Confounding Expectations--RP non-slash 2/3 complete
Title: Counfounding Expectations
Author: borgmama1of5
Summary: Jared was happily proceeding with his final year of high school-a star on the football team, a great girlfriend-until the new kid in class made him reevaluate what he was doing.
Wordcount: 17,000
Genre/pairing: HS AU; Jared/Sandy; Jensen
Warnings: violence, homophobia…um, not slash?
Rating: PG
Beta: sandymg
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction.
Art: sandymg -she worked hard for her present
Part 1: http://borgmama1of5.livejournal.com/57117.html
-----
Jared’s Sunday was taken up with church, football and homework. Somehow he completely missed talking to Jensen after any of their mutual classes on Monday or Tuesday, Jensen disappearing before Jared could get over to him. It wasn’t until Wednesday he caught Jensen at his locker between classes.
“Hey, want to talk to you …”
“Gotta run.” Jensen cut Jared off and headed down the corridor.
Jared was pissed, but there were too many kids in the hallway preventing him from catching up to Jensen, and he had a class to get to in the opposite direction. Still, Jared wondered who’d put a bug up Jensen’s ass.
He caught Jensen outside Mr. Morgan’s class.
Jensen tried to push past him, but Jared grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to the side.
“What’s your problem, Jensen? Ever since Saturday you’ve been avoiding me.”
Jensen jerked away from Jared’s grip. “Look, it’s nothing you did, okay?”
“Well, then, what is it? I try to set you up on a date with one of the hottest chicks in school and you act like that was a deadly insult!”
“I’m not gonna … I can’t talk to you here. I’ll meet you outside after school, okay?”
Jared waited outside the main door for twenty minutes, and figured Jensen wasn’t going to show, but as he started to head to his car, his name was called.
Jensen caught up with him. “Got held up. Sorry.”
“So, talk to me. Why are you acting weird?”
Jensen bit that full lower lip. He looked nervous. “Not here. If we’re gonna talk, it’s gotta be somewhere private.”
Concerned, Jared gestured toward his car. “We can talk in there.”
“Away from school.”
“Okay.”
Jared ended up driving to Jensen’s house and parking.
“So what is going on?”
“I … I know you thought you were doing me a favor … but I … I don’t want you setting me up with any more dates, okay?”
“Geez, what’s the big deal? I was just trying to help you out.”
“Yeah, I know, but … look, Jared, that’s not what I want.”
“What do you mean?” Even as he asked, Jared’s stomach twisted and he realized, too late, what it sounded like Jensen was leading up to.
Jensen‘s freckles punctuated his pale face and he stared at Jared for a long moment before dropping his eyes to his hands which were knotting the strap of the backpack nestled between his legs.
“Look, I’m … I’m gay, Jared.”
“Fuck!” exploded before Jared could think. Jensen bolted from the car while Jared was still processing what had just been said. Then Jared’s brain snapped back and he tore up the cement stairs as Jensen was fumbling his key into the lock.
“Jensen! Stop!”
Jensen only pushed Jared back, snaked past the door, and tried to shut it in Jared’s face. Risking his hands being slammed, Jared grabbed the edge of the door and held it open against Jensen’s shove.
“Jensen! Let me in!”
“Just go away!”
“Dammit, you can’t shut me out!”
Throwing his weight against the door like it was a crucial tackle, Jared forced it open enough to squeeze in.
Jensen backed away from him, hands fisted protectively. Jared held his hands to the sides, palms open. Jensen’s entire defensive posture hurt, but it was the pain in his eyes, the emerald green darkened with anguish, that froze Jared.
“I know, I’m a freak of nature here. And I liked being your friend. And seriously, that’s all I wanted. I tried not to crush on you because that’s not what you’re about. I’m sorry. But if you try to hit me I … I am gonna fight back, I don’t want to be beat up for who I am … again.”
The crack of Jensen’s head hitting the gym floor pulsed through Jared’s mind and he thought for a moment he would puke.
“Shit!” Jared didn’t think it through, he just reached out and wrapped his arms around Jensen, pulling him tight, Jensen’s fists caught against Jared’s chest.
Jensen flinched, tried to pull away, but Jared held firm against the resistance. Looking past Jensen’s ear, staring at the photos on the wall behind Jensen, Jared waited until Jensen stilled.
“You still like Star Wars, right?”
“Wha -“
“And you still think Macbeth wants to be a football coach, right? And the answer to life is 42 …”
Jared tried to meet Jensen’s eyes. Jensen ducked his head.
