Author's Note: Okay, parts of this chapter got a little angsty and 3+4 centered. Duo and Heero are still my main guys, but they get a breather here. Offensive language and discrimination rampant too, I apologize for it now. I was leery of putting it in such a light fic, but I felt it added to the plot. Thankies to ReiAkari (who's still in SC) for the suggestion.
Thankies to Shi-chan, Sony_Mouse and Lechara, and all those who pestered me daily to finish this chapter. I give a handful of Smarties to the 50+ people who voted for the prom theme. ^_^
Of course a huggie goes out to my beta Lady Tora. A big hug to my online sister D.C. who I call L_ _ _, who is my temp muse and sometimes goes by Mysti. ^_^
by Anthy
Duo looked around at the slowly filling cafeteria with a hint of annoyance. Just like every Friday morning, the prom committees were just entering the double doors. The students were as groggy and disappointed as usual, save for the occasional morning people. Unfortunately for the junior class president, today was "different".
'Game day, whoo-hoo. . .' he yawned inwardly as his violet eyes scanned the room. It was a sea of blue t-shirts, matching hair ties, letter jackets--almost anything that could be deemed apparel was either royal blue or black. 'At least we didn't have Spirit Week.'
'Are you sure about that, low spirit boy?' his mind taunted as Trowa came walking in with a large thin blanket wrapped around his body and pinned at his shoulder.
"Toga day for the seniors?" he mused. "Why couldn't our basketball team suck like other schools? At least then I could be apathetic in peace." Feeling someone prod him in the shoulder, he turned to see Hilde sitting down beside him. She was clad in the blue V shell top that all the cheerleaders wore along with the unnecessarily short pleated skirt. She fought with it for a moment before pulling a pair of tear-away pants out of her book bag and slipping them on.
"Sad," she tsked, "doesn't even participate in Spirit Week. Have you any school spirit?"
"I do!" he countered. Reaching into Hilde's bag, he unearthed a sticker emblazoned with the school logo. He slapped it onto his shoulder and shrugged. "Go school."
"Quiz," Wufei interjected as he sat in a nearby chair and began to pull out papers from his bag, "who are we playing tonight?"
"Peyton Prep." Duo answered with a smile. "Go team!"
"You mean, go Heero." Wufei and Hilde corrected him, both shooting devious looks to the other before bowing their heads.
"That's not funny!" he hissed as his cabinet began to hold back laughter. "Someone could have heard you!"
Wufei, after taking a moment to regain his composure, began to scan the room. "Almost everyone is here. I think we should-"
"Wait!" Hilde screamed. She pushed her chair back and jumped from her seat. The room quieted from the noise and turned to stare at the three. Running up to Wufei, she slapped a blue sticker on his back. "I just noticed you were not wearing blue this morning, that's all."
"Well, now that my dear friend scared us all senseless into wearing blue and that everyone is now wide awake," Duo announced to the group as he stood, "we can start the meeting. Hilde?"
"Hey Wildcats!" she said loudly as she stood with her clipboard. After a moment, she furrowed her brow. "Wildcats!?" she asked again.
"Yeah?" the room loudly answered back.
"You want a DJ?"
"Yeah!"
"You want a DJ?" she shouted.
"Yeah!"
"Well, you got your DJ." she said normally causing the room to laugh and cheer. "Your votes all went to 'Dan the Man', but he had to promise no more contests. He still has more fun in store for us, so don't despair. Thank you so much to all who came and voted. We had tons of money left over, so this year's prom is going to be amazing!"
"Cute cheer." Duo commented dryly as she sat down beside him. Slapping Duo lightly with the clipboard, she handed it to him. He stood and began to address the room. "We're going to make this meeting real short so that certain people, *cough* cheerleaders *cough*, can get ready for the rally at the end of the day. Wu-wildcat?"
"Coronation nominations Monday." Wufei growled as he rolled his eyes. "We got a caterer, food tastes expensive but cheap. . . senior cabinet selected the theme, and Duo's going to di-"
"Tell you what the theme is!" Duo interrupted, jumping up from his seat to give Wufei an impromptu hug. "The senior cabinet just adored "A Whole New World" and they voted for that along with the prom's colors. I do believe it's purple and gold. That's it for today, see everyone at the game!"
