Chapter Text
Renjun’s eyebrows were scrunched together as he kept staring at the cards in front of him. His lips were drawn together and it was obvious he was unhappy.
Haechan tried to hide to roll of his eyes as he watched his friend. “I take it this wasn’t the reading you were hoping for?”
“How does the Ace of Pentacles factor into my reading? I’m looking for relationship advice.”
“I mean,” Haechan sighed as he tried to think of how the card could factor into Renjun’s questions. “It could mean a rich new relationship? Or maybe this person is rich. Either way, It’s still a good card.”
“So,” Renjun squints his eyes in thought. “If I tell this guy how I feel, we’ll form a rich relationship?”
Haechan shrugs. “I guess.”
They hear a loud shriek a few tables over, followed by one of the popular Junior girls and a gaggle of her friends rushing towards the bathroom with a large brown cola stain down the front of her shirt.
Renjun shakes his head. “This is stupid, how are we supposed to do a reading in a cafeteria? I can barely hear myself think in here there’s no way I'd be able to get a good reading.”
Haechan takes a slurp from his own drink, plain water from the drinking fountain. It tastes like metallic ass but he has a soda addiction he needs to kick before his blood turns to glucose. “Well don’t blame me, you’re the one who wanted to eat inside on a beautiful, sunny afternoon.”
“Oh yeah, cause it’s my fault the benches outside give me back pain.”
“What are you, 70?”
Renjun replied only with a soft punch to Haechan’s bicep. “Ow,” Haechan said, putting on a mock hurt voice. “that hurt Injunnie...”
Mercifully for Renjun the bell rang before Haechan could continue on his childish tirade. “I better go, I gotta get to class before Chenle and Yangyang get into another fight over Stephan Curry.”
“You sure you don’t need me to come with you for emotional support?” Haechan said as he began packing away his Tarot deck.
“Haechan, you can’t keep showing up to Biology 20 minutes late.”
Haechan scoffed. “Please, Henderson should be glad I show up at all.”
“I’m serious!” Renjun said. “If you get one more Saturday detention I will drop you as my best friend and become besties with Chenle and Yangyang.” He turned away and began walking towards the hallway for the language rooms, students crowding around so they’re not late for their next class.
Despite Renjun’s warning, Haechan was in no rush to get to Biology. He waited for the students walking towards the Science building to thin out a little, and then began taking a leisurely stroll towards the classroom.
Annie used to say (and still does from time to time) that he has a ‘brass neck’. Which basically means he does what he wants and doesn’t care about getting in trouble. Kinda, at least that’s how he took it. But Haechan doesn’t really see this as fair. He’s a self-proclaimed ‘weird’ person. Not in a melodramatic teenage ‘no one understands me’ way but in a point-blank, factual way. His life isn’t the same as most people’s in Washington Heights. The only way you can live with other people thinking you’re strange, is to be strange unapologetically. The only thing he will admit he has a problem with is authority. He has no trouble working with people who treat him with respect, and he’s a hard worker too! But if some asshole thinks they can treat him like crap, just because they think they’re better than him, he’s not going to put up with that.
That’s why he hates Biology so much. He had Biology for a semester last year, and he has it again this year, same teacher same shit. Haechan knew, right off the bat that he and Mr. Henderson were not going to get along. Because on his first Biology class in 9th grade Mr. Henderson had said he wasn’t allowed to wear eyeliner in his class. Which was definitely not school policy, because Haechan had poured over the school dress code that summer trying to figure out just what he could get away with fashion-wise. And the other girls in the class were wearing makeup without comment.
That’s when the ‘Biology battles’, as Renjun called them, began. First, it was doing a full make of makeup exclusively on days he had biology. Mr. Henderson threatened dress code violations, detentions, suspensions. But every time he opened his mouth Haechan would defend himself, saying he was doing nothing wrong. He never got suspended for wearing makeup, he was only sent to the principal’s office once, which was probably only meant to be a scare tactic because the principal wouldn’t even see him over such a stupid issue, and he returned 10 minutes later to class, wearing a different coral-orange lipstick.
Eventually Mr. Henderson came to the realisation that his bi-weekly showdowns with a flamboyant 15 year old were impairing his ability to teach, because unless Haechan was prodded he was mostly studious and quiet in class. Instead, he began giving out detentions to him, after every class. Again for dress-code violations. Haechan tried bringing it up to the principal, but it never worked. He tried running out of class before Mr. Henderson could write him his detention, but then he’d get double for trying to evade punishment.
Haechan had optimistically thought Mr. Henderson would calm his hatred of him in sophomore year. But nooo. Robert Henderson just hated the sight of him. And since the new school year had started 3 weeks ago, he already had 9 detentions to his name. One for every class. Honestly it was almost impressive, if Haechan had actually done anything to deserve those punishments. But the only crime he was guilty of was bending masculine societal roles.