“What I’m trying to say is, you’re still Jensen. It’s not like who you want to screw makes any difference to me.” Jared stopped. Considered if he really meant that. And thought, yeah, he did.
Jared could feel Jensen relax slightly in his grip, and Jared was suddenly aware of how intensely he’d been holding the other boy. Feeling awkward, he abruptly let go and stepped back.
“I don’t know how to say this so it doesn’t make me sound like a jerk, but I’m not trying to be so if it sounds like I am, I’m not …”
A smile ghosted Jensen’s lips at Jared’s ramble. Jared continued, “It’s just that I’ve never known a gay person before, and I was … surprised. I mean, you act perfectly normal.” Jared could see Jensen stiffen.
“Shit, that didn’t come out how I mean it, Jensen. I just … Look, cut me some slack, okay? I don’t want to be rude. It’s just that you don’t seem …” How to explain? “People are just people to me. Like, my dad works with a guy who claims he can tell if a person is Jewish just by looking at them. But I don’t see how … they just look like people. And …” Jared thinks a moment. “I guess Sandy kind of thought … she didn’t think trying to fix you up with Danneel was a great idea, and maybe …” Mike’s taunts, the reaction of other guys in school … “But I don’t get it, I really don’t.”
Finally Jensen’s face relaxed and he half-smiled.
“It must be you, Jared. Somehow you missed out on developing gaydar. And other stereotypes. And … I appreciate it, I really do.”
“We can still be friends, right? I mean, it doesn’t … you don’t … shit.” Jared gave up on what he wanted to say.
And Jensen actually laughed and slugged Jared lightly in the arm. “Unlike what Mike Rosenbaum thinks, gay guys don’t have the uncontrollable urge to molest every male they see … Even when they’re attractive.”
Okay, Jared was just going to let that comment slide.
“So what do we do now?”
“Homework?”
-----
His mom had left a note on the table to put the casserole from the fridge into the oven at five-thirty. It was nearly six when Jared got home to see it, but he figured nobody’d starve during the extra thirty minutes.
It turned out that both his sister Megan and his dad weren’t going to be home for dinner, so once he and his mom had started eating, Jared decided to ask what had been on his mind ever since Jensen had talked to him.
“Have you ever had any gay kids in your classes, Mom?” Sherri taught at the community college, but she’d taught high school English before that.
“Why do you ask, Jared?”
He should have expected that, Mom never gave an immediate answer to a question. Her philosophy was that the students had the tools to figure out the answer already, just needed guidance in how to evaluate what they already knew.
“Well, as the teacher, are you able to tell by how someone looks … or acts … or something?”
Sherri put down her fork and looked straight into Jared’s eyes.
“I’ve had a few-very few-students tell me directly. There have been some that seemed to fit the stereotype, but I wouldn’t know what they privately considered themselves. Unfortunately they are often a target for those who are insecure about themselves and make themselves feel superior by putting someone else down. Bullying, from teasing and name-calling to actual violence.
“Is there something going on at school, Jared?”
How did his mother always know?
“There’s a new kid who … he’s funny, kinda likes the same geeky stuff I do …” Jared and his mom exchanged grins, she knew exactly what he was alluding to.
“And?”
“He’s just another guy, you know? But some of the guys have been kind of … picking on him, so I figured I’d do him a favor and set him up to double-date with me and Sandy last weekend … But it didn’t go like I thought it would and today he, um, told me he was gay. And I just, um, wondered, you know, how I would have known that?”
“Does him being gay change anything about him?”
“I thought about it, Mom, I did, and I don’t see why it should?”
“But you’re questioning because it matters to the other boys?”
“Yes. I mean, guys look at girls all the time and … think about how they look … and stuff …” Jared ducked his head, sometimes it got hard to meet his mother’s eyes when talking about certain subjects. “And, well, girls … women … have to put up with it, sometimes guys are real jerks about it and sometimes it just happens without thinking, you know?” He looked up to see if there was any disapproval on her face, but his mom’s gaze was very neutral.
“So, I guess that some guys are upset thinking that a gay dude might be looking at them the way they look at a girl, but isn’t that human nature, to look at other people? And isn’t it a double standard if they get upset? Plus why do they think the dude is even looking, anyway? And how can they tell just by looking that a guy is gay?”
“Those are some very tough questions, Jared, and ones that don’t have pat answers. The fact that you ask these questions … It’s not something many boys-many teenagers--would be thinking about.
