calling up rebellion [brance]

chapter twelve: don't forget to tie your shoe laces

BRUCE YAMADA WAS sat on the steps that lead to his house when Vance Hopper had passed by him with a bloody nose, aswell as bloody fists. He had to hold back the urge to run after the curly haired boy, Vance's face was twisted into a scowl and his eyes held anger. Bruce didn't know what had happened but it didn't look good, it never did.

Vance pretended he didn't notice the sitting Bruce, although out of the corner of his eye he had. He pretended to not see the worry in his eye either, striding past as to not let his pride down. They weren't exactly on speaking terms, that wasn't their choice either. Nothing was really up to them these days, they were restricted at basically everything they did.

Bruce's eyes watched Vance get further down the path, he didn't he up, he didn't move, he didn't call after him. He wished he did, he wished he could. Everything in him had to be pulled back to not go after him, Bruce stared at him with sad eyes. Everything in him wanted to apologise, everything did.

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THUMP - THUMP - THUMP

Three soft taps at Bruce's window at 3am. Bruce practically jumped from his bed, rushing to the window and pulling back the curtain to see a smirking boy waving at him. Vance Hopper.

A smile erupted onto his face as he stepped back from the window, stumbling towards his desk where his shoes were. Pulling on the shoes, not bothering to tie the laces like he always does. Secretly meeting up with Vance Hopper at 3am on Thursday? Who would've thought!

Pulling open his door as quietly as he could he practically zoomed down the stairs, making sure to step over the one that creaked. Maybe he was abit too excited, but who could blame him? Meeting up with the towns bully on a Thursday at 3am without your parents knowing, without anybody knowing actually, was quite the adrenaline rush. Bruce liked doing this, breaking free from the cage of being perfect and doing no wrong. It felt like he had a new set of lungs where he could breathe the now fresh oxygen.

Bruce pulled open the door before quietly shutting it behind him, he had basically jumped past the 2 steps that lined up to his door and ran into Vance's arms. Vance stumbled backwards, almost falling onto the wet grass below his feet. "Woah there, I'm not going to disappear, I wouldn't worry."

Bruce had his arms tightly wrapped around Vance as he slowly hugged Bruce back, "I know, but I swear I haven't seen you in like a week and a half," he pulled from the hug, keeping his hands on Vance's waist, "I thought I was going crazy at some points!" Bruce laughed at his own comment, pecking vances nose.

"You're so impatient sometimes," his speech slightly muffled from Bruce squishing his cheeks. "We're stood in your parents garden still, by the way."

Bruce sheepishly chuckled, "oh yeah, I sort of forgot."

Vance held out his hand for Bruce to hold, and Bruce gladly took it. They weren't sure where they were going, or rather, Bruce wasn't. Vance probably did, it's Vance. He'd plan stuff without telling Bruce without a doubt, pulling him along Bruce fumbled over his own steps at the pace of Vance. Vance had wide steps, like stride, he was fast with it aswell. Bruce was more small steps at a time, slow with it. Completely opposite but completely perfect.

"Vance-" Bruce let out as he tripped over his own laces, he knows he should've done them up. His mother had always told him that, if you trip over your laces after not doing them up that it's your fault. He couldn't exactly blame Vance for stacking it. His breath hitched, waiting for impact against the gravely ground, but he felt nothing. Was he daydreaming? Did he actually not trip over? Or maybe - then it hit him, opening his eyes he saw Vance. Vance had his arm wrapped around Bruce's waist. He'd caught him before he fell.

Bruce didn't know what to say, he was struggling on replies but he needn't worry about that. Not when Vance had decided to break the silence with something Bruce hadn't exactly expected to hear come from his mouth. "Can I kiss you?"

It was abrupt, it was out of nowhere, but it was perfect. Vance looked expectantly at Bruce, as he waited for the answer, although he probably already knew it. Bruce couldn't not say yes, he'd been dreaming about kissing him for the week they'd been apart and for Vance to ask? It was special, too special.

"Yes," Bruce breathed out, none of them waiting before kissing eachother. Their lips moved in sync, it was almost like a romance movie. Vance's hand around Bruce's waist to stop him from falling, in the middle of the night with a starry sky? Sometimes it felt too perfect for Bruce's liking. Wrapping his arms around his neck he pulled Vance closer, if he could even get any closer that is. Their noses touched, as did their chests.

Vance pulled away first this time, but didn't leave the close proximity between the two. His hot breath connecting with Bruce's face, it smelt like mint. Had Vance prepared himself for this? That made Bruce giggle just slightly, imaging Vance getting all readied up for a kiss.

"What are you laughing at Yamada?" Vance teased, pecking Bruce's lips, "is my kissing game bad?"

"You're breath smells minty," Bruce simply said, adding no context as Vance pulled him to stand. "Very minty."

Vance flushed red, knowing what Bruce was indicating. "No! No, I did not spend hours getting ready for this. Don't even imply that," Vance defended himself, beginning to walk away from Bruce.

"Hey don't you!-" Bruce jogged up to the walking Vance, "you so did though, I know you did." He taunted Vance, a wide smile plastered on his face from it. It was fun to poke at him, because Bruce knew he'd never blow up in his face. That wasn't possible, Vance Hopper shouting at Bruce Yamada? Impossible. Everyone knew, even Vance himself, that it is absolutely blasphemous to be mean to Bruce. The sweetest boy in town, the perfect boy. Never rule breaking, although what he was doing right now begged to differ.

"Shut it," Vance nudged Bruce's shoulder, "atleast I didn't jump into your arms after a couple days of not seeing eachother."

"Don't go there," Bruce warned, his voice light as he felt his chest begin to warm with the feelings he was receiving.

Bruce knew that they wouldn't last, their love too impossible for the world to handle. Everything about them screamed wrong, they were completely different. Vance was known for ruining reputations while Bruce was known for creating reputations. Opposites attract though, right? Bruce had that question circle his mind every night, all though the world had tired to pull them apart they just kept going. Kept pushing through the fire no matter the burns they got.

Bruce knew they wouldn't last, but that was okay to him. Because if he had Vance now, he knew he'd have him forever despite what happened to them.

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1214 words

Shit chapter, shit everything, I hate this so much. Also yes, I used a cliche trope, and what??? THAT TROPE IS AMAZING!!! I'm also very tired so I finished this lazily, hope you don't mind. I try and publish for you everyday and I know they say quality > quantity but I don't wanna let y'all down 😭. I'm also tryna come up with funnier/more entertaining chapter names so 😰😰

Plus, stay in tuned for a brance oneshot I'm creating. It's called (or going to be called) balcony boy. It's just a oneshot so it won't have more than one chapter!!

Thank you and hope you enjoyed reading! <3