Woodbury High wasn’t at all spectacular. The teachers and students were run-of-the-mill. But if it had one endearing trait Haechan adored, it was its design. The school was made up of several buildings all connected by short outdoor trails. On sunny afternoons like today the offered both a literal and figurative ray of light on Haechan’s otherwise miserable afternoon.
He looked towards the gates out of the school. He was already five minutes late to class, he could just ditch this period and go hangout in the nearby forest. He’d be back for his next class, get the homework off someone, it was tempting.
A guilty sigh escaped him. Renjun was right, he couldn’t just keep letting Renjun waste his Saturdays by himself because he was in detention. Renjun had never gotten a detention in his life. And he never ditched any of his classes, no matter how much he hated them.
Dismally, Haechan turned back towards the science buildings. Last class this week, it’d be fine. Do it for Renjun.
As expected Mr. Henderson gave Haechan a death glare the moment he stepped inside the classroom. Haechan didn’t bother returning the favour, instead dragging himself over to his usual seat silently.
“Haechan, how nice.” Mr. Henderson drawled. “So, you finally decided to grace my class with your lovely presence.”
Haechan rolled his eyes as he took out his books. He hated the way Mr. Henderson said his name. You could always tell from his tone that he didn’t like how ‘nonsensical’ (non-English) it sounded.
“Would you care to tell the class where you’ve been the past 10 minutes?” He said.
God does he not get tired of this shit? Every week. It’s only 12:30, don’t old people get tired more easily?
“Not really.” It took every ounce of self-control Haechan had not to give a more disrespectful reply.
“You realise just earned yourself a detention, right?”
“Yes.” Again, Haechan had to use a herculean amount of self-control not to turn this into a bigger fight. Renjun needed him this Saturday. Just remember Renjun.
“Yes Mr. Henderson. But since you’re here go join Leigh Ann for today’s experiment.”
Haechan dragged his books and bags over a few tables to sit next to her. Experiments were usually fine, and Leigh Ann wasn’t bad at Biology so there shouldn’t be any issues with their results.
“What page are we on?” He whispered.
“204” She said, looking up at the whiteboard where Mr. Henderson was writing.
“No talking!” He boomed. No one was talking, just Haechan and Leigh Ann. Dude really went out of his way to get him in trouble over anything. Haechan bit his lip to stop himself letting out a sigh. He flicked through the illustrated pages of his textbook looking for the right page. Unfortunately, when he found it, he realised he was gonna be in some shit.
“Now that you’re all sophomores,” Mr. Henderson said as he turned back around to the class. “We can begin our dissections of live animals.”
Haechan looked at the disembowelled frog in his textbook, heart sinking in a mixture of disgust and disappointment. Looks like he’d have to scrap those Saturday plans after all.
“I understand that some of you may be sensitive to these kinds of experiments. But this write-up accounts for 25% of your final grade for this term, and I expect you all to complete it.” Mr. Henderson was strutting back and forth at the top of the room watching the class like a general. “Unless any of you have a serious objection to the experiment.”
Haechan resentfully raised his hand. Eyes locked on the table in front of him.
Mr. Henderson sighed loudly. “Haechan, why am I not surprised?” God if you could punch voices Haechan would’ve kicked the crap out of Henderson’s. “What excuse do you have for not participating in class today?”
You’d think Haechan never lifted a finger in Biology. It was one of his best subjects. Haechan loved science and not even Mr. Henderson could ruin that. He did all his work and aced his tests, he just didn’t go to class that much.
“I can’t do this experiment.”
“Yes you can.” Mr. Henderson said. “Your guardians all received and signed a permission slip for this class over the summer.” Oh nice one Robert, I see what you did there with the ‘guardians’ part. Douchebag.
“Well I wasn’t informed that we would be cutting up live animals. I can’t do the experiment.”
“Haechan you’re 16. Being squeamish is not an excuse.”
This man was going to give Haechan a fucking aneurysm one day. “It’s not that I’m squeamish, it’s against my religion.”
Mr. Henderson looked at him dumbstruck, and Haechan knew the rest of the class must’ve been watching him with the exact same expression.
“It’s against your religion?” He said slowly. Looking at Haechan for hints he was lying.
“Yes” He said.
“And if you don’t mind me asking what religion would that be?”
Haechan did mind a little. “Wiccan.”
“Wiccan?” Mr. Henderson repeated. “I don’t think that’s a real religion.”
Haechan could feel his face getting hot with anger. “Wicca is a religion, and we don’t hurt living animals. Especially if we can’t give them a respectful burial when they’re dead.”
Mr. Henderson rolled his eyes as Haechan spoke. “Do you have a note from your guardian explaining that you’re a Wiccan?”
Of course he didn’t. He didn’t know they’d be dissecting live animals today so how could he tell Annie? “No.”
