Inhumane. Forcing him to be outside in these temperatures was simply inhumane.

Why wasn't he born a bear? Then he could just simply sleep the winter away--

Adam sneezed into his hands, his temples and neck aching from the explosion.

“Elbow.” David remained, handing him a pack of tissues from his pocket.

“Yeah yeah... Gimme that.”

The corridors were doom and gloom, filled with teenagers dragging their feet through another day of “the best part of their lives”.

Honestly whoever decided this was the best part of someone's life, was probably a sheltered, spoiled brat who got a world-shattering shock once they had to pay their own bills, and do their own laundry--

Cassie! Cassie! Cassie! Cassie!

“Good morning, Cassie!” He greeted, totally calmly and nonchalantly, leaning cooly against the locker next to her like a cool chill guy... totally.

“Morning, Adam.” She greeted back, with that beautiful sweet smile “Uh, where's David?”

“Huh? He's right--” Adam looked back, realizing his friend wasn't by his side, but instead far, far back in the corridor “David, what are you doing back there?!”

“You're the one who left me behind, dude!” he yelled back.

“W-well, come here!”

“Nah! I have something to do actually! See you two in class! Bye!” he yelled back, turning around and marching away.

“What? Gimme a moment, be right--” he tried to excuse himself and follow his friend, but a warmth warping itself around his hand froze him in his tracks.

“I think David can go to the loo by himself, don't you?” She said with that harmonious accent of hers.

“Huh… Yes. I think... h-he... can.” He agreed, adjusting his beanie as his ears turned red a smile crept across his lips, trying to not look at their locked hands too much-- Oh fuck her hand was so warm and soft-- Chill. He needed to chill. Keep his and not creep her out... Chill. He was chill “So, ah... How… How was your weekend?”

“It was nice, mostly catching up on school stuff. And yours?”

“It was fine.” Really peaceful, since Spice was determined to give him the silence treatment. “Do you need help catching up? I have good grades overall and I can send you my notes. ”

“Really? Sure, thanks. Let me give you my number.” She agreed, unfortunately letting go of his hand to get her phone.

“Yeah, sure.” Adam quickly grabbed his phone and opened his wasteland of a contact list.

David🍡🐱

Mom🕊

Orange

And added:

🖤🩶🖤Cassie🖤-- No, too soon and too forward. He shouldn't put the carriage in front of the bulls.

Cassie 🦇🧛‍♀️

Yes, that was much, much more sane and stable.

“I'll send you the notes when I get back to the orphanage, OK?”

“Orphanage?”

“Oh. Yeah… David and I live at N12. It’s that mansion-looking pink building with a huge courtyard, about half an hour away from here.” He revealed, pulling his beanie down.

“The one that looks like a Barbie prison warden set?”

“…Yeah.” That was, honestly, an apt comparison. All that was missing was the barbed wire lining the fence. “Oh, by the way let you give my number.”

“No need, David already gave it to me.”

“…He did?”

“Yeah, on Friday,” Cassie clarified, “He said that since I would be exiled with you guys, I should have your numbers. I initially said that maybe you'd be mad that he was giving your number to an absolute stranger, but he said that I would be the last person you'd mind having your number… Yeah, your friend is not a subtle wingman, is he?” She chuckled.

“Ah… Win-wingman? For… who?” Adam tried to deny the accusations, his ears burning as he tried to hide his face.

“You're not subtle either, Adam.” The call out hit him like a brick to the lungs, that amused, dark smile deepening his desire to become an unsolved missing person case. “But I like it.”

Adam's head perked up at the reveal, the red-eared boy lifting his beanie just enough to peek at her.

“You do…?”

“Yeah, it's nice.” She confessed “I honestly prefer when guys are, you know, genuine. None of that pretending to be cool and not caring, and pretending that they don't want something more than just friendship. And you look cute all love-struck and shy like this. A real cutie.” She said, brushing his bangs aside.

Cutie. She called him a… cutie… And not only did she not seem opposed to the idea of him having feelings for her, but she was also still talking with him and even gave him her number-- Holy shit, David was right! HE DID HAVE A CHANCE!

“Hey, do you want to maybe go on a--”

*BRRRIIIIIINNNGGGG*

Adam covered his ears and glared at the bell.

“Well, guess it's time to learn…” The girl sighed. “Tell me, how's our math teacher?”

“First day we met him he went on a tirade about how edutainment is bullshit…? I don't know, the guy obviously has some problems,” Adam shrugged, gesturing at her to follow him. “He's generally high-strung and a 'no-nonsense' guy, but that can be said about most teachers here.”

“I guessed as much. Prety much of all my teachers back in England were like that too. Is hating kids a requirement for the job here as well?” She joked, walking by his side.

“Probably--”

*DING DONG DING DONG*

“Adam Flores Castillo, report to the counselor's office. Adam Flores Castillo, report to the counselor's office. Now.” The unfeeling voice announced over the intercom.

*DONG DING DONG DING* 

Adam sighed as the eyes focused on him.

“I'm guessing they want to talk about that?” Cassie theorized, pointing at his bandaged hand.

“Yeah, Mr. Jenkins probably just wants to make sure I'm fine.” This was actually the first time he called him that year. Honestly, he felt kinda hurt by the neglect, now that he thought about it. He'd better have some nice tea waiting for him. “Come on, I'll drop you off at class before I go.”

“You sure? It sounded like he wanted you there like, right now.” 

“Don't worry, he's chill,” Adam reassured, resuming their march, “He won't mind if I take my time, especially if it's to help a friend.” And it bought the counselor more time to get the kettle going. God, he could really go for a scalding hot cup of chamomile with some honey.