Legally Jonas 1/2
Title: Legally Jonas
For: allyndra
Author: bergann
Pairing: Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas (mentions past Kevin/Zac, and of other pairings)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 15 482
Summary: Zac Efron is the perfect match for Kevin Jonas, it's just fact, which is why it is so surprising when Zac breaks it off their senior year. Kevin refuses to believe it's over just like that though, and decides to win him back - even if it means law school. (Legally Blonde AU)
Author's Note: This was supposed to be short and fun. It obviously didn't turn out that way, and I have no idea what happened. This is a weird mix of the movie and the musical and something else besides, but hopefully still enjoyable. A million thanks to my beta black_trillium!
"This is amazing," Lucas says, bouncing into Kevin's room. "It's like a rom-com."
"Right?" Kevin says, and he turns to grin brightly at Lucas. "I can't believe it's actually happening."
"I know! It's what we've been too scared to even hope for since you two started dating. I mean, I knew things would change for you two near the end of college, but this is like -- beyond what we could have dreamed of. You're finally going to get that silly purity ring off and a real ring on."
"How do I look?" Kevin asks, holding his arms out and doing a full turn. "Should I change?"
"You look fantastic," Lucas says, "as always. A perfect outfit considering you're improvising without the ring, but Zac's family has good taste and so it should match your clothes perfectly. Although maybe do something about the scarf, it's...distracting."
Kevin looks to his reflection. Lucas is right, the blue scarf is drawing attention away from the pants he'd picked out that are just the right amount of too tight while still remaining subtle. "Thank you. Where's Corbin?"
"Probably making sure everything is absolutely perfect for you and Zac," Lucas says, steps forward to help Kevin choose a new neck accessory. "We might share a bed occasionally, but Part A can be slid out of Slot B in order for us to go our separate ways. Here, take this one. It'll match with your shoes. I can't believe you're getting engaged before college even ends! That's like -- this is the dream, man!"
"Yeah," Kevin says, and smiles at his reflection. "The dream."
Zac's right in every way for his family to approve of the marriage -- well off, handsome, a gentleman, with plans to study at one of the Ivy League schools -- and he's right for Kevin too. Funny and kind of a dork and totally accepting of the fact that Kevin's scheduled to take over the family business in a few years. It's such a perfect match; his family doesn't even mind the fact that it's a guy all that much. They've met Zac before. His mom thought he was charming and nice, and unknowing of their relationship at the time, had said that a girl would be lucky to have him.
When it turned out the 'some girl' was actually Kevin, there really was no other option for her but to be pleased.
Outside, Zac leans on the car horn.
"Remember," Lucas says, following him to the door, "Don't say yes at once. Make him squirm a little first, so that he can really appreciate the fact that you said yes to him."
Kevin nods. "I will," he says, because it's good advice. He'll definitely remember.
*
The restaurant Zac takes him too is really nice and expensive. It's the same restaurant they went to on their first date and on their anniversaries since. "I love this place," Kevin says, after their main course, and Zac smiles at him. His tan is a little more unnatural today than usual, and eventually Kevin will have to mention to him the benefits of relying solely on natural sun -- it's an easy thing to do in California, after all -- but it can wait. Tonight is hardly the night to bring it up.
"I know," Zac says, "That's why I brought you here. The lighting always makes you look even more amazing than usual too."
Kevin beams and thanks him, taking another sip of his drink. He'd seen Zac appraising the outfit when he picked him up, and changing scarves had totally been a good call. This one distracts from nothing. "You look great too," and he does. One thing the tanning has in its favor is the fact that it makes plain white on Zac look absolutely amazing. Kevin has never seen anyone pull off the 'casually rich and sadly oblivious to fashion' look this well, ever. He has no idea how Zac does it.
Zac clears his throat and reaches for Kevin's hand, rubbing his thumb softly over Kevin's knuckles. Oh my god, Kevin thinks, he's doing it now. Before the dessert!
"Listen, Kevin -- Kev," Zac says, "I think we both know why we're here. It makes me feel a lot more relaxed about the whole thing, really; because I was so sure that I'd take one look at you and completely lose my ability to be coherent, like you usually do. But we're here, and the fact that I know now it won't come as a surprise makes everything easier. Because it's time to get serious with you, Kev, about our future together."
"I'm very ready for that conversation." Kevin says, encouragingly.
"Right," Zac says, nodding. "Because you know how I plan to get a senate seat before I'm thirty, and you always understand me so well. It's just that -- if I'm going to get that seat, I can't continue fooling around."
"Of course."
"You're one of those people who are always ready to reach for the moon and sky, Kev, I'm sure we can both agree on that. It's what I love about you, after all, but I think it's time for us to break up."
Kevin's smile freezes on his face. He probably just heard wrong. "Sorry?"
"No, I am," Zac says, earnestly. "You're great, Kev, seriously. I couldn't have asked for a better boyfriend, but our relationship has reached its due date, so to speak and --"
"I thought you were proposing!" Kevin says, and okay, there might be tears in his eyes. Might be.
"Proposing?" Zac asks and actually makes a grimace. Kevin's body shakes. "Kevin, if I'm going to be a successful politician, I need to marry someone who--"
"So when you said you'd always love me," Kevin interrupts, "You were just 'fooling' around, is that it?"
"No, Kevin, I do love you. I just can't marry you. You really have no idea the kind of pressure I'm under from my family. They don't even know I like dudes, okay, and it's not like gay marriage is even legal in California yet."
"There are other places!"
"--My family has five generations of senators, Kev. I can't mess that up for a guy, and my brother just got engaged to a Horsham! That puts even more pressure on me."
Kevin stares at him for a stunned moment before he pushes his chair away from the table and leaves, only wiping away his tears once he's outside. "You alright?" the receptionist asks, but Kevin ignores her and keeps walking.
"Kevin, Kev," Zac says, pulling up alongside him three minutes later. "It's twenty miles back to campus. Let me drive you back."
"No."
"Those boots are going to be completely ruined," Zac points out, and Kevin looks down at them. He does really like this pair, and he doesn't have money for a cab. These pants don't even fit a cell phone for him to call Lucas or any of his friends with.
He gets in and stares straight ahead. Zac sighs and starts driving.
"I never expected to do this, you know, but I do think it's the right thing," Zac says, once they're nearing campus.
"How can breaking up be the right thing?" Kevin asks. There's no logic in that at all. Isn't that something politicians need? Logic?
"I have to think about my future and of what people expect from me," Zac says, "My family would never understand."
"I am nothing to be ashamed of," Kevin says as he pulls up in front of the house, "I have a good family. A well off family, probably even better than the Horshams."
"For fashion," Zac says, "Your family runs the country's most popular fashion magazine. It's not the same. I need someone more serious."
Kevin gets out of the car, and turns to meet Zac's gaze head on. "I'm in love with you. Isn't that enough?"
Zac's last words are drowned out by the sound of his car revving up before speeding away. Kevin stares after him, and then slowly walks up the stairs to the room.
*
"I'm glad I got you to agree to this," Lucas says, "It's been way too long since you've been out of the house."
It's been two weeks and three days and twelve hours, Kevin knows. He hasn't really been at his best, but he's really hoping this will help a little. He hasn't gotten a manicure since before the break up, and the past couple of days haven't really been good to his cuticles.
Of course, there are people waiting and since they don't have an appointment this time, they're forced to sit and wait as well. Lucas snags a copy of Seventeen before Kevin gets a chance, and his only alternative is a copy of Town & Country.
Just flipping through it is incredibly boring, and Kevin can't imagine actually reading it. His eye catches something in the engagement section though, where there's a big headline ending in Horsham. "Oh my god."
"What?" Lucas says, "Town & Country? Is there horse porn in that?"
"Oh my god," Kevin says again, with a totally different infliction, "Ew. Do you realize who this is?"
Lucas squints at the picture of the happy couple. "Unfortunate Nose and Butt Fugly? I think I'd actually have preferred the horse porn."
"It's Zac's brother and his fiancée," Kevin explains, "That's the kind of person Zac wants to marry."
"He certainly deserves someone as ugly like that after how he treated you."
"Lucas," Kevin says, "She's a lawyer. She's serious. She's what I need to be."
"Kevin, no," Lucas says, horrified. "Lawyers are so boring. They'll suck the good right out of you, and not in a fun way. They're vampires, Kevin, vampires of fun! You'll start wearing nothing but gray and black, and it'll be like you're living in a funeral, and I would be too embarrassed to be seen in public with you."
"I need to get into law school," Kevin decides, ignoring the words coming out of Lucas' mouth, "and win Zac back."
*
"Harvard Law?" His father asks, practically shouting. "What about the magazine? What about the future I've been working so hard to prepare for you and your brothers?"
"I'm doing this for love," Kevin says, "It's not that I don't appreciate all that you've done for me. It's just that I can't focus on fashion at all right now. I wore Crocs the other day. Crocs, dad! And I liked it because they're comfortable. I need to do this -- for myself, Zac and for love. Would you do anything different if it was mom?"
"That's not the same," his dad says. "Your mom never made me chase her halfway across the country into a university that probably won't accept you anyway."
"Love makes everything possible," Kevin says confidently, "and it's only so I can prove to Zac that I'm smart and serious enough for him! Not -- Not to mention, I'd be showing everyone that the Jonas family is more than just fashion goofballs, Dad, while making Zac realize the error of his ways. Even if I don't return for some reason, Joe could always take over the magazine, or Nick."