Heero stood at the end of Duo's announcement and began to make his way out into the hallway. He had no need to linger . . . at least not in the cafeteria anyway. Relena walked beside him, her arm hooked around his elbow. The plastic from her blue and white pompoms swished as she swung her free arm, the loud noise more distracting than his inner voice.
'Too bad she's no longer mad at you.' his mind complained. Heero's antics at the party had done its job of making Relena mad: she left the party before the song had ended. She didn't even talk to him the rest of the weekend. Again, Duo stepped in to play mediator, and she had resolved all of her issues three days later. Reaching his locker, Heero leaned against it. Why did Duo help him patch up problems with a girl, especially one Duo didn't like? Why didn't Heero stop him in the first place?
"I've got to go to the rally rehearsal." Relena told him hurriedly as she leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek. "Do you think I can wear your jacket? It's chilly in here."
He took his jacket off his shoulders and handed it to her. The basketball coach insisted that his players dress up professionally the day of the game, so he wore his pressed slacks and a semi-formal white shirt. A blue and black diagonal-striped necktie hung around his neck.
"I'm so lucky to have such a handsome boyfriend," she cooed, before brushing her lips lightly across his. She stepped away from him and looked into his eyes. "What would I do if you weren't here with me?" she added softly, slipping on the heavy letter jacket.
"You'd be late," he answered, a small smile crossing his lips. A small chill passed through her. Even though he smiled, something just didn't seem right. He seemed completely unaffected by the kiss; it was as if he had been kissed by a wall instead of the girl he loved.
'I'm imagining things,' she scolded herself as she waved and began her trek to the gym. He returned the wave, but still leaned against the locker.
"Relena! Wait up!" Hilde yelled behind her, causing her to stop and turn around. Looking down the hallway, she saw that Heero had not moved from his locker. Students walked by and he watched them. Some waved and he nodded back, but he made no move toward his homeroom. Suddenly he stood, and she saw that Duo had bounded up to the locker, Quatre and Trowa walking side by side a few steps behind him.
Relena remembered the way the blond had danced at the party with his friend, but the way they acted towards each other at school was completely different. There were rumors buzzing around that they were seeing each other, but no one was sure in what way. She finally concluded that the two were just friends, they had to be. Heero and Duo had danced just as close at that party, and nobody was accusing them of anything. Were they? Friends, that's all that there was to it. If Quatre and Trowa were more than friends, and the way they acted at school was the way her Heero did when around Duo. . .
"Yo! La Captaina?" Hilde said as she jumped in front of Relena, their heads bumping. "You still with us?"
"Oh! I just was thinking about something . . ." she murmured. The four boys crowded around the two lockers, Heero talking to Trowa, Duo joking around with Quatre.
"Well stop staring at your boyfriend and come on!" the dark-haired girl exclaimed as she pulled Relena's arm.
'That's right, Heero's *MY* boyfriend. He loves *ME*. He has too . . . doesn't he?'
**********************************************************************
"Hey Q, wearing enough blue?" Duo rhymed as he slapped his friend on the shoulder. Quatre laughed. Looking out of the corner of his eye, Duo could see Heero and Trowa talking about the game. Shrugging, the longhaired teen turned and began to twist the dial on Heero's locker. Opening it, he pulled out the blue sash from the corner of it. The sash was the prize from the contest, the word "School Freak" stamped on the front and back. Duo closed the locker door and threw the sash around his shoulders.
"You're not going to wear that, are you?" Quatre asked with a chuckle.
"It's blue." Duo and Heero said at the same time. Trowa grinned at the two and walked up to Quatre. The younger teen's eyes widened slightly, unsure of what Trowa was going to do. It was frustrating to no end, the more he tried to get close to Quatre at school, the further he got pushed away. Only when they were alone was it a different story and Quatre would not tell him why.
"Do you want me to walk you to class?" Trowa asked in a low voice. Quatre lowered his head.
"No, that's all right," he murmured. "I'll see you at the rally."
"See you at the rally." Trowa echoed as Quatre walked away, his head still downcast.
"Where's he running off to?" Duo asked while Trowa watched Quatre walk briskly down the hallway.
"Away from me."
Duo blinked as Trowa nodded tersely to the both of them and walked in the opposite direction to class.
"Man, the tension's so thick you could cut it up and serve it on a plate," he commented as he leaned against the locker.
