Days Like These

On Monday, everyone avoided Vic. He received either disappointed looks or glaring eyes. The only people who actually talked to him were Alex’s friends, and even then, Jack still doesn’t like him much. Today, he’s sitting with them during lunch ignoring the way his old friends stare at him while Alex kisses his neck, marking him in the process. A teacher walked by, clearing his throat, making them separate.

There was a loud squeal throughout the cafeteria and everyone turned to the noise. When Vic looked over, he saw Alan, with a smile on his face, hugging Kellin, who was blushing madly, tightly.

“I call dibs!” Alan shouted. Kellin covered his mouth with his hand, making a shushing motion. He caught Vic’s eyes and looked away quickly.

“Ugh, they’re so fucking weird. Especially that soulless ginger.” Vic didn’t defend Alan like he used to when someone called him soulless. He was one of the most carefree people he ever met and he was so caring. “Vic, do you want to skip last period?”

“I can’t.’ Alex pouted at the news. “I have a test. An important test.”

“Fine, then I’ll meet you at your house after school. Anyways, I gotta go.” Alex got up with his stuff and left, leaving Vic with the other three boys in an awkward silence. Vic caught Jaime’s eyes and Jaime looked away with disgust.

“Um, I’ll see you guys later. I need to talk to someone.” Grabbing his backpack, Vic walked over his old table and everyone got quiet. “Uh, Jaime can I talk to you?”

“Oh, now you want to talk to me?” there had been few times where Jaime was mad and this is one of them. Vic was scared.

“Please?” he asked, while looking down. His face was heating up while he felt everyone’s eyes on him. Being roughly grabbed by the elbow, Vic was led out into the empty hallway.

“What do you want?” the spikey-haired boy asked rudely.

“I, um, wanted to say sorry a-.”

“I’m not the one you should apologize to.”

“He won’t accept it.”

“Damn right he won’t.” the statement made Vic’s heart crumble a bit. But … it’s not his fault. He left. “Look, I won’t tell you what to do but you better choose wisely because if you don’t, you’ll lose both of them.”

“Both?”

“Uh, your brother and Kellin.” Jaime said oddly. “Look, I’ve said too much and I want to get back to my real friends. You know the ones who were there when Alex left.”

“You don’t know shit that happened between me and Alex.” Vic said through tight teeth.

“You’re right, I don’t, but I do know that you were crying your fucking eyes out. So, let me guess. Alex left you right. It was never a ‘mutual agreement’ shit was it. He left and brought back Jack didn’t he.”

“They’re just friends.”

“Not what Danny said. But look, you’re giving me a headache so I’m leaving.”

Vic watched him enter the cafeteria, his joyful mood coming back as he sat next to Kellin and gave him a big, wet kiss on the cheek. He could always make up the test.

*

“So, um, what did Vic want?” Kellin asked as he nibbled on a few Cheetos.

They were at the community center playing soccer in one of the small gyms. Mike, Austin, Tino, and Aaron were playing against Jack, Gabe, Justin and Jesse, making Phil the referee. Tony, Alan, and Jaime sat with Kellin on the bleachers that were against the wall.

“Um, he wanted to apologize.”

“And what did you say?”

“That you weren’t going to accept it.” Kellin made a noise, confirming that he had heard Jaime.

“You’re not mad right?”

“No. You and Tony should go play with them I see it your eyes.”

“No you don’t! You can tell because his leg keeps moving, shaking this damn thing and Tony is basically floating from how his ass is barely on the seat.” Alan said sassily.

“Rude! Austin, your boyfriend is assaulting me!” Jaime shouted. All he got was a thumb up in return. “Me and Tone are in next round.”

When Jaime and Tony were finally playing, Alan turned to look at Kellin with a serious expression.

“What?”

“Don’t ‘what’ me Kellin.”

“Ok?”

“Kells.” Alan whined as he placed his head on Kellin’s lap.

“Ok, ok, I’d accept it ok? I not mad at Himes because Vic doesn’t deserve it and he probably saved me from being hurt again but if he came here right now and simply said ‘Forgive me?’, I’d be like ok.”

“When are you going to tell him about peanut?” Peanut is what Alan nicknamed the little fetus so they wouldn’t call it an it (“because he is a human and has feelings you group of shits!”).

“I was going to tell him when I found out, like Mike was going to help me and when we walked into his room he was making out with Alex. What exactly happened with Alex?”

“They broke up because he was moving back to Maryland and then rumor is that he came back with Jack because he got him pregnant.”

“How do you know he knocked up Jack?”

“Tony.” Alan replied as Kellin played with his hair.

“Tony?”

“He’s quiet. He knows everything. Like, ok, last year was the first time Austin and I had sex and the next day, he was just staring at us then out of nowhere was like, you guys fucked. When he says something, listen. It’s always true.”

They sat there in comfortable silence as they watched the rest of the boys play and sweat the rest of the afternoon.

*

Wednesday, third period, they still sit together but ignore each other. They got back from their Thanksgiving break and it was weird because Vic and his family went over to Katherine’s house to celebrate the holiday. To say dinner was eventful, would be a lie. Vic left early due to the intense atmosphere.

