.
"We were always vowels,
weren't we?
Never alone together
but almost always
side
by
side."
Kelsey Danielle
"Mr. Danvers. If you could refrain from ogling Mr. Parry, and could look at the board, instead. We'd all appreciate that."
'You two are pissing me off.'
Caleb rose an eyebrow, quietly, as he glanced down. Pretending not to feel his face heating up all the way to his ears. His fingers curled tightly around his pencil, and he could feel Pogue's embarrassment rolling off in the air, besides him. The professor seemed satisfied with his previous nod and short apology. So Caleb just tried to keep his attention focused on the board. Or pretend to.
Quite honestly, he didn't even know they were in History, until now.
He wasn't used to getting his attention called in class. And it was an uneasy feeling, though he let it pour away. Ignoring his hurt pride.
'Told Ty I'd keep out of it. But you two are like two blushing brides and it's getting on my nerves.'
'Shut up. Reid.'
'Oh, so he does talk.'
Caleb's teeth gritted.
Part of his promise to fix things with Pogue, was that he'd tried not to avoid him during classes. Or lunch. Or practice. That meant sitting by his side, on his usual seat. And having Reid and Tyler watch them from across the classroom, like they were just waiting for something to pop. Tyler at least had the decency to look away when he was caught. Reid would just wiggle eyebrows at him and offer a snide comment through their mental bond. Comments Caleb had refused to answer, until just now.
He squeezed his nape. Trying to blow some of the embarrassment off, and just kept on taking notes. He heard Pogue huff on his side, and glanced at him, quickly. Before following his gaze towards a rolling eyes Reid. Whatever Pogue'd told him, it seemed to finally shut the boy up, so Caleb allowed himself to relax a little. With the way Sarah'd ambushed him with Kate-talk earlier, and everything else on his mind, it'd been a tense morning, to say the least.
It felt familiar. Pogue sticking with him, against Reid's antics. Not that Pogue followed him around like a mindless minion. Nor that Caleb saw Reid as someone that was against him. He never did. But Pogue did try to keep the peace within their group. And the biggest part of that job was definitely keeping both him and Reid at bay, with each other. Still. It wasn't like he could blame the blonde. Lunch had been awkward enough, and Reid had kept silent then. All through their quiet munching, and side glances and curt conversations. And he was impressed by that. But it hadn't gotten much better since. Not like he'd promised it would. And it seemed the blonde's patience was starting to run low. He just hoped that he could make himself act normal enough, that swim practice wasn't as miserable as it'd been the last few weeks.
'I'm sorry.'
'It's fine, man.'
Caleb pursed his lips lightly in an attempted smile, at Pogue's agreement, and felt his light pat on his forearm.
He breathed in, like he was breathing for the first time in the day. He'd been a growing ball of anxiety since he'd gotten that text the other night. Wondering if there was anything else implied on that small phrase, than what it literally meant. He'd already decided what he was going to say. And he would stick with it. And it seemed that Pogue had come to some sort of decision as well, from what he knew of his friend. And that was the scary part.
't's gonna be fine, Cay.'
'Thanks, baby boy.'
'Ugh. You know I hate it when you call me that.'
'I do.',
'What's so funny?'
Caleb turned to Pogue, then shook his head, and his lips curled in a sincere way, now.
"Nothing."
Maybe it'd be fine after all.
They were the first thing Caleb spotted as he made his way into the pools. Alone.
Pogue was chuckling. But he could clearly see the angry line on his jaw, shoulders, and entire posture. Even as he kept on stretching and warming up. Pretending to ignore whatever the other boy was saying to him. Abbot. Hell. Caleb wasn't one for hating people. He rarely gave anyone that much credit or importance on his mind or life. He'd rather occupy it with people he did care about. But Abbot tried really hard.
His body was already moving, even before his brain'd caught up. Making him pick up his pace and stroll into their direction. From the corner of his eyes, he could see when Tyler patted Reid's arm to get his attention, as they both moved to do the same.
"... On, Parry! Are you scared? Scared that because of your little vacation, I'm gonna wipe the pool with your ass today? It's your first time back in the pool, man. I don't know about you. But I'd be thinking about all those injuries, and pulling something. Broke three ribs, was that it?" Caleb tensed as Abbot hissed in mockery. He could feel Pogue's Power wind up tight. The air completely still around them. Charged and thick. It prickled his skin when he moved, despite the smile on his best friend's face. "Seems to me like you should be running home to mommy, so she can take care of all those-"
"Or maybe you should be running home, Aaron. Before Pogue runs you to it. Right off the pool."
"Look at that! Your little girlfriend got here! Guess this means you two kissed and made up? You gonna massage his bruised ego when I'm done with him, Caleb?"
Caleb chuckled. But his smile was feral, and cold. He could feel his chest tight. As if Pogue's Power was coiling inside it. Bracing his body for the fight. His skin prickled again. His own Power demanding his attention. Demanding to be put to use. A dangerous humor flickering around him, filling his throat. He tensed, as he tried to keep it at bay. To remember where he was. And why he couldn't.
"Shut it, Aaron. You can't even win over me, at a pool table. Pretty sure, you can't get half an inch over Pogue in the water."
"You little-"
Caleb stepped in between Reid and Aaron, automatically.
Arm reaching protectively over the blonde, as he stared the other boy down. Interrupting his comeback, with his own, sarcastic and curt comment.
"You do realize that the only way you can brag, is when the best teammate is on recovery, don't you?"
It wasn't delivered as graciously as he usually made it. His anger getting in the way of his snark. But it seemed to get Abbot to bite his tongue, and Caleb got a deep satisfaction over that. The other boy snorted, avoiding Caleb's stare as he spat in answer.
"Whatever. We all know he'll be trashing after the first lap."
