Influenced (A Keveridge fanfiction) *EDITING*

7

(Laurence's POV)
I was surprised to see that Kier didn't carry on walking like I thought he would, he simply stopped and looked at me. Come on Laurence, this is no time to be quiet now.

"What you looking at?" I asked, folding my arms.

Kier bit his lip and titled his head back, looking a little surprised that I'd commented.
"Just a little loser that's all." he replied.

I chuckled at the boy. "You call me a loser?"

"Well that's what I just said, isn't it? So, where's all your friends? Oh wait, sorry I forgot you didn't have any. Only your schoolwork." The last comment Kier said made him smirk, as if he was proud to make such an obvious comeback.

"It's just me today, Kemp. My works at home, completely untouched. What about your pathetic friends? They done you any harm yet?"

"They've helped me a lot, actually. It was because of them that I went to the mentoring group yesterday."

I scoffed at what a lie he was telling. I was actually the one who brought up the fact that he didn't go last week, so his mum gave him a lift to the session.

"I think you'll find I was the one who made you go yesterday. But maybe you were just too blind to see that I've helped you get better for all these years."

It was true. All the years we were friends, I'd always tried to help him make the right desicion. It hadn't always worked, but I could see a slight improvement in his behaviour.

"Well it obviously didn't work, did it?"

"Obviously not, since you're acting so obnoxious about it."

Kier rolled his eyes and ran his hand through his red hair. He looked so sassy at that moment, it almost made me giggle.

"This is all your fault anyway, Laurence. The whole reason we've stopped talking. But I suppose I can thank you, as now I have three not-boring friends, who have you got?"

"My fault? You're the one who had a massive go at me for being "too boring"! And "not-boring"? You're grammar's getting worse..."

God, Laurence, why did you say that? Now is not the time to bring that up...

"See, this is the reason why! I couldn't give a damn about my grammar, or anything to do with school."

As much as I didn't like Kier, I could completely agree with what he was saying. Oh, why couldn't I just be like him?

(Kier's POV)
As confident as I felt for saying this to Laurence, I felt guilty as hell when I saw his face drop.

"I know." he muttered.

I clenched my fists, wondering to myself why I felt so bad about someone I didn't like. When Laurence saw my fists, he stepped back slightly, thinking I was going to hit him or something.

"I-I'm not gonna hurt you..." I said, reassuring him.

Oh god, Kier, why are you being so soft on him?

Laurence nodded.

"I know." he repeated in a quiet voice.

"Good." I confirmed, trying to keep a straight face. Goddammit, I missed having Laurence. But I couldn't apologise, that would ruin my reputation!

Laurence suddenly chuckled and looked down to the floor.

"What you laughing at?" I asked, trying to resist his adorable giggle.

Laurence shook his head, making me raise my eyebrow to question him.

"W-we're talking again..." he muttered, smiling. Oh, Laurence.

"I-I suppose we are..."

Laurence's eyes wandered round, and I could tell exactly what he was thinking.

And I felt exactly the same. But we couldn't be friends, not just yet, things would be a little weird between us at the moment.

"So what's happened to the loser you used to be?" I asked, trying my best not to soften up towards him. Laurence looked a little stung by that comment, but held his head up slightly to show it didn't affect him.

"Nothing really. I've just decided to care less."

"I guess things can change in a week!"

Laurence nodded. "Erm...yeah...look, I've got to get going..."

Well, that escalated quickly.

"Ahh yeah...erm...same..."

"Thanks for...giving me a chance to speak...I suppose..."

"I can only be cocky when I want to, Beveridge!"

"Mm..." Laurence looked at me thoughtully. "Kier...I know this might be pushing it but...do you want to...maybe...meet up before school again?"

I bit my lip, knowing that I would love to. But what would the others think? My reputation of being the arrogant, non forgiving boy would be ruined. Plus, we'd only argued once again a few minutes ago.

"I don't know, Laurence..." I muttered. Laurence's face fell, but he nodded anyway.

"Okay...sorry..."
"I'll see you round..."
Laurence nodded once again, and I watched as the boy I secretly loved turned and started to walk the other way, leaving me on my own once again.