Leather Jackets and White Robes
"So where are you going all dressed up?"
"I'm not 'all dressed up'."
"Clyde, you're wearing your favourite leather jacket, and a button up shirt. You've obviously put product in your hair, and I can smell your aftershave from over here."
Clyde looked at himself in the mirror, was he dressing differently than normal? He hadn't noticed. "Megan, stop trying to be Sherlock Holmes. I'm only going to Kevin's. I just can't help looking totally hot in the process." Clyde turned to his younger sister, taking in her appearance. "Anyway, where are you going dolled up with that skirt and make-up?"
"I'm going to Ike's... at least I can admit that I'm getting dressed up to go see my boyfriend."
Clyde furrowed his brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Megan just smiled, closing the door to her bedroom, a knowing twinkle in her eye.
If Kevin's mom was just having a quick conversation with him then she'd often talk in English, especially when they were out somewhere. But when annoyed or after a longer conversation, she would talk in Mandarin, and that's what she was doing as they both stood by the mirror in the hall.
"Your friend is coming over tonight?"
"Yeah, he'll be here any minute."
"I recall you were out with a friend last Friday night too, one Clyde Donovan?"
"That's who is coming over."
"What happened to Bradley?"
Kevin snapped, he'd already told his mom this information at least ten times. "Nothing happened to Bradley, I can have other friends than Bradley. Clyde's a nice guy."
"When Bradley comes over, he brings his oboe and you play duets. Or you watch a play, something high brow and stimulating. That's why I allow you to see him so much. What does Clyde do with you that's stimulating?"
Kevin resisted the urge to smirk, lots of thing mom, lots of things, he thought. "Well if you really need to know then I tutor him, Chemistry and History, which helps further my understanding as well."
"Oh so he's an idiot who needs extra help then?"
"Don't call him that! He's not an idiot, besides I often relaxed and did nothing with Bradley, I can do that with Clyde."
"I have no problem with you relaxing as long as you do all your work as well. I don't care whether Clyde's here or not, I must hear two hours of violin practise tonight, and not just those stupid movie themes you play, I want to hear proper classical pieces. The violin is made for them.
Kevin was so close to screaming, but he took a deep breath and agreed with his mom. He couldn't do anything else if he still wanted a life, and he desperately needed to see Clyde. He'd hardly seen him all week; the moments they had stolen were brief and very controlled. They had to be on edge, nowhere in the school was safe from prying eyes. They hadn't even had the chance to meet up after school, Clyde had been busy with practise for the upcoming game almost every night, and the nights Clyde wasn't slaving away in the gym, Kevin was busy. Clyde reluctantly took the opportunity to go over to Craig's house. It had been nice to catch up with his friend, even if he kept being bombarded with questions and jibes about 'Kelsi'. He'd tried answering as honest as possible, she had black hair, she was smart, and she loved watching movies.
When Clyde arrived at the Stoley household, sometime around six, Kevin had grabbed him and pulled him up to his bedroom, without even a chance to introduce his mom. He would save that excruciating conversation for later.
"Oh God I've missed you," he whispered as he wrapped his arms around Clyde and pulled him close.
"Shouldn't I say hello to your folks? I don't want to make a bad impression." Saying this, Clyde allowed himself to be pushed down on the bed, and he eagerly pulled Kevin on top of him. "I've missed you too."
Kevin urgently leaned towards Clyde's lips, holding his face delicately with both hands. "My mom's in a bad mood right now." His heart raced as he felt the pleasure of their lips joining again, and the indescribable taste that was Clyde Donovan, it was even better than he'd remembered.
It was a good enough excuse for Clyde, but then he didn't really take much convincing. When Kevin was lying on top of him, he'd agree to just about anything. He kissed back hungrily, running his hands down Kevin's back and up, under his Thor t-shirt (a brilliant comic panel montage).
Kevin grinned and grabbed the bottom of Clyde's shirt, twisting it in his fingers. He began to undo the buttons slowly, gazing into Clyde's startled, yet satisfied, hazel eyes. When he'd reached the top button he pulled the shirt apart, revealing Clyde's delicious toned chest. He plunged his head forward, lips to the skin of Clyde's neck, trailing down his chest. Clyde gasped, this had never happened with any of the girls. But then he supposed he never really wanted them to do anything, not really. He didn't want to touch and be touched by any of them like he did with Kevin.
Why did he have to wait a whole week to do it?
