Chapter 16: I Got You (And You Got Me Too)
Welcome to another monthly installment of 'Starburst', this is part 2 of the Friendship Filler. This chapter title is inspired by "You Got Me Too" by Loving Caliber.
Disclaimer: I do not own 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' or Ten from "Weightless". Ten, Vernon, Joshua and Jeonghan belong to my friend zealous_light. I only own my original characters. Enjoy the chapter.
Sometime After Lunch…
"Hey Ten, I forgot to say I was dropping by..." EJ walked in through the front door, holding a container of lobster rolls he brought back. His birthday lunch with one of his water polo teammates ended early so might as well come over.
EJ didn't expect to find Cress doing half squats while carrying Jeonghan bridal style as the first thing he sees walking into Ten's house.
"26, 27, 28, 29..." Cress was keeping track of the amount of half squats she's doing but Jeonghan kept fudging her track.
"3, 12, 78, 0.97, -17!"
"Nice try, Hannie, but I'm not letting you ruin my track record!" Cress snorted in amusement, proceeding to work out.
"Who on earth even works out in negative or decimal numbers?" Vernon mused out loud, he seemed amused by Jeonghan and Cress's dynamic.
"Don't worry, it's weird for us as well." Joshua slowly turned his head to look at EJ.
"Cress is shockingly strong." Vernon remarked, making a mental reminder to never tick her off.
"Hey EJ," Jeonghan waved casually, actually enjoying being carried by Cress like that. "It's been a while."
"Yeah, I haven't seen you three since summer." EJ nodded his head, still feeling bewildered by the fact that his two most chaotic friends have finally met.
"Come, sit and have lunch with us." Ten gestured to a vacant seat.
"I brought lobster rolls." EJ remarked.
"So how was the birthday celebration?" Ten asked.
"It was fun, we got to give gifts and play some video games. It ended earlier than expected, hence why I'm here. What are you guys eating?" EJ looked around, placing his bag on the table.
"Papaya salad and Thai Iced Tea from Ten's mama. Kimbap and Tteokbokki from the Lakeshore gang. White chocolate filo tarts, Galaktoboureko, and lemon baked potatoes from me." Cress replied, pouring some Thai Iced Tea into a cup for EJ.
"When you're done, we can start our board games." Joshua suggested, "We can all have dinner together."
"No kidding, look at the amount of food we have! PLUS the lobster rolls!" Cress nodded sagely, "These tuna kimbap are the bomb, Joshua!"
"And make sure Jeonghan doesn't try to cheat. Again." Vernon casted a side-eye to Jeonghan.
"I'm a Lakeshore Turtle, we succeed together, we fail together, we cheat together." Jeonghan refuted with a cheeky grin.
"Ooh when we're 21, let's hit the casino!" Cress suggested cheerfully. "I know all the tips to win at Baccarat and Roulette!"
"Cress, I love the way you think!" Jeonghan's eyes immediately lit up at her idea.
"Oh gods at this rate, those two would become blackjack dealers!" Ten buried his face in his hands. He was already fearing the day they all turn 21 because by then Jeonghan and Cress would be old enough to drink, gamble and give him premature gray hair.
"Or get married Vegas style." EJ mouthed in silent horror.
"Wanna make it a movie night too?" Joshua diverted the Gremlins' attention before they caught onto EJ's fear of those two getting married.
"I'm down with a sleepover if you are." EJ happily agreed. His parents are out of town for the weekend for a trip down to NYC to meet with a client.
"Heck yeah, I can stay overnight." Cress whooped.
"Your mom is ok with you sleeping over with guys?" Vernon paused, not realizing that Cress was that close of a friend with EJ and Ten that she sleeps over sometimes.
"She has a lot of faith in me, and I trust you guys." Cress nodded. "It's all very platonic."
"It's also caused problems for some of Caswell's previous relationships whenever they mistake Cress for being too close to EJ" Ten nodded solemnly.
