38Phoenix: ...You okay?
Zeia: *mumbles* I've been better...Whatever. Enjoy the chappie. ^^o
*~*
Street-Wise Love
Chapter Three: The Binks House
~*~
Tanner hated the rain.
It wasn't just something to hate because it was there or because it flooded things or because it was, quite obviously, wet. No, it was something else entirely. Something dark, something deep within himself that he hadn't ever told another soul about. Not even Jessie and Natalie. He just didn't... He just couldn't tell anyone. Maybe he thought no one deserved to know. It was /his/ secret. And no one would ever know it. Ever. Except Jessica and Natalie. And even /they/ knew how important it was.
So when he was stuck outside in it without an umbrella, needless to say, his mood soured even more. Grumbling, he hefted his bookbag further up on his shoulder, then started out of the school, pushing the doors open, his teachers thanking him for the help in staying after to help them tidy things up like he did every afternoon.
Kody watched from the shadows, arms folded over his chest as he leaned over the wall, then pushed off gingerly and started after him, whipping out his umbrella which he had fortunately brought with him this morning. His friends had offered to drive him home, but he had declined. When questioned why, he said he felt like walking. They had just shrugged and left.
Kody stepped out into the rain, not even bothering to open his umbrella, and tilted his face up as he stood on the top step leading up to the school. Yes, he liked the rain. Loved it, really. When his parents had still been together and were bitching, as usual, he had sought out refuge in the rain. He would either curl up in his room, locking the door, and let the rain drown out their yelling and soothe him to sleep or go outside in it and just sit there, not caring if he got sick.
The rain helped him forget things.
The rain was where he hadn't been able to jump Binks.
Maybe today the rain would help him forget all his thoughts over the course of the last twenty-four hours.
...Yeah. Right.
Slinging his umbrella up on his shoulder, Kody smiled to himself, watching the little nerd walk around the corner, looking miserable, no doubt heading for the library. He took a moment to push up his fishnet sleeve, checking to see that he had two hours before he had to head into work, and then hurried after him-he walked quickly, but still calmly.
His job... The sooner he passed high school, the sooner he could get a real one. And afford things. Like a car, a new house, a college ticket, somewhere far away from his mother. Sure, his father was willing to take him in, but Kody hated his father with a passion. His father had walked out on them. Kody didn't want him coming back. Kody would prefer to have nothing to do with him.
Kody shrugged off thoughts of the past and concentrated on the nerd before him. Little twerp didn't even have enough sense to bring an umbrella. He smirked. Wasn't it so typical? All those book-smarts and no street-smarts. Little dicks.
He quickened his step and slowly began to close the distance between them. The Binks kid turned a corner and Kody dropped the umbrella and darted forward.
He reached out and his hands closed on damp cotton. He turned the corner and looked at his catch.
Natalie Plowden glared back at him, the Binks kid behind her.
Kody staggered back.
"Yes?" she asked sweetly.
"What the hell are YOU doing here?" Kody growled, frustrated. And it so wasn't because he wouldn't be alone with the Binks nerd. It wasn't.
"Bringing Tanner an umbrella," she replied, hiking her thumb over her shoulder. Come to think of it, he did have a large crimson umbrella over his head now. "Can I help you, or do you just like my shirt so much you want it for yourself?" He looked down at the shirt clenched in his fist and angrily let go.
"Bitch," he snarled.
"Love you, too." She made a kissy face. Kody glowered at her darkly, then folded his arms and assumed an expression of uncaring.
"Whatever, look, I just came to tell Binks that he's tutoring me."
"Tell him-?!"
Tanner placed a hand on his friend's arm. She cut off and glanced at him. He smiled reassuringly and nodded. She stepped aside. "Sure. When?" Tanner asked the goth before him. He shifted the umbrella to hike up his over-sized bookbag.
"Tomorrow. Your place. After school."
Tanner nodded. "Alright."
Kody blinked. It was easier than he thought. "Alright then." And he turned and walked away. He tried to feel disappointed...
"W-Wait!" Tanner cried after him, and to both their surprise grabbed his sleeve.
Kody immediately stiffened, then whirled around and glared down at him. He avoided the eyes, and his gaze came to rest on Binks's nose... And what a cute, pert little... NO. "What?" he almost growled.
