Hermit Highschool AU (with Angst! waaooo!)

Chap 3. Joel

Joel couldn't stop thinking about that boy the whole way through lunch. It couldn't be him. It couldn't be! After what happened it couldn't be. Maybe Lizzie knew the kid's name.

Joel glanced over at Lizzie, who was still laughing at Grian.

"Who knew you could chirp?" Jimmy repeated for what must have been the 3rd time. Lizzie redoubled in a fresh wave of laughter. Grian was sitting in uncomfortable silence, his wings stuck stiffly to his sides, all hope of defending himself lost.

Lizzie had been Joel's friend for as long as he could remember. But they were just that. Friends. He was too shy to change that, besides, he didn't even know if he liked her, or anybody for that matter. No one since that boy...

*Hi me here. Yes I know it was supposed to be middle school when they met but 6th graders have feelings to lmao*

Lunch was almost over, and Joel checked the whole school for the New Kid. Not in the Library, Computer Lab, or Cafetorium. Joel started towards his locker to pick up his math books and found Lizzie leaning against the wall, chatting with Cleo.

"Probably about Grian," Joel thought sympathetically.

"Where were you all lunch?" She said. Joel shrugged as he leaned next to her and Cleo. "Looking for the new kid?" Lizzie hissed in his ear. Joel's eyes widened. Lizzie knew him too well.

"No!" Joel said quickly, then whispered, "No, why? Do you know his name?" Cleo watched them, confused. "What, you mean Etho? Yeah, he's in my first-period AP Science, but nothing else. He's only in AP classes according to Cub." Joel's heart skipped a beat. Etho. It was him. But how?

"What got into you?" Lizzie queried, looking worried. Joel's face had turned white as chalk and he froze up, then shook his head slowly. In a desperately pitiful attempt at sounding casual, Joel asked, "So, isn't Cub in all AP classes?" Cleo nodded and began quickly relaying the list of kids in all AP classes, ticking them off her fingers as she went.

"If you're looking for Cub... or anyone else..." Cleo paused and allowed herself a small smirk. "They are heading to AP history now. Better hurry and you can catch them."

"Why are you so desperate to find this kid?" Lizzie paused, looking slightly jealous. Joel shook his head and mouthed, "Talk to you later," before rushing off to find Etho.

Lizzie's POV

Lizzie liked Joel.

But that was a secret.

The pink haired girl got along with everyone, but she and Joel had hit it off as soon as they first arrived at the same middle school five years ago. She didn't know if Joel liked her back, and besides. They were practically siblings at this point. Family friends, nothing more.

But knowing Joel as well as she did, she knew something was wrong. He acted genuinely terrified around the new kid, Etho. Joel, who had an ego the size of a house, always kept on a strong persona, unless it was just him, Lizzie, and his family. He never acted vulnerable around anyone else.

Lizzie turned her attention back to Cleo, who was rambling on at 100 miles per minute.

"Joel was acting so strange! I didn't know he was in to guys anyways! I always assumed you two were a thing." Cleo brushed her wild orange hair back, blissfully unaware of Lizzie, who was bristling, embarrassed.

"He doesn't like guys... not that I know of. And we are NOT dating." Even as Lizzie said that she felt a pang in her heart, and she looked down the hallway, wondering if she should follow Joel.