Pairing: CrissColfer

*Warning: Homophobia.

Chris Colfer, and Darren Criss belong to themselves.
*quote belongs to Darren Criss.

A Reason For Your Smile

1.

It sucked. It sucked so much it hurt. The worst thing is that Chris couldn't do anything about it. "It's not like I can even hate her," Chris sighed frustrated and rolled over his stomach on his bed. "I can't just dislike someone when there actually nothing to dislike about!" Chris complained lowly, not wanting his family to hear him, but still grunted to liberate some of his frustration.

Chris jumped a little when he felt his phone vibrating; he knew it was only from someone since he was home. "Because, no one else texts me"; he didn't care though, he still smiled when he saw the name.

From: Darren — Heeeyyyyyy Chriissssssyyyy why you aint comin? ): Mia told me you didn't give her a real answer. U ok?

"Mia…" Chris breathed. Tiredly, he typed a reply to his friend.

To: Darren — Grammar—and spelling, Dare, and… I thought we agreed about you not calling me /that/ again.

Months ago, Darren was the new kid in Chris' high school. For an odd even, Darren and Chris became sort of best friends—or Chris liked to think that.

And after a few weeks, Darren adopted calling Chris "Chrissy" when Darren wanted something… and adding the face of a pouting Darren, Chris couldn't say no. ("No, Darren, I'm not going." Chris would say crossing his arms. "Buuuuuuut Chrissy, you'll have fun!" Darren would try convincing first. "Nope," Chris would say so sure of it. "Chriiiissyyy," and Darren would try yet again. "You're pouting, aren't you?" Darren would snort. "… Okay," Chris sighs. "Yay!" and Darren would celebrate victory taking Chris to have coffee).

And something about Darren was that, he is a very… touchy guy. Even when they were inside school, Darren would run up to him to say hello with a huge smile and hug him. Darren was a cuddle, snuggle, hug whore.

And Chris loved it, but obviously he wouldn't admit that aloud. "Whore of any kind of warm-touchy interaction," Chris smiled again at the memories.

That's why there was a time in which Chris thought that maybe Darren was also gay; he thought he had a fucking shot, but no, obviously no.

Darren became kind of popular in high school, especially popular between the female students… and some teachers.

How?

"I can't even believe it was my idea…" Chris grunted when he buried his face in his pillow.

2.

"Come on, Darren. They will love you; you just have to perform for this Saint Valentine school event." Chris said confidently, he knew Darren had an amazing voice. Darren was going kill this!

Darren looked nervous, still smiling, but very nervous. "I don't know… isn't this kind of inappropriate to sing this song in school though?"

Chris looked down, frowning. "They let people harass me every day and they'll think this classic will be inappropriate? Don't make me hit you, Dare." Chris said bitterly. The day before, Chris was thrown in the dumpster again (Yeah, shocker!) and he hit his knee. Very badly, but he didn't tell anyone about it.

"I thought they stopped?" Darren asked, a bit confused; Chris knew that Darren defended him when Chris was no there so see it. Chris didn't know how often Darren punched jocks to defend him though.

"Some punches won't stop all of them… although I don't condoned violence, I still appreciate it…" Chris blushed remembering how a couple of days after Darren and he became friends, Darren defended him when he saw a couple of guys shoving Chris against some lockers.

"Don't worry about it, I'll keep doing it if I see it… but I thoug—…"

"It's fine—I'm fine, you're not here to protect me anyways… nobody is."

Darren look as he had failed Chris; he decided he'd change the topic now, but he'd bring it up later—when nobody is around. "Chris, what if we sing a duet? You and I—I bet it'll be amazing—'cause your voice is! If we sing Baby, It's Cold Outside as we did when we were in my room, I'm—"

"Are you even listening to yourself? You have a chance to become popular, Dare, if you sing with me it'll be more like social suicide. So stop this and go now!"

3.

Chris' phone vibrated again; it got him back to reality.

From: Darren — BUT CHRISSYYYY MY GRAMMAR IS PEREFECT. You can ask ms. Willer ;)

Chris shook his head in amusement. Well, that's true. Ms. Willer was their English teacher, and also well known for being the most very strict teacher in their high school. Ms. Willer literally loved Darren; he always got A's in all his assignments.

"With that charisma and his charming smiles I'd give him all the A's too," Chris thought sadly. He had fallen for his friend, fallen hard.

To: Darren — You're impossible, Mr. Criss.

From: Darren — Nopeee. That's a lie. You're the one being impossible Mr. Colfer, why are you not here? Mia said that you looked as you were trying to make up an excuse.

