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«Did you know that Allison is dating Neil?»

FreakingOutGirl

Summary:

“I just had the best idea ever!” Nicky announced and Allison stopped what she was doing and watched him sit on one of their beanbags. “You have no idea what I just heard from the kids! And you are going to love me when I tell you everything!”

Nicky overhears the new freshmen talking about how they think Neil and Allison are dating and decides that scheming with Allison a plan to mess with the kids and have a bit of fun is the best way to spend his time (or to be killed by his cousin, the court is still ruling on that. )

Work Text:

Nicky was walking by the freshmen’s rooms when he heard a few excited voices talking all over each other. Now, Nicky is not someone that thrives in gossip, of course not, but he didn’t know as much as he liked about the baby Foxes and every time he could eavesdrop without other people’s knowledge he would do it. Not that that was called gossiping, obviously.

Now, not in even a million years, Nicky would imagine what made the kids so excited.

“Did you know that Allison is dating Neil?” a girl said and Nicky almost had a heart attack. He froze, his eyes widening and his mouth opening in a chuckle that he was able of stopping.

“What?” another person asked, Mia, Nicky thought.

“Yes, we saw them in the mall this morning! They were all lovey-dovey!” now that was definitely Gus talking, Nicky knew, since his voice was the lowest one in the bunch and he had to actually move closer to the door to understand what the kid said.

“She is not that hot!” Sheena, Bastard Two, as Nicky liked to call her, answered back.

Nicky wondered if he should stay a few moments longer, but he heard the roof door opening and closing and two male voices and before he could think twice he had flown to the girls’ room, opening the door after knocking once. Luckily, Allison was the only one in there and her eyebrows rose when she saw Nicky’s mischievous smile.

“Well, hello to you too. Nice to see you didn’t become politer during summer… Does a closed door mean something different in Germany?” Allison asked, turning back to arrange her desk and her new books.

“Yeah, sorry about that, I didn’t want Neil and Andrew to see me…” Nicky explained. The Foxes had learned the hard way that the roof was Neil and Andrew’s place after rudely barging in in the middle of a make out session. Even all these months later, Aaron proclaimed he still had nightmares and Kevin swore he thought they were actually having a barbecue on the roof and that’s why he followed all of them. The girls and Matt decided selective memory was the best course, even if every time, for the next few days, Matt was in close proximity to Andrew he always had a shocked expression on his face. It only went away when Andrew volunteered to carve that expression on his face with his knife.

“I just had the best idea ever!” Nicky announced and Allison stopped what she was doing and watched him sit on one of their beanbags. “You have no idea what I just heard from the kids! And you are going to love me when I tell you everything!”

Allison heard the entirety of the crazy plan Nicky came up with between first listening the freshmen and entering her room in a mad dash. With every word, Allison’s eyes twinkled in mischief and Nicky spurred by her reaction kept on.

“So?” Nicky finally finished and Allison looked at her nails in deep concentration.

“You know Andrew is going to kill us, right?” Allison mentioned and Nicky sighed.

“I guess we will have to be martyrs for the well-being of this team…”

Allison shook her head at his dramatic words.

“Well, it’s been too long since something lightly exciting happened around here…”

“Right? It’s not like we have some gangster breathing down the neck of our boy or anything…” Nicky replied and Allison smiled at him.

When Nicky left the room, he prayed a small prayer for his cousin not to commit double homicide and walked towards his and Matt’s and Aaron’s room, with a beat in his steps.

The first part of the plan would happen still inside the locker room. Nicky and Allison had agreed on what to do and say. They were lucky it was Wednesday, or at least, Nicky was, since it made his part way easier. It wouldn’t do them any good to be impaled even before starting messing with everyone.

Allison made sure all the freshmen girls were in hearing range, when she started showing Dan and Renee some pictures on her phone.

“Oh my god! How did you convince Neil to try this?” Dan asked, chuckling at Allison’s phone.

“He loves me too much to say no…” Allison replied, not telling them that she used the fact of this being her last year to finally convince him into taking silly pictures with her. The boy was always too serious, he needed to shed that psycho’s son mantle and be a normal brainless teen for a few hours.

Dan and Renee smiled at each other, noticing the ease with which Neil stood next to Allison on the pictures. A mere year ago it would be impossible to imagine their scaredy cat standing so close to someone and smiling. Dan felt incredibly proud of the way Neil reacted now to them, joking around with Matt, yelling at Kevin, rolling his eyes at Aaron, letting Nicky buy him clothes that he would never wear, having philosophical conversations with Renee, letting Dan hug him when she felt the need and especially the bond he developed with Allison, after everything that happened with Seth.

“Why were you in a Halloween shop?” Renee asked, when the pictures changed to Neil wearing something that resembled a mechanic’s clothes, all dirty with oil.

“Renee, we have to buy the costumes soon or everything good will disappear…” Allison replied and Dan shook her head.

“It’s still the beginning of September…” she commented, but Allison ignored her.

She kept showing pictures of Neil with actually normal clothes, making sure to comment on his physical attributes. The younger girls were doing nothing to hide their eavesdropping, until a yell from Kevin outside their door made them jump into action.

On the boys’ side, Nicky waited until Aaron and Kevin were almost ready to go to start his conversation with Neil.

“Neil, did you buy a lot of stuff with Allison when you went shopping?” Nicky asked, feeling Aaron moving towards the exit and Kevin following him right after.

“Not much, she wanted to buy some stuff for her…” Neil replied, making sure his guards were correctly put.

“What stuff?” Nicky asked.

“Some underwear and costumes, stuff like that… She wanted my opinion…” Neil was not really paying attention to Nicky, so he answered like it was a completely usual thing for Allison and him to go buy lingerie together. Actually it was, since the end of last year, when she started borrowing him for her shopping sprees.

Nicky saw, through the corner of his eyes, Jack’s eyes widen.

“Really? And did you have some favorites?” Nicky wondered if he was exaggerating, but Neil was now checking his phone, probably reading a text from Andrew telling him he just arrived at Betsy’s office, and was clearly not understanding that he was being played.

“She had some frilly stuff… It’s not really my thing, but she liked them…”

Nicky was almost exploding in laughter, but controlled himself.

“Did she buy you those skinny jeans?” Nicky pointed at Neil’s new pants inside his locker.

“Yes, she said they made my ass look great…” Neil said it as an afterthought, texting quickly on his phone. Nicky didn’t know if he should thank Andrew or not for distracting Neil in such a way.

And now not only Jack was staring at Neil, but the rest of the freshmen too, with something akin to jealously or bewilderment. Matt was humming under his breath, clearly used by that kind of conversation.

The next day, they started their morning work out in the gym, with Matt and Kevin in a competition to see who could bench press more. What they chose to ignore was that Andrew was still better than them, and Neil was not doing anything to hide the way his eyes followed the goalkeeper’s arms.

Allison tsked to herself. He was doing things harder for them… So, she moved from her station to stand next to Neil’s. She started an inane conversation, too low for anyone else to listen, about Renee and Dan loving his Halloween costume.

“Yup, so sexy…” Allison rose her voice, so the freshmen boys closer to Neil were the only to hear, and lowered it to say the next words. “Andrew will totally rip that outfit off of you!”

“Allison!” Neil replied, blushing to the roots of his hair, and his voice carried through the gym, making everyone stop and stare.

“Allison! Stop distracting Neil! Make that on your own free time or should I send the electricity bill to you?” Wymack yelled, making both of them jump and Allison had to stop the smile from appearing in her face. The coach just said the best thing to make the younger kids keep wondering without her having to incur in Andrew’s wraith during the rest of training.

