"Today is going to be a boring day," Mr. Nichols announced as the bells rang. Assembled, as was becoming usual, on the bleachers, the class let out a collective groan. The hormones bottled up inside the group were almost like a smell, lingering in the gym, just waiting to be fanned away—but no such luck.

Edward sighed along with the rest of them, leaning his head back to rest against Envy's knees. For whatever reason, the green haired boy had decided to sit behind him today—not that Ed was complaining. As knees go, Envy's were pretty comfortable, thought just sharp enough to keep him awake for whatever lecture Mr. Nichols had prepared today.

Said man coughed lightly as he prepared to speak, and there was a sudden onslaught of shuffling and squeaking as everyone settled in for the long haul. "Today, we talk about the history of sexual education."

History? Edward had to fight the urge to moan again, instead settling for curling in on himself, crossing his arms and legs in acceptance as the teacher began. "I know it seems unimportant, but you have to understand, even a decade ago we didn't have this practical version of the class. Hell, when I was a kid, even having a sex ed class was a bit taboo. So you have to learn how this course has evolved."

Ed felt a light tugging in his hair as Envy pulled out his hair band. He swatted at the other boy, but received only a giggle in response as Envy began to run his fingers through Edward's hair. "So, let's start at the beginning," Mr. Nichols continued. "At first, sexual education was considered improper—leave it up to people to learn how to have intercourse when they get married, right? But people were beginning to have sex outside of marriage, and at that point, it became necessary to have a sex ed class to make sure everyone was taught how to be safe and avoid pregnancy and disease."

Not even a minute in and Edward couldn't quite remember why he was irritated that Envy had grabbed his hair. The boy's hands were so smooth in their motions, and really, it all felt quite nice. Ed uncrossed his arms, letting them rest at his sides as he relaxed. Soothing. That was the word. Envy's movements were incredibly soothing. Combined with Mr. Nichols's steady drone, it was all Edward could do to not let his eyes slide shut.

"But even once that was established, sexual education classes became little more than a cheap scare tactic. One thing was rammed into students like nothing else: abstinence." There were a few snorts, a few giggles at the word. "Yes, yes, I know—we've come far. But back then, people were taught that if you had sex, even with a condom or birth control, you would get an STD. Not that it was possible—in fact, they made it some absolutely unavoidable. Same thing with pregnancy. First time a girl has sex with a boy, boom! Baby. Of course, that isn't accurate, but no one cared; they just didn't want the children going around shacking up left and right."

A faint tugging as Envy began to pull Ed's hair back. Edward frowned for a moment, before he realized—the other boy was re-braiding his hair. It was strange, he knew they'd be doing a lot more in this class before the semester was over, but somehow the action felt so intimate it made Ed blush.

"Obviously, this didn't stop teenagers; you're a hormonal lot. And so gradually the education came to encompass more about being safe while having sex, and the mechanics, although abstinence was still encouraged. After a while, as homosexuality became less frowned upon, that was brought into classrooms as well."

Paying attention was almost becoming impossible. Ed was more awake now, trying to figure out what Envy was doing. It didn't feel like his normal braid at all. The green haired boy was working with much smaller strands of hair in what felt like a minute, finite manner. It was, admittedly, extremely distracting—and more than a little nice.

Mr. Nichols seemed to be wrapping up—he paused a moment for a breather before finishing with the current status: "No matter how much we taught in schools, you all ignored us. We could preach all day about practicing safe sex, and maybe some of you would listen—but only some. And even those that paid attention couldn't always gain access to condoms, or the morning after pill. Sometimes it was just that you were too excited to bother. And so rather than just teach it all—preach it, really—Central High School decided to give you both an education and a place to practice. We provide all the necessary additions, so we know you're doing it well and right. Obviously, it hasn't fixed everything, but as you know, the pregnancy rate in this school has dropped dramatically even since this program was put in place. And that's a good enough result."

One person in the back clapped—Ed couldn't tell whether it was supposed to be ironic or sincere—and Mr. Nichols laughed. "Yeah, right. I know it's not fun to know, but it is important. You all have a few minutes before the bell rings, so just…don't break anything." Giggles in the audience. "Real quick though, I will make you a promise: you'll be getting up close and personal with your partners tomorrow."

Though Edward was barely listening at that point, the last few words came across crystal clear. Tomorrow…he'd be getting "up close," possibly naked with…Envy.

"There!" the boy shouted. "All done!"

Flushing madly, Ed tried to redirect his thoughts, reaching behind to feel his hair. It was an incomprehensible mass of lumps and bumps. "…What did you do?"

Envy pouted, reaching over Edward's shoulder to grab at his backpack. "You're impossible." Sticking out his tongue in concentration, Envy finally pulled out a hand mirror, and stood up. "Come on!"

The other boy led Ed to the bathroom (there were a few wolf whistles as they went) and pushed him to the mirrors, spinning him around and handing him the smaller one he carried. "Look!"

With a small amount of difficulty, Edward angled the mirror so that he could see the back of his head in the reflection of the reflection. What he saw made him gasp: Envy hadn't just braided his hair, he'd done it several times over, twining Ed's hair into a large braid made of three tiny ones, and accentuated with even smaller ones, almost too little to see in the area of mirror he could clearly make out. "Envy, that's…"

"Amazing?" the green haired boy suggested, smirking with glee. "Fantastic? The most wonderful thing you've ever seen?"

Ed couldn't help but laugh. "Well, it's impressive, I'll give you that. How did you manage all this?" As he spoke, he twisted his head, feeling all the braiding as he continued to look in the mirror.

He sensed, rather than saw, Envy shrug. "I'm just good with my fingers, I guess," he responded slyly. Edward was suddenly rather aware of his own heartbeat, and just how alone they were in the bathroom. His arms erupted with goose bumps, and he just barely repressed a shiver.

In an attempt to hide the reaction, he merely said, off hand, "It's a little girly though."

Edward finally dropped in the mirror, looking into Envy's eyes instead as the other boy smiled mischievously. "Why, Ed, that's why it fits you so well."