SSS 2010: for itachibana13
For: itachibana13
From: Your Secret Santa
Title: Don't Lie
Pairing: Jonghyun/Minho
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3,703
Summary: Jonghyun wants to join the track team to impress the school's resident hottie, but he finds himself easily distracted.
Jonghyun and Minho's friendship has always been on and off.
It had all begun in middle school, when Minho shot up like a bean sprout, leaving Jonghyun hoping and praying and wishing (and sucking down every last drop of milk in his house) to catch up. He never did hit his growth spurt. When they got to be first years in high school, he resented the other boy for being tall, studious and charming, everything the girls wanted and everything Jonghyun wasn't.
But now is Jonghyun's big chance.
Kim Gwiboon, resident hot ass bitch, has actually taken interest in him. A once in a life time opportunity has fallen right into Jonghyun's lap and he's not going to let it slip away no matter what conditions he has to face. Just picturing those long, milky legs, stretching on for eternity, and all his for the taking …
“Please, she says she's really interested in me - I just kind of … er, stretched the truth and said I was this awesome track star.”
“No, it's impossible.”
God damn it, why did his big chance have to include the pompous Choi Minho?
“Minho, I'm begging you. Turn me in to a great runner by the big race, and I promise there will be something in it for you.”
The junior, hair winged perfectly around his ears and the nape of his neck, barely looks up from his calculus homework. “What?”
Jonghyun blinks. “What what?”
“What's in it for me?” Minho repeats, this time turning his deep gaze on the singer.
Blanching, Jonghyun shakes his head and rests his hands on his hip akimbo. “You've got to be kidding - “
“I'm not.” Minho flicks a stray lock from his eyes, picking up his pencil once more. “You're not the easiest person to be around, Jonghyun. I'm not going to help you for nothing.”
Scratching the back of his neck, Jonghyun sucks in a breath of heavy summer air. “Fine. You know that connection at the university I have?” Minho nods. “I can make sure you have an in with her, you'll be guaranteed a good recommendation.”
“Deal.”
Choi Daesung is a legend, not only for his outstanding grades and his acceptance into a top university, but also for his contributions to the track team. He led the team to victory in districts as well as regionals and held school records that seemed nearly impossible to match.
The only competition the record times and scores have arose from his baby brother.
Minho mops the sweat from his brow, eyes locked on the large banner tacked up in the gym, his older brother's name printed across it along with all of his achievements. That banner keeps him going, reminds him daily of what rests on his shoulders. The expectations of upholding the Choi family name. He can't let his parents, he can't let Minseok, down by slandering their name with his own blunders. Minho would never let that happen.
That's why it's his duty to lead the track team, to take care of each member's needs before his own. Even if the member is selfishly eating up his own practice time by arriving extremely late.
“Yo,” Jonghyun greets cooly, high tops slapping obnoxiously against the wood paneling of the gymnasium floor as he makes his grand entrance.
Minho tosses the basketball in his hands back into its rightful container, too irritated to face the cocky teen. “You're late,” he comments dryly.
Running a few fingers through his blond tipped bangs, Jonghyun shrugs.
This is not going to work, Minho can feel it in his gut. But he needs that recommendation. “Let's start with basics; stretching.”
Jonghyun stretches his arms out above his head, fingers interlocked. “Piece of cake.”
Piece of cake his ass.
Never in his life has Jonghyun been so sweaty. To say the least, it's gross. Throwing his shirt off while stepping into the locker room and catching sight of his reflection in one of the nearby mirrors, he can't say he doesn't look just as attractive still. Maybe being an athlete wasn't so bad - his muscles tighten as he tries to step forward and it feels as if he might fall onto the floor in muscle spasms. Nope, Kim Jonghyun is still not cut out for the athlete lifestyle.
“Actually show up on time tomorrow,” Minho says curtly while brushing past the blond.
“You mean you expect me to be able to walk tomorrow?”
“No, I expect you to be able to run.”
“You're joking?” Jonghyun wheezes, eyes widening.
“Five miles,” Minho dead pans back to Jonghyun while discarding his work out shirt in his locker.
Lips moving, grasping for words, Jonghyun's heart drops into the floor and he struggles to keep himself from collapsing just at the thought of the torture that awaits him the next day. He's a singer, not a marathon runner!
“Wow.”
Jonghyun has to bend his head backwards to stare cross eyed up at Minho's tall frame above him. He's sprawled out on the turf just off to the side of the track and doesn't plan to move for … however long it takes to feel his legs once again, he guesses. He can't even draw up the strength to question the giant.
