Chapter Text
John's POV I almost sprinted as I reached my first class, leaving my bag in the dorm was a huge mistake. Sighing, I keep my head down and almost run to art, knowing I'd be well behind the late bell. As I presumed, the bell rang just as I stepped into the classroom. All the eyes in the room were on me, staring me down. I offer a small apologetic smile to the teacher and he nods, gesturing for me to take a seat. Glancing around the room, I spot a familiar face, smiling lightly as I begin to sit besides him. Alex was sat in the back corner of the room, his gaze planted firmly on the desk, not even looking up as I sat next to him. I was still getting the occasional odd glance, but I'm not really suprised, I'm the new kid, what else could be expected? The teacher read sluggishly through the register, recieving just as sluggish and uninterested replies. When he read through Alex's there was an almost silent reply, him seeming more uninterested than everyone else. I was probably the only one who answered normally, normally for me at least. "Alright, so as it's the first lesson back, you'll just be doing a simple sketch of the person next to you. An ice-braker of sorts, you can surround the person with some of their favorite things, get you used to spending the rest of the term next to them." The teacher flipped through the slides, his rapsy voice groaning out each word. I glance to Alex, hoping I could catch his eyes and give him a smile. But he didn't glance up, not even once. Frowning lightly, I barely listen to the teacher as he got someone to hand out the books, giving us each one thick, black, glossy sketch book. I write my name and class number on the front, opening it to the first page. The subtle scent of fresh pages drafted around the room, mingling with the cool air flowing through the open window. It seemed almost calm, despite the continuous, over bearing and insistant chatter coming from every angle. I began lightly sketching out the faint line art of his face, barely doing his features justice with the pencil. The sketch itself didn't take that long, but the proper outline took a lot longer. I glance to him. "So, what's some of your favourite things?" I smile to Alex, hoping he'd look up to see it. But of course he didn't. "Phillip, my phone, my bed, and candy." He uttered the last part but I still caught it. "Okay." I smile, beginning to draw Phillip besides him. "How about you?" He mumbled, still drawing. "God where do I start? Hot chocolate, animals, candy, flowers. I could go on but I'll save you the list." I chuckle, continuing to draw the feline. "You're a genuine two year old..." He uttered in a chuckle, beginning to draw a backgrounf of swirled candies and repositioned my hands to be holding a mug of hot chocolate. "I guess so." I giggle in a reply, continuing with my work. There was only a minute of silence before the bell rang off the walls, making the whole class errupt in sound as books were dumped into bags and feet nade their way out if the room. I followed in suit, quickly exiting the room in my own silence, glancing through my timetable. Making my way to the english block, I notice that Alex was a few foot ahead of me, his gaze planted firmly on the floor beneath his feet. I took a few quick strides to be besides him, nudging him and smiling. He didn't look up though, seeming to walk faster, I manage to keep up, moving just a bit faster than a walk. "Slow down, jesus." I chuckle, placing a hand on his arm to slow him. "Just go away Laurens, you don't want to be seen with me, no one does..." He mumbled, barely audioable over the anarchy around us. I furrow my brows in confusion before continuing. "Why's that?" I question, dropping my hand from his arm. "You just don't want to, okay?" He rolled his eyes, making his way to the line outside our classroom. "Yeah, but why?" I try to make eye contact with him but his eyes where still planted on the tiled floor. "Good lord, do you ever stop asking questions?" He sighed, exasperated as he looked up to me. Before I could respond, a crowd of boys saunter past us, one opening his mouth to speak. "Oi, Hamilton, who's your new boyfriend!?" They laughed, pointing to me. What where hey talking about? Alex rolled his eyes again. "Not my boyfriend, so please do us all a favour and fuck off." He continued to lean against the wall, simply crossing his arms in an eyeroll. "What was that, freak?" The boy stepped closer, looming over Alex. I gulped, wanting to step in, but my feet rooted in the ground. He sriod up properly, looking up at the boy. "I said-" He had no chance to finish his sentence before a dark skinned man, presumably the teacher, came out of the door, interrupring him. "Hamilton, the class has gone in, come along now." He smiled at Alex before raising a stirn eyebrow at the unphased group if boys. "Run along, Alex, Daddy's calling for you." He sneered, slinking away as he did. Alex remained silent as he walked into the classroom, the man guiding him in by a hand on his shoulder. I followed in shortly after, deciding it would be best not to seat myself next to him for now, taking a chair in the row diagonally away from him. The teacher turned on the board, beginning to write his name out. "Hello class, I'm Mr. Washington, if you didn't already know and I will be you're history teacher for the rest of the term." He had a warm smile as he spoke, no one daring to whisper as he spoke, like they had done in art. "I am also the principle, so no funny buisness." That explains the silence. The lesson continued, half the people here yawning in boredom. He was a good teacher, no one could deny it, even in his first lesson. However, by the time the bell rang, three people were snoring on the desk, drool smearing their brief notes. I threw my books into my bag, shoving any loose pens into my back pocket. Staring around the room, I saw Alex was already out of the door, with his bag slumped over his shoulders. I had raced to catch up with him, still remaining a few foot behind him, not wanting to talk to him yet. That or I was still thinking about what I would say when I finally caught up. Probably a mix of both. I followed him all the way out to an empty court yard, where he threw his bag at a small bench. Sighing, he didn't bother to turn around as he groaned. "What do you want from me?" He muttered, finally turning to glare at me. I was silent for a minute, staring down at my feet, finding the rainbow laces in my Converse far more interesting. Glancing up to him, I gulp before opening my mouth to speak. "I just... I just want to know you..."