AUTHOR: Anonymous

20th of November, 2014

It wasn't as if Arthur had planned to seek out Alfred after school. He was a busy student council president for a large high school, after all, and the last thing on his mind was taking time out of his schedule to go and watch the dumb jock play basketball.

No, he had just been taking a different route out of the school this evening and happened to stumble upon Alfred in the gym. So what if his new route out of the building was actually in the opposite direction to the parking lot? He just had to stretch his legs after sitting his desk for so long going over paperwork, that was all.

Granted, hiding behind the door of the gym and watching Alfred play basketball may look suspicious to an outsider, Arthur would be the first to admit to that. But the truth was, he just didn't want to disturb Alfred's practice, so peering out from behind the door was really the polite thing to do. He had nothing to hide, and wasn't at all shy of the popular new student, it was just a matter of common decency.

"Arthur? Is that you?"

Shit, he'd been spotted.

Arthur jumped out from behind the doorway, his eyes darting anywhere but at Alfred, who came strolling towards him with a friendly wave of his hand.

"Oh, uh, Jones. Hello. What a surprise to see you here so late."

Although now that Arthur thought about it, he may have overheard Alfred tell one of his friends earlier that he'd be staying late after school. Not that Arthur had retained that information or made plans around it. He just happened to remember it now, out of the blue.

"I wanted some practice since our new house doesn't have a hoop outside yet," said Alfred, an easy smile on his face.

Arthur found it off-putting. Not because that warm sunset shining through the gym windows made Alfred's smile glow and skin and hair turn to gold, but because the idiot was totally oblivious that he was breaking school rules.

"You're not allowed to be here after school unless you're accompanied by a teacher or some other school official," Arthur explained, pompously, and if there was a bite to his words it was only because he was too tired for this, not because Alfred's bright blue gaze made him nervous.

To his credit, Alfred looked genuinely apologetic. "Oh, I'm really sorry, I didn't know," he said. "It wasn't like that at my last school, but I guess the coach would bend the rules for me a little. I should pack up and go, then."

Arthur couldn't help but feel bad. Of course, it was only natural when Alfred slumped off dejectedly like that to get his ball and backpack. It really had nothing to do with the fact that Arthur hated to see a frown cloud the American's ever-happy, clueless face.

"Well…" he said slowly, and Alfred stopped and turned around, hopefully. "Since I'm student council president and I count as a school official, you could stay as long I'm here to accompany you."

Alfred beamed, happily, and Arthur stood up straighter, preening a little - but only out of pride that he could help a fellow student.

"Really?!" Alfred asked, excitedly. "You'd stay with me? I promise I won't be long!"

Arthur nodded and took a seat on the bleachers nearby. "It's only because I know how much everyone is looking forward to the basketball game next week and I want everyone to be on top form so we have a strong team," he added.

Alfred grinned at him, and Arthur blushed. He couldn't quite explain that one away, either.

"Sure it is," Alfred teased, dribbling the ball lazily as he and Arthur eyed each other. "It's really good of you to be so selfless, Mr. President. But It's a shame you never think about yourself because I'd have loved to take you out for ice-cream after my practice." Arthur went rigid in his seat. The way Alfred was practically smouldering at him, it was impossible to deny that he was flirting. "Of course, someone as busy and selfless as you wouldn't dream of treating yourself to a night off, right?"

Arthur was very, very good at denial. It was possibly his greatest skill, even beyond his good grades, hard-work and dedication. But even after four weeks of pretending he had no interest in Alfred F. Jones, Arthur found he couldn't turn down an offer like this.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that, Jones. Everyone deserves a night off once in a while. And ice-cream would be a good way to pay me back for staying with with you so you can practice now. Seems like a fair trade to me."

Not that he had to be totally honest about everything just yet, of course.