Students avoided the tall, imposing, thuggish cat as best they could. He was a senior, and in four short years he'd made it clear he was not to be messed with. Sure, he had a friend, but people knew better than to mess with him too. The tan cat ruled the halls, and even some of the teachers had come to learn to keep out of his way. He was one short fuse away from full expulsion, and nobody wanted to be the reason for it. If there was an opposite to the school clown, Alejandro was that.

He stomped down the hall and kicked open the doors to the back of the school. It was lunchtime, and he was to meet someone in secret there. A crumpled note in his hand written in poor handwriting had asked him to show up. Of course, he knew who it was, but nobody, not even his friend Toby, would ever know he knew this person to even guess who it was. It was private, just the way he wanted it. It was nobody else's business what they did.

Leaning on the brick wall of the school there was a tall white cat with neon green hair. He was smoking a cigarette, puffing clouds of smelly gray smoke into the air, watching it waft up into the breeze. It was one of the few simple pleasures he had in life. That, and these meetings. Lucky for him, Alejandro liked to deliberate.

"Yo, Roger." Said the bandana adorning cat as he walked up. "Let me get a hit."

Roger pulled the cigarette from his lips and smiled. Alejandro was always mooching off of him, but he had found ways to get paid back. "You know the rules."

Alejandro balled up his fists. "The rules are bullshit!"

"Then this is all mine." Roger said, inhaling on it again and blowing out a cloud of smoke in the other boy's face. "Though you look like you could use it. Or is it just because of me?"

Alejandro kicked the wall. "Fuck you." Roger smiled at him, and the two leaned in, putting their lips together. Alejandro pulled away quickly, doing his best to hide the redness on his cheeks. "There, you got what you wanted. Now give it."

"Oh, don't act like you don't like it too." Roger grinned at the flustered teen as he handed over the cig. "Wasn't it you that started this shit?"

"Fuck you." Was all Alejandro could counter with. It was a pretty pathetic response, but he was far more interested in getting a nicotine rush than arguing semantics with Roger.

Roger's face fell slightly. "Geez, man, what's got your ass all tight?"

Alejandro blew out and coughed from the smoke. "This whole fucken' school, man."

"Yeah." Roger said, looking at the empty track and field in front of them. "I feel that."

Alejandro went to hand back the cig but Roger waved it away. "Naww man, you can have the rest."

"Thanks." The tan cat grunted as he slid down the wall onto the grass and weeds that lined it.

Roger slid down next to him and scooted closer. Alejandro leaned his head on his shoulder and closed his eyes. "Can't wait to graduate. I'm gonna go straight to the top once I'm not being held back by this dump."

"Least you're waitin' that long. I'm thinkin' about just walkin' out." Roger said.

"Straight up dropping out? That's some hardcore shit, man." Alejandro whistled. "Least here I can get away from my shithead parents."

"Maybe we can drop out together." Roger grinned. "Run away from this town."

Alejandro also smiled a little at the thought of it. "That'd be a good start."

"Get a whole new start." The white cat said quietly. "Maybe some place where we wouldn't have to hide this."

Alejandro sat up and opened his eyes, drawing away from his companion. "Hide what? We ain't really nothin'."

Roger sighed. "This shit again? Why don't you just accept-"

"'Cause meetin' ta fuck every once in a while don't mean shit." The older cat said, cutting him off. "It's just that."

"Then let's make it more, idiot." Roger said, giving the other cat's shoulder a small punch. Alejandro shook it off and turned further away. He took another hit to avoid the question further.

"Is that really why you got such a bug up yer ass today? Mad about us?" Roger prodded.

Alejandro shook his head. "I got appearances to keep up. Got Melanie."

"Then let's leave!" Roger laughed. "Drop that bitch!"

"And what about you and that British bitch?" Alejandro countered. "You gonna drop her?"

"Pssh. Probably should." Roger said, putting his arms around his partner. "She acts tough but I know it ain't really her."

Alejandro didn't respond. He just sat, allowing Roger to hang on him. He'd never admit it out loud, but this was one of the only things he looked forward to. There was no real pressure, just the two shooting the shit. Roger was the only person who truly understood him. Toby was a good friend, but there was a clear disconnect between the two. Not that Alejandro would ever consider being this close with him.

The bell for lunch to end rang, and Roger sighed. "Back to the shit, huh?"

"Yeah." Alejandro said darkly, putting out the cigarette. "Back to the shit."

Roger let go and they both stood up. "Can you give me a smile before you go?"

"Fine." Alejandro turned to him and gave a big smile.

"Could use some work, and you need to brush those teeth…" Roger commented.

Alejandro dropped his smile. "My teeth are fine."

"But it's a good smile." Roger said, and before Alejandro could react he put another kiss on his mouth. "See you after school?"

"Maybe." Alejandro grunted, walking back to the door to hide his blush. "See ya."

"See ya, you big grump." Roger said with a small, knowing smile.