Minho doesn't need Jonghyun's prodding. “I didn't know you could run so fast.”
“Not like it's a big deal,” Jonghyun throws nonchalantly, despite the wheezing in his chest. Damn, he's out of shape.
Lips pressing thin, just as thin as his patience is running, Minho whips his head to look in a far off direction . “A lot of guys would kill to have your kind of speed without any practice.”
“They can have it after I prove myself to Gwiboon.”
“I shouldn't expect anything more from you.” Minho shakes his head in disbelief.
Jonghyun rolls onto his stomach to watch Minho with better clarity. “What's your problem?”
“You've always been so ungrateful. It pisses me off.”
“How does it piss you off?” Jonghyun asks haughtily, moving to his feet. “It's none of your business.”
Minho scoffs. “Right.” He directs his flaming gaze back at the blond. “Do you even know what it's like to work for a single thing in your life?”
Jonghyun blinks. “I'm out here working for Gwiboon, aren't I?”
“You're out here 'working' to deceive some girl, why, because she has a nice pair of legs?”
“Not just that,” Jonghyun says, cupping his hands in front of his chest, grinning and waggling his eyebrows like an idiot, “Her rack is to die for, man.”
Minho rolls his eyes in disgust. “Yeah, not what I would call real work.”
“Oh, c'mon, stop acting so high and mighty,” Jonghyun retorts, stepping forward to jab a finger at Minho's firm chest, “You say I'm bad for never working? Well, I say you suck for only working. I mean, what kind of life is that? You're so uptight all the time, it can't be healthy!”
Brushing aside Jonghyun's hand, Minho looks him in the eye, a spark igniting. “I can slack off a hell of a lot easier than you can get your ass to work.”
“Wanna bet?”
Their faces are inches apart. Jonghyun fights the urge to move onto his tiptoes, just so Minho can't bear down on him anymore like the giant he is.
“You're on.” There's fire in Minho's words.
Jonghyun grins. “Great, then you'll come to a party with me tonight.”
“What - “ Minho frowns. “It's a school night; there can't be a party.”
Fingers woven together, arms stretched high above his head, Jonghyun begins walking back to the locker room while speaking, “This is the only chance, Jinki's parents are gone for the night. His house is going to be awesome to trash.”
“Jinki? The party is at Jinki's house?” Minho stares quizzically at Jonghyun's gray clothed back.
Jonghyun laughs, loud yet charming. “I know, right? Who thought the nerd would agree to it? Jinki's pretty cool though, he's even letting us bust into his parent's liquor cabinet. Well, more like pantry, these people have a serious drinking problem … ”
Minho blanks. How in the hell is he going to convince his mother to let him out of the house on a school night, let alone for a party? Better yet, how in the hell is he going to convince himself to go out on a school night, when he could be inside studying his ass off? The image of his brother, late nights bent over his desk, nags at the back of his mind. Minseok would never go out on a school night ...
“I don't have any way to get there,” he calls after Jonghyun.
“I'll pick you up.”
Minho groans. Shit.
Jonghyun turns around, shit eating grin ever present, and gives a taunting wave. “See ya' at eleven!”
Why does he have to be so damn competitive? Why did he ever agree to get involved with a case like Jonghyun? Minho kicks at the turf while scuffling back indoors. He's already so far behind in studying, how is he going to manage this on top of it?
“Fuck my life.”
“What was that?”
Minho forces a smile and waves back. “See you then.”
For the millionth time, a sharp rap against his window sounds. Minho throws on his jacket and is about ready to just throw himself out the window, if only to cease the unnecessary racket. Wrenching the screen up, Minho sticks his head outside and just misses getting nailed in the face with a rock.
“Jonghyun, will you quit it? I heard you the first time!” he hisses at the dark figure below.
Moving into the light cast down from his room, Jonghyun beams up at him. “Hurry up, the party won't wait because you're trying to waste time!”
Minho looks behind his shoulder, ears intent on any noise outside his room. “Will you keep it down?” he pleads while turning back to the blond.
Jonghyun nods and motions for him to pick up the pace. Giving his room one last scan, Minho goes over and fluffs his body pillow underneath his covers. Content that it really does look like him lying in his bed, he grabs his black and gray Nike sports bag and slings it over his shoulder before flipping off the lights in his room. Now all he has to do is get out of the house and he's clear.
