Sending a special shoutout to the lovely Larissa Weasley, who's reviews make my day everyday! Happy Birthday love, hope you enjoy this brand new chapter
Fangs was not one to be shoved down harshly. He did not care who pushed him down, he always stood up. His life pushed him down by taking his mother and he stood up. The Bulldogs tried to shove him down by taking Kevin away, but he stood back up. He was going to let them take away the light that he had in his life. Not the diamond in the deep dark coal mine that was his life. He was going to tell Kevin how he felt. Fangs Fogarty, a Southside Serpent, was going to tell Kevin Keller, the sweetest Northside boy alive, how he truly felt about him.
And it took weeks of preparation.
After the Bulldogs practically raided the trailer park, threatened Fangs and forced Kevin to go back home, he had called up Archie. He used the sheet that he had written for the Carrie audition and called up his number, asking for some help. And that same say, Archie came back to the trailer. After apologizing millions and millions of times for the trouble that Reggie, Moose and the rest of the Bulldogs caused, he helped Fangs finished writing the rewritten song that he wanted to give to Kevin.
After a week of writing, Fangs focused on the music. But he didn't forget about Kevin. He called him as soon as it got dark and listened to his adorable voice apologize to him and say that he was alright. And at school, Fangs didn't shy away from Kevin. And he made sure that Sweet Pea and Toni didn't either. They kept hanging out with him, sitting down next to him at lunch with his two other best pals and helping out with the musical.
The musical ended up becoming a huge school hit. Fangs and Kevin had cast the best students for each role. Midge as Carrie, Cheryl as Sue, Veronica as Chris, Chuck as Tommy, Archie as Billy, Toni as Mrs. Gardner, Ethel as Margaret, Josie as Norma, Moose as Freddy, Betty, much to Kevin's chagrin, as Donna and everyone else as... some other character.
The rehearsals were always the highlight of Fangs day. He always ended up laughing with some of the cast, singing with them during practice, and laughing with Kevin as they sipped tea together. Fangs was falling for this boy more and more as they hung out during the practices. He didn't even care about the death glares that he got from Moose during practices and the shoves he got in the hallways when walking on his own or with Toni and Sweet Pea. They wouldn't shove him down again. He really cared about Kevin. He had feelings for the younger boy.
And after a whole month passed with the threats by the Bulldogs, the musical rehearsal and writing a special song... it was finally time.
It was the day that Fangs was going to sing the song he wrote for Kevin and ask him to be his boyfriend.
Today was the day that he stopped being scared and told Kevin how he felt. He was going to tell Kevin that he wanted to hold his hand while roaming the town. He was going to tell Kevin that he wanted to carry him on his back and swing him around like he did when they were on stage. He was going to tell Kevin that his feelings were surrounding him, consuming him and that he'll never think straight without telling him how he felt. Fangs was going to do it today no backing out.
And of course, his friends were backing him up all the way.
"You better not back out of this shit Fangs, I'm warning you!" Toni said to him as she adjusted her microphone and slammed her foot onto his. Fangs yelped out and laughed as he held his foot.
"Tiny T's right. No backing out now." Sweet Pea said from below the stage, where he was chomping on a burger from Pop's while adding the decorations to the outside of the stage. He had put some of his extra time off the basketball team to help with the play.
"Can't you just listen to this beautiful pink haired lady for once in your life Fangy." Cheryl added, who had been listening into the conversation while doing Toni's hair into a slick ponytail. Fangs actually really liked Cheryl. She was pretty bad ass and was in the middle of her Serpent initiation. She was taking care of beautiful little Hot Dog at the moment.
"You're guys are all nice, but this is a lot more stressing then you believe." Fangs said to them while tuning his guitar for the song he would sing soon. "I mean... there's a million things that could go wrong. What if... what my voice cracks? Or I forget my own lyrics? Or Kevin only likes me as a friend and-"
"You talk too much." Cheryl said after tying back Toni's hair.
"He wasn't this talkative and nervous before he met Kevin." Toni said to her, pulling her chin down and pressing a kiss against her cheeks.
"I don't know if I can do this." Fangs said, slamming his forehead against the top of his guitar.
"Can't do what?" Fangs looked up and saw Midge walking towards them. Midge was such a sweet girl. She had baked cookies for the entire cast one week and that really made everyone's day. Midge smiled and waved at the four of them, adjusting her long earring. "Are you alright Fangs?"
"I'm okay Midge, thanks for asking." Fangs said. "I'm just... I'm just pretty nervous."
"He's asking Kevin out today." Cheryl said to her.
"Babe!" Toni yelled out. "He was keeping a secret."
"I tell my best friend everything." Cheryl said back with a laugh.
"It's fine Tiny T. Midge knows." Fangs said to her. "And yeah... that's why I'm nervous."
"Well, how are you going to do it?" she asked, walking over to them. "Please don't tell me that you got him roses. He's allgeric."
"Dammit." Fangs cursed.
"I'll go get them. I'm guessing that they're in your bike." Toni said, taking Cheryl's hand. "Me and Cheryl will put them to good use."
