After - The Society Fanfic.

35.

"And can you get the message to Harry and Lexie before curfew? I really need them to be here tomorrow." Gwen patiently sat, legs swinging off the table, for Grizz to wrap up the last bits of this damn meeting. Grizz had taken his time, people were still adjusting to the new routine, to the new rules and to their new leader. Since the commotion Allie caused at the last meeting, Grizz's gut had been swirling uneasy. Due to this, he is slightly distracted. Over the past few days, Helena avoided Grizz. At the end of the meeting the other day, she'd left one of her team in charge and scurried away. Grizz had barely managed to get a word or two out of her. Now, as the first week is drawing to a close, he finally decided he'd need to take a different approach. He just wasn't sure how. Trying to corner her, only lead to excuses and a closed door. Allie had been no better for information and was acting just as shady as Helena. He got the impression Will had no idea either. It bothered him how blissfully ignorant Will is being. Yet Grizz must admit if he'd gone through everything Will had, before this whole situation and the events that occurred afterwards, he too would probably hide from the truth a bit. Sometimes leaning into the lies, holding onto them, are the only things that can keep us together. It can be a dangerous thing to do, for if you pull at the thread, it all comes unravelling. However, Grizz had nothing solid other than a gut feeling, so, for now, the thread will hold.

Gwen pulls a face from behind Clark, causing Grizz to snap out of his thoughts and give his trademarked scowl. She taps her wrist. "Gwen. Cut it out. I'm getting to it." Arm crossed and lip pouting, Gwen huffs on the table scowling back at Grizz. Clark glances over his shoulder, smirking, before pulling Grizz to the side for a second. Gwen's scowl melts to confusion.

"You know she'll always be like this." Grizz blinks at Clark. Is he on about Gwen? "Impatient and that. Like I know. She's demanding so if you're really going there with her..." Grizz doesn't hear the rest of what he's saying. His mouth keeps moving but the sound isn't reaching Grizz's ears. Does Clark think he and Gwen are...? He glances over at Gwen who now resembles a sad-looking puppy, head cocked in their direction, trying to hear what Clarks saying. Clark grins widely and gestures something. Grizz isn't sure what he's on about but it seems rude. "And I'll let you in on a secret if you nibble her-"

"I'm gay!" Grizz's hands shoot up and his panic voice echoes off the church's walls. Gwen leaps off the table, eyes wide with surprise and a hint of amusement. Clark seems to have malfunctioned, unable to compute what Grizz is saying. This isn't been the way he thought the conversation was headed. Grizz's ears are scarlet and he refuses to meet Clark's gaze. He's not ashamed more mortified he'd been given intimate details of what Gwen likes in bed.

"Does she know?" Clark's stage whisper towards Gwen leads her to smack his arm, exasperation across her face. There's a moment of silence before laughter erupts from all of them. Gwen beams at the two idiots as Clark punches lightly on the arm. Grizz returns the gesture and it's not long before they're grappling at each other trying to see who can get the other on the ground first. Gwen can't help but believe for a second that the past six months never happened. They're helping out at the church and they're mucking about. But the clatter of chairs brings her back to reality. Grizz stands over a half annoyed, half ecstatic Clark who's made a bed for himself with the chairs. Grizz offers him a hand and the two give a quick embrace. Grizz laughs at his old friend. A rift had formed between the two of them before, the desperation for power and monotony of life had caused Clark to before bitter and unbearably snide. However, this moment he was the old carefree Clark. Even Gwen gazed wistfully at him, memories dancing across her mind.

Clark slaps them both across the back, grabbing his jacket and exits the church. Gwen is sent flying forward from the force, not used to the "bro" behaviour of her ex-boyfriend. The two of them stand at the steps of the church, watching everyone disappear towards houses, jobs and the canteen. It's cold but the sun is out.