“Well said. And yeah, it goes for me. Not just because I agree with it all, but because he definitely said it better than I could. I ain’t gonna pretend to understand what all this means, I think I understand a little bit. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care, and if you want to share with us, you’re in one of those safe spaces or whatever they call it.” Malcolm was nothing if not bluntly honest. You really had to hand it to him. Not a lick of anything so far since they’d met had ever been a hidden agenda or a lie. “Doesn’t even have to be today, individually, whenever you’re comfortable. After lunch El can fix up your hair so you look more like a real boy instead of a trainwrecked Yeti, and then maybe we can hit the mall.”

The tiny knot of dread in his stomach steadily evaporated the longer the seemingly gentle giant went on, leaving him to toy his spoon through the remains of his soup. “Yeah, that sounds great. I’ve been meaning to make a stop, Maybe you could give me some pointers on hair gel? I tried to get it all soft spiky at home, but it just got chunky.”

“That’s because you used gel. I use pomade. I have no idea what anime reject over there uses for his.” Mal jerked a thumb over at Ethan who merely flipped him off with his mouth full and chewing. Malcolm’s hair was nice, flowing from short artfully spiky tips at the front, to a modest ponytail at the back. “We can pick something up for you, and I can show you, or Specks can. Don’t let Ethan do it. You’ll end up with painted nails and green in your hair too if you’re not careful.” His hand came up, deftly picking the slice of pickle lobbed at him from the air and crunching down with his teeth. “Thanks.”

“Asshole.” Ethan muttered, completely content to ignore the mild glare sent his way from their bespectacled companion for throwing food at his table. “I want to look through the new thrift store by the mall too. They tend to get good vintage games that people pay through the nose for online.” Nothing at all to do with the fact that Ren had mentioned it the other day with interest while they walked towards the park.

“Cool. Thanks for lunch. Maybe next time I can help? I’m actually really good with cooking. I make all my own stuff and I like to experiment. I think I finally perfected my latest pasta creation. Anyone dislike alfredo sauce?” His parents usually left money for weekly groceries, or they’re in the fridge when he comes down on Sundays.

“With this many mouths to feed, I’m going to need all the help I can get.” Mal leaned over, jostling him in the ribs with an enormous elbow. “So, tell us how you met Ethan. I mean, we know a little, because he came home once thoroughly irritated but after a week he seemed happier and then this blond kid started hanging with him. Figures it was connected.”

Now this wasn’t exactly his brightest moment. “I might have called him on his shit my first day at a new school. I got really bad flack for it, and while trying to gain his favor, most of the school turned against me. It was good times.” He chuckled a tad nervously, cheeks pink from the memory that rippled into his thoughts.

“He never actually explained what had happened.” El looked flabbergasted, blindsided by the statement, or the possibility of it. “I apologize, but I had no idea.”

“Ren was right, I was wrong, shit happened, and now we’re friends.” Ethan rattled off, tilting his eyes balefully at the confused blond. “What’s so surprising about that?”

“Well for starters, some random kid took you down a notch and neither of you came home with a split lip.” Mal teased, rocking back in his seat. “Kidding, kidding! Seriously though, I don’t think anyone has ever really had the balls to say anything that wasn’t a compliment or complete fawning in regards to you at school. Too bad no one else can get the hint huh? Not that it matters, the whole place is filled with fake greedy assholes anyways.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” El hurried the conversation along, standing up to clean off his place. “Ethan, if you’ll help me by rinsing these off, I can take Ren back to start fixing his hair in the bathroom.” He didn’t wait for a reply, merely setting a pile of emptied dishes by the sink and towing the other blond after him. There now, some peace and quiet while those two argue. I take it you’ll rather like keeping everything about the same length, just cleaned up?”

It was his first time alone with either of the older boys, and it took Ren several moments to let his brain catch up with the question. “Oh, yeah. I wanted it to be long enough I didn’t look like I’d enlisted, short enough to spike up.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem. Come on in and take a seat on the bath lip there. I can just spray down the remains after.” Elliott led him into a roomy but fairly utilitarian bathroom, far more simple than the decor that was so lavish out in the living room and the other bathroom they’d passed. The other blond seemed to note his curious gaze as he turned around from gathering a sheet by the counter top. “My front area is decorated with thought of my mother in mind. She tends to appreciate the finer things, and would likely have a coronary if I filled the house with the sort of knick knacks I prefer.”

