This was a request prompt by unoriginal_elizabeth over at livejournal.
The one where Truman plots to date...Sam.
Note - This is slash and if it makes you feel uncomfortable, then by all means click on the back button. :)
the world out of balance.
//
The cafeteria is abuzz with noise and everything seems to be going fine. Derek is arguing with Casey, the cheerleaders are gossiping, the jocks are shoveling food down their throats; basically, the balance of the universe is perfect.
And then in two seconds flat, the balance of the universe is thrown out whack and a deathly silence descends over the cafeteria.
Heads swivel around and jaws drop as everyone with a pair of working eyes notices that Truman French is sitting down at Derek Venturi's table.
Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the table are in a state of shock. Well Derek and Casey are.
Ralph couldn't care less, not when he's mentally composing an ode to Amanda involving bagel slicers and vinyl pants. Emily is surprisingly calm and continues with her lunch like nothing ever happened.
And Sam.
Sam is a little flushed but for the most part he's calm too.
Derek's the one who wants to burst a blood vessel and Casey is the one who's having a coronary.
"Sup Richards." Truman nods casually towards Sam before continuing with his lunch. He doesn't seem to be paying attention to the fact there's a former girlfriend and former girlfriends' odd step-brother/his enemy at the table.
Sam blinks, nods, blushes and swallows.
Emily smiles.
//
"What the fuck was that about?" Derek is in an explosive mode and his arms are swinging all over the place. They are walking back home because the Prince has finally succumbed to old age and George is not sure if he can trust Derek with Shiny New Expensive Things.
"Language Derek," Casey mutters mechanically as she ponders the enigma that is Truman French. Does he want her back or something? But then again, he barely said a word to her. Actually, the sum total of his conversation – fours words—all were addressed to Sam alone. They consisted of a greeting and a goodbye.
That makes no sense. But just incase he's going ask her out or something, she's going to say no.
She glances at Derek who's still gesticulating wildly and she sighs heavily.
She's a little occupied with other things right now.
//
"Em, what do you think he's doing. Is he trying to mess with Derek's head? Cause he's doing a real good job of it."
Casey breathes her anxiety into the phone and Emily tries hard not to chuckle.
"Don't worry Case. He's messing with Derek's head just for kicks."
Casey cannot comprehend. And once again, on the other end of the line Emily hears the confusion, the anxiety and she wonders if Derek would just stop being such a drama queen and just take stock of the situation.
Unattached Casey worried about him and not Truman.
It's really hard not to do the math.
"But why?"
"Because, self discovery is a scary process and antagonizing Derek is a comforting constant."
Casey feels like her brain is frying. Maybe all the stress is getting to her cause Emily sounds like she's preaching an obscure branch of philosophy that makes no sense on stupid days, let alone clever ones.
"Never mind Em, see you tomorrow."
Emily is the one who sighs now.
It's not that she likes being so cryptic. Being with Sheldon Schlepper kind of makes it prudent to keep it blunt and simple. But until Sam gets it, Casey won't.
And until then, Emily can't tell.
//
Routines are comforting and never nerve wracking but when Truman comes and sits each day at the table, Sam is conscious of a feeling he cannot comprehend. It's at the tip of his tongue, dancing with impatience to come out but his brain is a stubborn thing and Sam just doesn't know what to do.
Truman sits across him, nods and smiles and sometimes he gazes at him and all Sam ever feels like is an awkward teenager in the first flush of a crush.
He wishes someone would explain his own brain to him.
But then again, they'd have to get inside his head in order to do that and Sam's not sure if he's ready for that as yet.
He has a lot of…issues.
//
Truman enjoys the concept of a challenge.
The thrill, the adrenaline and the anticipation as he works towards something gives him a rush and heady thoughts.
This time, it's a challenge and nothing has really changed except for a few logistics here and there.
But the catch here is that there is only thing at stake.
And that thing belongs to Truman.
At the thought of that thing being shred to tiny little pieces, Truman's blood run's cold and he breaks into a cold sweat.
But nothing ventured, nothing gained right?
And if heartbreak is the price to pay, Truman will someday recover.
He has faith, not in himself. But he has hope that someday, he'll be okay.
Happy.
//
Derek's heart is sort of hanging by vague fragile threads.
It's corny and cheesy but there's a bitter desperation that runs through his veins when see's Truman sitting at the table, so fucking unconcerned. Like the composure he exudes doesn't even compare to the inner turmoil and heartfail that Derek is experiencing.
It kind of doesn't seem fair.
Because here Derek is, living happily along in Denial, and it's more than a river in Egypt, it's a freaking continent when along comes Truman and all of a sudden Derek feels like the floor is being snatched out from under him.
And then there's Casey, her gaze shifting between him and Truman like a hyperactive rabbit on crack.
What gives, o universe?
It doesn't even occur to him, not even for one second that maybe, it doesn't have to do with him or Casey.
That the whole deal here is Sam, his issues and Truman and his heart.
It was supposed to be a snippet. But it's not. Second chapter is being written because idk, this fic wants to be more than a one-shot?
Anyhow my first LwD slash. YAY!