Tanner smiled sweetly. "Don't you want to know where I live?"
Kody fought embarrassment. Damnit! He never got embarrassed over stupid shit like this. He shifted uncomfortably, looking away. "Yeah, sure, whatever, kid."
"Kid-!?" Natalie began heatedly, but again Tanner cut her off.
"It's all right to be mad, but I haven't done anything wrong." Tanner looked solemnly up at him. Thunder rumbled, echoing around the buildings, vibrating through the air above them. "And you're the same age as I am."
"Pfft. Whatever." Kody shrugged. "You going to tell me where you live or not, Binks?"
He shrugged, looking over his shoulder, and Kody said a silent prayer-now he didn't have to worry about those eyes that ... irked him. "I live on..." And he looked back, quickly giving directions, then cleared his throat. "Aren't you cold?" he asked suddenly.
Kody blinked, caught off guard. One moment they were discussing where the nerd lived, the next he was asking him if he was cold? He shook it off-whatever it was. "Nope!"
Tanner examined him closely a moment, making Kody shift uncomfortably again. And then the kid smiled. "But your skin is pricked with goosebumps."
Kody reflexively took a step back, eyeing Binks warily. "Yeah, so? It's natural."
Tanner merely smiled again. He held out a hand from beneath the umbrella. The rain splattered against his pale, slender hand... Kody jerked his gaze away from it. "Are you sure you don't need an umbrella?"
"I have one," Kody said more fiercely than he had intended, but he didn't care. "Look, whatever, see you tomorrow."
And he skulked off into the rain.
Tanner watched him go with a slightly sad smile on his lips.
*~*
"Kody, someone needs to watch the kids while the parents do their school board meeting over there."
Kody looked up from where he was handling the spatula and the burgers and scowled. "Does it look like I'm in the middle of something?"
Amanda Stewart rolled her eyes. She was short, skinny, and with glasses and brown hair and brown eyes. Her hair barely brushed her chin. She folded her arms over her chest huffily and scowled. "Look, the manager said so. I'm not in the mood for your shit this afternoon."
Kody smirked slowly. He knew exactly how to get on Amanda's nerves. She was afraid of cows-being so short, she had this fear that they would bite her or something if she got too near. So she freaked out about anything dealing with cows. "Moo," he whispered venomously.
She scowled, eye twitching, and raised her fist. "Look, buster, small people give big boo-boos!"
"Riiight," Kody drawled.
She huffed, bristling, and kicked his shin.
"Hey-OW!" he cried, glaring, and batted his spatula at her.
She calmly moved out of the way. "Whatever. Just do what the manager says."
"Why don't you do it?" he spat hatefully, rubbing his shin as it throbbed painfully. "You're short enough. You look like you're twelve. I mistake you for a kid everytime I see you, anyway."
Amanda huffed again. "Asshole," she growled. "I'm gonna make you sorry you said that-"
"/Miss Stewart/," drawled a voice very close behind Kody. "And Mr. Johansen. /Do/ we have a problem?"
They were immediately acting like mature employees, casting one last spiteful glance at each other. "No!" they chirped in unison.
"Good." Mr. Campbell looked at them suspiciously, then nodded to Kody. "Go play with the kids. Amanda will take over here."
Kody knew better than to argue with the manager if he wanted his job. So he mumbled a dark "Yes, sir", gave Amanda his spatula, then walked briskly over to the exit, but not without a last glare over his shoulder once he had heard Mr. Campbell walk away.
~*~
Kody sat there in a tiny chair in the play area while all around him kids ran and screamed. His arms were crossed, and over all he seemed to pout like a very large seven-year-old wrongly placed in time-out.
"Hey mister," some little kid said.
"What?" he snapped.
"Why you wearing lipstick? I thought only girls wore lipstick."
"Shut up. Go play or hang yourself. Your choice."
"And yur wearin' nail polish, too. Are you a girl?"
"No."
"But you dress like one."
Kody snapped. He whipped around and put his face right before the kid's and snarled. "Look kid. I'm not a girl, and I don't dress like one. I'm a goth, got it you little brat? A goth! Now get the Hell away from me!" The kid looked overall unaffected. He took a French fry from his bag and stuck it up Kody's nose, then turned and walked off.
Kody turned back straight and glowered. Just fuckin' perfect.