Oh, yes, she could feel his eyes following her since the moment she approached Neil. Thankfully, his blank face didn’t give anything away or else hers and Nicky’s little game would finish before it started and before she could win that bet about how long it would take the kids to figure it out about Neil and Andrew.

Nicky couldn’t be having more fun watching Allison messing with not only the kids, but Neil as well. Neil’s face would redden after a few minutes of Allison starting a conversation with him within the kids’ visual range. Nicky could only imagine what kind of things she was saying, probably bringing up Andrew more times in a conversation than she ever did in the last three years. However, Andrew was the thing that was worrying Nicky now. His cousin started paying more attention not only to Allison, but Nicky as well, and he felt like a mouse being followed by a particularly mad cat.

Since they started their little prank, three week had already flew by, and Nicky was starting to doubt the younger kids’ intellect. Not that Allison tried less hard to keep her part, but Neil was so not into her that it was palpable. He wondered what the freshmen thought about all the moments Neil disappeared with Andrew, or when he appeared with some hickeys during a weekend when he was away with only Andrew. Seriously, Nicky started wondering if the freshmen saw Neil and Andrew making out if their hetero-normative little brains would come up with the right answer… Somehow he doubt it…

The answer to Nicky’s current doubt only got its answer by the end of a training in the beginning of October.

Everyone was already moving around the lounge, showered and tired from the training when Kevin appeared with a white board.

“What is that for?” Matt asked, already moving towards the exit door.

“Everyone back to the court!” Kevin commanded. “I got this idea from Jeremy and Dan and Neil agreed…”

“Your crush Jeremy?” Nicky chuckled and ducked to avoid the pen Kevin threw at his head.

“Usually after a game, the Trojans sit in the court and talk about went wrong… Since everyone will start punching everyone after a game, we decided it would be best to do it after a training once a week.” Kevin explained.

“But you didn’t say it had to be today…” Dan replied, her hand being pulled by Matt towards the exit like he thought they could escape before Kevin locked every door.

“Better start today, since I already have the board in here!” Kevin said, ignoring everyone’s annoyed faces.

“But I have a dinner today…” Sheena said and Jack nodded, even if he hated being against his idol.

“Well, when we start losing and Coach stops using the freshmen in our line, you can’t come cry and ask for forgiveness!” Kevin replied, angry and pointing fingers at everyone, including the non-freshmen.

“Well, we can do forty-five minutes of it, what do you think?” she asked and everyone looked at her like she was crazy.

However, her calm smile and hopeful eyes made everyone, even Bastard One and Bastard Two, look down.

Grumbles of “Alright” and “Just forty five minutes” echoed around the lounge and Kevin looked at them like a monarch seeing his orders being respected. More than one athlete wanted to punch that smirk out of his face.

When they reentered the court, however, every thought of a calm, logical meeting flew from everyone’s minds.

Nicky and Allison looked at each other with disappointed faces. Nicky because all the next steps on his plans were now useless and Allison because she just lost one hundred bucks.

Neil squealed when Andrew stepped away from him and let him fall to the wooden floor of the court. Just a few seconds ago, Neil had his back against the Plexiglas wall, his legs around Andrew’s hips, with Andrew’s hands holding his ass, while kissing him with something akin to hunger.

Dan giggled behind Nicky, while the freshmen turned as one to face Allison.

“I can’t believe it! He is cheating on you with Andrew!” Gus said, shocked and Nicky actually face-palmed himself.

Aaron and Matt turned to Allison with surprise in his eyes.

“What in the hell?” Aaron asked.

“Cheating on you?” Matt repeated.

Kevin, after letting the shock pass, jumped and quickly approached a blushing Neil and a don’t-give-a-fuck Andrew.

“We share the room with you, Kevin…” Andrew replied, ironically. “Don’t tell me you like to watch…”

Kevin sputtered and pointed a finger at them.

“Wait until I’m not there, morons! Or go to the roof! Or your room in Columbia! But not my court!” Kevin yelled at them, until Neil looked up.

“Excuse me, for being too busy with your crazy schedules to properly make out with Andrew in my spare time!” Neil replied with fire in his eyes.

Behind the three of them, a mess of confused freshmen and chuckling upperclassmen observed the verbal sparring.

Nicky saw the kids discussing among themselves, and the cruel looks Jack was sending Neil…

Oh, Jack has no idea what will be going his way if he tries to say something about Neil and Andrew. Nicky thought, remembering the only time he saw Neil actually furious with someone, after some asshole made a comment about his relationship with Andrew outside Eden’s Twilight, and almost end up in a coffin.

Matt, never to be called subtle by anyone, actually stepped in front of the group and yelled to Kevin.

“So, Kevin, are you going to inquire them on their romantic relationship as well or are we going to start this team bonding stuff?”

Kevin looked back, took a deep breath, and carried his white board towards the center of the court, ignoring Neil and Andrew for the moment.

When the group moved towards the court, Andrew waited until Nicky and Allison were in close range.

“I don’t like when people play with Neil…” he let the threat stay in the air, long after he moved away from the two, but Nicky and Allison knew what it meant. They were lucky this time.

“How in the hell did he know?” Nicky asked, looking at Allison.

“Are you sure he is not an alien that can read minds?” Allison replied.

“You were way too obvious!” Dan said behind them. “Renee caught on three days after you started your little thing, and I wasn’t all that far away and then I told Matt, he was already suspicious too. I bet the only ones that didn’t know were Aaron and Kevin, just because they are way too busy with Exy and Katelyn, respectively… And I’m almost sure Andrew caught on right on the first day… Why do you think I bet the way I did? I gave him one month until he got tired of it…”

Dan left them behind, chuckling to herself.

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6 Works in Child Neil Josten

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Make You Happy by camjosten

Summary

Neil está nervoso para o seu encontro. Kevin e ele dão um jeito de conversarem mesmo que Kevin ainda esteja de castigo. As coisas não dão muito certo para ele e a confiança — ou falta dela — de Neil não muda em nada. As coisas acontecem como deve acontecer e, por algum motivo estranho, Neil não mudaria nada.

Series

Fox Onesies And Pacifiers by andreilinlove

Summary

Their day started like this: a toddler with red hair and big baby blue eyes.

When It All Feels So Big by notsomagicath

Summary

“Remember,” Bee reminds them as they approach their neighbor’s house, “Abby and David adopted Neil only a month ago, so this is his first time meeting some new friends. He’s only a year younger than you. Be nice, okay? And don’t push too much if he’s shy. If you don’t know if he’ll be okay with a hug or something like that, just ask him yes or no first.”

“Okay,” the twins chorus back, before sprinting towards the door in hopes of pressing the doorbell first.

(Aaron wins, but it’s a close thing.)

“Well hello, kiddos!” Abby answers the door with a grin. “David! Kevin! Neil! The Dobsons are here!”

Andrew and Neil’s first playdate by Kami_cullen

Summary

Andrew is 6 and has been living with Bee and Phil for a year, this afternoon his friend Neil and his new parents (Abby and David) are coming to his house for a play date. This is the first part of a series where we’ll see the boys grow up being best friends and being there for each other Language: English Words: 3,293 Chapters: 1/1 Collections: 3 Comments: 36 Kudos: 480 Bookmarks: 37 Hits: 4058

that was really nothing, we can do it louder by fairietailed

Summary

“How did this even happen?” Nicky had asked, arms full of bags from Target that were nearly bursting with four-year-old sized clothing and toys that most of them had never owned when they were children themselves. Neil had watched from the couch, silent and untrusting.

“No idea,” Andrew had said, and that was that.

