Reposted: 4-12-08

Disclaimer: I have no delusions about owning or holding rights over Newsies; you shouldn't either. Don't sue.
Also, any pop culture references...guess what? Don't own those either. Actually...anything that you may have heard of and/or recognized in this story is owned by someone who isn't me.

Warning:Updates may (and probably will be) slow.
This contains SLASH, in other words same sex couples. If this doesn't appeal to you, you shouldn't be here. It also contains drug use, violence, sexual situations, and may contain a(n OC) death. This story is marked for mature readers only, please treat it as such.

Pairings: Will be switching around quite a bit. If you have any preferences please let me know. They probably won't end up together unless I already planned for it to happen, but I can put in a couple flings for you if you ask nice enough

Summary of Chapter Eight:
-Racetrack came to Brooklyn to see Spot
-Racetrack learned of Hunter's and Slingshot's pasts
-Swifty decided to quit track
-Dutchy decides to test Spot's 'gayness'
-David tried to convince Specs that he's gay and ended up coming onto him
-Bam (head of weapons) is introduced
-Racetrack's mom decides she likes Spot

Getting Back Together Again

IX
Bumlets Is Not Gay...Really

"Maybe a dictionary…or an encyclopedia," Itey mumbled practically under his breath to Skittery.

"It'll take more than just a dictionary or an encyclopedia…or even both," Skittery answered back with the same volume, "Those are for amateurs anyway. What if we lock him up in a room with Ben Stein for a couple years?"

"Poor Ben would probably commit suicide and the world would be down another genius," Itey replied, crushing the idea.

"Maybe we should just kill him," Skittery suggested. "I don't think anything else will work."

"What are you two talking about? Or do I even want to know?" Bumlets asked, interrupting his friends' conversation.

"We're planning on boosting the world's average IQ by thirty points by killing off Dutchy," Skittery answered with nonchalance.

"We thought about just trying to make Dutchy more intelligent, but then we decided that it would result in too many deaths," Itey added.

All three turned to look at Dutchy who was writing intently in a small notebook and currently being oblivious to the world going on around him.

"That'd be okay with me," Bumlets consented before inhaling some tobacco from his cigarette, "Just be sure it's a painless death. I think he'd like that."

Skittery sighed before changing the subject, "When's the weekend? School is getting way too boring."

"Eh, it's better with Sean around though," Dutchy finally broke in, still scribbling down in his notebook.

"You're completely obsessed with Sean and it's starting to seriously creep me out," Bumlets replied, meaning every word.

"Can you believe it's only Wednesday morning?" Itey asked in response to Skittery, "You'd think school would be a little more exciting since they found us skipping to have sex, but it's just the same old shit."

"I'm not obsessed," Dutchy insisted to Bumlets.

"Oh please, don't act like you weren't about to piss your pants while we were in the vice principal's office; you were freaking out," Skittery reminded Itey before he took a hit off his cigarette.

"Yeah, 'obsessed' is a huge understatement," Bumlets claimed.

"Well of course I was scared; you kept trying to make it worse," Itey responded before taking a hit off of his own cigarette.

"Why does everyone keep saying I'm too hung up over Sean?" Dutchy asked, finally looking up from his notebook.

"I was trying to make things a bit more exciting," Skittery told Itey, "I thought you would appreciate it, but apparently I don't know you as well as I thought I did. You're a disappointment."

"Because you are," Bumlets insisted to Dutchy, "I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to discover that you follow him around to pick up all the dead skin cells and hairs he leaves behind in order to start making a shrine."

"Things were exciting enough already," Itey said, "You need to know when to draw the line. Also, the fact that you just called me a disappointment kind of hurts and I don't appreciate it at all."

"Ew," Dutchy replied to Bumlets, "That's gross and creepy and I'd miss too many of my classes. Believe me; I will never, ever, in a million years go that far."

"Sorry, babe. You know I love you no matter what," Skittery promised Itey.

"You guys are way too lively for a Wednesday morning," Spot commented as he came up in front of them before putting a filtered cigarette in his mouth and lighting up. "Tone it down before you give me a headache."

"Where's your bike?" Skittery asked, looking around the parking lot for it, "I didn't even hear it."

"I've got a guy working on it to make it go a little faster," Spot replied, "So I got dropped off around the back of the school."

"How fast does it go now?" Skittery questioned.

"About a hundred," Spot answered with a shrug.

Skittery beamed, "You're so hardcore, man."

"Do I have to remind you that he's not the one you fuck around with?" Itey interrupted when he caught Skittery drooling.

"Do you know who wrote 'I Will Survive'?" Dutchy asked out of nowhere, still studying his notebook.

"What is that? A book?" Spot asked, not really seeming to care.

Dutchy frowned before marking a very distinguishable 'X' that covered the entire piece of paper. Without another word he walked away, mumbling under his breath.

"What the hell's wrong with him?" Spot asked, looking confused as he watched Dutchy walk away.

"He was dropped on his head as a kid a lot by his parents," Bumlets answered.