Well, now that was decent grammar and spelling, so probably Darren was being serious now. But what Chris could tell him?

Yes, I didn't go because I didn't want to see you being lovely with your future-girlfriend?

I thought you were gay so I made this thing up in my mind where we could be together.

I like you and I don't want to go and see you with Mia being couple-y.

I thought we could be… something you know? I thought you were gay, but you aren't…

He could say that, but he didn't want to lose his only one friend… and truth to be told, Mia was nice, really nice. "Dammit!" Chris swore, she was nice; she was a perfect girl… she is a girl. And that's what straight guys like Darren want—a girl. And better if it's a girl like Mia. "Colfer, stop, you're depressing yourself," he reprehended himself. And like that he fell asleep into his memories.

4.

For St. Valentine Day the school planned a dance, as every year. Darren basically made Chris go to the dance; it was the first time for Christopher. He hasn't gone before because of his bullies, but Darren promised him he would have lots and lots of fun. ("And what if I'm alone and I get bullied?" Chris asked. "I'll protect you, duh!" Chris frowned, "I don't need a knight in shining armor, Dare." Darren laughed and told Chris he would have fun, if not, Darren promised pay for their coffee for a month).

Chris told Darren to perform a song for St. Valentine Dance, Darren was nervous but Chris knew that Darren could be popular in this school. Darren has gotten a lot reputation because of Chris, he knew that. But not the kind of good reputation and Chris always felt guilty about it. ("Don't be ridiculous, Chris." Darren would tell him. "You know it's true, Darren… you're the fagg—" "—DON'T EVEN DARE to complete that phrase, Colfer." Darren would reply, somewhat angry. "Fine, but this isn't over; you know damn well it's true and you just have to accept it, Dare.") Chris thought that Darren had this popular kid material in him, and Darren performing will show the school who Darren Criss is.

Besides Darren, there were many performers; many of the performers with very romantic song selections for the occasion. "How cliché," Chris thought while fidgeting with his finger while waiting for Darren to appear. He was also nervous but he has to be supportive and strong for Dare. After all, Darren was his best friend, and it has been his idea.

Chris' eyes shined when he saw Darren appear, intensely gazing at him when Darren opened his mouth to the words to come out of his lips.

Damn, those lips… "Stop it, get it together, Colfer!"

Sugar
Sugar
Ooooo ooh

She sits alone, waiting for suggestions
He's so nervous, avoiding all her questions
His lips are dry, her heart is gently pounding
Don't you just know exactly what they're thinking?

If you want my body and ya think I'm sexy
Come on sugar, let me know
If you really need me, just reach out and touch me
Come on honey, tell me so
Tell me so. Baby

There were some students behind Darren, singing as back-up… Chris' assumed they were some other Darren's friends. Chris' knew Darren had other friends, many other friends. He wasn't surprise since Darren was a smiling and pretty likeable guy, but Chris lived with the fear that Darren would find another best friend and Chris would be forgotten. That thought hurt him a lot.

He's acting shy, looking for an answer
Aw, come on, honey, let's spend the night together
Now hold on a minute, before we go much further
Give me a dime so I can phone my mother

They catch a cab to his high rise apartment
At last he can tell her exactly what his heart meant

If you want my body and ya think I'm sexy
Come on, sugar, let me know (let me know)
If you really need me just reach out and touch me
Come on, honey, tell me so (tell me so)

His heart's beating like a drum
'Cause at last he's got his girl home
Relax, baby, now we're all alone (now we're all alone)
Come on, sugar, let me know

Chris was surprised; Darren owned the place. Darren had an amazing voice, but also he was moving around, dancing. As if he was born to do this.

If you want my body and ya think I'm sexy
Come on, honey, let me know
If you really need me, just reach out and touch me
Come on, sugar, let me know

If you want my body and ya think I'm sexy
Come on, honey, tell me so
If you really need me, just reach out and touch me
Come on, sugar, let me know

Oh, if you want my body

As Chris suspected, the place was flooded with applauses… they loved it. Chris felt so proud!

Afterwards, Chris ran up to the backstage to find Darren and congratulate him, to tell him how proud he was, how every single one loved it.

When he arrived he saw a girl with Darren, not only as in standing next to Darren to congratulate him or something. She was flirting with Darren, and Darren was smiling broadly too, and talking to her with the same enthusiasm.

He was flirting back too.

Chris took all courage he had to go up to them instead of pretending and walk away, "Hi." He saluted.

Darren turned to him, still with that charming smile, and pulled Chris in a hug, "Chris—this is Mia. Mia, this is Chris!"

