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“How do I know this is an A paper?” The boy asks standing outside behind the school with Baz
“I’m an A student” Baz replies keeping an eye out so everyone who walks by doesn’t notice them, “where’s my money?”
“80 fucking bucks” he hands over the money, “if I don’t get an A I’m kicking your ass.”
While he’s alone Baz fans out the money to count, as he’s counting he feels a pair of eyes staring. Looking up from his hands Baz looks directly at the person, standing a distance away smoking his cigarette Damien doesn’t avert his eyes or bother looking away, he wanted Baz to see him staring. Shoving the money in his pocket Baz walks away.
Ewan Basilton isn’t a nerd but that doesn’t make him popular, with not many friends and already an outcast for being the vice principal’s son, Baz didn’t know how else to get excitement in his life so selling papers gave him a leg up. No, he didn’t need the money but he liked being needed for something, and he tries to never disappoint, well except his parents who’d never forgive him if they found out their son sold test answers and essays.
“There’s a pretty good chance I just failed Jennings’ test,” Silver says sitting down in front of Baz during lunch
“What makes you say that?” He asks picking at his food
“Because the only thing I’m sure I got right is my name and the date, it’s still Tuesday right?” They chuckle “anyway who cares if I fail I have bigger things to worry about”
“Speaking of that” Baz reaches in his pocket taking out money and handing it to her, “this should be enough to complete the rent for this month”
“Baz babe you have to stop” she pushes his hand away, “I can’t keep taking your money I have to figure this out on my own.”
“It’s just money I don’t want you to get kicked out” Silver stares at him and Baz hands it to her again, “just take it Sil seriously.”
“This is the last time” she shoves the money in her bag
“No it’s not” Baz shakes his head.
“And I’m gonna pay you all of it back”
“Hey, Sil! Let’s go” they turn to find Silver’s boyfriend Eddie standing waiting accompanied by Damien his best friend.
“Here’s how you can pay me back, break up with that loser,” Baz says quietly as she stands
Smiling silver replies “then what you’ll date me?”
“I could,” Baz says making her laugh
“Try conversion therapy first” she blows him a kiss then walks towards her boyfriend, Silver is Baz’s only friend he’d do anything for her but too bad she’s “popular” and he’s not.
Being the only one who knows Silver’s secret used to bother Baz, she’d parade around school pretending to be something she’s not while she lives in an apartment she cannot afford. He likes that
she depends on him, Baz just wished that Silver didn’t have to pretend for everyone else, and she’s dating a guy who’s notoriously disliked at school.
—
“I could say I’m surprised by some of your grades on this exam but that’d be a lie” the teacher speaks as he’s handing out graded tests, “so because I’m nice and I know some of you can’t afford to fail my class, I’ll do a make up.” Stopping when he’s handing Damien his test the teacher adds, “if your grade is a 55 or lower definitely consider showing up for the make up test tomorrow.” Damien stares at his 55 and sighs crumbling up the test at his desk.
When class ends he walks out, still stressed and already needing another cigarette he walks to his friends “what’s up with you?” Eddie asks
as he’s standing with his arm around Silver
“Fucking Jennings and his hard ass tests”
“Tell me about it I’m pretty sure I failed the one he gave this morning” Silver adds.
“He’s letting us make it up but even if I study I’ll still fail that shit”
“Exactly so why bother, fuck Jennings we’ll get drunk later or something”
“That’s not good advice Eds, my friend can help he’s smart and got an A in Jennings class when he took it.”
“You mean bottom Baz?” Eddie asks chuckling
“Don’t call him that” Silver hits him, “and that’s not even clever.”
“Nah I don’t need him I’ll figure it out by myself” Damien decides, “I’ll see you guys later I’m heading outside.”
“All right” Eddie and Silver watch him walk away.
As he’s walking Damien takes out his cigarette then pats himself down for his lighter, before he can make it to the door he feels a hand on his arm “hey” he turns to Silver, “don’t listen to Eddie, Baz is cool and he can seriously help you.”