"Prognosis?" Heero asked as he leaned against Quatre's locker door.
"It's obvious Quatre has issues, probably that whole being gay thing, and he's not telling Trowa about it. I'm guessing that neither has had a boyfriend before and has no clue what to do about it. Poor saps. Judging by the party last week, Tro gets some . . . not that! Don't give me that look . . . just something pretty damn close to gettin' some. Lucky bastard, Q's kinda cute."
"I think you're right. . .no, wait a minute. He's not cute at all."
"Yes, he is!" Duo argued mildly, "But Wuffie's hotter. Actually, Hilde looks mighty nice in the short skirt, has those legs and everything! Jealous yet?"
"Insanely." Heero stated before walking towards homeroom. Duo grinned and followed suit.
Duo knew when Heero was being serious. . . and he was just then. Heero's odd behavior last week suddenly made sense. Relena wasn't trying to make Heero mad at him; she was making him jealous! Looked like her plan backfired in a way. . .
'Hello! Earth to Duo Maxwell!' his mind screamed, causing him to stop walking. 'Are you even listening to yourself?'
"I try not to." he murmured as he continued to surge forward.
'Do I need to spell it out for you? H-E-E-R-O. . . W-A-S. . . J-E-A-L-O-U-S. . .'
"Only because I was avoiding him and spending time with everyone else. He's spending more time with me, and that's that."
'Spelling more: J-E-A-L-O-U-S. . . O-F. . . O-T-H-E-R . . . G-U-Y-S'
"Don't forget Hilde," he irritably said, running into Heero's back. They had reached homeroom and Duo didn't notice one bit.
"What about her?"
Duo laughed lamely and scratched the back of his head. "Oh! I was making a mental note. . .Don't forget Hilde forgot to drop off the notes from this morning's meeting."
"Oh." Heero shrugged and entered the room.
"I'm just going to go and drop off these notes!" Duo sang from the doorway to the teacher. The man nodded and waved him away. Walking away from the classroom, Duo let out a deep breath and leaned against the locker. He had nowhere to go. . . it was Wufei's job to turn in meeting notes. "I'll just visit my favorite principal! Yeah! That's it."
'When hiding from a student, go to the last place they'd want to be. . . why are you hiding again?'
**********************************************************************
'Thank God it's over.' Trowa thought as he sat in his assigned chair on the edge of the gym floor. The rally that took place instead of his last hour was just as dull as going to class, except with yelling cheerleaders and screaming students. They all clapped and cheered as the varsity squad started the show by running across the floor in their uniforms, each making a flawless shot into the basket. Heero had purposely threw his basketball against the backboard, Trowa flipped into the air, caught the airborne ball before slamming it down the hoop. He hung from the rim briefly as the crowd roared and jumped to their feet--that was a little interesting.
The rest of the assembly read the same as the last. Each club and organization that had something interesting to share took turns at the mic, the cheerleaders and the dance team each had routines to show. Trowa always saw their performances as a competition to prove which squad was better: the short-skirted screamers who threw members in the air; and the silent dancers in bell-bottoms who liked to twirl on their toes and do fancy splits. In reality, they were pretty much the same.
Then Mrs. Noin did her traditional speech on how students, faculty and family members were to behave at the game. She reminded them all that their attendance to the game was a privilege and not to abuse it by taunting and booing the other team. Signaling the school band, she dismissed classes for the day. Students stood and rushed towards the gym doors.
'Looks like a stampede trying to leave a burning building,' Trowa thought as he began to gather his things. 'They always seem to forget about the exit on the other side of the building.'
"Trowa!" Quatre exclaimed as he ran up to the small crowd of basketball players. The blond youth was grinning ear to ear, his eyes bright with excitement. If anything, it seemed that he was wearing even more blue than this morning. Along with the oversized blue T-shirt and black pants, Quatre now had blue ribbons tied around his neck and wrists. Cornflower blue crepe paper was wrapped around his waist like a belt, a long end of it trailing behind him. To top things off every part of his exposed pale skin was covered in a thin sheen of blue body glitter.
Trowa couldn't help but laugh. "What happened to you?" He asked as he picked up the smaller boy and spun him around.
"My last class got bored," Quatre laughed as he hit Trowa's arm. "You should see the other guy."