“Well then why would I let you get a free pass on this experiment?” Because I still had some hope you weren’t a complete shithead, Robert. “Either do the experiment or lose 25% of your grade, the choice is yours.”
Haechan could feel the veins on his neck bulging. He wasn’t doing this fucking experiment. And he’d be killed all semester trying to make up the grade with extra credit. God he hated Henderson so goddamn much.
“Anyone else have any issues.” Haechan slumped in his chair, sulking to himself. He vaguely heard Mr. Henderson say something to another student.
“Uh, sir, I’m sorry but I don't think I can do this experiment either. It's against my religion too.” Haechan’s ears couldn’t help perking up at that. He swung his head around to look at the student who said it.
He was new, he hadn’t been in Haechan’s freshman Biology class last year. Actually, he didn’t think he was in any of Haechan’s classes before. He looked vaguely familiar though.
Mr. Henderson didn’t say anything back immediately. A rarity for him, even to his other student’s he wasn’t the friendliest of teachers.
“Oh,” He said finally. “How so?”
“Uh, I’m a Presbyterian,” He said shyly. “I don’t believe in harming animals unjustly. Um, my family only kill animals for nourishment.”
Everyone in the room held their breath waiting for Mr. Henderson to say something.
“Huh, well,” He cleared his throat. “Mark do you have a letter from a parent?”
“Ah, no,” The boy scratched the back of his head. “I didn’t know we would be dissecting animals today. Actually, I didn’t know we’d be doing it this year at all.” The second sentence was harder to make out because he had said it a lot quicker and softer than the first one.
Mr. Henderson rubbed the gross, spikey stubble on his chin as he thought. “Well, Mark. I suppose I’ll take your word for it. Bring in an explanation from your parents next class and you can make up the credit on another project. You can go study in the Library.”
Haechan didn’t breathe, he barely heard Mark utter a soft ‘thank you’ to his massive, fucking douchebag bastard of a Biology teacher. He felt like a goddamn Lonny Toons character with a red face and steam coming out of his ears. He was apoplectic, incensed, enraged. He was every stupid synonym for angry he had ever used in an English essay!
“Wait how is that fair?” Haechan said as he got out of his chair. Fuck not getting detention on Saturday, he’d make it up to Renjun. “Why are you allowing him to sit out the experiment and not me?”
“Haechan sit down.”
“I shouldn’t have to do this experiment either, it conflicts with my beliefs!”
“Haechan if you don’t sit down right now I will send you to Mr. Hall.”
“Go ahead, you want me to tell the principal you’re discriminating against me on spiritual grounds?” Haechan had no idea if Mr. Hall would actually help him, in fact he was pretty certain he wouldn’t. But I mean, that was literally what was happening.
“Sir,” Mark’s voice unexpectedly joined in. “I’m not trying to be disrespectful or anything. But, neither of us knew we’d be doing this experiment today. So um, it’d be a little unfair for Haechan to lose 25% of his grade…”
Mr. Henderson glanced at Mark, before staring back at Haechan. This time Haechan glared right back at him.
Mr. Henderson grunted out an annoyed noise.
“Normally, I’d never make exceptions for not doing classwork. Especially for troublemakers.” He spat. “But, Mark, I trust your intuition. Haechan, you don’t have to do the experiment. But you do have to do extra credit to make up for it.”
Did Haechan hear that right? Had Mr. Henderson not done something shitty to him for the first time in two years?
“Both of you go study in the Library, and Mark, make sure he actually goes with you.”
Haechan couldn’t believe what has just happened. Not only had he got out of doing an immoral experiment, but he had got out of it without getting a Saturday detention! Holy shit maybe God was real! No, never mind. But still, this was awesome!
He wasted no time in packing up his books and rushing into the courtyard to join the other boy, who he would forever be thankful to.
“Hey thanks a lot back there!” Haechan said. “I really appreciate you sticking up for me.”
The boy turned his head towards him as they walked. “Oh, no problem. Don’t mention it.”
“Name’s Haechan by the way.” Haechan said, sticking his hand out.
“Mark.” He said, shaking the outstretched hand. Mark was kinda cute. Or maybe Haechan just thought he was because he wasn’t an outright douche. He had really sharp, high cheekbones that looked like they poked out of his face. In an attractive way. He was slightly taller than Haechan, another plus. He had really pretty brown puppy-dog eyes. He was really cute actually.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you in any other classes. Are you new?”
“Uh, no.” Mark replied, he had a nice enough voice too. Haechan thought he might have a stutter considering the way he had spoken to Mt. Henderson, but that might’ve been nerves.
“Oh, so is Biology like, your only science subject?” It wasn’t unheard of, but if you did one science subject at USG you usually did another.
“No.” He said hesitantly. “I’m a Junior.”
Now that did throw Haechan off.