"They're nowhere near ready," his dad says, but Kevin knows the battle's already been won. His dad despises the negative public opinion of the Jonas name even more than he loves the positive one. Any chance to make more people like the family -- and then buy the magazine -- is always going to be tried out. "Fine. I'll pay your way if you get in. But only if you get in fair and square, so that we really can prove to everyone there's more to us than fashion and those occasional charity music gigs."
"Thank you!" Kevin says, hugging his dad for the first time in years, before he disappears into the house to find his brothers.
*
"You realize you'll need to really study for this," Spencer says, eyebrow raised. "Like, really study. You can't be doing any of the extra music lessons or go to concerts or on huge shopping sprees. Your life and senior spring is not going to involve anything but books and studying. You need a LSAT score of at least 174. Are you really sure you want to do this?"
"More sure than I've been of anything my entire life," Kevin says, "I can do this."
Spencer Smith looks skeptical. He's the smartest friend Kevin has, a genius practically, so going to him for help was a no-brainer. With Spencer helping him, there really is no way Kevin can't do this. "Okay," Spencer says, finally, "I'll help you."
"Thank you so much!" Kevin punches the air like a total dork; he doesn't care though since there isn't anyone in the room under any delusions about his state of cool anyway, and launches himself at Spencer. "You're my favorite, dude. My favorite."
"Rape!" shrieks Lucas as he walks past the living room on his way to the kitchen. "Kevin is disregarding Smith's personal bubble!"
Spencer is laughing, though. Kevin always knew the terrifying bitch face he usually wears around Kevin and Lucas was a total front. Inside there's nothing but a soft gooey center. He tells Spencer this and gets an elbow in the stomach for his observation. He barely notices and just hugs tighter. "Favorite," he says, "Now, I say we start at the part that lets me figure out a loophole to the whole marriage thing so I can marry you and Zac."
"Or," Spencer says, managing to untangle himself from Kevin's arms and he reaches for the book on top of the stack of textbooks Kevin had optimistically bought the other day. "we start with this."
It's even heavier than Kevin remembers it. Especially when it's dropped on his stomach and promptly steals all the breath from his body.
*
Okay, Kevin is perfectly willing to maybe admit that getting into law school is hard. He feels like he hasn't done anything fun in weeks.
"It's because you haven't," Lucas informs him on an ice cream break, "I wouldn't even know you're still alive if it wasn't for the fact that a pile of books occasionally moves, and Spencer keeps stomping out of the room regularly. Which reminds me, there's a rumor you two are sleeping together going around campus."
"What?" Kevin asks, "Did you try to stop it?"
"I was going to, once it stopped being funny," Lucas says, "but then apparently Spencer is getting a lot of angry sex from Bob out of it, so he asked me not to. I don't have the heart to deny anyone angry sex."
"But what if Zac hears and thinks I've gotten over him?" Kevin wonders how bad it would be to send a text. Just a small one, letting him know that it isn't true."
"I think," Lucas says after a long moment of silence, "You shouldn't say anything. If he doesn't hear, he doesn't hear. If he hears, he'll just be all the more surprised when you show up at Harvard Law school for him!"
"You're right," Kevin says, and then adds, "This is getting worrying. You've been right far too often lately."
"That's because you've become an idiot," Lucas tells him frankly, "but as your best friend, I support you through anything. Even boy-induced stupidity."
"I appreciate it," Kevin says, and he does. It doesn't stop him from flicking ice cream in Lucas' face, though.
The ensuing food fight is messy and very sticky. Kevin hides his jealousy the best he can, though, when Corbin shows up to drag Lucas away so he can clean the mess away before their movie ("he means with his tongue!" Lucas shouts before the door closes behind them).
He curls up with Ninja on the couch, changes the TV channel to BBC News, and settles down to study.
*
Despite what Spencer might or might not have said about the song being a little risky for the admission into Harvard Law (his exact words being "ridiculous" and "silly") -- which might be true, but then again, the song was awesome and totally a stroke of genius, so there was no way he couldn't send it in -- he's officially proven wrong when the acceptance letter from Harvard Law comes in the mail. They even mention how they hope his originality might bring a breath of fresh air to the school!
"I'm going to Harvard!" Kevin says, twirling around with Ninja in his arms, who's barking like mad. "I actually did it!"
"Congratulations," Spencer says, grinning widely and Ninja leaps to the floor and barks loudly, practically beside himself from excitement that they're all exhibiting.
Lucas hugs him, clapping him on the back while Spencer tries to get Ninja to quiet down again, "You've officially proven the gossip magazines wrong about the IQ of a Jonas."
"And I'm one step closer to getting Zac back!" Kevin adds brightly. "Absolutely nothing can stop me now."
*
The Harvard campus is amazing. It's like an alien world, so completely different from LA. It just sucks that the view is entirely ruined by the fact that today totally sucks.
It started out so well too. He'd gotten an outfit specifically for his first day at law school, complete with proper lawyer glasses, and he'd managed to breeze past Zac in the hallway with a nice, casual 'fancy seeing you here!'
He just hadn't known there was actually homework assigned for the first day of class and it was totally unfair for the professor to banish him from class until he's caught up, especially at the word of some total witch with extensions. Oh, and who knew that apparently not having a laptop is like having the plague in law school? Kevin just likes writing by hand, okay? It's therapeutic and kind of calming. He'd felt so stupid, though, sitting there with his totally awesome pen from when Joe went to Australia last year -- it has koalas on it! -- while everyone around him booted up their boring black Macbooks.
And honestly, Kevin thinks, have they never heard of laptop skins or color options?
"Bad day?"
Kevin startles. He hadn't even noticed that there was anyone else around, but there's a guy sitting on one of the other benches surrounding the big oak. He looks like a scary homeless drunk, Kevin thinks, with long hair covering his face and a cigarette in one hand. He's not sure it's even allowed to smoke on campus, but the guy seems completely unconcerned, and Kevin is upset enough to ignore all of it. "Do they always put you on the spot like that? Like, all the time?"
"They're professors," the guy says, "The Socratic method kind of makes them have to."
"So, what, they're allowed to kick you out just because you don't know the answer?" Kevin asks, "Isn't that pretty stupid? I mean, people came here to learn, didn't they? Shouldn't they be allowed to stay in class and actually learn?"
The guy grins, and it transforms his face completely. Definitely not a homeless drunk, Kevin realizes -- not that that had been a serious option anyway, because hello, Harvard campus, they probably have security -- but he has to be a law student too. He looks too young to be a professor, and he certainly doesn't act like one. "You have Salpeter."
"She did that to you too?"
"No," the guy says, "but she made my friend cry once."
"Really?"
The guy nods. "He said something just got in his eye, but I know him better than that. He totally cried because she yelled at him. She looks innocent and nice, but she can pretty much shrivel your balls when she wants to."
"Neat," Kevin says with fake-enthusiasm, "That's just...neat."
"Who else do you have?" the guy asks, "It usually gets better."
"Ripley, Trohman and Way."
"Man, okay, easy," the guy says, and Kevin hurries to find his notebook. Finally someone willing to teach him something of use around here. "You speak up in Way's class. He's a complete sucker for people with their own opinion. Ripley hates tardiness more than anyone else in this place -- never be late for his class. He'll hold it against you. Trohman likes the really fucking obscure facts, he'll drag them out whenever and they tend to turn up as extra credit."
"You're like a life saver," Kevin says, smiling gratefully at him. "You're the nicest person I've met at this place."
The guy snorts. "That's a first," he says, and laughs, "Any chance of getting that in writing?"
"If you have a hint on what to do for Salpeter's class, then definitely."
"Her daily quotes are almost as important as acing the mid-term, no matter what she might lead you to believe," the guy says.
"You're my hero," Kevin says, and rips out a page of his notebook. "Honestly. Thank you. I'm not sure that note will count in a court of law, but I meant it."
The guy looks down at the note, "You're something else," he says, and Kevin's heard that before -- but this is the first time anyone outside of his family has actually made it seem positive.
"Hey," Zac says, walking up behind the guy.
Kevin straightens. "Hi!"
"Right," the guy says, "Good luck."
"Thanks again for your help, hero!" Kevin says, and the guy snorts, shaking his head as he walks away.
Zac looks from him and back to Kevin. "So, uh, how was your first class?"
"Fine," Kevin says, "Except for this horrible witch who totally made me look bad in front of my Civ Pro professor. But that's not important, I mean, you're here now! How was your summer?"
Zac doesn't look comfortable. Kevin doesn't know how to deal with that, really. Zac has never looked uncomfortable around him before. "It was good."
"Oh yeah?" Kevin says encouragingly, "Do anything fun? I know you had plans for Europe."
"Right," Zac agrees as a hand snakes around Zac's chest from behind. Zac, to Kevin's surprise, actually turns and tucks her against his side. "Hey, Kev, have you met Ashley yet?"
Kevin has. Ashley's the one who encouraged Salpeter to throw him out of the class. He feels sideswiped. Ashley holds her hand out and smiles, "Ashley Tisdale. So nice to meet you."
"Kevin Jonas," Kevin says, taking her hand, even with his attention already back on Zac, "I'm sorry, how do you two know each other?"
"She's--"
"--I'm his fiancée." Ashley says, and tucks a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Kevin's gaze zeroes in on the ring. The ring that should be his.
"Hah," Kevin says, "Sorry. I think I just had a hallucination. You were saying?"
"Ashley was my first girlfriend," Zac says, "We got back together over the summer at my mother's birthday party."
"Zac's told me all about you," Ashley says, "Not that he had to tell me much, as the gossip magazines are more than informative on your life. But oddly enough, none of them mentioned you being here."