“Yeah how?” Damien walks out and she follows him
“He’s really smart”
“I don’t need your friend all right I’ll figure it out”
“Is it because he’s gay?” She shakes her head “god you’re all the same” giving up she turns about to leave him
But Damien grabs her arm “I don’t care about that all right I’m not Eddie”
“Then what’s your problem?” How does Damien tell his homophobic best friend’s girlfriend that he’s well aware of her friend? He knows what Baz is and he knows very well what he does, and how cute he secretly finds the boy. “You know it’s ok to be cool and be supportive of other’s differences, right?”
“Go tell that to your boyfriend” Damien retorts causing Silver to roll her eyes and walk away.
Damien Allen was a hothead who spent most of his life acting out to suppress feelings he couldn’t help, like noticing when boys were cute, or not minding the gay ones staring. Damien knew he couldn’t be gay though, not with the family and friends he had, but still, he wanted to be better. Taking this year to focus more on school and less on fighting Damien’s been trying, but the strange feelings still lingered and now he can’t help but notice Baz, the VP’s son who has a little bit of a wild side.
Dinner time with his family was always the same, Baz sat there while his mom and dad complain to each other about their day. So checked out and uninterested the only thing to get Baz’s attention is his phone going off, picking it up he reads the text from a random number ‘hey’
‘Who’s this?‘ He replies
“How was your day, Ewan?” His mom asks trying to engage him in the conversation
“Ask dad” he answers with a cold shoulder, “I’m done with dinner can I go to my room?”
“Sure” he leaves.
As he’s walking to his room Baz gets another text, ‘I got your number from Silver I need help with a test’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’
‘Yes you do I’m outside your house’
“What the fuck?” Baz reacts reading the text, a little freaked out he turns walking back to his parents, “I’m going outside for a sec.” they watch him walk out of the door.
Going to the gate Baz stops when he sees who it is, standing outside his gate at 8 o’clock at night “surprised?” Damien Allen asks staring at him
“What are you doing here?” Too freaked Baz doesn’t open the gate
“Silver told me where I’d find you, I need answers for a test”
“Shhhh Jesus” Baz quickly walks out, “my parents are in there.”
“Can you get it or not?” Damien lowers his voice
“For who’s class?”
“Jennings it’s a make up for tomorrow”
“I don’t have that sorry”
“Look I’ll pay double all right I can’t afford to fail another test”
Thinking before he answers Baz wants to say no, but there is a hot quiet guy begging for his help what’s a gay boy to do? “Stay here” rushing back inside his house Baz finds his parents clearing the table, “um I’m going for a run, that ok?”
His dad nods “be careful.”
Grabbing his dad’s keys by the door Baz leaves. Joining Damien who waited he starts “we have to go back to school and break into Jennings office if you want those answers.”
Damien chuckles, the first time Baz has seen him break his mad and sad boy demeanor, “are you fucking with me? How are we gonna do that?”
“With these” he flashes his dad’s keys, “come on.” Damien drives them to school which isn’t very far from Baz’s house.
While in the car surveilling the school Damien asks “what’s the plan?”
“We can’t just walk in because there are cameras in almost every hall, but there’s a ladder in the storage room in the basement. We can climb in through the window to get it out then lean it against the side where Jennings office is. We’ll get in through his window then search his desk for the answer sheet.”
“You’ve done this before” Damien guesses
“I don’t know what you’re talking about” Baz gets out of the car.
Staying low and running fast the boys sneak behind the school to find the basement window that leads to the storage room, Baz climbs in first then followed by Damien. “Stay quiet,” Baz says as he looks for the ladder When they find it Damien says “there’s no fucking way that’ll fit out the window”
“Which one of us has done this before again?” Not answering Damien watches Baz drag the ladder back to the window, as he’s trying to push it out the window Baz turns to the boy “you gonna help or what?” Damien helps him push it out then they climb out.
They carry the ladder around to Jennings’ office then Baz suddenly stops “what is it?” Damien sees the worried look on his face “That’s the security office right fucking below Jennings office, which means we can’t climb there”
“Fuck!” Damien quietly reacts, “dude we have to figure out something I need those answers”
“All right let me think” they stand there for a second while Baz stares at the school “leave the ladder and follow me,” he says and Damien does so. They go back behind the school “there are 3 hallways without cameras if we can sneak into the staircase on the left, we can make it down the left hall to the second floor.”
