Like A Flame {Warren Peace}

XII

"Dorian."

It seemed he had just fallen asleep as six thirty come, to find Ava at his doorway hands on her hips.

"I see you're lively this morning."

He only yawned in response.

"Come on up and at 'em, bro. You have seven minutes to shower, brush your teeth AND gums-don't think I don't notice, gingivitis is not made up. Mom already has breakfast made." She looked as if she wanted to laugh at his bed hair; but kept it to herself.

Shower was lukewarm. Perfection. He made quick work of his teeth, but tried this time at least. Soon he is greeted to smells of Ava's homemade pancakes and Amethyst's strawberry whipped cream and orange juice.

Weekend's were about the same, at the Talbot household. Ava talked about an episode of A Haunting she watched. And some new series, set in Victorian London, featuring Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray and a version of The Wolfman. He only half listened, whilst his mother looked towards the front door. Cup of warm tea in her hand.

Sure enough he heard a knock. "I'll get it," he proclaimed. Once he opened it, he's surprised to see Warren at his doorstep.

"....Hey."

"Uh...hey. How did you-?"

"Asked your one friend, Hippie. You forgot this."

He blinked once before his eyes widened in surprise. There had been his journal, placed once more in his hands. "My journal..." he breathed out. "How'd you find it?"

"Turns out Dumb and Dumber had it, they planned on reading it out loud in the cafeteria. Safe to say...they won't any time soon."

A curse escaped his lips, before he sighed in relief. "Well, I should thank you then for that. And an over due one for saving me."

Warren rubbed the back of his neck. Obvious not used to being thanked, for anything before.

"Do...do you want to come in? We've got left overs." Dorian gestured to the table.

"I just ate back home. By the way, do you have a date for home coming?"

Dorian raised a brow. "No. Are you asking me out?"

"Look, I don't know how to feel really after I kissed you, but I figured we shouldn't let it-."

"Yeah. I mean, I'll go with you."

He knew they were listening. The way Ava looked over her shoulder, during clean up. Then back to humming away a tune. "Eavesdroppers." He muttered. Smiling faint up at Dorian. "Uh, well, see you at school?"

"Sure."

"Fine then..."

A date.

He set up a date, with Warren Peace.

His heart raced a little he could not lie, as he made way for the bus stop to meet Layla and Will. Neither seemed to notice the stare in her eyes until she lifted her hand revealing a fortune cookie. "Oh, thanks." Will took it and bit into it, taking the fortune from his lips.

"Your loyalties are clear when it comes to friends."

Dorian pinched the bridge of his nose. He forgot. Moron "Oh no...Layla, I'm sorry. I'm, I had uh...Gwen over last night. It was really unexpected, then mom's roast caught fire and, well..."

She smiled, but it did not entirely meet her eyes. "It's fine, I was just worried is all. Oh, Dorian you have your journal back I hope?" Quick to avert the topic elsewhere, she looked their other friends way.

"Yeah. And...I'm going to home-coming after all, I guess."

"Really? Nice, who with?" Will asked.

He looked from Layla, to Will, knowing whom would react to the news better. Layla's eyes widened. Not in the bad way. Just in a way, that was of shock. Will's expression is the only one, left in the dark.

~*******~

They stole looks in between Medulla's class. Looks that Will caught once in a while. As soon as the bell rang, Warren whispered 'I'll see you after school' in which Dorian nodded. And in which Will questioned.

"He's helping with my math homework, after school."

"But, what if he beats on you? I don't feel so sure about him, Dorian. Not after what he did to you, in the cafeteria."

Dorian closed his locker, ignoring the words 'Psycho Freak' spray painted on its one side. "It's not a big deal. We agreed that, we can't hate each-other all year long."

"This is Barron Battle's son, we're talking about. Numero Uno Villain?" Will asked as if Dorian did not understand. A tone he always hated.

He clutched his books to his chest, as they walked towards Mrs. Lionheart's class. "I could say the same, about you and Gwen. Let's face it Will, do you know all of her?" It occurred this would be, their first argument to take place. He kept his anger in check. Taking slow, deep breaths noting the lights started to flicker.

Will's eyes narrowed. "What's THAT supposed to mean? I thought you liked her?"

"I don't, not really. She's changing you, Will. You used to spend time with us, a lot and now it's like...she has you brain washed."

"Oh, so Warren's not doing the same thing. Okay, fair argument. Hey-!"

Will stopped him from moving another step. At least, he thought he had. Dorian gritted his teeth. Before he could react, he found himself flung into a row of lockers. Will's super strength caused a large indent to form.

All is quiet in the halls. Whispers echoed as the friends, stare at one another in shocked silence.

"Dorian..."

"I'm...I need to go."

"Wait-!"

He dashed around a corner, found a quiet spot under the stairs away from others. And buried his face in his arms.