"His parents are actually monkeys," Skittery explained.

"He drank one too many gallons of bleach," Itey retorted.

"Got it," Spot answered before walking away with his cigarette.

"Where are you going?" Itey yelled out to him.

"I've got to make a phone call," Spot answered back.

"Just don't call any scientists," Skittery commanded, "Dutchy may be stupid but we love him like our own little retarded child and we don't want anyone to take him away from us."

"I won't," Spot promised before turning around the corner to the back of the school and disappearing from view.

"So you think that was one of Dutchy's tests to decipher whether Sean is gay or not?" Bumlets asked, already knowing the answer.

"Oh, Dutchy, you little retarded bastard," Skittery said sarcastically, shaking his head in shame.

"Who did write 'I Will Survive'?" Itey asked, curious because he couldn't remember.

"Fuck if I know," Skittery admitted.

"Aretha Franklin," Bumlets reluctantly mumbled under his breath.

"Hah!" Itey cried out, pointing his finger at Bumlets, "You are a gay man!"

"Using Speed to deliver your messages now?" Spot asked as soon as the phone was picked up on the other end.

"Sorry boss, but I forgot to tell you yesterday and you weren't around when I went to bed," Slingshot's voice said.

"So? What is it you want that couldn't wait until I got home?"

"Well…this might be a little late but I kind of wanted to get the day off today. You see I kind of wanted to take the chance to hang out with my cousin and I don't really want him to physically see what kind of work I do," Slingshot explained.

"You have a cousin?" Spot asked, torn between indifference and confusion. "I thought you didn't have any family left."

"Yeah, that's what I thought too," Slingshot admitted, "But if turns out I've got this relative who's like this second cousin or step-second cousin or something too difficult to really decipher. Anyway, he mailed me a letter yesterday asking if we could meet today. So? Can we?"

"I don't like the idea of you going out when I haven't had any time to plan for it," Spot divulged. "But if you stay in or near the apartment in case I need you I guess I can handle the day without you."

"Really? Thanks Boss Man!" Slingshot happily replied, "I'm sorry to skip out so last minute."

"Well…family's family, right? True, I'll probably never see what most people see in them, but apparently they're really important," Spot said in an indifferent voice before hanging up the school payphone and rushing to his first period class.

"Hey," Racetrack greeted as he sat down in his first period seat.

Spot grunted back, already missing the fact that Racetrack used to be afraid of him. "We're still not friends…just to be clear."

"I'm being polite," Racetrack explained, "It's not like a expect a hug or something."

"Good, because I don't give out hugs," Spot replied with a small amount of irritation in his voice.

"My mom was raving about you all last night," Racetrack confessed, now finding the whole thing rather amusing, "What exactly did you say to her? She usually doesn't like any of my friends. She absolutely hates Blink and Mush; she thinks they're a bad influence on me."

"I didn't do anything," Spot shrugged, "Just stroked her ego and acted like a suck-up. You better not come back into Brooklyn and have me do it again, though; that was a one time thing."

"I know, I know," Racetrack brushed off. "I'm too much work, right? Plus, my mom's been in brighter spirits since she talked to you. She even let me off the hook for skipping class yesterday because I said I was with you." He chuckled quietly, "I can't believe the leader of Brooklyn is the embodiment of a good kid for my mother. You can't say you don't find that at least a little funny."

Spot shrugged, "I've never met your mother, and it's a pretty common reaction of parents who have just met me so it's not really anything of a surprise."

"Wait…parents usually like you?" Racetrack asked in shock. "You're lying."

"I can't believe you're surprised," Spot answered, still apathetic to the conversation.

"You came in here on your first day of school and made a comment about Tracey's breasts," Racetrack reminded him. "How can you even think you're anywhere near being a good kid?"

"Jesus, you're stupid," Spot said, "I'm not saying I am a good kid. Fuck, you don't have to be a good kid to get parents to like you. You just have to be a good actor."

"So do you make it a habit to suck up to kids' parents?" Racetrack asked, finding the subject even funnier now knowing that Spot became a suck-up just for him.

"I make it a habit of getting what I want," Spot corrected, "If that means pretending to be a brownnoser I'll do it. If it means blackmailing, threatening, lying…anything…I'll do it so I can get what I want in the end."

"So I'm thinking you didn't grow up with a strong moral foundation," Racetrack declared.

"Yeah," Spot admitted, "But I'm guessing you did, and since you're the one who seems to like to gamble so much I think it's safe to assume it doesn't really matter."

"So then Itey said the cutest thing," Skittery gushed, covering his mouth and giggling like a little girl.

"I realize you're just making up this story to make me uncomfortable," Bumlets pointed out, "And it worked for awhile, I'll admit that, but lately it's all just like white noise."

"Last weekend I gave Itey a rim job, then stripped him down and spanked him on your kitchen table," Skittery tried out, "You wouldn't believe how hard I got just from all the noises he made. After that he sucked me off and then I got his dick rammed up my ass until he blew his load."

"That must have been the same time I was eating your mother's pussy," Bumlets replied in a completely monotonous voice.

