The Epic Tale of How Running in the Hallway Forever Changed the Nation

A/N: Sorry I'm a bit late. I was too busy getting my heart broken. Currently talking to my mama bear for support

-The Bluest Oleandar

Chapter Four: Bus Canoodling

Derek

Derek lay awake that night, thinking of what Spencer said before he dropped him off. After watching him walk into the house, he found himself in awe of the barely-there glance he'd given to the kid's amazing rear end because of how intense he was considering making moves toward a relationship with him. Spencer was kind, brilliant, and undeniably sexy, but… he was a boy… and he was white... and for fuck's sake they've just met each other! Ah, God! Could this get any worse?!

He flipped over in his bed in a huff, mumbling to himself about how unfair everything was at the moment. Here he was coasting through life, planning to hide the way he was forever; marry a girl, have a few rugrats, the whole shebang. Then, along came Spencer. This motherfucker single-handedly ruined Derek's life—his future—his everything! Derek should hate him for this! He should be furious, but all he wants to do is hold him close, tell him he'll protect him from harm's way, be the listening ear and warm shoulder he needs. Derek wants to kiss him before he goes to sleep. Derek wants to run his fingers down his spine as he lays there and reads. He would give Spencer the moon just to see that smile. And Spencer had told him he was ready and willing to not only receive all of this love Derek was ready to hand over, but he was willing to give it back. What a wonderful idea! What a beautiful thought!

But, he can't.

It's too good to be true. If he actually did go forth and start this with Spencer, there would be beyond hell to pay.

As Derek tried fruitlessly to calm his mind and rest, he was plagued with flashes of nightmare after nightmare of the consequences of their feelings for each other. If things go horribly, Spencer could be shot with a revolver, strangled in an ally, jumped behind the school. There were thousands of ways that they could kill him, torture him. Derek could tell by the phone conversation he overheard that his mother was his life. So, in the awful event that things get worse than horrible, she could be brought into it. That would be the end of him.

Derek has to stop thinking like this.

But, how can he? His life was spiraling out of control. All was easier when it was just him and Penelope who knew of his diseased mind. All was easier when his feelings had nothing to do with his life. Danger was abound, things could go terribly, people could get hurt

The real question that needs to be asked is: Is he really that selfish?

Would be put the lives of his family, friends, and self on the line? Would he push them into the way of danger? Would he throw his entire life away just for a chance to fall in love with the one person that broke through his defenses upon entering his life?

Those were some deep questions and Derek knows that he will leave them unanswered. He figures that keeping things at arms' length and pushing them far, far away is the best way to make them disappear. But, he was wrong. Sad thing was, he knew he was wrong. But, he did it anyway. For the love of God, he didn't want to face himself everyday as this became a pattern.

Every morning the next week, he would wake, spend way too much time in the mirror, eat breakfast, beat the school bus to the building, go to the bathroom, check the mirror again, and run out to lean on the side of the steps to make it seem as if he had just arrived all casually and nonchalant. All of that, he did just so that he could see Spencer in the morning, walk him to class, and hear his voice. Derek doesn't know why this kid is such a big deal. All he knows is that he is.

Every afternoon the same week, he would pretend to go to the loo so that he could walk by Spencer's English class and peek in. Their eyes met every time. Derek's heart soared. He knew it was creepy! He knew it was stalker-y! But, Spencer was just so damned addictive that he couldn't stop.

Every late afternoon the same week, they would spend in detention. Derek doesn't know why, but Penelope and Kevin must have sharpened up in class, because by Friday, they weren't showing up anymore. The two boys were left alone to talk and laugh and get to know each other better. It was like a dream.

By the end of the week, however, Spencer's detentions were running out. While Derek knew he himself would be getting one every day until he graduated, Spencer didn't have that problem. He was the right skin tone, he was smart, and he was every teacher's dream (except for Ms. Strauss, but she didn't count). Derek wasn't going to damn him to the land of perpetual detention, but he also wasn't going to be able to handle the idea of Spencer going home on the afternoon bus alone… with Tobias. That wasn't happening if it was the last thing on Earth, no siree.

So, as their Friday detention came to a close, Spencer followed Derek onto the late bus and headed to the back of it. Derek gritted his teeth every time Spencer did it, because he really didn't have to.

The entire back three rows of the bus were always empty except for Derek during every late bus trip home. That's the way it always was, that's the way it will always be. That's where the black kids sat, and seeing as he was the only child of color in the school. That was his assigned seat when Desiree went to school with him, and it is his assigned seat now. Sure, Spencer was a self-proclaimed loser, but he had a full right to sit behind the driver if he damn well pleased. But, he didn't. He never did.