"When you're friends with a bunch of handsome guys for that long, any romantic or sexual appeal is basically non-existent at this point." Cress quipped.
"She sleeps with her punching gloves! AND a baseball bat!" EJ shared, Cress responded by flipping the bird in his direction.
"Are your parents working late?" EJ asked Ten, helping himself to some of the papaya salad Ten's mom had made.
"They're attending a dinner with colleagues from the law firm." Ten replied.
"What about Jeonghan's family?" EJ glanced over at Jeonghan's direction.
"Other than Jisoo who's sleeping over with Ashlyn and Phyrros, his parents are also attending the annual dinner." Jeonghan chimed in.
"I can't believe it, my baby brother has known your sister this whole time!" Cress remarked. "And she's the 'Elise' who did my nails for Homecoming."
"Look guys, I'm sorry for not being there for you doing homecoming." EJ scratched the back of his neck nervously.
"You know what happened?"
"Jeonghan may or may not have texted me some glossed over details..." EJ responded with a half-shrug.
"That snitch." Ten grumbled under his breath.
"Hey, that snitch is the platonic love of my life!" Cress gasped, looking mildly offended.
"Care to fill me in on what happened?" EJ asked.
"Rodent called Ten a spineless friendless wimp who sticks to you because you're his only friend," Cress shared.
"He didn't say that." Ten interjected quietly, "He said that I only stick with you and defend you from everything against you because you're my only friend."
"That doesn't sound any better, Tenny." Cress snorted.
"He did WHAT?!" EJ's eyes twitched.
"He also insinuated that Cress was the needy side chick for Caswell to hook up with." Ten pointed out. If Cress was throwing him into the fire, he's pulling her down the stairs with him.
"Or both of you. He seems to think I'm a swinger. I mean I have a reputation for dating a lot, but me being bi doesn't automatically mean I'm an easy hooker." Cress snorted, taking a bite of the tuna kimbap, "ooh this is good!"
"How dare he call my soulmate a hooker!" Jeonghan exclaimed in an enraged tone.
"He didn't call you a hooker." Ten shook his head.
"No, but he implied it." Cress scoffed. "And with any indication of what he said to Gina of 'she's classier than that' also gives me the vibes he's shaming her choices."
"You know, it's never too late for you to transfer over to Lakeshore Academy." Vernon hummed, throwing in his idea.
Back before Jeonghan, Joshua and Vernon went to Salt Lakeshore Academy, Jeonghan used to try talking Ten and EJ into going over to the boarding school with them. But East High was ultimately Ten and EJ's choice.
That, and EJ's dad is one of the main benefactors for the school.
"Psh, I know I'm an arm candy for my friends, but I am not your or his Friends with Benefits" Cress huffed.
"Again, no swearing in front of the child!" Joshua exclaimed, covering Vernon's ears once more.
"I'll be 18 next February!" Vernon exclaimed, mildly annoyed at his friend treating him like the baby of the bunch. Seriously, Dino is even younger than he is!
"Still a baby~" Jeonghan teased in a sing-song manner.
Sure, she was pissed at Ricky's implications of what he thought her relationship with EJ and Ten were, but she was more upset at what the Rodent thought of EJ and Ten in particular.
"You are a self-respecting gem." Jeonghan winked playfully at Cress, earning a tiny smile from her.
This is crazy! Jeonghan is better at making Cress smile than EJ and Ten combined.
"I'm still curious, how did you both even meet? I mean we all did our best to keep you both separated for years!" EJ asked out loud, looking incredulous and bewildered.
"That's a story that Hannie-Bunny tells better," Cress lightly elbowed Jeonghan by the arm.
"So I was at the arcade one day when this girl walked over to me and challenged me to a game. it was love at first sight~" Jeonghan started regaling how he met Cress.
"For you, maybe; I was too busy trying to get away from my ex!" She intercepted, playfully rolling her eyes.
"Which one?" EJ quipped, before Cress flipped him off.
"...it was Costco Carter, wasn't it?" Ten grimaced.
