The Witch's Ichor

Theo's Proposition [20]

The school corridors grow quiet after school ends. Students flee the building whilst teachers yearn to do the same. The quiet of one particular hallway is broken by the sound of a boy being slammed into the door of a locker. Derek has Theo by the collar, and Theo's wincing in pain.

"The fuck was that about, four eyes?!" Derek snaps.

"I'm sorry, okay?!" Theo barks back.

Derek almost loses his temper again, but Jamison grabs his arm. The boy lets Theo down with a disgruntled huff. Theo pushes up his glasses.

"I don't think this truce thing is going to work." Jamison states the obvious.

"Yeah no shit, sherlock." Derek gripes.

The sound of Theo's phone dinging draws the boys' attention. Theo pulls out his phone with an irritated frown. That frowns melts away when he sees the message. Jamison and Derek watch his face curiously.

Zoe: Did you mean what you said at lunch..?

Theo turns as if to flee. Two firm hands stop him. Jamison has one shoulder. Derek has the other.

"Who was it?" Jamison asks icily.

Theo clutches his phone to his chest. He tries to put on his best poker face, but neither Derek nor Jamison are buying it. Derek snatches Theo's phone out of his hands. He and Jamison read the message.

"You son of a..." Derek starts.

Theo flinches, but Derek doesn't blow up. Derek's shoulders slump. He lets out a frustrated sigh.

"I guess you win. Maybe I should have just come clean when I had the chance." Derek admits begrudgingly.

The sight of Derek admitting his mistakes shakes Theo up. Jamison isn't sure what to say, but he wears the same bitter frown as Derek. The gears in Theo's head starts to turn. He thinks back to these past few days.

Zoe made it clear she cares deeply for all of us over and over again...
Perhaps we should all shoot our shot?

Theo clears his throat. Derek and Jamison look up at him bitterly.

"I have a proposition for you both." Theo starts.

"Go on?" Jamison acknowledges.

"Well it's obvious Zoe cares for us deeply. To what extent she... feels about us... I don't know, but that hardly matters if we don't tell her how we feel." Theo continues.

Jamison and Derek nod to Theo in understanding.

"So I propose we each get a shot at confessing... and dating." Theo finishes.

Derek snorts at Theo's outlandish idea, but Jamison seems to be seriously considering it. Derek turns to gawk at Jamison's serious expression.

"Dude, there's no way that works!" Derek refutes.

"It might not, but we won't know until we try." Jamison replies with a grin.

"How the fuck do three dudes take turns confessing fairly? She could just select the first." Derek gripes, glaring at Theo.

Theo's confidence falters under Derek's scrutiny. He sucks in a deep breath before offering his reasoning.

"I think we just need to consider the order of operations. If we allow the least conventionally attractive guy to go before the most conventionally attractive guy, statistically Zoe will be less likely to immediately choose one of us." Theo explains.

Derek shakes his head in exasperation.

"You're fuckin' crazy, Theodore." Derek sighs.

"I like it." Jamison comments.