"Excuse me," Kevin says, "I need to go. Ninja needs his walk."
As he walks away, he can barely hear Zac calling after him, "You brought Ninja to Harvard?" over the rushing noise inside his own head.
*
The place is called Hairin' Around and has what might just be the ugliest neon sign Kevin has ever seen. Beggars can't be choosers, though, certainly not at times like this, so he makes a questionably legal U-turn once the sign catches his eye and asks for an appointment.
Luckily, they've got appointments available, and Kevin barely has to wait before a guy with tight girl jeans and black framed glasses bounces over. "Hi, I'm Brendon and I'll be your hairstylist for today. If you'd join me over by the sinks, I'm sure your stay here would be much more pleasurable." Kevin can't help but smile a little. The guy's energy is infectious, but it's not enough after the day he's had. Still, he gets up and follows Brendon over to the sinks. "You look down, man," he says, "Had a bad day?"
"Like you wouldn't believe," Kevin sighs, letting the feeling of the warm water soothe him.
"I don't know," Brendon says, slowly rubbing in the shampoo. "I've got a pretty good imagination, all my teachers said so on my report cards, so you should try me."
"I worked my butt off to get into Harvard Law. I stopped all my guitar practices, I said no to concerts and friends and spring break. I even bribed my brothers and friends to help me with my admissions song. I tapped into everything I could, just so that I could win back Zac and now that I'm here, I find out he's engaged. To a girl!" Kevin takes a deep breath. Actually, he takes several, before he admits, "I wish I hadn't even come here."
"Dude, after you went through all that trouble?" Brendon asks, "You should totally stay and show this Zac guy what he's missing. How long were you broken up?"
"A couple of months," Kevin says, "I can't believe I turned him back onto girls. I don't even know if I should be more upset about that or about the fact that some blonde is wearing my ring."
"You did not turn this Zac guy onto girls. I mean, look at you," Brendon says, and his head appears in Kevin's line of vision, leaning over the sink to peer down at him. He giggles. "Okay, so, right now you look kind of like a drowned cat, but my point remains. You're hot. Zac's either blind, a douche or both."
"This angle isn't flattering on anyone," Kevin says, self-conscious and Brendon makes small assenting noises as he rinses his hair.
"Done," Brendon says, wrapping Kevin's head in a towel and rubbing slightly before showing him over to one of the seats. "What do you want to do?"
"Something new," Kevin says, "I place myself in your hands, totally and completely."
"You just met me," Brendon says, but his expression is already one of consideration as he looks at Kevin's hair.
"Just don't touch the sideburns," Kevin says, "They mark my spot in the brother hierarchy. That is, the top."
"Okay," Brendon says, grinning, "I can respect that."
"He said he's being pressured by his family, that we couldn't be together because someone like me isn't who his parents would want for him," Kevin adds after a moment, while Brendon is snipping away at his neck. In the mirror, Kevin can see Brendon's mouth press into a tight line. "I just thought that if I showed up here, he'd see that I wasn't just some idiot and take me back."
"I might be a little biased on this," Brendon says, "since there's a reason my family's not currently speaking to me, but you shouldn't give up. If Zac's doing this just to make his family happy, you need to show him that he won't be."
"What happened?"
"Hair styling isn't really a valued Mormon career," Brendon says, "Not that they knew at the time that's what I'd end up doing. We argued because of music first. I wanted to follow that as my career, they thought I should accept my mission and go, or get out of their house. I left, but so far no one's shown an interest in my music. So I followed my back-up plan of hair dressing instead, and here I am. Haven't spoken to them since high school."
"That's terrible." Kevin says, "I can't believe your family would do that to you."
Brendon shrugs, and suddenly stops moving completely, staring towards the door with his scissors hovering right by Kevin's ear. Kevin looks, and by the cashier, there's a scruffy-looking man in a UPS uniform delivering a package. As if on cue, the guy looks up and smiles, giving a small wave to Brendon, which is apparently Brendon's cue to jerk so violently his scissors graze Kevin's ear.
"Shit!" Brendon says, "Shit, I'm so, so sorry. I'm such a klutz, I'm really sorry, is it bleeding? It doesn't look like it's bleeding, and did I mention I'm really sorry."
"It's okay," Kevin says, because it is. He's not blind or a douche, he can see what's going on. "Who was that?"
"Jon," Brendon says, "He tends to be the one who delivers our supplies."
"And?" Kevin prompts, but Brendon just shrugs.
"And nothing. We don't really talk," Brendon says, "Like, ever. Sometimes he'll ask me how my day's going, I'll squeak, and he'll leave. It's nothing."
Kevin can tell Brendon is lying through his teeth, but the scissors are back by Kevin's head and he figures there are smarter actions to take than to argue.
*
Kevin's new hair is a huge success, and with a new wardrobe, Kevin looks better than he has in a long while. It's been so long since he hasn't had curls that the feeling of having straightened hair again is just very strange, but Brendon is like a hair wizard, because Kevin looks awesome with a short fringe and hair that is so easy to style.
He knows it's a success because he's getting looks as he walks down the hallway. Some are subtle, some are obvious, some are girls, some are guys, and it's fantastic. Even more so when Kevin gets to see Zac's reaction personally as he purposefully slows his stride a little as he walks past, which is a long appreciative scan of Kevin's attire. Score for Team Kevin, Kevin thinks, and heads into Professor Ripley's class.
Professor Ripley is tall with long hair and his accent is a fake British one that Kevin will never believe is actually real. He always dresses nice too, although Kevin quickly realizes this isn't so much because Professor Ripley is fashion conscious as his outfits are more or less the same every day, with small variations.
"I don't think I've yet mentioned this yet, which is my bad, but you are not only locked in battle for the top grade in this class. There are also four very much coveted internship spots open at my firm, which will let you assist on actual cases." Professor Ripley smiles at them, "Let the general ass-kissing and sucking up begin. Please note, monetary bribes will do nothing but insult me. Now, let's start for today, shall we? Mr. Jonas, which client would you prefer: one who has committed a crime malum in se or malum prohibitum?"
Kevin hears the faint whisper of Ashley's voice going here comes the airhead train. "If we can choose, Professor Ripley, wouldn't it be preferable to have a client who's innocent?"
The class laughs. Professor Ripley smiles at him. "One must hope an innocent one will come along eventually, Mr. Jonas, but I'd advise you not to hold out for one."
"I would," Ashley whispers to the girls sitting next to her, "It'd keep him from being able to lose cases left and right."
"As I can see your mouth moving, Ms. Tisdale, I can only assume you're ready to answer. Which would you prefer?"
"Malum prohibitum," Ashley says, and flicks her hair over one should to give Kevin a smug look. "Because the client would've committed a regulatory infraction as opposed to a dangerous crime."
Without breaking eye contact, Kevin raises his hand. "Yes, Mr. Jonas?" Professor Ripley asks, "Was there something you wished to add?"
"I changed my mind. I'd much rather have the dangerous case, as I don't back down from a challenge."
*
The days don't improve much over the next two weeks.
Kevin is kind of emotionally exhausted from pretending that everything is absolutely fine, that he can't hear all the whispers about the "fashion prince" being way over his head -- which isn't a lie, really. He is over his head. Law school is hard and terrifying and demanding, and he hasn't managed to spend more than a minute alone with Zac yet. It's so infuriating and annoying, and he winds up on the phone with Lucas and Spencer more often than not, discussing the pros of going back to California with Lucas and the cons with Spencer. He takes long walks with Ninja, who seems to absolutely love Harvard, and Kevin really can't stay moody when Ninja's running around looking adorable. Sometimes, Brendon joins in on the walks.
His first reaction to Ninja had been a delighted, "What the fuck, dude, did a Rottweiler fuck a Chihuahua and this is their offspring? He's the cutest little thing ever."
But still, as much fun as Kevin has outside of Harvard, he still hasn't found his groove in class or with his fellow soon-to-be lawyers. They all seem to have this idea that the Kevin Jonas in the magazines is the real Kevin Jonas, like he really thinks the capital of Scandinavia is Norway. It blows, because Kevin's used to having at least a core group of friends, like Lucas, Spencer, Corbin and the Alex Troop.
Now he has Brendon and Ninja, since Ashley's making damn sure he can't speak to Zac, and it sucks. He's a social person. If his friends aren't around, there's always been his family, or a party being held by someone he vaguely knows.
This is his excuse for why he gets so excited when the sound of voices discussing a costume party reaches his ears. He throws open the door to his room and says, "Wait, Harvard actually knows how to party?"
That's when he realizes that he's talking to Ashley and her ditzy best friend Brenda. "Of course Harvard knows how to party," Brenda says, "It's just that we don't want you there."
"No, come on," Ashley says, before Kevin has a chance to close the door, "I'm really sorry we got off on the wrong foot, Kevin. Why don't you come tonight?"
"Really?" Kevin asks, surprised. He'd thought Ashley really only had one setting to her personality, and that that setting rhymed with punt.
"Yes," Ashley says, handing him a piece of paper with an address written on it. "You won't get in without a costume, but I'm sure for you that won't be a problem."
"Thanks," Kevin says, and they smile awkwardly at each other before Kevin shuts the door. He calls his brothers first to ask for help with the costume, but Joe isn't there and Nick just keeps insisting the easiest thing to do is dress like the Spirit -- all black, red tie, it's a look they've sported before...minus the hat and mask, but it would look cool. Kevin wants to impress though, and while his contacts might not be as far reaching in Massachusetts as in California, there's at least one person he can rely on to always find a way.
