The rest of the week passed by in a blur. Carson got to know a lot more of the students as well as getting to know Rodney a little better. For someone who normally didn't make friends very easily, he sure had quite a few now. Elizabeth, who introduced herself because she felt it was her job as student body president and continued to talk to him because they both knew Latin fairly well. (When Rodney learned that he knew Latin, he mumbled, "And people call me a geek.") There was also Teyla, who was also Elizabeth's best friend, whom everyone liked. The friend that surprised him the most was John. John was the quarterback of the football team as well as being president of the Math club, which he claims he only became because he was at football practice when they voted. John also surprised him because even though he argued a lot with Rodney, they actually seemed to be close. When he questioned Rodney on it, his answer was something about how they had been neighbors since they were six.
Carson also learned which group to avoid. They called themselves the Wraith. They were all related (which was pretty obvious since they were all tall, lanky, and very pale) and they hated everyone who wasn't one of them. Nobody liked them since they had made it their job to try to ruin everyone's day. The administration had tried to expel them numerous times, but since they were related to the mayor (which was weird, because the mayor was really nice), they continued to terrorize the school.
By the time Friday rolled around, Carson felt like he had found his place in the school. He could be mistaken and it could change at anytime, like it was apt to happen in high school, but he was comfortable with his new friend, his classes, and his teachers.
It was also on this Friday that Carson would have an idea that would shortly make him one of the more popular guys at the school. After John of course.
"I've got some bad news," John announced as he sat down to lunch.
"What?" asked Elizabeth.
"Aiden has to go in for another round of chemo."
Exclamations of "What!" and "That's horrible!" were the response.
"Who's Aiden?" asked Carson.
"Aiden's my best friend who was diagnosed with cancer almost six months back. He had been getting better, but he just relapsed about a week ago," answered John.
"I'm sorry," was Carson sincere response.
"What really sucks is that they really can't afford the medical bills. They might have to sell their house and move into an apartment."
"Why don't we try and raise some money to help?" asked Teyla.
"That's a great idea! We could to fundraisers, bake sales, car washes," Elizabeth added, really getting into the idea.
"How about we put on a play?" Carson added. Everyone looked at him. "What? We did it at my old school all the time. Well, not for this exact reason, but we did put on a play to raise money to replace the carpeting one year after the roof caved in and in another year we put on a play so the French club could to go France."
There was silence before John said, "It might work. I'm sure we could get everything donated or loaned to us. And Mayborne has always wanted to put on a play instead of just teaching us how to do so."
"Let's go talk to him about it right now! He might have some great ideas on which play we can do," Teyla said as she got up, intending to go talk with the Drama teacher.
"I can think of some plays that we could do," Elizabeth added as she got up. "You guys coming?"
"Sure," replied John. "I want to be involved in this as much as I can."
"I'm going to stay," replied Carson. "I don't know him and I would feel a little awkward."
"Eating," was Rodney's reply.
"Suit yourself. I guess I can tell you what he said in Calc," John said as him, Teyla, and Elizabeth hurried towards the drama room.
"So, what are your thoughts on this?" asked Carson.
"I think it's a great idea. There is a stage at the community center that is never used that would be perfect. The people of this town would love to have a play put on so they could pretend that they live in a big city and are cultured folk," was the reply.
"Mm. Are you doing anything tonight?" Carson asked before he could stop himself.
Rodney paused in the process of eating his sandwich. "Uh, no. Why?"
"Um, well. My mum has been bugging me to invite one of my friends over for dinner."
"Oh."
"Would you like to come?"
"Uh, sure. As long as there's no citrus."
"Why?"
"I'm allergic to citrus."
"Oh, I didn't know that. I guess the rules out the lemon chicken and lemon meringue pie, huh?" Carson teased.
"Very funny. What time would be a good time to come over?"
"Around six, I think."
"Great, I'll be there."
"Fantastic."
An awkward silence ensued.
"So what happened between you and Carson that made you two avoiding looking at each other during calc?" asked John as he and Rodney were walking home. He was very amused when Rodney blushed. "Oh, now this I gotta hear."
"Nothing happened really. He invited me over for dinner tonight."
"Really? That's moving quickly. Didn't know he had it in him."
"Its not like that. His mom was on his case about inviting a friend over. I get the impression that he didn't have a lot of friends at his old school."
"Wonder why. He's a great guy"
"Yes he is."
John looked over at his friend. If he didn't know better, he would say that Rodney was developing a crush on their newest friend. But that was impossible since Rodney had once proclaimed, "I don't do crushes." It was definitely something he would have to keep an eye on. Maybe he could recruit Elizabeth and Teyla to help.
"So what choices did Mayborne give us again?" asked Rodney, breaking John's train of thought.
"He said we could do a Shakespeare, mainly because he's always wanted to direct one, Arsenic and Old Lace, Noises Off, Our Town, or he could look into musicals if we really wanted to do one."
"Lets not do Shakespeare. After that English class last year, I've had my fill of the bard."
"That's kinda what I was thinking. And a lot of the people who will be involved are not very musically inclined, so that rules that out."
"So that leaves us with what again?" asked Rodney.
"Uh, Our Town, Noises Off, or Arsenic and Old Lace."
