would probably ask during Lunch or whatnot, Jack was always getting the Girls looking at him one way or another.
I mean, he liked girls. He was pretty sure of that. He never really looked at girls but he also never really looked at guys like that as well.
Why was he even thinking about this shit? Oh course he doesn't look at guys like that, that was… like a fucking homosexual activity.
Ew.
‘Ugh, this fucking sucks’
Cody rolled onto his front, picking up his phone from the bedside desk and pulling the charger from its port, fingers gripping the cord as he wrapped it up so it didn't get tangled, before hesitating, seeing the contact for Keith saved on his phone before snapping out of it, noting the time. It was the stupid time of 2:12am, and he has school tomorrow which he couldn't (unfortunately) bunk due to having too many absences in a span of two months, somehow. Screw School.
“Ugh…” Cody muttered, ruffling his hair to loosen it up as it was slightly tangled and sticking to the back of his neck before placing his face into the pillow, wishing sleep to take over or knock him out. Either way was good, as long it didn't give him pain or more racing thoughts like shitty love.
Which it did, but also handed him a restless dream as a package.
Which didn't make sense???
Wasn't the rest supposed to be, you know, peaceful???
Dressing in his usual outfit, he smoothed down his hair a bit, making sure it was perfect before placing on his iconic red and white cap and slung his sloth backpack on, he didn't care much in that bag either way. Maybe a school book or two if he felt like it, but it was mostly snacks and just pure random shit. Not admitting some items in there were also Keith's fav. His restless sleep just pissed off Cody a bit today, although at least he didn't burn his toast again, unlike last time. His mother handed him his usual honey milk as he drank it, god he liked his mother for doing this stuff as he was for sure going to burn the milk or something when heating it up. He wouldn't admit he's almost horrible at cooking still. He looked at his father at the head of the table as he read the newspaper, having a scruffy beard like always and that somewhat set, always frowning expression. His mother soon fed his little brothers -Noah and Oliver- their usual cereal of cornflakes before getting them two Grade 5.
‘So noisy.’
Cody checked the time before dashing out, being at least a few minutes late due to accidentally sleeping in for five minutes and just enough to miss the stupid bus. And screw his life as he forgot his car keys on his bed as well, although luckily he had his own house keys so he didn't have to crash at someone's home or sit outside for hours until someone got home like that one time. His family was too busy to drop him off (even if it was embarrassing due to both his little siblings being rowdy and his father being imposing), he knew that.
“Well, shit” Cody said, walking on the side walk in the sun before getting spooked when some car beeped at him, being a simple black car with that stupid cat dangle thing on the rear mirror. It was Keith’ car. Keith's.
“Cody! Get your ass in come on before we are late for a shit show of a School!” Keith yelled out the window, slamming the brakes hard (enough to make the car jolt forward) and not caring about his bad language at the ripe time of 8:45am before unlocking the doors so Cody could get in. Swallowing, Cody quickly hopped in and sat at the passenger side as Keith drove on the roads.
Mainly.
Okay, maybe Keith was a reckless driver, but who wasn't?
Plus, cars were finicky either way and weren't always 100% Mechanic Approved or something along the lines like that.
Cody gripped the seat, not in fear, but just how his thoughts kept trailing back to whatever happened in the Party, everyone was drunk as fuck and it was an excellent idea to play shitty games.
A shitty game called Spin the Bottle.
And how he was oh so close to kissing Keith although fortunately shit came up and it gave an opportunity to stop the game.
Good, he didn't want to fucking kiss Keith, that would be like a blow to his own fucking pride.
“Yo, Cody, Codyyyy, Cod-Cod, we arrived, jackass, get out so I can Remove my car and we don't get a detention for late again,” Keith said, poking Cody a few times on the head to get Cody out of that daze as he removed his seat belt with a click (although accidentally getting the seatbelt caught on his prosthetic arm with a wrong tug) and hopped out into the parking lot; grabbing his own black backpack from under the seat. Cody nodded, hopping out as well and both boys ended up walking into School Campus as they both met up with Jack.
Jack was mutually an ass, but a popular guy and Cody and Keith couldn't really care less, as long as nothing gets flipped or a fight breaks out that involves them or anyone else. And also because hanging out with Jack meant more girls would flock to the trio and get flattered. Awesome.