No one knows for how long, no one knows why, no one knows very much of anything, really.

In which this is very much a kid fic and Neil is that kid.

Baby Foxes Still Bite by Aelys_Althea

Summary

‘Normal’ wasn’t exactly normal when it came to the Palmetto State Foxes. Everyone knew that, and the exceptional history of each of its members only added to that perception. Abnormal wasn’t supposed to included supernatural, though.

With a baby fox abruptly in their midst, it seemed that the curious life of Neil Josten would never cease to be an even greater exception.

Переводы текстов Enjoy English 9 класс Unit 1 Section 2

55. Прочтите тексты и скажите, что Элисон и Даниэль думают о дружбе между девушкой и парнем.
Элисон
Возраст: 14
Хобби: Теннис
Любимая знаменитость: Энрике Иглесиас

56. Работайте в группах. Найти в текстах столько преимуществ, сколько вы можете мальчика/девочки, как вашего лучшего друга. Поделитесь своими результатами с одноклассниками.
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57. Найдите слова и фразы в текстах, которые означают следующее:
1 иметь дружеские отношения.
2 иметь много.
3 расстраиваться/грустить.
4 любой мог мечтать.
5 дать совет относительно.
6 товарищи.
7 сделать глупое лицо.
8 утихомирить кого-либо.
9 защищать кого-либо, кто подвергается критике.
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58. Посмотрите видео. Узнайте про Джона. Вычеркните характеристики, которые Рита не упоминала.
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59. Работайте в парах. Задайте партнёру вопросы, чтобы разузнать про его лучшего друга.
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60. Прочитайте и запомните.
Быть удачливым, неудачливым, грустным, раздраженным, скучным, расстроенным, застенчивым, энергичным, хорошим, спокойным,

нервным, сильным, счастливым, умным, честным, удивлённым, удовлетворённым, злым, независимым, в депрессии, униженным, больным, уставшим, разговорчивым
Выглядеть грустным, скучным, расстроенным, хорошим, нервно, депрессивным, счастливым, удивленным, удовлетворённым, злым, умным, униженным, усталым, несчастным, спортивным, спортивным, расслабленным
Чувствовать себя расстроенным, стесняться, нервничать, сильным, счастливым, униженным, депрессивным, злым, независимым, уставшим, неудобно, счастливым, больным, радостным, энергичным, расслабленным, комфортно
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61. Закончите следующее эссе о вашем лучшем друге. Используйте фразы и предложения из таблицы.
У некоторых людей есть много друзей, и у некоторых их несколько. Но у каждого есть человек, который является особенным и который наслуживает называться лучшим другом.

Мой лучший друг.. (скажите имя и опишите его/её внешность).
он/она великолепна; довольно высокий, темноволосый; немного сорванец, грубый

Мы стали друзьями, когда.. (напишите, где и когда ваша дружба началась, и как долго вы уже друзья).
Мы просто нашли общий язык.
Я чувствовал себя комфортно и расслабленно.

Мы проводим много времени вместе. (напишите какие интересы вас объединяют, как вы помогаете друг другу, ссоритесь ли вы иногда или нет).
Это удивительно, как много у нас общего.
Мы можем говорить часами.
Мы уже спорили пару раз.
Мы избегаем конфликтов.
Он/она говорит мне, чтобы я остыл и был самим собой.
Он/она заступается за меня.

. (Подведите итог о вашем отношении к вашему другу).
Я знаю, мы будем лучшими друзьями с. целую вечность.
. это лучший друг, о котором можно попросить.
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62. Прочитайте последующие ING сообщения и перепишите их в надлежащей форме. Имейте в виду, что в современном подростковом английском, молодые люди часто заменяют некоторые слова символами, буквами и цифрами в своих текстовых сообщениях.
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63. Почему вы думаете, молодые люди пишут именно так? Выберите любой вариант и обоснуйте.
а). потому что они ленивы
б). потому что они заняты
в). потому что они изобретательны
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64. а) Просмотрите советы «Как быть идеальным другом » и выберите подходящие под фотографии.

— Если он/она всегда для вас лишь в качестве плеча чтобы поплакать. Убедитесь, что вы сделаете то же самое, когда он/она будет нуждаться в вас.
— Если вы видите картинку его/ее любимой знаменитости в журнале, вырежьте и сохраните её. Это будет выглядеть так, что вы думаете о нем/ней.
— Убедитесь, что вы сможете постоять за вашего друга, если над ним/ней будут издеваться. Представьте, как бы вы себя чувствовали, если бы он/она не заступились бы за вас.
— Не волнуйтесь, если вам не нравятся такие же мальчики или девочки, одежда, музыка и т.д. Всем хорошо известно, что все любят разные вещи.
— Если у вас есть друг/подруга, и он/она не может тратить все свое время говоря о нем/ней, потому что ваш друг будет чувствовать себя некомфортно.
— Если ваш друг говорит вам важную тайну, убедитесь, что вы сможете держать её в секрете!

b) Ещё раз прочтите советы и скажите, каким должен быть идеальный друг.
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65. Работайте в группах. Добавьте свои собственные советы на тему «Как быть идеальным другом» к тем, что приведены в упражнении 64.
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Mark: Mum, is my shirt ready?
Mum: I’m ironing it now. Who are you going out with tonight?
Mark: I’m going with Steve. He’s coming at half past seven.
Mum: Where are you going?
Mark: We don’t know yet.
Mum: What are you doing?
Susan: I’m looking for my white shoes. I can’t find them. And I’m not going out without them. Can you look for them?
Mum: I’m ironing Mark’s shirt.

Present Continuous
Sorry, but I cannot go on the picnic with you. I’m shopping for clothes with my elder sister on Saturday.
It means that 1 have already planned it for Saturday, my sister knows about it and is expecting me to go with her.
I’m taking my exam on Monday. I feel so nervous.
It means that taking the exam is in my plans for a certain time on Monday.

Future Simple
I have this weekend absolutely free. I think I’ll shop for clothes with my elder sister on Saturday.
It means that this is not my plan but the present moment decision. My sister doesn’t know anything about it yet. and she may refuse to take me with her.
I don’t worry at all. I’m sure I will pass it. I know the subject perfectly.
It means that I can’t plan it, but/think it will happen in the future.

Once upon a time there lived two girls, Kitty and Vicky. They lived next door to each other and had been very close friends since their early childhood. There were two gardens in front of their houses but there was no fence (забор, изгородь). It looked like one big garden. Kitty enjoyed working there. Vicky didn’t like gardening very much, but she
always kept Kitty company, reading something aloud or just talking to her.
One day Kitty returned from the garden absolutely happy and very proud. A wonderful bright flower had grown there. She was sure that nobody else had ever had a flower like hers; it was unique.
Since that day Kitty spent all of her time in the garden. She watered the flower, took care of it and even talked to it. Vicky didn’t read in the garden any longer, saying that it was cold and that she preferred reading in her room.
One day Kitty went out to say «good morning» to her flower and found it broken and lying on the ground, dead and faded (увядший).

