Title: Into better days
Rating: rated M
Disclaimer: The real people I'm referring to belong to themselves of course. Their characters and gimmicks belong to the WWE.
Pairing(s): Mason/Evan
Summary: High school can be hell. But what happens if some of the 'outsiders' decide to stand together, facing all the injustice each of them had to suffer in their past? A loose alliance soon transformed into friendship... and more...
Warnings: none in this one :)
A/N: I kept writing! But sadly I haven't been able to stay updated with my favourite stories! Shame on me! I hope to get some free time soon to spent some time reading...
Thanks for the comments, they're really appreciated. Don't hesitate to ask questions or make suggestions!
VIII. - Do not say a word
Cody was walking down the hallway, his head held high and proud of being allowed to spent his lunch break with Mike and his friends. He did it! Finally he was were he belonged to. He was popular now. He was allowed to sit with the rich kids, he wasn't bullied anymore and he was dating a blonde, sexy girl. Life had been good to him the last few weeks.
But still, he felt guilty. Without Phil and the others the girls would still ignore him and the cool kids would still behave as if he didn't exist. He achieved his goal and now he was neglecting his friends who made everything possible in the first place. This though made him sad. Thinking forward to their learning session he had planned this afternoon he shoved away the thoughts.
"Well then, I have to go", Ted announced. The slender boy was one of Mike's closest friends and member of the school's choir.
"See you later", Mike said, smiling his arrogant and impervious smile.
"Well, I gotta go, too. I have physics next and Mr. Hickenbottom can be a pain in the ass if you dare to be late for his class", Cody said, rubbing the back of his head. "See you tomorrow." It was more of a question rather than a statement, and Mike nodded benevolent. The other boy grinned and rushed towards the science building.
"What's that with you and that nerdboy?"
Randy was leaning against Mike's locker, eyeing him curious but cautious. "Are you bonding with him?"
"You actually are as stupid as you look. Or is this just an average football player thing I don't get?", Mike replied, not very impressed by the taller boy.
"Your parents might be rich, Mizanin, but that won't stop me from showing you whether you fit into one of this tiny lockers or not!", Randy said with clenched teeth. "You'd better stop insulting me or I might consider to take my anger out on you."
"I'll bear that in mind", the blonde boy replied, still not impressed. "But given that we're somehow on the same side I'll explain why I'm – what were your words again? - bonding with Rhodes.
You see, he might be very intelligent when it comes to maths and physics but, lets face it, he's dumb. He has no sense for human interactions at all. You can lie straight into his face and he's delighted that you talk to him. He's a social cripple who's craving for appreciation and acceptance from us. And by saying us I mean the 'cool' kids, like you and me. The ones that don't get their head flushed in a toilette."
"Nobody does that", Randy mumbled but Mike hushed him with a wink of his right hand. Growling Randy fell silent again.
"Well, his friends on the other hand are much more clever. They'd get suspicious if they'd see me or you talking to him, befriending him. The danger of them getting involved in this is way to big. That's why I had to silence Bourne. He saw me talking to the nerdboy."
"You sent those thugs after him?" Randy was impressed. That's what the rich boy meant by having people to do the dirty work for him.
Mike nodded. "Indeed, and I think they distracted him quite well. But nevertheless I have to be cautious in case he remembers to tell his friends."
"I still don't quite get why we have to be nice to Rhodes", Randy said, scratching his head.
"We need him", Mike answered.
"We do?" Disbelieve was written all over the tanned athlete's face.
"As I said, he's dumb and I need him to do and get some things for me. Lets say, things have to be arranged, and I need informations and maybe one or two personal belongings from Brooks and Barrett. I hope you see that I can't ask them myself. And that's where Rhodes comes into play. By asking him I can get every information I need."
Finally, Randy understood. He was even more impressed as Mike revealed his thoughts. He wouldn't ever have thought about such things. After all he was a quite pragmatic man who liked to solve his problems with his hands rather than with his head. "What if the boy ever thinks about telling his friends that you're questioning him about them?"