The sheet was settled smartly around his neck, clipped together with an alligator clamp that fooled the illusion Ren was under that the older teen was a professional at everything. He remained quiet as El got started, content to let him snip away, this way and that. Hen he moved away towards the back, Ren finally couldn’t hold it in anymore, bright eyes looking up through the mirror towards the other blond. “How did you know?” He blurted, rolling along before he lost his nerve. “What to ask, I mean. How did you know without even meeting me, that I’m...different.”

If Elliott was put off by the question, he certainly didn’t show it, keeping his pace steady and even while he clipped at stray hairs. Almost a full minute passed before he abruptly set the scissors down, moving to lean on the counter in front of him. “It wasn’t hard, given the signs. Ethan mentioned earlier that his friend was behind a bit differently, wanting to warn us to take it easy on you, I suppose. He said you were wearing baggy things, weren’t exactly ‘one of those girls’. Didn’t like makeup, didn’t like dresses or skirts.” Ticking them off with the efficiency he was known for, El offered him a comforting smile. “No need to fret, Ren. I had a bit of experience with being a bit off average. I’m Ace.”

As soon as he said it, the hours spent combing the internet for his abnormal feelings brought everything into brutal clarity. Ace. Asexual. Someone that didn’t ever feel sexually attracted, right? “Really?” He’d never have guessed, but then again, that wasn’t exactly something that you could tell off the bat.

“I assure you, I would know if I were lying.” El murmured dryly, reaching out to ruffle the top of his hair. “It’s another reason there as so much laughter at your initial question today. I must admit that Malcolm knows, but I have yet to broach the subject with Ethan.

Ren reached up to palm at his neck and rub away the last of the hair still settled on his skin, shuffling over towards the mirror to get a better look at his new ‘do. Elliott did nice work, it looked almost like he’d paid for the salon to fix it for him. The back was still a little long, however the front and sides fluffed up in almost natural spikes due to his cowlicks. “Jeez El, this looks great! How did you know it could stick up like this on its’ own?”

“That’s the magic of short hair, Ren. It naturally defies gravity a little, really it only need the barest amount of hair chemical to keep it the way I think you want it.” His hands reached out, fine fingers teasing a few more spikes from his bangs for a lasting effect. “We’ll grab something as Malcolm stated at the mall. Are you ready?”

His head bobbed in an excited nod, more than happy to bound down and head off. The mirror showed the drastic difference that had happened in less than a week, the changes that already had him feeling more comfortable in his skin since puberty had started.

Their trip was actually more time in the thrift store than anywhere else, allowing him a decent time to pick up some well priced if faded band tees, and a long coat for the coming winter. There were a couple beanies he’d been eyeing, but those would have to wait until his next allowance. Still, he’d come out of the day with a new haircut, new to him clothes, and a pomade that Mal promised would give the effect he wanted so long as he didn’t use more than a small bit every morning and washed it out at night.

Dinner got waylaid to a rain check due to a sudden summons from Ethan’s father, which apparently was worrisome. It took all he had for Ren to wait a couple hours after drop off to finally text his friend and see if everything was okay.

Really old friend’s mom died, and dad worked with her. He just wanted me home on the off chance we still remembered each other. We don’t. -E

Yikes. Still, good to be there for moral support if she worked with your dad too. Maybe he needs you more than he let on and it was an excuse?

His phone was quiet for a long stretch.

He was pretty quiet yeah. I’m gonna order a pizza and hang with him tomorrow. See you Monday? -E

Dude, of course. Like I’m going to skip school.

Thought you might chicken out since you have a new haircut that doesn't really match a skirt. -E

Fuck.

It’s cool. I’ll have your back. Even make Mal and El come eat lunch with us on our side of the caf. -E

As long as they don’t mind.

Nah, they like you. Knew they would. -E

Saying good night and plugging in his phone, Ren sighed, flopping down to scream into his pillow with frustration. Knowing Monday would be coming and preparing were two very different things. “Please let it go okay. Please let it go okay.” He mumbled to himself, finally turning over to breathe. He had a full day to do nothing but worry about it, with homework on top of that. “We need to start doing assignments completely Friday night instead.” He complained, without even the old Tom to listen to him.