Teach Me How To Be Cool

Lesson #2: If He Kisses You, He Likes You

[Duo]


The first subject of that day was English, which I had with politician boy, Trowa and Heeeerrrooooo. (drool) so I had every reason to remove the hurt off my countenance.

After wiping the tears off my cheeks and washing my face, after which I'd thanked God there wasn't anybody present in the little boy's tinkling room, I made my face a perfect (or maybe not) imitation of Clint Eastwood. (yeah, I'm cool man) Eurgh.

I have bad taste. Anyway, not so Eastwood, just more stoic and cool, think John Travolta in when he did Grease. Minus the singing of course, otherwise I'd be sent in the principal's office and again people will think I'm seriously disturbed.

(I'm enough odd already, don't want more projection of weirdness, now do I?)

My eyes were quite swollen, but it wasn't as if anybody would take notice anyway, after all nobody has for the last 9 years (except when I did something very embarrassing, which was half of the time. Then their attentions would rivet toward me, thus them noticing me, so in a roundabout way they still notice me..And. Now I'm confused.).

Anyway. When I'd left the comfort room, I had barely 5 minutes left to make it to my next class and, since English was being held in the library today, it would more or less take me a good ten minutes to run all the way from the other end of the school.

It felt like forever that I was there in the boy's room.

A lot of things had changed, as if after stepping out of that sacred dome, I am transported into a totally new, eclipsed dimension-the twilight zone, yeah.

I love watching the reruns on Quatre's flat screen TV. Anyway, sniffling a bit, chin held up high, I made my way to the library. There were but a few freshmen lingering about the vicinity of the hallway leading to my destination and as I glanced at them briefly, the corner of my eye caught Heero Yuy. (I almost shied away because of the incident in the bus)

Thankfully enough, he wasn't with Relena. In fact, he was with Trowa, leaned casually against some random locker, talking to the guy with the most bored expression.

Trowa placed an arm on his shoulder but Heero rudely jerked his hand away. He glared at him deeply, Trowa just raising his arms and backing off, saying. "Gee, sorry, man."

Now, my mother taught me it was unethical to eavesdrop, however this situation proved difficult not to ignore.

I've rarely seen Heero in a tiff of any sort and judging by the way he shoved Trowa the last time I turned to look at them, he was angry beyond words. (Maybe with Relena, quipped my wishful thinking.)Come on, the girl wasn't with him (which was odd since they were always together; 24/7.) You had to admit there was something wrong with that.

They (meaning Relena and Heero) were nauseatingly sweet—close in the bus, it was such a shame ants were not able to chew them (actually only Relena) down to bits. (Are ants capable of that?)

Relena and Heero, they were the ultimate pair, for stereotyping idiots anyway. Relena had half a brain whereas Heero was quite gifted in wits. (Mind you, he wasn't autistic!)

They were inseparable like that! Like a dog and its fleas, the other one an existent parasite depending on its host. You get the picture, don't you? (How do I loathe Relena? Let me count the ways.)

Anyway, I kept walking, slowly this time, a few feet across the two people in school who wore masks of calm composure, people who were so smoothly unbroken, cool.

I wonder how they do that, sometimes. I was glued to them, couldn't help but thinking maybe Relena and Heero had broken up, what with Trowa and Heero's conversation ending with "she's not worth it" 's "she's only popular because of me" 's.

I kept glancing at them with every chance I had, Heero taking no heed of my presence, as well as Bang boy (Trowa, for short).

I think I'm getting kind of witty nowadays, figuring out names to call people. I think I'll call myself The Braided Wonder.

"She dumped you for that dude with the chewing gum?" Trowa shook his head, fighting a smile before it broke free and angered Heero.

"Hn." Heero crossed his arms.

"Now you're all pissy about it?' Trowa smiled amusedly.

"I never liked her." Heero rolled his eyes and turned his gaze (almost like his scowl *drool* away from Trowa)

"Sure. You write poetry for her, sonnets, songs. No, that doesn't count as liking at all."