“So, what do you have?” Cody started.
“... We have the same classes??? Dude” Keith muttered, shoving his prosthetic arm into Cody's rib, knocking the breath out of him a bit and folding inwards.
“Ow, Ow, jeez, don't hit me, my bad on trying to start a conversation-” Cody coughed out, almost wheezing, as Keith smacked his back in both a mocking and unserious way as both walked into English Class as their teacher groaned at most of the students being late (Both thought that the reason why most people were late was because of how the teacher acted). Also, Keith has a be-late ticket as his arm makes shit hard to hold stuff and adding on, something with blah blah pain.
Something starting with P.
Whatever. And also muscle strain, it fucking sucks when you used to be really good at a sport, then can't do it for more than 1 hour, and worser in the heat. Still stupid the school didn't let him bunk PE when it was twice a day, something about needing the PE teacher to let them. Which he NEVER did.
Both were opposites about English in general, Keith tolerated it, or more so liked the subject. Cody hated it, it was too boring and yapping about this and that and ‘finding metaphors’ that he was sure that the Writer didn't add in when doing shit. He didn't need English but at least Keith made it better and not so boring as he caught a paper ball that had Keith's writing on it.
Cody chuckled before stuffing the paper into his bag as the bell rang. Keith was a slow packer-upper as he finally shoved everything into that black backpack before the duo walked to their next lessons.
Cody was extremely bored in Math, wondering about what girls he would even like.
Keith was listening to Miss Jones drone on and on about History although taking a few notes and at least trying as he can't fail History again as his Older Sis kept nagging him about it and that he will need a job one day. Which was true, even being from a rich family, his parents weren't really… in the picture. Like. Really really not in the picture. He couldn't care less, his father was a hot head and his mother always guilt tripped. Although-
“Keith! What happened in the late 1870s to late 1890s?”
“Uh, shoot, the… Gilded Age? Industrial Growth, fortunate and, I think, political corruption?” Keith answered, a bit dazed from being snapped from his own deep thinking. The teacher only nodded in approval but also reminded Keith to pay more attention as he simply rolled his eyes in a response, fortunately he teacher wasn't looking.
Both Keith and Cody had different lessons, ranging from boring to something interesting, but the two teens all had one thing in mind.
Lunch.
Luckily it was not too late to get some of that trashy canteen food!
“Yo, Cody! Keith! Get your asses here, lesson was so boring" Jake said as the two people that wore caps walked to the round table. The conversation was loud and honestly a ruckus as Jake and Keith laughed at a joke as Cody ate his apple crumble. The food was ass but the desserts were somehow good for some reason??? Dunno, take your gamble on being sick for two days or eating the legendary apple crumble. Or even the uh, students called it the ‘Bleach Dunk’... whatever that means.
Apparently the rumors were that the glazing for the cake was made with that Bleach under the desk, and considering the chances at this school?
6/10 percent.
The last few lessons were boring and a drag like always as Cody hopped into Keith's car, fidgeting with his backpack straps as he fixed his hair.
“Dude you look fine, jeez, what are you doing? Trying to get girls?” Keith said out of the blue as he took his eyes off the road for a second to talk with Cody, who froze before slowly lowering his hands to his lap before coughing out, “My bad, man, Habits”
Trees, streets, and whatever was in the neighbour hood was a blur as other classmates walked, biked or drove back home as Cody looked outside the door, for fear if he looked forward his gaze would drift to Keith's face. He knew it would linger from Keith’s mismatched eyes: brown and blue, then Keith's slight eyebags… Then his lips. Why? It's because Keith was so fucking man, that was why.
Why was he thinking this?
He isn't gay. No. That's terrible and he would rather kill himself than say that. His family raised him right to never think like this.
Well, he was raised to not accept this shitty rainbow stuff, although as long as a guy liked a girl and ain't ‘gay gay’ and vice versa, it was fine in his household. Not that he supported that, guys should be with girls and girls should be with guys, no explanation. Plus, his family was strict on this shit.
He needed to be the man of the house, or whatever his father said.
‘Man of the House’
Keith just nodded absentmindedly after a long pause as his other hand rested on the joystick before parking in front of Cody's house, doing a few actions to place the car into Neutral with his foot on the gas pedal, opposite hand rhythmically drumming on the steering wheel.