"Enjoy the rally?" he asked as he tried to pull Quatre into a deeper hug. The other teen laughed nervously and stepped away.
"You were wonderful," Quatre said softly, "about the game. . . um, I don't think I'll be able to make it."
"Why?"
"Trowa, the captain's wants to have a short meeting!" Marc, the team's manager yelled before beginning to pester other team members. Quatre jumped at the sound of the other boy's voice, and stepped even farther away from him.
"I. . . um, . . .I have to go. . . t-to a dinner thing. I'll try to make it, b-but I wanted to um, wish you good luck." the object of Trowa's affection managed to whisper out. Quatre's eyes remained downcast; Trowa stepped forward quickly and placed a hand on the smaller teen's shoulder.
"Duo invited the gang to his job afterward for free appetizers." Trowa murmured softly, reaching out to grasp Quatre's chin lightly. He tilted Quatre's head up so that he could look into his eyes. "Maybe you can meet us there?"
"Sure!" Quatre gushed nervously, a bright smile crossing his features. Leaning his head sideways, he began to walk backward. "I've got to wash some of this glitter off, so I'll-"
Before Quatre could finish his sentence, Trowa took advantage of his hand being on the other boy's shoulder. Holding him still, he took a large step forward and kissed him. "See you later," he murmured seconds later. At least Quatre didn't push him away, that kiss was just as good as ones they had shared before. Quatre stared at him in disbelief before looking past Trowa's shoulder. Trowa watched as Quatre blushed and waved weakly to the teammates who were gawking at the two.
"Oh, fuck it," Quatre muttered to himself. Suddenly, just before Trowa could gasp at such uncharacteristic phrase, Quatre wrapped his arms around the taller teen's neck and kissed him soundly. "I'll see you tonight at the game, Trowa." he added firmly before walking away from the stunned teen. Skipping backwards, Quatre paused to wave and blow a kiss to his teammates, who were now standing next to him. The other boys waved before turning on their friend.
"Trowa. . . man!" Nick, his loudmouth lunch mate said as he slung an arm around Trowa's shoulder. "Why didn't ya tell us?"
"I thought we were your homies, and you holding out on us!" Jay cried, pointing to Quatre's retreating back. "What up with that?"
"Guys, I didn't mean to-"
"She's hot!" Nick exclaimed, giving Trowa a playful shove.
Jay nodded and began to shake his finger in front of Trowa's face in mock disapproval. "You hogging the new girl all to yourself, and you ain't gonna share." he tsked, beginning to walk away.
"Quatre's not-" Trowa started.
"She got a sister?" interrupted another teammate who had been eavesdropping.
"But Quatre's a-"
"Nah, nah. . . we wanna know. Just answer yes or no. Does your girl got sisters?" Nick prodded eagerly.
"Yes." Trowa stated matter-of-factly. Quatre had tons of sisters--he was the only brother among them. "I'm trying to tell you Quatre's-"
"Shy? Yeah, we got that. Think you can hook one of us up?"
"Trowa's trying to tell you that Quatre's not his girlfriend." Heero said as he walked past the group, a basketball tucked under his shoulder. "He-"
"Damn, man!" Jay exclaimed, running up to the group. "Don't tell me you two are just friends!" Heero shook his head and gave Trowa a look that read: 'If you can't teach them. . . why try?' Walking past his teammates, Trowa and Heero walked out of the gym towards the locker room in silence.
"Think you might hook me up then?" a voice yelled after them.
********************************************************************
"You have got to be kidding me!" Duo groaned as he flipped through the thick catalog. The massive book was about as large as a phone directory, each page filled with brightly colored pictures of various prom decorations and party favors. Duo was currently sprawled out on Heero's bed swaddled under a pile of blankets. "None of these theme sets have anything that goes with our theme!"
"What did you expect?" Heero asked from his spot at the computer desk, his eyes still glued to the computer screen.
"One 'A Whole New World' theme kit!" he snapped playfully, throwing a pillow at Heero's head.
"That means you'll have more creative freedom."
"That means more work." Duo whined, burrowing deeper in the blankets. "Maybe I can ask someone in the art department for ideas. . . yeah! That's what I'll do! Maybe the drama department would design the lights and the theme set on page 107 could be easily altered but those damn cardboard things have got to go. Hey! Maybe we could use. . ."