Nothing is so dangerous as an ignorant (невежественный) friend; A wise enemy is worth more.
Jean De la Fontaine (1621-1695)

A friend is one before whom I may think aloud.»
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

«Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.»
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

«My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.»
Henry Ford (1863-1947)

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art. It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.
C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

Ben: Fantastic! Last night was amazing.mYou should have been there.
David: What happened?
David: Yeah, and.
David: Hi. Ben. How are you?
Ben: Well, she was there last night and we got talking and talking and talking. We got on so well.
David: I wouldn’t do that Ben. I’m your best mate.
David: But she’s gorgeous!
Ben: I know that David. She’s not just good-looking: she’s so good to talk to as well. We just hit it off. I have never been able to talk to a girl like that before. I felt so comfortable and relaxed. It was amazing how many things we had in common. We must have been talking for hours.
Ben: Well, you know Amy Davis from school?
David: Cool. Ben. You are so lucky. So when am I going to be introduced to the lovely Amy Davis?
Ben: I’m sure I could do that tomorrow at school. But don’t get any ideas or try to spoil it for me.
Ben: Thanks. David, you don’t know how much she means to me. We are going out on a date on Friday to the cinema. I can’t wait. I want it to be special.
David: I can’t wait until tomorrow: Could you introduce me to her friends?
Ben: Of course I will. David. Don’t worry. I’ll see you tomorrow at school.

Helen: Hello, Emma. My mum found out that I failed my maths test. She said that I have got.
Emma: For a whole week! What about. to the cinema tonight?
Helen: That’s out. I have got to catch up on all of my maths homework and then my mum is going to test me. If I get all of her questions right, then I will be allowed out — but not on.
Emma: But it’s Sarah’s birthday on. and she is expecting you.
Helen: I will see Sarah at school on Monday and explain everything.
Emma: That’s so bad. It was only because of that essay for English that you didn’t do your maths.
Helen. you try telling that to my mum. She said that there were no excuses and I. now to achieve success in the future.
Emma: Your mum is a tough one. She really makes you work hard. So I suppose I won’t. at school then?
Helen: That’s right. I’ll be so bored at home.
Emma. Vou get studying now!

Bad news, I’m afraid.— Боюсь, у меня плохие новости.
That’s out.— Это отпадает.
I’ve got to stay in for a whole week.— Мне запретили гулять целую неделю.
Your Dad is a tough one.— У тебя очень строгий отец.
We just hit it off.— Мы тут же подружились.
That beats everything.— Это уж слишком.
You’ve deserved it. — Ты это заслужил.

I’ve been best mates with Daniel for about seven years. We became friends when we started school together. Dan sat behind me and we were always chatting away.
I am a bit of a tomboy (я сама как мальчишка) so I think we’re very much alike. Dan usually agrees with me on things like music, but there is no way I’d take him shopping with me.
I’ve got loads of girl mates and they get on really well with Dan. When we first went to secondary school, they were all asking if we were going out together. That happens a lot!
He is very calm and avoids conflicts. We have only argued a couple of times. It’s usually over his girlfriends because sometimes I don’t think they are good enough for him. He gives me advice, too. If I feel too shy to talk to a lad (парень) 1 fancy, he ll just tell me to chill and be myself.
I think it is easier to talk to boys because of him.
He’s really good at knowing when I am a bit stressed out. If I’m ever feeling down, he’ll pull funny faces to cheer me up.
Dan is the best friend anyone could ask for.

It’s good being best mates with Alison because she can tell me about girls. She gives me tips on what to talk to them about. Alison helps me to choose what to wear and sometimes she does my hair for me.
She is a bit of a tomboy as she plays football and she gets into fights. She’s all right at football but she supports Manchester United and I support Arsenal so we fight when they play against each other.
My friends don’t like her because they think she’s annoying. When they tell me that she is a bore, I stick up for her and tell them that they are boring. Alison has always been there for me. Like when I am upset about my grades, she helps me calm down. I know I will be best mates with Alison for ages.

Love At First Sight

Maria: So do you believe in love at first sight?

Maria: That’s true.

Alex: It takes coming together, shared experiences and that sort of stuff but, you know, I think for some people, my parents actually met at a guitar concert and it was a total mistake. They thought, no, seriously, it was a total mistake. They thought that each other was in the same group and it turned out they were on separate groups and then things went from there. He proposed after five weeks.

Maria: Wow.

Alex: And actually had to, he proposed in front of the fax machine while his divorce was being finalized.

Maria: Oh my God.

Alex: To his first wife so.

Maria: What a romantic story.

Alex: So, and twenty years later you know, so it took one conversation in a guitar concert so I’ve seen it, you know, I guess that spark definitely exists in them.

Maria: I guess if you call it attraction at first sight, it’s way more fitting?

Alex:Yeah.

Maria: That’s what I feel at least. I’ve seen, I have friends who experienced, like one of my friends at my university now, she experienced love at first sight, like she saw the guy and she thought that’s the guy I want to marry. So I never tried anything like that but I heard it happen and I see it happening now because she’s still way head over heels for this guy.

Alex: I think if you decide the person that you’re going to marry when you see them, you’re a little bit insane.

Maria: Well, insanity is a good point.

Alex: I suppose.

Maria:: She is a little bit insane, yeah. She had a very sad love story beforehand. A guy she was in love with for two and a half years who knew but he didn’t, I think they actually did date a little but he didn’t want to be serious about it.

Alex: Yeah.

Maria: So I guess she’s more, she wants it to be serious but I never tried. Like I think the people I’ve been in love with it has taken time and it’s taken at least half a year before I’ve felt that there was more. Like I could be attracted to them but the love part, the really wanting to be with this person came later because I didn’t want take, I didn’t want to get serious at least immediately.

Alex: Yeah, I think after that sort of six month puppy love stage where it’s so new and exciting and you’re learning all about the other person, that’s when it starts to get like I think you start to feel the strong.

Maria: But I mean also like if there was a guy I didn’t even date but we were talking together for half a year and when we met, because it was internet, and he was in Holland and I was in Denmark so we met after half a year. We first met on a trip. So we met and then I could feel it grow but it took me half a year to slowly and safely just get to the point where I could actually feel something. It didn’t work out but.

Alex: Ah well, what can you do?

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this is my investigation, it’s not a public inquiry

nuandia

Summary:

Or, Five times the Foxes try to find out who Kevin is dating and one time they don’t have to.

Notes:

Thank you so much merihn for letting me drag you into this hyperfixation and for brainstorming and for betaing this thing so it can be read by human eyes without burning you to death. I should stop now.

Anyway, I hope you like this thing my brain spit at me.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Five times the Foxes try to find out who Kevin is dating and one time they don’t have to

“I thought he was still dating Thea,” Matt offers and Dan pets his arm as soon as Nicky and Allison give him the ‘I can’t believe you’ stare.

“They broke up about five months ago,” Renee says, spreading jam on her bread roll and sighing as she bites into it.

“Oh,” Matt mumbles. Then he shrugs.

“Though they have been somewhat separate before. They did decide to stay friends, however,” Allison says.

“How do you always know this stuff?” Nicky asks, and Dan thinks there may be awe in his voice. She hides the grin behind her cup of coffee. Nicky shakes his head, as if focusing on why he came here in the first place. “I haven’t seen him spend any time with anyone else.”

“We would have noticed if it was someone out of the ordinary,” Allison agrees, pressing her fork against her lips. “So maybe it’s someone living in Fox Tower? A cheerleader perhaps?”

Almost in sync, all of their eyes turn towards Aaron and Katelyn. Aaron keeps eating, completely unperturbed, while Katelyn smiles at them, still chewing on her piece of toast.

“If it’s a cheerleader, I haven’t noticed anyone,” she says after swallowing. Nicky sighs disappointedly and digs his spoon into his cereal.

“How do you even know he’s dating someone?” Dan decides to ask after she watches Nicky chew for a moment.

Nicky grins and digs into his pocket until he finds his phone. He unlocks it and turns it towards them. Facebook’s logo greets them and right below she reads Kevin Day is in a relationship.

“Could it be someone not Exy related?” Matt ventures, earning himself the same disappointed stares as earlier. “Hear me out, I’m pretty sure he really likes History. I think the only time I’ve seen him doing something that wasn’t Exy was when he read a book on the Aztec.”