"Relena has half a brain, Trowa. She doesn't even know who Shakespeare is, She asked me once if he's a brand new clothesline. In any way, I don't dig brain dead chicks."

A chuckle from Bang Boy; death glare from the almighty sex god (Heero).

"I can't believe you're letting her get away with this."

A soft, secretive laugh. "I'm not; I'm showing her."

Then they did their 'secret' handshake (more like a paper, scissor, stone game, then fisting each other's hands) it wasn't secret anymore, now that I know it.

"I think I like that girl in the bus."

"Which one?"

"The one eavesdropping now."

Cornered! Hey. hang on. Chick? In the bus?? Which one?! Eavesdropping? Uh- oh, they're looking now.. Okay, think Duo. Think!! .

That's it: run! Uh. just don't trip this time, all right Duo?

My eyes widened as Heero grinned (at me? I wasn't so sure. ) and I scampered away, as fast as my legs would carry me. Everybody think Spirit here, run and be freeeee!!! Then bumped into a water fountain by the doors of the library.

"Ooff!"I hopped up and down, holding up my bruised foot, grunting. "Ow. Ow. Ow."

Honestly, who in their right mind would put up a water fountain near a library? I need to speak to the principal about this! Before I could march to the office though, the bell resounded a gazillion decibels and I snapped my hands to my ears, almost keeling over because the bell was in fact (what do you know?) right next to the water fountain.

Wow, great. Just peachy, this school's gone wacko, placing damn (sorry for cursing, dad) alarms next to fountains where unsuspecting people would drink.

I sighed, huffed more like as I pushed open the doors of the library and the bell had finally stopped irritating me.

Making my way toward the back of the library where in fact, English would be held today, I found Relena with this weird, cool-looking (notice how everyone is cooler than I am?) dude who was sticking his tongue (yuck) into her mouth.

Relena twirled her hair and her eyes were shut. That scoundrel, half-witted cretin!

I'll kill her for hurting Heero! I glared at her, for making me cry (I'm such a sissy) and cheating on Heero (it's not as if she could see me through her shut eyes anyway, hehe) and was supposed to take a seat in one of the empty tables (next to politician boy's who I intend to glare at next) when... (I think it's really nifty, this glaring thing.) Sex god (aka Heero Yuy) strolled in with Bang Boy/boy wonder.

(Batman.dun dun dun dun dun.)

What surprised me though was the anger that emanated from Heero.

Usually untouched, devoid of emotion and indifferent to the others around him, seeing this guy in a different almost human light, was life altering.

Actually, he just look more attractive with his brows drawn together and his eyes fixated angrily on Relena and the dude. Ooh boy, was he pissed. (Sorry, dad!)

Bang Boy shrugged, went to find a seat conveniently next to Wufei but Heero just stood there, rooted to the spot, fists clenching.

I was about to find my own vacant seat as well when Heero grabbed me by the arm (I was just an arm's reach away from him) and pulled me towards him.

He was quite tall (maybe an inch or two taller than I am) and he looked down on me, his Prussian blue eyes into my violet ones as he gripped on my arm tighter, drawing us both closer.

Relena seemed to have heard my small gasp (she squealed) when Heero grabbed my. uh. bum. by one hand and the other one on my chest. (Think he was trying to find a breast or something)

He lifted my leg and started groping before crushing our lips together. I wasn't quite sure how Relena reacted; I think she and 'the dude' started kissing as well, desperately too.

I was starting to think it was a contest as Heero bit on my lower lip with bruising force. I was almost afraid, I winced. What would my parents say? The class started hooting, clapping and over the sound of their voices was mine at the back of my head, saying it was wrong.

Twisted wrong!

We were both males for my dog St. Peter's sake! I thought the infatuation had been enough but never in my wildest dreams or in my normal ones, had I thought that this would actually happen.

