Chapter Text
Making my way downtown, walking fast .
“Making my way to the Tuck Shop, walking slow, cause Sophie has short legs.”
Fitz swiftly jumped to the side to avoid the kick Sophie threw at his shins. He laughed at his own joke. Sophie scowled at him, but increased her speed nevertheless.
“They will never find your body.” She said, which would have been menacing had it not been threatened at least once every day since he’d met her. Also, had she not been a five foot two gremlin, capable of no damage whatsoever.
Except maybe to herself , Fitz thought as he remembered the multiple occasions upon which Sophie tripped over nothing. And those that flashed through his mind were just from that morning.
“Yeah, yeah. Come on. I’m hungry .” He whined. Fitz started to jog down the gravel-laid path to where he could see the little wooden hut, faintly labeled “Tuck Shop”.
Sophie’s sigh was audible even from a distance. “Why do I have to suffer because your athletic ass burns calories at an inhumanly fast pace?” She complained, not bothering to match his speed anymore.
Fitz stopped running, and turned around to face her. He ran his hand through his sweat-dampened curls, not caring if he messed them up anymore. After an exhausting morning of intense volleyball at the court by the lake, a lunch that was way, way too short, and then a few more rounds of volleyball, he was sure his hair couldn’t be in a worse state than it already was.
“Guilty by association, Sophie. Don’t you want candy?”
Sophie opened her mouth to answer, but the sound of approaching footsteps cut her off. Fitz tilted sideways to peer around her and found the culprit.
A lanky boy with bright red hair and a Marvel t-shirt (which he seemed to have a never ending supply of) sprinted towards them. His numerous freckles were visible even from a distance, but the light sheen of sweat over his nose came into view as he got closer.
Damn. It must be hot if Dex The Vampire had broken a sweat. Fitz tugged on the front of his shirt to try and fan himself off.
The boy came to a stop beside Sophie, bent over slightly and panting. “You alright Dex?”
“Don’t mock me, Wonderboy.” He tried to snap, but it came out less aggressive than he intended through his heavy breathing.
Fitz laughed. “Come on. We’re going to get to Tuck and all the good snacks are going to be gone. Then I’ll blame you guys and have to eat yours as penance for your crimes.” He gestured for Sophie and Dex to follow him as he started down the path again.
“The snacks are literally assigned to and then set aside for each of us. What are you talking about?” Sophie said, a flat expression on her face. Fitz grinned.
Dex smiled, too. “There is always the possibility that Biana has already claimed your snack and started eating it.” He nudged Sophie’s shoulder with his own. They both watched her eyes widen comically.
She grabbed both boys by the wrist and tugged them forwards. “Come on guys? Who’s hungry? God, why are you taking so long?” Her shoulder length blonde hair flowed out behind her as she ran down the hill. Though she’d let go of their wrists, both boys followed her. They always did.
They arrived right in the center of a crowd of kids, all either eating or waiting for their food. Tuck Shop was always the best part of the day. Fitz scanned above the crowd, looking for-
“Found her!” Dex exclaimed. They followed him through the crowd, which did not smell good- hot days and a summer camp full of teenagers, half of whom hadn’t discovered deodorant on a good day were not a pleasant combination. The crowd parted (thank god.) to reveal Fitz's sister, grinning sheepishly and halfway through a bar of KitKat.
“Hey B,” said Fitz, ruffling his sister’s hair as he approached the bench beside her. Somehow, even though it was scorching outside, Biana still managed to look radiant. Her hair wasn’t even frizzy from the humidity; it was in its perfect waves like always. How she managed to do it, Fitz had no idea. He watched Dex lean against a pole, while Sophie sat down next to him.
“Your hair looks terrible.” Biana said, as he sat down. “Hi Sophie, hold this for me?” She held out her chocolate to her girlfriend, who smiled and took it.
“She trusted you with her chocolate?” Dex asked, astounded. “She must really like you.”
“No, we’re just dating cause we hate each other so much.” Biana said sweetly. She was now running her hands through Fitz’s hair, trying to get it back to its normal curls. Fitz was trying not to squirm. She knew what she was doing, he tried to reassure himself.