There was a pause before Rodney replied, "I guess this means we're going to have to read those, aren't we?"
"Yep."
"Damn."
"You must be Rodney. Come on in," Peg said later that night as Rodney arrived for dinner.
"Yes. And you must be Mrs. Beckett. It's a pleasure to meet you," Rodney replied as he walked in.
"Oh, call me Peg. Carson's in the kitchen. He would have greeted you himself, but he mumbled something about burning chicken," said Peg as she led Rodney into the said kitchen.
As Rodney entered, he had to stop in the entrance. Standing over the stove was Carson, but it wasn't a Carson he had seen yet. This Carson was in a tee shirt that looked like it was a few sizes too small, really comfortable looking jeans, and to top it off, he was barefoot. He also had a spatula in his hand as well as a dishtowel slung over his shoulder. It was in that moment that Rodney realized that the feelings that he had been feeling over the past week around his new friend were the beginnings of a crush. And the more he got to know him, see different sides of him, the worse it got. Especially when Carson turned around and he saw that the front of his shirt said 'I'm with genius' and he flashed him that brilliant smile that could melt M&M's.
"Rodney! Glad you could make it. Dinner will be up in a bit. Just have to put everything together."
"When you said dinner, you never mentioned that you would be the one cooking. Are we sure its safe?" teased Rodney as he walked over to peer at what was on the stove and therefore got to see the blush that graced Carson's face.
"I like him! Rodney, you can stay," Peg exclaimed from the counter.
"Mum!"
"So, is it edible?" Rodney asked again.
"It was, but now I think I might have to add some poison to your plate," Carson teased back.
"Then it's a good thing I was going to steal your plate then, isn't is?" Rodney turned and leaned against the counter next to the stove and therefore Carson. Purely to see if Carson would follow through on his threat to add poison, of course.
"So, I hear you guys are going to be doing a play to raise money for a fellow classmate?" asked Peg.
"Yeah. John and I were discussing the choices we had on the way home, and I know we would like to do uh, the poison and lace one."
"Arsenic and Old Lace. That would be my preference as well. I've always wanted to play Mortimer."
"You've read it before?"
"Aye." With a glance over at Rodney he added, "I think you should play Teddy."
"Teddy? You want me to play a character named Teddy?"
"What's wrong with the name Teddy? One of the US presidents was named that if I remember correctly," said Carson as he started scooping food onto plates.
"His real name was Theodore."
"Well, this character's real name is Theodore. I think. Dinner's up, grab a plate," Carson told Rodney as he took two plates to the table. Rodney followed behind with the last plate to the small and cozy table, and for the next hour, friendly banter was exchanged as well as a slight interrogation as Peg tried to find out if this Rodney character was good enough for her son.
"So, how was dinner last night?" asked John while him and Rodney were in the process of trying to get some homework out of the way before the evening.
"Excellent," Rodney replied, barely looking up from his homework.
"What's him mom like?"
"She's really nice." Rodney looked up at his friend. "I did get the impression that she was judging me, seeing if I was good enough for her son."
"My mom does the same thing to any new friends I bring over. It's a normal thing, I think. They want to know if this will be the friend that will lead their precious child down the wrong path," said John as he rolled his eyes.
"It seemed more than that, almost," Rodney trailed off and went back to his homework, trying to avoid finishing the sentence.
"Almost what? You can't just leave me hanging like that!"
"Nothing."
"Ah, come on Rodney. How long have we known each other? You can tell me anything."
Rodney sighed, but answered. "It almost seemed like she was seeing if I was good enough for him."
"You already said that!"
Rodney glared at his currently very aggravating friend sitting across from him. "If you would let me finish. It almost seemed like she was seeing if I was good enough for him, but not as a friend. More as," he trailed off again.
"More as in 'this might be the person who could steal my son's heart and affection away from me' way?"
"Uh, yeah," Rodney replied as he ducked his head to hopefully hide the blush he just knew was on his face.
"Wow. She must think Carson moves fast. I don't sense that about him at all."
"What? The fact that he's gay?"
"No, the fact that he would start dating someone after just knowing them for a week. He just doesn't strike me as the type you know?"
"Yeah." There was a pause in the conversation and John pondered the nature of what Rodney had just told him and Rodney tried to get more of his homework done.
"Why are we trying to get this done early again?" John suddenly asked as he looked at what he still had to accomplish.
His answer was a mumbled response.
"What was that?"
"Carson's housewarming party. You remember? He invited us on Thursday. Said his mom's coworkers were throwing it for them. Free food and alcohol?"
"Oh yeah. But what about tomorrow? We still have a whole day."
"No, Sunday Elizabeth and Teyla insisted we all go to the park for 'the last picnic of the season.' And you know that will last all day."
"Right. So finish homework now. Did you get this psychotic assignment from Mr. Quinn as well?"
"Huh?"
"The stupid psychology assignment. 'What do the following objects mean to you? Write a short paragraph on each.' What the hell is that?"
"It is supposed to tell you certain things about yourself and your fellow classmates."
"But some of these things are just weird. A banana? The weather channel? Where the hell does he come up with this shit?"
"Don't ask me. Psychologists are a breed onto themselves. I just try to do the work."
"Right." With that John went back to trying to figure out just what a smile and a bomb meant to him.