*~*
The next day went past in a blur. Thankfully, Kody hadn't had a dream that night like the one before, and his mom wasn't anywhere to be seen. He figured she hadn't come home until after he had headed to bed, and that was around one o' clock. He had tried looking at his homework, wanting to understand, but the numerals and letters meant absolutely nothing. They just weren't being processed. Kody had fallen behind in class and now he didn't understand. He bitterly wished he had studied that year before crumpling up the piece of paper for his answer sheet and throwing it in the trash bin.
Kody wanted to say that he hadn't spoken to Binks and just ignored his presence, but...he hadn't. No, he had laughed at him, was meaner than usual, and basically focused all his frustration and bullying on him. His friends had joined in, of course, and they had had quite a good laugh, too, but now somehow... when Kody had seen Binks in the hallway, head bowed... It had affected him. And that weirdo Jessica had been there, glowering at Kody, arm around Binks's shoulders. For some reason, he had felt like shit after that, and for the rest of the day, had generally avoided the smaller boy.
And so now... He was heading off after Binks once the bell rang that school was out. He didn't know where the little rat's locker was, but he thought he had a good guess-he refused to acknowledge that he had watched the Binks kid scurry to his locker sometime around third period. He didn't. He had just happened to, ah, glance up, and there he was...
Tanner was hurriedly putting his books into his locker, shoulders a bit slumped, looking miserable. Kody actually felt miserable himself for a moment before he got rid of the feeling. Ridiculous! He didn't feel bad about picking on anyone else, and Binks was not to be an exception!
Kody checked to make sure the coast was clear-and it was free of Natalies and Jessicas, thank God-then rushed over to Tanner's locker. Well, actually, he walked calmly, but inside, his heart was pounding. He needed tutoring, and if he had blown his chances that day...
"Binks." Kody slid in next to him, leaning against the next locker, and folded his arms over his chest, taking on a calm air-he still didn't feel anything of the sort inside. In fact, his heartbeat had quickened.
Tanner looked up at him momentarily, then pursed his lips and placed another book in his locker, exchanging it for a thick one. He said nothing, pointedly ignoring Kody.
"Binks," Kody repeated more firmly.
"What?" came the quiet retort. Tanner gave him a short glance, then returned to placing his things in his locker.
Growling, annoyed that he was being ignored-or lack there of in the attention area-Kody slammed Tanner's locker door shut. Tanner stared at it a moment, expression blank, then sighed, finally turning to face Kody.
"What do you want? I need to get my things, and you're interfering." His usually so warm and bright green-gold eyes-from Kody's little experience-were cool now, devoid of all the emotions they had been filled with before. Happiness, sometimes a hint of fear, and hope... Yeah, Kody had seen it. He just didn't want to wonder what it was for. The little kid probably hoped he wouldn't get beaten up, after all. "Unlike you," Tanner continued briskly. "/I/ want to pass my junior year, and /I/ plan to do so. So say what you will and please step aside." He closed his eyes momentarily, then looked directly into Kody's.
Kody felt like all time was freezing again. He vaguely felt like he was back in time a few days ago, out in the rain, pushing Tanner up against the brick alleyway wall. And at the same time, he knew for certain he was in one of the school's hallways, the last few kids who hadn't gone outside yet bustling around them, talking animatedly.
Kody's arm dropped numbly to his side. He forgot to breathe, and when he tried to do so, it got caught up in his throat. His throat constricted as he swallowed, and by now his heart was beating madly against his ribcage so much his stomach was knotting up, and yet, oddly enough, he felt calm.
Tanner raised an eyebrow, then sniffed and turned back to his locker. He quickly put in the proper combination again, eyed Kody one last time, then continued with exchanging the proper books and notebooks and things, leaving the goth to stare numbly.
Kody's lips twisted into a frown. Again, he slammed Binks's locker shut, then stepped in front of the smaller boy, raising an eyebrow. "Do I look like I have to take your fuckin' attitude?" he snarled. Suddenly, he was angry, though he didn't quite know why. There was something about the boy's attitude. Normally, someone who had a smart-ass mouth on them wouldn't bother Kody, only amuse him, give him another reason to torment the sorry sucker. But no, Tanner was raising an opposite reaction out of him. Maybe because Tanner wasn't being angry, snarling, or anything like any of the others, but only being cool, collected.