Heero was frantic, I was numb with shock and trepidation. He pushed his tongue in my mouth (I swear, there were dribbles of saliva dripping down my chin) and being the dumb moron I was, almost chocked as he wiggled it in my throat. (at least it felt like it anyway)

And the strangest sensations darted below my waist as he pulled me closer, crushing our bodies together, never once leaving my mouth. I could smell Heero's masculine scent mixed with sweat as he eased his hand from squeezing my sore bum to caress my face.

His eyes were shut, I couldn't see past him because we were so nauseatingly close my eyes almost crossed. I wasn't even reacting to the kiss but when I started to though, I felt a low moan erupting from my throat, my arms slipping around his waist.

He tasted sweet, like wine. (Or candy, because I'd never tasted wine). And I felt the edges of his lips curl skywards. I blushed. (Late reaction, don't you think?)

I think it must've gone on for 15 minutes, from firm and harsh to gentle and affectionate. I thought: I could die today.

"Ahem." Silence stretched on like a blanket before us all, enveloping the library with the thickest heaviness.

I knew something was wrong. I knew because the class had gone eerily silent.

Heero pulled away from me, breathless from the contact, Prussian blue eyes dazed. I flushed and looked away but he cupped my chin and kissed me again. And heaven fell down and crashed and withered.

I turned around to look at our English teacher behind us, who tapped his foot impatiently against the hard floor, looking very displeased.

"Mr. Yuy, Mr. Maxwell. My office, now." Uh-oh.

"Mister?" Heero sounded confused as he looked at me. "You're a guy?"

Relena snickered. "And a lousy kisser too." She added while the dude next to her wrapped his arms around her. Heero yanked his arms away from me.

"I thought you were only flat-chested."

Heaven indeed, has crashed and fell and withered. I thought: Please let me die.

***

So we were there, Heero and I, sitting outside Mr. Craven's office, waiting for our punishment. I could barely look at him with a small cut on my swollen lip and the guilty face I sported.

If I could look back at that moment from 20 years back and tell my kids what my first kiss was like, I would be mortified and be obliged to lie.

The person I crushed on thought I was a girl and what was worse was that, he looked disgusted just sitting next to me. I felt like crying. Life was hell. (I could get shunned from church with the things I say).

And I think I had sobbed then miserably because Heero looked at me.

"Are you crying?" "What does it look like idiot?" I half-yelled, covering my face. What did I say?

"I mean... I...I'm..I'm sorry. I didn't mean to call you-" He raised his hand and nodded.

"It's all right." He said. "No harm done; it's nice to have someone speak their mind out to me."

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. "I must look like a sissy." I said out loud but before realizing the err of my ways, Heero handed me a handkerchief.

"Here," I took it and smiled softly.

"Thanks, man." I blew on it noisily, lost all etiquette because I didn't need it anymore.

My parents would kill me when this got done with, they might throw me out of the house even. I got detention for kissing another guy in class!

Sex God smiled and I looked up at him, unbelieving. Maybe it was all a dream. Yep, it was.

"What's your name again?" He asked softly; it was the first time he actually spoke to me, one on one.

"Brian? Peggy?" My brow rose. Dumbass. Who would name their son Peggy anyway?

Then again who would name their kid Duo?

"Duo Maxwell." I swallowed and blew my nose against the handkerchief again. He couldn't even remember my name. That's just peachy.

"The preacher's kid?" Sex God asked, looking smug. I nodded. As if he's got something to be smug about. He's brain-dead as his ex.

He stared at me; I pretended to ignore him despite the coloring of my cheeks.

"I'm sorry I mangled you like that, Duo." He sighed, leaning his head against the wall.

It was beautiful the way he said my name. That doesn't change the fact that he is a dumbass and a sex god though.

"I just wanted to get Relena jealous. I felt like getting her back for all her lies, for breaking my heart." I felt hurt.

So, I was used. Dumbass in my part. Guess we were compatible now, huh?

"But I think it was better off we ended our relationship."

Why was he telling me these things? All it managed to do was spite me, mock my consistent ego.

Faintly there was a tinge in me that said maybe he kissed me by choice, not for the sake of getting his former girl to get all miffed.

