When I approached the school this morn, I was greeted with an unexpected hug from Marie. Her hold conveyed her relief at my health, how glad she was that I was alright once more. I dared not tell her that this guilted me to the very core.

She eventually pulled away to speak, "Hey...how you feelin'?" Like a concerned mother, her voice; careful not to let on too much, but anxious to know despite it.

"Tolerable." I had woken normally, and my thoughts from the morning were, well...they were mine and his, though he should never hear them.

Her smile faltered a little, but she nodded anyways, "I'm glad. I was worried, sending Kevin over there and all, and..."

"Thank you for that, Marie."

Her eyes widened, "You...you're thanking me?"

I nodded, despite her disbelief, "He was...is...of use." My eyes momentarily left her as I debated expanding, but kept it to myself.

"Of use, huh?" She cocked her head, "That's a fuckin' weird way of putting it, Blackie, but I guess I getcha. What, did you two have some sad-sex or somet-"

"Maria."

Her lips pursed, and she began to chuckle as the blush spread across my cheeks. Despite my brazen attitude towards Jamison, and how unashamed I was of sexual acts, there was something...forbidden...about this. I could not joke about it, nor take jokes. It was to remain upon its pedestal, for whatever strange reason. I did not ask of it; talking to one's self is generally frowned upon.

A few minutes passed, Marie and I discussing minor things to lighten the heaviness upon our shoulders. The time for the bell was drawing close, and I'd yet to spot my Little Red. I was not concerned, but...

"Hey."

I didn't jump; I froze. Marie covered her mouth, holding back her laughter as I turned my head to see him standing there with Nazz, a mischievous smirk upon that sweet face of hs. Would that we were alone, I'd have removed it in an instant...or stolen it, perhaps.

"Kevin."

Nazz and Marie walked up to each other, sharing a look. I guess they planned this or something, and I actually felt a bit foolish for not realizing earlier. Red's arm brushed up against mine as he walked beside me, and I hesitated to return the gesture. Eyes would surely be upon us.

He seemed to notice, "Hey...it's alright, I mean, Eddy already knows, right? And the people that really care can't do shit now, right?"

I looked down to the side, lips in a line.

"So what's there to be scared of?"

I remained silent as the bell began to ring.

I sighed, slipping my hands into the pockets of my jacket as I started to move towards the school, when I felt a tug as my arm.

"Hey, umm...hang back a second, will ya? I got something for you, uhh...yeah, that," he seemed nervous, and it was enough to pique my curiosity. I cocked my head, remaining where I was until I felt my arm tugged back. I looked at him as he pulled me back, between the coniferous trees. The bell had stopped by this point, and two hazel eyes latched onto my own.

"We will be-"

"Just shut up for a second, will ya?" I could have laughed at the false bravado in his tone, but I stayed put. I was in no rush.

The stragglers found their way inside the school at last, leaving Kevin and I hidden between the building and the trees. I wasn't certain what he could even possibly desire to give me, but it was making him nervous, and that was enough to still me. He leaned a bit closer, and I parted my lips to speak once more, as time continued slipping by.

"I-"

Soft, cool lips silenced mine, delicate as they pushed forward, his hat slipping back as the kiss deepened. And just like that, he was gone. I was left, heart beating faster, red in the face, as my sneaky Little Red found his way through the school's front doors.

I blinked, taking a tentative step forward, cheeks flushed with red. My lips parted...then closed. I could still feel him, and so, I covered my lips with my hands.

I hoped the sensation would never leave.

"I forgot to ask; what did you end up writing for our English class?" Red's voice was behind me, but despite myself, I did not turn.

I pondered his question for a moment before answering, "I...do not recall. I am barely aware of what I had to write about, even, nor do I care. It was written, it will satisfy, and there is nothing more to tell."

"Is it-"

I cut him off, "You are missing nothing of import, mon doux. Take heart in that."

We entered the class; he followed me to my desk. Fortunately, we were quite early.

"Hey Eddward, uh," there it was, the nervous tic again, "can you, uh, find me after school? I mean, in school, but like, after all this. You know, I mean...you know what I mean, right?"

I held back a snort at his floundering inquiry.

"What for?"

"Oh, you know, uhh, nothing special, just I uh-"

The students were filing in, and I caught eyes upon us. Instantly, I adorned my masque, looking silently up at the boy who was supposedly my lesser.

"Understood."

And so, it was agreed.

The day stuck around a lot longer than I thought it would. I could feel the weights dropping off my shoulders when the final bell rung, releasing all of us to whatever sorts of after-school activities we would be up to.

