September 2007
As Hayner was looking over his list of students for the new school year his heart leapt up to his throat. Sora. He smiled feeling like a giddy teenager all over again. Finally he would get to be his teacher. As he filed the papers back away safely he was surprised to see a certain familiar face pop into the classroom early. Speak of the devil.
"Hey." Sora smiled.
"Hey." Hayner looked back feeling his heart race. Sora was growing up to be a cute boy. A blush played on his cheeks as he took in the vision of the boy. Cocking a brow, Sora grabbed a chair and drug it over beside Hayner. "So…what's it like being 13?"
"Awesome." He laughed ruffling a hand through his brown hair. The hair that Hayner always thought looked stiff. He found years ago it was actually quite soft. To test it again, he reached out and pat his head. Yep, still soft. "Hey dude, you're messing up the 'do."
"My bad." Hayner sighed. "Man you grew up too fast."
"Yeah…guess so…" Sora stared for a little bit and for a moment Hayner wondered if there was leftover breakfast on his face.
"Wh-what?" He grinned nervously.
"Hm? Oh nothin' …" That smile came back to his face. "Hehe you got good looking."
….cute!
"Hey! I always was good looking!" He blushed and pouted at the laughter he was rewarded with when another boy came into the room.
"Say, a little early aren't you?" Riku smirked and poked at the brown locks of his best friend's hair.
"Aw leave me alone Riku." Sora's turn to pout as he huffed.
This went on for a couple minutes, both boys talking, laughing, just being boys and then Hayner realized. He never heard Sora speak. This…was how Sora talked. He could tell the teen was about to hit puberty. At times his voice wasn't as high as it had been. The baby fat that seemed to cling into his double digits was falling off. The boy was looking just as his future self had described. It was so close, if only he was younger…ugh not good! Hayner groaned silently facedesking. That's right, he was going to be 23 this month. Totally not cool.
"Hey what's wrong?" Sora looked down at his teacher wondering what was ailing him. He raised an eyebrow yet again when a whimper was given.
"You guys think I'm getting old?"
"Oh yeah, you're ancient." Sora deadpanned.
"Not funny!" Hayner huffed. "I can give you sentences for that!"
"What shall we write? 'I will never ever again say our comely and clean-cut English teacher is old'?" Riku interjected with what sounded like a purr.
"Nuh uh!" Sora frowned and hugged Hayner. "Mine! Go get your own!"
Hayner fought more redness from spreading to his ears and froze up. Brown eyes wide. Sora. Hugging him. Heaven? Was he there? With a muffled small sigh he hugged Sora back, surprising the teen that the teacher was actually taking part in their joking.
"Go sit down. I'm not gonna play favorites guys just because we're friends, kay?"
"Kay." Sora pouted, actually kind of hoping that Hayner would have given him special treatment. They were, after all, more than just friends.
"Come on Sora, lets go put our bags up." Riku shifted his satchel onto his prominent shoulder and nodded to the door for the younger to follow. "He likes you." Riku whispered to him as they left the classroom.
"Shut up, does not." Sora's face flushed.
They were bestest best friends.
He turned back to his filing when he paused after a few seconds. "…Wait was Riku flirting with me?"
Hayner started his class just as he did his past classes on the first day. He went around the room and asked about the students' interests hoping to memorize their faces along with their personality. When he got around to Sora he almost faltered, noting the boy was sitting in his old chair with Riku in Pence's and a girl he learned whose name was Kairi in Olette's. She had come late in elementary when Sora and Riku were still young and the three of them formed an unbreakable bond. He just knew they were going to be the new trouble trio and at this thought, his heart swelled with pride.
"You okay?"
"Huh? Oh yes." He cleared his throat, some of the other kids giggling. "I have a feeling I know you, but go on ahead." Hayner chuckled, marking on his clipboard.
"Kaaay. My name is Sora." A little 'u' formed on his lips, pinkness dotting his shy face. "I live on Sunset Drive. I like computers, cartoons, video games, and hanging out with my friends." Ah such a good boy, he taught him well. Giving a small chuckle he marked a few notes on his pad and looked back at the girl.
"I'm Kairi." She smiled. Gosh, she was as cute as Olette was when she was little. "I live on Morning Avenue. I like clothes, shopping and crafts. An7d my silly friends." She giggled pushing back on a teasing mimicking Sora. A mini Olette down to the bone alright. With a mental shake of the head Hayner returned back up to the front of the classroom tapping his clipboard to his shoulder nonchalantly.