“Ok then come on-“
“Not so fast” Baz absentmindedly grabs Damien’s hand stopping him, Damien looks down at Baz’s hand holding his and Baz quickly lets it go. “Sorry” he apologizes, “but we’ll have to go around to avoid most of the cameras, when we get to the second floor it won’t just be as easy as walking to his office.”
“All right then I’ll follow your lead” Damien gestures for him to walk in front.
This is very weird for both of them, no this isn’t Baz’s first time sneaking into the school at night, but this is the first time he’s done it with someone else, and with Damien Allen for that matter the best friend of the guy who verbally torments him. Damien doesn’t say much when Eddie is talking shit to or about Baz but he never partakes, there’s a fear that his struggle with the matter might make it apparent if he tries to stand up for Baz so he just stays quiet.
“What now?” Damien asks after they’ve gone down all the safe hallways and are now hiding behind a wall staring at the teacher’s office door.
“Do you know what you’re looking for?” Baz whispers and Damien nods “here one of these keys will unlock the door, I’ll keep a lookout while you go look for it.” Taking the keys Damien walks to the door and begins testing to see which key will unlock his teacher’s office, excited when the door finally opens on the fourth try he rushes in heading for the desk, and begins to search.
While in the hallway as a lookout, Baz stares at the time on his phone, it’s been almost 2 minutes. Not wanting to panic he scans the halls, he’s done this before and has never been caught so why worry now?
Another 2 minutes and still no Damien, and to make matters worse Baz hears approaching footsteps followed by a flash of light, he doesn’t see anyone but he knows they’re coming. Rushing to the office as Damien’s about to walk out Baz pushes him back in and shuts the door, “someone’s coming!” he pulls Damien and they crouch down behind Jennings’ desk. As they’re waiting for the security guard to walk by and to make their closeness a little less weird Baz asks “did you get it?”
“Yeah I took pictures” after Damien replies Baz looks over at the door and sees the light still flashing so he moves back behind the desk.
“You know I never expected something like this from the vice principal’s son”
“What’d you expect a goody two shoes?”
“Yeah kind of”
“Sorry to disappoint” Baz replies standing up, “he’s gone we have to get out of here.”
Taking the same path they took to sneak in the boys think it’ll be just as easy to sneak out, but are proved wrong when another security guard turns down the hall they’re in. Yanking Baz into a corner, Damien covers his mouth with his hand and stands against him. Baz is unsure of which is freaking him out more, the guard coming, Damien’s front pressed up against him, or the hand covering his mouth. They stay like that for about a minute until the guard is completely gone.
Not saying another word to each other the boys finally leave the school and run to Damien’s car, the awkward interaction between the two left them speechless. Damien had no choice but to do it he’s not sure how to clarify that to Baz. When Damien gets to Baz’s house they walk to the gate “how much do I owe you?”
“100”
Damien smiles taking out his wallet “giving me a discount?” Baz doesn’t answer so Damien hands him the money
“Do you mind not telling anyone that we snuck into school?” They stare at each other not standing too far apart and Damien nods, “thanks.”
Walking away Baz is about to open the gate but Damien says “I had fun” stopping Baz from going in, “I like doing bad shit” his adrenaline is still rushing remembering what it felt like to do bad things.
“Danger is exhilarating”
Taking steps closer Damien asks “can you keep a secret, Baz?” He nods unsure of where the question is going, Baz waits for more but Damien says nothing. Instead, he stops in front of Baz leaning close
causing Baz to step back but his back hits the gate, unable to back up any further Baz is stuck as Damien’s lips wrap around his.
The boy gently kisses him then pulls away leaving Baz stunned.
This was an actual opportunity to kiss a guy, a cute quiet guy Baz would never expect to kiss him of all people. So he moves forward bringing his lips to Damien and they continue to kiss.
—
“Did he text you?” Silver walks up to Baz asking as he’s shutting his locker the next morning
“Who?”
“Damien Allen, I gave him your number and address he really needed help to take a retest today for Jennings, and I said my best friend would def help. So did you?”
