Anonymous Rabbit, kendall does start to worry about his social status on the food chain. it actually becomes one of the main things they both have to deal with.
thank you to every one of you who reviewed, favourited, and alerted. i only keep going because of you guys :))
im actually really iffy about this chapter but it was the best i could do.
it's also pretty short so sorry about that! but the chapters will get longer as it progresses.
Kendall was looking forward to Wednesday. He was actually looking forward to school.
Hell has officially frozen over.
He wasn't going to lie; he was excited to see James, to see those brown, or was it hazel eyes? He couldn't remember. James looked at him for all of 3 seconds before staring down at his hands.
When Wednesday came he was like a child on Christmas morning and Katie noticed.
"Why are you so happy?" His little sister asked.
Kendall shrugged. "I like Wednesdays."
She shot him a strange look but didn't respond after that. After eating breakfast he headed to school and walked to his Home Ec room.
The second he laid eyes on James, though, the giddy feeling immediately evaporated.
The brunet had a purple eye. He also wasn't wearing his glasses. The blond's swallowed thickly, his blood going cold. He had a feeling it was his teammates. I mean, who else had the balls to actually touch James?
The hockey team did. They bullied everyone who was 'underneath' them to make themselves feel better. It was one of the turn offs of being on this hockey team because along with the uniform came the 'status'. Kendall was also viewed as the assholes who made people cry. Only he wasn't. He's never even looked at anyone in the wrong way.
He looked at the brunet and winced. James didn't do anything to deserve this. He wanted to give all of them a black eye the same way they did with James. But he couldn't do anything if he wanted to be captain.
He couldn't jeopardize his future, especially for a guy he barely even knew.
He felt like such an ass for even thinking like that.
"Is your eye okay?" He asked softly.
James didn't look at him but he did nod. Kendall wanted to ask more and also apologize on the team's behalf, though, he knew for a fact that those dimwits weren't sorry at all but was interrupted when Ms. Cuddy opened her big ass mouth.
"Your first assignment is due a week from today." She explained. "It can be whatever you want it to be as long as no one is allergic because we'll be eating it after you make it in front of the class."
She spoke more about it and then asked the entire class what they were allergic to. Kendall said he wasn't allergic to anything but James didn't say anything. He figured James wasn't allergic to anything when he realized the boy didn't talk much. He always kept his head down and was always fidgeting with his fingers or nervously pushing his glasses up. Maybe he was ashamed of his stuttering problem but Kendall thought it was cute.
He spun his chair around to glance at James but it turned into a full on stare. He couldn't help it. The brunet was fucking breathtaking. This was the first time they've ever been so close and Kendall was going to take advantage of that. He wanted to reach out and stroke James's cheek and trace the outline of his jaw.
He wanted to touch James more than anything but right now he was going to have to settle for just staring. He couldn't scare James off more than he already was.
But his eyes, oh, his eyes. Those gorgeous hazel eyes were frighteningly empty. Kendall wanted to see James' eyes light up. He wanted to see James smile.
He wanted to see James happy. He wanted to be the one to make James happy. It killed Kendall that he didn't even have smile lines and the brunet's hallow eyes made him uneasy.
He just wanted the stupid class to end so he could ask James if he really was okay.
But when class did end, James was the first person out of there. Kendall tried to run after him but by the time he made it into the hall, James was long gone.
When he got to the hockey rink for practice he heard some of the guys gloating about giving James a black eye. His fingers curled into fists and his jaw clenched.
He skated out onto the rink and glared at all of his teammates.
"You guys think it's funny to beat the crap out of someone who can't defend themselves?" He asked.
"You should have seen the fag's face." One of them said. "You would have thought it was pretty hilarious if you did."
Their captain, Jett, emerged from behind the bleachers and skated right into Kendall. Their faces now only inches apart.
"You have a problem, Knight?" He asked.
Kendall didn't say anything. He just glared.
"Because if you do, you can forget about becoming captain."
"No," Kendall answered tightly, "I don't have a problem."
