High by the Beach • France

Chapter Three

Vance felt really bad for what he said to Finney earlier, he was overwhelmed and didn't know how to fix it so he pulled away, it's something he always did and it was usually effective but it came with it's downsides.

Throughout math all he could think about was making right and as his 2nd and 3rd period passed the new kid made his way to the cafateria which Bruce had shown him earlier. Upon entering, he scanned the area and found Finney sat down at one relatively empty table, earbuds in and book in hand. Vance found his way over and stood infront of the boy on the opposite side.

"What are you listening to?" Vance questioned, making a callback to earlier when he had been decided to be a dick. Finney sighed and looked up as he took out one of his earbuds. "Tear you apart by she wants revenge... is that it?" He asked before looking back down at his book, following in Vance's footsteps. "No actually I wanted to know what you're reading." Vance was looking for things to say as he pieced together an apology in his mind.

"Robert Frost," Finney kept his answers short and bitter. "The guy who took the path less traveled, right?" Vance joked, receiving a blank stare in response. Finney was obviously still upset about earlier and Vance couldn't exactly blame him.

"Okay, enough bullshit, I'm really sorry about earlier. I don't think you're annoying, you're actually extremely nice which really isn't something you should have to apologize for." Vance sat down as he said sorry—something he had never done before. Finney looked up with a smile as he took his other earbud out amd sat his book down. "You're really nice to," Finney responded. Vance hid a confused expression at the compliment—he had never been described as nice before and he wasn't sure if he liked it yet, but he also wasn't totally indeferent to it.

As the two rekindled their short lived friendship, Bruce had made his way over to their table from the other side of the room. He smiled as he saw Vance's new haircut up close. "You're hair looks great!" He grinned and Vance's skin burned a bright red colored blush—he looked like a tomato. "Hey, I did that!" Finney gloated and Vance kicked his leg from underneath the table. "Ow!" The junior yelled with a confused frown plastered on his face. "Thanks," Vance smirked before moving over so that Bruce could sit down next to him which he did.

"Hey, so, I wanted to ask you two if you wanted to come to this party tonight. It's in the woods down by the dorms, we have one every month–" Bruce started. "Oh and some girls from the all girls school are going to be there to, so it won't be boring."

"Well, I'm gay," Vance responded and upon hearing the news Bruce turned red as well. "Well, then I'll be there," He smirked, looking the blonde teenager up and down. Vance cleared his throat with a snicker as he nearly lost the ablility to breath—hell, even Finney was blushing and it wasn't even directed at him. "Yeah, i'll be there," Vance said, trying hard to come off as unbothered but that act only came off as incredibly forced.

Bruce then turned to Finney who hadn't said a single word since Bruce joined the table, he was good with just watching him though the flirting made him want to gouge out his eyes because, again, it wasn't directed at him.

The younger teenager nodded. "Anything for you," He muttered, not thinking about what he was saying. "What?" Bruce asked, leaning in closer since he couldn't hear him over the sound of other students yelling. "I said, will do!" Finney lied and Bruce gave him a quick nod followed by a smile which melted the other boys heart.

Finney had realized he had a crush on Bruce since he first taught him how to do algebra—something about the way he combined like terms really got Finney going—and, god, did it suck.

Finney hated crushes, they always hurt way more than he thought something as tiny and insignificant as a crush should've; especially this one, since he knew that he could never be close enough to Bruce to truly be satisfied.

"Oh and before I get going, has anyone given you any trouble?" Bruce turned to Vance who just chortled. "If someone tried to—trust me, you'd know," Vance once put someone in the hosipital for stepping on his shoes—he'd be fine.

Finney felt a pinch of jealously in his heart as Bruce asked Vance but not him, he was the one who actually got bullied after all. "What about you, are those assholes still being assholes?" He asked, this time turning to Finney.

Ignore every complaint or doubt that Finney ever had—Bruce was perfect.

"Not yet," He grinned. "Good, let me know of they bother you, alright?" Finn nodded and pretty soon after the bell rung sending the three boys to their feet though they found themselves all heading the same way. "What class do you have next again?" Bruce asked, yesterday Vance had shown him but he had forgotten. "English, um, Mr. White," He answered, staring at his schedule before returning his gaze to the boy who stood just an inch taller than him. "Hey we're all in the same class!" Finney smiled, enjoying the concidence.

"Looks like it," Bruce smiled back before throwing his arm around Finney, causing the boy to lean into the touch.

Trying to be friends with someone you had a crush on was like trying to play charades in the dark—Finney couldn't tell if Bruce was flirting or just being friendly all he knew was that he would get married to him on the spot if he could, also the fact that Vance also had that look in his eyes when it came to Bruce definitely concerned him.

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Notes: Thank you for all so much for the support on this fic!! :]

Word count: 1,010