"I suppose I can be nice for the first day." He looked up giving a thoughtful look to the air. "Yeah. Since it's first hour and all." With a grin he looked back at the faces lighting up with joy. "You guys can talk just keep it down while I compile this stuff." He motioned to his clipboard sitting back down at his desk immediately typing away. Names went into the computer. A few sidenotes here and there to remind him who was sitting where. Looking back up he saw Sora excitedly talking with Riku and Kairi, moving his hands about no doubt talking about the new games he got for his birthday. Maybe Sora would invite them over to play later and his mom would bake them cake or take them shopping as his own mother did when he was young.
"Hayner!"
"Huh?" He blinked looking up into the faces of the three friends. Sheesh he was so busy thinking about his lesson plans and school he forgot he had a class.
"I was wondering if we could play a game." Sora grinned and pawed at the desk, the aloof Riku and equally smiling Kairi standing in front of him.
"A game?"
"Yeah, you know, like seven up?"
"Oh…yeah sure. Just tell everyone to keep it down." Hayner nodded and turned back to his computer, eyes shifting back over to Sora smiling as he watched him turn to the class with the ok. The entire first hour Hayner went back and forth between watching the kids have fun to sorting his lesson plans.
Hours later Hayner sat in the Dusk café with his two best friends absently looking over his calendar on his phone as he sipped away on a smoothie until Olette's giggling alerted him back to the conversation. Looking up he saw Pence sulking, aw man this had to be good. Hayner grinned and nudged the girl sitting next to him.
"Hey now, what's so funny? Tell me."
"Pence has an admirer!"
"Not so loud!" Pence hissed ducking his head, looking around hoping that no one had heard.
"Now that's definitely more interesting than tomorrow's lunch." Hayner snickered pocketing his phone before giving the other his full attention. "Spill it, let's hear it."
"Okay." Olette bit her lips in contained enjoyment, both her and the other boy leaning in like they were taking part in a juicy secret between girlfriends. Pence frowned at the both of them as they uttered softly to themselves and at the way Olette whispered into Hayner's ear. The teacher's brown eyes widened as he gaped at Pence.
"No way…dude no way!" Hayner gasped. "Riku?!" He hissed.
"H-He won't leave me alone! H-He keeps coming into my store and loitering! I'm scared the police are going to come in and hit me with some child molestation charge."
"Not if you weren't doing anything…were you?"
"No!" Pence huffed. "He's too young and I'm too old!"
"23 is hardly 'old' but if you say so…" Hayner shrugged and continued about slurping his drink ignoring the bug-eyed looks he was getting.
"I can't believe you Hayner! Are you suggesting that I even-"
"I'm not suggesting anything. Though Riku does tend to flirt with a lot of people. It probably doesn't mean anything Pence I wouldn't get hung up over it." He pulled his phone back out upon feeling it vibrate meaning he got a message from the school board or chamber. Between drinking and reaching for his phone he caught a somewhat disappointed look on his face.
"Oh, I have to go." Olette popped one more french-fry into her mouth getting up. "Break's over. Good luck Pence." She giggled cutely. You know, in that 'nah nah nah nah nah you have a stalker and I don't' way and happily continued to giggle the whole way out.
"Hey man don't worry." Hayner leaned in murmuring. "I'll go back with you today and I'll see if Riku is teasing or not."
"Don't bother." Pence sighed running a hand through his hair. "I know he is. He comes in enough I have to know him by now…"
"I've known the kid since he first got here at 7 years old!" Hayner grinned. "I've practically raised him!"
"…didn't you practically 'raise' Sora too? That's kinda…"
"Don't. Remind me." Hayner continued smiling, talking through his teeth. "It's already awkward to have him hugging all over me. I'm not a pedo so I have to wait!"
"Well I'm not either!"
"Just come on." He got up and left the munny on the table, tugging Pence out the door back to his computer store. With all of Pence's intellect and business skills he was able to open up his own store about a year ago. "Alright I'll stay in the back and wait. Let me know when he comes in."
"But-"
"Oh and don't say my name, you'll scare him."
"But I-"
"Here, just text me when he comes in." Hayner held up his phone in indication.
"Hayner-!"
"I'll keep an ear out."
"This is stupid Hayner I'm not gonna text you!"
"Just text me!"
