A7x & WWE crossover, OFC.
I own NOTHING, this is purely a work of fiction.
Crossroads.
"There's gotta be another way to go, a way that's
much more feasible
A combination of all these lies, to set your
path without choosing a side"
- Avenged
Sevenfold
It was that time of year when the southern California summer nights became less scorching and the Huntington Beach breezes started coming in, cooling the nights.
It was that time of year when Brian and his friends liked to come out at night. Matt, Ericka, Jimmy, Johnny, and Jenny all piling into his car because he was the only one who owned one besides Ericka, packing the trunk with alcohol, and cruising the city. Whether they hit up the parks, empty fields where they wouldn't be bothered, or the pier, Main Street, and shore where more people vacated and Matt was more likely to engage in a fight simply for something to do, Brian always enjoyed the time spent with friends. Especially when it was fueled with liquor because it gave rash actions an excuse.
Not that Brian Haner Jr. often justified himself with a good excuse, but this time he wanted to do things right. Good things take time he would tell himself. And so he gave himself time, and made his moves with precision. He gave himself so much time that days turned into weeks and
weeks into months. And by the time the end of August was looming around the corner he still had reached nothing. Nothing but first base.
"So have you hit it?" Matt would hound him.
Bri would scoff, shake his head, and remind him that good things took time. Matt would roll his eyes because he'd heard it all summer long and would remind him that only pussy's need THAT much time to, at the very least, ask someone out.
"We all know Jenny's into you anyways man," he'd say.
Brian would drink his beer and steer away from the subject because maybe he was a pussy. But there was something about the idea of dating his childhood friend that scared him. He wanted it to be perfect, and starting off on the wrong foot would definitely damper his wish. Then of course there was the thought of- what if things didn't work out? They'd been friends since the 6th grade. He never fathomed that they'd eventually end up falling for each other and dating. If things didn't work out, was it worth risking that good of a friendship? Or was Matt right in saying that she'd be his best friend and his girl, and it'd be one for two? He would batter his brain with these constant questions. Matt thought he just needed to grow a pair and Brian would tell him to fuck off, nodding in the direction of Ericka, because his own love life wasn't so fantastic either. His friend would tighten his jaw and turn away, dropping the subject for the time being.
Brian indulged himself into an ease because only when the alcohol burned at their throats and the moods lightened did Brian and Jenny ever interact physically. Brian imagined she only let him because she was drunk. Matt would say drunk and easy with an implying wink. Brian would roll his eyes and pretend like nothing happened the next day when he saw her again. She'd keep quiet and wonder why he never mentioned anything, if he remembered, if it even meant anything, and allowed herself to get back into it with him once the drinks were reflowing because truthfully, those questions didn't much matter to her. She took what she could get.
And that's how the gang's summer went. Eventful, but not.
The morning of their first day back to school Brian's biting his tongue in concentration at a stubborn hair in front of his bedroom mirror when his cell phone rings. He answers only to be informed that Johnny and Jimmy are going to be walking to school and Matt is getting a ride with Ericka. He sits down on his bed sighing and staring at himself in the mirror.
"Guess it's just Jenny and…….me" he speaks to his reflection. It blinks back at him and he shakes his head, eyes wandering to a picture wedged into his mirror of Jenny and him at the beginning of the summer. The sun was shining in behind them and they were both smiling drunkly . He studied the way her light orangey-brown eyes still had an edge to them and her smile seemed more sincere than faded like his. He remembered that night, it was the first time they'd kissed that summer. He thought she'd been drinking but what he didn't realize was that
she hadn't had a single drop. He shakes his head and sighs, standing, grabbing his car keys and bag, slinging it over his shoulder, and kicking the door shut on his way out.
Minutes later Brian parks in the student's parking lot. They'd taken a moment upon picking Jenny up to look each other over. Both slightly having changed during the months between last year and the new year. Brian's mom had finally convinced Brian into a haircut. Jenny liking the way his new short hair jutted out in different places and complimented his defined cheekbones. She also liked the new tan he'd acquired during many trips to the beach. Brian liked her newly grown boobs and the way the low cut top she was currently wearing complimented them.
Checking his hair before stepping out of the car, he scans the crowds of kids easily recognizing the tall, pale, and decked in black figure of Matt.
"There's Matt and Ericka," he points, heading that way.
Jenny eyes Ericka's outfit and then Matt's face, and smiles, "Matt looks fucked."
The usual.
They reach their friends as Matt pulls on his shades to hide his red-stained eyes. "Hey, I guess the other two are gonna late again huh." Matt laughs and checks under his shoes just to make sure Johnny wasn't hiding.
Brian shakes his head chuckling, imagining Johnny running to school with an overlarge backpack, Jimmy fast behind him and makes note to pick them up tomorrow as they make their
way to the table passing out schedules. They compare classes all of them having the same last period for P.E. Jenny sighs noticing she only has one of the same classes out of three with Brian.