I felt like slapping him on the face, punching him in the gut. So when he pulled my arm and pressed his lips softly against mine, all I could do was yield.

After a brief second, he looked at me with dazed eyes once more. "None of this ever happened, all right?" I did the next thing I could think of: I kicked him on the foot.

Some gentleman he was.

***

I had detention duties the next day. Mr. Craven said Heero and I were partners on our next English project because we had to skip class and talk to him. He asked strange questions too, if I were Heero's boyfriend and if we were using precautionary measures dealing with 'things'. (What ever does he mean by that?)

Luckily my parents weren't informed.

Heero and I left his office without saying a word to each other.

Politician boy confirmed my suspicions; I think he's stalking me now. He told me that I should go shopping more often when I cornered him (or the other way around) in the corridor after lunch.

I glared at him. He rolled his eyes. I think I'm getting good at this glaring business. He said, "I sent a video tape to E!'s fashion emergency to help you out with your jumper problems."

I said, "…"

He left, snickering.

The whole day was much normal except that Relena made it extra sure that I was tormented by her little friends (actually only Dorothy, Goth-punk, rock- obsessed member of the occult, anti-social lesbian who I think has got the hots for Relena but the latter's just too egocentric, self-centered and ditzy to notice).

Dorothy said to me in gym class: "I'm watching you."

I was like, "I'm sorry?" once more.

She slapped me in the face. "Don't you dare think that about me." I gave her a confused look, cupping my abused cheek.

"What?!" Her black nails reached out for the crucifix on her neck.

"I can read your thoughts, jumper preacher boy."

That was brilliant! I was thinking: You are better off with Relena at that point.

So she was psychic after all.

Bang Boy and Sex God were out of sight. I'm thinking I'd injured Heero too much.

That's what he gets, the haughty, half-assed jerk. For playing with me. Somehow I want to see him around. I walked home that day, didn't take the bus. I hate Quatre for not coming to school.

***

When I'm depressed, lonely in my misery of sulking about my lowly life, I rake the leaves out front, however, since it was Spring, there wasn't quite anything to rake so I settled for grazing the non-existent leaves and focusing my attention on the grass blades till they had pulled out of the ground.

"You didn't come over today, I thought something was up." It was Quatre. He stood there in formal attire, looking at me.

"Oh, It's *you*" I said, rolling my eyes. "I thought you've denied the fact that we actually know each other already."

"What're you talking about Duo?" Quatre gave me a strange look and he crossed his arms. "I'd never do such a thing! And why in the world would I want to anyway? You're my best friend."

I had would've smiled, but I didn't. My day was enough screwed up already.

"Why?! Why? You want to know why?" I cried incredulously, throwing down the rake and my arms out in frustration. One passerby could actually say I looked like a farmer then, complete with the simpleton braid and jumper, throwing a fit because my crops didn't grow well.

"Well I dunno, maybe because I'm the worst loser in school, an outcast to society and people think I'm weird! If you'd known any better, you wouldn't have made friends with me in the first place then I wouldn't be depending on you too much for the entirety of my social life. And let's, let's just face the facts all right? My family brought me up differently; I am weird."

"I don't think you're weird." Quatre is oh-so truthful. He stuffed his slender fingers into his black pants (bet they were Armani or something, the texture looked so expensive) and looked up at me through inscrutable blue eyes.

"What makes you think that other people do?"

I had rehearsed this over and over now, memorizing what I was gonna say so that it sounded frustrated enough to let Quatre know I was really disappointed in him not coming to school today; I felt so selfish. I braced myself with a large intake of breath and Quatre looked expectantly at me.

"Well for starters everybody thinks I'm more than a little bit strange. The way I dress, the way I'm a vegetarian and not allowed to read, listen to what you normal folk would listen to! Isn't it very queer? No boy my age wears a 3 ft. long braid except me and my wardrobe consists of old- fashioned jumper suits that all look the same! But the school doesn't know that do they? They think I wear the same thing everyday without washing! A person in class today walked up to me and said I needed to go shopping more often."

