The Epic Tale of How Running in the Hallway Forever Changed the Nation
A/N: Hey-oh! I'm submitting the chapter a bit early so that I can watch the Superbowl with my mom, dad, and brothers. I know, I know. I'm so American that it hurts. You could probably tell by my virtuous story-telling - chock full of family values - that doesn't contain not a whisper of sex, alcohol, or swearing.
-Blue Raven (not at all because I'm rooting for the Ravens... lol, huh, what?)
Chapter Eleven: I Promise
Derek
Spencer stared across the table at Derek and his mother with his hands neatly folded and waiting for their ideas. Derek's mother shifted quietly, her eyes focusing on the two boys beside her before she started, "Derek already told me briefly about that happened to the both of you. Do you have anything to add to the tale?"
He shrugged, "Other than the fact that I was completely unconscious during the fight, nope."
She added, "Is there anything that George said that bothered you? Was the fight provoked in any way in your point of view?"
Spencer replied, "Definitely. I'm pretty sure Derek told you the whole ordeal."
Ms. Morgan nodded simply, "He did. I just wanted to know your take on the situation."
"Well," Spencer paused and glanced up at her, "Derek was walking me to class just like he's been doing for a couple of weeks—"
Ms. Morgan stole a glance at her son, "A couple of weeks? I thought this was a recent occurrence."
Derek scratched at the back of his neck, "He's been in need of assistance for some time now. I just didn't notice him until…"
She smiled quietly, "Until you saw him?"
Derek shifted uncomfortably, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ms. Morgan replied, "Nothing. Spencer, continue."
Spencer spoke obediently, "While Derek and I were walking into school, we heard a guy heckling us. Talking pointless mush, really, but it was quite mean. It made me feel uncomfortable, so I alerted Derek and he told me to just look ahead and ignore him," Spencer recalled with a small, reminiscent smile
Derek's mother smiled proudly and patted Derek's hand.
Spencer continued, "So, we did just that… until he started breathing down our necks. His words became less pointless and grew more personal. It was apparent that he had a pack very large of boys with him. The hallway parted to make room for them all as he yelled rude things at us, insulted our families, and questioned the nature of our relationship in front of the majority of the senior class," Spencer nervously tucked a lock of hair behind his ear before continuing, "Then, he called Derek something vile. Spat in his face. We couldn't ignore him anymore as the treatment he gave became more and more violent. I tried to defend us verbally before he pushed me into a locker. Derek reacted immediately and hit him. Then, things started to get dark. But, before that, I could tell that George was waiting for Derek to throw the first punch so that he could counteract with as much back up as he could find. They were all over Derek and I couldn't move. I couldn't help. And… I don't think I'll ever forgive myself for not helping him fight off the boys."
Derek reached over silently and held his hand out to touch his arm with a comforting press, "Hey, it's not your fault. You can only do so much when knocked unconscious. Besides, I kicked their asses."
His mother chastised, "Language."
Derek corrected himself with a laugh, "Rear ends. I kicked their rear ends."
Spencer replied, "It's my fault you hit him anyway. I mean, if I hadn't mouthed off…"
Ms. Morgan spoke up, "It's not your fault for defending yourself and my son. If he can talk a mile a minute making fun of the both of you, then, George can deal with getting a little bit of it sent back to him."
Derek laughed harder, "And boy, did Spencer send it. He called him a… God, Spence, what did you end up calling him?"
Spencer buried his face in his hands, clearly embarrassed as he confessed, "Puerile-minded and underdeveloped."
Ms. Morgan began to laugh, "No wonder he hit you."
Spencer nodded into his hands, "That was pretty weird to say, wasn't it?"
Derek added with mirth, "You should have seen Spencer's face. He was Eliza Doolittle pissed."
Spencer lifted his face to glare at Derek and flick him in the arm, "I am not a shrew!"
Ms. Morgan smiled over to Spencer, "It's nice to know that you're there to keep Derek in line when I can't."
"Don't worry," Spencer replied with a grin, "He's in good hands."
"Thanks for that," she leaned forward, "You know what? It's been a long day. Do you want some cake?"
Spencer perked up, "There's cake?"
Derek rolled his eyes, "Oh, God. Don't get her started."
Ms. Morgan stood gleefully, "There's cake? Honey, there's vanilla cake, pound cake, yellow cake, cheesecake, and I just took a meringue pie out of the oven an hour ago."
Spencer grinned brightly, a face impossible to hate, "How can I choose? It all sounds so good."
Derek spoke, "He wants the yellow cake."
