Take My Breath (KShaw)

Chapter 3

"Do you have to do that right now?" JJ smirks from his spot on the floor. He leans back until his back is nearly hitting the floor, and then he pulls himself up to his legs, bent at the knees, keeping his feet planted firmly on the ground. He doesn't have to, since all of the school's athletes have access to the gym 24/7. He just likes to fuck with Harry. At least, Harry is pretty sure that's why JJ does it. Maybe every little thing he does isn't actually intended to make Harry's blood boil, but it does. And he's distracting.

Harry's trying to type out his essay so he can spend the rest of the night watching TV on his computer. But JJ's grunting and sweating and breathing heavy, and Harry can't focus on copying the words from page to computer with JJ doing that shit. He's just about to give up when someone knocks at the door.

Harry turns, fingers hovering over the keys, and JJ calls out, "Come in!" while continuing with his sit-ups, which is admittedly a little impressive, since Harry figures he himself would be too busy wheezing to talk if he were in JJ's position. Then again, JJ's extremely in shape, which is probably a good thing because, really, he doesn't have much else going for him but his body.

The door opens, and Ethan comes into the room, dressed differently than Harry's seen him all week. That's just what Ethan does. Between Monday and Friday, he refuses to shave, barely showers, and walks around in the same sweatpants days in a row with messy hair. But then, Friday night, he shaves and styles his hair and changes the worn clothes for perfectly pressed shirts and tight jeans, going from homeless to boy-next-door in a matter of hours. "Hey," Harry says. "What's up?" Ethan shuts the door behind him and sidesteps JJ on his way to Harry's bed.

"I've come to rescue you from the world of academics. Figured you could use a break, and I know you won't take one on your own, so hurry up. Finish whatever you're doing, and then get dressed. We're going out." JJ snorts from the floor but Harry ignores him. "Going out where?" he asks. "A party," Ethan admits. "I don't go to parties," Harry points out.

He doesn't see the appeal. Last time he had, he lost Ethan and Tobi in the crowd, someone spilt beer on him, and he'd spent the whole night in the corner, praying one of his friends would come rescue him. Or maybe hoping someone would try to talk to him, but everyone had ignored him, as they always do.

"Because you're never invited," JJ snickers. He's moved on to doing push-ups now - one handed push-ups. Show off. "Well he was invited tonight," Ethan hisses at him. He turns to Harry. "Ignore the side effects of steroids on your floor. Come out with us. Tobi wants you to come, and no one can say no to Tobi." Harry rolls his eyes. He doesn't want to be the only one not going, though. Doesn't want to spend tomorrow in the common room, listening to Ethan moan about a hangover and Tobi recount their hilarious, drunken adventures. "Home by one at the latest?" he bargains. "Promise," Ethan says, hand over his heart. "Cross my heart and hope to die."

Harry saves his paper on the computer and shuts his laptop. JJ's foot juts out in front of him when he heads to the dresser, but he sees it before he can trip, so he kicks JJ hard in the shins and says, "Oh, sorry, didn't mean to." JJ glares at him and gets up. "Whatever. I'm coming with you guys."

Harry puts his glasses on top of the dresser while he changes into a clean shirt and pulls on a cap. That's about all he's going to do to get ready. "You're not invited," Ethan is saying to JJ when he's done. JJ scoffs. "Whose party is it?" "Vikk from my science class," Ethan answers instantly. "Vikk? That Indian kid?" JJ asks. When Ethan nods, he laughs and says, "Then I'm a lot more invited than either of you." He tugs on a sweater, even though he's still disgustingly sweaty. "I'm coming."

Harry gives Ethan a look, hoping he flips out like that time he'd not had enough sleep, he had a big test coming up, and the barista at the coffee shop had given him a hard time. Ethan is terrifying when he wants to be, and Harry would love to see him rip JJ a new one. Instead, all he does is bite his lip for a long moment before shrugging. "Not like we can stop him," he says, regretful. "Let's just go."