Spencer plopped himself down beside Derek like he always did and started talking, "Okay, I'm going to be out of detentions by Tuesday, so our detained conversations are going to suffer."

Derek replied, staring out the window to his right, "I know. There's no way in fucking hell you're getting on the afternoon bus, I'll tell you that—not alone anyway."

Spencer leaned back in his seat and said easily, "I can handle it."

"No, you can't," Derek glanced over at his friend, "You're not just hanging out with another loser, man. You're hanging out with me. These guys will lynch you and not stop to think about it."

Spencer sighed and passed Derek a glare, "I understand that. I'm not thick, you know."

Derek enthused, "Then you see the problem! I can't protect you if I'm not there! What if Tobias—"

Spencer interrupted, "I don't see why Tobias is any of your business. Sure he torments me on a daily bases, but why is it your job to rescue me? I'm not some damsel in distress, Derek."

Derek looked around the bus to see everyone wrapped up in their own little worlds before he laid his hand over Spencer's, "I know that. I just… I care about you, man. I don't want anyone to bother you."

Spencer asked, "Why?"

Derek replied, "Because you're my friend."

Spencer smiled and asked again, "Why?"

Derek answered, "Because I like you."

Spencer stood up and leaned into the aisle of the bus to adjust his backpack as he asked a third time, "Why?"

Derek shrugged, "Because you're groovy as hell."

Spencer started to grin, ready and set to ask 'why' again before the bus lurched over a speed bump, tossing Spencer right into Derek's lap. His back was solidly against Derek's chest and his backside was shoved into Derek's lap. Spencer scrambled off of him, a blush coloring his face as he stood back up, turned to Detek, and apologized, "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to... the—uh—the bus did a—"

The bus rode over another speed bump, Spencer falling forward clumsily back onto Derek, facing him now. On thw way down, Spencer's legs had found their way around Derek's. His hands were placed stiffly on the sides of Derek's head. Their chests were hard pressed together, and Derek caught himself thinking about how Spencer's breath smelled. Like mints.

Spencer opened his mouth to apologize again, but Derek didn't seem to be thinking about that. He pressed a finger against his lips and silenced him, looking right into his eyes. Wow. Spencer's eyes were incredible. The orbs were a soft honey brown that he could just fall into. Derek found himself thinking of golden wheat, the bark of a young tree, the warm breeze of summer. Spencer was still there. Not talking. Barely breathing. He remained quiet as he stared. Spencer blinked, his long lashes catching the smooth skin underneath his eyes. Spencer was so warm pressed against him. The kid's hands fell from beside his face and landed on his shoulders, not breaking eye contact. He was mesmerizing.

Derek moved his hands up Spencer's body. His lithe form was so delicate and warm and soft. He kept one at his hip while another traveled into Spencer's long, soft hair. Spencer's face grew redder as he looked and he turned his face away. Derek leaned his head to the side to catch his eyes again. Spencer glanced back bashfully.

The bus took a sharp turn to the right, causing them to slide by and bump against the window which brought them closer than close, but by then Derek had grabbed Spencer by the back of his head and kissed him.

Just like he promised himself he wouldn't.

After a small noise of shock, Derek felt Spencer slowly kiss back. Then he made another noise—a noise Derek knows will fuel his wet dreams for at least a millennium Spencer's lips pressed so softly. Spencer's hair brushed against his cheeks so gently. Spencer's body was pressed into his so warmly. Derek let his hand pull out of Spencer's curly hair and trail down his thin back just as both of Spencer's hands caressed the sides of his face as their lips mashed together in soft, hasty touches and holy fuck were they kissing. The whole world seemed to disappear and all he could feel was the touch of their lips and the bow of Spencer's body against his. All he could hear was the small sounds of suction from their borderline make out session. All he could smell was that soft scent of Spencer's skin. Derek's kissed quite a few girls, but it's never felt quite like this. Spencer was magic.

The screeching of the bus coming to a stop was enough of a shock to pull them apart. Derek immediately looked away as Spencer climbed off of his lap, holding his ever-present satchel to his chest as he sat beside them. He peeked up toward the front rows of the bus. Wow. Derek just did one of the best, most terrifying, most idiotic things he's ever done and everyone completely missed it. Derek exhaled. At least he doesn't have a lynch threat today. That's one less thing he has to worry about on top of the large mound of worry he had just created by kissing the sexiest guy on planet Earth.