Heero turned around to watch Duo jump up from his blanket cave. He began to pace on Heero's bed, ranting and raving as he flipped through the thick catalog.
". . . cheap looking box hat with the fur all over it? I'm not having the prom king wear that shit on my watch!" Duo complained five minutes later, finally sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bed. "If we got to spend big bucks on those pretty sparkle-filled tiaras for the ladies, why does the king get no love? He gets a cheap cardboard box covered in felt. Now these metallic babies are a sight to behold!" he exclaimed as he passed the catalog for Heero to look at the picture. "I might even run myself."
"You're a junior."
"So technical." he playfully pouted. "No crown for you then."
"I'm a junior."
"No fun."
"Those crowns are traditional Duo." Heero said as he passed the catalog back to Duo. He turned back to the computer and continued his work. "Plus they are cost effective. I doubt Mrs. Noin will let you order them."
"Who can resist the Maxwell charm?" he argued. He sauntered over to Heero's chair and draped an arm around Heero's shoulders. "Just a little doe eyes . . . a devil-may care smile. . . and I'm in."
"If you insist . . ."
"So tense!" Duo interrupted. He began to squeeze Heero's shoulders lightly, and at the same time began to read over the paper that the other teen had posted on the screen. "It's just another game."
"It is still something to take seriously." Heero counted, reaching up to place his hands over Duo's.
"You have to have a little fun, or why play at all?" Duo scolded. Giving Heero's shoulders one last squeeze; he reached for the foam basketball sitting on the side of his desk. "Tell you what, how about a one-on-one pre-game match up? Maxwell vs. Yuy."
"I have to be at the school in 2 hours."
"It'll be fun!" he pleaded as he walked over to the small hoop hanging from the door. "If I win, I'll pester Mrs. Noin into getting the metallic crowns for the king."
Heero stared at him for a moment. "If I win?"
"I'll leave it be."
"No."
"I'll wear all blue to the gaaame." Duo sang, running up to tug on Heero's arm.
"That and you'll get your face painted at the cheerleader booth before the game." Heero added smugly. The braided teen's confidence faltered slightly at the thought of having Relena drawing on his face, but a bet was a bet.
A bet he did not intend to lose.
"You're on!"
*********************************************************************
Quatre walked down the crowded hallway and already regretted being there. Ever since he had learned that WHS was up against Peyton Prep, he had lost his nerve. Once those students found out he was here. . .
Quatre still didn't understand why he froze up in school whenever Trowa was near. He wanted their relationship to be kept under wraps, more for Trowa's sake than his. No one knew that the other boy was gay, most of the school knew nothing about him beyond his talents in the sports area. Quatre's fear was that their opinions might change, just like his old friends did when he broke the news. He was afraid to tell anyone at this new school of his past, his preference, and anything about him as a person. So far no one knew much about him, he barely talked to students unless they talked to him and he stuck closely to the people he met the first day.
It was hard. In the beginning of his relationship with Trowa, he had been so blinded by the boy that he had slipped. First was the date to the restaurant, and visits to Trowa's older sister's house. They almost made out in the middle of a dance floor no less. It was just the way Trowa acted, nonchalant towards the world that did not apply to him. For a few days, Quatre felt the same way. When he was in Trowa's arms, nothing in this unfair world mattered but that moment. His heart always ached whenever they were apart, his heart warmed whenever he thought of Trowa's name. He never in his life imagined feeling this close to anyone; each day he longed to be even closer. Then they made the mistake of telling how much they cared about the other. To be simply put, they were in love.
Then the doubt and past fears that plagued him returned. What if what happened to him would be just as terrible for Trowa? In love or not, nothing could change the fact that they were both men, and he had no clue how the world would respond to that. He wasn't naive like the days at Peyton; people were not as accepting and as tolerant as they said they were.
'The world is just unfair.'
He decided to downplay their romance, try and pass as just being friends. It was harder than he thought it would be. Just today, in class during seminar, a group of girls crowded around him and began to fire questions. He heard them all before, they were no different from the Peyton girls. Only this time he knew better, keep his mouth shut and tell them what they wanted to hear. Then he offered to be their mannequin the rest of the class period. To bad they didn't catch the subtle hints that he always managed to throw out. He had been so frustrated that when Trowa had kissed him and ruined what he tried so vainly to conceal. . .