"Mr. Batista for history AND P.E?" Matt asks, squinting at his paper. He glances over Brian's shoulder pointing. "Look you have him too… well for P.E…"
Jenny checks her schedule, seeing she has the same two periods with Matt and Ericka, recognizing all the teachers but this new Mr. Batista she'd now be seeing twice a day.
They put their schedules away and commence walking to their lockers. But they slow, stopping to stare as a gleaming, white hummer pulls into the teacher's parking lot. Tinted windows lowered enough so that the blaring music coming from inside can be heard. The car parks, music silencing and by now the buzz of talking students has also died down, everyone stopping to stare and wonder which teacher would be driving such a car.
A man, equally as impressive as the car, steps out into the silence, mumbling immediately ensuing. He was definitely something to talk about, ranging above the six foot measure, tan, and obviously well-muscled; even under the fine suit he was clad in you could tell. With a starbucks in hand he slips the keys of his hummer into his coat pocket and makes his way toward the school doors, pretending to be oblivious to the reaction of the students.
"Whoa… that guys a TEACHER?" Matt says rather loudly.
The man walks by, glancing over at Matt's statement. His eyes linger on the petite, black haired and orange-eyed girl standing near him. He lowers his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose,
blatantly checking out the skimpy outfit she has on. He smirks briefly, pushes his shades back up, and continues on his way.
Jenny fidgets, feeling awkward under his gaze. Brian drapes an arm around her almost possessively, drawing her closer. Matt scoffs and they say nothing about the previous affair, dropping their things off in their lockers. Brian walks Jenny to class, kissing her on the cheek and saying he'll see her at lunch. She smiles and walks into the history class hand on her cheek, in thought. She takes a seat randomly, situating herself before looking up.
Jenny's heart leaps to her throat. There is the man, reclining in the desk chair with his feet on the teacher's desk. Jenny still having trouble believing he's a teacher. He looks too young, too attractive to be a teacher. After the class has settled down he stands and writes his name cleanly on the whiteboard.
There it is in writing, Mr. Batista.
Jenny eyes his backside and glances over her shoulder at Ericka and Matt sitting a few rows behind her, knowing they see what she sees. Matt rolls his eyes and Ericka laughs. She turns back around only to find Mr. Batista facing the class again with his eyes back on her. That same awkward feeling overcoming her again and she casts her eyes down.
The second bell sounds, Mr. Batista shuts the classroom door and walks back to his desk, the class dead quiet, only his shoes making noise. He clears his throat leaning his hip against the edge of his desk and scanning his eyes over his classroom.
"Hello students,"
There's a murmur of a response and he smiles, looking down and shaking his head a little. He removes his jacket draping it over the back of his chair, revealing a massive pair of arms with some tattoos. Jenny bites her lip, wondering how he managed to even get a job as a teacher looking like that. But she damn sure wasn't complaining, nor was any girl in his class really.
He seats himself on the edge of the desk and crosses his impressive arms. "Since this is the first day of the school year, and I'm new here… Why don't we each introduce ourselves?" He raises his eyebrows.
Nothing.
He smiles again, it was nothing he wasn't used to, his appearance tended to be intimidating at the beginning of everything.
"Alright I'll start….
I'm originally from Washington D.C; life wasn't easy growing up there. I made it through my teenage years with some problems but I cleaned up after getting arrested a couple times,"
At this point Jenny's really wondering how he managed to land a job at Huntington High. The teacher pauses to sip at his starbucks before continuing.
"I graduated and started working out a lot more as a stress-reliever. I was eventually approached about fitness modeling and I jumped on that chance. But it wasn't really my thing,
although the traveling and meeting new people part was nice. Ultimately I wanted a quiet life, because I'm a quiet guy so I settled down, went to school, and here I am. Your new history teacher... any questions?"
A number of hands shoot into the air.
Are those tattoos real?
Have you ever measured your biceps?
Who chooses teaching over modeling?
Jenny laughs, watching as he struggles to brush off these questions and raises her own hand. He settles his eyes on her, "Yes?" Going awkward again she crosses her legs determined to avoid his eyes.
"Why'd you choose southern California, of all places?" She lifts her eyes to his, noticing their orange-brown tint. Identical to hers.
His lips twitch a little resisting a smirk. "It's a nice place… Nice weather, nice schools, nice views…" His eyes flicker down to her exposed legs as he speaks before turning away completely and picking up a large stack of books with ease.
"Alright guys, we'll finish introducing ourselves tomorrow. No homework for tonight, just remember to bring these to class you'll need them." He passes them out right as the bell
sounds. "See some of you in P.E." and his eyes advert to Jenny once again, no one seemingly noticing his constant stares. No one but her, and she swallows.
He'd already checked to make sure she was in his third period class.
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