“I’m going to pair you guys up into groups of two. No one’s moving since you will be working with your lab partner.” They both simultaneously shuddered and ignored what the teacher was talking about. When she placed a two packets on their desk, they reached for it at the same time. Their fingers brushed together but refused to be the first one to acknowledge the sparks they felt. “You guys will be doing research on a drug and then present it in front of the class.”

Kellin paled. His breathing became rapid and the feeling of throwing up appeared out of nowhere. He ran out of the classroom when he felt the bile rise in his throat.

Vic saw him out of the classroom and wanted to go after him but didn’t. Not until the teacher asked him to at least. Walking towards the closest bathroom, he heard the tale-tell signs of vomiting.

“I’m sorry. I’m only eating because of you but I can’t do it.” Vic was about to respond, thinking Kellin was talking to him but stopped when he heard him speak again. “I can’t present in front of the class baby. I’ll just take the zero.” He heard Kellin get up and flush the toilet. When the stale door opened, Kellin froze. “What are you doing here?” he asked quietly as he recovered from the shock. The raven-haired boy walked to the sink and washed his face with cold water before rinsing out his mouth and popping a piece of gum in.

“She sent me here to make sure you’re ok.” Vic replied coldly. “Who were you talking to?”

“No one.” Kellin mumbled as he tried to walk around Vic. Vic wouldn’t let him and Kellin began to get frustrated. “Let me go.” He grumbled.

“Not until you tell me who you were talking to.”

“Why do you care? You’re with Alex so let me be with whoever the fuck I want.”

“You’re right.” Vic said with a humorless chuckle. “I am with Alex and he’s a better boy-.”

“We were never together, Vic. That night never happened because I don’t remember shit. I’ll only talk to you when it has to do with the project, other than that, we don’t need to exchange anymore words.” Kellin walked out with his head held high but as soon as the door closed behind him, he let the tears fall as he walked away.

“But it did.” Vic whispered with broken voice. “It did and I wish you’d remember.”

*

“Kellin said to go to his house right now so you guys can get some project over with.” Mike said with an annoyed voice, from the doorway.

“What? You’re talking to me now. You haven’t talked me in two weeks. And why are you talking for Kellin? He can come over here if it’s that important.” Vic replied from his spot on the bed.

“If you weren’t with Ale-.”

“Don’t blame him for shit.” Vic said as he sat up quickly. “He’s been a better friend then the rest you guys.”

“Whatever, just go to Kellin’s and do your project so he can buy the fucking cr-. Go.”

“So he can buy what?” Mike ignored the question and walked out of the room, slamming and locking his door.

Ten minutes later, Vic found himself standing in front of Kellin’s house. Just as he was about to knock, Katherine opened the door and stared at him with a glare.

“What are you doing here?” she said too calmly.

“Um, I’m supposed to, uh …”

“We’re working on a project, just let him in and go do what you were going to do.”

“Does he?” Kellin shook his head no. “Hurry.”

“I know. I’ll see you later yeah?” Katherine gave him a kiss on the forehead and walked out. “Get in so we can get this done with.”

Vic walked in and followed Kellin up to his room. When they walked in, he noticed it was different. The bed that used to sit proudly in the middle was now pushed against the wall, next to the door that leads to the bathroom. There was only on trunk now, and that one was empty. A black dresser was now placed into the room and Vic could see some of Kellin’s clothes that wouldn’t let the drawers close. The bookcase and desk sat pushed against the opposite wall of the bed.

“You changed your room.”

“Yeah. I did.”

“Why?”

“Needed to. Now you’re not here to ask questions, you’re here to help me with this project.” Vic nodded and sat on the swivel chair at Kellin’s desk. “Use my computer and I’ll use my phone.”

“Can you put in your password in?” Kellin got up with sigh and typed in his password. “Thanks.”
They sat in a somewhat awkward silence for about two hours before Kellin’s computer went off, signaling a Skype call from Alan. Vic turned to Kellin who was already up, and walking towards him. He quickly stood from the chair and let Kellin sit while he went to the bathroom.

“Kellin, I thought of a baby name!” Alan shouted, once Kellin hit answer.

“Sh!” Kellin said wide-eyed as he looked behind him to make sure that Vic wasn’t in the room.

“He’s here.” He whispered.

“What? Why?” Alan whispered back.

“Science project.” Kellin said with an eye roll.

“Oh. That sucks. But when are you going to pick it up?”

“It?” Alan raised an eyebrow and Kellin seemed to understand what he meant. “Oh! Shit I guess now. You’re still meeting me there right?”

“Yeah. Bringing Austin and Tino so the can carry it up to your room.”

“Ok, thanks. Now I have to go and get rid of … Vic. Bye.” Hanging up, Kellin walked to the bathroom and knocked. “Hey, um you can come out now.” And Vic did, looking pale. “Are you, um ok?”

“Yeah, I think I need to leave.”

“If you want,” Kellin began, scratching the back of his neck. “I can finish up the project.”

“Uh, I’ll come back Saturday.”

“No!” Kellin nearly shouted. “I mean, I can go over to yours at around three-ish.”

Vic nodded in agreement and then left with a faint bye. When he got home, he went straight to Mike’s room and pounded on the door.

“What the fuck!”

“Did you know?”

“Know what?”

“Don’t play stupid Michael.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about Victor.”

“Did you know that Kellin’s pregnant?” he shouted.

Notes

AND I DRINK TO THAT !!! Anyways im going to warped in Maryland !!!