Spencer turned to Derek and rolled his eyes, "How are you so sure?"
Derek replied, "It's his favorite."
Spencer paused and gave Derek a long stare, "I never told you that."
"You didn't have to," Derek answered, "I gave you my slice at lunch yesterday and I could just tell."
Spencer folded his arms, "How?"
Derek shrugged, "I don't know. I guess, I know what your face looks like when you're unnecessarily happy."
Spencer became intrigued, "Oh yeah, what does my face look like?"
Derek made the silliest face he could, pushing his nose up, crossing his eyes, and grinning stupidly as Spencer broke down in laughter, protesting that he made no such face. Spencer continued to laugh as Derek made silly snorting sounds meant to mock him. Folding his arms futile attempt to block Derek from tickling him when he saw fit and Spencer fought him off weakly.
Ms. Morgan chuckled and shook her head, retreating into the kitchen to cut a slice of cake for Spencer. Derek stopped his tirade on Spencer to check if the coast was clear before placing a quick, soft kiss on Spencer's lips. Spencer's face reddened as he broke away and he held a hand over his blushing face, pushing Derek away with the other hand, "Don't!"
Derek bragged, "You love it."
The sink started to run in the kitchen.
Spencer gave Derek a calculating look and checked the doorway of the kitchen before giving Derek a very quick kiss back as the water ran, holding his finger out in front of him as if he was keeping Derek from doing anything else, "That's it. That's all you get."
Derek pouted.
The water stopped.
Spencer began to plead, "Come on, dude, not the face."
Derek stuck his lower lip out further.
Spencer quickly turned his whole body around in his chair to face the open doorway to the kitchen, "Haha! It can't hurt me if I can't see it."
"I don't think you realize how weak that hypothesis is," Derek laughed, "All I have to do is walk around you."
Spencer hissed, "You're freaking relentless, you know that?"
Derek began to smile, "I've been told."
Spencer kept his eyes trained on the doorway, "I don't care. I'm looking in the opposite direction because I have this special thing called self-restraint."
"Oh, yeah," Derek asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows, "What are you restraining yourself from doing to me, doll face?"
Spencer replied, "Kicking your ass."
Derek leaned forward to whisper very quietly, "What do you say you wanted to do to my ass?"
Spencer sat up stick straight and hissed back, "Don't even start, Derek."
Derek continued softly into his ear, "Does it have anything to do with what we got down to at the Passion Pit?"
Spencer warned stubbornly, "You're being difficult. I'm not going to answer you."
Derek added, "When we kissed so passionately we fogged up the windows?"
Spencer grimaced, "I hate you."
Derek breathed, "When you shoved your hips hard against mine until you reached your climax of carnal pleasure in my arms?"
Spencer folded his arms, "I hate you and, once again, you're reminding me of Whitman..."
Derek trailed along the soft back of Spencer's neck with a light finger, "Oh, yeah?"
Spencer yipped and flailed his arms to give himself space, moving away from the finger. His back had shuddered for a moment as if the spot Derek had touched felt good. Really good. Although the sound he made alluded to the fact that Spencer didn't previously know that the spot would feel good when touched, Spencer's reaction proved that he knew exactly why he felt that way.
Derek gasped, "What was that?"
Spencer replied quickly, "Nothing."
Derek grinned with an evil twinge, "Mental note made."
Spencer turned back toward Derek, "Come on, man."
Derek folded his arms indignantly and said under his breath, "That's what you'll be saying."
Spencer gave Derek a look that made him wonder if Spencer actually wanted to shove him to the ground and beat him motionless, "That was so inappropriate. I'm going to tell your mother."
Ms. Morgan walked back into the room, holding two small plates of cake and a mug of tea, placing one before each boy, "You're going to tell me what?"
Spencer stammered, "… um, well… he—"
Derek chuckled, "Chicken."
Spencer growled at Derek, "I'm not a chicken."
Derek made chicken noises, "Bawk, bawk, bawk."
Spencer, seemingly past words, resorted to pointing at Derek.
Clearly entertained, Ms. Morgan sat down with her mug of tea and took a sip of her coffee as she watched Derek and Spencer argue—an argument that Derek was totally losing by the way. Yet, despite Spencer's intelligence and fancy words, the archaic sounds and eye rolls were definitely winning him some points.
Derek teased, "At least I get regular haircuts."
Spencer whipped back, "At least my GPA's above 3.0."
Derek countered, "At least I've kissed a girl."
Spencer retorted, "At least I've got an acceptance letter from three different universities."
Derek added, "At least I'm not four-eyed."