Neither of them said a word for a few moments as they looked everywhere on the bus that they could without their catching the other's eye. Derek swore inside his head. He shouldn't have kissed Spencer! He couldn't have kissed Spencer! He wouldn't have kissed Spencer! Why, why, why did he kiss Spencer?! By God, it was amazing though. Derek could still feel him there, Spencer's lips on his. So soft, so delectable, so fucking groovy. Derek let out a long sigh and Spencer looked over to him behind his misty spectacles. Spencer breathed out, "You fogged up my glasses."

Derek took a look at the kid. He was flustered and blushing and his glasses were indeed clouded where they sat atop his nose above his flushed, kiss reddened lips. Derek stifled a laugh until he couldn't hold it back anymore. Spencer shook his head with a quiet smile, "It's not funny."

"It totally is." Derek chuckled, resting his hand on the side of Spencer's jaw, "Look at you."

Spencer sighed with a defeatist tone, "I know right. I look like mush."

Derek pushed a tendril of silky curls out of his face, "You look like beautiful."

"That sentence made no sense," Spencer shook his head and looked away from Derek.

Derek breathed, "You make no sense," as he pushed Spencer's face towards his by the chin as the smaller boy stared back, his face gaining even more color. Spencer looked away quickly once more, shifting the satchel at his chest to fell into his lap clumsily. He made a small, uncomfortable noise and refused to meet Derek's eye. Yep, Derek thought to himself, I definitely fucked up.

The bus slowed to their stop.

"You coming?" Derek asked.

Spencer blushed and kept his widened eyes locked on the seat ahead of him.

Derek rolled his eyes and smirked, "You're a fucking perv. I didn't mean it like that," as he stood, shrugging on his backpack before looking back at Spencer whom was still clutching his satchel. The boy nodded, his eyes on the floor of the bus as he followed Derek. He began to trail toward the front, feeling happily ignored by its frontal occupants as he strode toward the doors and hopped off the bus. Spencer walked up beside him, saying nothing as Derek pulled his keys out of his pocket and unlocked the door to his house. No one was home yet as per usual, so Derek locked the door behind Spencer, turning to ask, "So, do you have the Quantum notebook on you?"

Spencer nodded, eyes still cast toward the floor. Derek gave him a wary look, but decided to leave it, heading up the stairs to his room. As he walked, he felt a small tug on the back of his jacket. Spencer was clinging to it with a gentle hand. Derek let out a small smile. That was kind of cute.

They reached his room at a steady pace, Spencer's hand gripping him tighter. As he walked into the room and closed the door, Spencer pushed him by his jacket against the door, running his hand through his hair. Derek looked at him, shocked, "Whoa, kid. What's up?"

"I can't get you out of my head," Spencer worried as he rested his cheek softly on Derek's shoulder, "…what's wrong with me?"

Derek pulled Spencer's head back up and cupped his gentle face in his hands, "Whatever it is, I've got it too."

Spencer let out a pitiful sob-like breath before closing his hand over his mouth and leaning into Derek's embrace, "We're going to attract so much trouble."

Derek shrugged, "We'll hide then."

Spencer added, "What if we mess up?"

Derek sighed, "Then we're fucked."

Spencer breathed, staring into his eyes, "They'll kill us for this, Derek. This isn't some silly little game. I'm talking about our lives here! Our families!"

Derek wrapped his arms around Spencer and whispered, "Then we'll fight back. We'll kick ass and we'll win."

Spencer chuckled and looked up at Derek, "You're mad."

Derek pushed a curl out of the way of Spencer's face, "You're amazing."

Spencer looked away, "You're kidding."

Derek caught his eyes, "I'm not."

"Don't… look at me like that," Spencer sighed warily, "Like I'm… this beautiful person that you…"

Derek finished, "That I'm falling for?"

Spencer bit his lip, "Yeah."

"Well, that's a shame, because you are a beautiful person I am falling for you," Derek professed.

Spencer shifted out of Derek's embrace and wrapped his arms around himself, "You can't be saying that."

"Spencer," Derek started.

Spencer put his head in his hands, "It's only been a few weeks since we've met."

"Spencer," Derek said again, holding him close.

Spencer gripped Derek tightly in the embrace, "If we get caught, there's going to be hell to pay."

"Spencer," Derek repeated.

"You can't be serious," Spencer whispered into his neck, "This makes no sense, how could you fall for someone like me?"

Derek breathed, "How could I not?"