Like a rich snob who thought Kody was merely a pebble beneath his shoe.
...And those green-gold eyes weren't so bright...
"I've taken yours for God knows how long," Tanner replied briskly, eyes flashing the slightest bit in a warning.
Kody bristled. That kid!? Warn /him/!? Who in their right fucking mind-!?
"Will you move?" Tanner sighed, the look gone, now replaced with weariness. Kody was a bit surprised that he could go between moods so fast, and yet at the same time, he didn't seem really moody at all. Huh. Strange.
Tanner's delicate brow furrowed as he studied Kody, lips pursed again. "I need my things. Please?" he added politely.
Kody stared at him for a moment. Okay, so one moment he was a snotty little brat, and now he was being a polite little innocent angel. Kody snarled, taking a threatening step forward, but Tanner didn't back down, only stiffened and straightened, bringing the top of his head to merely brush Kody's shoulder.
Close...
Kody froze again, muscles tensing as he stared into Tanner's defiant eyes, which were now narrowed. There was a certain.../warmth/ from being this near to the boy that he didn't appreciate, or better yet, understand. He set his jaw, Tanner's nose almost touching where the dragon tattoo on his left breast was...
/"Ko~dy!"/ he heard within his mind, like a snag of a memory.
...That dream...
Kody sniffed, brushing Tanner to the side, and looked over his shoulder down at him. "Whatever. I'll be waiting out front. If you don't show up, don't think I won't hunt your punk ass down."
Tanner didn't quite glare, but his anger was evident. He merely sniffed, once more turning back to his locker, and Kody's eyes lingered on the smooth curve of his cheek...
Growling to himself, Kody stuffed his hands in his pockets, then headed out towards the front of the school, glaring at anyone who so much as looked at him wrong. He took a moment to shrug his bookbag further up on his shoulder, then sighed, shaking his head, and stepped into the outdoors.
It was cloudy... Gray... The sun was barely peeking through...
...That dream...
/What the Hell is wrong with me today!?/
/Maybe what the question you should really be asking yourself is...What's wrong with you /everyday/?/ his subconscious retorted in a mere whisper.
"...Stupid..."
"I'm ready," came a soft voice behind him.
He whirled, nearly running into Tanner, then snarled. "You should be careful."
Tanner merely walked past him down the steps, shaking his head, hair swishing back and forth. He readjusted his glasses on his nose, then shifted the book bag higher up on his shoulder. He didn't even look behind to see if Kody was following as he shuffled onto the sidewalk, then started off briskly.
Kody gritted his teeth. The little son of a ...
"Hey! Who the Hell do you think you are!?" Kody shouted, then quickly ran to catch up with him. He stopped in front of Tanner, folding his arms over his chest, but Tanner just merely walked around him.
"Answer me, punk!" Kody snarled, grabbing his shoulder, albeit gently... He stared at his hand for a few moments, wondering why he wasn't being harsh when touching the smaller boy, but Tanner was already answering.
"Tanner Binks," he replied, staring stiffly at Kody's chest. His brow furrowed. "...It's a bit chilly out here..." His voice softened as he studied Kody's clothing. "You're wearing fishnet and your shirt is barely anything at all..." He reached out to touch it, stopped, fingers curling towards his own chest, then hesitated, staring up at Kody. "Aren't you cold?"
"I'm fine. Didn't you ask me that yesterday?" Kody snapped.
Tanner stared up at Kody for a few moments.
"What the fuck are you starin' at?" Kody growled, eyes narrowing, looking at Tanner's forehead.
Tanner smiled faintly, looking down, and grabbed the straps of his book bag absentmindedly. His shoulders shook as a soft giggle escaped his lips. Kody was about to make a snide comment on what a fag he sounded like, but Tanner was already saying, "You remembered."
"What are you...?" Kody began, only to cut himself off.
/"I live on... Aren't you cold?"/
Oh. So he /had/ remembered... Unconsciously, but he had remembered nonetheless...
Kody's cheeks burned a nice hue of pink against his will. He quickly covered it up with, "Yeah, and? So what? It's not like it means anything!"
"Oh, I suppose that's all how you look at it," Tanner replied, lips curling up into a faint smirk-the first one Kody had ever seen, but when was he keeping track? ... For the past few days, apparently.