Just as Minho is throwing his legs over his window ledge, after securing the screen and glass to prevent it falling on him, there's activity in the hallway. His large eyes widen even further. He takes a glimpse at the ground, which is still a good drop away from his second story bedroom window, where Jonghyun isn't paying attention, hands in his pockets. Whipping his head back in the direction of his bedroom door, he hears the footsteps nearing.
“Fuck, shit, damn it,” Minho curses, sucking in a huge gulp of air. He's dead if he's caught now.
Only hanging onto the ledge with his armpits now, he squeezes his eyes shuts and prepares himself for the drop. No time to find a secure foothold to get himself down slowly and safely. A hand grasps his doorknob and begins to twist.
Minho lets go.
His feet burn as he lands on the ground, his knees giving out and causing him to topple onto his side. Jonghyun blinks down at him.
“Why did you - “
Minho puts his finger over his mouth, motioning for Jonghyun to be quiet. For once in his life, he listens. From above, the sound of soft voices drift out the window. His mother says something and then his door clicks shut once again. He hasn't been discovered, because surely the woman would have been screaming at the top of her lungs if she had found him missing.
“We can go now,” Minho says calmly, pulling himself to his feet and dusting the dirt from his jeans and green hoodie.
Jonghyun's critical gaze flicks over him up and down. “Hey, you don't look half bad,” he comments, reaching out to adjust the hood properly.
Minho slaps his hand away. “Uh huh, let's just go.”
“Fine,” Jonghyun says, eyebrow raised, “No need to be a dick.”
A tense silence falls over the two of them as they get into Jonghyun's electric blue BMW. As soon as he turns on the vehicle, a steady bass begins pounding and a low R&B tune plays. Minho relaxes into the plush seat; he has to admit Jonghyun has good taste in music.
When the blond starts to sing along, he's caught off guard. He hadn't even noticed at first, mistaking the voice for the recording.
“I didn't know you could sing,” Minho says, mouth gaping.
Jonghyun shrugs while tapping out the rhythm with his thumbs against the steering wheel. “Most people don't.”
Minho doesn't stop to question just why he's one of the few who does. He doesn't want to know why.
When they pull up to the obnoxiously luxurious home, atop a hill on the outskirts of the city, the party is already in motion. Flashy cars parked haphazardly along the drive, students already passed out on the lawn, and music blasting from inside - Minho can hardly take it all in. He's slightly embarrassed to admit that this is his first party, so he keeps it to himself. Not that Jonghyun can't figure it out.
“C'mon,” Jonghyun orders as he pockets his keys once he's found a decent spot, safely out of range of any inebriated drivers.
Minho nods and follows him blindly. His trust is now completely in Jonghyun to get him out of this place in one piece - probably the scariest thought he's had since he realized he'd have to compete with his brother's near perfect test scores.
When they enter through large, wide open French doors, there are so many bodies grinding and bouncing together, Minho has a hard time finding a place to get a foothold. The sheer volume of the music is enough to overwhelm his senses, let alone just how many people are present.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Jonghyun has come up with two bottles of beer. “Here,” Jonghyun says cooly, handing one to him while taking a swig of his own.
Minho accepts it, but with a weary air. Alcohol. Of course, what high school party would be without it? Jonghyun raises a questioning eyebrow at him, so he takes a quick drink of it just to prove he has.
“A lot more people than I thought,” Jonghyun comments while beginning to sift through the crowd.
“Looks like the whole school is here,” Minho says while just barely avoiding a drunk girl stumbling towards a couch.
Jonghyun spends the next hour just mingling, flirting with random girls, and BSing. He hates it, but Minho stays at his side, recognizing hardly anyone in the crowd and not wanting to stand off to the side, awkwardly, by himself. Jonghyun introduces him to people he doesn't remember the names of, so he nods and pretends to give a shit.
How long does he have to stay before he proves himself to Jonghyun?
“You're still so tense,” Jonghyun says, punching Minho lightly on the shoulder, “Why don't we go upstairs where it's quieter?”
Minho shrugs. Anything to get away from the stink of sweat and alcohol wafting through the air down here.
As they make their way upstairs, Minho is caught off guard yet again when he finds Jinki on the stairs. He wonders how much they've been drinking when he sees the girl whose rubbing against him and practically engulfing him with her mouth. Jonghyun makes a noise from somewhere in his throat when he catches sight of the two as well.
“Jonghyun - “
“Lets keep going,” the blond cuts him off, snapping his eyes in a different direction.
Minho spares one last glance at the couple just as Gwiboon snakes her hand down Jinki's pants. How disgusting. Still … He watches the back of Jonghyun, whose shoulders are hunched forward in an uncharacteristic show of discomfort. It doesn't go away even when they shut themselves in one of the unoccupied bedrooms, finally away from all of the action of the rest of the party.