Fangs rolled his eyes at them and watched as his best friend and her girlfriend walked out of the auditorium. Fangs looked back over at Midge and Sweet Pea. "This is going terribly." he said.
"No it's not." Sweet Pea said. "Everything will be perfect for when Keller gets here."
"But what if he realizes that he deserves better then me?" Fangs asked.
"Who's better then you?" Midge asked, crossing her arms across her chest. "Tell me, who would Kevin rather date. A closeted football jock, which I know that Kevin has been with a few, that will never come out or is just fucking around with Kevin. Or you. An out and proud young Serpent that treats him like he deserves."
Sweet Pea nodded and shrugged. "Takes the words out of my mouth." he said with a shrug. "Now, since you have a boy to serenade, I will be the one to tell everyone that rehearsal is in the music room."
"Thanks Sweet Pea." Fangs said, giving his friend their special handshake. Sweet Pea waved goodbye to Midge and ran out of the room. Midge and Fangs both looked at each other.
"So how does Kevin know to come here?" Midge asked.
"I asked him to pick up some milkshakes from Pop's. You know how he is. Too sweet and can never say no. He doesn't know that we told everyone to go to the music room, so he'll come here... and that's how I'll... serenade him? I dunno!"
"You don't have a game plan?" Midge asked before rolling her eyes at herself. "I've been spending too much time with Reggie. Anyways, how will you know what to do?"
"I don't know I... I just... I have no fucking clue." Fangs said. Midge gave him an honestly sad look. She looked around. She ran into the wings and after a few seconds, the lights shut off and only one single spotlight shined down in the middle of the stage. Fangs turned around and looked around at the stage. Midge came out with a smile and walked over to Fangs. She pushed him over to the center of the stage.
"There. That's perfect." she said. "Very rom-com like."
"Midge, this is... pretty cool. I'm not gonna lie. But how is this going to help me with Kevin?" he asked, pulling his guitar strap over his shoulder so that he could hold it without hurting his arm.
"Okay um... oh! Let's pretend that I'm Kevin!" she said.
"Midge..."
"Just pretend!"
"My bisexualness is not helping this at all."
Midge chuckled at his joke and walked over. "Just... say that I'm Kevin. Pretend I'm him. And say what you would say to him."
Fangs sighed and nodded. He took in a deep breath and looked up at Midge, pretending that he was the beautiful, high cheekboned, Northside boy. Fangs gave a soft smile and waved Midge to come closer. She did as she was told. "If I'm going to this, will you at least give me feedback on my song?" he said to her.
"Yeah... yeah sure." she said with a smile, while crossing her arms across her chest. Fangs exhaled through his nose and nodded. He finished tuning his guitar and pulled out a pick from the necklace that he wore. He started to slowly strum. He opened his mouth and slowly started to sing the lyrics to the version of WILD that he created. Midge stayed silent as she listened. She had known Troye Sivan's lyrics by heart, but Fangs lyrics were more heartfelt. More emotional. Fangs kept singing, thinking of seeing the look of Kevin's blush when he finally told him how he truly felt. How he wanted to hold him and never let go.
Fangs opened his mouth and sang the lyric that he had Archie had written after the Bulldogs came to the trailer park.
Your Northside Neighborhood
Never knew your warmth could feel this good, oh
And it drives me wild
Can when you dress like that
Never ever wanted to be your man oh
And it drives me wild
Fangs kept singing the beautiful chorus of the song. Midge was simply moved to tears at the beautiful song that Fangs had recreated for one special boy. She pressed both of her hands against her chest and smiled widely as a few tears fell down her cheek. Fangs smiled as he sung how Kevin had changed him.
Cause there's still, too long to the weekend
Too long till you wrap in my arms
Too long since I've been a fool
Fangs strummed a bit softer now, singing and singing and singing. His heart started to ache over how much these lyrics meant to him. Over how much Kevin meant to him. He nodded his head along and even did a small turn that made Midge giggle through her tears.
You make my heart ache, but it's okay
Cause I won't turn away
And it's driving me wild
You're driving me wild
You make my heart ache, but it's okay
Cause I won't turn away
And it's driving me wild
You're driving me wild
Fangs strummed faster and sung with all his heart. He closed his eyes and allowed the music to over take him. It meant so much to him. He strummed on last time and smiled. He opened his eyes and turned over to Midge. Midge was in tears. Fangs opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off as Midge moved forward and pulled him into a tight hug. Fangs turned his guitar to hang from his back and he hugged her back. If she was moved to tears, then he knows that Kevin must feel the same way. He opened his eyes to pull away but froze seeing who was standing in the aisle. Carrying two milkshake containers and a petite bouquet of flowers with tears in his eyes. Fangs froze.
"Kevin!"
Kevin had been thinking about his feelings for Fangs while walking back from his truck to the school with two large two cups filled with milkshakes. Fangs had been such an amazing guy to him. He was protective of him when hey hung out on the Southside. He was caring about him while they worked on the play. And he made Kevin laugh. Kevin thought that Fangs was such a great guy. He was so kind and sweet.
