Chapter Text
Oliver sat in class, blinking.
Slow. Once, twice.
Miss Thavel droned on about some topic Olive couldn't bring himself to care about. He just kicked his chair back and zoned out, he sat at the back of the class, away from everyone else, Zip and Edward had science together so Oliver was alone. And it seemed Lucas was a no show today. A bummer. But at least he won't have to keep up appearances.
So instead of listening he scanned the class, watching the other kids, trying to pick a good candidate for tormenting for the day. Lana maybe, or Engel, he'd be fun to try and get a r-
"Sorry I'm late Miss!" The class door opened and Lucas walked.
Thavel paused her lesson, collecting the paper slip from the late comer and grumbled for him to sit down. With one sweep of his eyes across the room, Lucas spotted Oliver and he had to smooth out his expression, smile and waved the other boy over.
Lucas plopped down next tot him Without a word, grinning.
"Sorry I'm late, traffic is wild."
Oliver rolled his eyes, "Well you should have walked, dork." He shoved Lucas' arm, smirking at him.
Lucas stuck his tongue out at him before turning to focus on the class.
Lucas Demi, a new kid, son of that stupid music teacher. Moved here now that his father couldn't pay private school expenses. A bright eyed idiot, and Oliver's latest project. It would be fun to try and corrupt the boy, although if he's honest, Oliver found him fun enough as he was...
Oliver continued to sit there and act interested in the class, he still wasn't. The other, however, was diligently taking notes, his full attention on the lesson. Which was probably for the best, Lucas needed to catch up, he'd come to school mid way though the second term. But that wouldn't be an excuse in the eyes of some teachers, and Oliver didn't really want his latest entertainment to die yet.
Not that Lucas even knew the horrors of the school.
The bell went and Oliver was up in an instant, stretching now that he could finally get out of his seat. "So, Lucas, you hanging with us?" Oliver already knew the answer, Lucas didn't have any friends aside from them, he made sure to keep a tight leash on the younger kid.
Lucas smiled, collecting his books and following behind Oliver.
He walked in long, confident strides, the halls parted for him, at this point most kids did it without thinking, it was get out the way or find yourself locked in the nearest supplies closet, or locker griefed.
The others were waiting by the table, Zip looked to be telling Edward some elaborate story, if her wide hand gestures were anything to go by. But she stopped once she spotted the others.
"Hey Lucas! You were a no show the first few classes, didn't think you were coming."
He just waved and smiled, as they came and sat down with them.
"Sorry," he chuckled, "Had a doctors appointment."
Zip huffed and crossed her arms, despite her attitude, she scooted over until she basically sat in his lap, Lucas didn't protest.
"So," Edward leaned over to Oliver, whispering in his ear, "If Lucas is here now does that mean we aren't vandalising Abbie's desk next class?"
Oliver shook his head.
It was a tight line to walk, trying to keep Lucas close without him seeing the stuff they do too early on. And trying to keep him from getting too close with any other students that might pulling him away without seeming controlling. However they have been able to get away with a few smaller things with Lucas present, the right prank at the right time and you can convince the boy that no harm would be made...
"Say, you boys up for getting smoothies after school?" Zip pipped up.
"Can't, dad's been in a bad mood so it's best I just go right home..."
Edward groaned. "My uncle has got that stupid presentation on tonight, dad says we're going."
"I'll come!" Lucas chimed up. Zip smiled, and just made herself more comfy in the boy's lap. Oliver rolled his eyes and started eating his lunch.
The bell rung and the kids started packing up and heading off to go to their next classes, Edward complained about not having enough time to eat his sandwich, as if he hadn't spent the last 30 minutes talking instead of eating.
The halls were crowded with kids rushing to get to their next class, but it was easy to push though, no one complained when Oliver shoved past them. The other three walked ahead while Oliver lingered behind at his own pace, watching Zip drag Lucas along and Edward talk with him about whatever mundane science project he was currently doing. Lucas was integrating well, it would just be when they started really showing their true colours that things might get messy.
