Skaters 101 (but without the skating)

A not-so-epic backstory

"What are you doing?"

The bell had rung, signalling the start of lunch. Everyone filed out of the classroom in bits and pieces, a mess of people leaving the room, leaving behind a tall figure hunched behind a desk. Yang.

"Hey Shoma, aren't you coming with us?" Yuzuru tapped Shoma's shoulder gently, making the latter jump. He had been so focused on Yang that he had not noticed Yuzuru speaking to him.

"Um...you guys go ahead." Shoma came to a quick decision. "I'll catch up later."

Yuzuru nodded, puzzled, but too polite to ask. Craning his neck for one last look at Shoma as he left Yuzuru, Nam and Javier walked away, leaving Shoma and Yang in the classroom.

Shoma hesitantly sidled up to Yang, and peered over his shoulder. Pen flashing, Yang was copying down the notes on the board, which Mr Plushenko had written just before lunch started. This was strange, for although the notes were long and comprehensive, the speed at which Yang scribbled should have taken him an adequate amount of time to copy it all down before the bell rang.

"What are you doing?" Shoma inquired, a slight frown somehow embedding itself into his features. He quickly it smoothed out, trying his hand at smiling. That one didn't turn out too well either, so he decided to just leave his face as a blank canvas.

"Copying notes." Yang replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. (which it was) His eyes stayed glued to the board, not even bothering to glance at the speaker.

Shoma watched him for a little while longer.

"Done." Slamming down the pen in relief, Yang flexed his sore wrist muscles, and turned to face Shoma, eyes looking him over for a second before going back to his work. "Oh, it's you." He took out another book from under his desk, and with a soft sigh, one so soft that you would not have heard unless you were Shoma staring at Yang and scrutinising his every move, opened it up.

"Wait, I thought you done?" Shoma was bewildered.

"Done with Cheng's notes. Now I copy mine." Yang cracked the knuckles in his fingers, and picked up his pen.

Shoma left him to his work, still mystified.

~

Yang had been doing his project in the library. It was the most silent place around the school, and it was one of the only places that he could escape Cheng's relentless orders. He stretched a little, straightening up and swivelling his neck from side to side. Staring down at the load of papers in front of him, Yang felt the frustration and stress sink in. Cheng just had to leave him to do the work, had she? Yang wasn't complaining. He wasn't. It's just that, she could have at least cancelled her plans, couldn't she? Either way, Yangjin knew he had a 'good, reliable best friend' role to live up to. He couldn't let her down or let them both fall to an F. Their parents would be very disappointed with them.

"What are you doing?"

Again, there it was. It was the second time Yang was greeted as such, and by the same person both times. Maybe it was a custom here to greet others like that? He made up his mind to ask Boyang later. Also, the boy seemed to always turn up when he was doing work. When Yang entered the library, he only recalled seeing the librarian and a sleeping boy. Not the one that now stood in front of him, hands on his hips.

Glancing up from his paper, Yang's eyes met the intense ones of his classmate.

"Ah, uh, project?" He answered, gesturing at the assignment the whole class had received a week back.

"Oh." Was the reply he got. There were a few moments of silence before he continued, "Cheng?"

"She with friends." Yang smiled a little, but it turned into a small grimace. He looked up to meet the gaze of Shoma.