Mike gave him an indulgent look. "He's so credulous, he agreed of keeping our 'friendship' a secret because his friends won't 'like me'. And in case he refuses to provide the informations needed I still have literally a million things to bribe him with. He cast an eye on precious Kelly and I thought of rewarding him with some female love if he obeys. Kelly would do anything for me."
Randy burst out in laughter. He had to acknowledge to himself that he underestimated the blonde boy. He was talking to a fucking genius!
The same afternoon, Cody was sitting in Phil's room, trying to explain some simple rules of linear algebra to Phil, Wade and Daniel. While his band mates were pondering over the tasks Cody gave them, Sheamus was laying on the small sofa, feeling bored, and occasionally twanging at the strings of his bass guitar.
"I don't get it! That's impossible!", Daniel exclaimed desperately, throwing away his pen and starting to bang his head against the table. Rolling his eyes Phil smacked him on the back of his head. "Concentrate", he hissed and went on despairing of the calculation.
After some minutes of silent struggle Wade stretched and passed his sheet to Cody. With big eyes Daniel watched the brunette boy going through Wade's procedure of solution. He nodded and took off his glasses. "It's all correct", he announced and beamed at Wade who gave him his signature smug grin.
"That's impossible!", Daniel cried out. "How is he able to solve this while I haven't got a single clue?"
"That's because you're stupid", Wade replied dryly and stood up. He went over to his bag, got himself a cigarette, and left the room through the side door. Angrily Daniel gazed after him. "I'm not stupid", he growled, trying to concentrate on his exercises once again, fighting the urge to get a cigarette, too.
"By the way, where are Evan and Mason?", Cody asked as he got up and walked over to the fridge. At the sight of pepsi being the only beverage Phil's fridge had to offer he closed the door again, took a glass, and decided to drink tap water instead.
"Evan's swim training is today and Mason decided to wait for him", Sheamus answered. "I think he's still a bit worried about the little fella."
Cody nodded and took a sip. His friend Mike had been surprisingly interested in Evan's health situation, but he didn't told the others. Even though he was proud of being friends with one of the popular kids he was afraid that his friends, especially Wade and Phil, would be very displeased by that.
"You've been quite busy lately", Phil remarked, thankful for the distraction. "You used to hang out with us, and then we don't get to see you for weeks, except for our learning sessions. Do you have new friends we don't know of?"
Cody looked at him as if he was a ghost. For him it seemed as if Phil could read his mind. He looked away.
"Nah... it's just..."
"It's a girl, right?", Sheamus asked and sat up. They all remembered the blonde girl Cody went to their gig with.
"She's just a friend", Cody admitted. "Even though I wish she would... but she doesn't see me like that. We just go out from time to time." He sighed, took off his glasses, and started cleaning them with the sleeve of his shirt. The others gave him a pitiful look.
"Furthermore, I have to keep up with my advanced courses." The boy looked at Phil and Daniel who turned back to their exercises in an instant. "I want to go to a good college. Harvard or maybe Yale. I can't procrastinate!"
Phil rolled his eyes. He saw the need in studying, but he hated it nevertheless.
The weeks went by and February came along. Some sadistic teachers had scheduled tests for the 15th and because of that none of the group was able to spend Valentine's Day the way it should be celebrated. Instead, they met up with Cody to rehearse some unclear questions. They stayed at Phil's up to late, studying biology, maths and literature.
The upcoming weekend, Evan and Mason decided to spent a whole day together. The others were practising for another gig, and Cody had made himself scarce even before the examinations.
Mason and Evan met at the junction they used to split up at their way home from Phil. Mason suggested to get some chips and ice cream, and spend the day at the Ryan's house, watching some movies. Marysa had to go to the obligatory doctor's appointment with Maria, and had planned on going shopping with their little sister afterwards. Therefore, the house would be all theirs.
They got their snacks at a nearby grocery store. On their way to Mason's they walked along the river. "It's wonderful, isn't it?", Evan asked and paused. He looked over the river, watched the reflecting sunlight glistening on the surface. "Do you know why I love water that much? It somehow always changes, it's never the same. And you can be part of that, you can always change what you are, if you want to. Or develop – that might be the better expression." He sighed and looked at Mason who was himself looking at the little waves that rippled the water surface. Again, his look didn't reveal anything, and Evan was wondering what he might be thinking about. 'He's still a mystery to me', he thought.