And then it stopped being "Darren and Chris," or how Chris' bullies liked to called them: "Criss and the fag!" Now they became this trio, "Darren, Mia, and Chris." In which Chris drift away because it felt more like "Darren and Mia, and Chris."

After the St. Valentine dance and Darren's performance, most of the students knew who Darren Criss was. Chris' plan was successful. Chris' personal bullies took an interesting like for Darren, and their words got hurtful and especially hard to forget. "Finally Criss is realizing who he should be hanging out with—that Mia is hot!" One of the jocks told him just before throwing him in the dumpster.

Similar things were told, and those things that were said by Chris' bullies never left his mind. 'Hmm, so tired of this… Chris thought angrily after getting out of the dumpster that day.

5.

Chris rolled over his bed, blinking awake. He looked through the windows and then tried to find his phone to see the time. Chris moaned; the light off his phone making his eyes hurt.

Chris frowned.

3 Missed Calls | 7 New Messages

"What on Earth…" Chris grunted and looked at the time first before going through his insanely amount of messages. It read 7:39 P.M.

Missed Calls:

Darren — 5:10 P.M.

Darren — 6:57 P.M.

Darren — 7:11 P.M.

The last one was no long ago… maybe Darren got tired of trying to reach Chris and went with Mia. "Not like he'll miss me with Mia being there," Chris alleged to himself bitterly. He checked his messages.

Messages:

From: Darren — CHRISSSSSS Why arent u replyiiiiiiiin

From: Darren — … wait ur mad or sumthin? did u get mad at me

From: Darren — Okay, Chris, come on. Are you there?

From: Darren — Chris, you better know that you're worrying me.

From: Darren — No movies today then, mister Colfer.

From: Darren — Drove Mia home, I'm coming over.

From: Darren — Chris, you better have a good excuse (or at least making one up) for not replying!

Chris sat up on his bed… Darren didn't go to the movies as planned with Mia because he was worried about him…? Chris blushed slightly at this.

Chris yelped again, his phone vibrating in his hand.

Incoming Call — Darren

Chris gulped. "… Hello?"

"Chris—holyfuck!"

Chris rolled his eyes "… yes, hi to you too, Dare."

"Chris, open the door."

Chris sucked in air, what? "What?"

"I just arrived to your house—open the door."

"I—it—… fine." Chris hung up and went down to open the door.

Chris opened the door and Darren entered brusquely, "Yes, make yourself home. I mean, why not?" Chris said sarcastically while closing the door.

Darren turned to his Chris eye-to-eye and sighed. He looked quite frustrated. "'Kay, enough of this game," Darren said, more to him than to Chris, but he still heard it. Darren took Chris' left hand and basically dragged him into Chris room, where Darren pushed Chris softly on the bed and Darren sat next to him. "Okay, Chris… 'the fuck is going on?"

Chris looked at Darren incredulously, "I might be asking the same…. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong with you?" Darren snapped, getting closer.

"That doesn't even make sense!" Chris replied, getting somewhat intimidated with the short distance between Darren and he.

"Don't play dumb, Colfer! I know you've been acting weird since a few weeks! You're like… I don't know… like getting away from me—you don't even wanna hang out with me anymore!"

"That's not true!"

"Don't lie to me, Chris!"

Chris didn't reply; he knew Darren was right. He didn't want Darren to know that he had falling for him… one thing is Darren don't minding him he being gay, and one different is Chris acting on it or Darren knowing Chris had a big crush on him.

"No—shit—sorry, Chris… don't cry." Darren pleaded softly.

Chris didn't realize he was crying until Darren actually commented on it. "… sorry," was the only thing Chris could manage.

"Chris, honey, what's wrong? Did I do something wrong?" Darren said in a low voice, pulling Chris closer and setting him in his lap.

Fuck, that was one of the reasons Chris fell for Darren; first, Darren gave this vibe that Chris felt Darren had feelings for him; secondly, Darren being all touch-y feel-y and damn the pet names. Fuck this guy and his mixed signals, damn.

Even Darren called Chris every now and then "Angel." Do straight guys do that? Because Chris was confused as fuck, starting off because no guy in this place wouldn't even touch him. ("They threw you again," Darren didn't ask. "I don't care, I'm better than them," Chris would reply. "You're a goddamn angel, why the fuck—no, I'm not takin' this any—" Darren looked as he was going to chase Chris' bullies down. "No! Stop there, Dare. You're not going anywhere to punch 'em. Stop," Chris would wave it off, and Darren would just hold him.)