Dex laughed. Fitz watched Sophie take a bite of Biana’s stick of KitKat. He smiled.
“I’m going to go get the rest of the snacks,” Sophie said, “We’re going to run out of time to eat at this rate. Anyone else want to come?”
“One minute.” Biana called, not looking away from Fitz’s head.
“Biana, we all know you’ll take ten hours.” Fitz said.
Biana did not confirm nor deny that statement, but they all knew it was true.
“Dex?” Sophie asked, turning to face him.
He pushed himself off the pole. “Yeah sure, why not.”
They headed off towards the tuck shop. Fitz silently wished them good luck trying to navigate the deadly crowd.
His stomach growled. He wanted his bag of chips. So. Badly.
Well, they weren’t necessarily chips. He ordered a snack-sized bag of Smartfood Movie Night popcorn. He was aware that it wasn’t the most filling thing they offered, nor was it the healthiest (not that he actually cared about that), but it was his absolute favorite.
He did not share his popcorn. That was a rule everyone had to learn upon becoming his friend.
“So, what did you do this morning, B?” He tried to make conversation with his sister, who was still messing with his hair. Was it really that bad? It surely couldn’t be that bad. She was probably just slow.
“Dance.” Biana replied simply, wrapping a lock of Fitz’s hair around her finger.
Biana was at this camp for a special dance program. At home, she did competitive lessons in ballet and contemporary dance. She also performed. A lot. Fitz’s suit was probably used more than the suit of any other sixteen year old, from attending each and every one of her performances.
They had all come to this camp with her as well. It had all worked out rather conveniently, actually. Fitz and Biana’s parents were urging them to try out summer camp at least once, (They met at a camp. It was a long story.) Fitz and Biana did not want to go to camp. Then Biana heard about the dance camp offered at Camp Foxfire and what do you know? Suddenly they were on a bus to camp. Biana by choice, Fitz to morally support his sister (his parents saw the opportunity there and took it), Sophie to morally support her girlfriend, and Dex because Sophie is his best friend and he didn’t want to spend a summer alone.
So now they are here. Fitz supposed the other boys in his cabin were nice, but he really hadn’t made any new friends. He was fine with it. New friends were exhausting.
(And if he was slightly irked that his older brother didn’t have to go because he had a “job,” he definitely voiced it. A lot. His brother told him he’d miss Fitz’s complaining, but Fitz thought that a small part of Alvar was thrilled about the noise being temporarily silenced.)
“No way.” He said incredulously. “ Dancing? At dance camp? Well that is a plot twist I certainly didn’t see coming.”
Biana kicked him just hard enough that it stung. He stuck his tongue out at her as she finally moved away from his head and sat next to him on the bench.
It was not a very comfortable bench. It was old and wooden and was probably giving him ass splinters.
Ass splinters were the worst.
Not that he had any experience with them, nor did he hope to. However, standing was definitely the worst option, so he stayed put.
Fitz reached up and felt his hair. He couldn’t see it, but it felt more curly than it was before. Maybe his sister was secretly a hair wizard, or something.
“What exactly would being a hair wizard entail?” He asked.
Biana, knowing exactly where his train of thought was coming from, responded genuinely. “That's a hair witch for me. Probably a lot of potions and stuff. That would be really cool, actually. I wish I was a hair witch.”
“You are a hair witch.”
“Do you see any potions?” She gestured to herself. Even if she did have potions, there would be no place to put them. She was wearing a cropped tank top with a sunflower on it that clung to her torso. Her shorts were also skin-tight, which was the basic attire for dance. And a hot day. Not a very storage conducive outfit, though.
“We’re back!” an exclamation burst through the crowd, and with it, Sophie and Dex parted the group of people standing by the bench and emerged. They sat on either side of the bench, Dex next to Fitz, and Sophie with Biana.
Fitz’s stomach leaped with anticipation of his daily dose of popcorn, but he was quickly disheartened when he saw no popcorn in the hands of Sophie, nor Dex.
“Did you guys forget my snack?” he tried to sound as casual as possible, when internally he was on the verge of starvation.