"Huh?" Kody was struggling to keep his mind in the here and now and just how much attention he had been paying attention to Tanner Binks. It made him uncomfortable just thinking about it.
Tanner chuckled. "Never mind."
It was a rather nice sound... Rich, warm, escaping those petal pink lips...
"Whatever," Kody sneered. "Are we going or not!?"
The trip to Tanner's house was a quiet one, as neither boy seemed to want to speak to the other, even if they did send curious or scalding glances at the other when he thought he wasn't looking. Kody kept his arms folded tightly across his chest the entire way, refusing to admit he was indeed cold. What pissed him off is that Tanner knew the truth, but didn't say anything.
The house was huge... At least to Kody it was, who was used to his little shack he shared with his mother. It was painfully well-kept to, the picture of wealth. It disgusted Kody. The two story house had white wood siding and pastel blue trim, with an emerald green lawn at the exact height and smooth. Wrought-iron gates surrounded the place, keeping others who would disturb the perfect peace out, or keep the perfection in. 'B's were wrought in the gates at ten foot intervals.
Kody felt like gagging.
Apparently Tanner felt the same, because he hesitated before opening the gate, looking dubious. He took one glance at the goth boy, however, and determinedly swung the heavy metal aside and led the way up the perfect gravel path. Kody kicked the rocks all astray. He knew that in an hour or less it'd be back the way it was, however.
Tanner gave Kody a weak grin as they reached the door. "Home sweet home."
The Binks kid opened the door and stood aside to allow Kody to enter first. Kody did and smirked, tracking in dirt and mud on the polished wood floors. The inside was just as Kody had expected it. Perfect. Posh. Utterly annoying. Tanner closed the door behind him as he entered and meticulously wiped his feet. Kody ignored him.
"Dad?! You home?!" Tanner cried.
"Oh, hello, Tanner. What have I told you about yell-Oh. And who might this be?"
Kody blinked as a rich, deep warm voice reached his ears, and then he looked up towards the staircase. A man that looked to be near his early forties came slowly done, hands folded politely behind him, light brown hair tidy, toothbrush mustache neat and kept, blue eyes warm behind spectacles.
"Is this a new friend?" Who Kody pressumed was Mr. Binks looked at him, then smiled at him before turning to Tanner.
"Umm..." For a moment, Tanner seemed to stiffen, but then he relaxed and smiled brightly. "Actually, Father, I have agreed to tutor him."
"Ah." Mr. Binks chuckled quietly, hurrying a little down the last of the stairs, but still looking calm. He made his way towards another room that Kody saw led to what looked like a family den-but it was as big as a lounge in a hotel. Geeze! "What is your name, son?"
Kody broke his gaze away from what he could make out of a chandelier and richly furnished couches as his brain processed that he was being spoken to. He cleared his throat, then nodded once. "Kody Johansen."
"Johansen," Mr. Binks murmured, brow furrowing thoughtfully. "Hm...Name sounds familiar, but I can't quite place my finger on it..." He smiled moments later, waving a hand dismissively. "Ah, well. Perhaps another time-I'm rather busy and am just about to head out."
Mr. Binks turned to his son. "If Nana tells me that you've been staying up past your bedtime again, it will not be nice," he said sternly.
Tanner's cheeks flamed as he saw Kody slowly smirk out of the corner of his eye.
"I do hope they're paying you for this." Mr. Binks sniffed. "Really. Volunteer work is so quiant."
"Oh, they are," Tanner replied solemnly.
Mr. Binks studied him for a moment, then seemed satisfied, for he smiled, nodded once to both boys, then strolled from the room, whistling a little tune that probably dated back to the fifties.
Kody immediately took this as his cue to round on Tanner angrily, but Tanner merely smiled, eyes twinkling, and placed a finger to his lips to shush him. He winked.
So Binks had put on a show for his daddy? Heh. Still, that didn't make him any better in Kody's eyes. He probably /was/ getting something out of this, and that made Kody grit his teeth at the thought, but he shrugged it off. No point in pondering about it now, best wait until later.
"Well, c'mon!" Tanner whispered hurriedly. "Let's go on up to my room!"
Kody shrugged, then followed Tanner up the steps. Tanner took his time, not touching the banister, so Kody didn't, either. God forbid he be yelled at for putting fingerprints on the mahagony wood. Honestly. Rich snooty people. He sneered at the thought.