"You know, your screen door's a bit rusty. You should change it if you don't want to be stolen from or something."

"Don't change the subject." I spat out. "If you hadn't gone to that stupid thing your father wants you to come to, I wouldn't have endured any of what I had today!"

I strode away from him, slamming the screen door shut behind me as I ran toward my room, up the flight of stairs. He was behind me, following.

"Duo, please, stop."

"Stop?!" We were in my room then, and I was pulling out drawers and stuffing clothes into the big brown suitcase on my bed I had readied earlier.

I rummaged about for a few pairs of socks and underwear.

"Stop what? Don't play innocent Quatre, you know what people think of me; I'm a pastor's kid, so holy, pure-well holy my ass! I'm tired of these expectations, tired of hiding from my parents about my sexual preference!"

I grabbed the last pair of blue jumper suits and tossed it over my shoulder to the bed. I turned to face Quatre who was standing by the doorway.

"What's this suitcase for?" He pointed to the bed, crossing his arms. "You're running away?"

"No, I'm joining the U.S. army." I retorted over my shoulder, without the hint of this newfangled thing called 'sarcasm' as I zipped close the suitcase. "And nothing's going to stop me, not even you."

"But Duo, please! Be reasonable, your parents will worry over you, I will worry over you-"

"Thanks for the concern Quat," I patted him on the arm, hitched up the suitcase and trotted down the stairs, Quat following once more after me.

"I'll send I postcard! Ciao! Send my love to mom and dad!"

"Duo, I don't think Uncle Sam wants you right now, not when you're only 15!!"

I snorted and rolled my eyes.

"Then I'll lie about my age." I pushed open the screen door and hurried out the front lawn and to the street. "Easy peasy."

"Then you're committing another sin!" Quat jogged after me, looking tired and pained. He grabbed my arm and tugged on it hard. "Stay Duo, for me."

Ooh, déjà vu. I told him that before, and what did he do? (Cool, now I'm a poet! Great, I've really gone bonkers now!)

"Sorry, Quat."

Quatre let out a cry of frustration and threw his arms out. "Don't be an insufferable idiot Duo!" He walked over to me. (I was hitching a ride) "You're trying to get a ride in front of your own house? What if your parents see you out here?"

I glared at him. "I know what I'm doing." I strode briskly away and when I had gotten at least several blocks away from my house, I crossed the street.

"Can't we talk it over gummy bears and coke?" Quatre suggested, yelling after me. I was in the middle of the road and had to squint at him; it was getting dark earlier now.

I had to smile.

"Green and red gummy bears?" We were best friends after all. Still, I felt selfish.

Quatre nodded, a small smile pulling skywards at the edges of his lips. "Yeah."

"Sorry, I'd like to stay but well, I've screwed up in school today and I can't show my face there anymore, not unless things could be resolved, but it couldn't now since it's too late... And I... Quat, tell my folks there's a note explaining things by the fridge, all right?"

Quatre just stared at me, in the middle of his next ramble when he reached down at his feet, picked up a pebble and threw it at me!! Some best friend he was!

"Ow!" I jumped as the pebble hit my leg. "What're you trying to do Quat? Injure me so that I won't be fit to serve this country and fight for justice?" (All right, I sounded like Politician boy there.)

Quatre rolled his eyes. "Don't be a fool, Duo. You can't hitchhike all the way-"

"I'll get to Boston you'll see!" I huffed airily.

But the look on Quatre's face made me stop; it was clearly visible in his face, utter horror and shock. His mouth opened slowly, with a small intake of breath before he screamed.

"Watch out, Duo! There's a car!!"

Too late.

I turned in front of me, immediately my suitcase flew out of my grasp and I yelled as well, my feet unable to move, stuck there like heavy slabs of stones on the ground. I had forgotten to breathe.

"Goodbye dad, mom, Quat." I whispered, shutting my eyes as a small tear trickled down. It would be better this way.