"Ugh Hayner…" Pence groaned as his friend ran to the back room. It was a pretty big place. Perfect. Just how he wanted to spend his Saturday. Baiting…jailbait. He shuddered and just went about his business. One hour, two hours. Maybe he wouldn't come in. he let his guard down in high hopes and even smiled in relief as he was able to stock the new mousepads without distraction even greeting a few customers as they walked in. he had his back turned when the bell jingled letting him know another customer came in. "Hello I'll be right with you!" He cheerfully shouted over his shoulder. The customer didn't speak back but went along looking at all of the merchandise. After another minute the customer couldn't wait any longer.
"I need a new virus protection for my computer. I'm sorry."
"Sorry!" Pence sat up straight and turned to face the other. "What kind…" And he froze like a deer in headlights.
"Hey." Riku smiled back at him, tipping his head some to the side rather…coyly?
"…one moment." He turned his back and yanked his cellphone out of his pocket, fingers flying across the keypad. GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE And he shoved the phone back into his pocket chuckling nervously. "So…virus…protection."
"Yeah protection. Got any?"
'SEXUAL HARRASSMENT!' Pence's mind screamed at him. "Y-Yeah what kind you need?..."
"The best kind of course." He smirked.
"W-Well I have McAfee, Kapersky, Norton-" He turned and browsed his shelves pointing out the programs to Riku before he paused feeling Riku's breath on the back of his neck. "!"
"What do you suggest?" He murmured softly. "What's best?"
"Wh-Why don't you…go home and download one?"
"Is that really safe for me?" Riku frowned.
"I have references for safe sites. I use them even. Avast is a good one, I use it. Yeah, let me go get you-" Pence went to go to the front counter when he felt the younger grab his wrist.
"Hey Pence?" Riku started but blinked when Pence pulled his hand free, starting to pick up on how self conscious he was.
"Let me just get those sites for you Riku and you can leave."
"…alright." He stood patiently in front of the counter as Pence went about nervously, writing down websites and what programs he could use on a post-it before passing it over. In one smooth moment Riku pocketed the paper like it was the least important thing in the world not even giving it a look. "I just wanted an excuse to see you."
Pence blushed, feeling their fingers brush together briefly as Riku snatched up his paper suddenly feeling a little angry. "Riku…stop it."
"What?"
"You know what I mean!" Pence frowned. "You like watching me be uncomfortable?"
"What? No it's not like that-"
"Hey." Hayner walked up, hands in his pockets casually.
"…hey." Riku acknowledged the new face then turned back to Pence and reached for his hand again noting the elder bristled a little. "I really like you." And let go, walking out of the shop.
"See told you I'd scare him off." Hayner sighed rubbing the back of his head. "…Pence?"
"He…likes me?..." He stood there, darn near squirming in place. His friend smiled and reached over clapping a hand on his shoulder.
"Give it time. Age is but a number."
"I'm scared." He looked away, rubbing at his shirt collar. Hayner frowned in confusion. Pence? Scared? Did those two even fit in the same sentence?
"Why man?"
"I-It's not just the age, even if Riku was legal I…I'm not the one for him. I'm so…a-and he's so…"
"You like him."
"Shut up." Pence blushed looking away.
"Hey…hey look at me." Hayner tugged on his shoulder some. "Hey…way back when…Sora told me once that one of his friends liked you. You remember that?"
"That was like seven years ago man and I didn't think you were even serious."
"Dead serious. And I think Sora meant Riku. That picture of us? In front of the tram station? I think Sora showed it to Riku and he liked what he saw. And true to the future, this Riku likes what he sees now."
"I can't let this go on any longer than it needs to-"
"Pence for gods sake would you just be quiet and listen to your heart for once?" Right, because that's what Hayner always did. And no, that wasn't sarcasm. "Give. It. Time. He'll be grown and you'll still be here. Give it a chance."
"Hayner it just feels so wrong. It feels so fake."
Hayner chuckled softly catching his friend's miserable looking expression. "Riku was definitely flirting. But he definitely wasn't lying. 'Sides man, you are good looking." With a sigh he clapped his shoulder again. "I'm gonna head on home. Got homework to grade and names to memorize."
"Yeah…um…thanks…I guess…"
"You guess?!"
"Oh alright, yes thank you." Pence huffed, cheeks turning red. "Go on now I've got inventory to look over."
Hayner smirked and mock saluted his friend before leaving the store. "Call me if you need anything."
"Yeah." Pence sighed shoulders feeling a little lighter at least, going back to his stocking the store when he stopped to get a good look at the new product he was putting out behind the glass case of his counter. "Phantom…board…" He whispered, fingers stroking over the words.