“I think the disconnect stems from what society deems normal behavior, and how those expectations are internalized by individuals. Most people aren’t even aware of this filter. But any deviation from the ‘norm’ is viewed with suspicion and fear.” His mother sighed. “’Prejudice is the reason of fools.’”
Jared had to smile. His mom and her quotes. He looked at her questioningly.
“Voltaire,” she answered returning his grin.
“So what should I do, Mom?”
“I’m not exactly sure what you’re asking about, Jared.”
“The other kids think Jensen is different-gay. And I thought that was stupid. But now he really is gay, so everyone else was right and I was the stupid one for not seeing it.”
“You said being gay doesn’t change who Jensen is.”
“No-o … It doesn’t change Jensen.” Jared looked up at his mom again. “It changes me. Makes me someone who couldn’t see the obvious.”
“Or does it make you someone who meets someone without an unconscious filter affecting your judgment?”
“I dunno. I just feel really … naïve. What if Jensen has a crush or something on me?”
His mom reached over and tilted Jared’s chin up so he had to look at her face, which was smiling gently.
“Can you remember ever having an unrequited crush? And what eventually happened?”
Jared smiled back. “I guess I’ve had a couple … And I got over ‘em. Which was easier to do when I just acted normal around them and saw what they were like in real life, not on an imaginary pedestal.”
“And does Jensen act like he has you on a pedestal?”
“Oh, heck no. He can tease as good as he gets, he just … He’s just a friend.”
“Then can you answer your question, ‘what should I do?’”
“Oh. Just keep being his friend.”
His mom stood, began to reach for Jared’s plate to carry it to the kitchen, but then moved her hand to lightly stroke his hair. It was a soothing gesture she hadn’t done for a while.
“I think that’s something you’re really good at, sweetheart.”
At that moment everything seemed very simple.
Everything went to hell the next day.
-----
Coach Playk had been keeping the wrestling classes more of an academic exercise to learn the rules and strategies of the sport than actual physical contact between the students so far.
But Coach Playk wasn’t there when the bell rang.
The white-haired substitute teacher standing in front of them in baggy sweatpants fumbled with the whistle around his neck.
“I’m Mr. O’Grady. Coach Playk is sick today. His lesson plan says you are working on wrestling, so I’m going to pair you up and see how you put what you’ve learned into practice. Pull the floor mats out and let’s put them in a square.”
“All right, time for some action!” “Gonna take you down so fast you won’t know what happened!” “You’re going down and I’m sending your butt into next week!”
The raucous hollers were nothing new, in fact sounded a lot like football drills, but Jared felt an unnatural knot in his stomach and didn’t know why. He was confident he could handle whoever he was paired with …
O’Grady summoned them all back with his whistle.
“Okay, four mats, four matches. You’ll be each other’s referee. According to the lesson plan, you all know the rules, what moves are illegal, the rest of it. I’ll be going around and watching all of you. If you go off the mats, you stop, I don’t want anyone getting hurt.” He began pointing. “You and you. Mat one.” He pointed at Rob Benedict, the shortest kid in class. “You be the ref, I don’t see anyone to pair up with you.”
As the other boys were partnered, Jared saw that O’Grady was matching them by physical size. He wasn’t surprised when he was also relegated to referee, there wasn’t anyone else who had his height.
Then O’Grady pointed at Jensen. “You. And him. You’re on mat four.” And O’Grady pointed at Mike Rosenbaum.
Shit. Jensen stood rigidly as Mike protested loudly, “I ain’t wrestlin’ with this fag!” but O’Grady acted oblivious.
Jared was torn, wanting desperately to watch out for Jensen but needing to referee the guys waiting for his okay to start.
“Go!” he hollered, not really paying attention as arms and legs tangled. Everyone who was not wrestling had crowded around the fourth mat, blocking Mike and Jensen from Jared’s view. Jared couldn’t tell what was happening from the rowdy yelling. He slapped his hand on the mat and pointed randomly, “You won!” and turned to join the crowd when O’Grady began frantically blowing his whistle.
At the sharp cry of pain Jared elbowed to the front of the mob. Jensen was curled on his side, Mike’s chest to his back - one of Jensen’s hands clutched his crotch, the other pulled at the forearm squeezing his throat. His eyes were squeezed shut and blood was dripping from his nose. Rosenbaum’s other hand was fisted in Jensen’s short hair, viciously forcing Jensen’s head back at a painful angle.