He remembered often going to Costco for grocery runs with Cress for a few weeks during summer break and the part-timer there Carter had a crush on her. That guy often flirted with Cress whenever she happened to be in the same place as him.
"Wasn't that the 2 weeks when I went back to Bangkok?!" Ten short-circuited.
"Yup that's the one. Anyways, I didn't want him to know that I was on my own that day so I chose the most reliable stranger within proximity for help." Cress nodded.
"And the rest is history." Jeonghan smiled.
"The ONE weekend neither of us were around in Salt Lake City, they ended up meeting!" Ten exclaimed.
The Kormos Residence
Zale was doing his revision in the living room when the doorbell rang.
"Ma, Cressida forgot her keys again—" He opened the door…only to find his most chaotic baby sister and his most chaotic dorm brother outside.
They were there to collect her sleeping bag and clothes before heading back to Ten's house.
"Hi Ji-Yul Hyung." Jeonghan waved.
Zale responded by screeching and jumping out of the nearest open window. And ran like hell.
"I think he took the news very well." Cress smiled happily.
"I know, I think I saw some tears of joy in his eyes." Jeonghan nodded.
Meanwhile
"The day we feared has finally arrived…Cress and Jeonghan have finally met each other." Vernon spoke grimly, the four teens were having the 'Operation Anti-Gremlins' Emergency Meeting.
"The worst part is I think they actually like each other." Ten mouthed in silent horror.
"Jeonghan does know that Cress is Aromantic, right?" EJ casted a side glance at the Lakeshore boys.
"He does, I think he's content with their platonic relationship." Joshua nodded in confirmation.
"Five years of effort, just gone down the drain!"
"It's a big city, what were the odds they'd actually meet?" EJ panicked.
"Her older brother Zale was a Lakeshore Alumni and our dorm brother when we were 13." Joshua pointed out.
"Her younger Phyrros is literally friends with Jeonghan's sister Jisoo!" Vernon added.
"Caswell," Ten gripped EJ's shoulders before he spoke in a serious tone, "Our social circle is a VENN DIAGRAM!"
As if cued, they could hear a scream from the other side of the neighborhood.
"Is that Ji-Yul Hyung?" Joshua recognized Zale's panicked screams.
"Ah crap, we forgot to tell him that Jeonghan has met Cress!" Vernon exclaimed.
A few more seconds later, they saw a figure with silver hair screaming from a distance, the noise seems to be getting louder.
"Wow, I haven't seen him run that fast since he joined the school marathon and won first place." Joshua exclaimed, impressed. The two teens promptly went outside to watch their older friend running past the neighborhood. Either to comfort him or mess with him.
EJ took a deep breath before he started apologizing.
"Ten, I'm so sorry, I should have been there for you. Both of you. But I was–"
"Dealing with your own thing," Ten finished his friend's sentence, "I know."
"Besides, what's there to worry about? Cress is this close to throwing her heels at Bowen." Ten added, trying to make a small joke to lighten the mood.
"Of course she would." EJ tried not to laugh at the idea of Cress taking off her shoes to threaten Ricky. "Those were her pointy heels too!"
"He was just lashing out, EJ. He's not the only one with issues. It's not a big deal. I was hurt but not as much anymore." Ten replied, taking a sip of water.
"But he still shouldn't have said that. He has a problem with me, not you." EJ refuted. Although Cress is up for debate since she makes it clear that she isn't Ricky's biggest fan since day 1.
"Look, it's ok now. Don't hold a grudge against him for me." Ten shook his head.
"Hey, don't brush it off like it's nothing."
"I know you're worried, but I am ok. It's true, I talked it out with them earlier this afternoon." Ten reassured his best friend. It was always great to talk it out with his friends.
That, and Cress made a vow to bodily harm Ricky Bowen the next time he messes with her or her friends.
"But that doesn't mean that it's ok," EJ frowned in dismay.