Spencer responded, "At least I've calculated the cellular mass of the planet Pluto."
Derek rolled his eyes, "Pluto's not a planet. It's a wannabe rock."
Spencer folded his arms and leaned forward, "Um, excuse me, but it has a proper orbit around the sun and contains sufficient enough mass to assume hydrostatic equilibrium. Pluto's a planet."
Derek replied, "Has it cleared the area around it?"
Spencer grimaced, "Minor detail."
Ms. Morgan chuckled from under her mug of tea, "You two sound like me and Jerry."
Derek's eyes widened as Spencer asked who Jerry was.
Derek's mother replied simply, "My husband."
Spencer laughed nervously, "Oh, um… do we seem… married?"
She smiled, "It's not that. You two just fuss at each other to no end, and me and my husband did that. It never meant much. We used to just talk to hear the sound of each other's voices mostly. There was one night—Derek was just a little thing in his crib at the time—but I'd made Jerry his favorite dish for dinner after the kids had gone to sleep and we started arguing about the floor tiles. We were at it for about an hour or so, smiling through the whole thing. After we tuckered ourselves out bickering, he took my hand and held me close. He told me he loved me. Sure, he'd said it before, but for some reason that night it was extra special. Love changes and grows, you know? When you first say it, it can't compare to how you feel when you say it for the last time. It builds and builds and gets bigger. Sometimes it feels like you can't contain it all. But, that's just one of God's old gifts working its magic as it keeps on giving."
Derek had heard that story before. A few years ago on their wedding anniversary, she had told it. It wasn't the retelling that bothered him. It was the way she told it to Spencer that did him in. Spencer looked at her with glazed over eyes, captured into the lovely tale. But, in that moment, Derek knew that she was starting to catch on to them. She had spoken it as if she was giving Derek his father's ring to pass along. She had spoken as if she had approved.
That wouldn't do.
After all of the covering up Derek and Spencer had done, that wouldn't do.
Spencer was enraptured, asking questions about his father and Derek let him. It's not like Derek and Spencer were actually together anyway. No matter how much he wanted them to be, Spencer didn't seem ready.
All Derek wanted to do was be able to call Spencer his; walk hand in hand on the sidewalk, kiss him whenever he wanted, argue with him over kitchen tiles, so on and so forth.
He wanted to be Spencer's as well.
Derek wished to have dinner with his eccentric mother, leaf through that giant bookcase with him, lay beside him on his bed and fill his head up with Quantum Physics and Spencer's soft linen-y smell. But, that was too much for Derek to ask. It always had been and it always will be.
Maybe they'll be "study buddies" for a few more months. Maybe a year or two. But, soon, Spencer will move on. He'll find some beautiful woman who's just as smart and confident and quick-witted as he is. And they'll marry. Then, they'll have children. Then, they'll retire together and grow old beside each other, this faceless woman taking the place where Derek fit so perfectly.
Derek suddenly popped up with a deep enough level of angst, "How could Spencer and I remind you of that story?"
His mother smiled knowingly, "The cheap argument, and how easily you were losing it was a factor."
Derek folded his arms, "I was not losing the argument."
Spencer placed his hand on his shoulder, "Yes, you were."
Derek glared at Spencer, "Where do you think you're putting your hand, dude?!"
Spencer lifted his hand quickly, "I wasn't… I was just trying to—"
"Whatever!" Derek stood abruptly, "I'm going to get a glass of water."
Spencer watched as Derek quickly cleared the room. Derek entered the kitchen and set his hands on the kitchen counter, leaning his weight on it. Great. Now, Spencer's going to have that stupid fucking big eyed face on like Derek hurt his feelings or something. Well, Derek's not feeling bad for it, because Spencer felt the need to touch him in front of his mother. What was that all about? What is he trying to do? Tell his mother that they're messing around?! He might as well have freaking climbed into his lap and started riding him, for fuck's sake.
Derek ran his hand down his face. His mother couldn't find out they're together. She couldn't. Derek was not ready to tell her. Derek was not ready for anything. Hell, while he blamed Spencer for not wanting to be in a relationship, he's the one who deflected the "boyfriend" question at Spencer's. In all actuality, Spencer's not the coward.
He was.
You know what? Fuck him. Fuck this situation. Fuck everything.
He doesn't want this fucking relationship anyway! George was right! What is Spencer doing with a dumb little colored boy instead of the classy white girl he was intended to spend forever with?! He was wasting his time and heart with Spencer, wasn't he?! Wasn't he?!