This time, Nicky hums in thought, tapping his wet spoon against the bowl. “That is worth a thought,” he allows.

“Question is,” Allison interrupts, “can anybody not sports related stand his pure obsession.»

They’re all quiet, except for Aaron’s chewing, which Dan swears he does more obnoxiously than before because he can.

“So, we’re betting on this, right?” Dan asks.

“Oh, we’re betting on it.”

Ever since the team got more used to the monsters, Dan started pushing for more team building activities that weren’t based on how quick they could get drunk without talking. More often than not she got her wish, especially if she planned with Neil beforehand. None of them really know how he manages to drag Andrew along. He rarely participates but he also doesn’t outright leave and honestly, that’s already a huge improvement.

So now they’re sitting in a circle on a Saturday night on one of their rare weekends off, beer in front of them and playing Never Have I Ever. Andrew simply sits next to Neil, their arms brushing together while he looks on, bored, but he’s here. Kevin, unsurprisingly is on Andrew’s other side, actually participating after a short conversation with Neil in French, and Allison honestly wonders what magical abilities Neil has to actually make the two most difficult members of their team do as he pleases.

As of now Allison has learned that Nicky once upon a time fooled around with girls (which is probably a sadder story than he lets on), that Matt borrowed Dan’s pink stiletto heels once to see how it would feel (powerful!) and that Neil basically has no knowledge of any kind of pop culture there is.

“Fuck off,” Dan says without any heat, but she and Matt are both taking a swig. Nicky laughs, but he’s raising his glass as well.

“Seriously,” Aaron says, sounding horrified. But then again, for someone who uses libraries for romantic dates, it probably is.

Nicky simply shrugs. “Your turn,” he says after putting the glass back down again and brushing his knuckles against Aaron’s shoulder. Aaron relaxes infinitesimally and it’s nice seeing the cousins bond, especially since Allison knows how desperately Nicky wants to connect more with the twins.

Aaron shakes his head, but he slowly starts, “Never have I ever…” before he trails off, his attention on Katelyn’s hand running up and down Aaron’s arm.

“Keep it simple,” Matt grins. Aaron glares at him just when Andrew snickers where he’s seated between Neil and Kevin.

“Never have I ever kissed a guy,” Aaron finally ends, not caring of the disappointed groans that rise from most of the group. Even Andrew lifts his glass, whether it simply coincides with him wanting to drink, Allison isn’t sure, after all he’d feigned disinterest during their whole game, only watching Neil play.

Matt and Dan share a knowing smile when he drinks, which piques Allison’s interest for a moment long enough to miss Kevin raising his hand to take a sip from his drink. She only sees it when he’s setting the glass aside.

Nicky’s eyes widen and his smile grows. “Kevin Day, really? I thought Thea had snagged your first kiss.”

Kevin shrugs and simply says, “no.” For a second Allison thinks that he looks lost, but that’s not quite it, she realizes. There’s something else, hurt, painfully tucked away between gulps of sour vodka and a serious frown.

«Who was it?» Nicky asks at the same time as Matt asks, «When was it?»

“Pretty sure that’s not how the game works,» Andrew says, appearing loftily, but his attention is completely on Kevin, watching him carefully, his muscles having tightened just a tiny bit, as if he’s getting ready for a fight.

«There—» Kevin frowns, but Neil squeezes his knee and Allison’s eyebrows shoot up. «It was before Thea,» Kevin admits, staring at his drink. Then, after a second, he downs the whole glass. Next to him Andrew tenses and there’s a pinch between his brows. Kevin licks his lips.

«Jean,» he says, and from the way he curls away from them, she knows it’s the last thing Kevin will say about the subject. The rest of them have stopped asking questions, though. Dan is looking at Kevin, a question burning on her tongue from the looks of it, but she bites her lower lip. There is something sad and new on Renee’s face, as if she just realized something about him, something hard, that suddenly clicked into place.

It’s like they forgot where Kevin has lived for the longest time, like they forget the trauma that being with Riko had brought him.

Allison’s not the biggest Kevin Day fan, but she doesn’t have to be to recognize his pain. She swallows hard.

“Never have I ever fucked in my coach’s office.”

“ALLISON!” Dan shrieks horrified.

“Eww, guys really?”

“Was that a kink? Wait, was there roleplay involved?”

“What? It’s a serious question!”

Allison doesn’t think she’s imagining the small, thankful smile on Kevin’s lips. She shrugs at Dan and catches the straw with her tongue. “Yes, guys, answer the question!”

Nicks
this opns up so many possiblts
did any1 kno kevin was bi? or pan? or whatevr

Renee
explains Kevin’s mile long crush on Jeremy Knox

Matt
so we’re opening up the investigation to guys now, right?

Alli
obviously
we should also reopen the bets, since almost nobody has money riding on a guy
everybody okay w/ that?

Nicks
fine by me

Aaron
why am I in this?
I don’t care

Nicks
he could end up dating Andrew?

Aaron
don’t promise things you can’t keep

Matt
I didn’t know you liked Kevin that much

Aaron
I don’t.
Why aren’t they in here, though?

Renee
you have to ask?

Alli
guys, focus!
get your bets in now

Nicky hears the heavy breathing before he’s even opened the door. He has experience, okay, so he knows that the sounds he’s hearing now is not the fun kind, it’s the, ‘panicking, somebody help me’ breathing.

Before he can open the door and help, there’s a second voice however.

«It’s okay, I’m here, I’m—breathe with me, can you do that, Kevin?»

The breathing catches on a wet sound and then Kevin lets out a noise that somehow sounds like an affirmation.

«Okay just—just copy me,» the next thing Nicky hears is exaggerated calm inhale and exhale and then Kevin trying to match it. He stutters, but after a few moments his ragged breathing becomes calmer. For a beat there’s nothing but the two of them breathing in sync.

«Better?» Neil asks and Kevin exhales loudly, releasing the air through his teeth. Then he hums an affirmation.

«Yeah. Thanks,» Kevin says, in such a quiet and soft way Nicky hasn’t ever heard before. Nicky has never been subtle in his life, so he opens the door a smidge.

Kevin’s sitting on the bed, his hand on Neil’s chest, looking up at him. Neil, standing in front of him, has his hand on Kevin’s, gently squeezing.

The moment looks painfully intimate and there’s a weird kind of peace between them, void of any kind of antagonism. In fact, it almost looks like a newfound intimacy. There’s something between them, almost palpable and Nicky thinks that if he reaches out, he can catch it and identify it.

Sure, they quite often agree, especially if it’s about Exy strategy, but outside of the court it’s different. It’s where Nicky still sees the irritation lingering in their eyes. Faces pinched and teeth digging into lips, not allowing the other one to gain even an inch.

Nicky’s still reeling in this new revelation, in the softness between them, their careful voices, their considerate touches and—and Nicky feels like he’s intruding in a moment that is completely private and should remain as such. Carefully he pulls the door close again and with stealth that only comes from him sneaking through his parents house, he moves away just to bump into his cousin.

He feels caught, like that one time he stole his mothers bright red lipstick because he wanted to see how it looked and then couldn’t get the color off his lips. Like he stepped into a situation that was completely forbidden and he did the unthinkable of pressing the lipstick against his lips.

“Hey Andrew,” Nicky says, trying for nonchalance, but he can already see it in Andrew’s face that he isn’t convincing him in the slightest. And now that he’s watching his cousin’s bored and suspicious face, he wonders whether Andrew’s aware of Kevin and Neil’s new closeness. After all, it did look very intimate and Nicky’s about to open his mouth to say something stupid, probably. But then he closes it again. There’s no proof and Kevin had been suffering from a panic attack. He shouldn’t jump to conclusions like that.