When they'd got over their initial urges of attaching their faces together, and decided that it was once again time to breathe, (although the length of time they kissed without so much as a single breath meant they should both be dead) Kevin occupied himself by kissing every single freckle on Clyde's front, and then each one on Clyde's back. It was a perfect, blissful moment, just being able to be together, without putting up defences, without having to act any differently than they wanted.
Clyde stroked Kevin's hair softly, occasionally leaning forward to sniff it, for he couldn't help himself. "I really wish I could show you off in school," he whispered.
"I'm not sure people in school consider me something worth showing off."
"They should, you're so super. You're like an extremely rare mint condition collectable."
This amused Kevin. "I appreciate the analogy there."
"The ermm... about the collectable?"
"Yes Clyde." Kevin stroked Clyde's chest. "I wish I could be around you more as well."
"We can't have people working it out though, and if people find out that I'm spending lots of time with you, they may get suspicious."
"Who are these people?"
"You know, people from the team." Clyde worried this because they wouldn't think it possible for him to be friends with a 'Nerd'. They'd look for the most sensational (and in this case true) explanation. His concern with Craig and Token was that they'd create a massive fuss, and demand to know why they were suddenly so close.
"They won't work it out."
"Why not?"
"Because they're a bunch of total retards." Kevin paused. "I know what you mean though. I don't want any of the people from the chess club to figure it out. I'll lose my credit as the dorkiest member." He grinned. "Hanging out with a Jock may make me popular, I just couldn't handle that."
"So you like being uncool?"
"I wouldn't be so openly Star Wars if not." Kevin faked a battle, his invisible lightsaber glowing bright above his head, the enemy standing no chance.
Clyde clapped. "You kick ass, Stoley." He looked saddened for a moment. "I've never been seen doing much that's uncool. I've always had to give off the 'unbothered-I-only-care-about-sport vibe'."
Kevin had an idea and grinned, Clyde wouldn't be saying that for long. "Come on, we're going to do something." He grabbed Clyde's hand and pulled him off the bed.
Clyde frowned that the black-haired boy had to disturb their perfect comfort. "Can't we do it after food, I'm hungry."
Kevin's eyes glistened. "There'll be plenty of time to feast later, young one."
The streets of South Park were cold at night-time, the ground icy, with new snow falling on top of it, a beautiful death trap. The snow lured you into a false sense of security that everything was alright, it hid the true dangers. Two cloaked figures walked down the road, their manner was confident, attempting a peaceful grace. One was much more skilled at this than the other. Their faces were hidden beneath the large hoods of their long white robes. They were druids, members of the ancient British priestly class, or at least they were pretending to be.
Even the shocking white of their robes couldn't keep them camouflaged against the snow, and people were giving them bizarre looks, but that was the point. A man selling magazines on a street corner, almost got a sale out of one of them, with his 'fantastic' offer- 'buy one for the price of two, and get one free'. But luckily the other one had enough common sense to drag him away, telling him to think slowly about what the deal actually promised.
One had his hood up, and the other his hood down when a pair of amused teenagers walked past them. One of the teenagers stopped abruptly, and stepped backwards, standing in front of them.
"Stoley? Is that you?"
Kevin froze, aware that the meeting could go two possible ways. "Tucker, Black," he said, trying to sound calm.
"What are you doing?" asked Token.
"I'm simply walking peacefully down the streets of my hometown."
Clyde pulled his hood further down over his face, surreptitiously stepping backwards, further away from the street light.
Token scoffed. "Nice dress."
"Thank you."
"Who's this?" Token pointed towards Clyde with narrowed eyes. "Is it Biggle or someone?"
Kevin knew Clyde wouldn't be able to reply without blowing his cover, the reason he'd chosen the druid hoods over other dress up gear was in case they got spotted. There was only one thing for it- he had to lie. "His name is... Marco."
"Marco?"
"Yes, Marco... Polo," spat out Kevin quickly. He could hear stifled laughing coming from next to him, as Clyde attempted to keep his composure. Although the situation was unnerving, it was also amusing to him. Token was getting annoyed; he reached forward to pull down Clyde's hood. Kevin's eyes widened and he jumped forward, pushing Token's hand away. "You must never pull down a druid's hood! You will pay a horrible price if you do so!" He had no idea if that was true in any way.
Token stretched out his arm again. "You're not real Druids."
"SAME PRINCIPLE!"
"I think you better do as he says," deadpanned Craig, a bored expression on his face.
