When the Leaves Fall [bxp] ✔

2

Lab Partners and Beginnings

The sun beat down against the hood of his car as Felix pulled into the parking spot. Alec Benjamin played through the speakers but it was barely audible between Tarla in the back, streaming tiktoks on her phone, and Wren continually asking Felix and Tarla if they saw Aeron and Quinn yet.

"Look Aeron and Quinn!" Tarla called from the backseat. Wren whipped his head to find the path empty next to the car, and he turned to flip off Tarla. Tarla grinned, turning off her phone and leaning in between the two seats.

"We should start going towards school, they'll be here soon," Felix said, rubbing his eyes. Monday mornings were the worst. They were only a few weeks into school but he already dreaded walking towards the building just a few feet away from him. Wren said something incoherent but what sounded like agreement as Tarla sat back to get her bag. Felix yawned, and opened the car door, picking up his bag and stepping out. He turned to find Tarla next to him shutting her own door and Wren walking towards them from the other side.

The sound of laughter made him turn his head to find Aeron walking towards them, Quinn talking to someone with blonde hair and a pastel blue shirt. Wren grinned widely seeing Quinn, already walking toward her. Aeron's eyes shone in amusement despite the frown that was permanently etched across his face. They bit their lip as if to keep from smiling, and waved at Felix and Tarla.

"Hi!" Quinn said a rough smile on her face. Wren wrapped an arm around her and she rolled her eyes but didn't object."Aeron if you won't-"

"This is Nils, he/him," Aeron said quickly, gesturing towards the blonde guy. Suddenly a smirk lined Tarla's face as she shoved some hair out of her eyes.

"I'm Tarla, she/her," she said, grinning. "I've now officially met the person who gets Aeron to smile at his phone."

Aeron flipped her off, but before he could say anything, Wren said, "I'm Wren, he/him."

"Felix, he/him," Felix said, everyone now introduced to Nils.

"I'm Nils, he/him, but Aeron already said that," Nils said, blushing. The six of them started walking towards the school building, Wren and Quinn already bickering about something, Tarla glancing at her phone notifications, and Aeron subtly lacing their fingers through Nils. Felix smiled, even if Aeron was always grumpy, he was also a sweetheart. And he gave the best hugs and was so great at listening.

Felix turned towards the mob of high schoolers and pulled out his phone to glance at his schedule. He had physics first block. He felt his shoulder knock into someone and he glanced up to find the person just continuing to walk. The dangers of the high school hallways, he reminded himself, always watch where you're going. He almost lost his friends in the crowd of students, but Tarla gripped his arm loosely, their lockers were close together because their homerooms were the same. Felix stopped within the chaos, Tarla letting go of his arm to open her locker. He let out a sigh of relief as he started turning the lock to enter his own combination.

He pulled out the purple physics book, trying and failing not to wince as he stared at the cover. Physics. His worst subject. The bane of his existence. The only class he was afraid of failing that year. He heard the slam of the locker next to him as Tarla stepped back, throwing her bag across her shoulders. She pulled her hair into a ponytail, shoving the hair that stayed on her forehead behind her ear.

"Wait what class do you have again?" She asked, pulling out her phone.

"Physics. You have Calc Tarla," Felix said, a grin spreading across his face.

"How the fuck do you already know your schedule- and mine!" she asked pulling up her own schedule to check if she did indeed have calc.

"I don't know, I learned it pretty quickly this year," he said shrugging. "Also, for the record, both of us complain about this class literally every day." Tarla just rolled her eyes, shutting Felix's locker as well.