Fingernails (Mrog/Matty x George)

Three: Removal Vans

"So, have you seen him again?" Harry questioned.

George shook his head as he swung back on his chair while they waited for their Maths teacher, Mr Ross, to arrive. "Not since I went to his house on Tuesday."

Matty hadn't spoken much to George for precisely nine days after they went to the park together, only replying to texts occasionally and briefly, never starting a conversation, before inviting him round his place all of a sudden on Tuesday.

"You know, mate, if he's gonna play all hot and cold with you, he's not worth it."

Harry rolled his eyes as Nick spoke: he was a fine one to talk; Harry had been flirting with him for months now, and while, most of the time, Nick reciprocated this behaviour, there were days when he simply ignored it. Harry wasn't sure whether he was blind, or scared, or just confused, but you'd think that a bisexual boy flirting with a gay boy would be a pretty obvious sign of affection.

Apparently not to Nick.

"He's right, you know," Ross added, looking up from his phone. "If he's being problematic now, you have to be careful in case he gets worse."

George blinked slowly, smiling contentedly at his friends' protective nature. "You're not my collective dad, guys."

"I mean, Harry and I practically are," Nick retorted. "We basically figured out your sexuality for you."

George nodded sagely: that much was true; when he had first had a crush on a boy in year nine, he had turned to Nick and Harry who had already been out- separately out, not out together, because that would be absurd, of course.

"I think he is worth it, though."

Harry raised an eyebrow, cocking his head as he regarded the younger boy. "If you're sure, mate. Just remember who he's friends with, yeah?"

"They were fine with him being bi, Harry." George looked away, not wanting to continue eye contact as he avoided the subject of the nail varnish incident.

"Yeah, but that's not all, is it?"

"Nothing's ever simple with you, is it?" He glanced back at the curly-haired boy, still avoiding looking into his eyes, but making some sort of effort, at least. "Look, Matty isn't going to hurt me, he's a lovely boy. You know that, you sat with him in Chemistry last year- remember?"

Harry sighed, swivelling in his chair to face the front, and leaned back into his seat, folding his arms across his chest as he watched Mr Ross enter the classroom. "I suppose."

"Right- yes, of course- I'll talk to you later, hun- sure, yeah. Bye, Brennie. Love you."

Mr Ross smiled at his phone as he disconnected the call, dropping it on his desk to write Differentiation in a garish orange on the board, grinning as he did so.

~~~

Marika had her head resting on Amber's shoulder, the top of her head pushing gently into Amber's neck: they had taken their Maths GCSE a year early, and had since refused to do Further Maths.

They were sitting on a small sofa in the common room, Marika trying to persuade Amber to bunk off lessons with her.

"I still have some weed left, if that'll change your mind."

Amber snorted, twisting her head so her nose pressed into Amber's throat. "While I wouldn't normally say no to that, I'm not missing lessons, like, not when we only have three months until exams. You know how I did in the mocks."