A/N: ldea taken from the Lionel Shriver's book "Double fault"
A/N: Lyrics in bold an alternate version of the song "Once" by Diana Vickers
"I'm only going to let you kill me once,
I'm only gonna let you kill me then some,
I'm only gonna let you thrill me,
Once"
He was ready. They were at their usual place. Adam had placed the pink vase on the stool. It looked nice. Eric could easily have cleaned that vase up and given it to his mum. But if she found out where he'd actually got it, he was toast. He didn't know. Honestly. He raised the baseball bat in the air when he heard his boyfriend mumble.
"Wait let me-"
In shock, he jolted the club upwards and hit something. That something turned out to be Adam's head. He fell back with a groan. Eric drops the club in a panic and rushes over to his boyfriend.
"Shit! Babe! Look at me! Shit!, let's get you to A&E!" Eric says trying to help him up. But Adam's huge, in pain and it's a more than a little difficult.
The next morning Eric is shitting himself in Otis' room.
"Oatie, I gave him a mahossive massive bruise. Shit! You should see his face. God, what are his parent's gonna think? His poor mum's gonna think I'm some kind of domestic violence, Trevor from EastEnders style thug!"
"Don't over-react. It was a accident? How were you supposed to know he was behind you?" Otis asked rubbing his friends back through his jacket. As upset as Eric was, was they were both curious to see how the head-master's son looked the next day. Eric deliberately came into school a little late, so that he didn't have to see Adam. Who was still on very thin ice at school. Otis got his books out of his locker, calmly typing on his phone, when he hears the familiar bang on the next locker.
"New kid. Where's Tromboner?" Adam mutters.
"He should be here soon. How's the face?" Otis said. Without even realizing he winces at his bruise. He believes his friend, that it was only one hit, but it looks really painful. They notice that as student's walk past him they're asking him what happened and girls are rubbing his shoulders.
"See you at lunch Adam yeah?" A blonde student says tapping him on the back.
"Hmm.." Adam nods, glancing around.
"I see Eric's mistake is gaining you a new social life" Otis perks up.
"Dunno what you mean. Got attacked by some twat who wanted a cigarette" He nods.
Otis looks up at him, both boys analyzing and shyly accepting this lie at the same time. Adam waits a little while, leaning against the lockers. Eye's wondering all over the place. Otis thinks he'd probably wait all day, but he gets a text, and walks away to his class in impatient silence.
"How does he look? On a scale of one to ten? Ten being Godfather horrific?" Eric asked.
"Honestly?" He considers.
"Yeah?"
"A solid eight?"
"Fuck really?" Eric moans.
"Yes, but from what I gather, he hasn't told anyone that it was you"
"What's his new story? Is he pissed at me. You're an expert, is there this underlying anger that he's hiding from me?" Eric asks.
Otis shakes his head, but he's not convincing him. "He doesn't blame you. You really need to talk to him. He's gonna stalk me all day in the shadows if you become the invisible man" Otis warns.
"Baby steps Oat-a-bix, baby steps" Eric sighs.
They get there early for lunch. It was kind of cold outside, and Otis wanted to try the new sandwiches in the canteen. Adam always had a quick cigarette straight away. So they had a bit of time. Or so he thought. He'd barely gotten his brown bread sandwiches out his backpack, when a large figure sat in front of him.
"How is the sandwich, my dear?"
"I'm just having cookies. Want one?" Adam asked.
"Shit!" Eric hisses, getting up out his seat.
"Tromboner, sit the fuck down" Adam warns.
"No. Adam, I'm so sorry about what happened. I didn't mean it" He looks around and lowers his voice to a whisper. "If you...don't want to "hang out with me anymore" I understand"
"What?" Adam objects.
"You know what I mean. Text me with the results" Eric says dramatically as he looks at Otis. He points to the door and then both friends start running out of the canteen.