Speaking of true colours, as Oliver walked, he spotted Abbie, the nervous boy was at his locker, shaky hands gripping his books. He walked over, and the apple boy froze, slowly looking up at him.
"O-Oliver..."
"Dork."
He took half a step back, "What do you want?" He looked around, but non of his friends were around to help and no other kids would go out of their way to help him. Oliver leaned over him, daring the other student to run. "That's a good question, what do I want?"
Nothing but to see you squirm...
But Abbie didn't know that.
"L-look, I'm sorry if I did something... But please, not today I just-
"Oliver! Is something wrong?" He pulled away instantly, smoothing out his expression as he turned to face Lucas. he must have came back when he realised Oliver hadn't been following. He rested his hand on Abbie's shoulder, a friendly gesture to the unsuspecting eye. "Oh don't worry, I was just having a little chat with my friend Abbie here." He tighten his grip on the shorter male's shoulder. "Just making sure he knows he has art next with us." Abbie shook under his hand, but didn't say anything, so Oliver just patted him on the head and walked over to Lucas, wrapping an arm around him and pulling him along down the hall, as if nothing had happened.
Art was probably the most interesting subject in the school aside from PE, Miss Sasha didn't have you sitting in plastic chairs for hours on end, and she was too busy helping struggling kids that if you were sneaky enough, you could mess with somebody else's art.
Oliver spent him time just slapping colours onto the canvas, he had no plan, and it would probably be in the bin by the end of the month, Lucas however was busying himself trying to mix the right shade of green for the trees he was painting, Oliver wondered if Lucas was colourblind like his dad, that green looked a bit yellow...
"What the!? Zip what the hell!" Everyone glanced up at Claire, who now had a giant red splotch across her painting. Zip backed off, hands in the air, "Sheesh girl, it was an accident..."
"Oh you know it wasn't." Claire stood up and for a moment Oliver wondered if a fight was about to break out, he kinda hoped for it.
But Miss Sasha was faster, standing between the two girl, "Claire, let's not start something please, accidents happen, it can just be painted over." Claire spluttered out an argument but Zip rushed back over to the boys and sat down. "Are you okay?" Lucas asked, gently resting his hand on Zip's forearm, she placed her hand over his and smiled, "I'll live, she just scared me a bit.."
Oliver knew full well Zip didn't knock Claire by accident, however she'd taken on the roll of innocently clumsy now that Lucas was with them. It did well to paint other kids in bag light when she 'messed up'.
The door closed behind Oliver as he walked into the house, he walked passed his father who sat on the couch, not even a hello. Instead he made his way to his sister's bedroom, opening the door ever so slightly to peek though, she was sitting on the floor, drawing. Oliver smiled and left the young girl to do what made her happy, and he went to his own bedroom.
Throwing his bad into the nearest corner, not even bothering to deal with his homework, Miss Circle liked him enough anyways. Oliver threw himself onto his bed, rolling over and opening his phone, message from Lucas.
Music dork
Hey, you make it home safe?
No I was kidnapped by Mexicans and having my liver sold at an auction alongside the mona lisa
He attached a picture of himself laying in bed, tongue poking out as he glared into the camera.
Lucas just responded with a selfie of his own, him and Zip with their smoothies. Lucky bastard.
Oliver spent the next few hours lazing in bed, doom scrolling, playing random low quality games he found on the app store, only to uninstall them within the hour and get another filled with adds for other crappy games.
At some point it got dark out and the digital clock said 7:18 pm, so Oliver rolled out of bed and made his way into living room, dad wasn't on the couch, nor car in the driveway. Must have left at some point... So he went to the kitchen, grabbing the box of pizza from the fridge and microwaving two slices. He called for Emma to come down, once his sister was at the table eating the leftovers from the night before he retreated back to his room.
Kicking off his clothes, Oliver just curled into bed in his boxers, he'd turned the fan on, cooling the room down more then it already was. But it helped give the illusion that it was warmer under the covers, that the heater hadn't been broken for weeks now...
With nothing but the howling wind outside, sleep tugged at the edge of Oliver's mind.
And he slipped away into it...