𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞

ONE: The Awakening.

TWO HUNDRED YEARS LATER: THE AWAKENING

On nights like this the night was never completely night. It was joyously distorted by the inssecent beeping of flashy cars and shouting in the foyer, of the private high school that was the never ending noise of WestRidge Private Academy. Even on a night that was not homecoming. Duncan did not care much for the noise as he, by a force of habit helped Peyton slip into his Rover. 

"Thanks Duncan, for everything." Peyton smiled, ignoring the noise of Duncan's boisterous friends, yelling about some after party at a club in town.

Duncan saw Peyton's smile and his chest tightened in a nice way, "Hey, you've been my friend for years. I would never leave if you don't want me to." He squeezed Peyton's hand reassuringly and kissed the back of it. Winter blue eyes locked on brown. "through thick and thin right?" 

"I know, I just think that sometimes I forget. I think...I don't know I guess I'm always expecting the worst. Ever since Enzo happened." Peyton looked at their held hands, sighed and finished with bitter humourless laughter. "You know I suspected and prepared for all the guys to stop talking to me like that but Enzo...Enzo?...wow." Peyton shook his head.

Duncan started to drive along the highway and said. "Your coming out surprised everyone."

"You mean the second coming out?"

'Yea, that's what I mean.' The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he held them behind his tight lips.

Peyton wore a depressive look and stared out the window.

Duncan switched on the radio to a slow song and tried to lighten the mood, "Peyton...hey...I just won Homecoming King, you were my date. Our selfies got us over fifty thousand in minutes, the cheer-squad performed a routine specifically made to honour you. We have a lot to celebrate! Come on."

Peyton nodded in agreement sliding off his jacket to discard it somewhere in the backseat of the car along with his tie. He smiled unbuttoning his top three buttons with ease. She then....

Fuck!

He.

He - Peyton being the he - said. "Exactly! and thank you. It felt good to be hated for something else other than my gender for a change. Even though I got the feeling a couple girls were upset with me being your date."

"The girls know they're not my..."

Before Duncan finished his sentence Peyton laughed and reminded him, "girls don't fight over guys anymore. It's all about accolades and accessories these days, trust my word on this, I used to be one of them."

Duncan  ran a hand through his traces and joked "Well, at least now I know why you finally agreed to fuck me."

"Excuse me?" Peyton lifted a blonde brow, he turned to get the full profile view of Duncan driving in his seat. 

Duncan gestured at himself, hand hovering his physique. "I'm the best accolade in school."

"Boy please, we've never gone that far."

"Relax, I'm just joking." he laughed to hide his embarrassment. Truth is he wanted to go that far with Peyton. He'd always wanted to even when Peyton was assumed to be female by everybody including him. Even when Peyton was involved with Enzo. He'd always been clear with his romantic intentions for Peyton who seemed to humour his flirting here and there. Then one time, not so long ago, they were at a party, both single and high on the excitement of winning a big Lacrosse game. They kissed and that is how far they would go each time they were alone. But Duncan wanted more, he always had.