Where-as everyone else hurried out the door after grabbing their stuff, I was left there, picking at things in my locker. Waiting for him to show up. Minutes passed, and the din of voices calmed to zipped bags, and eventually, silence. The hallway was empty; I was utterly alone.

-click- -clack-

Until I wasn't.

"Mon chéri, do not tell me you have been waiting for me all of this time." His voice was soothing, familiar, as I turned to face him. Cold, calculating eyes smiled upon me, even as his lips showed none of it. They didn't have to, and I'd never want them to. I smiled, taking a deep breath, before my thoughts went down...to his shoes.

"Do you mean to do that?"

He blinked, cocking his head, a stray hair falling from his beanie, "What do you mean, Little Red?"

"That thing you do, you know," focus, Kevin, "with your boots. You don't have to make any sound, I know that for sure. I've, well, not heard you too many times to count. Then suddenly, there it is, and you're always looking at me. It's on purpose, right? It's not just me?"

For a moment, he stood there, silent. He blinked. Then, slowly, the corner of his mouth crept up endearingly, eyelids lowering, "No, my Little Red, it is not 'just you.' I announce my presence, as I don't find words necessary for such a thing. However, to be consistently loud," he made a click with his heel, looking down at it, "that would simply be annoying."

"Oh, yeah...right..."

The silence was palpable. He didn't fidget in the slightest, only blinking slowly as he waited for me to say more. I'll be honest though: the nerves had gotten me.

Sighing, he spoke up, "Shall we move before the janitors lock the doors and leave us helpless within these walls?"

I shook my head to get myself out of my nervous stupor, "Yeah-yeah, right, let's go home."

He didn't start walking, so I took the hint and led the way. It was unnerving having him follow me when I could barely hear him, but it let me think of how to tell him my plans for the night. There was no way in hell he was going to like them.

A bit of time had passed before I found my voice again.

"H-hey Eddward?"

"Mmm? Stuttering is unbecoming, mon amie," he spoke uncaringly, eyes forward as we walked. The sound of his heels just barely ticking against the pavement was white noise to me as I tried to focus.

"I, um, sorry," I mentally berated myself, "it's just that...I'm not sure you'll be that into what I have planned for this evening."

I watched his expression falter, before it was quickly hidden behind its practiced veil, "Oh?"

His soft, storm-bound eyes measured me as I gulped, "T-t-tonight, we're," I felt the heat rush to my cheeks at my stumbling blunder, "we're gonna eat at my place. You're not going home."

He stopped, arms crossing and head cocked. His eyes narrowed, "Really now? And what makes you believe I would allow you dictate my life in such a way? Schoolwork falls far above you on the scale of necessities, and a meal is hardly worth-"

"Cut the crap, Edd, we both know you're gonna come with me."

He held his head back, eyes widening, and for a moment I thought I'd overstepped my bounds. A moment after, a chuckle vibrated through the air, and I felt the tension diminish. He stared bemusedly at me.

"Oui, young Red," he spoke, lips parted at the end, but no other words came out. I sighed in relief.

Not much was said after that, outside of a small whimper I made when he moved past me, bumping me off the sidewalk. I smiled when I was out of view, quickly running to catch up to his side. It was another few minutes before he stopped, again.

"I must change my dress prior to the meeting, Kevin."

I scowled, "You don't gotta do shit."

"Really now? Gotta? Hmmph," he held his forefingers up, tapping upwards under my chin, "Language, mon chéri, lest you sound childish-"

"...Sherry?"

He huffed amusedly, "Chéri."

I just stared at him.

"My dear."

"But I thought-"

"I was," he looked down and away, rolling his eyes slightly, "I was incorrect, Little Red."

Now I was the one taken aback, "How so?"

"One is close, the other, adored. I am...not without my faults. Again, I am rather...I have not been permitted to learn the tongue as well as I should."

I couldn't help but smile at the red on his cheeks, the wind playing with his jacket as he held his chest within his arms.

"Oh yeah! You can't go home first, I totally forgot to answer that again."

"But-"

"You've been dressing like this for, what, how many years now? They'dve seen it, dude, just chill."

He sighed, blinking slowly in defeat, "I...I..."

I smirked, "Stuttering?"

"Hush. Let us...go."

I let him lead the way.

Where have I been? Oh, nowhere. Work, a new kitten (lots of drama, not getting into it), a belated 'time' that caused my moods to capsize...I still haven't recovered. I rarely get stressed, and yet, I am. I am quite stressed. I hope this sates you, and apologies for how long it's been. Life hasn't been its best. Hope you enjoyed!