“Huh, really,” Haechan debated if he should ask a follow-up question, but his curiosity decided for him. “How come you’re in a Sophomore Biology class then?”
Immediately the ‘you sound like an asshole’ alarm went off in his brain. “Sorry, you don’t have to answer that.”
“No don’t worry,” Mark chuckled lightly. Damn he had a cute laugh too, fuck. “It’s nothing personal, I just completely suck at Biology, and I didn’t pass it last year.”
Haechan felt his heart twinge a little when he heard him say that. Another year with Henderson would be a fate worse than death to him. “That sucks man.”
Mark shrugged half-heartedly. “It’s not too bad, well, I mean up until I just tanked 25% of my grade by refusing to do that experiment.”
Haechan couldn’t think of a good way to respond to that. To instead he took a risk and pointed out the strangest part of this whole situation. “Well, on the bright side, I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen Ol’ Hendy like anyone as much as you.” He chuckled to himself, and his laugh sounded too high-pitched and grating compared to Mark’s.
He saw Mark’s ears flush a little red. Shit shit shit he had embarrassed Mark and himself shit. “Ha, um thanks?”
The Library was right in front of them now and Haechan’s heart sank a little. He didn’t want his conversation with Mark to end, despite how awkward it was. He heard Mark sigh quietly as he walked closer to the front doors. He didn’t seem keen on studying either. Immediately an idea crossed Haechan’s mind.
“Hey,” He licked his lips nervously as Mark looked at him. “How about we skip this period, I know a place we can chill.”
Mark’s eyebrows furrowed as he looked at Haechan. “Why would we do that? We’ll get in trouble.”
Haechan waved a hand at Mark’s worries. “It’ll be fine,” He said, drawing out the ‘I’ in ‘fine’. “People barely even know this place exists. You don’t actually wanna spend forty minutes studying in the library do you?”
“Actually I have a lot of homework I could get done. And besides, I can’t let you just skip class.”
Ok, not to be rude but Mark’s attractiveness was disappearing by the syllable.
Haechan suppressed an eye-roll as he looked at Mark. “Oh come on dude, just this one time? I’ll make it up to you.”
“Mr. Henderson told me to make sure you come with me.”
Haechan had to take a second to look at Mark. “Seriously, what are you guys best friends or something? He’s not gonna know.”
“He’s going to ask me about it at practice I’m on the soccer team.”
Haechan hoped his eyes didn’t widen too much when Mark said that. Everything was starting to make sense now. Henderson was the varsity soccer coach, that’s why he liked Mark. Maybe Jeno mentioned Mark before and that’s how Haechan knows him. Mark wouldn’t know who he is though, right? No that’s ridiculous, why would Jeno be talking about him at practice. They probably just talk about sports and girls and stuff, not their weird cousins.
“Wow,” Haechan said. “Wouldn’t have pegged you for a snitch.”
Mark’s ears reddened again as he looked at him. “Hey I’m not a snitch!”
“You’re going to tell our teacher that I skipped class. That’s snitching. You’re a snitch.”
“Don’t be immature, I’m only doing what I was asked to do.”
“He’s not gonna know either way.”
"But he asked me personally."
“Well,” Haechan shrugged at Mark. “I’m not studying for the rest of class. You can go in if you want, send Hendy my love.” Haechan threw a peace sign up at Mark as he turned his back and began walking towards the school’s exit.
Mark wasn’t gonna follow him, but maybe he shamed him enough not to rat him out to Henderson after school. He could hear Mark let out a huff from behind him as he walked away. It hadn’t rained for a while so the woods shouldn’t be damp now, he could finish that sketch-
“Wait!” Haechan whipped his head around to see Mark jogging towards him. “Fine, I’ll come with.”
Strange. “Are you that desperate to procrastinate on homework?” Haechan smirked.
“No,” Mark said. “I just, don’t want you getting in trouble. It doesn’t reflect well on me.”
“Oh no worries, no teachers will find us. They never come out here.” Haechan smiled at Mark and turned back towards the tall trees behind the school.
“Where are we going exactly?” Mark asked.
“Just a place I come to with my friends.”
“This is where you hang out with your friends?” Mark’s said looking at the logs placed around a burned-out fire pit.
“Yup. Usually I just read or draw.” It’s completely debateable whether or not Haechan should be talking about his hobbies to Mark. But not all jocks are bad, Jeno’s technically a jock. And even if Mark is a jock he doesn’t seem like an asshole.
“Cool.” Mark said after a long pause.
Haechan took out his sketchbook as he sat down on the log that was getting the most sunlight. It was a little dark with the branches of the trees only allowing specks of sunlight to filter this far down. Birds were chirping quietly in the branches above them. The air was cool and had a slight smell of earth and plants. He could feel the stresses of the day slowly leave his body as he breathed in all the nature around him.
