Thanks to my beta Aerle for coming up with such a great name for the group chat!

Chapter 22

Killer was working in the library that Friday morning, during his self-study period, when he noticed someone taking a seat next to him. As he was focused on his reading, he didn't immediately look up, until the person laid their head down on the table, obviously looking at him, and breaking his concentration. Killer lowered his book and looked at Penguin. "What are you doing here?"

Penguin glared at him. "Nice to see you too, babe."

Killer let his eyes wander around to see if anyone was paying attention to them, but did it as inconspicuously as possible, as he'd noticed it annoyed Penguin when he did that. When he decided no one was close enough to hear them, he raised an eyebrow at Penguin. "Babe?" he repeated, still keeping his voice to a minimum, just in case. He wasn't sure he liked that nickname.

Penguin shrugged, while his head was still lying on the desk. "Bae? Boo?"

Killer pulled a face. "No," he said, shaking his head. "Babe was the better option. If you must. When no one is around. But you know, my name will do too."

"Hmm," Penguin hummed thoughtfully. "Anyway, I was looking for a book for English class when I saw you sitting here," he explained. He raised his head and let it rest on his hand, leaning with his elbow on the table. "You've got plans for tomorrow?"

Killer looked curiously at him, wondering what he had in mind. "Not yet."

"Cool," Penguin said. "'Cause me and the guys have agreed to play hockey at the rink tomorrow, and I was wondering if you wanted to come."

"What, like a date?" Killer asked, slightly confused.

"Not really," Penguin said. "I mean, there will be lots of people, not just the two of us, but you said you wanted to see me play, and I like spending time with you, whether there are other people or not." A slight blush appeared on his cheeks, and Killer could already feel his resistance crumble.

But before he could answer, Killer saw someone walking near them, and he waited until he was sure the girl was out of earshot to voice his concern. "But wouldn't it be weird if people saw us together outside of school? Most people here know we've been fighting, so it wouldn't make sense to go to the ice rink together."

Penguin sat up and shrugged. "None of my hockey group goes to our school, except for Shachi, and I barely ever see anyone else from our school there. But you could take Bonney, if you want. If anyone questions why you're there, you can say you came with her."

Killer thought about it. He did want to see Penguin play. And he would actually like to play with him as well. He wasn't a complete stranger to ice hockey, but he hadn't played it in a long while. It could be fun. And if he brought Bonney… Worst case scenario they could pretend she was his girlfriend again. "That idea isn't half bad, actually," Killer admitted. "I'll ask her."

"So, you'll come?" Penguin's face brightened as if that had been the best news he had had in a while.

Killer couldn't help but smile. Penguin really was too cute for his own good. "I'll come. But I don't have a hockey stick, and I don't think Bonney does either – if she wants to play, of course."

"Oh, that won't be a problem. Most of us have a spare one lying around." Penguin's smile grew wider. "And I'm sure Ikkaku will be thrilled if she isn't the only girl for a change."

"I still have to ask Bonney, though." Killer didn't know who this Ikkaku was, but he didn't want to get her hopes up for nothing.

"But you're coming, even if she's not, right?" Penguin looked at him with hopeful eyes.

Killer didn't stand a chance. There was just no way he could say no to that face. He sighed. "I will. But just so we're on the same page, when we're there, Shachi and Bonney will be the only ones who know about us. We'll just be friends to the rest."

Penguin nodded. "Yeah, of course." He stood up. "Well, I gotta go. Still have to get that book. I'll text you the details." He looked around carefully, and before Killer realized what was happening, Penguin kissed him on the mouth.

Killer wanted to push him away, but Penguin had already let go of him and was out of arms reach within no time. "See you at bio!"

Killer got up from his chair, furiously. "What the–" he exclaimed, before he realized that would attract more attention than the kiss had probably gotten. He saw Penguin walk around the corner, smiling, and giving him a short wink before he disappeared from sight.

