Piercing Needles

Biology

I could feel the monster coming out my nose before I fully comprehended the words he said. 

Lab partner??? Mr. A's words ring in my head. "Jason I have a new lab partner for you"  Oh gods. 

Its about now that I realize that all I've done is choke on a monster and stare for a good 30 seconds. SPEAK GODS DAMNIT

"H-hi Percy." he smiled, honest and toothy. I see what everyone has been talking about. 

Along the right side of his neck disappearing under his collar was a large piece of plastic "second skin" stuff, with black and what looks to be blue ink pooling underneath. "How are you JayJay?" That was unexpected. A nickname? Already? 

"I uh, I'm alright I guess. How are you?" he responds with a simple smile and thumbs up, rings glittering. 

"Watching this makes my brain hurt." we both turn to face Mr. A. "Jason are you okay with Percy taking the same grade you get on the lab due today? Since he technically was enrolled before its collection." He looked annoyed at having to deal with technicalities.

"Yeah that's fine with me." Looking at Percy I only realize now that hes shorter than me. His boots may give him an inch or so but still, his chin only reaches my shoulder at best. 

And his piercings. Rings and studs glittering up and around his ears, a blue bar struck through the top of both. Snakebites, medusa, septum, nostrils, bridge, eyebrows. There's 2 tongue bars and a navel too hidden away. Thinking about anymore he may have hidden away may just be my downfall.

"JASON,"  everyone is staring. "Are you broken, bleeding, or dying??" Mr. A is not happy.

"Uh n-no sir I am not."

"Then I suggest you allow Mr. Jackson to lead you back to your lab station like he has been trying to do." Only now did I realize Percy has a hold of my arm tugging at it.

"Y-yes sir." Percy's hand is warm. 

I'm thankful he lets me calm down before he tries to talk to me again. Which also happened to line up with when I finished my monster.

Pulling a monster from his backpack and cracking it open, he speaks. "I didn't mean to scare you," he hands me the drink. "I heard that there was someone in here who was doing labs meant for 4 people by themselves, I thought I'd switch and help out. I like Biology better anyway." 

"You didn't have to do that you know." he pulls out a can of his own.

"I know I don't have to, I wanted to." he lets out a huff of a laugh against the rim of the monster "So, I have 2 questions for you," I raised my eyebrow and pushed my glasses on top of my head. "First and foremost, what was that about up there?"

I can feel my face going red and I hate it "It happens sometimes. My sister would always call it "error mode" and I'm rebooting or something. I don't know if its something real but I physically cant pull myself out unless I'm scared out. She lets it go and makes a joke to make me feel better." Gods why do I overshare so much.

"So if it happens and you're doing something dangerous like working with fire or something, I should move you? Not in a weird way but in a "lets not make another Freddy Kruger" way, you know?"

"Freddy Kruger was a pedophile and murderer who was burned alive by the kids' parents, not a teenager in Biology class." aaaannnndddd my secret guilty pleasure is out. 

His eyes are wide and he smirks. "Closeted horror junkie I see. Really cute." 

ERROR 404: JASON NOT FOUND

"W-what?" I guess my face displayed it all because he laughed. Deep in his chest laughed. I couldn't help but laugh myself. 

"I'll spare you from anymore blushing and get to the actual question I have," he is still smiling. "Who's house are we going to be working on these l-"

"Your house. Or somewhere else like a library. I-if that's okay with you?" he seemed to sense my anxiety and just nodded. We listened and took notes the rest of the class. The bell rang and he handed me a slip of paper.

"This is my place, don't knock too loud though my sister gets spooked easily. How does 5 sound? We can order food."

"Yeah that sounds good to me. Have a good day." 

Dear Gods I need to find Piper.