And Kevin was falling for him. No matter how many times Kevin tried to tell himself that Fangs didn't like him how he did, no matter how many times he tried to tell himself that they were just close friends, Kevin knew and felt deep down that Fangs felt the same way that he did. That he felt the same way that he did. Kevin stopped as he reached the steps of his high school. He looked around and noticed a little flower shop, where Archie had just purchase roses for Veronica and they were walking away together. Kevin approached the cart vendor with a smile.
"Do you have just a small little daisy?" he asked. The vendor nodded and handed him one small red daisy. Kevin placed down the milkshakes and took the floor in both of his hands. He looked down at the flower. "Okay, okay, okay. Let's just see where the petals lands. Can't be that hard right."
The vendor just nodded while Kevin plucked off a petal.
"He likes me." he said as he dropped that petal. "He's a friend." he said as he plucked another petal. Kevin kept plucking and plucking the petals, hoping that the flower would tell him how he felt already. He landed on the last petal and a smile widened on his face.
"He likes me." he says with a little happy hop and blush. He turned back to the vendor. "I'll have a petite bouquet of lilacs, daises and peonies."
The vendor smiled and assembled the bouquet as he was requested. Kevin payed extra for the bouquet and grabbed the two milkshakes as he ran up to the school. He knew that it seemed kind of childish for him to believe the power of flower petals for him to believe that Fangs actually felt the same way about him. But it was a sign. It had to be a sign that Fangs actually cared about him the way that he did. Kevin ran down the halls of the school and made his way to the auditorium. He heard the sound of guitar strumming. He thought that they must have started practicing before he came back.
He walked inside. He didn't mind that they were practicing, but he fully intended to give Fangs the flowers and tell him how he truly felt. But as he walked into the dark auditorium, he saw that it wasn't what he even thought it was. It wasn't the practice for Carrie. He saw Fangs and Midge standing on the stage, with one spotlight shining down on Fangs. Kevin looked at them. And then he heard the song being sung. He knew that it was romantic lyrics. Songs that were so sweet. And he looked over and saw Fangs stepping closer to Midge and Midge blushing at the sound.
Kevin watched as Fangs sung. The Serpent was smiling as he sang and turning around to make Midge laugh. When the strumming stopped, the cheerleader moved forward and pulled Fangs into a hug. Fangs hugged her back... and Kevin's heart broke in two. He just looked out at them.
How could he be so stupid? Of course Fangs didn't like him that way. Of course Fangs wasn't attracted to him like he was. Of course it was just a friendship that he overlooked too much. Of course it was. Kevin wasn't the main character in this love story. He wasn't the one that got the love and attention and care. He was just... there. A background character. Kevin felt tears stinging his eyes. He kept looking at them, no matter how much he wanted to turn away. Kevin watched as Fangs opened his eyes and met his stare. "Kevin!" he called out. Midge let go of him and the two looked at Kevin with the same frozen stare. "Kevin, look this isn't what-"
"No, no, no, it's fine..." Kevin said with a fake smile. "I'm... I'm really happy for you. My best friend got the girl. Um... I need to go."
Kevin dropped the flowers and the milkshakes and ran away. Fangs moved forward as soon as he started to leave. Fangs didn't want this to happen. He didn't want for this to happen at all. He wanted to tell Kevin how he really felt. Not do this. Not make him cry. Fangs jumped off the stage and threw his guitar down, running over and chasing Kevin. Kevin had run out of the auditorium and was already sobbing. His face was getting red as he ran away and tried to get back to his truck and drive away. As he did, his eyes became blurry and he ended up slamming down onto the ground. He went down on his knees and sobbed.
Fangs came from behind the hall and ran over to Kevin. He went down on his knees and looked at him
"Kevin.., Kevin please look at me. Look at me." Fangs begged. "This is all just a big misunderstanding. Look at me."
"No, no. It's okay." Kevin said. "I understand. You don't... you don't like me like I do. It's okay. I'm sorry for being selfish."
"No, no, no, no, no. Don't say that. Don't say that at all!" Fangs said, taking both of Kevin's hands in his. "You just came at the wrong moment, I swear."
"You don't... you don't-"
"I do Kev. I do like you that way. You're all that I care about. That song... it wasn't meant for Midge. She was just giving me advice. That song was for you, I wrote it for you... you and only you." Fangs said, raising his hand and running it over Kevin's cheekbones. "I'm sorry. It was just bad timing. I wanted to tell how I feel all sweetly and romantic like. You... you deserve so much more."
"No. No I don't. You... you're all I ever wanted. You're so sweet to me, and protective and generous to me. I just need you. And you're wrong, I don't deserve any better then you. You're everything to me right now." Kevin moved over and stood up. He helped Fangs stand. Fangs moved over and wiped the dried tears on Kevin's cheek. "Can I... can I kiss you?"
Fangs smiled. "Do you realize how long I've been waiting for you to ask me that question?"
Fangs and Kevin both looked into one another's eyes and moved forwards. They pressed each other's lips against them. Finally, after way too many days of them being with one another... they were kissing. They were closer.