Thinking about everything that happened last night Baz replies “I think so.” Parting ways with Silver Baz heads to his first couple of classes.
With the biggest grin on his face, Damien walks to Jennings desk dropping his test being the first to be done. “you sure you don’t want to check it?” The teacher asks
“Yes I’m sure” he walks out of class, with everyone else still in class Damien heads to his regular smoking spot, which also happens to be Baz’s meeting place with clients.
When he walks out he sees Baz with a girl as they whisper to each other, not lighting the cigarette in his mouth Damien just watches the interaction. “It’s 3 pages on the French Revolution and it’s due next Friday”
“That’s really easy Natalie, you sure you don’t want to give it a try first before you pay for a paper?”
“I have better things to do all right, can you do it or not?”
“Yeah I can” As they’re talking Baz looks around and his eyes land on Damien who’s staring right at them, feeling himself get nervous Baz turns back to Natalie trying to seem unaware that Damien is standing there.
“How much?”
“50 for a C plus, 60 for a B plus, and 80 for an A plus.”
“I’ll take a B plus”
“Ok I’ll have it on Monday”
“That soon?”
He takes another look at Damien, “yes now get out of here I think someone’s coming”
“Shit ok” she rushes away.
Damien smiles and Baz panics as the boy walks towards him. “How’d it go?” Baz asks, not answering Damien drops his bag and kisses Baz.
Leaning him against the wall they make out with each other in broad daylight behind the school, “that good huh?” Baz asks when Damien pulls away for air, then their lips meet again.
“Hey! You 2!” Pushing Damien off Baz sees a security guard coming towards them with no time to run.
Sitting in the waiting area until it’s their turn to go in and see his dad, Baz taps his leg nervous for what’s to come, Damien notices and leans over whispering “chill dude it’s fine”
“You chill! And no it’s not fine”
“Boys VP Basilton is ready for you guys”
“Let me do all the talking,” Baz says as they get up, walking into his dad’s office he starts “dad we weren’t skipping all right this is my free period, and he got out of his class early”
“That’s not why you’re in here Ewan, you know there’s no fornicating on school grounds.”
“Oh my god dad we weren’t fornicating, never say that again” Baz reacts embarrassed.
“What’s your name son?” He looks over at Damien who’s kept quiet like he was told
“Damien Allen”
“Are you Ewan’s boyfriend?”
“Jesus” Baz covers his face
“I don’t know who Ewan is” Damien replies to be funny.
“He’s not my boyfriend dad, can we go please?”
“Fine but don’t let it happen again”
“Thank you!” Baz rushes out of the office followed by Damien who starts laughing once they’ve left.
“That was a fucking mess”
“It was pretty funny”
“No it wasn’t” Baz turns with a serious face causing Damien to stop laughing, “I have people counting on me all right I can’t be getting in trouble”
“Ok so we won’t fornicate at school again” he pokes more fun at the word.
“I can’t do this” Baz says, “I don’t know why you kissed me but I think it’s best for the both of us if we never let that happen again, I don’t need anyone finding out about this.”
“You’re stealing all my lines, I’m the one in the closet remember?” Sighing still pretty panicked Baz walks into the boys’ bathroom going for the last stall, heading in the bathroom behind him Damien stands waiting for the boys already in there to finish and leave. Once he’s alone with Baz still in the stall hiding from him, Damien says “I know last night was pretty random but not for me, I mean I’ve thought about it just never had the opportunity. I didn’t mean to get you in trouble I just got curious and wanted to test it out”
“I’m not a fucking experiment” Baz opens the stall door saying.
“Yeah test was the wrong word, look you don’t talk to anyone and no one here knows shit about me, so I figured it’d just make sense for us to mess around but if you’re that freaked out then it won’t happen again. I ain’t forcing anyone to be with me” Baz is unsure of what to say so Damien takes it as an answer and leaves the bathroom.
During lunch, Damien sits at his usual table with his friends but he isn’t interacting with any of them, he’s too busy thinking about the last 2 days. Spending most of his life feeling a certain way but never able to act on it, Damien felt like such a weight was lifted when he was honest with Baz, and that’s what he wanted. He wants to be able to share with someone how he’s feeling and not be ridiculed, he’s tired of being the mad quiet type all the time.