Spencer let out a quiet sniffle, "What's worse is the fact that I want to believe you so badly that I feel as though I'll go mad if I don't pursue you."

"Prove it," Derek stated as Spencer raised his head and pressed his lips hard against Derek's. The kiss was magnificent. It was more powerful than a hurricane whipping through a city, and more shocking then a touch of lightning. Spencer's hands were everywhere, exploring and discovering as if Ferdinand and Isabella had given him permission. That's what Derek was to Spencer, and what Spencer was to Derek: A new world.

Derek pushed Spencer back against the door for a change and went in for another taste. Oh, was it heavenly. He was so pure and free and open and clumsy, and he was kissing Derek back! Kissing him like his life depended on it; kissing him as if he would never need to breathe. Derek clung to him as Spencer wrapped his arms around Derek's neck, bringing them chest to chest. Derek nipped at Spencer softly and the kid opened his mouth, accepting the deep kiss with a loud moan that got him so aroused so quickly that he could hardly stand it. Spencer's tongue was wet, warm, and probing. He was deliciously sloppy, and most definitely has been studying mid-twenties movies for his technique, but Derek thought it was beyond adorable how shit he was at kissing and how little Spencer seemed to care that he was in way over his head at the moment. Spencer was full of abandon, tossing caution to the wind and it was such a fucking turn on.

He stumbled backward as their tongues battled, Spencer matching him step to step until they fell into bed together. Derek ran his hands down Spencer's towering body, feeling the contours of his lower back and thighs. Spencer breathed, "I had a dream like this two nights ago."

Derek chuckled huskily, whispering along his neck, "What ended up happening?"

Spencer blushed, "I… uh…"

"Well, I'd hurry if I were you, cowboy," Derek murmured, pressing a soft kiss underneath Spencer's jaw, "I don't have all day."

Spencer moaned lightly at the kiss, "You were here… but you were on top of me, and you… um…"

Derek gave Spencer a devilish look and rolled them over fluidly so that Spencer was lying underneath him, "What did I do to you, Spencer."

At the sound of his name, Spencer bit his lip, "I can't… it's too… I don't know. I'm embarrassed."

Derek asked, "You threw me against a wall to kiss me breathless and you want me to believe that you're too Clyde to tell me a dream you had?"

Spencer breathed, "Yeah."

Derek pulled back and looked into Spencer's eyes, "Then you must have thought up some kinky shit."

Spencer nodded roughly, his face gaining more and more color by the second. He pushed his hair out of his face and broke eye contact with Derek.

"What did it involve? Whips? Chains? Restraints—"

Spencer blurted out, "We made love."

Derek chuckled, pinching Spencer's cheek, "Aww, that's adorable."

"Fuck you, it was passionate!" Spencer hissed, moving under Derek to press his front to the bed and push his face into a pillow as he mumbled around the fabric, "We kissed the whole time, you held my hand when I climaxed, and it was beautiful, okay? No whips, no chains; just… us."

Derek leaned himself over to lie on his side beside Spencer as the kid grumbled into the pillow murmur on top of murmur of how lame he was. Running his hand down Spencer's back, Derek whispered, "That sounds really cute, Spence. That's nothing to be ashamed of."

Spencer asked into the pillow, "It's not?"

Derek nodded, "Yeah."

Spencer mumbled, "You're not weirded out that I had a sexual dream about you?"

Derek shrugged, "Nope. I'm kind of glad."

Spencer popped his head up, hair a fuzzy mess as he inquired, "What?"

Derek poked Spencer on the nose, "My dreams haven't been innocent either, Pretty Boy."

Spencer leaned onto his side hesitantly, "Pretty is a word reserved for describing the physical aesthetics of women and I'm hardly a boy. I am sixteen, you know."

Derek smiled, "It doesn't have to be taken that way. Not everything is simply black and white."

"Well, if you insist on calling me pretty—save for the fact that you assume that I would let you call me that in the first place," Spencer replied gently, "Do I get to call you anything?"

Derek shrugged, "Call me whatever you like. Just don't call me late to dinner."

Spencer laughed, "You're a strange guy, has anyone ever told you that?"

Derek laughed back, "Yeah."

The two shared a moment of laughter before lying down beside each other, joking and making light conversation. Every now and then, one of them would lean over for a kiss. Once or twice, it got a little out of hand and they would end up breathing harshly into each other's faces, grinding their laps together. Derek would play with Spencer's hair as they spoke and make the younger boy blush by calling him that name as much as possible.