“What, um,” Haechan glanced at Mark, who was sitting across from him on a log. “do you burn in that pit?”
Haecahn furrowed his brows in confusion. “Uh, wood. I guess. Why?”
“Oh, cause like,” Mark laughed awkwardly. “I just thought you might like, use it for like witchcraft or something.” Mark continued laughing but Haechan felt a little confused.
“Why would you think that?”
“Just cause you said you were a pagan. I wasn’t sure if you were being serious or not.”
“I was being serious.”
Mark’s face paled as he looked at Haechan. “Huh?”
“I was being serious. I’m a witch, and I practice witchcraft.”
It was like Mark’s face was frozen. He just kept staring at him. Finally he recovered from his shock, shook his head and blinked at Haechan. “You’re joking right?”
“No,” Haechan said in the most neutral, serious voice he could. “I’m literally a witch.”
Mark didn’t say anything for a while. He just looked at Haechan. The conversation was a little redundant so Haechan went back to shading in his drawing.
“How are you a witch?” Mark blurted out.
Haechan shrugged his shoulders with a laugh. “My Mom I guess?”
“But, how? Witches don’t exist anymore.”
“Well, you’re currently looking at one…”
Mark ran a hand through the front of his hair. His inability to understand that witches, were in fact, real was apparent with the utter confusion displayed on his face.
There are a wide spectrum of reactions someone can have when you tell them you’re a witch. On the far end you have people decrying you as a heretic and shouting that you’re going to hell. Which is uncommon and mostly only the reaction from middle-aged conservative Evangelicals. There are people who are really interested and want to find out all about your beliefs. But from Haechan’s personal experience there’s like a 1 in 7 chance these people are conspiracy theorists who want to know if you’re part of the Illuminati. Both of these reactions suck, but the one bright side they have is that they’re at least interesting. The most common reaction is when people don’t know anything about wicca or witchcraft, and proceed to ask you a million questions about your beliefs. Which is never interesting, and has a 50/50 chance of them thinking you’re weird and never talking to you again.
Based of Mark’s questions he seems like the latter group.
“So you worship the devil?”
Haechan sighed. There goes any time for sketching he wanted to do. “No, I don’t worship the devil. I don’t believe in the devil. I’m just a witch.”
“But you need to believe in the devil to be a witch.”
“Not necessarily, witches get their powers through the energies of the universe. They use witchcraft to harness these energies.”
“But,” Mark pressed his lips together before he spoke. “magic isn’t real.”
Was he about to be an asshole? Was he really about to be the asshole here? This guy could be a friend of Jeno. Haechan glanced at the clock on his phone. 20 minutes until the next class started. He was going to be an asshole.
“Isn’t the Bible all magic though?”
Mark stood up from his seat. “Hey, what are you saying?”
Haechan clicked his tongue. “Didn’t you say you’re Pres-something or whatever? That’s Christianity. And doesn’t god preform magic in the bible?”
Mark’s face was flushing red. “There is a, HUGE difference between what happens in the bible and witchcraft!”
“Yeah, we still haven’t figured out how to turn water into wine.” Haechan laughed at his own joke.
“Don’t make fun of my religion.” Mark was standing less than a foot in front of Haechan now. “For your information Jesus performed miracles. They were divine gifts to be given to his people in their time of need.
Haechan stood up with a smile on his face. “But see that’s magic! In your time of need what do you do? You pray. You ask Jesus for help and guidance, and when we face hardships we perform magic to seek help from the universe.”
Mark broke eye contact first. He turned his head to the side and walked back to pick up his backpack.
“Look, believe whatever. But my religion is really important to me so don’t try to make fun of it. Jesus wasn’t a wizard, this isn’t Harry Potter. My church does a lot of good things for other people. We like, volunteer and raise money for charity. We do a lot of good, and you have no right to disrespect it.”
Haechan’s face felt a little hot with shame. He knew what it was like to make fun of your beliefs, and clearly this was something important to Mark. Important enough to stop him from doing a project. Fuck why did he choose to be an ass?
“Mark, for what it’s worth.” Haechan hesitated. “I never meant to make fun of your religion. I was being completely sincere when I said our beliefs were similar. Sorry.”
Mark pulled his arms through the holes in his backpack. “I’m gonna go, Haechan.”
Brown, yellow and red leaves crunched under Mark’s feet as made his way back to the school. Haechan checked his watch to see he still had another 10 minutes before English and pulled out his sketchbook again. The crunches stopped, and when Haechan looked up he saw Mark quickly turn his head away from him again. “Thanks for showing me this place. It’s nice.”
He was speaking normally but because of the distance Haechan could barely hear him. Nevertheless it felt good that Mark didn’t hate him, and loudly he shouted back “SEE YOU LATER!”
