The World Is Ugly (but you're beautiful to me)

Chapter Four: Threading Slimy Water

Reki was hunched over his desk, a stick of strawberry pocky pursed between his lips as he forced himself to focus on the book in front of him. This was his last year in high school and the last standardized tests before he applied to Mountain Ridge, which meant he'd need near perfect scores.

He'd always aced his tests, not easily but with his relentless dedication to getting the best grades he possibly could, he was always able to succeed. His entire school life he spent cramming as hard as he could, as much as possible. He had no idea why this last year had been more difficult, well, that was a lie. He did know. Before Langa showed up he did much better with his grades.

He would still skateboard and go to S, but he also still would spend significant more time in his room studying and taking practice tests. Now he was skating and hanging out with Langa so much that it ate away at his study time or completely distracted him from thinking about school. He was in no danger of not graduating, but he definitely could lose his possibility of getting into Mountain Ridge if his grades get any worse. Especially on the standardized tests coming up in the following months.

Making time for all the things he wants and needed to do was harder then he expected. It wasn't just Langa, but also their friends at S. He didn't have the willpower to say no to any of them, especially when he didn't really want to study anyway. So more then he'd like to admit he procrastinated doing his work in favor of goofing off with his friends. This day was no different, Langa texted him to meet up at the park to skate with him and Miya. How could Reki possibly say no and continue reading about forensic science? He was only human after all!

He left quickly to go join his friends leaving the books behind as he scrambled down the stairs to leave the house. He would just stay up later tonight and continue his studies, it wasn't a huge deal, he just had to manage his time better. So his books were left forgotten on his desk to be picked up 'later'.

He met Langa and Miya in the park and the trio took off skating together, using the trails at the park to race against one another and then practicing tricks, Miya showing off to Reki's annoyance. The brat was always so cocky. He tried to show Miya up but ended up flubbing the trick up.

"Ow, Ow.." Reki hissed, sitting on a park bench with Langa dabbing at the wound on his knee with some napkins they stole from the picnic area. He got hurt skating more times then he could count, but this was also hurting his pride. To be outdone by a middle school pipsqueak with a loud mouth.

Miya had his hands in the pocket of his green cat hoodie watching Langa tend to Reki's scraped up knee. "Idiot. I told you not to bother trying to do that trick." Miya huffed, very matter-o-fact in his tone. He sat down on the bench beside Reki, moving his board back and fourth with his feet thoughtlessly. "This is why Slime's, like you, should listen to masters, like me."

"Shut up! You're just a snot nosed pup. You should listen to your elders-" Reki started to say but was interrupted with a yelp of pain when Langa pressed a little too hard on the wound.

Langa pulled away and looked up checking on Reki as he held the bloody napkin. "S-Sorry Reki.." He apologized sincerely as he balled up the used napkin and tossed it into the nearest trash bin, like throwing a basketball into a hoop. He took out a pack of band aids and smoothed one over Reki's injury.

"Thanks.." Reki trailed off, confused watching the alpha leaning in closer, puckering his lips to kiss where he'd placed the band aid on Reki's scratched up knee. Langa let his lips linger there for a second before pulling away looking up at Reki with a small smile. "Eeh?" Reki mumbled under his breath flabbergasted.

Langa stood up sheepishly as he shrugged his shoulders. "Just to make it feel a bit better." He said as if he hadn't just done what he did. Maybe it was a Canadian thing? Sure he'd had his mom kiss his boo-boo's when he was really little, but they were both practically eighteen and Langa was definitely not his mother.