“Let him go!”
O’Grady’s ineffective calls to ‘stop!’ had no effect on Mike, but he curled his lip maliciously in Jared’s direction.
“Or what? You gonna take my hands off your little bitch?”
Steve yelled out, “C’mon Mike, enough, dude.”
Acting purely on fury, Jared brushed past Steve and wrenched Mike’s arm from Jensen’s throat and as Jensen gave a choked gasp, Jared punched his fist into Mike’s face. Pain stabbed his knuckles even as he felt the crunch of Mike’s nose.
He drew back to hit Mike again but at that point O’Grady decided to try and regain control of the situation.
“Stop!” And the shorter man was holding onto Jared’s arm.
Jared could easily have shaken him off but Rosenbaum was retreating.
“Jensen? Are you okay?” Jared couldn’t stop the dumb question as Jensen doubled in on himself. “What happened?”
“Mike got ‘im right in the balls,” someone muttered helpfully. “Didn’t like where the fag was putting his hands,” another voice volunteered. “Didn’t like that he was losing,” was the third opinion offered.
“He’s an asshole,” muttered Steve.
None of it mattered. Jared knelt down behind Jensen. He felt a bitter sense of déjà vu as he helped Jensen to his feet.
“Where’r your glasses?”
“Corner of the mat,” Jensen wheezed, still bent in half.
The crush of boys opened to let them out, Jared ignoring the buzzing around them. Jensen’s glasses had been stepped on at some point and when Jared scooped them up one earpiece fell off. Fuck.
In the locker room Jensen folded onto a bench and allowed his head to sink into his hands.
“You want to go to the nurse?”
“For what? Getting kicked in the ‘nads? Nothing she can do for it.” Answering with his face still concealed, Jensen’s voice was barely audible. “I just want to go home.”
From unfortunate personal experience, Jared knew that ice, aspirin and time were the only help. And he should get Jensen to the nurse to treat him, but Jared was thrumming with tension and a desire to punch out someone else and staying in the school building wasn’t going to allow him to let it dissipate.
Knowing it was bad idea, Jared mentally gave school regulations the finger and said, “If you can get to my car, I’ll take you home right now.”
“M’ locker stuff …”
Grabbing the contents of both their lockers, Jared draped Jensen’s jacket around his hunched shoulders and steadied him as they headed for the nearest door.
“I’m sorry you gotta walk to my car, but I don’t want to leave you here while I pull it around …”
“ ‘S okay, I’d rather stay with you …”
Jensen crumpled into the Neon’s front seat, pulled the seatbelt across, and fumbled for the slot. Jared grabbed it without thinking and fastened the belt for Jensen.
“Feelin’ any better?” he asked as he pulled out of the school parking lot. For a minute he couldn’t figure why his right hand hurt so much, then duh.
“Maybe. A little.” Jared glanced over. Jensen was staring out the windshield. “I … Thanks … thanks for getting me out of there. I don’t know …”
“Mike’s an asshole,” Jared muttered. “I should of punched him a couple more times.”
“That was one fucking impressive punch you did lay on him. Real glad you were aiming at him and not me.” That was said with a weak smile.
“Huh, if Mike’d been ready he could have taken my head off.” It occurred to Jared that Mike very well might do just that when they crossed paths again. Probably tomorrow. Shit. Well, he’d worry about that when it happened. “Let’s get you in your house.”
Jared helped Jensen to his bedroom. Jensen was still stumbling, but Jared got him to his bed and handed over a pair of faded navy sweatpants that were folded on the dresser.
“You change, I’ll get some ice. And you have aspirin or Tylenol or something in the bathroom?”
“Medicine cabinet. Thanks.”
When Jared came back, Jensen was resting against the headboard. He took the pills and water gratefully, then placed the plastic bag of hastily smashed ice cubes in his crotch.
“I’m thinking you’ve had experience with this,” Jensen gave a half smile.
“Yeah. Sadly more than once. First time it happened I thought I was gonna die right there on the spot. Ended up puking. Always sucks, though.” He looked at Jensen’s face. “You still have blood from your nose, you need to wipe your face. And change your shirt.” Which had reddish-brown drips down it.
He brought Jensen a wet washcloth, and when Jensen’s attempts only rearranged the smears, Jared ended up carefully wiping all the streaks from Jensen’s face. He folded the rag to a clean spot and wiped Jensen’s sweaty forehead as well, inadvertently dampening Jensen’s blonde bangs.