"Ew! Ew! Ew!" Skittery acclaimed, "Do you know how vulgar of a mental picture that was? And how ashamed I am of you? Don't ignore your gayness, Bum, that's just wrong and it'll make Andy Warhol frown down on you from Gay Heaven.

"Oh, forgive me, Andy," Bumlets mocked, "From this day forward I promise to only suck guys, so don't kill me by making me watch your films!"

"Hey! I like Andy Warhol's films!" Swifty interrupted before sitting down in front of Bumlets and sitting backwards in his chair.

"We're attracting people! First Sean and now him!" Skittery cried out, purposely overplaying his shock. "It must be this new cologne I've been wearing; it's supposed to attract all the boys."

"It must be," Bumlets agreed, "In fact, I've been meaning to jump you lately."

"Now, now, it's best not to make Itey jealous," Skittery replied, "But I'm sure you can jump Swifty if you can't control yourself around me."

"Uh…I'd rather you not; I'm straight," Swifty answered, pulling his face back a bit and holding up his hands.

Skittery and Bumlets looked at him expectantly for a few moments before Skittery broke the silence, "Man, I thought that'd make him leave."

"Apparently your cologne works better than we thought," Bumlets suggested, "I wouldn't wear it tomorrow; the last thing we need is another moron coming up to us and telling us he how much he likes Andy Warhol movies."

"Come on, guys. Is that anyway to talk to a friend you haven't spoken to in over two years?" Swifty asked, surprised at their dynamic. Bumlets used to always be so quiet and Skittery would have never used the word 'vulgar' before. "So what? Are you two going out now? I have to say I never would have expected it."

Skittery chuckled as Bumlets rolled his eyes.

"I'm straight," Bumlets replied. "Skittery and Itey are the ones going out; have you been living in a closet for the past year? They don't really keep their affection for each other a secret."

"Really? I thought that was just some stupid running joke of the potheads," Swifty replied, "You mean they actually are going out?"

"What are you doing over here anyway?" Skittery asked. "Have you been banished to the pothead's clique or something? I know everyone thinks we accept anyone, and we normally do, but we're making an exception for you."

"I'm quitting track," Swifty replied, "And without track I don't really have anything to talk to the other jocks about. Don't worry, it's not like I'm going to be all buddy-buddy with you guys now or anything. It's just that the only other people in this class I know at all besides the jocks I usually sit with is you guys."

"So you just decided you'd sit with us from now on and we'd be so thankful of your presence we'd put up with it?" Skittery questioned. "You obviously don't know us very well."

"What the hell's up your ass?" Swifty snapped. "I thought you'd at least treat me civilly. Remember when we used to be friends?"

"Yeah," Bumlets piped up. "Remember when you stopped talking to us after your first day of track practice?"

"Remember when we came up to you in the hall to congratulate you on your first win and you acted like a complete and utter dick?" Skittery added.

"Remember when Masson used everyday of his existence to make fun of us and you just went right along with it?" Bumlets inquired.

"Ah, what fun memories," Skittery said.

"Oh please," Swifty retorted, rolling his eyes, "Like you've never made fun of the jocks, or acted like you didn't know me, or treated me like a piece of shit. Plus, I thought we were above all that. I thought everyone understood that we'd still be friends and allies if we needed each other."

"I didn't get that memo," Bumlets answered, "Exactly when did we agree on this? Was it before or after you decided not to ever talk to us again?"

"Man, you guys can really hold a grudge, can't you? Look, I'm sorry," Swifty replied, "It's not like I really meant any of it anyway."

"Oh, well if it didn't really mean anything then all is forgiven," Skittery sarcastically brushed off.

"Go eat shit," Bumlets commanded before turning to Skittery and doing his best to ignore his old friend.

Skittery stuck his tongue out at Swifty before quickly following Bumlets' example.

"Itey!" Skittery exclaimed as soon as he found his beloved in third period math.

"Skittery!" Itey exclaimed in much the same fashion before rushing in on him and giving him a hug.

"What do you think would happen if we skipped out on the rest of the school day?" Skittery asked quietly in Itey's ear. "Seriously, I've already met my limit on the patience I've set aside to get me through the school day. If I go another minute I think I'll explode."

"Bad first two periods?" Itey asked in a concerned voice as they went to sit down next to each other in their assigned seats.

"God, yes," Skittery sighed. "First my computer teacher was a bitch and kept criticizing the way I typed even though I was doing the exact same thing as everyone else. Then, in English, Swifty came up to Bumlets and me and tried to pretend like we were still best friends."

"Why?"

"I don't know," Skittery answered, "I mean, she's usually a bitch, but today she was even worse than normal. Maybe she was on the rag. Or it might be menopause; she's seems old enough for that to be an issue. Either way she's got to go find herself some type of medication."

Itey smiled, "I meant why did Swifty come up to you and Bumlets in English class. I kind of assumed you'd blame your teacher's bitchiness on the menstrual cycle some how. You always do, even if the teacher's a guy."

