Posting at midnight cuz yaaa. I'm sorry this took a little while. I have ideas for the one-shots I want in this series, but I'm trying to make them chronological. This specific one I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do though I know I wanted to be third. Whatever..excuses...excuses...it's here!
TriceTokushu: We all gotta find our Sage and Ginko somewhere. Or else what? Honestly, love the little group they form. I'm so proud of them *sniff*
DoggyPocky: Sage is too cool for anyone, lol. And Ginko is for that matter, too.
acorntree1: Yeah, even if I've made Sage and Ginko the "accepting and true" friends of Cosmo and Wanda's, I think I needed to rouse a little tiny bit of prejudice in both of them because of their different crowds until they started to chat beyond that. I'm sure Cosmo and Wanda would be the same, too.
. . .
. .
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The sunny day wasn't about to be spared. With some convincing, Wanda managed to spare a spot for her and Juandissimo on one of the outside picnic tables of the courtyard for lunch. She indulged in her cob salad brought from home as Juandissimo poked at his steak bowl, each giving a free hand to hold one another's as they sat side by side. Wanda happily enjoyed the courtyard's embedded purple grass and linear definition of the concrete-paved paths between leading to different building sections of the school. Set between two opposing establishments the same, but still granted the sun with shady trees all about, including the one they sat nearly under at their table. Wanda enjoyed the scenery simultaneously with being with her boyfriend for a quieter lunch.
Swallowing some steak, Juandissimo leaned in to Wanda's cheek. "Besame, bebe.." he asked for a kiss.
"Not with that steak breath," she giggled. "Get some breath mints first."
One hand turned her cheek, and he quickly stole a kiss the same. She smiled and poked at her salad once more.
"We should really try to sit out here more often." Wanda said, feeling a different serenity than she did when sitting in the crowded cafeteria. "At least while it's sunny-"
"Juanieeeeee!"
Crap. The mice sniffed him out.
Seriously, was one lunch too much to ask for? Wanda's fingers unlaced with her boyfriends by the scooting in of familiar girls from her original table. Some coming to sit by Wanda but mostly scouting in between her and her boyfriend upon the seats by their own invite. Giggling by Juandissimo's welcoming smile and having all googly eyes on him immediately. Wanda's shoulders were hunched by the sudden crowd she was suppressed in. Some giving her their friendly greeting but turning back to her boyfriend the same.
"Where were you guys?!" One noble cheerleader squealed, clutching onto Juandissmo's arm.
"Yeah, we couldn't find you!"
"Yeah, I noticed first!"
Wanda struggled to move her arms from the group of girls pressed together. Trying to touch Juandissimo's arm across Wanda or his hair as the pink fairy tried to reach for her apple juice but couldn't do so much as that.
"Any plans today?" One asked, rubbing his shoulder.
"Eh," he thought, though his girlfriend knew full-well he did. Shock crossed her brow until he answered. "We had plans for a movie later."
"I love movies!"
"So do I!"
"I think we all do.." Wanda said.
"Sorry chicas, just for mi novia and me."
"Awwwwww.."
Juandissimo amusingly looked at Wanda. As fake as her smile was, she attempted it.
"What're your lunch plans?"
"Yeah, your lunch plans!"
Wanda poked at her food with squished arms. "Pretty much this, guys."
"Hardy har, Wanda." A girl said, so happening to be Tulip. She petted one hand to Juandissimo's head that Wanda dropped her fork over. Her boyfriend didn't move, looking at the food he ate instead. "What about the rest of lunch?"
Wanda pointed to her food. "This-?"
"I was gonna take Wanda to the stands before gym." Juandissimo mentioned.
His girlfriend looked baffled. "You were?"
"Before it gets crowded."
She didn't think she was entirely up from leaving the sun. "I'm okay out here, babe.."
"We can go with you, Juan!" One beside Tulip volunteered.
"Yeah, come on Juannie!"
Looking around at the admirers swarming him, Juandissimo looked to his girlfriend for the okay. "Mi flor?"
She was a little confused by this permission he was asking of her, staring back. If he wanted to go, by all means. Did it really mean a lot for him to leave? That seemed like a whole other thing to her.