Mark began walking again, quicker than before. By the time Haechan got back to the school Mark was nowhere in sight. No one had realised he was gone. English was mind-numbingly boring, but bearable. And the rest of the day passed without incident.
But that night Haechan thought about Mark. Which was weird for him. Guys don’t usually take up Haechan’s time. Sure they’re hot, but he hasn’t had a crush in years. And Mark? It’s nothing special, they’ve had about 3 conversations only 1 of which was positive. But maybe he was onto something. Mark must be a part of the local protestant church since Jeno and Annie are Catholic. Catholics never have much volunteering jobs available, but maybe he could get one in Mark’s church. Worth a shot, anything to boost his college application. Come to think of it they might even have scholarships! That would be incredible. Okay, tomorrow he’ll check out their website.
Mark's breath heaved with fire as he stared down at the grass below him. Sweat was pouring down his face and he brought his hand up to wipe it from his face.
He needed a haircut, his fringe was disgustingly plastered to his forehead.
He closed his eyes in ecstasy when he finally heard the shrill sound of Mr. Henderson's whistle. He couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as he walked back to the locker room, as he walked past Mr. Henderson curtly reminding the rest of the team about the upcoming match with Boulder High.
"Mark, hang back a second!"
He almost let out a sigh when he heard his name, but stopped himself just in time lest he earn another few laps around the football field.
"Everything okay coach?"
"Everything great Mark," Mr. Henderson let out a hoarse, deep laugh and clapped a hand on his bicep. "That was the fastest time I've ever seen someone run on the obstacle course!"
Mark was glad his face was red from practice because he could tell some of that heat came from his perpetually stern coach's praise. "Thank you sir."
"Don't push yourself too hard. We need you in your best condition against Boulder, and I can tell you really worked hard this week."
"I did, Sir."
"I admire your strength, but the progress you've been making so far is good enough. You're the captain, if you're that stuck on something to do work on getting the rest of the team in shape, Avery missed almost a third of his goals today."
"Yes, Sir."
"There's only so much a nucleus can do if none of your protons work, huh?" Mr. Henderson laughed again and Mark awkwardly joined him. Nothing about science could bring him joy not even jokes. Even if he did understand it (which is, embarrassingly, an improvement).
Any leftover heat from the day's sun had fully disappeared once he stepped onto the student parking lot after his shower. His car (Cherry) a beat up, red, hand-me-down Audi from Johnny, which he ‘lovingly’ gifted him when he left for college. Johnny had kept the car impeccable while he had it but with the daily errands, soccer practice and general laziness the interior now had a layer of dust and fast food on most surfaces, with a faint smell of post-practice sweat and an ancient air freshener.
Cherry’s engine grumbled with age as he switched on the ignition. Just as he was about to get on the road his phone vibrated in the cup holder.
Dad: Come over we need help putting up the benches in the practice room.
Mark clicked his tongue in annoyance.
I’ll be right over, I’m still at the school.
Figures he couldn’t even go home after a hard week at practice. Why couldn’t Dad have just gotten someone to help him put them up earlier? It was a Friday night and Mark was stuck doing housework for the church, instead of literally anything else.
Washington Heights Presbyterian Church was a triangular, red-brick building with an intimidating spire jutting out from above the front entrance. The community centre at the back had a kitchen and several small rooms for holding religious meet-ups during the week, most of which Mom and Dad oversaw.
Dad was already standing outside the back door when Mark pulled up, jacket over his black blazer. Mark got out quickly to walk over with him to the storage shed to get the benches.
“Hey,” Dad said. “What took so long?”
Mark shrugged. “Coach wanted to talk a little after practice.” Dad let out a short ‘hmm’, which Mark understood as shorthand for ‘elaborate’. “He said I’m improving substantially,” Dad’s keyring jangled as he got leafed through to find the one for the shed. “If I keep up the work, and keep everyone on track we could be state champions.”
Dad turned his head to glance at him as he turned on the light switch. “That so?” He smiled. “You think you could really beat those Boulder kids?”
“His words not mine.”
Dad laughed again. “Humility is a virtue, Mark. What did he mean by ‘keeping everyone on track’.”
“You know, just the usual.” Mark squatted down and picked up the other end of the bench, walking backwards with his Dad to bring it inside. “Avery needs to work harder, if anyone starts slacking this game could slip right out of our reach.”
Dad hummed again, this time his ‘thinking of an inspirational passage hum. “When you find it hard to lead people, often it’s best to look at the example of the greatest leader of men. How would Jesus lead your team?”
Mark’s lips pursed as he thought, placing the bench in the big practice room for the choir and walking back with Dad. “He’d try to show them through example first of all,” Mark saw the back of his Dad’s head nod at this. “Then, I guess he’d like, try and inspire them through his words.”
“And how would he do that?” Dad was bending down, waiting for Mark at the other end.