"I don't know. How do you expect me to know what the hell Swifty's thinking? He said he quit the track team and wanted to hang out with us…or something stupid like that. I started tuning him out after I remembered that I think he's a prick," Skittery replied.

"C'mon Skitts," Itey tried to persuade, "Don't you think you could stand being a little nicer to our old friends? Call me a nostalgic idiot, but I've always felt that the connection we all once had is stronger than just some stupid high school cliques."

"That's what Swifty said," Skittery admitted. "And I used to think that too…right up until everyone separated to go to separate stupid high school cliques. Seriously Itey, dear, it's already happened. Are you just going to write it off like everyone just agreed on a small break from each other? I didn't think your head was so up in the clouds."

"It's more like my head's been up your ass," Itey corrected.

"You do give fantastic rim jobs," Skittery complimented happily.

"So first Sean talks to us, then Swifty tries to," Itey pointed out, going back to the former topic, "What's going on? You think it's your new cologne? It is supposed to attract all the boys."

"That's what I originally thought, but Bumlets just assumed I was kidding," Skittery replied. "…Either that, or he really does want to jump me, so we better hope he was joking."

"You better hope he was joking," Itey answered, "because if he wasn't I'm going to be really pissed the hell off."

"Bet that would be awkward," Skittery pondered, "…Having sex with my fuck buddy's old crush that I used to get jealous of and who's supposed to be straight. It sounds like some really bad gay soap opera, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Itey agreed, "It kind of does. Then, following the true role of a soap opera I would become jealous and in a rage I would try to kill you while revealing that I'm pregnant with your baby."

"But instead of killing me you'd make me fall into a coma for about half the season," Skittery continued, "Then, on awaking from said coma I'd be found to have forgotten everything about my old life with you, though I'd remember all about Bumlets."

"But at that point I'd be the one happily with Bumlets. We'd be married and raising your and my child together," Itey finished.

"So obviously if I ever fucked around with Bumlets it would result in pandemonium," Skittery pointed out.

"Right," Itey agreed, nodding his head, "And if you never want to be caught in a bad gay soap opera I wouldn't even think about it."

"It's not so much the bad gay soap opera that I'm worried about, but rather the fact that in the end I'd forget you," Skittery replied with a grin.

Itey beamed before tackling Skittery to the floor and receiving the attention from everyone in their third period Algebra class. "You are so fucking incredible…and sweet…and I don't even know what to do with myself right now."

"How about getting yourself and your friend to the principal's office," Mr. Wisel suggested, "Now, gentleman."

"Yes sir," Itey agreed, getting up from the floor before helping Skittery do the same.

It wasn't until they got out the door and into the hallway that either said anything.

"I hope you realize we're going to get in trouble again," Skittery unnecessarily pointed out.

Itey shrugged, "It was worth it. Plus, you'll get some more excitement now, right?"

"Just don't be a sniveling brownnoser this time and I'll be happier than a retard who just found something shiny," Skittery replied.

"You are so offensive," Itey observed with a smile on his lips.

"I told Specs I was gay and then I accidentally hit on him," David confessed as he slumped down in his seat.

"How can you accidentally hit on someone?" Bumlets asked. "If you're that sexually frustrated I would suggest masturbation."

"No, it wasn't anything like that," David tried to explain. "I told him I was gay and he didn't believe me and he was just getting so irritating I wanted to shut him up and scare him or something and I just went a little overboard…I shouldn't have ever done it and I'm so grossed out at myself right now…of all the people to hit on…I hit on Specs? What's wrong with me? First, he's completely sadistic. Second, he's already got a huge ego…I don't need to make it any bigger by flirting with him…or…or whatever it is I did."

"Well," Bumlets replied in an indifferent voice, "If you're anything like the old David, the fact that you've just created a very blatant run-on sentence means you're really freaking out over this."

"Yes," David agreed while nodding his head, "I really am. And what's worse is the fact that this is how I'm trying to stand up for myself. By trying to scare Specs and shut him up with shock. I mean…what kind of person does that make me? I'm like some common bully with self-esteem problems. I don't want to be a bully, Bumlets, I really don't. But what's even worse than that is the fact that even though I know I should apologize to Specs I really, really don't want to. …Which, of course, makes me probably the worst person in the history of the universe and-"

"No offense," Bumlets interrupted, "And I mean, really, no offense, because this is probably going to torment you for awhile and you need to know I'm only saying it for your benefit. First, you talk a bit too much and it gets a little hard to handle sometimes. Second, and most importantly, you resemble a doormat in every conceivable fashion."

"How is that supposed to benefit me?" David asked, trying to pretend he wasn't hurt by what Bumlets said.

"I'm making you aware of it in the hopes that you'll try and improve yourself," Bumlets explained. He sighed before going on, "Look, you aren't a bully. There's a very clear line between sticking up for yourself and trying to make others feel bad. Specs was being a prick, you lashed out; it's a natural thing to do."

"So you don't think it was too mean?" David asked, "But you do think I should apologize, right? Because what I said to him and…and…did to him was too over the line, right?"