"Gabe," he says, "I need a costume in three hours."
"I'll have it there in two," Gabe says, "in exchange for your tongue in my mouth if you have not won your boy toy back the next time we meet."
"Done," Kevin says, because he hasn't seen Gabe in two years. Gabe is fighting crime or taking over the world or something in Jersey, Kevin isn't actually sure, but the point is he’s safe.
Gabe cackles triumphantly and hangs up, and two hours later, a harassed looking girl knocks on Kevin's door with a box under her arm. "Costume delivery from the Cobra," she says, "Your deal with the right-hand man to the Devil is now sealed."
"Should you be talking about him like that?" Kevin asks, "Isn't he your boss?"
"He can't hear me," the girl says, shrugging. "You want this or not?"
"Yes, thank you," Kevin says, and takes the box from her. She doesn't wave or say anything else as she leaves. Inside the box is the most awesome costume Kevin has ever seen, and he sends a quick thank you text to Gabe.
Gabe answers in seconds, a blurry picture of his leering face and the message thank me with your tongue. Kevin ignores that in favor of getting ready for the party.
This is how he ends up walking into the party as a guy riding an ostrich. He feels almost like his old self again, a feeling that lasts until he shows up at the address Ashley gave him, where everyone is wearing suits and dresses and there's basically not a real costume to be seen. "Hey stupid," someone calls, "this is a 'Come as Your Favorite Defendant' party."
"How do you think defendants get to their jobs in Australia?" Kevin calls back, and continues his search for Zac. He finds him in the kitchen, and when Zac turns around, he doesn't laugh like everyone else has. He looks at Kevin's costume and smiles wide and says, "That's a pretty awesome costume."
"Thank you," Kevin says, smiling.
"You do know what party this is, though, right?"
"No, that detail was left out," Kevin says, "But I honestly love this too much to care."
Zac laughs softly. "Where did you get it?"
"Gabe," Kevin says, and Zac makes a face. Gabe and Zac have never gotten along. Kevin's not really sure why, but every time Zac opened his mouth around Gabe, Gabe would complain about the shine from his teeth ruining his eyesight until Zac stopped talking again. "I feel like we've barely had a chance to talk to each other since we got here."
"Yeah," Zac agrees, "I end up spending most of my time with case studies and hypos."
"I know, right," Kevin says, "There's so much to do. I don't know how I'll be able to do the internship as well next year."
"Kev, please," Zac scoffs, "You're never going to get the grades to qualify for one of those spots. You're a Jonas." Kevin gapes, and Zac's eyes widen, "I didn't mean--"
"Did I get a head injury, or aren't we attending the same law school? Didn't we take the same LSAT, and aren't we currently taking the same classes?"
"I'd just feel bad if you got your hopes up, Kev," Zac says, "You know how you get when you're upset."
"You really didn't break up with me because of your parents, did you?" Kevin asks, "You did because you don't think I'm good enough for you."
Zac doesn't say anything, and Kevin turns and leaves, shoving his way through the crowd. "Leaving so soon?" Ashley asks, "Did you finally realize you don't belong here?"
Kevin doesn't bother to answer, and he walks back to the quad, to the benches under the tree. He stares at fake feet resting on the ostrich, and wonders what makes university so incredibly different from everywhere else.
"Uh," a voice says, "either you're real or my friends are real assholes and slipped something into my drink."
Kevin looks up. It's the hero from the first day. "I'm real," he sighs, "Sadly."
"Is this a dare?" the guy asks, coming closer. He's dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, and makes it look really good. "Or like, a thing you do? I've seen weirder, but you might want to keep this shit behind doors."
"I was tricked," Kevin says, "by life."
"Yeah?"
"I put my faith in love. I prioritized it over everything, and I followed where it led." He glances sideways at the guy, "I don't fit in here. I'm not engaged, I'm flunking out of school, and everyone is laughing at me."
"Wait," the guy says, "You came to Harvard Law School for love? You actually stalked some guy to an Ivy League school just to win him back?"
"I didn't stalk," Kevin protests, "I followed to remind him why we worked in the first place."
"That's fucked up," the guy says, "You realize most people go to law school for normal reasons, right?"
"Oh yeah?" Kevin asks, "And what's your reason, Mysterious No Name Guy?"
The guy snorts. "I'm Mike," he says, "and I started law school because I grew up around a bunch of guys who made it painfully fucking obvious what happens to you in life if you fail. I saw my friend go down for something he didn't do, just a stupid teenage mistake, and he got stabbed in jail four weeks before his release. So I busted my ass through law school, working extra jobs on the side, just to make sure that never happens to anyone else."
"I'm sorry about your friend," Kevin says, immediately feeling guilty. "But that's so nice of you to honor him like this."
"I don't do it to be nice," Mike says, "I do it because if I don't, who the fuck else will? What you need is inspiration that isn't the approval of some asshole."
"You don't even know who I'm talking about."
Mike snorts. "Unless you get those epic ogley-eyes over more than one dude, I know who you're talking about, and that guy is an asshole."
"On what basis?"
"On the basis that I could draw his face on an orange with some white-out, and no one would be able to tell the fucking difference," Mike says, "C'mon, I'm not letting you flunk out. Let's go study."
"What, really?" Kevin asks, "Don't you have anything else to do?"
"Guess not," Mike says, and he grins. It makes him look slightly insane. "C'mon, Kevin, I'm your big damn hero, remember? Don't you trust me?"
Kevin doesn't answer, but he gets to his feet and leads the way. Mike keeps laughing whenever he glances at Kevin, and they're right outside his room, when Kevin goes, "I signed the note. That's how you know my name."
"Nothing gets by you, Ostrich," Mike agrees, and Kevin's barely opened the door before Ninja is at their feet, jumping up for attention. "Did you shrink a Rottweiler?"
"No," Kevin says, "That's Ninja. He's a Prazsky Krysarik."
Mike gives him a look, but he leans down and gives Ninja a couple of pets. "Point me in the direction of your law books, and get changed, 'cause there's no way I'm teaching an ostrich law."
"That's kind of speciest," Kevin says, "Besides, I'm not an ostrich. I'm a man riding an ostrich. There's a difference."
"Yeah," Mike says, "But you still look like a total dork."
And Kevin can't really argue with that, so he gestures vaguely towards his bookshelf and finds a nice pair of jeans and a white button up to change into.
Mike doesn't leave until two AM, and Kevin is too exhausted to even think too much about the fact that they've agreed to meet for lunch the next day.
*
It becomes a thing. Kevin divides his time between Brendon and Mike and classes, and they're not always studying either. Sometimes lunch ends up as just lunch, and sometimes Mike drags him to the music store his friend owns where he works weekend shifts, so that they can fool around on the guitars. Kevin hadn't brought his with him to Harvard, and apparently Mike plays guitar as well, and his friend and owner, William Beckett, seems happy to let them play. "I don't do this for just anyone," William says, the third time they're in there, "But you are adorable and I found myself inexplicably charmed by you even before your little chipmunk impression."
*
"Jonas, you here?" Mike's voice drifts through the door seconds before the handle turns and the door swings open. Mike surveys the scene for a moment before he says, "You going somewhere?"
"Home, of course," Kevin says, glancing up from his suitcase. "It's Thanksgiving. Everyone's going home. Aren't you?"
"No," Mike says, "I've got work at the music store."
"William's forcing you to work over Thanksgiving?" Kevin asks, genuinely shocked. William is probably the most ridiculous person Kevin's ever met who manages to make it actually cool. He just doesn't seem like the sort of person who'd force anyone to work over the holidays.
"Not really," Mike says, "He doesn't have family, so I decided to stay behind with him. Don't you have a huge fake trial with Trohman on Monday?"
"Yeah," Kevin nods, "Real and proper practice, he says. I've got all these files to learn for it."
"Right," Mike says, "and your plan is to study these at home?"
"Maybe?" Kevin says, folding his shirt a lot slower than the other ones. "I mean, I haven't seen Nick and Joe for ages and they might want to put some practice in on our hobby band, and I think Lucas is in town, so we'll probably go out. Spence went back to Vegas for the holidays, but yeah, no, I think I'll have time."
"Right," Mike says again, and this time his voice is mocking. "Well, be sure to let me know how it goes. I mean, nothing bad about playing into the expectations of everyone, right? Not like it's cool to exceed them and show everyone what fucking prejudiced retards they're being."
Kevin sighs and looks at his suitcase. "You've made your point," he says, "Although I hope you realize I am taking a break for Thanksgiving dinner and that I expect actual turkey from you."
"Okay," Mike grins, "I can probably swing that, since you'll be working so hard and all."
Kevin sticks his tongue out at him as he shoves his suitcase under the bed. Mike's looking expectantly at him when he's done, so he sighs once more purely for show and says, "Okay, the case is Gideon v. Wainwright. Teach me, oh mighty sensei."
"Fuck you," Mike says mildly, "and listen if you really want some turkey."
Thanksgiving dinner is actually a lot better than Kevin had honestly expected. Mike declares that in order to eat, you need to help with the cooking, so they cram themselves into the tiny kitchen in William's apartment and set about preparing the food. Kevin and Mike end up with the turkey, while William and Brendon appoint themselves the masters of everything else.
It tastes kind of extra delicious knowing they made it themselves, Kevin thinks, and he doesn't even really miss his family all that much.
The next morning Kevin wakes up fully-clothed in William's absent roommate's bed with Mike, and after some coffee and leftovers, it's right back to the law books.
