Stay ~ A Stray Kids Fanfic

Chan

Chan's POV
The next day

My steps are small, quiet. I catch the man labeled as my father leaned back in his chair, bottles crowding his feet, and a half drunken one in his lazy hand. I could hear my heart cracking from all the patter.

I step over each bottle with ease and precision and like every morning, I do my best not to wake him. If he wakes and takes one look at me, I'll be targeted with daggers of insults. If not more.

Passing through no man's land left me at the entrance to the kitchen where my mom was pouring herself some tea. Her sunken, skeleton like face peers up at me. "You've come down much later than usual," she says, eyeing the grandfather clock on the wall. The same wall with a school picture of me from 9th grade and a giant crack in the center.

My brother and sister's hung perfectly untouched, though.

"Sorry," I bow slightly. They had already left for school, since they had morning sports practices. That was the disappointing part for her: I wasn't as involved as they were. I was supposed to be a role model to them, and apparently student council President of the entire high school wasn't enough.

She just stares back down into her tea. She looked exhausted and overworked. I suppose I couldn't blame her; she was the only barely functioning parent in the house.

Opening the door, she didn't wish me a "good day" or even "I love you." So I left it at that, like usual.

The walk to the bus stop was chilly. Fall was approaching too soon. I hug myself tighter, wishing I'd brought a jacket to go over my uniform.

A crowd of students hang around the bus, each of them filing in one by one. I make it to towards the middle of the lot. Few greet me, asking me questions about homecoming and such.

'Just keep smiling. You're the leader,' I think as I hold my voice up as well as my ego.

As I scan my card, however, I notice a ruckus in the center of the aisle. "You wanna sit in my spot again? I dare ya!" A boy I knew vaguely spits down at another.

I squint to catch a better look at the kid shaking with fear. I recognize him...barely. It doesn't matter, though, when I step up to the bully and pull his shoulder back.

"What's going on here?" I ask, glancing between the two. My grip on the boy tightens as he shoots me an annoyed glare. "I suggest you go find an open seat like everyone else."

Another boy, small and tough, stands up. "But that's his spot, President," he huffs. I eternally sighed. 'A little gang of troublemakers.'

I look back down at the boy still shaken, his eyes and head hung low in shame. "I don't see your name here," I point out, letting him go with a quick shove. "Now, do I have to repeat myself or are you gonna sit down like a good person?"

He rolled his eyes and obeyed after catching the line holding up behind me. Feeling satisfied, I grin at the boy. "Mind if I sit beside you?"

He shoots up, as if scared and shakes his head. "Thanks, mate," I say, sliding my bag beneath my feet. "The name's Christopher, but you can call me Chan."

He looks up, those fox-like eyes burning into me. He seemed so innocent. 'Is he in my grade?'

Before that question could be asked, he nods and bows his head a little. "I know who you are. Thank you for helping me. I wasn't aware of any seating chart-"

"Oh, there isn't one. You can sit where you'd like," I assure, patting his shoulder twice as the bus jolts foreword. "What's your name, by the way?"

He blinks a few times, as if embarrassment he forgot to introduce himself. "Oh, I'm Jeongin," he says timidly. I was surprised when he held his hand out for me to shake. I never got too many of those.

"Pleased to meet you," I say in English; an easy greeting he was able to grasp. The bus stops for the next cluster of students. My eyes shoot to the front as a familiar head of blonde steps on. "Oi! Felix!"

The freckled senior turns my way, his eyes shining at my face. He slides past the many seats before taking the one across from me. "Hey there, Jeongin," he waves to the young one beside me.

I exchange looks between the two before asking, "you two know each other?"

Jeongin nods immediately, Felix following afterwards. "We met yesterday. I didn't know we took the same bus, you two," he says, gesturing to the seats Jeongin and I took up.

"Me neither," Jeongin grins, a wide mouth of straight teeth flashing. 'His mood changed so quickly when Felix got on,' I noted to myself, only to smile bigger at the thought. "I suppose I'm now friends with two Australians."

I crack a laugh at that with Felix burning red. "And not just that, but the only two Australians in this school," I pat his shoulder. "You are one lucky man."

Felix jokingly scoffs whilst shaking his head. "Hey, Jeongin?" He leans his head to catch sight of the youngest. "Are you interested in the film club?"

His eyes expand twice their size, while I rejoiced beside him. "Hey, that's right! You should join. We need 8 members, so you'd be the 4th."

"I-I'm no actor," he begins to shy away. He still smiled, flushing red at Felix's question. I suppose to him it felt more like an invitation. "Then again, I guess I've never tried."

     Felix shrugs in agreement. "You don't necessarily need to be an actor. We'd be just as pleased if you'd lighten the load for us." My face eased in amazement. He was so easy with words; it was no wonder he made friends so easily.

     "That's very true," I say, pulling out my phone to find the list of positions. "We just need a light person, a camera man, and 3 actors," I read, Jeongin peering over my shoulder to follow.

     I study his expression. "What d'you say?"

     He purses his lips out, still in thought. "I suppose I have nothing better to do." It sounded more of a question than a statement. Either way, Felix and I shared a quick high-five.

     "That's great! I'm so excited now!" My legs bounce on the bottom of the bus to match my mood. Leaning back, I let out a long breath. "I'm happy to get closer to you, Jeongin."

     The youngest just nods before agreeing.