"Sure."
The girls squealed, barely giving Juandissio enough room to pack up his lunch things and get up from the table. He gave Wanda a kiss on the cheek as she gave an air kiss in return. Her boyfriend turned back to the building's entrance as each and every girl went to cling to his arms.
"Bye, Wanie!" Some good-byed.
She watched the sky's sunny rays, somehow greeting her with a more sour feeling.
Floating into Potions hand in hand, the power couple looked around for their usual lab seats. with three rows consisting of four double desks, they sat at the second of the middle, placing their schoolbooks down as girlish giggles allowed them to both turn to a few friends sitting one desk away from them as they waved.
Their potions lab teacher didn't seem to have the energy for quite about anything that day, nose deep in a furnish magazine with class instructions written on the board behind his desk up front. Both brown loafers sat atop his desk by his crossed legs and he barely gave any notice or care to the few varsity heads tossing a paper ball back and forth across the room.
"Looks like today will be fun." Wanda joked lamely.
Juandissimo regretted to look at the board saying that lab partners were gonna be switched around today. "No solo, we cannot exchange class notes today either."
Seeing the instructions written, Wanda questioned why switch lab partners this early in the semester. Her and her boyfriend have been study partners for the class since school started and breaking routine wasn't exactly in Wanda's book.
"Didn't you hereeee?" A chirp voice from behind scooted in. Another girl of Wanda and Juandissimo's knowing came to talk to them by budding in between. "Partners are switching today!"
"As it is written in chalk letters.." Wanda muttered under he breath, getting a little pat of hushing up from Juandissimo.
"So, Juanie," Wanda nearly gawked by the finger the girl trailed up his leg, let alone that no opposing hand of his moved it. "Plans?"
Juandissimo shrugged. "Your table it is I suppose."
"Yay!" She turned to Wanda and gave her a side hug. "Thanks for letting us borrow your boyfriend, babe!"
Off she went and Wanda leaned an arm against the desk, glancing at Juandissimo until he noticed and looked dumbfounded. "Qué?"
"Not much work you're gonna get done."
"Relajarse," he calmed, piling up previously open notes in preparation to move by the bell's notice. "It's not like that."
"It's never like that.."
"Babe?"
"I'm fine."
"No, hold on-"
"Whatever, I'm done." Wanda said, unable to see any way she could have this conversation without blowing steam from her ears. She went back to profusely scribbling notes in her book and reminding herself of last class' lesson while avoiding the purple eyes that stared at the side of her head.
The bell ran and Dimplebottom's eyes didn't leave his pages. "Pair up with a new partner, try someone you haven't worked with. Exchange notes and please do exercises 1.5 through 1.7"
"Yoohoo! Juanie!" Two girls waved from their corner table on one end. Juandissimo smiled their way, causing both of them to burst into giggles and whisper behind a propped book. Wanda didn't as so much look her friends' way as Juandissimo scooted out of his chair.
"I will come find you after class."
"Mhm."
In an attempt to move in for a kiss, she arched her head away. Giving up his chances, Juandissimo moved over to where he was more wanted. Wanda stayed situated at their usual table.
"That includes you, Miss Fairywinkle."
She was surprised the teacher was even able to look up to notice her all by her lonesome. Wanda sighed quietly and gathered her stuff, beginning to look. arund for anyone she was up to joining. The class had plenty up for options she knew, but none her mood seemed to me drawn to. Avoiding her boyfriend at the corner table, she looked to the end's other corner where a lone yellow fairy sat. Uncalled on by the teacher because perhaps the way he sat away from everyone else hardly made him noticed. Wanda didn't even remember that she was in this class with him.
Welp. She left her table and went across the class to meet the fairy with his face in his own notes. Feeling a presence come closer he looked up at the pink fairy who smiled as a form of greeting.
"Don't suppose you need a partner?"
The yellow fairy took a small second to consider it. "Yeah, sure. I usually work alone, anyway."
Wanda put her books down and scooted in on the empty stool. "Dimplebottom doesn't bother you about that?"
Both of them looked at the man behind his desk. Feet still propped while munching on a pear and more indulged in his magazine than the actual classroom. Ginko drummed his pencil against an open book and turned back to Wanda. "You tell me."