It would be an understatement to say that they've lost track of time when they smelled Derek's mother's cooking wafting up the stairs. A delicious aroma of beans, rice, broccoli, and chicken wafted up the stairs and Spencer asked what the time was from where he was straddling Derek and currently holding the title of Tickle War King. Derek glanced at the clock and told him. It was six twenty nine, and upon discovering that he had spent two and a half hours doing nothing but talking to Derek, he let out a confused huff of breath.

Derek used the leverage to flip him over and begin his tirade on the king. Spencer called out and begged for him to stop as he collapsed into a fit of laughter. Derek ran a finger down Spencer's chest as the kid wore down his laugh and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Spencer really was pretty, honestly. For some strange reason, Derek can't get enough of him. When he's gone, Derek finds himself wishing he was here and when he was here, Derek wished he would never leave. Thus starts the vicious cycle of needing Spencer there by his side. Smiling, laughing, reciting, reading, tickling, talking, joking, dry humor spewing Spencer was the light of his day. Derek was right from the start. He knew he could end up falling in love with him.

Spencer smiled and placed his hands at the back of Derek's neck to look into his eyes from underneath him, "I don't think I've ever been this happy before."

His heart could burst out of his chest at the words. Derek breathed, "Me neither."

"What's wrong?" Spencer replied with a worried quickness, "Did I say something that overreached your boundaries? I didn't mean to offend—"

Derek interrupted, "You didn't offend me."

Spencer asked, "Then, why do you look so sad?"

"Well, I…" Derek gave a frustrated narrow of his eyes, "I'm not going to get all Audrey Hepburn, okay? So, don't expect any heartfelt confessions and longing bedroom eyes."

Spencer chuckled, "I won't."

Derek added, "Tease me and I'll make you leave—without supper!"

Spencer cocked his head to the side, "But, you said a couple minutes ago that you wouldn't kick me out of bed unless it was to fuck on the floor."

Derek sighed, "Spencer, please never repeat that."

Spencer nodded, "Got it."

"You see, man, it's just…" Derek began to explain, "Times like right now when we can just lay here and talk is so fucking hep. I mean, I would never admit to saying this ever, but when I'm with you, I'm not ashamed of who I am. Hell, I may be more of who I am when I'm with you than when we are apart. These past few weeks showed me what it felt to really like someone, and no matter what happens, I wouldn't trade it for the world."

Spencer breathed, "Really?"

"Really," Derek replied, continuing, "I mean, kid, I don't think you get it. From the moment I saw you… I had a feeling we might end up like this. The first time I saw your eyes, I imagined this weird future with the both of us in it. There would be no racism, no one hating us for being together. It would just be us, and that would be enough."

Spencer pressed his hand to the side of Derek's face and smiled, "Aww."

Derek added, "I also pictured you on top of me. Naked. We were having some serious baby-making sex. I'm not going to lie."

Spencer moved his hand off of Derek's face and rolled his eyes, "You sure know how to ruin a moment."

Derek smiled, "It's a skill of mine."

Before Spencer could reply, there was a knock on the door. It was Sarah. She told them through it that there was dinner ready. Then, she asked if she could come in. Spencer scrambled to get out from under him, and Derek laid a hand over Spencer's, "You don't have to freak out so much. She's cool."

Spencer hissed, "You told her?!"

Derek sat up and leaned against his head board, "She figured it out."

Spencer growled as he sat beside him, "How?!"

"It's not my fault she's perceptive." Derek shrugged, striding over to the door to unlock it and complain, "What do you want?!"

She slunk in past Derek, "Just wanted to know if Spencer wanted cola or water."

Spencer piped up, "Water. Thank you."

Sarah's eyes widened and she began to laugh, "When you come down stairs, try to look a lot less like Derek just deflowered you."

Spencer blushed and replied, "Oh, there was none of that! We were engaging in a tickle wa—"

"We were wrestling!" Derek lied, "Like men do."

Sarah gasped, "Did I just hear the words 'tickle war'?"

Spencer nodded, "Yeah! I won."

She shook her head and laughed, "Oh, this is priceless."

Derek growled to her, "You will never repeat this."

"Oh, I won't," Sarah giggled, "I don't think I can bear saying it with a straight face."

Spencer

"See you later," Spencer murmured shyly to Derek as he leaned toward his first period classroom on Monday morning. He didn't want to leave.

Derek winked suavely, "I guess I will."