The carpet was rich, plush, a royal red. Kody had already had to take his shoes off at the door, and he could feel his feet sinking into the material. He stared down at it in awe for a moment, wondering, then reminded himself that rich people prided themselves on this and glared darkly.
Doors immediately greeted him on either side of the hallway. Tapestries lined the walls, and small couches or little antique tables were pressed up against them with vases of dully colored flowers. Kody didn't particularly like flowers, but he thought these were pretty ugly.
At last, Tanner stopped at a door four ones down to the right, and he briefly smiled at Kody before turning the highly polished knob and pushing against the oaken wood. He disappeared within the room, and Kody hesitated a moment outside, looking both ways, before cautiously entering.
The door closed behind him.
Kody jumped, startled, nerves already on end in this place, and whirled to see that Tanner had closed the door. He stared wide-eyed at him for a moment, then growled a little in accusation of being startled so badly, but Tanner either hadn't heard him or ignored him, probably the latter as he walked over to the center of his room, then dropped his book bag. He gestured for Kody to do the same, and the taller boy immediately did so, tired of lugging the damn thing around.
He took a moment to examine Tanner's room. It was richly furnished like everything else, polished to perfection, so Kody didn't know why he had expected less. A desk stood off to one side, solid oak from the looks of it, spiffy clean, with a rolling chair and small green lamp. The closet was double-doored, large, the window large, as well, with light blue draperies. It was open, the darperies rustling a little in an afternoon breeze, sunlight filtering through. The carpet was the same soft blue color, as well as his bed, piled with highly comfortable looking comforters and pillows. A trunk rested at the end of it.
Kody's frow furrowed. "What? No TV? PS2? DVD player? I thought ya lived in luxury."
Tanner shrugged, sitting on the edge of his bed, bouncy a little. "When I have the time for it, I just go to a room a few doors down. All that stuff is in there."
Kody grumbled irritably, then folded his arms huffily over his chest. He glared darkly at Tanner, who promptly lay on his back, arms folded beneath his head, staring up at the ceiling. "Well?"
"Well, what?" Tanner asked calmly, chest rising and falling evenly with his breathing.
Kody's glare darkened some more. "Well, what the fuck do we do now!?" he demanded irritably.
"Mmm..." A soft chuckle. "First you stop sulking."
"I'm not sulking!" Kody protested, and then proceeded to, well, sulk.
Tanner sat up a little, hoisting himself up on his elbows, and raised an eyebrow while his lips curved upwards. "Then why are you scowling whilst your lower lip juts out?"
Kody growled.
Tanner giggled a little, eyes bright, and Kody stared into them, entranced, going numb again. Damnit! He couldn't... He couldn't break away...
Tanner blinked. "Did you just slap yourself?"
"...Maybe." Kody turned away and started to peruse the room. Tasteful artwork on the wall... two bookshelves full of books. Pencils everywhere and of every type...
"Are you human?" Kody asked.
"What do you mean?"
"No nudy pictures? Not even of guys. I mean, gay or not... It's just not natural."
"Well... my nanny would have a cow if I did..."
"You have a nanny?"
Tanner blushed. "Yes. Dad hired her."
Kody scoffed. "Your dad think you're a baby?"
Tanner blushed some more. "No, but... Nevermind. You have your books?"
"Yeah, yeah..." Kody went over to his bag and pulled out the book and tossed it to Tanner. Tanner examined it, confusion clouding his features. "What? There a problem?"
"This is brand new. Have you ever even opened it?"
Kody thought for a moment. "Mmmm, nope. Why?"
Tanner almost fell down anime style. He never even opened the book?! How was he going to catch Kody up for the entire year?!
Tanner wanted to crawl under a rock somewhere, hope no one would bother looking for him, and just freakin' /die/. Why was he so kind-hearted!? It always got him into horrible situations! His mind was /reeling/ with the thought of having to teach Kody everything for the junior year! Tanner, at the most, would barely have time to get his own work done! Oh, God, no wonder Mrs. Miller had told him it was quite possible he would fail! But then again, she had said that /he/, Tanner Binks, would have been able to pull it off. And he thought he could, but Mrs. Miller had /known/ all along what Tanner would have to do! Agh! Evil woman! First tear up his precious drawing, and now /this/!