“Thanks, Jared. Hey, you get tired of playing football, you can go into nursing.”
“I’m thinking not.”
Jared sat at the foot of the bed and studied his friend for a few minutes. He could see where Mike’s chokehold was going to leave bruises.
His words surprised him. “Jen, you’re not … you can’t be the only gay guy in the whole school … so why …” He stopped, not really sure what he was asking.
But Jensen seemed to know. “I’m new. Makes me an easy target. And reinforces to anyone else to lay low.” His shoulders sagged. “Maybe it’s Texas. It was easier back in Denver. Nobody really cared. There were still jocks and nerds but who you went out with didn’t matter.”
“I’m sorry …” Jared didn’t know what he was apologizing for. But what was happening to Jensen at school was wrong.
Another question popped out without Jared thinking first. “How did you figure out you were gay?” As soon as he said it Jared could feel his face turning red. “Don’t … ‘s none of my business. Sorry.” He looked away in embarrassment.
The mattress shifted as Jensen moved. “You know, it’s okay, Jared. I’m not … I get that you’re curious and I’m not … It doesn’t feel like you think I’m a freakin’ abomination.“ Jensen adjusted his position again, and his foot ended up bumping Jared’s knee.
“There wasn’t any one big thing, I dated a couple girls, did some making out, it just … wasn’t all that … interesting. Then there was a guy in the year ahead of me, I dunno, I guess I kinda got a crush on him, he was really good-looking and he was smart and funny, and one day he just … flirted with me, I guess you could say, and when I finally … kissed him …”Jensen paused and stared at Jared’s face. Jared hoped the shock of hearing that didn’t show on his face. He must have looked unfazed because Jensen continued.
“It was kinda … well, it was different than kissing a girl and it felt … amazing.” Jared noted that Jensen was blushing now. “I guess for me it felt like it does when you … kiss a girl … you know?”
Jensen looked at the mostly melted bag of ice and dropped it to the side of the bed. “I don’t think I need this anymore.”
“I’ll dump it in the sink.” Jared reached for it.
“I don’t know why I’m saying this to you ...” The rest of the sentence came out as one word, “If you hate me and want to leave I understand but I kinda have a crush on you,” and Jensen pulled his foot away and drew his shoulders up. He added hastily, before Jared could say anything, “I know you’re straight and I wouldn’t dream of hitting on you. But I thought I should be honest. So if you’re upset, I … get it and I won’t be upset if you go now.”
“I … No … It’s okay, Jen, I don’t hate you for that …” Jared suddenly was affected by how much Jensen must trust him to admit his feelings. He looked hard at Jensen. At his freckles and bright green eyes. Full lips. Curiosity blistered through him. He took a breath, slid up the bed, and put his lips on Jensen’s. They were warm and dry, and not cherry-flavored at all … it wasn’t disgusting. But it was closer to kissing his mom than kissing Sandy. That heat he was used to feeling just wasn’t …
“Jared …”
“I …” They spoke simultaneously.
Jensen was staring at him and Jared indicated he should go first. “I never kissed a straight boy before.” Jared didn’t get where Jensen was going with this so he waited. “It’s not … You’re still gorgeous. But I think we make better friends.”
Jared laughed, dimples appearing. “Yeah. I think you’re right. But … we’re good, right?”
Jensen’s face got brighter and Jared thought that while he couldn’t offer everything, he could offer this. Friendship. And like his mom said, he could do that well. He thought back to the conversation with his mother. “When I was a freshman there was this girl.” Jensen looked puzzled at the change in subject. “Her name was Joanna. She was a sophomore, she’s graduated now. Anyway, I thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world. Hell, on the entire planet. I followed her around like a puppy.” Jared paused again, smiling at Jensen. “Not that I’m saying you do that. Did that.”
Jensen grinned ruefully. “What happened with her?”
“She approached me one day at lunch. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven just that she was talking to me. Then she told me she knew I liked her.” At Jensen’s arched brow Jared chuckled. “Yeah. Wanted to crawl into a hole. But she was really cool about it. Said it was flattering.” Jared met Jensen’s stare. “Which it really is.” He paused a moment flushing slightly. “She said she just didn’t feel the same way, but she’d like to be my friend.”
“Did you? Become friends?”
“Well, like I said, Joanna’s away at school now. But we still email. And she’s got a boyfriend that she’s serious about. I’m happy for her. And I have Sandy.”