When he shared that kiss with Trowa, he had been surprised at the looks that the teammates gave them. They seemed happy for their friend, even a little envious. He was elated . . . until he looked in the mirror. The glitter, sash, and ribbons had given him an almost feminine appearance. Quatre knew that none of the boys on the varsity squad would even know him since he was just a sophomore.
'They thought I was a girl. . .' he had thought. After sulking and scrubbing off the glitter until his face was pink, Quatre realized it was for the best. Trowa had to work with them after all.
He continued to walk toward the gym doors, but paused when he saw the sight before him. Duo Maxwell, who was wearing blue sneakers, blue Adidas pants, and a bright blue WHS t-shirt; was surrounded by two cheerleaders at the fundraising table. Hilde was painting '#12' on his cheek while the other girl was braiding a blue ribbon in his hair. He did not look happy.
"Did you lose a bet?" Quatre asked playfully.
"Officially it was a tie, but the deal still stands." Hilde informed Quatre, a big smile on her face.
Duo growled. "Not in the mood, La Blue Boy and Cheer Girl." he snapped as he tried to reach for the mirror in Hilde's hand. She shook her head and handed it to another girl.
"Let's just get a spot in the cheering section, we'll blend in better that way." Quatre suggested as he pulled Duo up from his seat. "Hilde, who's number did you draw on Duo's cheek?" he whispered to the girl as Duo stomped away.
"Shhh!" she hissed. "He thinks it is the school's initials."
Laughing, Quatre followed Duo to the gym, both teens taking a spot in the middle of the high school's already large cheering section. Quatre wasn't lying about blending in; it was a sea of blue, greatly contrasting with the crowd of forest green at the other side of the court.
"Land verses Water!" Duo commented. "We'll flood their asses!"
Fifteen minutes later, the game commenced. Not a second was dull; it was a heated match. Though Peyton Prep was at the top of division, they had Trowa Barton and Heero Yuy to their disadvantage. It almost seemed as if the two boys were the only ones on the floor. At least, to the pairs of eyes watching them.
Half time arrived soon enough, and Quatre was being dragged to the concession stand.
"Can't we just sit and watch the dance team?" he protested, his feet killing him. Duo shook his head and continued to pull Quatre's arm.
"If you wanna get a drink, this is your chance!" Duo argued. "Luckily for us that the dance team is so good that not many people leave to get food. All we usually have to deal with is people from the other school. . . did I say something wrong? You just went a whiter white in one second flat! Mighty impressive, Q!"
"No, no," he said weakly as he stopped in front of the restroom line. "I'm fine. I'll wait here for you."
"Ok, two cokes to go!" Duo asked after a moment's hesitation. "And you've got to try the nachos, man!"
Quatre watched Duo bound toward the concession stand, his heart beating heavily in his chest. He leaned against the wall and silently prayed no one would see him. Just as he turned to look at the various plaques and signs that littered the wall, a hand clamped onto his shoulder.
"Hey, it's fag boy!" a voice leered in his ear.
*********************************************************************
Duo bounced down the hallway, arms laden with various treats and sodas.
"Duo! Duo!" a girl in his class came running up to him, her eyes wide with fear.
"What's up?" he grinned.
"Your friend," she gasped, "he looks like he's in trouble!"
"Q?"
"Yeah, the sophomore! He's surrounded by a bunch of guys from the other school, and I think they want to fight him or something."
"Hold this." Duo stated in a low voice, depositing the armful of food in her hands. Sure enough, the blond boy was blocked by four sides by boys twice his size. Quatre stood rigid, his eyes downcast. He had his hands clenched in tight fists, and he appeared to be shaking. Duo creeped up to the group and silently listened.
"C'mon, don't tell me you don't have a boyfriend yet!" the largest of the group sneered.
"I don't." Quatre spat out, the phrase sounding bitter in his mouth.
"I know you're lying." the guy cooed, "You're such a good liar. Tell me, who knows that you're a queer?"
"No one," he whispered.
"And why not? I think they deserve to know such a perverted bastard is among them."
"Please, just leave me alone. I haven't done anything to you."
"Ah! The fag's forgotten!" the guy laughed to his friends. "I guess I should remind you then."
"Whoa! Whoa!" Duo yelled, stepping into the middle of the circle, a big smile on his face. "Hi, I'm Duo. I happen to be one of the student representatives here. Is there a problem here?"