"Caleb. Hey!"
Aaron stumbled back, as Caleb launched himself towards him.
An arm wrapped around the dark haired boy's chest tightly, And he shove against it. Reeking with anger.
Reid struggled to hold him down as Caleb pushed, and shove against his hold. He sent him a mental groan and yanked him back again, as he almost slipped his strength. He didn't look, focused on his task, but he could tell of the worry of the others surrounding them. 'Stay back.' He didn't have to look to know that Tyler would try to help. He immediately regretted telling him to stay away, when Caleb's skin suddenly turned scorching against his own. Making him bite down a yelp. He could feel the other's body thrumming like one bolt of energy against him. And as he groaned in frustration.
'The hell, Caleb?!'
His friend's blood rushed on his chest.
It only lasted a few seconds, but is strained his muscles. Was that what ascending did to you? Did it make you that much stronger? Aaron walked away, looking scared as shit. And who could blame him? Reid knew that face Caleb could make very well. It scared the shit out of him too. Only he wasn't a pansy to let it show. Reid was sure the others were asking him questions too. But Caleb didn't seem to listen, even as he calmed down. As though he was somewhere else. His gaze still on the retreating form of the other. Like he could torch the guy with only his eyes if he really wanted to. And the blonde hesitated to take his arms away.
Could he?
Caleb's mind filled with Aaron's words.
The demeaning tone he'd used as he'd talked about Pogue's injuries. Pogue's face in the hospital. His terrified gasp. The way he'd had to scramble through his pain for every word. Every word intended to keep Caleb safe. With a breathe he was lacking. To think of someone, anyone, that thought something like that was funny. Or could ever be used to get to Pogue,
His eyes darkened with images. Of what he would have seen, if he'd already been ascended then. How broke and bent out of shape, Pogue's Power would look, agonizing around him. More than just sense it on his fingertips. More than just assume it on the tightening of his own lungs, at the sight. If he could taste it on his tongue. Watch it warp around his own Power. Reaching for some kind of solace. Any solace.
' Caleb.'
'Caleb. You're steaming.'
Caleb yanked from Tyler's touch like it was ice cold.
Tyler frowned at him as he watched him blink several times like he was just falling into reality.
He was panting. And every heavy breath came out in a small puff of steam. The same light steam that was quietly rolling off his body. Tyler had never seem something like that. He glanced at the others, worriedly, but Pogue was focused on the other two, with a frown deeper than his own and a bitter line on his lips. Reid seemed to carefully test pulling his arms away as Caleb stopped producing steam around them. What on Earth?
"You okay?" He asked quietly, pressing eyebrows as Reid hissed and shook his arms. His whole torso was lightly pink. Like he'd just walked out of a hot shower. Tyler glanced away as the blonde caught him staring.
"You're such a bitch. Caleb. Could've burned me, you crazy ass. Honest. I think this one should stay for history, I mean-"
"What the hell were you thinking?"
Caleb glanced up at Pogue in surprise, as the other cut in.
"He was being a prick." He shrugged it off. While offering Reid a slightly guilty glance. 'You're not hurt, are you?'
'No, you idiot.'
"He is always a prick. What? So now I lost to goddamn Chase, and I can't handle myself anymore? You gonna babysit me like you do Tyler?"
"Hey!"
Caleb starred, dumbfounded, as Pogue fumed at him.
Why was he so angry? He did this shit all the time for them. Only he didn't.
Tyler and Reid were the ones he was usually getting in a fight for.
Reid because the blonde had a tendency to get into fights he wouldn't get out alive of. Not without using. And Tyler... Well, he wasn't about to let the younger of their group go into a fight alone. But Pogue was right. He'd never been one for picking fights. He was hard to rile up. Unless it was about even then, he'd take it up with the person he was with, rather than the cause of his reactions. The only person Caleb had ever saw rile his friend up, without trying, was Kate. Also the only person, he'd ever ran blindfolded into a fight he couldn't win, for. He still felt bitter at that. Though he couldn't pinpoint why.
Usually Pogue was the smartest of them on that aspect.
Caleb, himself, was much easier to get his blood boiling. But he was also usually much better at simmering it back down, and keeping it under control. Than the display he'd just presented. He knew all three of them had been annoyed with him lately.
He'd been trice as protective, lately. It was just so much harder not to get involved, now. He'd never gotten around telling them. But after the ascension, he could feel them so clearly. He could feel and almost see their Power, and the way it bent, and shaped, and reacted, to their personalities and states of mind. It made him wonder if it was that easy for Chase to see through them. If that was why they'd been so easy to manipulate, right into his little game. His shoulders squared as he pushed the thought away.
"You seriously thought I was letting him ramble on, because what? I needed help?"
"No."
"What then?" the other demanded. "I don't need you to fix all my problems, Caleb."
Caleb opened his mouth to answer. When they heard the coach's whistle, and then Pogue was shaking his head and turning around to take his place. Breaststroke was up first. His jaw clicked shut again, and he pressed his thick lips as he watched.
He didn't realize he was holding his breath, until Pogue hit the water, and just kept on swimming. He watched for a few seconds, ignoring the looks from the others, he could feel on his skin. Then sighed, and moved to take his place, and cheer the other on, like he hadn't in so long.
Pogue made it first, without a hint of strain. By the time he got out of the pool, Caleb was there to give him a pull, but all his worry and concern was gone. Pogue took one glance at him, then grinned. And Caleb grinned back.
"Still think I need help?"
"Never did." he shook his head.
"You better not lose now, Danvers."
Caleb's grin curled into a smirk, as he already pulled his cap and goggles on.
"Wouldn't dare to."
Just before he hit the water, he could hear Pogue yelling to spur him own, and he knew everything would really be fine.
