In the classroom, Theo stood in front of his desk. Behind him, Loren had his hand outstretched.

“Theo, right?” 

Theo stared at his hand.

Then he sat down in his seat, facing the front. 

A snicker came from behind Loren.

“The nerves on this guy, huh?”

Theo didn’t turn to see who it was. His fingers curled every time he heard a shift behind him. 

Loren’s cologne hung heavy between them. The jasmine was better.

Theo scanned the classroom. Twenty desks. Back home, a single year group had more students than the grade.

Someone from the next table leaned over.

“Hey.”

Theo glanced over. Brown haired, skinny guy with a few pimples across his face. He looked like an actual highschooler and nothing like the asshole behind Theo.

“I’m Daniel.” He said as he slid the class schedule over. “You can copy mine.” 

He smiled. It looked sincere.

“Thanks Daniel.”

Throughout the morning, it was the same students in different subjects.

So I’m basically stuck with Loren for the rest of the year. Fuck me then.

In English class, the same teacher that taught him geography asked him to read a paragraph. Daniel slid him his textbook. 

Theo’s voice came out smaller than he would’ve liked. 

No one reacted though, not even Loren.

When the lunch bell rang. Students filled the hall outside Theo’s window.

Daniel turned to him like he was about to ask something. His friends entered the classroom to whisk him away before he could.

Theo stayed seated, watching them leave as a group. 

Loren passed his desk on the way out. Theo dropped his head onto his arms and pretended to sleep, not expecting to actually fall asleep. 

Afternoon classes blurred past, half awake. His math teacher picked him to answer an equation he didn't even know was related to math.

“Ms. Maroney, I just got here. I genuinely don't know what I’m looking at.”

The class laughed, like he’d meant to be funny.

Maroney shook her head. “What do they even teach you in these public schools?”

When Theo sat back down, he caught an amused expression on Loren.

The final bell rang at two-thirty in the afternoon. Exhaustion and hunger hit Theo, not having anything to eat since he arrived at school.

“See you tomorrow.” Daniel waved him off.

Theo smiled. 

He seems nice.

When he stood to leave for the cafeteria, Loren stepped into his path.

“Where are you off to?”

“Leaving.”

“The windows need cleaning.” Loren threw him a spray bottle and rag.

Theo didn't catch them. When the spray bottle hit the floor, the remaining students stared.

“I just got here,” Theo said, trying to stay calm.

Loren shrugged. “You can't be the new kid forever. Besides, Caleb needed someone to switch.”

Theo didn't even know who Caleb was. He was caught between leaving and picking up the rag to throw at his face.

After yesterday, probably a bad idea.

Theo bent to get the spray bottle and rag, dropped his bag on the teacher's desk and started wiping.

“Picking on the new kid, Loren?” the class monitor said behind him.

There was no answer. Loren came up beside Theo instead.

“Missed a spot up there,” he murmured.

“What's your fucking problem?”

Loren didn't blink. “Grab a chair,” he said. “Unless you want me to boost you up.” It didn’t sound entirely like a joke.

Theo twisted the rag in his finger before dragging a chair over. The legs screeched against the floor, drawing the room’s attention.

He climbed onto it jaw tight. Is this some sort of power play?

“Higher,” Loren said mildly.

The chair wobbled when Theo leaned further. 

Loren’s hand steadied the backrest. Not enough to help, just enough to control the sway.

Then he leaned in, whispering.

“Meet me at the cafeteria in ten minutes.”

Theo almost dropped the rag. When he turned, Loren was already walking out the door.

Ten minutes.

The noise came back in waves, like the room had been holding back for Loren. Theo didn't have a watch, so he finished the last few windows without getting on the chair.

“I’m good?” he asked the class monitor before leaving.

The class monitor nodded, not bothering to check.

At the cafeteria, of the ten long tables in the room, only three were occupied. 

Theo bought himself a sandwich and sat near the wall, the furthest from the people. He tore the sandwich in half but he couldn't eat from it.

Loren appeared a few minutes earlier than he’d timed. Theo straightened himself as Loren slid into the bench across from him.

“You’re hard to catch alone,” Loren said.

“And this is what you get off on?”

Loren tilted his head. “You angry at me?”

“Tell me what you want and fuck off.”

“Relax,” Loren tapped his finger on the table. “You’ll pop a vein.”

Theo’s fist hit the table, the rattle of the metal snapping heads around.

“You don’t think I have the guts to report you?”

Loren didn't peel away from Theo. He put his elbows on the table, fingers interlacing. 

“There it is.” A smile crept in. “You seem to like pushing back, but you also know when to stop.”

Loren checked his nails. “That’s useful.” 

The fuck does that mean?

“You have something I want and you need me to stay quiet.” Loren's fingers drummed on the table. “Your cigarettes are all I’m asking for.”

Theo’s fist unclenched slightly.

“Is this really all there is to it?” His voice came out a little desperate.

Loren took the other half of Theo’s sandwich. 

“You sound worried,” he said, chewing slowly. “Like you care about keeping your place in school.”

Theo’s chest rose sharply. Then fell.

“One. I’ve only got two left.”

Loren studied him before finishing the last bite. Then he wiped his lips with his thumb.

“All of it, and I’ll show you where to smoke.” He stood and walked away before Theo could agree to it.

He came back after a few steps. “There will be a routine inspection later. For the love of god, don't hide them in your desk.”

Theo’s mouth fell open. Loren disappeared out of the room, for real this time.

A few students were still watching his table.

Theo picked up what was left of his sandwich and forced himself to eat.

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