Maybe that was a little dramatic. He could live without a midday snack. He just wanted his popcorn.
Sophie and Dex exchanged a glance from across the bench. Fitz’s worry only grew.
“Ahah, so. About that.” Dex handed him a folded up piece of paper that Fitz hadn’t noticed he was holding before. “Your snack was gone when we went to get it. The person behind the table said someone already grabbed it for you, and left you a note in case you went to find it.”
“But nobody already grabbed it for me.” Fitz said stupidly, dumbfounded, as he took the note from Dex. “Did you read it?”
“No. It’s for you.” Dex shrugged, then started to tear open his gummy bears.
“I wanted to, for the record.” Sophie said.
Fitz laughed, unfolded the paper, and read the note.
HI FITZ
The first line really was written in all caps. Hell of a first impression. Where was his food?
Sorry I uh, stole your snack. Don’t worry. It was for a good reason. At least, I think it’s a good reason. You may not think it’s a good reason, but it’s ok!!
So, here’s the thing. How do I say this? (This is going to look like a normal pause cause this is being written by hand, but I think it’s important for you to know that I paced around my cabin for twenty minutes, trying to figure out how to phrase this. I need appreciation for my efforts. Please give me validation.)
Fitz really did not want to laugh at the person that stole his food. But a smile found its way onto his face despite his best efforts.
I think we should be friends. In my personal opinion, that is a good idea. However, we have an obstacle. I'm in an Even cabin.
Fitz gaped, but continued reading anyway.
I know, I know. An Even cabin member, talking to the leader of the Odds? What was I even thinking?
Truth be told, I don’t actually know. I don’t think nearly as much as I should.
Yeah, ok. That’s fair.
Anyways, the point I’m trying to make is that we can’t talk to each other. It’s forbidden. So alas, I’m having to write to you through the Tuck Shop like we’re lovers, forced apart by some dreadful circumstances in the mid-nineteenth century.
Well, I hope I’ve won you over with my stunning good looks (this sheet of paper) and my irresistible charm (this blue ink). Write me back!! If you want to. Of course. If you do, stick the paper under the right bench on the table next to the Mess Hall (you know the one. The sad abandoned one). If not, I’ll leave you alone, it’s totally cool.
I’ve never done anything like this before.
Your Popcorn Thief :)
Fitz looked up from the letter slowly. He felt like he’d been drawn into a trance while reading, and was now having to readjust himself to the noise of his surroundings. Dex hummed when Fitz met his eyes. “What did it say?”
Biana’s figure straightened from where she’d apparently been hunched, reading over Fitz’s shoulder. “You were reading it?” He yelped, and immediately tried to shield the paper from any other eyes. Not that it would do much good now.
“You took too long. I wanted to know what it said.” She replied, and then broke out into a shit-eating grin. Fitz wanted to crawl into a hole and die. “Fitzy has a secret admirer.”
That was not at all what he had been expecting her to say. “No I don’t?”
“A secret admirer?” Sophie gasped. “Dammit. I knew I should have read that note.” She made grabby hands at Fitz, but he didn’t acknowledge them.
Dex grinned sheepishly. “See, now I kind of regret being nice and respecting your privacy.”
Fitz met Dex’s gaze. “And to think you were my favorite out of the three of you, just then.”
Dex pumped his fists in the air. “Privacy rules!! I’m the best!! Can I be the favorite again now?”
“Sure.”
“Let’s go!!!”
Fitz released a long sigh and dragged his hands over his face. He buried his eyes behind his palms, and rested his elbows on his thighs.
“Not a secret admirer, please. ” Biana scoffed. “Did you read the postscript?”
“What postscript?” Fitz asked, sitting up attentively. He unfolded the paper and scanned the writing until he found the line at the very bottom. How did he miss it?
It must have been the food deprivation. It was getting to him. He was withering away by the second. He needed sustenance. He needed-
P.S. While we’re communicating forbiddenly and all, shall I recite poetry about your eyes? How they’re the deepest midnight blue of the lake, and how it’s easier to drown in their gaze than in the waves?
He. He-
“It is a secret admirer.” Dex remarked from beside him. Fitz groaned.