Trying his best not to look at Baz sitting alone across the lunchroom, Damien fails when their eyes land in each other’s, not expecting Baz to react Damien is a bit surprised when he sees the boy smile, what could that possibly mean? He thinks “What’s he smiling at?” Eddie asks noticing his best friend’s eyes locked with the gay loner, Damien quickly looks away turning to Eddie who asks him “you know that freak?”
“Who’s a freak?” Silver questions confused
Eddie doesn’t answer because he knows it’ll make her upset so Damien says “your friend, he’s calling your friend a freak.”
“Eddie what the fuck?!” Silver barks at him “what’s wrong with you?”
“Dude” Eddie glares at Damien, “I was joking babe-“
He tries to grab her but she moves away “don’t” she takes her bag, “do fucking better” she walks away.
“Sil come on!” Eddie yells after her as she’s leaving their table “what the fuck was that?” He looks back at Damien
“Stop being a dick and maybe she’ll stop getting so easily pissed off” Damien stands after saying that
“Fuck you, bro!” Eddie says behind Damien who just flips him off as he leaves the lunchroom.
The next day while in the hall Baz stops when he sees Damien walking by with a group, unaware he’s being watched Damien talks to his friends until he inadvertently moves his eyes to find Baz staring. Not looking away Baz stares harder and so does Damien, this continues until Damien decides to part with his friends, Baz watches him go to the nearest staircase and before going in Damien gives him a look then disappears.
Taking the bait Baz crosses the hall going in after him, standing in the empty staircase he isn’t sure whether to go up or down then he hears, “that wasn’t an invitation for you to follow me.”
Looking up Baz sees him sitting on the steps and goes up “I come in peace” he stands against the wall with Damien in front of him still sitting on the stairs. “I think I might’ve freaked out yesterday”
“You think?”
“I didn’t know what was happening all right, one minute you’re my tormentor’s best friend and the next you’re kissing me with ease. I wasn’t sure what to think”
“You think I’m fucking with you?”
Baz shrugs “are you?” Damien shakes his head “then what do you want, Damien?”
Thinking about the question Damien’s eyes wander “look it’s fucking high school ok none of this shit will matter in a couple of years and…” trying to put his thoughts into words Damien continues, “I’m already tired of the same old shit. I can’t force you I know that but I also know I liked what happened, and I think out of everyone here you’re the only person who gets what it feels like to have something eating away at you, and not being able to do shit about it.” Baz understood exactly what he meant
“Ok say we do try whatever this is, we can hang and mess around or whatever, but what if one of us catches feelings?” And by one of us, Baz means himself
Damien grins “you gonna fall in love with me, Ewan?”
Sighing Baz rolls his eyes “don’t call me that”
Getting up Damien walks over leaning on the wall next to Baz, “I promise not to catch feelings”
Baz turns looking at him “me too” they face each other and before they lean in both boys scan around to make sure they’re alone. Inching closer Damien meets Baz’s lips and the 2 begin to kiss, trying not to get heated in the staircase they keep their hands to themselves but their lips never break, until the bell rings.
Finally pulling away Damien immediately moves in again for a small kiss, then he plants one on Baz’s cheek causing him to smile “text me,”
Baz nods and Damien moves away going up the stairs as students start to flood the staircase. —
It’s Friday night and Baz is sitting at his computer desk typing Natalie’s paper when his dad walks by his opened bedroom door and stops.
“What are you doing?” His dad asks
“Working on a paper”
“It’s Friday, Ewan”
“Tell that to all the AP classes you’re making me take” Baz retorts still typing.
“Fair enough, your mother and I are heading out for a couple of hours you’ll be good here by yourself?”
“Yep thank god I know the number to 911,” he replies sarcastically
“That’s my boy” his dad walks away. Getting an idea Baz smiles waiting impatiently until his parents are gone.