*
continue
For: allyndra
Author: bergann
Pairing: Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas (mentions past Kevin/Zac, and of other pairings)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 15 482
Summary: Zac Efron is the perfect match for Kevin Jonas, it's just fact, which is why it is so surprising when Zac breaks it off their senior year. Kevin refuses to believe it's over just like that though, and decides to win him back - even if it means law school. (Legally Blonde AU)
Author's Note: This was supposed to be short and fun. It obviously didn't turn out that way, and I have no idea what happened. This is a weird mix of the movie and the musical and something else besides, but hopefully still enjoyable. A million thanks to my beta black_trillium!
"This is amazing," Lucas says, bouncing into Kevin's room. "It's like a rom-com."
"Right?" Kevin says, and he turns to grin brightly at Lucas. "I can't believe it's actually happening."
"I know! It's what we've been too scared to even hope for since you two started dating. I mean, I knew things would change for you two near the end of college, but this is like -- beyond what we could have dreamed of. You're finally going to get that silly purity ring off and a real ring on."
"How do I look?" Kevin asks, holding his arms out and doing a full turn. "Should I change?"
"You look fantastic," Lucas says, "as always. A perfect outfit considering you're improvising without the ring, but Zac's family has good taste and so it should match your clothes perfectly. Although maybe do something about the scarf, it's...distracting."
Kevin looks to his reflection. Lucas is right, the blue scarf is drawing attention away from the pants he'd picked out that are just the right amount of too tight while still remaining subtle. "Thank you. Where's Corbin?"
"Probably making sure everything is absolutely perfect for you and Zac," Lucas says, steps forward to help Kevin choose a new neck accessory. "We might share a bed occasionally, but Part A can be slid out of Slot B in order for us to go our separate ways. Here, take this one. It'll match with your shoes. I can't believe you're getting engaged before college even ends! That's like -- this is the dream, man!"
"Yeah," Kevin says, and smiles at his reflection. "The dream."
Zac's right in every way for his family to approve of the marriage -- well off, handsome, a gentleman, with plans to study at one of the Ivy League schools -- and he's right for Kevin too. Funny and kind of a dork and totally accepting of the fact that Kevin's scheduled to take over the family business in a few years. It's such a perfect match; his family doesn't even mind the fact that it's a guy all that much. They've met Zac before. His mom thought he was charming and nice, and unknowing of their relationship at the time, had said that a girl would be lucky to have him.
When it turned out the 'some girl' was actually Kevin, there really was no other option for her but to be pleased.
Outside, Zac leans on the car horn.
"Remember," Lucas says, following him to the door, "Don't say yes at once. Make him squirm a little first, so that he can really appreciate the fact that you said yes to him."
Kevin nods. "I will," he says, because it's good advice. He'll definitely remember.
*
The restaurant Zac takes him too is really nice and expensive. It's the same restaurant they went to on their first date and on their anniversaries since. "I love this place," Kevin says, after their main course, and Zac smiles at him. His tan is a little more unnatural today than usual, and eventually Kevin will have to mention to him the benefits of relying solely on natural sun -- it's an easy thing to do in California, after all -- but it can wait. Tonight is hardly the night to bring it up.
"I know," Zac says, "That's why I brought you here. The lighting always makes you look even more amazing than usual too."
Kevin beams and thanks him, taking another sip of his drink. He'd seen Zac appraising the outfit when he picked him up, and changing scarves had totally been a good call. This one distracts from nothing. "You look great too," and he does. One thing the tanning has in its favor is the fact that it makes plain white on Zac look absolutely amazing. Kevin has never seen anyone pull off the 'casually rich and sadly oblivious to fashion' look this well, ever. He has no idea how Zac does it.
Zac clears his throat and reaches for Kevin's hand, rubbing his thumb softly over Kevin's knuckles. Oh my god, Kevin thinks, he's doing it now. Before the dessert!
"Listen, Kevin -- Kev," Zac says, "I think we both know why we're here. It makes me feel a lot more relaxed about the whole thing, really; because I was so sure that I'd take one look at you and completely lose my ability to be coherent, like you usually do. But we're here, and the fact that I know now it won't come as a surprise makes everything easier. Because it's time to get serious with you, Kev, about our future together."
"I'm very ready for that conversation." Kevin says, encouragingly.
"Right," Zac says, nodding. "Because you know how I plan to get a senate seat before I'm thirty, and you always understand me so well. It's just that -- if I'm going to get that seat, I can't continue fooling around."
"Of course."
"You're one of those people who are always ready to reach for the moon and sky, Kev, I'm sure we can both agree on that. It's what I love about you, after all, but I think it's time for us to break up."
Kevin's smile freezes on his face. He probably just heard wrong. "Sorry?"
"No, I am," Zac says, earnestly. "You're great, Kev, seriously. I couldn't have asked for a better boyfriend, but our relationship has reached its due date, so to speak and --"
"I thought you were proposing!" Kevin says, and okay, there might be tears in his eyes. Might be.
"Proposing?" Zac asks and actually makes a grimace. Kevin's body shakes. "Kevin, if I'm going to be a successful politician, I need to marry someone who--"
"So when you said you'd always love me," Kevin interrupts, "You were just 'fooling' around, is that it?"
"No, Kevin, I do love you. I just can't marry you. You really have no idea the kind of pressure I'm under from my family. They don't even know I like dudes, okay, and it's not like gay marriage is even legal in California yet."
"There are other places!"
"--My family has five generations of senators, Kev. I can't mess that up for a guy, and my brother just got engaged to a Horsham! That puts even more pressure on me."
Kevin stares at him for a stunned moment before he pushes his chair away from the table and leaves, only wiping away his tears once he's outside. "You alright?" the receptionist asks, but Kevin ignores her and keeps walking.
"Kevin, Kev," Zac says, pulling up alongside him three minutes later. "It's twenty miles back to campus. Let me drive you back."
"No."
"Those boots are going to be completely ruined," Zac points out, and Kevin looks down at them. He does really like this pair, and he doesn't have money for a cab. These pants don't even fit a cell phone for him to call Lucas or any of his friends with.
He gets in and stares straight ahead. Zac sighs and starts driving.
"I never expected to do this, you know, but I do think it's the right thing," Zac says, once they're nearing campus.
"How can breaking up be the right thing?" Kevin asks. There's no logic in that at all. Isn't that something politicians need? Logic?
"I have to think about my future and of what people expect from me," Zac says, "My family would never understand."
"I am nothing to be ashamed of," Kevin says as he pulls up in front of the house, "I have a good family. A well off family, probably even better than the Horshams."
"For fashion," Zac says, "Your family runs the country's most popular fashion magazine. It's not the same. I need someone more serious."
Kevin gets out of the car, and turns to meet Zac's gaze head on. "I'm in love with you. Isn't that enough?"
Zac's last words are drowned out by the sound of his car revving up before speeding away. Kevin stares after him, and then slowly walks up the stairs to the room.
*
"I'm glad I got you to agree to this," Lucas says, "It's been way too long since you've been out of the house."
It's been two weeks and three days and twelve hours, Kevin knows. He hasn't really been at his best, but he's really hoping this will help a little. He hasn't gotten a manicure since before the break up, and the past couple of days haven't really been good to his cuticles.
Of course, there are people waiting and since they don't have an appointment this time, they're forced to sit and wait as well. Lucas snags a copy of Seventeen before Kevin gets a chance, and his only alternative is a copy of Town & Country.
Just flipping through it is incredibly boring, and Kevin can't imagine actually reading it. His eye catches something in the engagement section though, where there's a big headline ending in Horsham. "Oh my god."
"What?" Lucas says, "Town & Country? Is there horse porn in that?"
"Oh my god," Kevin says again, with a totally different infliction, "Ew. Do you realize who this is?"
Lucas squints at the picture of the happy couple. "Unfortunate Nose and Butt Fugly? I think I'd actually have preferred the horse porn."
"It's Zac's brother and his fiancée," Kevin explains, "That's the kind of person Zac wants to marry."
"He certainly deserves someone as ugly like that after how he treated you."
"Lucas," Kevin says, "She's a lawyer. She's serious. She's what I need to be."
"Kevin, no," Lucas says, horrified. "Lawyers are so boring. They'll suck the good right out of you, and not in a fun way. They're vampires, Kevin, vampires of fun! You'll start wearing nothing but gray and black, and it'll be like you're living in a funeral, and I would be too embarrassed to be seen in public with you."
"I need to get into law school," Kevin decides, ignoring the words coming out of Lucas' mouth, "and win Zac back."
*
"Harvard Law?" His father asks, practically shouting. "What about the magazine? What about the future I've been working so hard to prepare for you and your brothers?"
"I'm doing this for love," Kevin says, "It's not that I don't appreciate all that you've done for me. It's just that I can't focus on fashion at all right now. I wore Crocs the other day. Crocs, dad! And I liked it because they're comfortable. I need to do this -- for myself, Zac and for love. Would you do anything different if it was mom?"
"That's not the same," his dad says. "Your mom never made me chase her halfway across the country into a university that probably won't accept you anyway."
"Love makes everything possible," Kevin says confidently, "and it's only so I can prove to Zac that I'm smart and serious enough for him! Not -- Not to mention, I'd be showing everyone that the Jonas family is more than just fashion goofballs, Dad, while making Zac realize the error of his ways. Even if I don't return for some reason, Joe could always take over the magazine, or Nick."