"Yes, there is a big problem! That thing over there is a homo."
Duo furrowed his brow. "As in homosexual?"
"Yes!"
"Oh! I'm sorry I thought you were talking about the milk!" he gushed in a falsely cheery tone. "I'm sooo sorry to inform you, but you're a little too late."
"Excuse me?"
"For the scandal!" Duo continued his voice sugary sweet. "Someone came out last year! It was such a big fiasco! Ass-whippings and community meetings and hate messages in the locker bays, oh it was a show! He claimed to be bisexual among other atrocities. People started questioning their own sexuality. . . big ol' mess."
"So what happened to the fag?"
"Eh," Duo shrugged, "some other people came out, people got bored, and he became junior class president if I remember correctly. So, I'll take this young man's name, put it on our 'people to watch' list, and you just have a super day! Now you run along now boys and I'll take him straight to the principal!"
The group stared at Duo for a minute before walking away. He stared at their backs for a long moment before erupting into a fit of laughter.
"School for the brightest students my ass!" he gasped. "I think they took me seriously! They must not know sarcasm. Let's go find the girl with our food, I got us. . . Q?"
He was so caught up in the moment that he forgot to check on his friend. The younger teen was hyperventilating, his hand clutched tightly to his chest.
"Hey, hey," Duo said soothingly as he gripped Quatre's shoulders, "are you alright?"
Quatre shook his head abruptly before sliding all the way to the floor. "I can't. . ."
"You're gonna have to breathe here, you are starting to freak me out." he said lightly, "I'll go get the nurse if you want."
"No!" the teen managed to croak out. People were beginning to crowd around and stare, only serving to make Quatre's fit worse.
"Alright, man," Duo announced while helping Quatre to his feet, "let's go to a more intimate setting shall we?"
Quatre nodded weakly as Duo led him to a nearby restroom. Once inside, the blond boy began to shake uncontrollably before sinking to the floor once more. Duo quickly ushered whomever was in the place out into the hallway, promptly locking the door. Grabbing a paper towel, he moistened it and placed it on the back of Quatre's neck.
"Quatre, what happened?" he demanded. "If it was about those guys. . ."
"I was just so scared. . ." Quatre whispered.
"No shit." Duo commented as he began to pat Quatre's back. "But there's more. It's Trowa isn't it?"
"Of course it is! Did you know at my last school I got kicked out because I told someone I was gay? I didn't even have a boyfriend, I was just sick of girls asking me out and having to make some stupid excuse to say no. So I told, and very publicly mind you. I just said 'Fuck it', stood up on a table and shouted at the top of my lungs. Look what it did for me." He said bitterly. "Got in a lot of fights. I mean, it was as if all of the jocks thought that being gay equaled wimpiness. Well, after I had sent the wrestling team's captain to the hospital for trying to bum rush me, I got expelled. He got nothing but a cast and three days suspension."
"Who was that guy back there?"
"The captain."
Duo began to laugh. The thought of Quatre putting a guy that large in the hospital. . .
'Mental note to me: never piss Q off.'
"You are afraid the same's gonna happen with Tro?" Duo asked, hugging his friend. Quatre nodded and Duo began to ruffle his hair. "Nah! Look, I wasn't lying back there. All the scandal, controversy and ass whippings are all back with me last year. If it wasn't for my position in StuCo, and other outings around the campus, things might've gone down the way for me the way they did for you. Sure, the rumor mills are probably having fun with you two right now, but don't worry about it."
"What if my old school finds out?" Quatre asked mournfully. "What about the world outside the schools?"
"It's not a cake walk, but for the one you love, it's worth it." Duo told him, pulling him up to his feet. "Is Trowa worth it?" Quatre nodded, a blush rising to his cheeks. "Aw, that's too cute."
"Duo!" Quatre gushed and punched his friend in the arm. Suddenly there was a pounding on the door.
"Is Quatre in there?" Trowa's urgent voice was heard from the doorway.
Duo looked at his watch. "Two minutes. Hmm . . . didn't think the mill was that fast!"
Unlocking the door, Trowa came rushing in. Duo shut the door quickly before prying eyes could peek in.