Minho stares at the ground, unsure if he should comfort the other guy or not. Jonghyun downs the rest of his beer, Minho has lost count of how many he's had, before dropping onto the four post bed in the center of the room.
“Hey, look, man, I'm sorry … “ Minho begins, but doesn't know how to end. Sorry you fell for a slut? That doesn't sound quite right.
Jonghyun shakes his head. “It's cool, sit down.”
Hesitantly, Minho sits down beside Jonghyun on the bed. Something about the look in his eyes has alarm bells going off in Minho's mind.
“So, you haven't proved to me yet that you can be chill.”
“I can be plenty chill - "
Before he knows what's happening, Jonghyun has him on his back and pinned to the mattress. His toned arms on either side of Minho's head and he's staring down at him with intense, slightly unfocused, doe brown eyes.
“Prove it.”
He dips his head down and catches Minho's plum lips in a painfully accurate kiss. Minho's stomach tightens into a knot, but oh god, Jonghyun's turned this into a challenge. He lies motionless, letting Jonghyun's skillful lips do as they willed.
“You can't just lie there doing nothing,” Jonghyun chides, pulling away.
Minho blinks, slightly dazed. “I don't see how this proves anything,” he begins to protest, but he's silenced by Jonghyun's lips once again on his.
“Just do it,” Jonghyun says into his mouth as his tongue works at the seam of Minho's lips, trying to gain entry.
This is wrong, so wrong. Damn it, Minho can't deny how attractive Jonghyun is right now - hair a disheveled mess of blond and dark ebony roots, top buttons of his shirt undone to reveal sun kissed skin, and - shit, that can't be what Minho thinks it is pressing against his thigh.
Minho closes his eyes tight and kisses back. Jonghyun places a hand on his chin, guiding his lips to the proper place, while leaning in to deepen the kiss. Learning to kiss properly is like learning to ride a bike without crashing, and in just the same sense Minho picks up on it without missing a beat.
This isn't what he should be doing - Minseok would never - but god it feels so good.
Jonghyun grunts in disapproval as Minho flips their positions, growing anxious of being on the bottom. Although, not much of a fight is put up for dominance afterward, Jonghyun distracted by the natural roll of the soccer player's hips against his. He tugs and soon enough Minho's letting his hoodie slide over his head with the help of Jonghyun's nimble fingers.
Minho fumbles, reaches and downs the rest of Jonghyun's beer.
It's no competition to see who can get whose clothes off faster, they're both just too needy to wait.
When they come out of the room, stinking like drunken sex, a familiar face is in the hall. Minho pauses, already unsteady on his feet as his mind reels with what he's just done, but beside him Jonghyun keeps walking.
“Jonghyun?” comes the sugary sweet voice of Gwiboon.
Jonghyun stops at the top of the stairs, flicks his bangs out of his eyes while shooting her a look over his shoulder. “Oh, didn't notice you there.”
The girl pouts. “I thought you were going to spend some time with me here? You promised me a good time!”
“Why don't you go ask Jinki for a good time.”
Minho snaps to attention, scurrying to follow the singer as he descends the staircase, leaving Gwiboon to glare daggers at the back of their heads.
There are about twenty guys on the track, all stretching and getting ready for practice. Minho stands off a little ways, preparing on his own and with a fierce determination that is unique to only the captain. Because of it, he doesn't notice the added presence on the field until he receives a stinging slap to the ass followed by a teasing “Hey, sweet cheeks.”
Before Minho has a chance to swing at the guy, he's stopped dead by the grinning face of Jonghyun.
“What the hell is your problem?” Minho hisses as the rest of the track team watches the exchange with wide eyes.
Jonghyun blinks innocently. “What's wrong? Don't want the rest of the guys to know you're ga - “ A hand is clamped over his mouth before he can finish.
Minho leans forward to whisper in Jonghyun's ear. “Do not mention last night, do you hear me? This is your time to prove you can actually work, so shut the fuck up, okay?”
“Will you meet me after practice for hot locker room sex?”
“What happened to Gwiboon?”
“I decided I like guys who can run fast better - now, yes or no?”
Minho narrows his eyes at him. “Behave and I'll consider it.” He won't even begin to ponder over his answer, he'll leave that for some other point in time when his hormones aren't raging out of control. As far as his parents are concerned, he's still their not-quite-Minseok son - studious, athletic, hard working - and that's all they need to know.
