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The Time They Brought It To School
Theo slammed his locker shut and stormed down the hallway, cheeks flushed with anger and heart thudding in his chest.
It wasn't the first time people had called him names, and it wouldn't be the last, but he had a right to be sick of it.
He turned a corner, shoving his hands in his pockets and hunching his shoulders, avoiding the gaze of other students. The last thing he wanted was to be approached by some 'humble' stranger.
"Easy, Potter," a familiar and soothing voice murmured. Something cast shade down over his head as Boris fell into step beside him, an easy smile spreading across his face.
Theo wasn't sure why they had the umbrella out in the halls of their high school, but when Boris shifted a little bit closer to him to make sure he was holding it over his head, too, he decided not to complain.
It was a little bit embarrassing— they were getting stares from every direction— but Theo just lowered his head and tried to ignore it.
After all, Potter, he thought to himself with a small smile. Under this umbrella, safe from all things.
The first challenger approached. A teacher they didn't even have stood in front of them with his arms crossed over his chest. They stopped, and Theo lifted his arm, fingers grazing the hand Boris was clutching the umbrella in. He glanced over, and Theo furrowed his eyebrows in a silent question. Boris just smiled toothily and shrugged.
"And how's the weather under there, boys?" The teacher asked, face grim.
"Oh," Boris said, feigning surprise. "Under here? Is perfect."
"Well, you're gonna have to put that away before I confiscate it," the adult replied, raising his eyebrows. "So make your choice wisely."
"Bold words coming from someone standing in the middle of a typhoon with no umbrella," Theo countered, and there was a murmur of laughter amongst the students watching. But the only chuckle he cared about was the soft one from the boy beside him. Modest, but still there. His lips quirked upwards in the corners at the sound. The teacher was unimpressed. He held out a hand for the contraption. Theo looked at Boris again, and the taller boy shrugged.
"Was going to ask you to ditch anyway," he reasoned. Theo laughed.