"They're nowhere near ready," his dad says, but Kevin knows the battle's already been won. His dad despises the negative public opinion of the Jonas name even more than he loves the positive one. Any chance to make more people like the family -- and then buy the magazine -- is always going to be tried out. "Fine. I'll pay your way if you get in. But only if you get in fair and square, so that we really can prove to everyone there's more to us than fashion and those occasional charity music gigs."
"Thank you!" Kevin says, hugging his dad for the first time in years, before he disappears into the house to find his brothers.
*
"You realize you'll need to really study for this," Spencer says, eyebrow raised. "Like, really study. You can't be doing any of the extra music lessons or go to concerts or on huge shopping sprees. Your life and senior spring is not going to involve anything but books and studying. You need a LSAT score of at least 174. Are you really sure you want to do this?"
"More sure than I've been of anything my entire life," Kevin says, "I can do this."
Spencer Smith looks skeptical. He's the smartest friend Kevin has, a genius practically, so going to him for help was a no-brainer. With Spencer helping him, there really is no way Kevin can't do this. "Okay," Spencer says, finally, "I'll help you."
"Thank you so much!" Kevin punches the air like a total dork; he doesn't care though since there isn't anyone in the room under any delusions about his state of cool anyway, and launches himself at Spencer. "You're my favorite, dude. My favorite."
"Rape!" shrieks Lucas as he walks past the living room on his way to the kitchen. "Kevin is disregarding Smith's personal bubble!"
Spencer is laughing, though. Kevin always knew the terrifying bitch face he usually wears around Kevin and Lucas was a total front. Inside there's nothing but a soft gooey center. He tells Spencer this and gets an elbow in the stomach for his observation. He barely notices and just hugs tighter. "Favorite," he says, "Now, I say we start at the part that lets me figure out a loophole to the whole marriage thing so I can marry you and Zac."
"Or," Spencer says, managing to untangle himself from Kevin's arms and he reaches for the book on top of the stack of textbooks Kevin had optimistically bought the other day. "we start with this."
It's even heavier than Kevin remembers it. Especially when it's dropped on his stomach and promptly steals all the breath from his body.
*
Okay, Kevin is perfectly willing to maybe admit that getting into law school is hard. He feels like he hasn't done anything fun in weeks.
"It's because you haven't," Lucas informs him on an ice cream break, "I wouldn't even know you're still alive if it wasn't for the fact that a pile of books occasionally moves, and Spencer keeps stomping out of the room regularly. Which reminds me, there's a rumor you two are sleeping together going around campus."
"What?" Kevin asks, "Did you try to stop it?"
"I was going to, once it stopped being funny," Lucas says, "but then apparently Spencer is getting a lot of angry sex from Bob out of it, so he asked me not to. I don't have the heart to deny anyone angry sex."
"But what if Zac hears and thinks I've gotten over him?" Kevin wonders how bad it would be to send a text. Just a small one, letting him know that it isn't true."
"I think," Lucas says after a long moment of silence, "You shouldn't say anything. If he doesn't hear, he doesn't hear. If he hears, he'll just be all the more surprised when you show up at Harvard Law school for him!"
"You're right," Kevin says, and then adds, "This is getting worrying. You've been right far too often lately."
"That's because you've become an idiot," Lucas tells him frankly, "but as your best friend, I support you through anything. Even boy-induced stupidity."
"I appreciate it," Kevin says, and he does. It doesn't stop him from flicking ice cream in Lucas' face, though.
The ensuing food fight is messy and very sticky. Kevin hides his jealousy the best he can, though, when Corbin shows up to drag Lucas away so he can clean the mess away before their movie ("he means with his tongue!" Lucas shouts before the door closes behind them).
He curls up with Ninja on the couch, changes the TV channel to BBC News, and settles down to study.
*
Despite what Spencer might or might not have said about the song being a little risky for the admission into Harvard Law (his exact words being "ridiculous" and "silly") -- which might be true, but then again, the song was awesome and totally a stroke of genius, so there was no way he couldn't send it in -- he's officially proven wrong when the acceptance letter from Harvard Law comes in the mail. They even mention how they hope his originality might bring a breath of fresh air to the school!
"I'm going to Harvard!" Kevin says, twirling around with Ninja in his arms, who's barking like mad. "I actually did it!"
"Congratulations," Spencer says, grinning widely and Ninja leaps to the floor and barks loudly, practically beside himself from excitement that they're all exhibiting.
Lucas hugs him, clapping him on the back while Spencer tries to get Ninja to quiet down again, "You've officially proven the gossip magazines wrong about the IQ of a Jonas."
"And I'm one step closer to getting Zac back!" Kevin adds brightly. "Absolutely nothing can stop me now."
*
The Harvard campus is amazing. It's like an alien world, so completely different from LA. It just sucks that the view is entirely ruined by the fact that today totally sucks.
It started out so well too. He'd gotten an outfit specifically for his first day at law school, complete with proper lawyer glasses, and he'd managed to breeze past Zac in the hallway with a nice, casual 'fancy seeing you here!'
He just hadn't known there was actually homework assigned for the first day of class and it was totally unfair for the professor to banish him from class until he's caught up, especially at the word of some total witch with extensions. Oh, and who knew that apparently not having a laptop is like having the plague in law school? Kevin just likes writing by hand, okay? It's therapeutic and kind of calming. He'd felt so stupid, though, sitting there with his totally awesome pen from when Joe went to Australia last year -- it has koalas on it! -- while everyone around him booted up their boring black Macbooks.
And honestly, Kevin thinks, have they never heard of laptop skins or color options?
"Bad day?"
Kevin startles. He hadn't even noticed that there was anyone else around, but there's a guy sitting on one of the other benches surrounding the big oak. He looks like a scary homeless drunk, Kevin thinks, with long hair covering his face and a cigarette in one hand. He's not sure it's even allowed to smoke on campus, but the guy seems completely unconcerned, and Kevin is upset enough to ignore all of it. "Do they always put you on the spot like that? Like, all the time?"
"They're professors," the guy says, "The Socratic method kind of makes them have to."
"So, what, they're allowed to kick you out just because you don't know the answer?" Kevin asks, "Isn't that pretty stupid? I mean, people came here to learn, didn't they? Shouldn't they be allowed to stay in class and actually learn?"
The guy grins, and it transforms his face completely. Definitely not a homeless drunk, Kevin realizes -- not that that had been a serious option anyway, because hello, Harvard campus, they probably have security -- but he has to be a law student too. He looks too young to be a professor, and he certainly doesn't act like one. "You have Salpeter."
"She did that to you too?"
"No," the guy says, "but she made my friend cry once."
"Really?"
The guy nods. "He said something just got in his eye, but I know him better than that. He totally cried because she yelled at him. She looks innocent and nice, but she can pretty much shrivel your balls when she wants to."
"Neat," Kevin says with fake-enthusiasm, "That's just...neat."
"Who else do you have?" the guy asks, "It usually gets better."
"Ripley, Trohman and Way."
"Man, okay, easy," the guy says, and Kevin hurries to find his notebook. Finally someone willing to teach him something of use around here. "You speak up in Way's class. He's a complete sucker for people with their own opinion. Ripley hates tardiness more than anyone else in this place -- never be late for his class. He'll hold it against you. Trohman likes the really fucking obscure facts, he'll drag them out whenever and they tend to turn up as extra credit."
"You're like a life saver," Kevin says, smiling gratefully at him. "You're the nicest person I've met at this place."
The guy snorts. "That's a first," he says, and laughs, "Any chance of getting that in writing?"
"If you have a hint on what to do for Salpeter's class, then definitely."
"Her daily quotes are almost as important as acing the mid-term, no matter what she might lead you to believe," the guy says.
"You're my hero," Kevin says, and rips out a page of his notebook. "Honestly. Thank you. I'm not sure that note will count in a court of law, but I meant it."
The guy looks down at the note, "You're something else," he says, and Kevin's heard that before -- but this is the first time anyone outside of his family has actually made it seem positive.
"Hey," Zac says, walking up behind the guy.
Kevin straightens. "Hi!"
"Right," the guy says, "Good luck."
"Thanks again for your help, hero!" Kevin says, and the guy snorts, shaking his head as he walks away.
Zac looks from him and back to Kevin. "So, uh, how was your first class?"
"Fine," Kevin says, "Except for this horrible witch who totally made me look bad in front of my Civ Pro professor. But that's not important, I mean, you're here now! How was your summer?"
Zac doesn't look comfortable. Kevin doesn't know how to deal with that, really. Zac has never looked uncomfortable around him before. "It was good."
"Oh yeah?" Kevin says encouragingly, "Do anything fun? I know you had plans for Europe."
"Right," Zac agrees as a hand snakes around Zac's chest from behind. Zac, to Kevin's surprise, actually turns and tucks her against his side. "Hey, Kev, have you met Ashley yet?"
Kevin has. Ashley's the one who encouraged Salpeter to throw him out of the class. He feels sideswiped. Ashley holds her hand out and smiles, "Ashley Tisdale. So nice to meet you."
"Kevin Jonas," Kevin says, taking her hand, even with his attention already back on Zac, "I'm sorry, how do you two know each other?"
"She's--"
"--I'm his fiancée." Ashley says, and tucks a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Kevin's gaze zeroes in on the ring. The ring that should be his.
"Hah," Kevin says, "Sorry. I think I just had a hallucination. You were saying?"
"Ashley was my first girlfriend," Zac says, "We got back together over the summer at my mother's birthday party."
"Zac's told me all about you," Ashley says, "Not that he had to tell me much, as the gossip magazines are more than informative on your life. But oddly enough, none of them mentioned you being here."
