Ryan waved to Odis as they both departed school that day, giving him a smile. "You headed home tonight? I know you wanted to study for the test coming up." Odis paused for a moment, then gave a short nod. "Mhm. I have to be ready for it, right?" He frowned, looking over his red eyed friend. Ryan had been..a bit off lately, but Odis couldn't quite understand why. Perhaps he just needed some space. Ryan chuckled and shook his head, turning a corner down the sidewalk with him. "Maybe I need to study with you some night, I'm failing chemistry pretty badly." He cleared his throat. "Text me when you get home alright? I heard mom talking about some rogue Serpentine teens roaming the streets at night, and-" He stopped himself, turning to Odis. "Listen, I know you can handle yourself pretty well as Arctic Cheetah, but I still want you to be careful alright? You're my..friend." Ryan smiled and patted Odis's shoulder. Odis nodded and went on his way, seemingly satisfied with their conversation. He dropped his smile as soon as Odis left, letting out a sigh of frustration. What was wrong with him? Why did Odis make him feel like that? Walking down the sidewalk away from the direction of his neighborhood, he stared at the pavement. This whole mess has started a few months ago, and he wasn't sure how. Every time he looked at Odis, or the droid did something cute..Ryan's heart would start racing. Questions echoed in Ryan's mind as he lifted his head to cross the street while trying his best to pay attention to passing cars. 'Does this make me gay? There isn't anything wrong with being gay, it's normal but..am I gay?' He shook his head at himself and rubbed his face in frustration, sighing. "No.." He said to himself, heading down another sidewalk. "I like girls too, and Odis is a droid. A male identifying droid, but a droid nonetheless. I have no idea what I am." Ryan shook his head, walking into a shadier part of the city without realizing it. Odis was so much more than that, and he knew it. He chuckled a little as he headed past some shops, remembering the time Jason had caught him staring at Odis and daydreaming last month. "God..Jason is right, isn't he? I've got a crush on my best friend."
Pausing when he heard music coming from one of the nicer, larger houses in the neighborhood, Ryan slowly walked up the driveway in curiosity. Was this a house party? The people in attendance looked a few years older than he was. Ryan really should be going home but..maybe getting lost in some music would keep his mind off of Odis. Or at least help him sort it out. He sighed as he came up to one of the teens sitting near the garage, raising an eyebrow. "Is this a private party, or can anyone join?" Atom paused and then put out the cigarette he'd been smoking, blowing a stream of smoke out and looking at the red eyes behind Ryan's sunglasses. He chuckled, giving a sly smile. "Anyone is welcome, kid. Name's Atom." His voice sounded concerned, as he looked over Ryan. "You look kinda upset..why don't ya come inside and listen to some tunes for a while. Might help." He stood up and led Ryan into the house, waving to the two older teens having a discussion over a bottle of vodka. "Lumi, Cobalt..this kid here seems like he wants to relax. Why don't we help him out? Y'know, be neighborly." Cobalt peered up at Ryan, nudging Lumi and gesturing to his height. "Yeah, yeah alright. C'mere and sit.." He trailed off, and Ryan realized he was expected to introduce himself. "Ryan. My name is Ryan." Lumi nodded and patted the spot on the sofa between herself and Cobalt. He carefully sat and rubbed his face, listening to the music playing. Atom sighed, watching the two sit with Ryan. "Ryan, Lumi is sixteen and Cobalt is seventeen, so they're sure to understand whatever it is ya need to get off your chest." He crossed his arms. "Alright..where's Senic and Mags?" Lumi was too busy watching Ryan's conflicted face, shushing Atom. Atom went to protest her dismissive nature, when Cobalt chuckled. "They're around, Atom. Don't worry about it. Why don't you go back outside and go on a liquor run." He grumbled and went out, slamming the door before he left. Lumi gently placed her hand on Ryan's shoulder, rubbing it in reassurance-only to feel the muscle under her fingers tense uncomfortably. She pulled her hand back, shaking her head and pouring a shot. "You'll have to forgive Atom..he's got a bit of a temper." Ryan shook his head from his thoughts and turned to Lumi, watching the shot in her hand. "I.." She carefully handed it to him, closing his fingers around it. "You look tormented and heartbroken, kid. We ain't gonna judge you if you need to vent, but you should loosen up and relax first..don't you think? "
