How it Began

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Hal tried his best to convince the principal not to give him detention but it was useless. So now he's on his way to detention with his books under his arm, at least he can use the time to do his homework.

He had somehow forgotten he would be spending the detention with the horn dogs themselves.

He thinks that maybe he'll be able to get some work done if they're caught up in conversation enough. That is, until he walks in and sees them smiling at him. He won't be getting anything done. Especially if Alice keeps smiling at him, then he might just pass out.

"Coop!" FP exclaims.

"Hal, you're here! I guess you couldn't convince the principal to disregard your detention?" Alice says.

"No, sadly."

"Detention isn't that bad, Coopie, you'll be fine." FP assures him as Hal sits down in the desk behind he two of them.

"Yeah, we're here all the time it's not that bad, really."

"Ah, good, all three of you are here." The principal says as he walks into the room. "I hope you three brought something to work on, you're going to be here for you a bit."

"I did, sir!" Hal says proudly.

"We didn't." Alice admits.

"Well then don't complain when you're bored Miss Smith."

The principal leaves the room and Alice slides into FP's lap. "We never bring anything to do."

"So what do you do the whole time then?" Hal innocently asks.

Alice answers with a serious face. "Each other." Hal's mouth drops open slightly. Alice reaches forward and clasps his jaw in her thumb and index finger, closing his mouth. "You'll catch flies, Coop. But don't worry, since you're here we have someone to keep us company." She smiles wickedly and Hal feels his stomach erupt in butterflies.

He gulps. "I have biology homework."

"You're telling me you'd rather work on biology homework then hang out with us?"

"Well if you're planning something that's going to get me into more trouble then yes."

"Hal, come on, it's senior year, let loose a little. Starting with that collar." she reaches out her hands and pops open the first button on his shirt, popping up his collar. Hal feels his body heat up as soon as she touches him, damn her for having this kind of power over him.

The truth is, he's had a crush on her for a while now, there was just something about her that drew him to her. Maybe it was the way her golden curls caught the sunlight, or the leather she wore that made her look like some deliciously forbidden fruit. Or maybe it's the jeans she wears that have the holes in them, her porcelain skin peaking out from underneath, and those mini skirts she wears with the fishnets underneath? Those really drove him wild.

But he also loved the way she smiled and the way she laughed, how much fun she is, even if he was always too shy to join in on her adventures with their friends.

Her fingers snapping at him is what draws him out of his trance. "Hal? You okay?"

His cheeks flush instantly. "Oh, yeah, I'm perfectly fine. You two should do whatever it is you're planning yourselves, I need to catch up on my schoolwork."

"Suit yourself." she stands up from FP's lap and takes his hand. "Have fun doing schoolwork." She ruffles his hair with her free hand and Hal feels like he's going to hurl.

He clenches his first and squeezes his eyes shut, already regretting the words threatening to roll off his tongue. "Wait!" He hears the sound of their shoes turning on the linoleum. He turns to see Alice and FP raising their eyebrows at him, urging him to continue. "I'm coming."