Token did not appreciate being told what to do. He growled under his breath. "You're such a fucking Nerd, Stoley. Dressing up is such a stupid thing to do."
Kevin grinned, that's exactly what he wanted to hear, because now Clyde had been seen doing something uncool, even if people didn't know it was him. "Oh thank you, Token of the Black family. You've unintentionally just made Marco's night."
"How?"
"I could not possibly say, for you would not be able to handle it."
Token scowled. "Why won't Marco speak?"
"He doesn't want to."
"Yeah well he's a faggy little braniac as well then."
"You sound frustrated, perhaps you'd like to talk about what's bugging you? We can help find ways to deal with your problem."
"Oh FUCK OFF!" Token walked away annoyed with the direction the conversation had taken. Clyde was still laughing under his hood. He loved Token, but not when he was being a dick to Kevin. Being wound up and beaten was exactly what Token needed sometimes.
"Oh, sounds like he does have a problem..." Kevin looked up at Craig, almost with a challenge in his eyes. "What about you?"
"I don't care about this conversation." Craig cast his eyes over Clyde briefly as he heard the familiar laugh. He looked the hooded boy up and down one more time, an impossible thought entering his mind. He seemed to glare into the air for a few moments, before shaking it out of his head, and walking away.
When the tall boy had gone, Clyde lowered his hood. "How can you bear for them to treat you like that? I mean, they're like my best friends and all but they have to stop that."
Kevin shrugged his shoulders; he didn't feel much like discussing it. "Craig's not so bad."
"You're the first person to say that."
Kevin raised his hand, a serene look on his face. "Be just to all men. Condemn the faults and not the actor of it." A druid quote that Kevin felt fitted perfectly.
"Oh right yeah... I see."
"Do you?"
"No."
Kevin smiled and laced his hand into Clyde's, drawing their lips together for a few blissful moments. He then let go and pulled his hood back up. "Come on, let's go get some food."
"Well this should be interesting..."
Craig ran his thumb over his phone keyboard. Token was busy talking to Wendy and Bebe, who they'd met up with at Shakey's. Craig was rather reluctant to do so, he didn't like the fact Wendy was meeting with Token behind Stan's back, he knew the extent of his friend's charm, and Wendy seemed pretty taken with him. It was the perfect opportunity to settle his doubts about Clyde though. All he needed was to hear Clyde's voice, hear the conformation that he was indeed on a date, with a girl. Yeah, Kelsi, he went on about her all the time, he was bound to be staring puppy-eyed at her at some restaurant, or maybe even in his car? Clyde was such a romantic...
Craig found 'Dumbass' on his contact list and pressed call.
"Craig, dude. Is something up?"
"No, why would it be?" he replied.
"You're calling me and you know I'm on a date and stuff." Again, Clyde's imaginary girl had been his excuse for not hanging out with Craig and Token.
"Oh that's right, with Kelsi, how's it going?"
"Dude, fuck off, I'm in the middle of it."
"I just want to meet her. Why haven't I met her yet?"
"...because you're an asshole. Bye."
Craig frowned as he cut the connection. It seemed plausible that Clyde wouldn't introduce him to a girl for that reason, but something still didn't feel quite right. He decided the best thing to do would be to ignore the thoughts in his head- they were probably untrue, probably brought on by the sleep deprivation he'd been experiencing.
He turned to Bebe, who had listened into his conversation, much to Craig's annoyance.
"Does Clyde have a girlfriend?" she asked in shock.
Craig paused. "Yes... yes I think he does."
"Clyde... Donovan has a girlfriend, and it's not me?"
"Yes?"
"Fuck, he used me in that case. That asshole used me for sex and nothing else."
Wendy rolled her eyes. "Well surely that was obvious at how drunk you both were, Bebe. And if I remember correctly, you used him as well... to get to Kenny."
Bebe flicked her hair impatiently. "Yeah, but that was only to get back at Red for that stupid rumour she was spreading. Saying what she said! Like I'd ever do that, who does she think she is? It all started when Heidi texted..."
Craig tuned out, able to tell that it was about to get much more complicated, that there would be a number of chain reactions in this, and he just wasn't bothered. Tuning out from Bebe though just brought him back to thoughts of Clyde.
A/N: INeedCoffeeArghhh appreciates your support and the fact that you're still with this story, hopefully a sign that you like it. J She would love to hear your thoughts, and thanks anyone who's left them... she's also wondering why she's writing about herself in third person... she can't seem to stop.