Sitting at their friend’s house Damien and Eddie drink and smoke while playing video games. “What the fuck are you doing bro?! Are we staring at 2 different screens?” Damien yells at Eddie as they’re playing their game “you’re killing the wrong fucking people!!” Eddie trying his best to concentrate doesn’t reply, as they’re playing Damien’s phone rings causing him to pause the game. Seeing Baz’s name Damien hands the controller to someone else “play for me” he jumps off the couch leaving the room. Answering when he’s far from the noise Damien greets “hey”
“Hey, are you busy right now?”
“Uh not really just playing video games, why what’s up?”
“My parents are gone and I was wondering if you’d want to come over and hang or something.”
Damien smiles hearing how nervous Baz sounds, “yeah I want”
“Ok, I’ll see you soon?”
“Should I bring anything?”
“You can bring whatever you want”
“All right be there in a little bit.” With a little excitement, Damien hangs up going back to his friends, “ok I’m off this and I’m taking some of these with me” he grabs some beers and weed just sitting on the coffee table.
“Where are you going?” Eddie asks
“Your mom’s house, want to come?” The other guys laugh
“Fuck off” Eddie keeps playing and Damien leaves.
Trying to stay chill Baz waits for an I’m outside text but is startled when he hears the doorbell instead. Walking to the door he opens it to Damien “how’d you get in?” Baz is confused
“I jumped the gate”
Baz laughs “why I could’ve opened it for you”
Damien shrugs “didn’t want to wait” and walks in, “where are your parents?”
“Don’t know don’t care” Baz walks to his room and Damien follows. Shutting his door once Damien’s in, Baz asks “what’s in the bag?”
“Beers and joints” he pulls them out
Making Baz smirk “all right”
“Can we smoke in here?”
“We can go out my window I usually sit on my roof to smoke” Baz opens his window and climbs out onto the slanted roof and Damien comes out after him. “Not scared of heights are you?” They sit next to each other and the night sky keeps it dark so no one can see them.
“I guess we’re about to find out” Damien puts the joint in his mouth and lights it. “I can’t believe I’m getting high at the vice principal’s house” he hands the joint to Baz “too fucking weird.”
“At least you don’t have to live with him” Baz smokes. After smoking for a while Baz is comfortable enough to ask “so are you gay?”
“I don’t know” Damien shrugs, “still pretty confused about the whole thing, I mean I know I’m not fully straight but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to come out or anything.”
“Yeah I get that”
“What about you? Why’d you come out?”
“I didn’t actually come out” Baz starts, “I told my parents and after that any time he saw a guy just near me, my dad would ask if they were my boyfriend. Then everyone just started to catch on”
“Like he did with me” Damien chuckles, “got outed by your dad that must’ve sucked.”
“Wasn’t great but I got over it, and he can’t really help the stupid shit he says so”
The joint finishes in his hand so Damien puts it out then tosses it off the roof, “how do you feel?” He turns to look at Baz
“Good, you?” Baz meets his eyes
“Yeah, same” of course they’re both sporting uncontrollable smiles, a perk of being high.
“Should we go back inside?” Baz nods and Damien climbs in first with Baz behind him.
They sit side by side on Baz’s bed then Damien lays back causing his shirt to lift a tad and a tattoo peaks underneath, “what’s that?” Baz reaches over and touches Damien’s hip causing him to sit back up, “Sorry” Baz pulls away realizing he shouldn’t be touching Damien there
“No it’s ok” Damien lifts his shirt exposing the full tattoo on his hip “last year my dog Rylo died and I never really got over it so I got this in secret.”
Staring at the portrait of Damien’s dog Baz runs his fingers against it “it’s cool”
“Thanks” Damien continues to hold his shirt up while he watches Baz touch his tattoo. They both look up at the same time and when their eyes meet so do their lips, they begin to kiss and Damien reaches over pulling Baz closer by the hips. Laying back in bed they’re practically on top of each other, it felt good being able to touch someone, to not spend another night alone wondering what this feeling would be like.
Taking off their shoes the boys climb the bed and continue to make out, laying between Baz’s legs Damien wasn’t sure where this was leading but he asks just to make sure “you want to?”
His face hovers closely to Baz who nods “Yes” so they continue.
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