Derek held his breath for a moment. He would feel better if he hit something. He just knew he would. He felt the tension build up in his arms and force all the way down to his fingertips. His body hummed with it. The feeling was so strong. All he needed to do was destroy something, and see it shatter to pieces just like he was doing on the inside right now.
His shoulders stiffened as he heard a small, "…Derek."
Derek turned hastily, locking eyes with Spencer who walked toward him calmly, "Your mom went upstairs. She told me to talk to you. See if you're alright."
Derek remained quiet.
Spencer continued, walking closer, "She says she's sorry if it sounded like she believed George's statements about our relationship were true. She knows that's what's probably bothering you."
Derek clenched his jaw.
Spencer leaned into Derek's body and ran his hand down his arm, "Your sisters are upstairs… it's just us down here… I forgive you, okay…"
Derek didn't speak.
Spencer spoke against Derek's ear, "It's alright. We both know he's wrong… mostly…"
Derek breathed, "Why are you with me?"
Spencer furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Derek to reply, "Because I like you."
Derek rolled his eyes, "Sure, you do now. But, will you next week? Next month? Next year?"
Spencer chuckled, his face lighting up as he wrapped his arms around Derek, "Of course, I will, Derek. Why are you talking like this?"
Derek replied, gripping Spencer's arms tightly, "You heard my mom's story. You can be happy like that, Spence. You can quit wasting your time with me and go find someone who can make you really smile. Someone you can leave the house with, someone you don't have to sneak around with. You deserve that, and I'm holding you back."
"Derek, I oughta smack you," Spencer hissed angrily, "What in the hell's bells makes you think that I can go out there and find someone better for me than you? I don't want to end up with some girl, are you kidding me? Speaking of poorly used time, I'd rather not waste it looking for something I don't want when I already have all I need right here. That would be extremely counterproductive of me."
He paused, "…you, don't want a girl?"
Spencer sighed, "Is that all you got from that?"
Derek nodded and whispered under his breath, "I thought that you were—that I was—you know, a one-time deal. You don't really seem that into guys. Fuck, you don't really seem into anything without cosines and cubed roots."
Spencer whispered back, "I'm a flaming homosexual. Is that enough clarity for you?"
Derek gasped, "You mean, you don't like girls at all?! Not even a little bit?!"
Spencer rolled his eyes, "Do you need the definition to 'homosexual' too?"
Derek chuckled, "No, I think I understand what that means."
Spencer shrugged, "Just in case you didn't get it the last three times I just said it: I like boys, I'm a big fan of penis, and the mere thought of having sex with a man makes me all hot and clumsy."
Derek began to laugh, "Okay, I get it. I get it. You're in this for the long haul."
Spencer wrapped his arms loosely around Derek's neck, "You betcha. Now, let's get you un-expelled."
Derek pressed a warm kiss to Spencer's lips and rested his hands on Spencer's hips, "Sounds like a plan."
Spencer blinked quickly and blushed, "What? I'm sorry. I didn't kiss that—I mean, catch that. Oh, my God. I can't believe I said that! You know what? I totally blame you because statistics say one out of every six…"
Derek laughed and gazed into Spencer's eyes as he rambled on. He held back the words he wanted so badly to say as he stared into those beautiful caramel orbs. Derek swept Spencer's hair out of his eyes and shouted inside his head that he loved him. Hell, he loved Spencer so much that it... wait... shit. He loved him.
He loved him.
He loved him.
Spencer's ears reddened as he shifted in Derek's arms, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Well, I lo…uh…" Derek started, losing faith in himself as quickly as he gained it. Not the right time, Derek. Not the right time at ALL! He thought to himself as he finished sloppily, "Nothing."
Spencer pouted, "Oh, come on. I know you had something to say."
"Yeah, I had something to say. Come here," Derek pulled Spencer closer to kiss him lightly on the lips, cherishing that warm, soft tingle he felt when they were close. He never realized before why he felt this way, why he was so pulled to him, and so freed when they were together. He never realized the beauty that erupted from Spencer every aching moment; he never made note of it because he didn't think it was important.
This kiss changed everything. In this moment, Derek realized what it felt like to kiss the person he loved with complete and total abandon. So what if he was too much of a scared spaz to tell Spencer how he felt? Derek will show it to him through this kiss. He would sweep Spencer off of his feet and change everything with this kiss.
Spencer let out a soft noise and tightened his arms around Derek, leaning further and further into him. He was feeling it; Derek could tell. Spencer was feeling the connection, the unbreakable sensation, the protection, the feeling that no matter what… everything would be alright if this person was in his arms.
