Paper Bags

Paper Bags 04

They stood at the Big Door, lingering almost. There was no one else here but just the five of them, though Adam was not welcomed even though none of their silent protests reached his ears for some reason. Haru sighed, turning to look at his friends, who shifted their gaze on him. Adam in particular frowned, tugging at his cap a bit lower to cast a shadow around the area of his eyes. Frankly, it only further made him look like a stalker.

"What are we doing here?" he asked.

Rain rolled her eyes, standing on the other side of the place from the other man, her arms crossed against her chest. "None of your business," she said.

Adam raised an eyebrow. "It is if you're going out there, beautiful."

Fatima made a fake gagging noise, much to Haru's amusement. When he noticed that the black cloth-cladded man opening his mouth to speak, he decided to cut him off with a, "You'll see."

Even though he didn't want Adam here, he decided that if this resident bad boy could believe him, then at least he could spread the word and step one in revealing the truth would happen without him putting any effort.

Jason took a stand next to him, nudging his arm with his elbow, catching his attention. His heart warmed at the wary look in those green eyes. "Well?" he said.

Unable to resist, he touched his best friend's wrist, almost like he was trying to seep some courage from him. Jason leaned in close and that was enough of a sign that Haru was allowed to gather comfort this way. If anything, his chest further warmed, bringing forth this need to hug the other man.

"We're going out there to test a theory," Haru said, meeting Adam's eyes.

"What theory?" The resident bad boy shoved his hands into his black hoodie pockets, leaning his body against the wall. "The nerd has a theory again?"

"Hey!" Jason said, voice tense. "Don't call him that, asshole."

"And the resident Goody-Two-Shoes yelled," Asshole said. "I'm scared."

"And you wonder why I wish to build a tank full of sharks to toss you in," Rain said, eyebrows furrowed as she pushed her hood over her head.

Adam pursed his bottom lip, pushing himself off the wall and stood straighter. His shoulders were squared and the air shifted just then to welcome a certain tenseness that had Haru tightening his grip on his best friend's wrist. His heart skipped a beat as anxiousness threatened to envelop his mind. As much as he liked to claim he thought last and did first, he also had a severe case of anxiety.

But... with Jason being a solid warmth next to him, he pushed through his plan.

He bit his inner cheek for a second before he took in a deep breath.

"The theory that if you don't use your Paper Bag outside, you don't turn into a frog." Haru's words ended the brief fight that was brewing in between them.

The few seconds of silence was welcomed but it was quickly broken by a loud laughter from Adam. "You're stupid! That's so stupid. What does that even mean?"

Haru winced, frowning. And this was why he hated this asshole. He never failed to make him feel small of himself. Jason took a step forward but he stopped his friend with another tightening motion of his fingers on that wrist. Fatima though had no qualms to toss a glare at Adam, silencing the resident bad boy.

"And that's why it's a theory," Fatima said. "Why are you even here? We don't even like you here."

Adam touched a hand on his chest. "Oh, look at me being so sad about it."