"You never step into the same river twice", the tall boy finally said, averting his gaze from the steadily flowing river. They moved along, and Evan enjoyed the other one's presence in silence.
"You don't have to change", Mason finally said.
Evan eyed his friend from the side. "Well, I enjoy being part of something that never stops, that's always in motion. Despite, changes don't have to be bad."
"But they mostly are...", Mason disagreed without looking at him. "I don't want you to change. Sometimes things should stay the way they are."
Evan gave him a sad look. He knew what Mason was hinting at. He still suffered from the loss of his father. Evan could only imagine how Mason could have been as a child. Maybe he had been cheerful and blithe, but he would never know. Mason refused to talk about it, and Marysa just couldn't remember.
Silently they walked alongside each other, but this time the silence was somewhat bitter and oppressive. After some minutes Evan couldn't stand it anymore.
"The boys and you... you changed my life", he said, looking at his hands, playing with the loop of his plastic bag. "It's better now." He stopped, fighting back the feeling of sadness but soon he felt the first tear running down his cheek. Hastening, he wiped it away.
When he looked up, Mason was eyeing him with his vacuous eyes. He looked around, and when he noticed that nobody was around, he put his arms around his small friend. "I'm sorry", he whispered. "I'm a bit touchy when it comes to such topics. Honestly, my life also changed when we made that arrangement back then, but I tend to forget the good things in life."
Evan managed to give him his purest smile. After making sure that nobody was watching them, Mason hugged him even tighter, and gave him a brief kiss on the forehead. "Lets go home", he said quietly. "The ice cream is melting."
They hurried to Mason's home, and soon after the tall boy closed the door behind them the ice cream was forgotten. Mason had shouted to ensure that nobody was home, and afterwards had drawn Evan into a long and passionate kiss. He wrapped his arms around the waist of his smaller friend and lifted him up a bit. Evan smiled into the kiss, and for some rare minutes everything seemed to be just perfect.
A high pitched scream made them scatter. Mason spun around in alarm, and saw his sisters standing at the door, their groceries scattered all over the floor. Marysa looked at him, her eyes widened, her mouth still open. Her hands were shaking and when Mason took a step forward she instinctively stepped backwards. Maria was standing next to her, carrying one of her stuffed animals, and looked from Mason to her sister and back again.
Mason raised his arms and took a step back. They hadn't realized that their stroll at the shore of the river had taken that much time. "I...", he started but his voice quit the service. He cleared his throat. "I can explain", he finally managed to say, giving Marysa a pleading and defeated look. Evan stood beside him, his heart racing. It was the second time within a few weeks that they were caught, but this time it was much worse than drunken Daniel!
After some moments Maria broke the silence. "What's happening", she asked alarmed. Since her siblings behaved quite unusual she sensed that something must be going on. Still shaking Marysa laid her hand on the young girl's shoulder. "Why don't you go upstairs, Maria. I bet Sally's pretty tired." Hugging her stuffed elephant tighter the little girl walked past the two boys, looking back quite suspicious. But she didn't dare to oppose her sister, and soon the three young adults could hear her childish babbling from upstairs.
"Marysa, I...", Mason began to speak, but the raised hand of his sister silenced the tall boy.
"You don't need to explain", she said with a breathy voice. She was still shaking and avoided to make eye contact with her older brother. "I know what I saw and I know what that means!" She sighed and closed the door behind her, leaning against the wooden surface.
It almost broke Evan's heart to see his friend just standing there, staring at his sister who consequently avoided to look at him. His hands were hanging loosely at his side, his fingers moving slowly because he didn't know what to do with them. He had never seen the tall boy like this. His eyes were widened in disbelief and pain, his mouth slightly open as if he wanted to say something. Actually, Evan assumed, his boyfriend was close to tears.