Jensen’s smile reached his eyes. “I kinda saw that when I saw you two together.” Jensen looked down. “I’d like to find that myself one day.”
“You will. You’re way too cool not to.”
Jensen’s lips curled into a dazzling smile.
“Guess I’m gonna live. Wanna stick around and watch Star Wars or something?”
“You can’t see the TV without your glasses.”
Jensen reached into his nightstand drawer and pulled out a brown eyeglass case. “Two-for-one when I got my glasses replaced last time.”
They sat shoulder to shoulder on the couch and cheered when the Death Star blew up.
-----
Of course there were repercussions. Starting the moment Jared walked in the front door and saw his mother’s face. He began explaining before she could say anything.
“I cut out of school early. I’ve been with Jensen. He got hurt at school and I took him home and stayed to make sure he was all right.”
He watched his mother process the dump of information.
“Principal Segel said something about a fight.”
Jared dropped into the closest chair and explained the disaster in gym class. “Mike was hurting him and the sub teacher couldn’t get him to stop. I punched him. Mike, that is. It was the only thing I could think to get him to let go of Jensen.”
When nothing was said, Jared gave a condensed version of what followed. “I helped Jensen to the locker room, and he really wanted to go home, so I took him. And stayed to make sure he was all right. I know I shouldn’t have left the school, but … I thought taking care of my friend was more important than school rules.”
“Is Jensen being picked on because he’s gay?”
Jared barked out a laugh. “How do you do that, Mom?” He’d only said Mike didn’t like Jensen because he was the new kid.
His mom gave a small smile. “It’s my job to connect the dots, sweetheart.” Serious again, she shook her head. “This is very sad. And it makes me angry, how it’s not being handled. The school called a little while ago. You’re being suspended for fighting and for unauthorized departure from the building. And something was said about suspension from the football team as well.”
“What the f…” he stopped himself from cursing - barely .
“What you’ve told me is significantly different than the way the principal told it. You know my feelings on parents who interfere with students experiencing the consequences of their choices. But in my opinion, this situation does require an adult’s involvement. I think we both need to meet with the principal and this substitute teacher tomorrow. Your father as well. If you agree?”
Jared jumped up and hugged his mom. “It’s not right, what’s going on.”
She looked up at him. “It’s not. And that you tried to take care of your friend? You did good, Jared. I’m proud to be your momma.”
-----
Only knowing his mom - and his dad - thought he’d done the right thing made it possible for Jared to make it through the meeting at school the next day without losing it. Because the Rosenbaums had gotten there first, and Mike got off scot-free. Because he had the broken nose, so Jared was clearly the instigator. Three days’ suspension for fighting and for leaving the school grounds - Jensen should have been escorted to the nurse - and he was kicked off the football team for the rest of the season. That part killed him. It was only three more games, but that was going to hurt the team. And his scholarship chances.
His parents were furious. Jared hadn’t seen his mom this worked up in a long time as they left Principal Segel’s office. Thing was, she didn’t just get angry. She got effective. Was going to write letters and make phone calls. Jared was pretty sure she’d have been just as mad even if it hadn’t been him getting shafted.
First thing she did was ask Jared for the Ackles’ phone number. Turned out Jensen had gotten a one-day suspension for leaving school grounds.
“Mom had me show the bruises on my neck and Segel said, ‘Well, it’s wrestling, that happens.’ She got him to agree for the school to pay for new glasses, though. Think I’ll pick out the most expensive frames I can find.”
Jared’s parents had agreed there was no reason he couldn’t share Jensen’s day of suspension, so he was finishing a can of root beer while sitting on Jensen’s floor.
“Your track record, I think you need the steel reinforced ones.”
“Yeah.” Jensen arced his empty can into the corner wastebasket. “I’m sorry you got kicked off the team because you helped me. Going back tomorrow is going to suck. Big time.”
“Yeah, just stay away from Mike and his goons.”
“ ‘S not my plan to go up and give him a hug.” Jensen sighed bleakly. ”And they aren’t all like him.” He got quiet a moment at that. “Problem is, will he leave me alone? It’s like my very existence is a problem for him, you know?” Jensen blew out a frustrated breath. “This school sucks. This town sucks. This whole move here has sucked.” Jensen turned his head. “Except for meeting you. I am glad we got to be friends.”
Jared draped his arm casually around Jensen’s shoulders. “Ditto. All of it.”
Jensen smiled. “Want to play some Nintendo?”
-----
Part 3: http://borgmama1of5.livejournal.com/57836.html