Spencer took a deep breath and turned on his heels, walking into the classroom with a subtle smile. What on Earth is it about Derek that makes him so irresistible? There seems to be no biological proof, no exact equation to be entered that can equate to Derek's charm, his elegance, his beauty, his intoxicating heir. Spencer nearly floated to his seat.

As he sat, he bit his lip and placed his textbook onto his desk, hearing the click of heels up to his desk. Emily had strode up to him, taking the seat in front of him and turning to flash him a little smile, "So… a little birdy tells me that you know Derek Morgan."

Spencer shrugged, "I do."

Emily whispered, "In the biblical sense."

Spencer popped his head up, "Tell me which birdy told you that, because that Mimus Saturninus is about to get its wings snapped!"

"And you're so threatening." Emily leaned forward, "It was Penny. Duh."

Spencer grimaced, "Well, I'll have you know that I don't know him… in that way."

Emily laughed, "Yeah right, and I'm the Queen of England."

Spencer folded his arms, "I'm telling the truth! It's not happening, okay?"

She stopped her laughter and asked, "Wait, so you're not kook over him?"

Spencer replied, "I didn't say that."

Emily asked, "So, you are?"

Spencer stayed quiet and chose his silence to stand as his answer.

Emily leaned over her desk and grinned, smacking his arm, "Shut up!"

Spencer looked around him for a response, "Uh… I didn't say anything."

She giggled and leaned closer, "He doesn't know, does he? He probably doesn't. I'll keep it to myself."

Spencer narrowed his eyes at her, "You're not freaked out?"

"Nope. I think it's kinda sweet actually, the way you two look at each other. I know what borderline illegal sexual tension looks like," Emily shrugged before she added with a sigh, "Speaking of illegal, have you seen Mr. Hotchner? His face is forbidden fruit enough. I mean it's crafted by goddamn angels!"

Spencer gasped, "The detention teacher?! You don't know him, do you?!"

"I wish," Emily whimpered, "I know, I'm a putz."

Spencer replied, "But, he's a teacher! That's not allowed."

Emily winked, "Hey, at least I can legally marry him when I turn eighteen."

Spencer narrowed his eyes at her, "Well played."

The sound of Ms. Strauss's heels rung through the classroom before she reached it and as the door closed, the entire classroom began to quiet. She stalked into the room with her usual judging glare at the room. As the class looked upon her, she sighed and turned to write onto the board.

As Spencer's eyes followed the teacher's chalk, he felt the thud of a rolled up ball of paper hit the back of his head. He ignored it. He felt a second. And a third.

Spencer held his breath and kept his head straight, concentrating on the board so that he could get the information he needed. Another piece of paper hit his back and the kids behind him began to snicker quietly. More and more balls of notebook paper hit him; one after the other and the snickering increased to a dull laughter.

Ms. Strauss turned and glared, "What is causing this ruckus?!"

Tobias chuckled darkly, the end tip of his pen braced between his teeth as he replied with a nod of his head toward Spencer, "Nerd bag over here was throwing paper all over the floor. He's a fucking disgrace, isn't he?"

Ms. Strauss hissed, "Language."

"Sorry, ma'am. My fault." Tobias replied, not looking the least bit contrite.

Ms. Strauss shook her head and tutted at Spencer, "That's a detention, young man. Now, would you mind picking up that mess so that we can all properly learn what we came here to learn?"

Spencer nodded quickly, dropping to his knees to gather up the cluster of papers around the bottom of his desk as the teacher resumed her lesson. As he was taking the third ball into his hand, he saw writing on the inside of one. He glanced around to see that the students had moved on from him and sighed soundlessly. Unwrapping the piece quietly, he read two angry words.

He sucked in a gasp and crushed it quietly into his tiny hands. Sure, Spencer knows that whites who are a little too kind to coloreds get themselves nicknames, but… he hadn't heard this one in a while. This was the swear to top all swears. Sadly, it wasn't considered so vile because it used a word that was a promethean way of referring to an African-American person. It was considered vile because it was suggesting that the person it was spat at wasn't racist which was one hell of a big deal.

Spencer opened another to see more and more of these cruel words.

He was finally getting dogged for spending time with Derek.

Spencer had waited for this to happen. He knew it was inevitable after the initial shock their friendship cast on the school died down. The students had gotten over the stage of confusion and disbelief, and now… they were coming together to conquer. The main plan was to put the fear of God in him by picking on him. Well, it's not going to work, fuckers.

A/N: I do hope you enjoyed "scrolling in the deep". The budding relationship betwixt Derek and Spencer has yet to reach it's maximum level of cuteness, so stay tuned next week.

-blueoliiez