"Good because you're going to prank the fag." Jett smirked.
The blond's face drained of colour. "You can't make me do anything."
"No, I can't but I can give your captain position to someone else."
"You can't do that!"
Jett's smirk just widened. "You have until the end of practice to make up your mind."
"You don't even go here anymore!"
Jett just shrugged and told everyone to start practice.
Kendall wanted to punch him. He couldn't prank James. The thought of that just made his stomach curl. But at the same time he couldn't give up being captain. He had to be captain if he wanted to get a scholarship and play for the Leafs.
It was only the first week and already his life was hell.
It's okay. I'll just think of something during practice. I can do both.
But he didn't think of anything because when practice was over all his teammates and Jett were standing there, waiting for his answer.
He swallowed.
"So, Knight, what's it gonna be?" Jett's smile was smug and Kendall had the urge to wipe it off his face.
He didn't respond.
"Guys, c'mon. James doesn't deserve whatever you have planned." Someone said from the back.
"Shut it, Marc!" Jett snapped. "Kendall, we don't have all fucking day."
I'm sorry, James.
"I'll prank the kid." He finally said.
"Good," Jett smiled, "I'll text you what you have to do and when."
When his teammates where all gone he punched the wall, causing his knuckles to bleed. He was trying to get close to James. He wanted to be friends, well more than friends, really, but he couldn't do that now. Whatever Jett wants him to do; he knows James will never forgive him for it. He wished there was some way he could get out of this.
He quickly changed out of his uniform and drove over to Alex's place. She opened the door for him and raised her eyebrows.
"What's wrong?" She asked, letting him inside.
"The team wants me to prank James in order for me to become captain."
"James Diamond?"
Kendall nodded. "I can't do that. James already looks like he hates his life and we're partners."
And I'll never be able to live with myself if I hurt him. I'll never forgive myself for ruining our chances at something, whatever it may be. Whether it's friends or something more. I can't do that do him.
"So don't do it." Alex said like it was the most obvious answer.
"I can't be captain if I don't do it!"
"But you'll still be on the team, right?"
"You of all people know how much it means for me to become captain!"
"I know." Alex said softly. "But are you willing to hurt someone for it?"
Kendall sighed miserably and his shoulders slumped. "I don't know."
"Kendall, are you staying for dinner?" Alex's mom called from the kitchen.
"No thanks, Mrs. Sterling!" He yelled out then looked at Alex. "I'm gonna head home. Hopefully by then I'll figure something out."
Alex smiled sympathetically and nodded. Kendall gave her a hug and left her house. He got into his car and drove to the park to contemplate whatever the fuck happened today.
He knows he and James could be something great but that's never going to happen if he listens to Jett. The dumbass didn't exactly make you do things to people that were forgivable. It was a goddamn miracle how he even had any friends.
He could just tell Jett no. But he couldn't let his dad down.
Who's more important? James or your dead dad?
He didn't even know James. How could he just give up his dad's dream for someone he barely spoke to? He's never been more conflicted in his entire life.
His phone beeped with a new email. Since when does he actually get emails? He looked at the address and was confused for a second when he remembered James' last name was Diamond.
We should get started on the Home Ec assignment. I was thinking we could bake cheesecake cookies. Do you mind if we do it at your place?
-James Diamond
Cheesecake cookies? That sounded divine. Assuming his mom wouldn't mind James coming over for a project he emailed back.
My moms cool w/it. U can come whenever
-Kendizzle
Kendizzle. He laughed. He hadn't called himself that since elementary. He immediately got an email back.
We can do it tomorrow after school.
Kendall sighed, already feeling guilty and like utter shit.
He should ask his mom. Yes, that's what he should do. No, that isn't what he should do because his mom would tell him to give up being captain and befriend James. He wasn't even friends with this guy yet and already he was debating giving up hockey for him.
He wanted to scream.
James was having such a huge impact on him without even saying two words to the blond.
What's going to happen when they do actually become friends?
He's going to go insane.
yeah i dont really like this chapter but the others will be better.