"Excuse me," Kevin says, "I need to go. Ninja needs his walk."
As he walks away, he can barely hear Zac calling after him, "You brought Ninja to Harvard?" over the rushing noise inside his own head.
*
The place is called Hairin' Around and has what might just be the ugliest neon sign Kevin has ever seen. Beggars can't be choosers, though, certainly not at times like this, so he makes a questionably legal U-turn once the sign catches his eye and asks for an appointment.
Luckily, they've got appointments available, and Kevin barely has to wait before a guy with tight girl jeans and black framed glasses bounces over. "Hi, I'm Brendon and I'll be your hairstylist for today. If you'd join me over by the sinks, I'm sure your stay here would be much more pleasurable." Kevin can't help but smile a little. The guy's energy is infectious, but it's not enough after the day he's had. Still, he gets up and follows Brendon over to the sinks. "You look down, man," he says, "Had a bad day?"
"Like you wouldn't believe," Kevin sighs, letting the feeling of the warm water soothe him.
"I don't know," Brendon says, slowly rubbing in the shampoo. "I've got a pretty good imagination, all my teachers said so on my report cards, so you should try me."
"I worked my butt off to get into Harvard Law. I stopped all my guitar practices, I said no to concerts and friends and spring break. I even bribed my brothers and friends to help me with my admissions song. I tapped into everything I could, just so that I could win back Zac and now that I'm here, I find out he's engaged. To a girl!" Kevin takes a deep breath. Actually, he takes several, before he admits, "I wish I hadn't even come here."
"Dude, after you went through all that trouble?" Brendon asks, "You should totally stay and show this Zac guy what he's missing. How long were you broken up?"
"A couple of months," Kevin says, "I can't believe I turned him back onto girls. I don't even know if I should be more upset about that or about the fact that some blonde is wearing my ring."
"You did not turn this Zac guy onto girls. I mean, look at you," Brendon says, and his head appears in Kevin's line of vision, leaning over the sink to peer down at him. He giggles. "Okay, so, right now you look kind of like a drowned cat, but my point remains. You're hot. Zac's either blind, a douche or both."
"This angle isn't flattering on anyone," Kevin says, self-conscious and Brendon makes small assenting noises as he rinses his hair.
"Done," Brendon says, wrapping Kevin's head in a towel and rubbing slightly before showing him over to one of the seats. "What do you want to do?"
"Something new," Kevin says, "I place myself in your hands, totally and completely."
"You just met me," Brendon says, but his expression is already one of consideration as he looks at Kevin's hair.
"Just don't touch the sideburns," Kevin says, "They mark my spot in the brother hierarchy. That is, the top."
"Okay," Brendon says, grinning, "I can respect that."
"He said he's being pressured by his family, that we couldn't be together because someone like me isn't who his parents would want for him," Kevin adds after a moment, while Brendon is snipping away at his neck. In the mirror, Kevin can see Brendon's mouth press into a tight line. "I just thought that if I showed up here, he'd see that I wasn't just some idiot and take me back."
"I might be a little biased on this," Brendon says, "since there's a reason my family's not currently speaking to me, but you shouldn't give up. If Zac's doing this just to make his family happy, you need to show him that he won't be."
"What happened?"
"Hair styling isn't really a valued Mormon career," Brendon says, "Not that they knew at the time that's what I'd end up doing. We argued because of music first. I wanted to follow that as my career, they thought I should accept my mission and go, or get out of their house. I left, but so far no one's shown an interest in my music. So I followed my back-up plan of hair dressing instead, and here I am. Haven't spoken to them since high school."
"That's terrible." Kevin says, "I can't believe your family would do that to you."
Brendon shrugs, and suddenly stops moving completely, staring towards the door with his scissors hovering right by Kevin's ear. Kevin looks, and by the cashier, there's a scruffy-looking man in a UPS uniform delivering a package. As if on cue, the guy looks up and smiles, giving a small wave to Brendon, which is apparently Brendon's cue to jerk so violently his scissors graze Kevin's ear.
"Shit!" Brendon says, "Shit, I'm so, so sorry. I'm such a klutz, I'm really sorry, is it bleeding? It doesn't look like it's bleeding, and did I mention I'm really sorry."
"It's okay," Kevin says, because it is. He's not blind or a douche, he can see what's going on. "Who was that?"
"Jon," Brendon says, "He tends to be the one who delivers our supplies."
"And?" Kevin prompts, but Brendon just shrugs.
"And nothing. We don't really talk," Brendon says, "Like, ever. Sometimes he'll ask me how my day's going, I'll squeak, and he'll leave. It's nothing."
Kevin can tell Brendon is lying through his teeth, but the scissors are back by Kevin's head and he figures there are smarter actions to take than to argue.
*
Kevin's new hair is a huge success, and with a new wardrobe, Kevin looks better than he has in a long while. It's been so long since he hasn't had curls that the feeling of having straightened hair again is just very strange, but Brendon is like a hair wizard, because Kevin looks awesome with a short fringe and hair that is so easy to style.
He knows it's a success because he's getting looks as he walks down the hallway. Some are subtle, some are obvious, some are girls, some are guys, and it's fantastic. Even more so when Kevin gets to see Zac's reaction personally as he purposefully slows his stride a little as he walks past, which is a long appreciative scan of Kevin's attire. Score for Team Kevin, Kevin thinks, and heads into Professor Ripley's class.
Professor Ripley is tall with long hair and his accent is a fake British one that Kevin will never believe is actually real. He always dresses nice too, although Kevin quickly realizes this isn't so much because Professor Ripley is fashion conscious as his outfits are more or less the same every day, with small variations.
"I don't think I've yet mentioned this yet, which is my bad, but you are not only locked in battle for the top grade in this class. There are also four very much coveted internship spots open at my firm, which will let you assist on actual cases." Professor Ripley smiles at them, "Let the general ass-kissing and sucking up begin. Please note, monetary bribes will do nothing but insult me. Now, let's start for today, shall we? Mr. Jonas, which client would you prefer: one who has committed a crime malum in se or malum prohibitum?"
Kevin hears the faint whisper of Ashley's voice going here comes the airhead train. "If we can choose, Professor Ripley, wouldn't it be preferable to have a client who's innocent?"
The class laughs. Professor Ripley smiles at him. "One must hope an innocent one will come along eventually, Mr. Jonas, but I'd advise you not to hold out for one."
"I would," Ashley whispers to the girls sitting next to her, "It'd keep him from being able to lose cases left and right."
"As I can see your mouth moving, Ms. Tisdale, I can only assume you're ready to answer. Which would you prefer?"
"Malum prohibitum," Ashley says, and flicks her hair over one should to give Kevin a smug look. "Because the client would've committed a regulatory infraction as opposed to a dangerous crime."
Without breaking eye contact, Kevin raises his hand. "Yes, Mr. Jonas?" Professor Ripley asks, "Was there something you wished to add?"
"I changed my mind. I'd much rather have the dangerous case, as I don't back down from a challenge."
*
The days don't improve much over the next two weeks.
Kevin is kind of emotionally exhausted from pretending that everything is absolutely fine, that he can't hear all the whispers about the "fashion prince" being way over his head -- which isn't a lie, really. He is over his head. Law school is hard and terrifying and demanding, and he hasn't managed to spend more than a minute alone with Zac yet. It's so infuriating and annoying, and he winds up on the phone with Lucas and Spencer more often than not, discussing the pros of going back to California with Lucas and the cons with Spencer. He takes long walks with Ninja, who seems to absolutely love Harvard, and Kevin really can't stay moody when Ninja's running around looking adorable. Sometimes, Brendon joins in on the walks.
His first reaction to Ninja had been a delighted, "What the fuck, dude, did a Rottweiler fuck a Chihuahua and this is their offspring? He's the cutest little thing ever."
But still, as much fun as Kevin has outside of Harvard, he still hasn't found his groove in class or with his fellow soon-to-be lawyers. They all seem to have this idea that the Kevin Jonas in the magazines is the real Kevin Jonas, like he really thinks the capital of Scandinavia is Norway. It blows, because Kevin's used to having at least a core group of friends, like Lucas, Spencer, Corbin and the Alex Troop.
Now he has Brendon and Ninja, since Ashley's making damn sure he can't speak to Zac, and it sucks. He's a social person. If his friends aren't around, there's always been his family, or a party being held by someone he vaguely knows.
This is his excuse for why he gets so excited when the sound of voices discussing a costume party reaches his ears. He throws open the door to his room and says, "Wait, Harvard actually knows how to party?"
That's when he realizes that he's talking to Ashley and her ditzy best friend Brenda. "Of course Harvard knows how to party," Brenda says, "It's just that we don't want you there."
"No, come on," Ashley says, before Kevin has a chance to close the door, "I'm really sorry we got off on the wrong foot, Kevin. Why don't you come tonight?"
"Really?" Kevin asks, surprised. He'd thought Ashley really only had one setting to her personality, and that that setting rhymed with punt.
"Yes," Ashley says, handing him a piece of paper with an address written on it. "You won't get in without a costume, but I'm sure for you that won't be a problem."
"Thanks," Kevin says, and they smile awkwardly at each other before Kevin shuts the door. He calls his brothers first to ask for help with the costume, but Joe isn't there and Nick just keeps insisting the easiest thing to do is dress like the Spirit -- all black, red tie, it's a look they've sported before...minus the hat and mask, but it would look cool. Kevin wants to impress though, and while his contacts might not be as far reaching in Massachusetts as in California, there's at least one person he can rely on to always find a way.