She gave a short laugh, opening her textbook as another explosive group giggle came from the other table. Wanda urged not to look over.
"So, potions."
"Yup."
Ginko watched her take out her notes. "Don't see why we have to exchange notes, I feel like we can just start the exercises."
"Thanks," Wanda said. "I don't have-"
Obnoxious laughter continued.
She tried not to flinch. "I don't have the energy for much today."
"Same here." Ginko said, patting his stomach. "I think something bad was in the caf's casserole."
"Oof." Wanda pitied. "Last time you eat there I guess-"
"Mr. Magnifico, if you're going to be a comedian, save it for somewhere else." Dimplebottom called out. Wanda finally gave an ounce of attention to the table watching Juandissimo hold up a hand of apology to the teacher though he bounced right back into quiet conversation with the girls. Letting them both feel the muscle underneath his letterman jacket.
Ginko looked beyond Wanda. "Isn't that suppose to bother you?"
She was past hiding her irritation at this point. "Yeah."
Ginko wasn't oblivious to Wanda's annoyance, nor the look of pride on Juandissimo's face from the attention he was receiving. "Didn't realize he had a second and third girlfriend.."
"Or a fourth, fifth, and sixth."
The tangerine-eyed fairy was bewildered that she even made that joke. Much less taking his just as seriously.
The end of the day couldn't come fast enough. Wanda dumped what she could into her backpack and hurried from her own locker to where she was planning to met Juandissimo at his. She scooted through other students on their way home or hooked in conversation with others. Given the less amount of homework she had, this Friday was hopefully to be a relaxing one. She couldn't wait to get somewhere chill with Juandissimo as planned. By her hopes, his house and not her tornado of a home.
Arriving at his locker, she felt levels of red hot disgust elevate if she ever knew it.
While Juniper texted to whomever on her phone, she waited on two other girls of her and Wanda's general possy flirt like their life depended on it with...you guessed it...Mr. Maginfiico. Set adrift with the dreamboat in front of them as he took all their compliments with a grateful hand, letting one feel his bicep through his jacket. Wanda swore to god the boy was even flexing.
Enough bull, she stormed forward. Her angry arrival alone allowing Juniper to look up and the girls to almost shy away from what they knew they were doing. Juandissimo too seeming a little timid.
"Oh, why the low mood?" Wanda asked sourly. "Did I spoil your party?"
Juandissimo looked unamused. "Mi flor, come on now-"
"Hush, babe," she snapped, making Juniper's fun smirk happily gawk even more. "There's a bottle of baby oil in my locker, I can grease those abs up for you to help you out next time. Just ring me up"
"You know, you don't own him." One girl Lucia budded sharply.
"And you don't have a say in this."
"Pero, it seems as if I do not." Juandissimo decided to defend.
"What!?" Wanda wasn't sure how serious he was being. "How much more say do I have to give you when you make me look like I'm the crazy one!?"
"I think you're doing that yourself, Wanie." Juniper said, lifting her phone to purse her lips for a selfie to send to Luther. Juandissimo took his girlfriend by the hand to pull her away for privacy from the others.
"I only have eyes for you, mi flor."
"You also have it for vanity."
Did this girl just straight up call him vain? "Wanda por favor, I am still me."
She wasn't so sure, because he didn't seem as recognizable under her eyes the same way he did when they first became friends. She didn't feel the same under his eyes anymore either.
"Can I take you to a movie, after?"
Wanda's brow scrunched. "After what..?"
His gaze was as hollow as her energy for this ongoing fight. Oh, whatever. He didn't need to waste his time with this washed-up cheerleader when he had plenty of others pawning after him already. Pushing past him with her hands gripping her bag straps, she headed for a way out of there.
"Wanda!"
She busted out the school exit with her knees feeling shaky and her head tightening from the anxiety chasing her tail. Looking quickly for a way to shake off what she knew was coming as she flew down a school's path between a grass plain so fast that she found a hidden corner by the base of a large bolder monumental to school grounds beyond the flagpole. Sitting on her bottom she tossed her bag beside her, clenching her jaw so hard she swore she'd chip off a tooth as she punched the grass once and clawed two fists to her cheeks as her eyes squeezed from the pressure of crying.
