Kisses of Fire (boyxboy)

Chapter 39 - The World Hates Him

Connor's parents did end up reporting Cooper, resulting in him being suspended for two days. It was initially going to be for a week, but his dad was close with the principal, and finals were next week, so he got less time. Connor also got suspended for engaging in the fight but only got a day; Cooper personally thought he should've gotten more but wouldn't worry about that right now.

It was Wednesday, Cooper's last day of suspension, when River texted him. After the whole fiasco, Cooper wanted to take time to himself and reevaluate this newfound feeling towards the same sex, especially those aimed towards River. He knew they were just friends, but it didn't change the fact that Cooper had some feelings for him. Everything came crashing down so fast that it was like a bomb waiting to blow up in his face. In a way, the suspension was good; he got a little taste of what would happen if everyone found out and didn't like it, which led to him trying to find ways to make everyone believe he was straight. For now, he'd have to wait for things to blow over, and what better way to do that than not being at school to hear about all of it.

Remembering the text, he read it through the lock screen and sighed at the one-worded 'hey' text. Before he could answer, his mom was yelling at him to hurry up. Since he was suspended and grounded, she thought it was a good idea to torture him even more by making him follow her around on all her event planning duties instead of sleeping all day.

They got in the car and drove for half an hour when she finally told him her plan. "I have to run some errands, so how about I drop you off at the bookstore or something? I don't need you moping around while I'm already losing my mind. These people have no idea what it takes to put an event together and think I'm more than one woman; soon, I won't even be one because they'd have killed me."

All Cooper did was nod his head; he and his dad knew better than to say anything when she was stressed, so they let her ramble and would either stay quiet or give one-worded responses.

With one hand on the wheel, she reached into her purse for her wallet. "Here's some money just in case, and keep your phone on you in case I have to call you. Read a book or something, expand your knowledge. I'll pick you up in an hour or two, and you can help me from there." She stopped in front of the bookstore and unlocked the door, letting him out.

He waved her off and walked into the bookstore with his hands in his pockets, dragging his feet, not knowing how to kill time. Although he wished he read, books didn't interest him at all; he tried but got bored too quickly. Walking into the music and movie section, he lazily flipped through the different DVD's, none of them appealing to him except one that made him laugh. He remembered how River told him to watch Mamma Mia! because of the ABBA songs, but Cooper brushed it off, not interested in musicals.

"That's a pretty good movie."

Cooper turned and looked at who it was in shock. Immediately turning back to the different movies, he put the DVD back in its place and murmured, "Shouldn't you be in school?" River was the absolute last person he wanted to see right now. It was nice to see him but now wasn't the time.

"I could say the same about you. I didn't think you'd come here of all places if you wanted to skip."

Cooper scoffed, his attention still on the movies. "But of course you'd come here, nerd."

River let out a laugh, and Cooper could tell he rolled his eyes. "Aren't you hot?" He was referring to Cooper wearing his track jacket zipped up with the hood over his head.

It was, in fact, hot, but it helped cover the red handprints from Connor that had shown up around his neck, so he'd have to put up with it for the time being. "I run cold." He shrugged, still not looking.