It All Started in Detention

Chapter Twenty-Six

On Monday, Davey fell back into his regular routine.

He had a basketball game to cheer at that evening, and six tests falling over the course of the week, not to mention the pile of assignments he had to finish for all of those classes. He'd normally do this over the weekend, but he found himself preoccupied.

There was no time for anything else. He walked down the halls of his school with a speed undetectable by eyes, thumbing through the papers held close to his chest. He hadn't realized he'd memorized his way to every class, but he wasn't going to complain about it. It was the only plus side to this morning.

As of this morning, he had to shower again because Sarah spilled his breakfast on his lap, which set him back about ten minutes. Then she left first, leaving him to take the subway to school, which set him back by twenty minutes. It was still early enough to catch a thirty minute rest period before school began, but that also meant he had thirty minutes to deliver the papers in his hand, confirm with his cheer coach about cheering at the game tonight, and get to his first period on time.

He didn't have time for anything or anyone else. "Davey!"

He stopped to turn around, seeing Jack with an excited smile on his face as he ran toward him. Davey waited for him, politely, to catch up, but he began walking as soon as he did. "Yes, Jack?"

Jack was sent into a light jog to keep up with the cheer captain. "What's got you in a rush today? It's...It's only 8:05."

"Really?!" Davey began to walk faster, resembling that of the middle aged women at the mall, which put Jack in a stride. "I've only got 25 minutes to deliver everything. Shit, I'm going to be late for class."

Jack furrowed his brows, huffing. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm busy, Jack", Davey answered, keeping his eyes ahead of him. "I really need to go. If you're not going to help, I'll see you at lunch, okay?"

"I'll help", Jack decided, grabbing some of the papers from Davey's hand. He'd finally stopped walking, and stood in front of Jack. "Where am I taking these?"

"To the girls' basketball coach, the head of athletics, and", Davey took one paper, replacing it with another, "your mom. Just ask her to fill it all of the information and then give it to Mr. Pulitzer. He'll know what to do with it."

"Cool", Jack nodded, smiling at Davey. "We'll meet up by your first period, alright? See you."

Then he left, and Davey wasn't afraid his papers would be delivered at all.

——————

Speaking to the head of athletics was an intimidating process, Jack had come to find out. She was a very tall woman, and Jack wasn't even sure of her name, but she stared through her brows, and her eyes never conveyed her emotions. "Hey, Coach. I've got this paper from Davey Jacobs. He needs you to...to sign it, I guess."

She hummed and took the paper from his hand, looking it over with her eyes. Jack stood there watching before nodding his head and walking away, relieved that his task was done. All he had to do now was meet up with Davey, who seemed to be under a lot of stress.

Davey was never not stressed, anyone could see that. But last weekend, he was so carefree. Jack hoped it would last, but he supposed tensions ran a little tighter because of his reaction to Davey's nickname, and any other time they spoke.

He was aware of how much of an idiot he was, and he was sure Davey was aware of that too, but he assumed he was better at feigning the well in his well-being than he performed that weekend. He's never felt so nervous around a person in his life; all he wanted was Davey to be his friend.

And they are friends, only that. Jack's great with friends. He doesn't do well with crushes, and he doesn't want to. He was happy to be Davey's friend.

He noticed his friend standing by the wall and leaning against lockers, a total opposite of who he was this morning. His frame was still tense, but he seemed more relaxed than before as his eyes stuck to his phone screen. Jack walked up to him cooly, a cocky smile on his face. "Did you miss me?"

Davey looked over before going back to his phone. "Hardly thought about you. Did you deliver the papers?"

Jack showed his empty hands, a proud smile on his face. "Yep! I think a reward is in order, though. I take food and cash."

Davey chuckled, turning off his phone and shoving it into his pocket, rolling his eyes. "You're adorable, Jack."

What was he supposed to do with that? Jack chuckled lightly, staring at his shoes. Davey noticed he was blushing, and he chuckled again. "You blush like you don't get complimented often."

He doesn't, not by anyone who matters. His friends compliment his ability to make them feel seen, as well as his ability to have the emotional capacity of a fifty year old, happily married woman, but there was a circumstance there. Davey was churning these out like it was a natural thing to do.

"I was hoping it would increase my chances of you buying me food", Jack recovered, and Davey laughed. He didn't want a repeat of last weekend, the tension between them throbbing and ready to explode. "Did it?"

"Not in the slightest", Davey answered honestly, a smile on his face. He was more attractive when he was relaxed—anyone was. Jack wasn't sure how Davey didn't realize that, but he supposed some guys were into the overly stressed aura his friend had hanging around him, one that could only work for him. "I'll see you at lunch later."

With that the bell rang, as if Davey had predicted it. Jack nodded and went his separate way, with blush still on his face.