“What are you doing here, Nicky?” Andrew asks slowly. Nicky blinks at him.

“Me? I—why did I come here—right. So the girls and I were thinking that—”

Andrew brushes past him without letting him end his sentence and bursts through the door. Kevin and Neil jump away from each other at the bang of the door crashing against the wall.

“Hey Andrew,” Neil says, the, by now, familiar soft smile curling on his lips, though it freezes just for a second when Neil spots him. Nicky can see how Neil’s previously relaxed muscles bunch together again.

“We’re leaving. They decided on another team building activity and if I have to participate once again I will cut something. Or someone. Whatever’s closer.”

“Is it an Exy related exercise?” Kevin asks and Nicky doesn’t need to see his face to know how devastating Andrew’s glare must be.

“We’ll come with,” Neil says, ignoring Kevin’s interruption and now Nicky realizes that with we he didn’t mean just Neil and Andrew but NeilKevinandAndrew. It’s not that it’s unusual. When Andrew was still acting as Kevin’s de facto bodyguard, Kevin wouldn’t go anywhere without Andrew. Nicky thinks maybe he just didn’t get the memo when Kevin started to matter more to Andrew than that. Now that Riko’s dead.

Especially after the whole Neil debacle, Nicky almost wonders that Andrew didn’t just toss Kevin aside. Or maybe that had more to do with Neil?

“That’s really rude, I worked really hard on that,» Nicky pouts as Andrew lifts an eyebrow. There’s really nothing he can do but watch them leave.

Nicks
so
do Neil and Kevin seem different to you?
in the way they intract w/ each otehr?

Alli
I did notice less exy talk

Dan
have you?
have you really?

Alli
eh
I may not pay enough attention to them

Matt
no I think Allison has a point
I mean … they still argue
but they started doing this new thing
it’s all in the eyes

Renee
I think I know what you mean
it’s like they’re at a stalemate
and the first one who blinks loses
I’ve seen them do it

Alli
why are you asking

Nicks
I acidntly eavesdropped
on a panic attack

Nicks
ACCIDENTALLY
anyway
they were like
the moment was so intimate
and they were so
I’ve never seen them act like this before

Dan
I think they’re arguing less
I think Kevin caved in about how much criticism the newbies should get
Neil convinced him to start with the basics and not to overwhelm them
It was
quick
and Kevin was pouting
waaay less

Matt
wait guys
do we think…

Renee
No.
No, we don’t.
But it’s nice
They need each other
on the sports side, they are quite
perfect

Celebrating with the other Foxes has become something of a normal standard to Matt. He likes it. The more time they spend together, the more he thinks he’s getting the Monsters. It’s still weird, however, to celebrate with other teams. Well, it would be, if it weren’t the Trojans. As always, Jeremy Knox has made them immediately feel immeasurably welcome. It doesn’t even matter that they lost. Especially, since what they’ve had today was only a friendly scrimmage and the Trojans are always nice about it. Matt thinks he realizes what Kevin sees in Jeremy Knox.

So now they’re at a different location. It’s a night club, smaller than Eden’s with both teams swarming all over the place and having at least three tables occupied which are standing in the same corner.

Matt feels warm, the alcohol settling in his stomach, warming his ears. He’s listening to Neil, sitting next to him, talking strategy with Kevin, Jeremy and Jean for as long as it takes Andrew to get back from getting them their second round of drinks.

From the corner of his eye he sees Dan engaged in a passionate discussion with Alvarez and another Trojan teammate he can’t name at this point. Renee’s getting drinks with Andrew and Aaron and Nicky are at a different table with some of the other Trojans. Allison, he knows, is already at the dance floor with two girls. He’s lost sight of them, though.

It’s still weird seeing Jean Moreau here with them, next to Jeremy, with his shoulder pressed against the blond’s. But he looks more relaxed, his features not as severe as they’ve been before. Matt even catches him smiling once or twice and it’s such a huge transformation from his Raven days. That doesn’t mean that Matt has to like him, but he can admit that he’s impressed with what he’s endured and he really does hope that he’s as happy with the Trojans as he appears.

“I agree with Kevin,” Jean says. Jeremy grabs Jean’s arm with an exaggerated gasp and Neil yells something in French that Matt doesn’t understand.

“The betrayal,” Jeremy shouts, but all he achieves is just Jean rolling his eyes fondly,

“It was obvious,” Kevin says, shrugging. He and Jean exchange a short look. It’s nothing big, but their faces both go just a little bit softer and there’s a small smile playing on Kevin’s lips.

“Or, it’s because you were both brainwashed by the same cult,” Neil cuts in. Jean and Kevin both shrink into themselves. Jeremy presses his side harder into Jean and throws Neil something that is not really a glare. Jeremy’s probably too nice for that. It looks intimate, the way the two of them sit next to each other, Jeremy offering comfort willingly and Jean simply soaking it up.

“You’re just mad that we’re right,” Kevin counters.

When Matt looks at them, he realizes that they’re both sitting just as Jeremy and Jean are with their sides pressed together. Matt knows Neil isn’t a touchy person, neither he nor Andrew are. He’s long given up trying to understand their relationship, but he didn’t think that he’d catch Neil … cuddling with Kevin? Even if it was simply for comfort, probably counteracting his trauma.

“Drinks,” Andrew announces, placing the glasses on their table. They each reach for their beverages. It’s taken longer than expected and Matt’s been highly awaiting his, so he takes a deep gulp from his vodka lemon, only to frown when he tastes the lemon but not the vodka.

“There’s no booze in here,” Matt says disappointed, smacking his lips together, as if that would make the taste and the feeling of the alcohol appear.

“That’s Kevin’s,” Andrew replies, quickly switching the two glasses before Kevin can take a sip from Matt’s actual glass. Matt blinks, the words hard to understand, because he’s never seen Kevin celebrate without at least a bottle of vodka in his hand or at least with new drinks in his hand every few minutes. Not drinking is more shocking than anything he’s experienced today. Which basically is nothing, but that doesn’t diminish the significance of his discovery.

“B—but,” Matt stutters helplessly, pointing at the glass in Kevin’s hand. “But there’s no booze in that,”

«I know,» Kevin says and wipes the edges on the glass clean, as if the imprint of Matt’s mouth is something nefarious, only there to torture Kevin personally.

«Since when do you not drink? I thought that’s the only way you could stand us, you know. When we’re off the court.»

Kevin glares at him. For a moment he thinks he’s about to say something, but then he reaches for his glass and empties it in practiced ease. He licks his lips, staring first at his own empty glass and then his gaze slides over to Neil’s.

«Five,» Neil says, but then pushes his glass over to Kevin. Matt’s pretty sure there’s alcohol in there, but with this new information he can’t be sure.

Kevin grips the edge of the table, whether to get ready to order or to hold on, Matt doesn’t know.

Jeremy and Jean are watching them. There’s something in Jean’s eyes, a knowing glint, like he knows exactly what’s going on, and it irrationally irks Matt that he already seems to have a grasp on the situation.

Andrew says something, voice too low for Matt to understand, but Kevin nods, his head jerking almost violently and then Andrew puts his hand on Kevin’s. Because it’s Andrew, the gesture is so much bigger. Matt knows of his aversion to touch, even if he doesn’t quite understand it, but for him to display it this openly… it has to mean something, doesn’t it?