"You stood up for yourself Davy," Bumlets reminded him, "There's nothing to apologize for. Politeness is all well and good but it needs to be chucked out if you're just going to use it as an excuse to bottle up anger."

"So I should just say what I think no matter what? Like…I should tell you you're an asshole for insulting me in order to teach me a lesson," David tried out before ducking out, "I mean…I understand perfectly why you did it and I'm sure you have even more reasons than that and I really shouldn't have questioned it because I'm sure you know what you're doing and-"

"That was…close," Bumlets interrupted, "If you would have left off that last part it would have been perfect."

"There's no way I could ever do that to Specs," David confessed, "Yesterday afternoon was just a fluke…a tantrum from everything of his I've ever had to put up with and now that it's gone I'm not going to be able to do something like that for another seventeen years."

"At least try," Bumlets persuaded, "You don't have to shout or stamp your feet or anything like that. You just have to let Specs know that he's been an asshole; just take him down a few pegs."

"Right," David agreed with hesitation, "He's so far up as it is…dropping a few pegs couldn't hurt, right?"

"Do you have a small dog?" Dutchy asked Spot before even sitting down at their lunch table.

"What? Like those annoying yappy dogs?" Spot asked from his chair. "Hell no."

"Hey," Skittery jumped in with a very obvious smirk on his face, "You know who used to have a small dog?"

"Why, no, I do not," Itey responded, knowing very well who Skittery was talking about it.

"Shut the hell up," Bumlets interrupted, "It wasn't even mine; it was my mom's. Therefore it doesn't count."

"Yeah, of course, it was your mom's dog," Itey sarcastically agreed.

"…You were just the one that had to feed it, walk it, take it to the vet, and housetrain it," Skittery finished.

"Not to mention the fact that you played with it all the time and had it sleep at the foot of your bed," Itey added.

"Remember how it used to follow you around everywhere?" Skittery asked.

"It was so, so, so cute," Itey said in a high-pitched voice.

"So no small dogs, uh? Ever?" Dutchy questioned before writing another big 'x' on the page of his notebook and flipping said page over. "What about your hair? Have you ever styled it a certain way or dyed it?"

"That crap's way too much work," Spot answered.

"Hey Bumlets?" Itey asked in mock innocence.

"Yes, Itey," Bumlets sighed in irritation, "I do, in fact, style my hair each and every morning."

"Yeah, you've got that nice little swoop-thing going on, huh?" Skittery mocked, reaching out to play with Bumlets' hair.

"Don't touch me, bitch!" Bumlets exclaimed, smacking Skittery's hand.

"Well," Skittery replied, looking affronted. "I know someone who's on her P-E-R-I-O-D," he continued in a sing-song voice.

"I can read, Skitts," Bumlets said with indifference before saying, "And I am not," in an insulted voice.

"So you've never styled your hair?" Dutchy asked, looking extremely disappointed before putting another 'x' on another page in his notebook and turning to another sheet. "Can you name the brand of pants you're wearing right now?"

"Fuck, I don't know. Jesus, I don't even think they're my pants; I don't ever remember this hole being here," Spot admitted, looking at a gigantic hole near his knee. "And what the hell is with all these questions anyway?"

"Nothing," Dutchy quickly claimed before writing another 'x' across the piece of paper.

"So Spot is wearing another guy's pair of pants," Itey observed, "I have to wonder what you were doing last night."

"What?" Spot smirked, "You think I was busy shoving my dick up some guy's ass last night? Think again."

"I was actually thinking the other way around," Skittery confessed.

"Oh! Good question! Hey, Sean, have you ever bottomed in any way, shape, or form?" Dutchy asked.

"No," Sean answered with a little bit of irritation. "Will you stop asking me all of these asinine questions?"

"Hey wait!" Itey cried out. "What brand of pants are you wearing Bum?"

Bumlets rolled his eyes before sighing in resignation. "Old Navy."

"Old Navy? My god," Skittery exclaimed excitedly, "That has got to be worth at least double the points, eh, Dutchy?"

"Wait, wait," Itey interupted, "Now comes the deciding moment. Bumlets...have you ever bottomed in any way, shape, or form?"

Bumlets rolled his eyes, "Yes."

"No way!" Skittery burst out, looking the happiest he had ever looked in his entire life. "I have to be dreaming...or you're just lying to make me feel better. When? You absolutely have to tell me when."

"I told you I slept with a guy, right?" Bumlets asked, not waiting for an answer but instead rushing through his explanation. "Well...he topped."

"Oh god," Skittery said, cracking up.

"It all goes down hill from here," Itey spoke up over the laughter, "He will never be this happy again."

Bumlets just rolled his eyes.

"Good bye, my love," Itey said to Skittery as soon as they arrived at his fuck-buddy's sixth period class. "I'll miss you like a fat kid misses the cake he just ate."

"That means a lot," Skittery replied, "But I don't think I can survive without you by my side every second of every minute of every hour of every day of every week of every month of every year of every decade of every-"

"Class is starting soon, if you two are finished," Blink pointed out, appearing right beside them.