“Parables?” Mark said. “Though, I don’t really think that would necessarily work in this situation.”
“Never underestimate the power of stories,” Dad said. “Sure maybe you might not be able to preach the word of Lord at practice, but people listen to those who can harness potential and direct it.” Mark couldn’t look at his Dad’s face while walking, but he was listening to every word.
“The Holy spirit works through people in different ways, and every person has it.” Dad’s voice was beginning to slip into his sermon lilt, dramatic pauses and emphasis and all. “No matter how black the wool we are all lambs of God, and every person has the potential to be guided by God.”
Mark nodded his head and tried to follow what his Dad was saying. The speech went on for a few more minutes but Mark didn’t see how his Dad’s advice could really help right now. There’s only so much Jesus a high schooler could bring into a non-religious team activity before his teammates got sick of him. But like all advice his Dad gave him he could still try to follow his advice without making it explicitly religious. Unite the team under a common goal and inspiration, he could do that. And he will, he was the captain for a reason, after all.
When they finally brought the rest of the benches inside, and assembled them so they’d be ready for Choir practice next week Dad reached to scruff up Mark's hair.
“Easier than last year huh? Getting stronger every day, you should ask John to arm wrestle when he gets back.”
Mark let out a loud laugh at that. The dumbbells in the weight room must’ve paid off more than he expected but there was no way he would be able to arm wrestle Johnny anytime soon.
Mom was talking to someone in her office with the door open, peaking from around the corner Mark could see they were dressed in a Subway uniform. Which was… strange, people don’t normally come to the church straight after work. They at least dress properly. Mom turned her head in his direction and before he had time to duck away she had already called his name.
“Mark, come meet the newest member of the choir!”
Mark was in shock. His eyes must be deceiving him right now.
“Actually we’ve met before Mrs. Lee,” That familiar voice said, a voice he had been hearing every other day the whole term. “Mark and I are in the same Biology class.”
“Oh really?” Mom beamed at the boy in front of her. “Well that’s fantastic, you have plenty in common then!”
Whatever lies this kid, who less than two days ago was claiming to be a witch, had told Mom to allow him to join a Christian choir must’ve been really good. Somehow he looked even weirder in a Subway uniform than in his normal… fashion? At least he wasn’t wearing any lipstick right now, none that Mark could see anyway. Was this a joke to him? What was wrong with this guy?
“Mark, aren’t you going to greet our new member.”
Muscle memory caused Mark to shoot out his hand towards Haechan. “Welcome.” He mumbled.
“Thank you.” Haechan shook his hand graciously.
“I never knew you were Presbyterian.” Mark couldn’t help the small irritation in his voice at the dig.
Mom coughed. “Actually Haechan is still undecided in his beliefs, Mark.”
“I’ve been looking for a sense of meaning these past few years,” Haechan said. “And I started thinking, maybe the right option is actually the most simple one. Yesterday I saw that your church was still looking for people for their annual choir competitions and I realised,” Haechan laughed. “Maybe this is a sign. Maybe God wants me to use my voice to find other people who can guide me when I need help. I’m not 100% sure I’m Presbyterian, but I want to find a way to honour and worship God so that I can build a relationship that will last in this life and the next.”
Jesus Christ (sorry) this kid could be a fucking (sorry) conman.
“You’re absolutely right Haechan,” Mom said. “And Pastor David and I are so excited to help you along your journey with God.” She’s buying this?
“Thank you Ma’am,” Ma’am? Seriously? Where did this respect suddenly come from? “I can’t wait to meet everyone next Tuesday. But I better get going now or I’ll be late for the bus.”
“You’re taking the bus home?” Mom said.
“Oh it’s not far, just a few stops and I walk the rest of the way.”
“Sweetheart it’s pitch black out there. Mark you drive him home.”
Mark spluttered a little. “Actually Mom I really need to get home I have homework.”
“And Haechan doesn’t?” She scoffed.
“Really Ma’am it’s no issue.”
“Nonsense you’re a member of our flock now, we help each other out. Mark you take him home and that’s the end of that.”
The car was buzzing with Haechan’s presence as they drove down the unlit road to the Suburbs. This all felt weirdly personal to Mark, he’d explain the situation to his parents later but now he was forced to do Haechan a favour. One they both seemed uncomfortable with. Haechan’s leg was bouncing, either due to nerves or Cherry’s busted heating, he seriously needed to fix that before Winter.
The nerve, the audacity of Haechan. Mark has spent years being ridiculed for being the pastor’s son, and he wasn’t about to let some pipsqueak sophomore make jokes at his expense. Not happening. Mom was going to get a real earful when she got home.
“Thanks for driving me home.” Haechan said suddenly.
Mark gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Don’t mention it.”
“Mrs. Lee was nice but you don’t have to make this a regular thing.”
