The Oakley Plan (Troyler AU) // ON HOLD

chaptah 9

The morning is much like yesterday was and how I suspect the rest of the year will be with my current load of classes.

B

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G.

Thankfully, the day picks up at lunchtime when Zoe stops me before I even get to the commons. "Aye Troye, Alfie, Caspar, some of his friends and I are heading to Flying Pie for pizza. Want to come?"

"Sure!" I find a window and squint at my reflection. After adjusting my quiff for about three hours, Zoe ends up literally dragging me from the window to meet most of the football team and cheer squad in the front circle. We all climb into a football player called Marcus's mothers SUV and make our way to Flying Pie.

Everyone we pass in the parking lot wishes the guys luck in the game tomorrow while Zoe and I just walk along with them awkwardly, but I still feel a surge of pride whenever people glance at me or give me confused looks. I was no longer just a creepy closeted wallflower. No. I was a creepy closeted POPULAR PERSON.

The restaurant is packed with people who have first lunch, and as I make my way to the restroom, at least a dozen guys smile and say hi. Guys I've never spoken to before. While adjusting my quiff in the mirror for the umpteenth time today, I make a mental note to talk to Caspar much more often. Even though he was just about the dumbest human I've ever had the misfortune of having a "conversation" with, just speaking to him made me popular. And for some reason, that's all I aspired to be at the moment.

By the time I stroll into Mr. Bolger's class, my confidence, which was so rattled yesterday, is fully restored. I do a quick scan for Tyler, who is not yet here. I slide into the seat beside the one he sat in yesterday. Mr. Bolger stops me. "Same seats as yesterday, please."

Sigh. It would be a lot easier to have some face time with Tyler if we sat next to each other. I make my way to the back of the class.

"Hey, Troye!" A girl that Caspar winked at yesterday waves from across the classroom. Twirling a piece of her hair between her fingers, she adds: "I like your shirt, it looks great on you."

I wave back. "Thanks." I try to give her a genuine smile, but end up shuddering as soon as she looks away. Sometimes I wonder how people don't realize that I'm a flaming homosexual. I mean, she literally just complimented my tight-fitting floral shirt while I was gazing longingly at a seat where a boy with lilac, perfectly-quiffed hair sat.

The bell rings and the front row has an empty chair where Tyler should be. I didn't see him at lunch, but then again, I ate at Flying Pie. He's probably just late again.

Mr. Bolger shuts the door and reads names off his roster.

Could Tyler be out sick? Of course I didn't pass him this morning on the way to school because, lamely, I drove a different route. I worried that he would see me and wonder why I didn't stop and offer him another ride. After how it went yesterday, my days of toting Tyler around are most definitely over.

God, what if he was walking down the street wondering where I was, not paying attention, and wham! he got taken out by a school bus. I picture the scene at the hospital. Tyler, in a coma. His entire body in traction. I stand beside his bed. My face, stained with tears, is buried in my hands. My nose is pink from crying.

I lean down to whisper in his ear:

Hey, Tyler.

I heard that people in a coma can still hear in their state of unconsciousness.

And I just wanted you to know..

I'm really gay.

And you're really hot.

Tyler's eyelids flutter open! His face breaks into a weak smirk. There is a chorus line of nurses in white dresses, clapping. Clapping. Clapping.

"Mister Mellet!"

Mr. Bolger is two feet away from me, clapping.

I stiffen in my chair. Once again the entire class stares at me. Thankfully, Tyler is not among them. Mr. Bolger leans in and speaks in a firm voice. "I realize that some of the math may be over your head, Mister Mellet, but I trust that responding with the word 'here' during roll call is not too much to ask of you."

My temples pulse as my body pumps all available blood to my face. I raise a tentative hand. "Here."

-

A/N: I know that there's not a lot of Troyler action at the moment and this chapter was a rubbish filler, but trust me, there will be A LOT of Troyler flirtation in the next chaptah. Plus, I want you to get a feel for Troye's character and thoughts and such. I also really enjoy writing his quirky day dreams :)