A few shots later and Ryan was relaxed, shaking his head as he stared at the half empty bottle of vodka they'd been sharing. Cobalt raised an eyebrow, nudging Ryan. "So c'mon kid, tell us what's bugging ya." Ryan sighed and willingly poured a shot on his own, drinking it down and wincing. He still wasn't used to the burning in his chest. "I..have a crush on someone." Lumi chuckled. "Is that all? I-" Ryan twitched and turned to her, eyebrows narrowed. "I ain't.." He paused and shut his eyes, as though trying to collect the words he wanted to say. Opening his eyes and watching her, his sunglasses had slipped down his nose and his red eyes glared at her. "I ain't been interrupting you, let me fuckin' finish for fucks sake!" He sighed and pushed his glasses back up to his eyes. Lumi looked visibly confused from Ryan's eye color, looking at Cobalt, who looked like he had a plan as a sly grin crossed his face. Maybe this kid was..special. Is that why Atom let him in? Ryan took another shot, rubbing his face as he felt the room spin a little, but not too badly. "I'm..bad for this person I have a crush on. I'm a monster, y'know?" He shook his head and sighed. "He could get hurt real bad if he's around me..he doesn't.." Ryan shut his eyes for a moment, voice cracking in shame of what he was cursed with through his bloodline. He missed his blue eyes. He didn't want to be this way. "He doesn't..need to be hurt like that. He deserves better." Lumi dared to reach up and gently rub his cheek, to which Ryan tensed up at and twitched. "Don't-" He flinched when Cobalt's calm voice began talking, distracting him from the fact that Lumi was rubbing his cheek. "She's just trying to comfort you, Ryan.. Isn't that what people do when someone else is sad?" Ryan grumbled and felt Lumi rubbing his cheek, down to his shoulder. She giggled, resting her head on Ryan's shoulder and putting her hand on his chest. Cobalt chuckled and offered Ryan another shot, which he took and drank down-as though he were on autopilot at this point. He was starting to feel the effects of the shots he'd drank in rapid succession, slowly putting his arm around Lumi and holding her. He needed to hold someone right now. Anyone.
The ache in his chest was dulled by the alcohol in his blood, and he shut his eyes. Opening them and taking his shades off, he looked down at Lumi. "Don't be tryin' nothing funny, you hear me?" Lumi shook her head, watching Ryan with mild curiosity. "I ain't gonna do nothing, I promise. We're all friends here, Ryan." He paused, looking her over and turning to Cobalt, who only nodded in confirmation. "Ya ain't a monster to us, bud. But think about it..do you really need to go back home tonight?" Do you really think this guy you like wants you around, with you being cursed like you say you are?" Ryan sighed, shaking his head. "No..he probably doesn't." His hazy mind fired a question at him, and it hurt. 'Would Odis, let alone anyone else be safe around me? What if I hurt them?' Cobalt's tone changed, and he sounded..sympathetic. Lumi knew it was all a facade. "You don't really gotta go home man, we don't mind you stayin'." Ryan frowned, watching Cobalt. "You don't? Why?" He smiled and patted Ryan's back. "Because we look out for each other, and we want ya to stay. Ain't no shame in being an outcast like us." Ryan's vision blurred for a moment as he tried to regain his thoughts, and he nodded. "Yeah..outcast. I guess you could say that." He chuckled to himself. "Yeah..outcast and feared by my classmates." Lumi frowned. "You don't look like such a bad person." Cobalt chuckled. "Neither did Atom when we first met him, and he kicked my ass so hard I could barely move for a week-" Ryan raised an eyebrow at Cobalt. He only grinned. "I told ya, he's got a temper. Short little bastard, but a hell of a fighter." He watched the alcohol from the shots hit Ryan fully, and patted his back again. "So, you decided yet? You gonna go home? Maybe fess up to this guy you like? Huh?" Lumi looked at the dull-but pained expression on Ryan's face as Cobalt spoke. "You could always stay here with us, you know.." She smiled and looked at Cobalt. "We ain't gonna judge you for-" Ryan turned to Lumi, watching her as she laid her head in his neck. "For being a monster?" Cobalt shushed him. "We all got a monster of some kind inside us, buddy." Lumi and Cobalt's words were laced with false care and concern-but Ryan was too drunk to notice. Cobalt only grinned, knowing he was easily swayed at this point. He knew they could seal the deal like Atom seemed to want when he brought Ryan into the house. "C'mon, Ryan..what are ya gonna choose?" Ryan's gaze moved away from Lumi and stared at the coffee table, as though he were trying to focus. He took a breath and shut his eyes, opening them to stare at the table again.
"Yeah..I'll stay. I don't see any point or reason in going back home again."