and suddenly everything changed

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟸

      Deuce picks underneath his fingernails, slouched against his desk while he waits impatiently for class to commence. Every couple of seconds or so he'll lift his head and scan the class for a shorter kid with dark brown hair and glasses. Every time he sinks back into his desk with a groan before going back to aimlessly picking at his nails again. It's not long before the tardy bell rings, prompting Deuce to sit up with a displeased frown, glancing around all over for his friend, and shifting uncomfortably when he remains nowhere in sight.

About five minutes pass and the boy is yet to arrive to class. The green-eyed boy chews his lip anxiously, using the time the teacher takes for attendance to shoot his friend a quick text.

     hey man, everything alright?

     "Gorgon?"

      Deuce's head shoots up and he quickly shuts off his phone, setting it aside as he raises his hand at the call of his name. He keeps his gaze focused on the black screen of his phone, anxious for a response. His eyes dart towards the entrance of the class when the door creaks open and a pale, dark-haired boy enters the class, adjusting the collar of his black t-shirt with a displeased frown.

     "Jackson Jekyll, you're late." The sandy-haired older gentleman sporting a brown coat scolds with a disapproving scowl on his greenish-grey face. "You must make your way to the attendance office and—"

     "I've got it right here, sir."

      Jackson mutters shamefully, fishing through his pocket before pulling out a neatly folded slip of paper and handing it to the instructor. The man snatches the paper with a lingering frown, narrowing his eyes as he scans the slip. The boy watches uneasily, shifting his weight from foot to foot as he awaits eagerly for a response.

     After what feels like an eternity, the teacher sets the slip on his desk, gesturing towards the empty seat residing beside a boy with bright green snakes for hair.

     "Take your seat, Mr. Jekyll," the teacher instructs, receiving a short nod in response from the timid young man who scurries off to his desk.

     "I will meet with you after class."

     Jackson pauses before forcing another nod accompanied by a defeated sigh. "Yes, Mr. Rotter." He simply states, setting his bag on his desk as he moves to take a seat beside the gorgon eagerly awaiting his arrival.

     The shorter of the two tries to ignore the eyes burning right through him as he quietly takes his things out for class, his face flushing with embarrassment.

     "Hey, everything alright?" The snake-haired boy whispers, giving his friend a small nudge. Jackson only offers a small nod, chewing silently on his lip as he opens his decomposition notebook to the next clean page. He uncaps a pen and begins to copy down the words written on the large, dark green chalk board at the front of the class.

     Deuce examines his friend with a concerned frown. "Why were you late?" He prods, tapping his pencil on the edge of his shared desk.

     "Holt got distracted." Jackson mutters sternly, not daring to remove his eyes from his work. Meanwhile, Deuce blinks, noting the unsmiling tone to the boy's voice before deciding to back off and focus on his own notes for the class.

☯︎

     Deuce walks into third period with a small frown tugging at his lips, unable to get that grim tone of Jackson's voice out of his head. He figures the guy had a bad morning, but a small part of him ponders whether something bigger could have come to play. Before he can think much more on the subject, a friendly voice catches his attention, prompting him to glance up from his desk at Frankie who quickly approaches him as he takes his seat.