He can learn to live with this taste of the dangerous side of life.
From: Your Secret Santa
Title: Don't Lie
Pairing: Jonghyun/Minho
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3,703
Summary: Jonghyun wants to join the track team to impress the school's resident hottie, but he finds himself easily distracted.
Jonghyun and Minho's friendship has always been on and off.
It had all begun in middle school, when Minho shot up like a bean sprout, leaving Jonghyun hoping and praying and wishing (and sucking down every last drop of milk in his house) to catch up. He never did hit his growth spurt. When they got to be first years in high school, he resented the other boy for being tall, studious and charming, everything the girls wanted and everything Jonghyun wasn't.
But now is Jonghyun's big chance.
Kim Gwiboon, resident hot ass bitch, has actually taken interest in him. A once in a life time opportunity has fallen right into Jonghyun's lap and he's not going to let it slip away no matter what conditions he has to face. Just picturing those long, milky legs, stretching on for eternity, and all his for the taking …
“Please, she says she's really interested in me - I just kind of … er, stretched the truth and said I was this awesome track star.”
“No, it's impossible.”
God damn it, why did his big chance have to include the pompous Choi Minho?
“Minho, I'm begging you. Turn me in to a great runner by the big race, and I promise there will be something in it for you.”
The junior, hair winged perfectly around his ears and the nape of his neck, barely looks up from his calculus homework. “What?”
Jonghyun blinks. “What what?”
“What's in it for me?” Minho repeats, this time turning his deep gaze on the singer.
Blanching, Jonghyun shakes his head and rests his hands on his hip akimbo. “You've got to be kidding - “
“I'm not.” Minho flicks a stray lock from his eyes, picking up his pencil once more. “You're not the easiest person to be around, Jonghyun. I'm not going to help you for nothing.”
Scratching the back of his neck, Jonghyun sucks in a breath of heavy summer air. “Fine. You know that connection at the university I have?” Minho nods. “I can make sure you have an in with her, you'll be guaranteed a good recommendation.”
“Deal.”
Choi Daesung is a legend, not only for his outstanding grades and his acceptance into a top university, but also for his contributions to the track team. He led the team to victory in districts as well as regionals and held school records that seemed nearly impossible to match.
The only competition the record times and scores have arose from his baby brother.
Minho mops the sweat from his brow, eyes locked on the large banner tacked up in the gym, his older brother's name printed across it along with all of his achievements. That banner keeps him going, reminds him daily of what rests on his shoulders. The expectations of upholding the Choi family name. He can't let his parents, he can't let Minseok, down by slandering their name with his own blunders. Minho would never let that happen.
That's why it's his duty to lead the track team, to take care of each member's needs before his own. Even if the member is selfishly eating up his own practice time by arriving extremely late.
“Yo,” Jonghyun greets cooly, high tops slapping obnoxiously against the wood paneling of the gymnasium floor as he makes his grand entrance.
Minho tosses the basketball in his hands back into its rightful container, too irritated to face the cocky teen. “You're late,” he comments dryly.
Running a few fingers through his blond tipped bangs, Jonghyun shrugs.
This is not going to work, Minho can feel it in his gut. But he needs that recommendation. “Let's start with basics; stretching.”
Jonghyun stretches his arms out above his head, fingers interlocked. “Piece of cake.”
Piece of cake his ass.
Never in his life has Jonghyun been so sweaty. To say the least, it's gross. Throwing his shirt off while stepping into the locker room and catching sight of his reflection in one of the nearby mirrors, he can't say he doesn't look just as attractive still. Maybe being an athlete wasn't so bad - his muscles tighten as he tries to step forward and it feels as if he might fall onto the floor in muscle spasms. Nope, Kim Jonghyun is still not cut out for the athlete lifestyle.
“Actually show up on time tomorrow,” Minho says curtly while brushing past the blond.
“You mean you expect me to be able to walk tomorrow?”
“No, I expect you to be able to run.”
“You're joking?” Jonghyun wheezes, eyes widening.
“Five miles,” Minho dead pans back to Jonghyun while discarding his work out shirt in his locker.
Lips moving, grasping for words, Jonghyun's heart drops into the floor and he struggles to keep himself from collapsing just at the thought of the torture that awaits him the next day. He's a singer, not a marathon runner!
“Wow.”
Jonghyun has to bend his head backwards to stare cross eyed up at Minho's tall frame above him. He's sprawled out on the turf just off to the side of the track and doesn't plan to move for … however long it takes to feel his legs once again, he guesses. He can't even draw up the strength to question the giant.