"Don't interrupt me, Cyclops," Skittery snapped.

"What are you doing here anyway? Come to irritate us so much our heads explode? Because I think it might be working," Itey said.

"Actually," Blink replied, keeping up a mask of indifference even though the 'cyclops' comment had made him want to stomp Skittery into the ground, "You're both standing right in front of my sixth period class and I can't get through the door."

"Too bad," Itey shrugged uncaringly to Blink before turning back to Skittery. "You know how much I love you though, right, Sugar-Pop? Surely all that love will enable you to survive until the class ends."

"I'm afraid only time will tell," Skittery replied, doing an excellent job of looking forlorn.

"Don't worry, my darling," Itey comforted, already moving away from the door and towards his next class, "I'll rush to your side as soon as I possibly can or die trying, I promise."

"I love you, my Itey-kins!" Skittery called out, waving to Itey and repositioning himself right in front of his classroom door so that Blink couldn't get in.

"Would you move?" Blink asked in irritation. "You're worst than Sean…well…you're more obnoxious than him at least."

"Wait, you're a friend of Sean's?" Skittery asked, completely changing his disposition and happily letting Blink through the classroom door. "No way! I would have never guessed!"

"I guess 'friend' is too strong of a word," Blink admitted, getting through the door while he could, "It's more like one of my friends has this crush on him and I'm kind of stuck in the middle…that, and I share seventh period with him."

"No way!" Skittery exclaimed, sitting next to Blink even though it wasn't his assigned seat, "I'm in the same situation! Well, the friend-with-a-crush situation; I don't have seventh period with him…actually I don't have any classes with him, which is a shame because that could've only resulted in good times."

"Well, not really, I mean…he mostly just threatens me," Blink admitted.

"Oh yeah," Skittery laughed off, "But that's just Sean being Sean. If you get past that he's a really cool guy."

"Yeah?" Blink asked, joining in the laughter, "And if you don't get over it?"

"Then I guess he'd just be a bully," Skittery shrugged, not really seeming to care either way.

"Right, and you're okay with that?" Blink asked.

"What?" Skittery laughed, "Being friends with a 'bully'? 'Course I'm okay with it…so long as I'm not the one he's bullying."

"That's the most selfish thing I've ever heard," Blink marveled.

"Look, Sean and I aren't really what you'd really call friends," Skittery explained, finally being serious, "Yeah, he sits with us at lunch and we hang out before school…and sometimes even after school, but…well…I don't really fool myself into thinking that he cares about me or that he'd do something that I told him to do just because. Sean isn't that type of person. So, I mean…if he was bullying someone I couldn't really do anything about it anyway, and if it's not me I don't want to stop hanging out with him just to stand up to some ideal about fairness and the 'Golden Rule' that no one really pays attention to anyway."

"Well it's a mute point at any rate," Blink pointed out, "He's not really bullying anyone right now…or at least no one badly enough that the school knows about it. But… there isn't anything I could do if Sean starts bullying people, either…not with one of my best friend's liking him."

"Yeah?" Skittery asked, "And if one of your best friend's didn't like him?"

"Then I'd try and stop him, but ultimately fail," Blink answered with complete honesty before explaining his reasoning. "I don't hold any fantasies about being able to control Sean either," he explained when Skittery looked at him in disbelief.

Skittery laughed, "Ah man, I can't believe I ever stopped hanging out with you."

Blink smiled.

"I will miss you, my darling," Skittery promised Itey as they met outside Skittery's sixth period class and Itey's seventh period class.

"Oh no, fair gentleman," Itey replied in an Olde English accent, "It is I who will be missing you…like the flowers miss the rain or the raccoons miss the summer breeze."

"Raccoons?" Skittery questioned, looking a little insulted, "Well that's not very romantic."

"It is if you think raccoons are cute," Itey argued, noticing that Blink stood beside them again, only this time grinning. It looked as if Skittery had made a new friend…much to Itey's shock and surprise.

"Do you?" Skittery asked in a whiny voice as he faked a pout, "Do you think raccoons are cute?"

"Of course I think raccoons are cute!" Itey insured, "They're positively the cutest animal that I have ever seen or will have ever seen in my entire life and existence on this planet or in this universe…beside you, babe…naturally."

"Naturally," Skittery agreed, automatically becoming more perky and upbeat. "So, Cyclops, I'll see you tomorrow, sixth period, yes?"

"Not if you don't stop calling me 'Cyclops' you won't," Blink promised. "And you both are still standing in the middle of the doorway," he pointed out in mock irritation.

"Right, right," Skittery nodded before moving himself and Itey over a little to his left.

"That's the way to do it," Blink congratulated before walking off.

"Ho ho ho," Itey mocked, wrapping his arms around Skittery so his boy-toy couldn't walk off, "Is it just me? Or has someone got a new special friend to play with in one of his classes?"

