Notes: This fic is loosely based off of the movie She's All That and the book Perfect Chemistry. You might also see references to John Tucker Must Die. All work is my own and copyright will not be tolerated. I am in no way associated with the band Stereo Kicks, nor do I own them, and I am not making money from this work. It is completely fictional.
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Barclay woke to the sound of his alarm, the loud music combined with the light of the sun making him feel ill. He quickly turned it off, pushing it face down onto his desk. He sat up, pushing his hands into the mattress to steady himself and yawned. He moved the blanket out of his way so he could get out of bed and, deciding that the clothes he slept in are clean enough to wear again, walked into the living room.
He caught the smell of beer before he saw his mother passed out on the couch and sighed, stepping over an empty beer can on the ground, and then picking up another one as he passed.
His sister’s bedroom door opened and he cursed under his breath, having hoped that she wouldn’t have to see their mother like this again. He continued to pick up the cans and throw them into the bin while Taylor approached their mother.
“Again? I thought this ended last month,” She said quietly, now handing Barclay a can she had stepped on while trying to throw a blanket over their mother.
Barclay didn’t look up from the floor. “It’ll never end unless she gets professional help, Tay,” he told her, a harsh tone to his voice, but still soft enough that Taylor understood that she wasn’t the one he was frustrated with.
They continued like that for twenty minutes, Barclay cleaning up in silence while Taylor moved to the kitchen to make breakfast for them both. He moved as quietly as he could, careful not to do anything that would cause his mother to wake up.
Taylor opened the kitchen door quietly just as Barclay threw the last of the cigarette butts into the fire. “Breakfast’s ready,” she whispered, then moved aside so Barclay could enter.
“Pancakes,” Barclay observed happily, and kissed his sister on the cheek. “Unfortunately we don’t have time to sit and eat.” He took four pancakes from the pile Taylor had thrown onto a plate, and placed them onto kitchen towel. Then he took a bite of the first one. “You need a ride to school? I can take mum’s car,” He offered through a mouthful.
Taylor made a disgusted face and shook her head. “Ew, and no, Jade is giving me a ride. Plus I know you wouldn’t be able to last today without your precious motorbike.”
Barclay grinned at her, grabbing his helmet from the kitchen counter. “Okay. You can stay out after school but make sure you’re home before it’s dark, alright?” He didn’t catch her reply because he’s already halfway out of the house before he’s finished talking, but he knew she agreed.
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He arrived at school late so the parking lot was pretty much full and it took him ten minutes to find an empty space as the very back. He was driving into said space when another sped into the spot instead, missing Barclay’s wheel by the skin of it’s teeth. Furious, Barclay turned off his bike and hopped off, pulling off his helmet as he does so. He started shouting at the car as he approached it, and then began angrily banging on the car window in an attempt to get the person inside to stand out.
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Sweetest Thing - Barclay Beales (Stereo Kicks)
Romance"It's hard to think that a stupid bet could make you feel this way about someone you never had any intentions of loving."
