UPRISE

013

            Corbin is completely shocked that he managed to tap a piano. Well, not quite a piano, but a children's practice electronic keyboard. Just as he is about to leave the line at the bookstore, with the piano tucked under his arm, he spots Wren stuck at the back of the line.

Even though he curses himself under his breath, he invites Wren up. After all, red curfew starts in a few minutes, and Wren doesn't even seem to notice.

"What do you want?"

Wren ignores him and taps into the system. He looks through, trying to remember the authors which Harper mentioned. Lee is the only one that comes to mind, so he taps To Kill a Mockingbird and prays that Reagan hasn't read it.

"Don't ask," Wren says.

Corbin blows a strand of hair out of his eyes. As if he was going to ask.

The two of them walk out of the store side by side.

"You know that red curfew is in two minutes," Corbin points out.

Wren nods. He was going to try to bum off a Blue heading into the complex, so that he could go see Pluto and sort out all of the stuff that has happened between them. Not that he had imagined it would work, but it is the best he could do since none of them have anyway of getting hold of the others.

"I can get a roommate to tap you in," Corbin sighs, even though he absolutely doesn't want to talk to either of his roommates. "You can stay at mine."

"I actually am supposed to go see Jasmine," Wren raises an eyebrow.

Corbin stops walking, staring at Wren. He stares at the boy's smirk, hidden beneath his flop of hair, and exhales through his nose. "You're lying."

"Yeah, I'm actually going to see Pluto," Wren jokes, hoping that Corbin won't take him seriously.

Corbin chuckles. "So it was you that she hooked up with at the party."

Wren's face goes pale. He swallows but says nothing. It's atypical that cockiness is stolen from within him. He doesn't mind if everyone knows that he and Pluto had a good time, as long as she intends to do it again. Which, Wren can't figure out.

"I won't fuck Jasmine if you won't fuck Pluto," Wren says. It's not claiming property, it's just bro code.

When Wren sticks out a fist, Corbin pounds it.

"I also won't fuck Harper for you," Wren points out.

Corbin shoves him to the side, careful to keep the keyboard from colliding with the ground. Honestly, Wren could use a good punching. Corbin would do it too, but he wouldn't want to get red blood on his blue band. "I'm not into Harper."

"But he's so dreamy," Wren points out, a gasp on his lips.

"Are you joking or are you bi?" Corbin asks.

Wren nods. He's pretty sure that, at this point, everyone is at least a little bit gay. Well, except for Rinn. After all, he imagines that nobody here would date someone so juvenile. Including Noah, surprisingly. "You too?"

"Fuck man," Corbin says. "Maybe that's what the background checks were for. The TMLT only let's in bi men."

"Probably," Wren jokes.

The two of them arrive at the entrance to the Apartments.

"I'll go get Jack," Corbin says, and rolls his eyes as he does. "I'll be back."