“I—” Kevin starts, but Andrew shakes his head and Kevin sighs, once more relaxing. They keep talking for a few minutes until Jean gets up. He taps on Kevin’s shoulders lightly, raising an eyebrow and Kevin nods. It’s kind of cool and scary how easily the two of them can still communicate with each other.

When they start walking away from the table Matt forcibly relaxes himself, reminding him that Jean doesn’t pose any kind of threat anymore. He lets himself get roped into a conversation with another backliner, Ethan, who readily talks with him about the game and then movies. They end up discussing which Star Wars movie is the best, so that Matt doesn’t notice when Andrew and Neil vanish. He realizes he lost sight of Jeremy a while ago, too.

When they reappear, Jean’s blushing, huddling into a corner with Jeremy, their heads tucked together. Matt wonders about half a second where Kevin is when he appears with Neil and Andrew. His hair is mussed and his lips are still slick.

Maybe, Matt thinks, it’s not Jeremy Knox after all.

Matt
Okay guys, we might be not that far off with thinking it’s a guy

Nicks
Oh?
Pray tell what makes you think that

Matt
Kevin and Jean Moreau went off somewhere together
and when they came back
Jean was all blushy
And Kevin looked
well he looked all disheveled and

Dan
hot?
that the words you’re looking for?

Alli
you can admit it
there’s no shame in that
just never tell it to his face

Matt
…
maybe
anyway I think they made out

Renee
I don’t think so

Matt
really
you should’ve seen them

Renee
believe me
it ain’t him

Alli
got any inside information?
you’re still in contact with Jean
aren’t you

Renee
I am
and it’s not Jean

Matt
let’s agree to disagree

Renee
well I’m not gonna stop you if you’re this desperate to lose the bet

There are exactly three things Aaron wants right now that the game is over. One, a hot shower; two, being back in Fox Tower, preferably with a bottle of beer in his hand; and three, spending his time with Katelyn. Luckily for him all three are possibilities that can become true in a matter of minutes and hours.

He takes his helmet off on the way back to the changing rooms. It’s Dan’s turn with the press today, so she’s staying behind. His thoughts are already veering towards the shower, when he stops short so as to not run into his brother. Andrew’s staring into a far corner. There, in the nook between the press and the court, shielded from the curious eyes of the fans, stands Kevin. Next to him is a young man, which Aaron recognizes as one of the Belmonte strikers.

Their body language is relaxed, Kevin’s attention on the other striker as he talks, his movements are big and erratic. It’s not unusual for Kevin, because when he talks about Exy, he talks with his whole body. But even though his stance is loose, his jaw is tight and tense.

And Aaron gets why Andrew wouldn’t want to leave, Kevin doesn’t really look like he wants to be left alone with him, no matter how much he’s talking about Exy.

It’s a subtle kind of discomfort, displayed by someone who has negative experience with showing it openly. Maybe Aaron recognizes it because it’s similar to the way he acted around Tilda. He’s not sure why he cares. Kevin is okay, if he’s being generous, but that doesn’t mean Aaron gives a rat’s ass about him. Whatever it is, he can’t help but stay and watch.

«What are you waiting for,» Andrew asks without really asking, since his inflection is too flat for that. Still, it’s finally a sign that he’s acknowledging him. Aaron eyes him warily and shrugs. Andrew says, «You stink,» as if that’s what it takes for Aaron to clear off.

«So do you, asshole,» Aaron replies easily. Andrew shrugs, but he doesn’t take his eyes off the other striker.

«You could cut their conversation short, you know. If it bothers you that much.»

This time Andrew does turn towards him, the slightest sign of amusement on his face. «What? The faster we’re back the faster you get back to smooch your cheerleader?» The way he pronounces it makes it sound like Katelyn is the most disgusting thing he’s ever heard of. But he doesn’t call her by a name and for Aaron it’s enough. For now.

«Yes,» Aaron says. There’s no use lying and he thinks at one point it would be nice to have a decent relationship with his brother. «But also because Day looks like he’d rather be anywhere but there.» Aaron nods towards them.

The Belmonte striker has taken a step forward and is now invading Kevin’s personal space. His whole body has tensed up and he’s shoving the other player away from him. The striker laughs, like it’s a game and the sound infuriates Aaron.

However, it infuriates Andrew even more. His twin doesn’t run towards Kevin, but his whole body is tense, muscles ready to attack the other striker, as if he’s stalking his prey like an especially dangerous predator.

When the other player tries to touch Kevin’s shoulder, clearly against his will, Andrew’s there, stepping between the two and forcing the Belmonte striker to step away from Kevin.

Kevin’s whole body relaxes, slumping in on itself as if the conversation had exhausted him more than the game. He reaches out with his hand as if to touch Andrew’s back and for a second Aaron sees Kevin lying on the ground with a broken arm. But instead of reaching out, Kevin’s hand hovers in the air and then Andrew actually leans back.

Aaron blinks, sure that he’s missed something, but there’s Andrew, Kevin’s hand on his back, still talking to the striker in what are probably thinly veiled threats.

The player scurries away and Andrew watches him leave, eyes narrowed. Then he turns back to Kevin, who lets go of Andrew just to touch his arm again, this time asking for consent if Aaron is right in assuming that that’s what Kevin’s moving lips mean. Andrew nods quickly and then they continue to stand there and talk. It’s different than before. Aaron has seen them interact dozens of times, but there’s always been a certain space between them, a wall they couldn’t cross.

Now they’re leaning ever so slightly toward each other. Apparently the wall has been crushed to tiny pieces and thus a quiet piece of doubt has come knocking at Aaron’s door, but Aaron shakes his head, deciding to ignore whatever Kevin and his brother have going on. Although he decides that keeping a closer eye on Kevin might not be such a bad idea after all.

Nicks
alright listen up losers
apparntly some1 from the Terrapins has a huge crush on Kevin
like giant
apprently they’re always on their phone
texting

Alli
first of all
if you have to butcher apparently
can you decide on one way to do it?

Alli
and secondly
you think Kevin got into a relationship thru text alone?

Renee
somehow I doubt that

Dan
I’m not sure …
maybe?
big maybe …
if they’re as big an exy nerd as Kevin is

Aaron
listen
this is the one and only time I am entertaining you clowns
it’s a no on the Terrapins

Nicks
how can you be sure?
what do you know?

Matt
what did you see?

Matt
you witnessed something
that’s why you’re this adamant about it
out with it

Matt
oh come on!
how are we supposed to believe you?

Aaron
I mean
you don’t HAVE to

Aaron
let’s just say I saw Kevin with a striker
and Kevin did not look like he had fun

Dan
wait
you don’t mean

Aaron
nothing happened
Andrew was there too
but it’s definitely not a Terrapin
I’m out now

Nicks
great
so that means we’re back at the beginning

Nicks
WHAT DO XOU MEAN MAYBE NIT

Nicks
OH come ON guys!

Matt
we’re not winning the bet, are we?

Dan
we’re definitely not giving up either!

Renee sighs as Dan gives them the sign to stop running and start walking to begin their cool down. She likes the burn in her legs. It’s the first week with the newbies and even if she isn’t quite impressed, she realizes why they stood out to Wymack, Dan and Neil. There’s a fire in Robin she hasn’t seen in quite some time and Jason is picking up drills quick, something that even Kevin realized in the appraising looks he’s sent him.

Andrew falls into step with her, easy as breathing and she nods at him. After a moment Andrew continues talking about the few interesting aspects of his classes, debating arguments with Renee. She enjoys their talks, Andrew usually has a very special way of seeing things. She smiles to herself privately as she watches Neil fall into step with them. He’s quiet, listening without really listening. Renee thinks he simply likes hearing Andrew’s voice and it’s cute. When he stares ahead, his eyes are locked on something Renee can’t see.

