Teachers and various school faculty members milled about the Barring high school campus. Grabbing the essential morning coffees to get through the work day and printing last minute copies of worksheets before the school day officially started. Younger students already were arriving in the front lobby after the buses dropped them off early which meant the flow of upperclassmen with driver licenses would slowly begin trickling in soon. Today was a Thursday so the week was almost over and the freedoms of the weekend beckoned, most of the high school students were all planning on going to another epic soccer party at Francis Bonnefoy's house. Said student happened to be a notorious player and one of the captains on the soccer team, clump him together with his best friends Antonio Carriedo and Gilbert Beilschmidt and you had the Awesome Trio as they were known throughout the whole school. They were fantastic athletes, dominating the soccer field and good track athletes in the spring, the most legendary pranks had been done by the trio, having a knack for mischief and chasing lovers.
Located at the school parking lot, a Nissan sentra just speedily edged out a silver prius to claim the best spot in the parking area reserved for the senior class.
"Bloody wanker! That's the third time this week!" A door slammed open and a cranky British boy popped out from the front of the prius.
"Haha! Better luck next time Artie!"
Alfred Jones sprung out of the driver seat with a big smile on his face with the sunlight streaming onto his head of blond hair. Those blue eyes of his were sparkling with energy and joy this morning. Known for being an outgoing personality and the posterboy of optimism, the eighteen-year old boy was popular throughout school yet his reputation mainly came from his gifted talents on the football field and his naturally pleasing looks. Tanned and muscular with golden hair, sky blue eyes, and a pretty smile he was the Adonis out of the boys and even the envy of some girls. He also happened to be one of the nicest kids at school, if you tripped and fell in the hallway you could bet the first one to offer a helping hand would be from him. As if it couldn't get any better, he was inclined towards the sciences and math subjects at the school and had college plans to go into a science major, he and his younger brother Matthew were the pride and joy of their family. However, the latter of the two was often overlooked for his older brother. According to Matthew he did not mind too much. Mostly. He and his best friend Arthur Kirkland had been going back and forth for weeks trying to see who could get to the best spot in the senior parking lot before the other. Arthur had kicked his butt all of last week in the contest but Alfred was getting the hang of it and making a comeback.
Although Alfred played football and Arthur played soccer or the real football as Arthur declared it, they still made sure to have their annual challenges against each other for fun. It was hard for anyone in their 8th grade social studies class to forget the time they did a jeopardy review game for an upcoming test and the class had been divided into two teams with the pair on different sides. By the time class was halfway done, it had basically demoted into Alfred and Arthur gaining control over their team's player console and shouting the answers out to see who could dominate the game. It ended up becoming such a showdown the teacher didn't bother to stop it and laughed along to the team's cheering on the two competitive boys. This contest they are currently driving against each other would eventually get them into an accident and in a bit of trouble but for now they'd roll with the risk.
"Pah! Next time I'll get it and then we'll see who wins this wager of ours!" Arthur grabbed his bag and waited for Alfred to get his school backpack and sports bag out of his trunk. "Where is Matthew?"
"He got a ride to school with Francis." Alfred jammed a patagonia trucker hat over his blond locks and undid the button of his favorite maroon flannel hoodie. Heaving a sigh he adjusted the straps of his backpack and slung his athletic bag across his body, breaking to a short jog to hussle over to his friend. "Hey, is it just me or do you also think that Frenchie's been really trying to cozy up to Mattie lately? I know they drove here early to put some finishing touches on a project but you know when Francis gets all extra touchy-feely and starts paying a lot more attention to the next person he sets his eyes on? I feel like that's what's happening."
"I would not put it past that depraved frog to try and go for your innocent little brother," Arthur said rolling his eyes at the word frog. He has known Francis for almost all his life and his over the top French propensity. Although it would normally come as no surprise to him when he heard Francis was after someone new to lure into his bed, he was a little uncertain about his friend's suspicions. Shy Matthew was too meek and silent to be Francis's usual type plus he would expect that the frog would be more cautious since he was Alfred's younger sibling. As kind as Alfred can be if you messed with Matt then you had his older brother Alfred F. Jones to deal with and for all parties involved it never ended well. "I am not entirely certain about this. However, tell him to steer clear of that rogue or he'll be added onto Francis's list of conquests before you know it. You know how he can be, if someone is made more difficult for him to obtain then the person he's pursuing becomes even more irresistible."
"By the way, why are you dressed like a stodgy English professor?" He curiously gestured at his friend's v-neck sweater over a button down shirt and dress pants. He playfully elbowed him and whispered into his ear. "Looking to impress someone Artie-"
"Shhh be quiet!" Swatting the blue-eyed blond over the head he blushed and hoped Alfred hadn't seen it. Suppressing the urge to hit his close friend over the head twice for getting him bothered, he huffed, crossing his arms and promptly decided to ignore his friend until they came to the lobby doors.
"Aw come on I'm poking fun at you, just harmless teasing!"
