It's Understandable: A Tronnor AU

6. Bethany's Smile

A week went by, and both Connor and Troye were astonished by how much in common they had. After spending Saturday together, they found out so many things about the other that, for some reason, excited them to no end. They knew the words to the same songs, rewatched the same movies over and over, and realized one big thing; they were destined to be fangirl buddies.

"So have you watched the new Pretty Little Liars episode yet?"

"Not yet but, oh my God, I have it recorded! I'm so excited!"

"Oh my God, you're in for a treat!"

"I need to stay off Tumblr or it's going to be completely spoiled! Oh that reminds me, have you seen that Tumblr post?"

"That one with the cat?"

"Yes that one!"

"I love that one!"

Neither of them were used to being in that kind of relationship with somebody, but it was so refreshing. Having someone who laughs with you, who always knows what you're talking about, who shares your interests and guilty pleasures; it was something they'd never had. Connor quickly realized that he did care about that boy that Troye liked. Each bit closer they bonded, Connor became more and more aware of the compatibility between them. He wanted him so bad, but what was the use? Troye liked some boy. Some 'awesome' boy. He repeated in his mind what had been his motto lately; I least I have him as a friend.

In school, they didn't really talk. They told nobody about their newfound friendship or the fact that they were spending so much time together. Nobody would understand anyway. Nobody would believe that a rebellious lone wolf and a sweet-faced, shy popular would ever be friends. It would be more difficult for people to process than either of them expected, and Connor soon found out the hard way.

He had been walking to Socials class with Kian, Caspar and Bethany, when he spotted Troye walking towards him. As he began to come closer, Connor tried to decide how he should approach this. Should he pretend he hadn't seen him? Divert his attention so it looked like he was buried in conversation?

In the end, he found his eyes meeting Troye's, and he smiled. He smiled and Troye, as he walked by, smiled back and raised his hand in a tiny wave. Close-lipped and soft, Troye's replying curl of the lips made Connor blush, even after the moment passed. His friends blinked at him in confusion.

"What was that?" Kian scoffed, his voice on the edge of depreciating laughter.

Caspar knitted his eyebrows in agreement, "Yeah, you just smiled at Troye Mellet. Are you...friends with him?" He asked in disgust.

Connor hugged his books bashfully. "Yeah, sorta." He spoke quietly. His friends went silent, and he thought he had dodged a bullet somehow. He thought that, if he didn't say anything more, he'd be ignored. But he wasn't such a lucky guy.

The first bell rang, and Bethany dug her manicured claws into his shoulder. "Wait." She said, filtering all emotion from her voice, so that she sounded like wind. Wind like that, it always turns into a tornado. So Connor tensed, becoming more and more terrified as the crowd began to thin and witnesses disappeared into their classes.

Once the hallway was completely empty, Kian and Caspar gave Bethany a look. She nodded, like a cue, and suddenly Connor's head was banging up against the lockers. His arms were pushed violently over his head, and a tall, tall boy stood on either side of him, making sure his shoulders felt like they were slowly dislocating. Making sure he wouldn't escape. Bethany, the mother of all faux righteousness, strode back and forth before Connor, like a rough and tough police officer who was about to reprimand a criminal.