 And so I waited, rigid with fear and regret and sorrow as I lost myself to my thoughts, waiting patiently for the good memories to come filtering into my mind like how they said they would before you die.

Nothing.

When nothing happened, I peered through my eyelids and looked around. I was still there, no fresh bloodstains whatsoever, no pain and Quatre was shaking in the sidewalk in relief.

"Duo!"

The car had screeched noisily as it stopped right in front of me, sparing my life. I felt both relieved and aggravated.

I stared at it, squinting through the bright lights, holding my hand up to shield myself from the harsh glare of it.

"Stupid driver! Not looking at which direction you're driving!!!"

The driver stepped out of the car and what do you know? It was stupid Heero Yuy.

"You almost made a dent in my car, baka!" [1] He hopped down the black convertible and glared at me. "If I wasn't that good of a driver your life wouldn't have been spared. It's what you get for being so dumb to cross the street without looking in the first place. "

"Oh, so now I'm supposed to thank you for almost running over me?" I scoffed. Bang boy stepped out of the car and watched us fight, so did Quatre.

"Oh, thank you great one for sparing my lowly life! Hang on, wait a second here. Since when are you allowed to drive anyway? You're fifteen! I could call the cops on you and you'll be arrested!"

"Hn." I was livid. I didn't care if I liked this guy; he still owed me an apology nonetheless.

"Is that all you can say? After kissing me in front of the whole school, making my life hell the whole day for not hearing an apology from you, letting your freaking jealous ex girlfriend's friend pick on me like that, and you kissing me again and telling me that I forget it, making me cry this morning (actually Relena and Wufei did, but that's besides the point; I was going 100kp/s and at that rate Heero could barely catch what I was saying) etcetera etcetera!

"You have got some nerve, you half-assed egotistic, narcissistic. (I've ran out of adjectives! Eep!) jerk! Just because you're the most good-looking, sexiest, coolest guy in our grade doesn't mean you can prance around and start kissing people because you feel like-"

"Shut up." He crossed his arms and glared at me.

The next thing I knew, my fist clenched and it made contact with his face. He staggered backwards; clutching his 'mutilated' gorgeous face and after a few seconds, scowled at me, lunging on top of me to hit me back.

I struggled to fight back, kicking and screaming and shoving him off but he was heavy, sitting on top of me and punching the hell out of me. (Sorry dad.)

Where are your friend(s) when you needed them?

I heard Bang boy and Quatre trying to get Heero off of me but it was of no use, Heero had elbowed Trowa in the gut and he fell into Quatre who blushed as they crumpled into a heap on the ground.

My face had hurt so much, from the cuts and bruises I had accumulated from my (former?) crush and what made it worse was that I only managed to strike Heero a few times which made me look like an eternal wimp.

"Gerofff!" I groaned as his weight lingered longer on my stomach. I couldn't breathe. My ribs were crushed. "Geroff me, jerk! I said gerrroff!!"

He brought his fist down and it landed right on my cheek. It hurt and I was about to shut my eyes in fatigue and defeat when I felt something wet cover my lips.

The blows had ceased and I thanked God. My vision was nauseatingly bleary and I could only make out the outline of Heero lying on top of me.

If I weren't so beat up like this, I would've blushed. I strained my eyes to view what was happening to me.

Had I passed out, I wouldn't know. I was in that small space between consciousness and vertigo where logic was beyond a distant planet I could not reach.

I groaned once more, only to realize that Heero's lips had descended on mine.

His hands had cupped my face and my lips opened involuntarily, allowing him passage to my mouth. His tongue was expertly slick, hot and wet as it touched my own, his taste-the taste of the stars and the moon and heaven.

I think I had smiled then before passing out.

Tbc…

[1] Yuki Eiri's line in the 1st episode of gravitation! I borrowed it! *g*

Question: Does anybody know Getbackers?

Thank you for reviewing the previous chapter! This is dedicated to all of you. Well, did you like it? Poll everybody. Whose perspective do you want to hear from next? A) Heero B) Trowa or C) Quatre

Vote now!