"Hey," Skittery replied, pretending to be upset, "You're my only 'special friend', and don't you forget it. I am your only 'special friend'…right? Because I don't know what I would do if my assumptions came out wrong."

"Of course you're my only 'special friend', Bumlets…I mean Skittery," Itey answered while holding a smirk.

"Oh! Too far, buddy! Way too far!" Skittery shouted, disturbing a great amount of students in the hallway. "Bumlets? I can't believe you said Bumelts! Bumlets of all people! I can't believe it! Do you love him more than me?"

"No, of course not! Never! I could never! I love you! I swear!" Itey rushed out, doing his best to look guilty and panicked at the same time.

"Oh I don't believe this shit!" Skittery pretended to proclaim angrily. "Well that's fine! You can have him! But you better know that he was fucking me on the side the entire time he was with you!"

"Well if that's how you feel we don't have to see each other anymore," Itey bargained, acting angry even while trying to hold back a laugh.

"Fine! I don't want to see your bitch-ass, cock sucking, ugly-fuck face any longer anyway," Skittery declared.

"Good!" Itey shouted before whispering a small, "Good-bye, my angel. I'll miss you," and stomping off.

"I'll miss you too, Sweet Buns," Skittery shouted before scurrying off to his next class.

Itey chuckled before going into the same classroom that Skittery had just exited, his mind briefly darting over the unfairness that he couldn't be taking this class one period earlier.

"Hey," Itey unexpectedly greeted Mush as he sat next to the other boy.

"Hello," Mush replied uncertainly, "Are you sure that's your assigned seat? Because I don't ever remember you sitting there before."

"It's cool," Itey insured. "So…are you still hanging out with Blink?"

"Everyday," Mush replied happily, "Racetrack too, though not as much because of his strict parents."

"Right, right," Itey brushed off, "But about Blink…is he a little bit…you know…gay?"

"Yes," Mush answered, "Why did you care? Aren't you going out with Skittery?"

Itey smirked; trust Mush to be the only one besides his close friends that didn't think he and Skittery were just pretending to be together. "Well, yeah, Skittery's great," Itey assured Mush. "That's kind of what this is all about. See, Skittery and Blink have this same class right before us and when the class began they hated each other, but when the class ended they were acting like friends. It seems a little…off...to me and I was wondering if you could ask Blink what happened."

"Well sure, Itey," Mush replied, "Anything to help an old friend; you know that."

Itey beamed, first at the fact that Mush had actually agreed to help him, then at the fact that Mush still thought of him as a friend…or an 'old friend' at the very least. "Thanks, Mushie. You have no idea how much I appreciate this."

"Though…well it may not be my place to ask, but… Why do you want to know?" Mush asked.

Itey's smile dropped slightly when he realized that Mush wasn't as naïve and complacent as he used to be. In the past Mush would have never asked why he was doing something for you, he would just do it. "Well," he tried to explain, "Skittery's not really the type to make friends easily…you know that, right? I'm just curious to know what got Skitts to suddenly be so nice to someone."

"Well…maybe it's just because they never stopped being friends," Mush suggested happily.

Itey mentally shook his head, ashamed at himself for thinking that Mush would ever lose his naivety. "Yeah, maybe," he agreed, not wanting to burst his bubble. He used to…with the help of Specs and Skittery, only to get yelled at not even five seconds later by Racetrack and Kid Blink, but…it wasn't really his place anymore. "But…could you ask? Just to make sure?"

Mush happily nodded his head. "Of course," he answered, "You're right; nothing bad can come from just asking, and at least you can be sure then."

"It's a stupid test, Dutchy," Bumlets argued to his friend as they both sat in their eighth period class.

"It's not a stupid test," Dutchy kept trying to point out. "I happened to have written down some pretty good questions to ask him.

"All the questions revolve around the stereotype," Bumlets insisted, "Do you even realize that? God! You make a horrible homosexual. Did you actually come up with these questions yourself? Or did you hire some drunk homophobe to do it for you?"

"Some of the questions are good," Dutchy tried to persuade.

"Dutchy! Come on," Bumlets burst out, "Have you ever dyed your hair? Owned a small puppy? No, you haven't. You know who has? Me. And you know who isn't gay? Me. You know who is? You. …Thus proving these questions are awful."

"Or maybe you're a gay homophobe and I'm an open-minded heterosexual," Dutchy proposed.

"Owning a small puppy doesn't make you gay. And gays aren't the only people to have wanted to style their hair before," Bumlets pointed out. "You know good questions to ask someone if you want to know if they're gay or not? How about trying 'Do you like cock?' or 'Do pussies freak you out?' or the ever-popular 'Are you attracted to some people of the same sex?'"

"Like he'd answer any of those questions with anything even resembling honesty," Dutchy scoffed. "I think not, my friend, I think not."

Bunlets rolled his eyes in exasperation, "You're such a dumbass."

"Who?" Skittery interrupted, sitting down next to Dutchy and Bumlets as Itey did the same thing. "Dutchy? Oh, yeah. He's like the retarded cousin of our group. Have we not talked about this before? Because we really should've."