Minho doesn't need Jonghyun's prodding. “I didn't know you could run so fast.”
“Not like it's a big deal,” Jonghyun throws nonchalantly, despite the wheezing in his chest. Damn, he's out of shape.
Lips pressing thin, just as thin as his patience is running, Minho whips his head to look in a far off direction . “A lot of guys would kill to have your kind of speed without any practice.”
“They can have it after I prove myself to Gwiboon.”
“I shouldn't expect anything more from you.” Minho shakes his head in disbelief.
Jonghyun rolls onto his stomach to watch Minho with better clarity. “What's your problem?”
“You've always been so ungrateful. It pisses me off.”
“How does it piss you off?” Jonghyun asks haughtily, moving to his feet. “It's none of your business.”
Minho scoffs. “Right.” He directs his flaming gaze back at the blond. “Do you even know what it's like to work for a single thing in your life?”
Jonghyun blinks. “I'm out here working for Gwiboon, aren't I?”
“You're out here 'working' to deceive some girl, why, because she has a nice pair of legs?”
“Not just that,” Jonghyun says, cupping his hands in front of his chest, grinning and waggling his eyebrows like an idiot, “Her rack is to die for, man.”
Minho rolls his eyes in disgust. “Yeah, not what I would call real work.”
“Oh, c'mon, stop acting so high and mighty,” Jonghyun retorts, stepping forward to jab a finger at Minho's firm chest, “You say I'm bad for never working? Well, I say you suck for only working. I mean, what kind of life is that? You're so uptight all the time, it can't be healthy!”
Brushing aside Jonghyun's hand, Minho looks him in the eye, a spark igniting. “I can slack off a hell of a lot easier than you can get your ass to work.”
“Wanna bet?”
Their faces are inches apart. Jonghyun fights the urge to move onto his tiptoes, just so Minho can't bear down on him anymore like the giant he is.
“You're on.” There's fire in Minho's words.
Jonghyun grins. “Great, then you'll come to a party with me tonight.”
“What - “ Minho frowns. “It's a school night; there can't be a party.”
Fingers woven together, arms stretched high above his head, Jonghyun begins walking back to the locker room while speaking, “This is the only chance, Jinki's parents are gone for the night. His house is going to be awesome to trash.”
“Jinki? The party is at Jinki's house?” Minho stares quizzically at Jonghyun's gray clothed back.
Jonghyun laughs, loud yet charming. “I know, right? Who thought the nerd would agree to it? Jinki's pretty cool though, he's even letting us bust into his parent's liquor cabinet. Well, more like pantry, these people have a serious drinking problem … ”
Minho blanks. How in the hell is he going to convince his mother to let him out of the house on a school night, let alone for a party? Better yet, how in the hell is he going to convince himself to go out on a school night, when he could be inside studying his ass off? The image of his brother, late nights bent over his desk, nags at the back of his mind. Minseok would never go out on a school night ...
“I don't have any way to get there,” he calls after Jonghyun.
“I'll pick you up.”
Minho groans. Shit.
Jonghyun turns around, shit eating grin ever present, and gives a taunting wave. “See ya' at eleven!”
Why does he have to be so damn competitive? Why did he ever agree to get involved with a case like Jonghyun? Minho kicks at the turf while scuffling back indoors. He's already so far behind in studying, how is he going to manage this on top of it?
“Fuck my life.”
“What was that?”
Minho forces a smile and waves back. “See you then.”
For the millionth time, a sharp rap against his window sounds. Minho throws on his jacket and is about ready to just throw himself out the window, if only to cease the unnecessary racket. Wrenching the screen up, Minho sticks his head outside and just misses getting nailed in the face with a rock.
“Jonghyun, will you quit it? I heard you the first time!” he hisses at the dark figure below.
Moving into the light cast down from his room, Jonghyun beams up at him. “Hurry up, the party won't wait because you're trying to waste time!”
Minho looks behind his shoulder, ears intent on any noise outside his room. “Will you keep it down?” he pleads while turning back to the blond.
Jonghyun nods and motions for him to pick up the pace. Giving his room one last scan, Minho goes over and fluffs his body pillow underneath his covers. Content that it really does look like him lying in his bed, he grabs his black and gray Nike sports bag and slings it over his shoulder before flipping off the lights in his room. Now all he has to do is get out of the house and he's clear.
Just as Minho is throwing his legs over his window ledge, after securing the screen and glass to prevent it falling on him, there's activity in the hallway. His large eyes widen even further. He takes a glimpse at the ground, which is still a good drop away from his second story bedroom window, where Jonghyun isn't paying attention, hands in his pockets. Whipping his head back in the direction of his bedroom door, he hears the footsteps nearing.