Kody stared at all the emotions flitting across Tanner's face-self-pity, horror, anger... And he looked as pale as a ghost. "Dude, like..." Kody couldn't have his tutorer dying because of a heart attack before his junior year was finished. "You okay, man?"
Tanner buried his face in his hands, shoving his glasses to forehead, causing them to teeter on his fingertips. "Autumn is here. Do you realize that that's three months of catching up I have to teach you? And from what I've overheard yesterday, your grades have to be way below the failing average. The most to past the semester you would have to dramatically pull your grades to a high ninety at the least. God, I didn't even think about this..." He began massaging his temples, glasses falling back to rest on the bridge of his nose, eyes squeezed shut.
Kody scowled again, folding his arms more tightly over his chest. "You're gonna fuckin' tutor me whether it's hard or not, got that, punk?" Kody snarled. "I /refuse/ to stay in this God foresaken city longer than I have to!"
"Well, what's so wrong about this city, Kody?" Tanner asked calmly. "I know life in the slums must be bad-"
And suddenly Kody was grabbing fistfuls of his green cotton shirt, hauling him up so much that his toes barely skimmed the ground. And then Kody's eyes were boring hard into his, angry as he leaned close to where their noses were inches apart. Kody was breathing heavily, and Tanner stared in a type of horrified fascination. Oh, God, had he been wrong!? Was Natalie right!? Would Kody really hurt him!? He didn't get more time to wonder on this, but Kody shook him a little, causing his glasses to teeter on his nose and his thoughts to scatter.
"You have /no/ idea what the slums are like, you fuckin' punk!" Kody hissed, eyes mere slits. "No fucking idea!" He released one fistful of shirt to jab a finger pointedly in Tanner's face as he leaned back a little. Tanner swallowed, mouth dry. "So don't fuckin' start on me about how you know! With your rich fancy house and your nanny and your tidy-kept room!"
"YEAH!?" Tanner shouted back furiously, the most emotion he had ever displayed in Kody's presence. Kody had unknowingly hit a soft spot, and Tanner didn't react too well to people pushing his buttons, even if he hid it behind a cheerful mask. But that was one thing he hated... "Rich people's lives aren't all they're cut out to be! My life isn't all it's cut out to be! Everyone has their problems! In a way, yours are no worse than mine!"
"Fuckin' punk!" Kody snarled. "Your life is /way/ better than mine! Your mother isn't a fuckin' prostitute/whore who goes around for booze and pot! Your mother wasn't such a bitch that she made your father divorce her and leave you!" His voice was rising heatedly, stormy eyes blazing with an inner fire. "Your mother doesn't fuckin' abandon you, then feed you shit, expectin' you'll be all right, when in reality, she doesn't care for you at all!"
"I wouldn't know!" Tanner cried. "I don't have a mother!"
Kody stared at him, taken aback, and unconsciously released the boy.
Tanner staggered back, body heaving with his heaving breathing, heart pounding against his ribcage. He readjusted his glasses hastily, then let his eyes narrow now that he could see clearly again.
"What!?" he shouted. "You thought I had the perfect life!? Well, I don't! She died in a car crash when I was five! So there! Don't feed me shit about your mother! At least you have one!"
Dead silence as Kody stared in shock, hands still clenched in the air before him from where he had held Tanner up by the scruff of his shirt, Tanner hugging himself, green-gold eyes glaring furiously at Kody. And yet still, they entranced the goth. They weren't filled with hate...
"Tanner!?" came a worn, yet still lovely warm voice of an old woman. "Tanner, is everything okay in there!?"
"Yeah!" Tanner called back, finally breaking the gaze, and hobbled over to where he had dropped Kody's book when the taller boy had grabbed him. "I'm fine, Nana."
"Alright then, dearie... Be careful." Then the footsteps faded and she was gone.
Kody had apparently dived for his book at the same time, and their fingers brushed.
Tanner froze, staring at where his pale skin contrasted with Kody's only slighter darker skin. Just split seconds after their skin had touched, Kody's hand had clamped down over his too late, crushing it to the surface of the book.
Tanner's heart was beating madly in his chest. The day before, it had just been a brushing, and his skin had tingled. Now it felt like...like...his skin was on /fire/.