Chris sobbed harder. Darren hugged him closer, "Baby, the bulling got worse? Tell me… tell me who was it now? You know I don't care if—…" Chris just shook his head; Darren looked as he had never felt so powerless. "Angel… what can I do to—"

"—Fucking stop," Chris cut Darren off angrily, with a lot of tears streaming down his face. "Stop! Just… stop it."

Darren looked hurt, but he also looked confused, very confused. "Stop what!? Comforting you?! I care about you, you know!?"

"Yes, I know! But it fucking hurts so much! So—so much sometimes I feel I can even take it!" Chris yelled; frustrated, red-faced, nose crutching, and biting his lips. "I just can't, Dare… it hurts way too much," he sobbed.

Darren couldn't lie; he didn't know what on Earth his Chris was talking about. Darren pat Chris' back, "Sweetie… what is it… I can't help if I don't—"

"You can't help, Darren," Chris smiled bitterly.

"You won't know if you don't let me try."

"I fell for a straight guy," Chris confessed with a serious face; not looking at Darren.

Silent fell in the room, but Darren couldn't hold his curiosity for more than a minute. "Who's this guy…?"

"OhmyGod, really, Dare?"

"Yah! Really, 'cause the only one you hang out with—" Darren stopped, realization hitting hard. "… oh… oh."

Chris knew that this would possibly be the most humiliated moment in his entire life, nothing could beat this. He moved away from Darren, "Sorry…" Chris sobbed.

"Why the hell are you sorry for?"

"Just… stop. I get it, okay? I know if—ugh—if you don't want to be my friend—hell, I'll understand if you don't even want to look at me!"

Darren's phone ringtone started playing "Teenage Dream," and he took it out of his pocket. Chris looked hurt; he backed away and turned around to give Darren a little of privacy to answer the call.

"Hey, Mia," Darren said uncomfortably, scratching the back of his neck.

Well, fuck. Chris didn't want to go the movies so he wouldn't have to listen to this kind of conversation.

"Uhm? Oh, oh—yeah… yes, he's fine." Darren said giving Chris a look that Chris couldn't decipher. "What? Tomorrow night?"

Nice, a date… and Chris was this close to get out of his own room so he wouldn't have to hear the details.

"No, uhm. I—no! Huh? Wait—whooo there, Mia… no, Mia. I—uh… 's okay, I told you—we're fine."

Oh, screw this, Chris thought sniffling a little, and decided to walk out of his room. Darren realized what Chris intended to do, and took him by the wrist, and shook his face at Chris as saying: No, you're not leaving. We aren't done yet.

"I—no… remember what I said? I mean it. Really—I—…" Darren kept replying to Mia on his phone, but holding strongly Chris' wrist and looking him in the eyes.

"I wanna go, I don't need to hear this," Chris whispered frustrated, but for just Darren to hear.

Darren sighed and threw his phone on Chris' bed, "Mia kissed me tonight." Darren said calmed.

Chris' eyes widened. Okay, he didn't want to hear this.

"—but I told her that… I wanted someone else."

Chris didn't say anything, what now? It was not Mia, but still there was someone. Chris started sobbing.

"… Chris… honey, you shoulda told me before," Darren said, giving Chris that smile. That smile that Chris thought he would melt every time he'd see it. Which, to be honest, there were a lot of times Darren gave Chris that smile.

Chris looked at Darren, a confused look plastered in his factions. "Wait… what do y—" Chris couldn't say more. Darren's lips were on his.

Darren's lips were on his.

Chris felt so confused. Darren's lips on his, Darren's arms around his waist—pulling him closer… Darren broke the kiss after a minute, looking at Chris adoringly.

"… I—what… I…" Chris was blabbering, but he didn't know how to use the words.

"Baby, you're not making any sense," Darren teased before giving him a peck on the lips.

"I thought you were straight," Yes, perfect. That was the best way to put it.

Darren laughed, and pulled Chris again on his lap, "Angel, people fall in love with a person, not a gender." (*)

Chris smiled broadly before kissing Darren again; Darren's phone forgotten on the other corner of the bed.

If you haven't listened to Darren singing Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? You should go do it now! :D (The lyric I got it from a website).
And, by the way, part 2 and 4 were flashbacks (or Chris' memories). Also, I edited chapter 1, and changed a little bit. Not much though.
This fic was going to be an oneshot, but I loved the response (SO, THANK YOU! :D ) & I had some ideas.
So this is kind of going to be kind of a progress in Chris/Darren relationship through high school. It's just gonna be fluff. :)