Killer's heart was beating loudly in his chest. What the fuck had Penguin been thinking? Killer looked around, but saw there was practically no one around, except for a guy he didn't know, who was engrossed in something on his laptop. It seemed Killer had gotten lucky. Still, it scared the shit out of him that someone might have seen them.

Penguin checked out his book for his English class, and took out his phone to message his hockey group. He first noticed he had a message from Killer. 'Don't ever fucking do that again.'

Penguin chuckled. 'Chill, no one was watching, I checked.'

'Don't care.' He got back immediately, and Penguin felt a little bad. It seemed like Killer was really angry. Maybe he had crossed a line.

He sighed. 'Fine. Sorry 😞 Won't happen again.'

'Good.' Killer was typing some more. 'Bonney's game.'

Penguin sighed relieved. At least he wasn't too angry to cancel the plans they'd just made.

He made his way back to his English class, and switched to the group chat for his hockey group, named Puck Rock.

'Hey, is it okay if I bring some friends tomorrow?' he asked.

Immediately, he saw multiple people typing.

'What friends? You don't have friends,' was Shachi's answer. 'Come back to class.'

Penguin chuckled, but didn't make any haste to return faster.

'Of course,' Coby answered just after Shachi.

Penguin replied to Shachi's first message, 'Killer and Bonney.'

'Oh those friends 😏' Shachi said, and Penguin suddenly did walk a little faster. The sooner he reached Shachi in person, the sooner he could kill him.

'Wait what does that mean?' Clione was the first to reply.

'Is Bonney a girl?' Ikkaku asked. Penguin was glad to see so many of them had their phone out during school.

'Yep,' He answered.

At the same time Shachi send his answer, 'Barely. You should see her eat.'

'Nice, finally,' Ikkaku replied, wisely ignoring Shachi.

'Shachi, what does this mean?' Clione pressed, attaching Shachi's earlier message of 'those friends'.

At that moment, Penguin had reached his classroom, and he quickly put his phone away to open the door. He shortly showed his book to the teacher, and then found Shachi with his eyes. He sent him a warning look as he walked towards him. "Don't you dare," Penguin hissed when he had reached his friend.

"Geez, calm down," Shachi answered, as he showed his phone to Penguin. He had already sent his next message. It read, 'Nothing, just an inside joke between Peng and me.'

Penguin grunted. "They'd better let it rest."

Fortunately, Clione's next message seemed to be the last one on that subject. ':( Boring.'

When Penguin reached their biology classroom later that day, Killer wasn't there yet. He decided not to wait this time, and took a seat next to the window, hoping Killer would not make a point of sitting next to someone else again. Penguin put his bag on the chair next to him, so no one else would try to sit there. Not that he expected someone else to sit there; if the seat next to him was free, it either remained free or was filled as one of the last – if Shachi and Killer weren't in his class.

So, he was surprised when not much later, his backpack was raised from the chair and not Killer, but Drake sat down next to him. When Penguin cast a look at him, Drake looked as if he didn't even notice him.

Penguin stared at him. "What are you doing?"

Drake looked at him sideways, face unreadable. "I'm taking a seat, what does it look like?"

"Why here?" Penguin asked, not too friendly. He wasn't in the mood for games.

Drake shrugged. "Why not?" Now he looked at him and raised his eyebrows challengingly. "Or were you saving this seat for someone?"

"Actually, I was," Penguin answered.

"Oh yeah? For whom?" Drake asked, feigning ignorance.

Penguin gritted his teeth. Fucking bastard knew perfectly well what the answer to that question was, he just wanted to make him say it out loud – something, Penguin was aware of, he hadn't done yet. Not that he had needed to. Still, saying Killer's name would make it so he couldn't deny anything towards Drake anymore. At least he couldn't deny that he liked Killer.

Still, Penguin could hardly care. He would have, if he hadn't known Killer reciprocated his feelings, because he would have been afraid to make a fool of himself. Now, he was quite confident, so he looked straight into Drake's eyes. "For Killer, if you want me to say it that badly."