Juandissimo dated her because she's just all that? Because his behavior made Wanda feel like she was being thrown in the air and landing into something completely different. Like she would get all this praise and praise for her outside shell only to feel her heart be as valued as gum at the bottom of one's shoe. The way this mocked her so badly was aligning much more to the way things were for her at home and it was suffocating. Bouncing back and forth between what felt the same either at school or under her father's gaze. On top of it, she didn't even know if Juandissimo knew he was making her feel like she was the crazy one.
She felt like she couldn't breathe. Choking over air as she palmed her eyes to prevent rickety tears that came all the same. She hitched and begged herself to sop but her soul was much more in control than her conscious state of mind. One of which was tired of pursuing this every day. Like she was screaming but reached nothing with her voice because there was something blocking her. A ruse of fake emotions and smiles she gave to everyone that she couldn't keep up with. This ongoing thing with her boyfriend was like the big slap of it all where she felt her 'valued importance' was all just for minimal benefit. For whatever use he or someone else wanted. She couldn't believe she was thinking this, but it was not valued by him the way it should be. At least not anymore. It made her feel so wrong. Just wrong of a person entirely.
"Wanda?"
Her soul almost jumped out of her body in looking through glossy fuschia orbs to the green blob before her. Quickly becoming Cosmo as she wiped her tears. In remembering he could see her face completely she dove her chin down.
"What's wrong?"
She just shook her head. Why here? Why now?
He'd never seen her cry before. He almost thought it was something he wasn't allowed to see was he stood there awkwardly with his backpack held over one shoulder. Watching was Wanda couldn't hold her tears as her chin shook he decided someone this sad shouldn't be alone. Especially not her.
Cosmo placed his backpack near Wanda's and took a seat in front of her. Minding her space but trying to be a little close to reminder her there was someone trying to help whatever was crushing her beautiful self into tears. His concern deepened as one of her sniffs broke into a vocal sound from her throat.
"Wanda..?" He tried to explain himself. "I saw you fly out here and you were going really fast. I thought..maybe..."
She tripped over every word by an ugly sob. "I'm so..tired..of..him..d-doing..that."
"Doing what?"
She cried harder, and Cosmo by some natural impulse reached both his hands to caress her shoulders. Feeling her body tremble under his touch but the small strokes he made giving therapeutic contact to her.
"Juan," she cried. Cosmo blinked, hoping he hadn't been the one to cause this. "He-He-He won't stop...those other girls.."
That could mean anyone. Juandissimo's reputable dreamboat figure wasn't very subtle.
"I'm sorry, Wanda.."
She gasped in her cries now, unable to help it. Cosmo's brow creased in seeing her so hurt. Not only for the first time but so dreadfully, too. He continued to pet her shoulders and for a moment her puffy eyes met his. It gave him the chance to smile at her.
"Even if you don't wanna talk.." he gripped her shoulders. "I can still stay with you.."
She nodded and continued to embark on a needed cry.
Getting on his knees he hugged her tightly. Of course her crying continued, he didn't expect his hug to make it stop. But it seemed she was pretty grateful for it by not moving away or asking that he let go. Her small moans met against his ear meant she needed this more than she needed a large group of people presuming for her.
"It's okay..it's gonna be okay.." he comforted and nodded assuringly. "You're gonna be okay.."
Her chin relaxed against his shoulder with her arms snug between his body and her own, his arms embracing her tightly. Hitching near his ear as her heart slowed by the gentle pressure and warmth his arms kept on her. Feeling that contact initiate so much more to rely on as the tears painting her face sowed and her choppy breaths tried halting though they still gently came. As her crying breaths decreased like a dying motor, Wanda let a shaky breath crawl against Cosmo's shoulder as a brow of satisfaction creased over her closed eyes. Snuggling closer against him.
She was seen, and her real emotions were much valued.
. . .
. .
I don't mean to shit on Juandissimo too much since I like him, but with the way my AU is written I need to make him a bit of that typical jerk. I'd like to think he grows from this at least. I'll try to be quicker with the next one!
~McSgwizzle