"Are you ok?" Trowa whispered as he pulled Quatre close. Quatre nodded and quickly filled Trowa in on all that had been going on. "I'm so sorry Quatre, if I knew-"
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Quatre interrupted, silencing with a kiss.
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to be sick." Duo added, leaning against the doorway. "You saps."
"Duo, you know what you have to do." Trowa stated before giving Quatre a quick hug and exited the restroom.
"Yep, rumor duty." he said as he held the door open for him.
"Wha-"
"You want to keep things on the down low, on the qt and very hush, hush, right?" Duo asked before chuckling. "On the qt. . ."
"I guess I want it kept secret for now."
"Well, Tro wants me and Hilde to use the already current rumors to work to your advantage. As for him rushing in here, it was because word got out that his best friend got brutally beaten by the rival school and that we were waiting in the bathroom till the cops come."
"But that didn't happen."
"That's what he heard. He panicked and left the middle of the half-time meeting. Those rumor hounds should be ashamed of themselves for fabricating such a story."
"You fabricated it."
"And I should be ashamed of myself. I'm sooo bad." Duo said with a sniffle. Quatre began to laugh and Duo nodded smugly. "He wanted me to get you to laugh too."
"He told you that in one sentence?" he asked sarcastically.
"Either he's one persuasive s.o.b. or I'm winging it or some shit like that, but who cares! Problem solved! End of story! Let's go see Trowa enact revenge for his dear Quatre."
"Okay!" Quatre cheered as they left the restroom.
**********************************************************************
The restaurant was crowded as usual, and Duo was thankful he did not have to work tonight. Everyone was in the mood to celebrate; the high school's win against Peyton had everyone in high spirits. He leaned forward on the tall chair and began to twist the seat, his knees constantly bumping into Heero and Wufei's legs.
"Told you we should have gotten a booth," Wufei grumbled as Heero grabbed Duo's knees and turned him forward. Sticking out his tongue at his friend, Duo jumped up from the table and rushed back into the kitchen. Returning, he placed a basket of tortilla chips in the center of the round table.
"Peace offering!" he said as he jumped back into his chair and began to rest his head in his hands. Letting his mind wander, he began to observe the people around him. Wufei was eating the chips, his dark brown eyes scooping the tall dirty-blond girl on the other side of the room. Relena and Hilde were disagreeing about the pyramid that had collapsed at the middle of the second half.
"If we just did the basket toss instead-"
"Basket-toss, smasket-tross. Who cares? We blew the big one, but we can work on it Monday. But for right now, I need my mozz sticks."
Quatre was sandwiched between Trowa and Heero, and he was busily telling them what had happened with the boys at Peyton. He didn't give the full story, but Duo could fill Heero in later.
'You are such a hypocrite.' his mind taunted as Duo began to chew on his braid.
"I know." he lamented.
'Take your own damn advice.'
"Which is . . . ?"
'The one about cakes walking and doing things because someone in your life is worth it.'
"Oh."
'Is Heero worth it?'
"That's why it won't work."
"What won't work?" Heero asked as he tapped Duo's shoulder. The braided boy jumped in his seat, his eyes widening as he realized everyone at the table was staring at him.
"Hey, welcome back!" Hilde laughed. "You were just twisting in that chair and talking to yourself. I think you should take a break from that prom catalog."
"Say Heero," Relena purred as she wrapped an arm around Heero's waist. "Want to go to the movies tomorrow?"
"I can't," he said. "I promised Duo I'd help him with the invitation design and browse at the party favors."
"That's ok. We can go on Sunday then."
"Duo's helping me study for my chemistry exam." he stated immediately. Duo looked at Heero in shock. He sure as well knew that Heero could take that exam in his sleep.
"Well, when are you and Duo not slated to do anything?" she asked irritably.
"Oh, I work on Monday. He's all yours, Princess." Duo remarked cheerfully.
"Must you call me that?" she whined. "It's so annoying."
"He has a nickname for everybody, Relena."
"Oh yeah, what's your nickname then?"
"It's. . ." Heero started. "Duo, I don't have a nickname."
"I never thought to give you one. . . "
'Hot buns, blue eyes, silent one. . .'
". . . Heero." he finished, his cheeks suddenly warm. Waitresses approached the table, various dishes in their hand.
"I guess that mean's I'm special then." Heero commented as he reached for a fork.
"I guess so."
'He's worth it. . .'
TBC