"Yeah, yeah Dutchy's as stupid as thirty pounds of mulch. What's new?" Itey brushed off. "Speaking of what's new," he continued, "What's up with you and Blink? You suddenly friends now?"

"Who? Me?" Skittery asked. "Nah man. We just found some common ground and hit it off. Did you know one of his friends has a crush on Sean, too? I realize the kid is a little attractive, but I didn't think he was that gorgeous looking. Couldn't you just stare at a girl with no boobs and get the same affect?"

"She'd have to have short hair, too," Itey added.

"Wait," Dutchy demanded, snapping his head up from his notebook, "Who is it exactly that has a crush on my Sean?"

"Idiot," Skittery dismissed.

"No, seriously," Dutchy replied. "Who has a crush on Sean?"

"You," Bumlets answered while rolling his eyes. "Idiot."

"No, no, no," Dutchy responded. "Who else, besides me, has a crush on Sean?"

"Apparently the whole school does," Itey answered, "Though I don't really and truly understand exactly why. Isn't he a complete asshole to everyone that he has ever met at this school?"

"Idiot," Skittery finished for Itey.

"I mean," Dutchy sighed in vexation, "Who was it that you were talking about awhile ago? …One of you? Who was it? I heard you talking about it; don't try and deny it."

"You," Skittery answered. "Idiot."

"No!" Dutchy shouted too loud, making the whole room turn to him, "Besides me…who has a crush on Sean?"

"Everyone in the school…apparently!" Bumlets shouted back at the same volume. "Idiot!"

"No! Who were you just talking about?" Dutchy asked, standing up in frustration.

"You!" Itey answered, standing as well. "Idiot."

"Hey idiots," Sarah spoke up from across the room as she narrowed her eyes, "How about you all shut up? And if you could do so before the teacher gets here…that'd be really super."

"No way!" Skittery shouted in a very mocking manner, pretending to be absolutely shocked as he stood up next to Dutchy and Itey and pointed his finger at Sarah. "Look guys! It's the Sarah Jaocbs! Oh my golly-golly-gumdrops! I didn't know we were so blessed as to get the Sarah Jacobs sharing the same air we breath, let alone share the same class. I used to be the best of best friends with her brother, you know."

"Oh, go to hell," Sarah demanded before flipping him off and then turning away.

"Can you name a song that Madonna sings?" Dutchy asked Sean as soon as school ended and they were all sitting next to the usual wall smoking.

"Who's Madonna?" Sean asked, not really caring, "Is she some chick that goes to this school?"

Dutchy just sighed sadly.

"Bumlets? It's all up to you," Skittery said, bringing the attention to him.

Bumlets rolled his eyes, "Borderline, Holiday, Lucky Star, Like a Virgin, Material Girl, Like a Prayer, Causing a Commotion, Live to Tell, Papa Don't Preach, Crazy for You, Into the Groove, Dress You Up…"

"Thank you, Bum," Itey interrupted, "I think you have more than proven you know a few more Madonna songs than is really healthy for a teenage male to know, don't you think?"

"I'm sorry if it's so weird that I like Madonna," Bumlets apologized sarcastically. "The woman's a pop star. Isn't it weirder not to like her?"

"No one cares," Dutchy answered hurriedly. "Do you watch any French films?" he asked Sean.

"Do you think I spend my time watching foreign films? I go to the movies to relax, not to get some fucking French class," Sean answered.

"Bumlets?" Itey asked with a smirk.

Bumlets sighed, "Napolean, A Man Escaped, The 4000 Blows…"

"That's good, that's good," Skittery assured him. "I think that's enough to convince us. Thanks."

"Can you name any one of the Spice Girls?" Dutchy asked, still burying his head in his notebook.

Sean blinked and looked curiously at Dutchy, "No."

"Sporty Spice, Posh Spice, Ginger Spice (also known as Sexy Spice), Scary Spice, and Baby Spice," Bumlets answered without anyone having to ask him to.

Skittery looked like his head would explode from happiness. "And? Which one's your favorite?" he asked while silently chuckling.

"Baby Spice," Bumlets answered with irritation, but knowing that if he didn't answer Skittery would just continue to bother him.

"Do you-" Dutchy tried to ask.

"No more questions," Bumlets demanded, putting out his cigarette and walking into the parking lot. "I'm going to wait in the car."

"Bah, bah, bah!" Itey stopped Bumlets. "I'm not letting someone in my car who's so mean to poor little Dutchy-poo. I'm not that heartless."

"So what? You won't give me a ride unless I answer more questions and let you make fun of me further?" Bumlets asked. "No thanks; I think I'll walk."

"I have to go soon anyway," Sean spoke up, putting out his own cigarette and walking towards Bumlets. "Wait until my ride gets here and I'll give you a lift," he offered in some weird moment of kindness.

Bumlets practically beamed. "That'd be awesome. Thanks."

Skittery and Itey both turned to Dutchy, both expected him to be beyond heart-broken and thus extremely funny. They were far from disappointed.