And as the kiss broke, Spencer looked into Derek's eyes, his filled with unreleased tears, before grabbing Derek and pulling him into his body. Spencer embraced him tightly, letting off breath as Derek hugged him back.
After all the shit they'd gone through, they knew it was about to get a hell of a lot worse. So, for now, they held each other together. The strength of their arms wrapped around like paper shields, their love serving as the glue. Derek felt a soft kiss on his shoulder, smiling to himself even though Spencer couldn't see it.
There was a huge chance that Spencer didn't understand a lick of what just happened, but Derek didn't care. He was just glad Spencer was here for it. Spencer kissed his neck again and Derek pulled back to look at him, wiping the tear on his left cheek with a thumb. Derek moved forward to catch the tear falling from Spencer's right eye with a kiss, "Hey… why are you crying, Pretty Boy?"
Spencer sniffed and breathed, "I'm so scared for you."
Derek shook his head, "Don't be. I'll be fine. No matter what happens."
Spencer leaned his head on Derek's shoulder, whimpering as he dropped his hands from around Derek's neck, "What if it all goes wrong? Will you still stay?"
Derek replied, "Well, there's no money for me up here if I don't make it, you know that. No one in Virginia's going to hire a colored drop-out."
Spencer said quieter, "You don't know that! You could look around! My mom knows of spots at her old University. They always need a hand. If she talks highly enough of you, they'll—"
"You know they'll do nothing, Spencer," Derek sighed, "There's work down South. I'll head over there, visit when I can."
Spencer glanced up to look at him sharply and shook his head, begging, "No, you can't! Not the South! Derek, please!"
Derek took Spencer's face in his hands, "I'll have to. My family can only do but so much with a secretary check and the pay of two maids. I have my girls to think about. Man, I wish it wasn't like this, but we have to face the facts. I don't have many options if I lose."
Spencer blinked hard, closing his eyes as another tear fell. He raised his hands to cover Derek's before responding, "Then don't lose."
Derek smiled gently, wiping the fallen tear with a soft hand, "I won't. I promise. I won't lose; for you."
Spencer nudged Derek, "Don't do that for me."
"Fuck you, I'm doing it anyway," Derek replied, biting his lip.
Spencer's lips turned up, "…do you really think you can win this?"
Derek lifted Spencer's hand in his and kissed it before lying through his teeth, "I know I can."
Derek
He knew he couldn't win as he cleaned up in the bathroom on Monday morning. He knew he couldn't win as he waxed down his hair. He knew he couldn't win as he got dressed in his best. He knew he couldn't win as he sat silently at the breakfast table.
He knew he couldn't win beside his mother as they parked a mile behind the school. He knew he couldn't win as they approached the yard.
He knew he couldn't win as he saw the crowds of parents bustling along the busses. He knew he couldn't win as he read their picketed signs, siding with the opposition and begging for his removal. He knew he couldn't win as grown men grabbed at his clothes and adult women screamed at him. He knew he couldn't win as he smoothed out his suit and walked up the stairs.
He knew he couldn't win as he shook hands with the school board. He knew he couldn't win as he and his mother sat together in the conference room.
He definitely knew he couldn't win as his teachers slandered him right in front of his face.
He definitely knew he couldn't win as Vice Principal Putnam's teeth glinted in a smile as sharp and toothy as a bat's.
He definitely knew he couldn't win as his mother was silenced and forced out of the room as she tried to defend him.
He definitely knew he couldn't win as the school board cast their ballots.
He definitely knew he couldn't win as the scores counted fifteen votes for his expulsion and one against, cast by a weary-eyed Mr. Hotchner.
He definitely knew he couldn't win as he was taken out to the hallway to be with his mother.
He definitely knew he couldn't win as he watched her cry.
Yeah. Derek knew that he couldn't win.
But, that doesn't mean he plans on losing.
After all, he did promise.
A/N: Thanks so much to my beautiful, awesome, amazing new beta Maureen Anson! Give her the love, cousins!
Also, for those who inquire, Running in the Hallway is now in AO3! For those whom prefer it, the AO3 version updates at the same time as the Fanfic version and it's all under the same screen name. Just enter the name of the fic into the search bar and it should pop right up.
Feel free to follow me on Tumblr (saltroundsandkevlars) for notes on progress, a GIANT Morgan/Reid fic rec list, and deleted scenes ALL OF WHICH ARE COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. If you need a link, I'll put it on my profile.
GO RAVENS! See you next week!
-Blue Ollie Ollie Oxen Free