Cody sighed, stretching before opening the door as a car swerved to not hit, honking as Cody and Keith simultaneously rolled their eyes as Cody waved, walking back to the house as he opened the door and shut it quickly.
No, he was flush because of the heater being on and the house abnormally being hot. Not because of that.
Surely right..?
He didn't want to admit it, it made it feel too real, in all honesty. It made his gut curl in disgust. Utter disgust. Maybe tomorrow these feelings will dissolve like snow under heat. Right. Time to get changed as he only had… around 5? 6? Hours until his parents got back from work with his siblings.
That should be enough time to figure these emotions out.
‘I WILL figure what the fuck was this.’
‘Hopefully.’
‘Potentially.’
He knew he was lying, but he will take that to the grave.
“This should all just be a fluke… I don't need these feelings, it's just my weird thoughts and being close with Keith. We are just friends.”
A notification was heard from Cody's phone as he whipped it out from his back pocket as his eyes shook, reading the message from Keith as it read:
Cody sent a simple text.
| TWO DAYS AGO _ 11:23PM _ WEATHER: WINDY AND POURING |
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“Hey Jenn…?” Keith mumbled, leaning on the doorframe of his older sister's room, frowning at her calculating more bills again and seeing if the major amount of money their father gave them would last enough with added on Jenn's job. Sure, the family was rich but both parents were mostly never in the picture, always on cruises or holiday or business trips. and his school trips, money, food and constant accidental overspending depleted the fund once in a while, he didn't mean for it to happen but he got into the habit, especially when he was 13. He swore his parents were cheating on each other back to back like its their own job (THEY WERE BUSINESS OWNERS FOR CHRIST SAKE), there was no denying. But whenever both or one came back home? It was arguing and the gorgeous that used to be marveled at from streets of people that couldn't afford it became a gold cage for the two siblings. Even changing locks didn't help as they always got the lock picker to change the lock again once they got back home and technically their Mother and Father owned the house and Jen and Keith just lived in it.
People look up to the Pirion Family due to their money, status, wealth, business and consider the house as a spot to awe at.
A medium sized estate in the theme of a house, large backyard and rich warm lighting, large kitchen and bedrooms with bathrooms installed inside so no sharing, everything a child could draw out when wishing for a castle. Lush greenery, everything. It was even three stories tall. Such a beauty, isn't it?
“Yeah, Kei?” Jenn said, lifting her head as she looked somewhat tired.
“I can't sleep.” Admittedly, his insomnia had gotten worse and the phantom pain from his missing arm kept lingering and internally torturing him every night.
“Oh, you can, uh, sit where no papers are scattered.”
“Thanks…” Keith said, sitting where space was available, wincing at the bruise that was formed on his shoulder blade before leaning gingerly back.
“I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, that much hurt with when Dad-”
“Don't apologize”
Jenn just nodded, sighing before leaning back against Keith as well. Both siblings sighed in the silence, they knew their family was something, but both had been in it for so long, they couldn't see a ‘normal’ family as a normal. And that was more scary, that you had to work to get to know what a drop of a normal family, how they both lied in their school on how they lived and how their parents 'cared' for them.
“Remember when Mum started trying to guilt trip me into letting them see our rooms fully and remove our locks on them?”
“Yeah. That was scary, when dad slammed the table.”
“I'm sorry you had to see that”
“No, it's my fault for being a curious little shit”
Jenn laughed at that self deprecating joke Keith made before budging him in the rib as Keith let out a wheezy laugh, clinging onto his backwards hat.
“Go to sleep, you little rascal, you have school tomorrow. No more bunking using the bathrooms or anything, sir.” Jenn said, nudging Keith's back as she collected all the papers back into her hands, slipping them into that black folder she always kept in her room, along with the bills. Keith swears they never saw a bill envelope on the floor near the mail slot for more than an hour, that was how fast Jenn was in not letting Keith know while letting him learn on his own.
“Yes, yes, I won't. I mean, online learning was shit either way, never knew why dad made me go through that,” Keith had a smirk, rolling his eyes.
“Also, you smell like smoke.”
Keith never replied to that comment, drifting to sleep against their older sister's back.
Just like how they did when younger.
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