"I'm sorry", Mason whispered, averting his gaze. He looked down at his shoes, clenching his fist. His mind was blank. After he had heard his sisters shriek, had seen her shocked eyes, the entire consequences of this situation had revealed themselves to him. Now, he was standing in the middle of the hallway, knowing that he was about to loose his family, his sisters who he loved more than anything, just because he had been too carefree. The only thought that kept him from bursting into tears was that, nevertheless, he blamed himself that he hadn't been cautious enough instead of regretting what happened in the first place. He reached out behind him, and his hand found Evan's.
A bit surprised, Evan took his hand, squeezing it softly.
"I'm sorry", Mason repeated, but this time his voice was more stable.
"Don't!", Marysa exclaimed, finally looking up again. "I'm the one who's sorry. I... I overreacted..."
Puzzled, Mason looked at her. Tears were glistening in the corners of her eyes. She breathed heavily, shaking her hands to keep herself from crying.
"I was shocked", the girl tried to explain herself. "I most certainly didn't expected that." She tried to smile but failed horribly. She gave Mason a helpless look and he instantly let go of Evan's hand, stepped towards his sister and took her into his arms. Marysa pressed her head against his chest, her body quivering from a mixture of sobs and laughter.
Softly, she pushed Mason away and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket.
"I can't believe that you're gay", she finally said. "I don't have a problem with that, heaven forbid, but it is hard to believe. I know mom's not the best representative of the female species but..." She interrupted herself, shaking her head. "I didn't imagine that it would affect you that much."
"I'm not gay", Mason stated, almost offensive, looking at Evan who looked back at him in disbelieve. But before the younger boy could protest Mason added: "I'm not interested in men, and I don't think that they... we... are attractive... But Evan's different." He gave the smaller boy a warm and affectionate smile.
Evan's heart just skipped a beat. He had seen Mason's smile a couple of times by now but that smile was different. It was full of affection and understanding, and it somehow startled him that he was able to read all that in his boyfriends eyes. He blushed and looked away.
"If you say so", Marysa said. "The only thing that matters to me is that you're happy. May it be with a girl or a boy – I don't care. You're my brother and I'll always love you. Besides, Even is a nice guy indeed", she added and beamed at Evan.
"Well now, look at this mess." Gesturing at the groceries that were still laying around on the floor Marysa shook her head. She knelt down, collecting the packages and cartons, and cramming them back into the plastic bags. Evan and Mason hurried to help her.
"I think we could all need some tea now."
Some minutes later, they were sitting around the small kitchen table, a cup of hot and steaming tea in front each of them. Maria had been brave and curious enough to come downstairs again, and was now sitting happily on Mason's lap, eating a bowl of cereals. The older ones remained silent, each of them preoccupied in thoughts.
"We have to keep this a secret", Marysa finally said and the boys looked at her. "If mother finds out she'll kick you out. We can't do this on our own, we need you!" She looked at her brother, a severe and determined look on her face.
Mason nodded. It wouldn't be a problem for him to quit school, find a job and care for himself, but without his presence his sisters were in danger of not getting any money from their careless mother. Not to mention the suspicious guys she brought home from time to time. Mason was pretty sure that some of them would love to get their hands on his sister. The thought made him sick. He began to stroke Maria's hair, and calmed down a bit.
"No, we definitely can't tell her!", Marysa decided. Then, she smiled. "Thinking about it, I kinda like the idea of you two being together."
Again Evan felt blood rushing into his head. The Ryan family somehow possessed the ability to make him blush. He couldn't help but feel some kind of affection for the brunette girl. She was so different from her brother, and yet they seemed to complement each other perfectly. For one moment Evan felt guilty for causing them trouble. If it weren't for him, they didn't have to worry about Mrs. Ryan kicking out her son for some stupid reason...
His thoughts must have been visible in his face because suddenly he felt the eyes of the two older siblings on him.
"Don't worry. We've been through a lot together, we'll make it through it this time, too", Marysa assured him.
"It has always been us three against her", Mason added and took Evan's hand. "Don't worry." His resolute tone convinced Evan.
A/N: So Mason's sister found out and Mike's plan is developing. I added Ted because someone thought of him being the "blonde guy". I think he makes a good friend for arrogant Mike so there will be some more gueat appearences!