Drake huffed. "Maybe we should ask him first, whether he even wants to sit here." He turned around to face Killer, who had just walked into the classroom. "Hey Killer," he called out. "Do you want to sit next to Penguin?"

Penguin felt his cheeks heat up anyway. He didn't have to say it so loud the whole class could hear it!

He saw Killer stiffen for a bit, looking at them. Then Killer shrugged. "No, why would I?"

Traitor! Penguin thought. Still, he couldn't blame him. It had hardly been a question he could have said 'yes' to.

However, the smug look on Drake's face was infuriating. Drake shrugged. "Just proving a point."

Fine. 1-1 it was. If only he could tell Drake that Killer was already his boyfriend… He couldn't wait to see his face if that ever happened.

Killer sat down on the opposite side of the aisle, closer to Drake than to Penguin. He shot them a suspicious look. Only after a few minutes, Killer took out his phone, and Penguin just knew he was going to text him.

Penguin placed his phone so that neither Drake, nor the teacher could see it, and sure enough, Killer's message came. 'What was that about?'

'Nothing. Don't worry about it.' Penguin texted back.

' ' was the reply. 'You realize I only worry more if you don't want to tell me, right?'

Penguin rolled his eyes. He was slowly getting a little tired of walking on eggshells when it came to Killer's sexuality. He didn't mind keeping it a secret, but he did think Killer was unreasonably worried someone would find out. 'Drake just wanted to prove that you hate me, that's all.' It wasn't a lie, just half the truth, to make sure Killer didn't get even more anxious about it.

'Why?'

Penguin frowned. Would he ever let it rest? 'The fuck should I know?' He sighed. 'Just let it rest, he doesn't know about us.'

And apparently Killer did, because he didn't reply to that.

The biology lesson proceeded fairly boring, and the teacher even skipped their mini break in favor of stopping a little earlier. However, short before the time was up, the teacher announced a new project. "For this project, you'll be researching external effect on the growth of plants, other than water and light. You'll all be getting some fast-growing seeds to use for this experiment, and I'll put the details of the assignment online, after class. You will have a few months for this experiment, as it obviously will take some time. However, you'll not be doing this alone, but you'll be working in pairs. Next week, I want to have a research proposal from each pair. Do make sure you have formed a partnership before you leave the classroom, today."

The classroom became noisy, and Penguin immediately grabbed his phone again, with the intent of messaging Killer.

Before he could even start typing, however, he heard Drake speak up next to him. "Hey, Killer, you want to be my partner?"

Penguin held his breath, as he looked from the one to the other. It took a few second for Killer to answer. "I'm sorry," he eventually said. "I already have a partner."

Penguin's heart sank. Sure, he was glad at least Drake wasn't Killer's partner, but how had he already found another partner so quick? Feeling slightly defeated, Penguin started typing. 'Who's your partner?'

In the meantime, Drake had stood up to find someone else, apparently not interested in working together with Penguin at all.

Penguin saw Killer chuckle as he typed his reply. 'I was hoping you would be.'

A warm feeling welled up in Penguin's chest when he read the message, and he let out a sigh of relief. He looked at Killer, a smile growing on his face, and he waited until Killer looked his way too, before he spoke. "I will," he said quietly, and he saw Killer smile back at him.

It was very nice and all, that the biology teacher wanted to give them an early start of their weekend, but Killer still had music class after this, and it mainly meant he had a longer break. Which he would pretty much spend alone, as most other students had gone home already – Friday ended early for most of them. Sure, Penguin had offered to keep him company, but there weren't that few students around. Still enough people to see them, just none of his friends to keep him company – a great combination, Killer thought bitterly.

Therefore, he was surprised when Wire found him, only a few minutes after his break started. Killer snorted when he saw his friend. "Detention again?"