"EJ, we've been friends for a long time, it's fine-"
"No, it's not! I should have done better. I should have been there to rebuke him or defend you. But instead, I spent half the night going along with Gina's plans to win Nini back and I didn't even notice Ricky messing with you! I've been such a terrible friend…"
Ten noticed that EJ's breathing is becoming more ragged, his hands are starting to shake. He's really feeling upset and guilty about the aftermath of the dance.
"You've been a good friend, EJ. Just maybe do what Jeonghan says: do better." Ten placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Deep breaths with me, Caswell. Breathe in…Breathe out…"
After some breathing exercises, EJ started to calm down.
"Do you forgive me?" He looked at Ten, feeling slightly better but still guilty.
"For what? Vanishing without a trace and leaving me to pick up after your mistakes?"
"All of it."
"I do, EJ. Just don't leave me alone again." Ten reached a hand out to take EJ's.
"I won't." EJ shook his head
"Good, when the time comes, you better prove it."
"Of course." EJ nodded, gently squeezing Ten's hand in reassurance.
The weekend flew by in a blink of an eye, and the six teens all spent their time hanging out with each other, cooking, talking, and having a great time.
"Thanks so much for being here."
"Anytime, Ten. Just remember: we'll always be here for you when you need us."
"My offer still stands if you want me to egg his house." Jeonghan nodded.
While Ten was sending the Lakeshore trio off, Cress and EJ were having an intervention of their own.
"I'm gonna go give Bowen a piece of my mind tomorrow morning. You in?" EJ looked at Cress with a glint in his blue-green eyes.
"Heck yes." Cress smirked.
"No, Cress. You can't punch him." EJ pointed out before Cress could even say what she had in mind, "We're supposed to be setting an example!"
"This is setting an example!" Cress reasoned, "I mean how else do I instill fear in people who pissed me off if they don't feel the fear?"
"You're a menace to society." EJ rolled his eyes with a soft smile.
"I don't care if I burn, as long as I can keep my loved ones safe." Cress smiled back.
Nobody messes with their friend and gets away with it.
The consensus of the chapter is still similar to Weightless, but with some adaptational changes here and there. If I could write the entirety of the Golden Trio and Lakeshore Trio's weekend together, it'd be too long. But I hope I nailed their dynamics so far.
Chapter Talk: -
(1.) I hope I got the Lakeshore Trio's dynamic right, it's so fun to write about their interactions with Cress. Cress and Jeonghan (and Joshua who sometimes tags along) only share one single brain cell and they have a very platonic flirty friendship. (glances at their next gen kids: JT/Jungwon and Callis/Chaewon, it means something)
(2.) Yes, the two weeks that Ten was away at Bangkok and that 3 weeks EJ spent at summer camp was the same timeframe Cress and Jeonghan met for the first time. The world is that small that Jeonghan and Cress had pre-destined dynamics (it makes more sense for the 2008 Halloween Saga in which kid Cress met Jeonghan, Ten, Ashlyn and EJ on a Halloween night)
(3.) The Kormos clan are (usually) quite a chill and open-minded close-knitted family. Cress has co-ed sleepovers with Ten and EJ for years to the point she sees zero appeal in them as lovers. She might be bisexual but she doesn't flirt or hook up with everyone she meets.
(4.) "Our social circle is a Venn Diagram" is somehow the quote of the year. Cress knows a lot of people
(5.) Similar to how in "Weightless" where Jeonghan's family gave EJ his Korean name (Choi Eun-Jae), the Lakeshore trio also gave one to Zale (Ko Ji-Yul). Zale is also a very fast runner. Phyrros and Cress would most likely also get Korean names by their friends as well.
(6.) EJ was originally written to suffer from chronic panic attacks but that's never been shown in the series. He has double shots of stress and anxiety (and those will heightened significantly after season 3), his friends often keep him grounded and calm. That, and EJ is a certified People Pleaser so he'd blame himself a lot if anything bad happens to his friends.
That's all for May, see you next month. Thanks so much for reading, feel free to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts. Have a fantastic day.