"At least I have a sense of fashion." He stuck his nose high in the air snobbishly and almost grimaced at how similar he sounded like Francis when he said that line. He wouldn't stop this though, when it came to back-and-forth bantering with his best friend they could go on for an hour nonstop. "You on the other hand resemble one of those Patagonia wearing yuppie tourists that come to town for autumn hikes every year!"
"Oh burn!" Alfred loudly guffawed clutching his stomach, catching the eyes of a group of soccer girls nearby. He flashed his pearly whites and gave a wave in their direction. In response the group of girls practically swooned and Arthur got second-hand embarrassment from the spectacle. His British pal more or less rolled his green eyes, feigning annoyance at this subtle flirtation. "You're going to have to do better than that my friend!"
"Don't you think you're being a little overly auspicious towards them? You're not straight, remember? The last thing I need is a crowd of girls swarming me between classes asking if I can personally hand you a valentine card they sprayed their smelly perfumes with."
"Oh yeah, almost forgot that snafu happened last year for Spring Formal. You've gotta admit Artie, the girl from the ski team that made me those homemade sugar cookies was pretty awesome."
"Awesome for you. You gobbled them all day in a single day and didn't try to share."
"Alright dude, next time I get snacks out of a female gift you'll have first dibs on it, scouts honor. Jeez though, I swear sometimes we bicker like we're an old couple." The blond pushed and the two friends passed over the doors threshold. Something Arthur said to Alfred that he couldn't get off his mind and he felt the need to explain himself. He wouldn't explain his behavior to anyone since it was none of their business what he did, but couldn't shake the nagging feeling to explain his attempts to cover his real sexuality to his longtime best friend. "You know, it's not to boost my ego that I act like that. I throw a smile to girls in our school here and there not because I'm ashamed of who I am but I have zero desire to be barraged by the reactions and aftermath from everyone if I came out."
"Why should it matter if you pop out of the closet Alfred? It's not like you to hide who you are, you're always so outgoing and straightforward as a person. Besides, you know as well as this school knows that sex fiend Francis is always boasting about his endless dalliances with boys and girls. Feli and Feliks are proudly out. Antonio and Romano used to be a couple and no one ever hassled any of them for it." Squinting, the Brit swore he saw a glint in his friend's eyes at the mention of the last two people listed amongst said students. Sensing he was hitting a slightly sensitive spot and mindfully wording what to say next since he did not want to unnecessarily ruffle Alfred's feathers. Yet, he knew his friend despised sugarcoated, coddling words and would prefer an upfront approach to the matter. "It surprises me you are nervous and care too much about what others may say or think if they knew. I am not judging you, I completely support you as your best mate. I just think you're overthinking how this would play out, you should be able to date whomever you want with no worries over it."
"Maybe you're right Artie. I guess it's been pretty recent since I figured out there was a new side to me that I never acknowledged until now. Perhaps that's what's holding me back. I think part of it is that I don't want a big deal to be made out of it. Not to overrate myself but because I get a lot of attention for my athletic notoriety and academic accomplishments that's what I want attention for. I don't want intense scrutiny over who I date."
Arthur did not say another word and patted him on the shoulder. The boys passed the front office where the secretary was already bombarded by morning phone calls from helicopter parents and shushing students who already got themselves into trouble to quiet themselves. Poor lady… they collectively thought. Passing by the middle school wing and taking a sharp left turn, they arrived at the high school section and began twisting their codes into the locker dials.
"Alright Arthur I've got to drop this baby off," Alfred slammed his locker shut and slung his athletic bag. "I'll see ya in English, save me a seat- whoa, hey check it out!"
At the end of the hall, noise rose to a loud volume and the pair hurried toward the center of the fussy commotion. Their curious faces turned to confusion as Francis Bonnefoy elbowed his way out of the restless circle of soccer players, tousled locks falling from the elastic band restraining blond hair in a casual low ponytail. Glassy-eyed, Adam's apple shaking, and lips pressed in a thin line to hold his confident countenance together, the French boy appeared to be on the brink of tears.
"Francis!" Arthur started. He paid him no heed however, choosing to ignore his teammate and ran off.
"What the heck is going on?" Alfred muttered quietly. Hey guys- GUYS!"
At the sound of Alfred's voice the soccer team turned their heads in his direction and the circle opened to Arthur and him. At the center of it all, hands jammed into his jean pockets and a stony, cold face instead of his wicked smile was none other than Gilbert Bilschmidt himself. Gilbert regarded the pair blankly, furrowing his brows at the newcomers.
"Gil, what's going on?" Alfred continued, overlooking the glare the Prussian boy gave him. They were on good terms and were well socially acquainted, what gives with the cold treatment? "Why's everyone so stirred up?"
"You didn't hear?!" One of the freshmen soccer players exclaimed, jaw wide open. "Toni is dead."
He froze in shock and felt his heart almost jump out of his throat. Arthur let out a gasp and covered his mouth in disbelief. Gilbert took a step forward and crossed his arms, lips set in a grim line.
"His folks found him this morning. It seems like-" Gilbert now looked as ready to tear up as Francis did, he swallowed and tersely said "They think he was murdered."
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