“Fuck, shit, damn it,” Minho curses, sucking in a huge gulp of air. He's dead if he's caught now.
Only hanging onto the ledge with his armpits now, he squeezes his eyes shuts and prepares himself for the drop. No time to find a secure foothold to get himself down slowly and safely. A hand grasps his doorknob and begins to twist.
Minho lets go.
His feet burn as he lands on the ground, his knees giving out and causing him to topple onto his side. Jonghyun blinks down at him.
“Why did you - “
Minho puts his finger over his mouth, motioning for Jonghyun to be quiet. For once in his life, he listens. From above, the sound of soft voices drift out the window. His mother says something and then his door clicks shut once again. He hasn't been discovered, because surely the woman would have been screaming at the top of her lungs if she had found him missing.
“We can go now,” Minho says calmly, pulling himself to his feet and dusting the dirt from his jeans and green hoodie.
Jonghyun's critical gaze flicks over him up and down. “Hey, you don't look half bad,” he comments, reaching out to adjust the hood properly.
Minho slaps his hand away. “Uh huh, let's just go.”
“Fine,” Jonghyun says, eyebrow raised, “No need to be a dick.”
A tense silence falls over the two of them as they get into Jonghyun's electric blue BMW. As soon as he turns on the vehicle, a steady bass begins pounding and a low R&B tune plays. Minho relaxes into the plush seat; he has to admit Jonghyun has good taste in music.
When the blond starts to sing along, he's caught off guard. He hadn't even noticed at first, mistaking the voice for the recording.
“I didn't know you could sing,” Minho says, mouth gaping.
Jonghyun shrugs while tapping out the rhythm with his thumbs against the steering wheel. “Most people don't.”
Minho doesn't stop to question just why he's one of the few who does. He doesn't want to know why.
When they pull up to the obnoxiously luxurious home, atop a hill on the outskirts of the city, the party is already in motion. Flashy cars parked haphazardly along the drive, students already passed out on the lawn, and music blasting from inside - Minho can hardly take it all in. He's slightly embarrassed to admit that this is his first party, so he keeps it to himself. Not that Jonghyun can't figure it out.
“C'mon,” Jonghyun orders as he pockets his keys once he's found a decent spot, safely out of range of any inebriated drivers.
Minho nods and follows him blindly. His trust is now completely in Jonghyun to get him out of this place in one piece - probably the scariest thought he's had since he realized he'd have to compete with his brother's near perfect test scores.
When they enter through large, wide open French doors, there are so many bodies grinding and bouncing together, Minho has a hard time finding a place to get a foothold. The sheer volume of the music is enough to overwhelm his senses, let alone just how many people are present.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Jonghyun has come up with two bottles of beer. “Here,” Jonghyun says cooly, handing one to him while taking a swig of his own.
Minho accepts it, but with a weary air. Alcohol. Of course, what high school party would be without it? Jonghyun raises a questioning eyebrow at him, so he takes a quick drink of it just to prove he has.
“A lot more people than I thought,” Jonghyun comments while beginning to sift through the crowd.
“Looks like the whole school is here,” Minho says while just barely avoiding a drunk girl stumbling towards a couch.
Jonghyun spends the next hour just mingling, flirting with random girls, and BSing. He hates it, but Minho stays at his side, recognizing hardly anyone in the crowd and not wanting to stand off to the side, awkwardly, by himself. Jonghyun introduces him to people he doesn't remember the names of, so he nods and pretends to give a shit.
How long does he have to stay before he proves himself to Jonghyun?
“You're still so tense,” Jonghyun says, punching Minho lightly on the shoulder, “Why don't we go upstairs where it's quieter?”
Minho shrugs. Anything to get away from the stink of sweat and alcohol wafting through the air down here.
As they make their way upstairs, Minho is caught off guard yet again when he finds Jinki on the stairs. He wonders how much they've been drinking when he sees the girl whose rubbing against him and practically engulfing him with her mouth. Jonghyun makes a noise from somewhere in his throat when he catches sight of the two as well.
“Jonghyun - “
“Lets keep going,” the blond cuts him off, snapping his eyes in a different direction.
Minho spares one last glance at the couple just as Gwiboon snakes her hand down Jinki's pants. How disgusting. Still … He watches the back of Jonghyun, whose shoulders are hunched forward in an uncharacteristic show of discomfort. It doesn't go away even when they shut themselves in one of the unoccupied bedrooms, finally away from all of the action of the rest of the party.