"Gabe," he says, "I need a costume in three hours."
"I'll have it there in two," Gabe says, "in exchange for your tongue in my mouth if you have not won your boy toy back the next time we meet."
"Done," Kevin says, because he hasn't seen Gabe in two years. Gabe is fighting crime or taking over the world or something in Jersey, Kevin isn't actually sure, but the point is he’s safe.
Gabe cackles triumphantly and hangs up, and two hours later, a harassed looking girl knocks on Kevin's door with a box under her arm. "Costume delivery from the Cobra," she says, "Your deal with the right-hand man to the Devil is now sealed."
"Should you be talking about him like that?" Kevin asks, "Isn't he your boss?"
"He can't hear me," the girl says, shrugging. "You want this or not?"
"Yes, thank you," Kevin says, and takes the box from her. She doesn't wave or say anything else as she leaves. Inside the box is the most awesome costume Kevin has ever seen, and he sends a quick thank you text to Gabe.
Gabe answers in seconds, a blurry picture of his leering face and the message thank me with your tongue. Kevin ignores that in favor of getting ready for the party.
This is how he ends up walking into the party as a guy riding an ostrich. He feels almost like his old self again, a feeling that lasts until he shows up at the address Ashley gave him, where everyone is wearing suits and dresses and there's basically not a real costume to be seen. "Hey stupid," someone calls, "this is a 'Come as Your Favorite Defendant' party."
"How do you think defendants get to their jobs in Australia?" Kevin calls back, and continues his search for Zac. He finds him in the kitchen, and when Zac turns around, he doesn't laugh like everyone else has. He looks at Kevin's costume and smiles wide and says, "That's a pretty awesome costume."
"Thank you," Kevin says, smiling.
"You do know what party this is, though, right?"
"No, that detail was left out," Kevin says, "But I honestly love this too much to care."
Zac laughs softly. "Where did you get it?"
"Gabe," Kevin says, and Zac makes a face. Gabe and Zac have never gotten along. Kevin's not really sure why, but every time Zac opened his mouth around Gabe, Gabe would complain about the shine from his teeth ruining his eyesight until Zac stopped talking again. "I feel like we've barely had a chance to talk to each other since we got here."
"Yeah," Zac agrees, "I end up spending most of my time with case studies and hypos."
"I know, right," Kevin says, "There's so much to do. I don't know how I'll be able to do the internship as well next year."
"Kev, please," Zac scoffs, "You're never going to get the grades to qualify for one of those spots. You're a Jonas." Kevin gapes, and Zac's eyes widen, "I didn't mean--"
"Did I get a head injury, or aren't we attending the same law school? Didn't we take the same LSAT, and aren't we currently taking the same classes?"
"I'd just feel bad if you got your hopes up, Kev," Zac says, "You know how you get when you're upset."
"You really didn't break up with me because of your parents, did you?" Kevin asks, "You did because you don't think I'm good enough for you."
Zac doesn't say anything, and Kevin turns and leaves, shoving his way through the crowd. "Leaving so soon?" Ashley asks, "Did you finally realize you don't belong here?"
Kevin doesn't bother to answer, and he walks back to the quad, to the benches under the tree. He stares at fake feet resting on the ostrich, and wonders what makes university so incredibly different from everywhere else.
"Uh," a voice says, "either you're real or my friends are real assholes and slipped something into my drink."
Kevin looks up. It's the hero from the first day. "I'm real," he sighs, "Sadly."
"Is this a dare?" the guy asks, coming closer. He's dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, and makes it look really good. "Or like, a thing you do? I've seen weirder, but you might want to keep this shit behind doors."
"I was tricked," Kevin says, "by life."
"Yeah?"
"I put my faith in love. I prioritized it over everything, and I followed where it led." He glances sideways at the guy, "I don't fit in here. I'm not engaged, I'm flunking out of school, and everyone is laughing at me."
"Wait," the guy says, "You came to Harvard Law School for love? You actually stalked some guy to an Ivy League school just to win him back?"
"I didn't stalk," Kevin protests, "I followed to remind him why we worked in the first place."
"That's fucked up," the guy says, "You realize most people go to law school for normal reasons, right?"
"Oh yeah?" Kevin asks, "And what's your reason, Mysterious No Name Guy?"
The guy snorts. "I'm Mike," he says, "and I started law school because I grew up around a bunch of guys who made it painfully fucking obvious what happens to you in life if you fail. I saw my friend go down for something he didn't do, just a stupid teenage mistake, and he got stabbed in jail four weeks before his release. So I busted my ass through law school, working extra jobs on the side, just to make sure that never happens to anyone else."
"I'm sorry about your friend," Kevin says, immediately feeling guilty. "But that's so nice of you to honor him like this."
"I don't do it to be nice," Mike says, "I do it because if I don't, who the fuck else will? What you need is inspiration that isn't the approval of some asshole."
"You don't even know who I'm talking about."
Mike snorts. "Unless you get those epic ogley-eyes over more than one dude, I know who you're talking about, and that guy is an asshole."
"On what basis?"
"On the basis that I could draw his face on an orange with some white-out, and no one would be able to tell the fucking difference," Mike says, "C'mon, I'm not letting you flunk out. Let's go study."
"What, really?" Kevin asks, "Don't you have anything else to do?"
"Guess not," Mike says, and he grins. It makes him look slightly insane. "C'mon, Kevin, I'm your big damn hero, remember? Don't you trust me?"
Kevin doesn't answer, but he gets to his feet and leads the way. Mike keeps laughing whenever he glances at Kevin, and they're right outside his room, when Kevin goes, "I signed the note. That's how you know my name."
"Nothing gets by you, Ostrich," Mike agrees, and Kevin's barely opened the door before Ninja is at their feet, jumping up for attention. "Did you shrink a Rottweiler?"
"No," Kevin says, "That's Ninja. He's a Prazsky Krysarik."
Mike gives him a look, but he leans down and gives Ninja a couple of pets. "Point me in the direction of your law books, and get changed, 'cause there's no way I'm teaching an ostrich law."
"That's kind of speciest," Kevin says, "Besides, I'm not an ostrich. I'm a man riding an ostrich. There's a difference."
"Yeah," Mike says, "But you still look like a total dork."
And Kevin can't really argue with that, so he gestures vaguely towards his bookshelf and finds a nice pair of jeans and a white button up to change into.
Mike doesn't leave until two AM, and Kevin is too exhausted to even think too much about the fact that they've agreed to meet for lunch the next day.
*
It becomes a thing. Kevin divides his time between Brendon and Mike and classes, and they're not always studying either. Sometimes lunch ends up as just lunch, and sometimes Mike drags him to the music store his friend owns where he works weekend shifts, so that they can fool around on the guitars. Kevin hadn't brought his with him to Harvard, and apparently Mike plays guitar as well, and his friend and owner, William Beckett, seems happy to let them play. "I don't do this for just anyone," William says, the third time they're in there, "But you are adorable and I found myself inexplicably charmed by you even before your little chipmunk impression."
*
"Jonas, you here?" Mike's voice drifts through the door seconds before the handle turns and the door swings open. Mike surveys the scene for a moment before he says, "You going somewhere?"
"Home, of course," Kevin says, glancing up from his suitcase. "It's Thanksgiving. Everyone's going home. Aren't you?"
"No," Mike says, "I've got work at the music store."
"William's forcing you to work over Thanksgiving?" Kevin asks, genuinely shocked. William is probably the most ridiculous person Kevin's ever met who manages to make it actually cool. He just doesn't seem like the sort of person who'd force anyone to work over the holidays.
"Not really," Mike says, "He doesn't have family, so I decided to stay behind with him. Don't you have a huge fake trial with Trohman on Monday?"
"Yeah," Kevin nods, "Real and proper practice, he says. I've got all these files to learn for it."
"Right," Mike says, "and your plan is to study these at home?"
"Maybe?" Kevin says, folding his shirt a lot slower than the other ones. "I mean, I haven't seen Nick and Joe for ages and they might want to put some practice in on our hobby band, and I think Lucas is in town, so we'll probably go out. Spence went back to Vegas for the holidays, but yeah, no, I think I'll have time."
"Right," Mike says again, and this time his voice is mocking. "Well, be sure to let me know how it goes. I mean, nothing bad about playing into the expectations of everyone, right? Not like it's cool to exceed them and show everyone what fucking prejudiced retards they're being."
Kevin sighs and looks at his suitcase. "You've made your point," he says, "Although I hope you realize I am taking a break for Thanksgiving dinner and that I expect actual turkey from you."
"Okay," Mike grins, "I can probably swing that, since you'll be working so hard and all."
Kevin sticks his tongue out at him as he shoves his suitcase under the bed. Mike's looking expectantly at him when he's done, so he sighs once more purely for show and says, "Okay, the case is Gideon v. Wainwright. Teach me, oh mighty sensei."
"Fuck you," Mike says mildly, "and listen if you really want some turkey."
Thanksgiving dinner is actually a lot better than Kevin had honestly expected. Mike declares that in order to eat, you need to help with the cooking, so they cram themselves into the tiny kitchen in William's apartment and set about preparing the food. Kevin and Mike end up with the turkey, while William and Brendon appoint themselves the masters of everything else.
It tastes kind of extra delicious knowing they made it themselves, Kevin thinks, and he doesn't even really miss his family all that much.
The next morning Kevin wakes up fully-clothed in William's absent roommate's bed with Mike, and after some coffee and leftovers, it's right back to the law books.
*
continue