And then Kody was jerking away, cupping the back of his neck with his hands, eyes squeezed shut and eyes turned to the side.
He didn't offer an apology about Tanner's mom, either. Tanner didn't know whether to feel angry because Kody hadn't even bothered, or relieved because Kody didn't pity him. After a moment's thought, he decided on the latter. He was tired of being mad today. He hated the feeling, too.
A few minutes later, both were seated on Tanner's floor, books sprawled out among them, the light on the fan overhead turned on as the fan swished around slowly, blowing cool air against them despite the autumn season. It had grown a bit stuffy in the room from the recent argument, and on Tanner's behalf, because of the book scene. Tanner didn't know about Kody, but the other boy seemed uncomfortable, too.
The Chemistry 101 book between them, Tanner began from the beginning, trying to make it as interesting as possible, gesturing with his hands, but it was sort of hard. Kody, for the first few minutes, stared at him blankly, Binks's words going in one ear and out the other. And then Tanner had sighed, seeing he wasn't getting through to the goth, and moved to move the book sideways between them, gesturing at the numerals with his mechanical pencil. There was a few moments as he repeated all of this, this time slower, and then Kody's eyes seemed to brighten a little as he enthusiastically grabbed the pencil, taking the notebook and scribbling down the problem, then thinking through an answer. Once he was finished, he handed it to Tanner, who checked over it with a professional air, then beamed at him. Kody had gotten it right.
Two hours later, they were making some progress, but not much, and in an hour Kody had to be getting to work, from what the other boy was saying. Tanner sighed, chewing on his bottom lip, and explained the homework as quickly as he could and still be understandable. Kody seemed to get it, or at least he acted like he did, then packed up his things, shoved them into his pack, and started out the door.
Tanner's lower lip jutted out into a pout-it was a habit he hadn't quite been able to get over. "No thanks?" he called to Kody's back.
Kody paused at the doorway, then sighed, shoulders slumping the slightest bit, head bowed. He said nothing, only waved behind him, then continued on.
"Hey!" Tanner protested, scrambling to his feet, and dashed after the boy, framed in his doorway as Kody started down the hall. "I don't have to tutor you, you know!"
Kody snarled, "You'll tutor me or you'll regret it, punk."
Kody started down the stairs, heading briskly for the front doors, and Tanner rushed down the stairs after him. He stopped in the entrance to his 'home', but Kody wasn't turning around, merely beginning to start down the front walk.
Tanner pouted again. "I at least deserve some gratitude." He sniffed. "It's not like anyone could stand sitting two hours near you and try to put brains in that empty head of yours."
Kody glanced down at the nerd before him. Kody had the oddest sensation that he should kiss him good-night, what with those sparkling green eyes and pink lips...
/RAGH! YOU! ARE! NOT! GAY!/ Kody smacked himself mentally. He turned and started to walk off, ignoring indignant sounds behind him from the nerd.
Tanner huffed and started to go after the goth, to demand some form of gratitude... But his shoe caught on some uneven gravel in the walkway, and he fell forward. Time slowed down, and Tanner could see the ground come rushing up at him with surprising clarity... He knew it was going to hurt, a lot.
He squeezed his eyes shut and waited for the inevitable.
Then he opened them. He didn't hurt. And he hadn't hit the ground. He looked up to see the stormy eyes of his tutee above him, looking very confused. Then very angry. Tanner felt a faint blush before he was dropped to the ground. But it wasn't a long fall, and didn't hurt much. He winced a little and watched as Kody stormed off into the darkening evening. The days were getting shorter.
Tanner watched him go, vaguely concerned that he was going to be cold. Then pushed himself to his feet and went inside.
He stopped before he closed the doors, however, peering around them, a vague flame of hope lighting in his heart as if he would see Kody at the gates, looking over his shoulder and watching him, too. But Kody wasn't there, and so as a lone breeze came by, rustling Tanner's hair, the flame of hope was wiped out. He smiled faintly, sadly, then shut the front doors.
The stars twinkled above in the night sky, which Kody watched before actually finding himself facing the fence again. He stared at it, cursed, the hope he had refused to acknowledge crushed as he didn't see the Tanner kid there. Scowling to himself for even feeling such things, the goth started his long way home so he could get ready and head to work.