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
They sat in silence for another minute, until Haechan turned his head towards him. “So what kinda songs do you guys usually sing?”
Mark took a deep breath in. What would Johnny do in this situation? Johnny would be straightforward, just ask Haechan why he was doing this. Tell him that Christianity isn’t a joke.
Be like Johnny.
“Why did you do this?” Mark blurted out, louder than he had meant to.
Haechan looked at him without speaking. Quickly his expression changed from shock to annoyance. “I want to join your choir? Duh. It counts as volunteer work and it would look good on a college application.”
Mark scoffed at him. “Is that it? You won’t last one day with us we start off every meeting with a prayer.”
Haechan shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve done worse, I can’t even count the number of Saturday mornings I spent scraping gum from the bottom of desks, this is a piece of cake in comparison.”
“You can’t just, decide to join our church on a whim!”
“Oh I’m not joining your church.” Haechan laughed and Mark had to really concentrate to keep his eyes on the road.
“You have to be Presbyterian to be in a Presbyterian choir.”
“Well what the Pastor doesn’t know can’t hurt him right? I’m a convincing actor.”
Mark took deep breaths to steady his breathing. “You are not welcome, at our choir, at our services, or within 50 feet of our church.” Mark knew he’d have to ask Haechan for the directions soon since he could see the streetlights flickering ahead from the turn into the suburbs. “I’m telling the Pastor to not let you join as soon as you get out of this car.”
The tension is the air was palpable, but Mark was happy to get that all off his chest. For once, for the first time Mark had seen Haechan on the first day of school when he was talking back to Mr. Henderson, he was silent.
“Which house is yours?”
“Just drop me on Alpine drive, I doubt you want to be seen with me.”
Mark’s face went a little red at being insulted like that, but what was worse was that he was right. Mark didn’t want to be seen with the weird witch guy from his school. He didn’t want to be associated with a social pariah.
Mark stopped at the beginning of the street, waiting for Haechan to get out and get on with another boring night at home. But Haechan was hesitating.
“What’s wrong?” He sighed.
“What’s your GPA?” Haechan said looking him in the eye.
Mark faltered for a moment, definitely not expecting that to come out of the Brunette’s mouth. “Uh, why do you care?”
“What is the function of a ganglion in the human spinal cord?”
“Haechan get out of my car!”
“Mark please, listen to me for a second.” Haechan softened his voice. Against Mark’s better instincts, he began to listen.
“I have a 4.0 GPA, I’m either going to be a biomedical engineer or a doctor. You’re repeating a sophomore-level biology class and the teacher loves you so, no offence, but you must really suck at it.”
Mark swallowed down his anger. “So?”
“We could help each other. I need volunteer work to make up for my detentions and you need help in Biology.”
He actually needed help with a lot more than just Biology, the sports scholarship he was banking on was very precariously placed upon his 2.0 GPA and one bad test could cost him his ticket out of his hometown.
But, what? Haechan was offering to tutor him? “What’s the catch?”
“No catch!” Haechan put his arms up defensively. “We’re just helping each other out, I won’t charge you. I’ll tutor you so that you pass Biology with flying colours and you just don’t tell the Pastor or Mrs. Lee that I’m only in this choir for my college application.”
“You want me, to abandon my ethics, to pass a class?”
“C’mon Mark, It’s not like I’m asking you to help me cover up a murder. It’s just a little quid pro quo we both seek to benefit from. What’s so wrong with that?”
Mark didn’t want to be drawn into Haechan’s offer, but there was little denying, it was tempting. Very Tempting. “What makes you think you can teach me?”
“I helped my cousin study loads of times, he went from a D to an A- in Chemistry within a few weeks. If I can’t teach you no one can.”
Mark pursed his lips. Would it really be so bad? What Haechan had in mind was a means to an end, and Mark had equal leverage over him. As soon as this semester was over, and they weren’t in the same class anymore, he could tell his parents then. Say he only just found out. It would be fine.
“You really think you could teach me?”
A wide smile broke out on Haechan’s large lips, so big it could crack his face. “I know I can.” Haechan opened his door and stepped halfway out. “So I’ll take that as a yes?”
Mark nodded his head. This time Haechan was the one stretching out a hand, which Mark shook.
“Meet me at the front of the library on Sunday, 5pm.” With that, his face disappeared. Haechan began to walk up towards whichever house was his. Black Subway uniform glowing under the orange light. And Mark was forced to drive away from him.
For some reason Cherry felt empty without Haechan now. The air was colder. Mark kinda wished he had stayed another moment, and watch Haechan get smaller and smaller in the distance as he walked away. Something about him, just drew Mark in. Which was probably a bad thing, come to think of it. He was intriguing, and Mark couldn’t help the fact that he was on his mind.
He just had to get through the next few weeks together. A means to an end. Then they’d go their separate ways. It couldn’t be that bad.
Right?