Minho stares at the ground, unsure if he should comfort the other guy or not. Jonghyun downs the rest of his beer, Minho has lost count of how many he's had, before dropping onto the four post bed in the center of the room.
“Hey, look, man, I'm sorry … “ Minho begins, but doesn't know how to end. Sorry you fell for a slut? That doesn't sound quite right.
Jonghyun shakes his head. “It's cool, sit down.”
Hesitantly, Minho sits down beside Jonghyun on the bed. Something about the look in his eyes has alarm bells going off in Minho's mind.
“So, you haven't proved to me yet that you can be chill.”
“I can be plenty chill - "
Before he knows what's happening, Jonghyun has him on his back and pinned to the mattress. His toned arms on either side of Minho's head and he's staring down at him with intense, slightly unfocused, doe brown eyes.
“Prove it.”
He dips his head down and catches Minho's plum lips in a painfully accurate kiss. Minho's stomach tightens into a knot, but oh god, Jonghyun's turned this into a challenge. He lies motionless, letting Jonghyun's skillful lips do as they willed.
“You can't just lie there doing nothing,” Jonghyun chides, pulling away.
Minho blinks, slightly dazed. “I don't see how this proves anything,” he begins to protest, but he's silenced by Jonghyun's lips once again on his.
“Just do it,” Jonghyun says into his mouth as his tongue works at the seam of Minho's lips, trying to gain entry.
This is wrong, so wrong. Damn it, Minho can't deny how attractive Jonghyun is right now - hair a disheveled mess of blond and dark ebony roots, top buttons of his shirt undone to reveal sun kissed skin, and - shit, that can't be what Minho thinks it is pressing against his thigh.
Minho closes his eyes tight and kisses back. Jonghyun places a hand on his chin, guiding his lips to the proper place, while leaning in to deepen the kiss. Learning to kiss properly is like learning to ride a bike without crashing, and in just the same sense Minho picks up on it without missing a beat.
This isn't what he should be doing - Minseok would never - but god it feels so good.
Jonghyun grunts in disapproval as Minho flips their positions, growing anxious of being on the bottom. Although, not much of a fight is put up for dominance afterward, Jonghyun distracted by the natural roll of the soccer player's hips against his. He tugs and soon enough Minho's letting his hoodie slide over his head with the help of Jonghyun's nimble fingers.
Minho fumbles, reaches and downs the rest of Jonghyun's beer.
It's no competition to see who can get whose clothes off faster, they're both just too needy to wait.
When they come out of the room, stinking like drunken sex, a familiar face is in the hall. Minho pauses, already unsteady on his feet as his mind reels with what he's just done, but beside him Jonghyun keeps walking.
“Jonghyun?” comes the sugary sweet voice of Gwiboon.
Jonghyun stops at the top of the stairs, flicks his bangs out of his eyes while shooting her a look over his shoulder. “Oh, didn't notice you there.”
The girl pouts. “I thought you were going to spend some time with me here? You promised me a good time!”
“Why don't you go ask Jinki for a good time.”
Minho snaps to attention, scurrying to follow the singer as he descends the staircase, leaving Gwiboon to glare daggers at the back of their heads.
There are about twenty guys on the track, all stretching and getting ready for practice. Minho stands off a little ways, preparing on his own and with a fierce determination that is unique to only the captain. Because of it, he doesn't notice the added presence on the field until he receives a stinging slap to the ass followed by a teasing “Hey, sweet cheeks.”
Before Minho has a chance to swing at the guy, he's stopped dead by the grinning face of Jonghyun.
“What the hell is your problem?” Minho hisses as the rest of the track team watches the exchange with wide eyes.
Jonghyun blinks innocently. “What's wrong? Don't want the rest of the guys to know you're ga - “ A hand is clamped over his mouth before he can finish.
Minho leans forward to whisper in Jonghyun's ear. “Do not mention last night, do you hear me? This is your time to prove you can actually work, so shut the fuck up, okay?”
“Will you meet me after practice for hot locker room sex?”
“What happened to Gwiboon?”
“I decided I like guys who can run fast better - now, yes or no?”
Minho narrows his eyes at him. “Behave and I'll consider it.” He won't even begin to ponder over his answer, he'll leave that for some other point in time when his hormones aren't raging out of control. As far as his parents are concerned, he's still their not-quite-Minseok son - studious, athletic, hard working - and that's all they need to know.
He can learn to live with this taste of the dangerous side of life.