"Huh?" Wire looked confused at him. "Oh no, I was just hanging around for a bit." He leaned against the table where Killer was sitting at. "You know, behind the gym."

Killer nodded understandingly. "Smoking pot." He knew his friends did that sometimes. He didn't mind, but never felt the need to join them. Drugs weren't as appealing to him.

Wire shrugged. "Yeah," he said, and then took out his phone. "But then I saw the most interesting thing… A new addition to the wall." He put his phone in front of Killer, showing a picture of a wall with text and drawings on it. "Is that about you?"

Killer looked in shock at the big 'P❤K' that was the focus of the picture. What the hell had Penguin done?

While a knot formed in his stomach, he tried his best to pretend he didn't know what Wire was talking about, and instead focused on the conversation about a teacher that was being held right above Penguin's love declaration. In red, someone had drawn a heart with 'Ms Hina' next to it. Someone else had written in black 'Yeah, she hot', to which someone else reacted in blue 'Eww'. Red had then commented that blue didn't have any taste, whereas black did. "You mean that bit about Ms Hina? Why would you think that's me?"

Wire frowned. "What? No, that's where I wanted to write my reply, but there's barely any room left, because someone wrote that giant P heart K underneath…"

Killer looked at his friend, trying his hardest to direct attention away from that. "You're in that conversation? Please tell me you're the blue one."

Wire shrugged. "No, I'm black. She is hot… I mean, for a teacher, she's pretty hot. I'm surprised you can't see that."

Killer had to admit he had never had class from Ms Hina, but had seen her. He guessed she could be seen as kind of attractive? But she was still a teacher, and it was pretty gross. And of course, he didn't see the appeal anyway. He shrugged too. "She's still a teacher… but hey, no judgment if you're thinking of her while you're jerking off." Well, a little judgment, but Killer would keep that to himself.

"Thanks… But you're distracting me!" Wire accused him – with good reason. "The K in that 'P heart K', that's you, right?"

"No," said Killer a little too quickly. "Why would that be me? There are thousands of people whose name start with a K!"

"Yeah, but… you're the only one I know. I just had a feeling it would be you," Wire answered.

Killer snorted, but the knot in his stomach hadn't loosened yet. "There's a girl in my year named Koala… There's also likely to be a Karen or something in school, and probably a lot more people whose name start with a K…" Why couldn't he think of more? "Even my dad's name starts with a K… not that I hope that's about my dad," he joked.

"Hmmm." Wire narrowed his eyes. "And still… I got this feeling…"

"Wire," Killer said, slowly feeling a little more at ease, because he realized Wire didn't have any actual ground to base his accusations on. "You're high."

Wire seemed to think about this. "Yes, but I have my best ideas when I'm high. I wonder who the P is, though…" his eyes widened. "It isn't Perona?!"

Killer looked amused at his friend. "No, of course not… I mean, if the K was me, it would definitely not be Perona. I'm not crazy."

Wire raised an eyebrow. "It doesn't have to be reciprocated. I mean, it could just mean the P person has a crush on the K person, right? So, it could be Perona, even if you don't like her." He thought about it some more. "Yeah, it could be you, without you knowing it. You might have a secret admirer, that's it!"

Killer snorted. "Yeah, could be." That was a conclusion he could live with. Still, he had to talk about it to Penguin, though. He grabbed Wire's phone and clicked to share the picture.

"What are you doing?" Wire asked.

"Sending myself this picture," Killer answered, as he selected his own name in WhatsApp. "If it's from a secret admirer, I might as well try to find out who it is."

Wire nodded. "Yeah, it's definitely from a secret admirer. I wonder who…"

Killer smirked. "Don't hurt yourself thinking about it too much. It could also very much not be about me, you know." He handed the phone back to Wire.

"No, no, it's about you, I feel it."

At that moment the bell rang, and Killer stood up. "Okay, Wire." He placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I think it's time for you to go home. Or… rejoin whoever you've been smoking with. I gotta go to class."

TBC~!