«So,» Dan says, coming to a walk next to them. «We were thinking of a relaxing evening together, so we can get to know the newbies and they can get to know us,» she continues. Renee can tell from lack of a give in Neil’s body language that he’s not surprised. Well, he probably planned it.

«Sure,» Neil says easily and Renee agrees as well, but she keeps a close watch on Andrew.

«Will there be alcohol?» he asks.

«Yeah, we still have beer, but Matt also bought whiskey and vodka… among others.»

«Are we going to play these stupid middle school games?»

«If yes, then with rules and voluntary participation, obviously. But I didn’t plan on it.»

«Is Kevin coming?» The question surprises Renee more than she feels it should.

Dan’s mouth falls shut, but then she nods. «He agreed after I brought up team morale and that bonding will help us in our team play.»

Renee smiles, yes, that sounds like Kevin.

Andrew watches their captain for a few more moments, but then he shrugs. «I leave when I’m bored,» he says. Dan grins and winks at Neil. Then she’s gone, off to the next people to talk to.

«So, are you keeping count today?» Andrew asks in his usual bored tone, but Renee can’t help thinking that there’s something behind it.

«You telling me you won’t?» Neil says, a twinkle in his eye as he grins. Andrew scowls. Renee frowns, not quite sure what the two of them are talking about, but knowing that this isn’t about her. She takes a swig of her water bottle and waits until their conversation returns to their previous topic.

Taking a shower and slipping into comfortable clothes didn’t take a long time. Renee sinks onto a couch, stretching out her limbs. Practice and the shower has her in a comfortable state of mind and she watches as Matt and Nicky ask about drink preferences before bringing them.

Renee agreed to drink something bubbly and fruity that Allison wanted to try and in all honesty it isn’t bad. She slurps on her glass as Allison pushes her legs aside, plops on the couch next to her, and then lays Renee’s legs across her lap.

Allison grins and clinks her glass with Renee. Slowly, the rest of the Foxes file into the room. Robin takes a beer and sits on one of the couches, talking amiably with Dan while Jason listens with a serious face to whatever Aaron and Katelyn are talking about. Neil sits down next to Dan, listening with half an ear to her and Robin’s conversation with Andrew next to him and Kevin is on the ground in front of them, swirling his drink with an absent expression on his face.

Renee lets herself be drawn in by a conversation with Allison, nodding at her as she tries not to focus on Allison’s wandering fingers on her knee. Still it’s nice being able to talk about nice things, like whether Allison should buy that pretty lacy bra she saw in a store last Friday.

The music in the background changes just after Renee’s assured Allison that yes, she definitely should buy the bra.

Her eyes roam the room, watch as Nicky sits down next to Allison and as Matt bites his lip as he shuffles through the music selection. Neil, Andrew and Kevin haven’t moved, and Robin has turned to Neil, while Dan has moved on to sit next to Jason. Andrew is watching Neil, though she believes that he also is talking with Kevin in a low voice. Kevin isn’t really looking at Andrew, but his head is turned to the side so he can hear the blond better. The drink in his hand is empty and Renee frowns.

She’s never really focused on Kevin’s drinking habits, simply because what she saw when she looked at him was usually Kevin emptying drink after drink without pausing. Sometimes he’d just keep the bottle, watching no one and nothing as he emptied it. What she usually doesn’t see is Kevin staying put when his drink is gone.

Kevin doesn’t look as urgent as he usually does, there’s no need behind his eyes to drown the recent memories and dreams. There’s no need to satisfy his addiction. No, she decides after a moment of watching him, that’s not quite right. She sees the longing looks Kevin throws towards the vodka bottle, like he’s straining not to jump up and get a refill.

Apparently she’s not the only one who realized that Kevin’s not drinking and that Kevin is basically trying to undress the vodka bottle with his eyes, because Matt grabs the bottle by its neck and sets it down right next to him. He mock salutes him and leaves Kevin with the more than half full bottle. Kevin’s hand twists at the neck, like he wants to strangle it.

“Four,” Andrew says, almost bored, but his attention is keenly on Kevin.

Kevin inhales sharply, twisting the cap off and pouring a shot into his glass.

“Where did you suddenly find manners?” Nicky jokes. “Did you practice so hard that you can’t lift the bottle?” There’s chuckling to the side, but Renee can’t make out who exactly it was. She’s too transfixed on Kevin. He throws the shot down and then gets up, stomping out of the room. Andrew watches him leave. Then he glares at Nicky and gets up, following Kevin out the door. Neil, excusing himself from his conversation with Robin, follows.

Nicks
so that was weird
right?

Renee’s not in the mood. She leaves the message on read as she climbs the stairs up to the roof. The boys aren’t in their dorm rooms and the roof is the only place she can think of. (They could also be in court, but she doesn’t think they would, not after drinking at least.)

Matt
was he thta upset?
did I do something wrong

Alli
maybe we shouldn’t assume?

Aaron
it’s in the middle of the night
shut up

Nicks
this is important!
getting back to the subject
it wouldn’t be the first time that we saw him drink
remember that one time Kevin emptied the vodka bottle in six seconds flat?
that was pretty impressive

Aaron has left the chat.

Matt
maybe it is my fault
I shouldn’t have given him the bottle
I should’ve just waited until he got it for himself

Renee sighs as she opens the door for the roof access. She has to take a few steps until she can see the shapes of three people and her eyes get used to the new light. Neil has his head pillowed on Kevin’s thigh. Kevin is leaning against Andrew’s side, eyes closed. One hand is in Neil’s hair and the other one is still holding that vodka bottle.

The boys look calm and relaxed. She keeps herself in the shadows not to intrude into a situation that is clearly not for her own eyes.

“It’s easier not to drink when I’m alone,” Kevin whispers. Neil moves his head slightly, showing his attention. Andrew nods lazily and lights a cigarette, inhaling the smoke deeply into his lungs.

Kevin looks at the cigarette like it personally offends him, but he keeps his tongue to himself, instead continuing where he left off. “When I’m with everyone it feels like … like it’s expected of me. I’m…” he shakes his head, an indiscernible sound ripping itself from Kevin’s throat.

Dan
I’m sure Neil and Andrew have it handled
tho can I say … I was surprised seeing both of them follow him?
is that weird?

Alli
no, it was weird
there’s definitely something going on with them

Nicks
with them and Kevin’s drinking?
or with them and Kevin dating?

“Nobody said it was easy,” Neil says, fingers dragging along Kevin’s knee. Renee shudders, feeling the ghost of Allison’s touch on hers.

“No one ever said it would be this hard,” Kevin mumbles. Andrew snorts, a quiet smile curling his lips lightly, the smoke escaping. Kevin grins.

Neil frowns, “Nope, I’m pretty sure all the pamphlets said that—” but before he can say anything else, Kevin tugged the cigarette from Andrew’s mouth and transferred it to Neil’s lips.

“You really are uncultured, Junkie,” Andrew murmurs and Kevin laughs. The sound is so free and unguarded, Renee can’t help but step back into the shadows.

Alli
probably both
I’m sure they know

Renee
thirded
but
I think we should stop pushing the drinking part
facing his alcoholism can’t be easy for Kevin

Renee shuts her phone off and smiles, listening to Kevin and Neil bicker, and closes the door behind her, leaving the guys to themselves.

Dan sets her laptop aside when Matt walks into the common area. At some point it’s become a hangout for the Foxes and Dan likes it. Matt shudders and rubs his hand over the back of his neck. He looks absolutely uncomfortable, as if he wishes to be anywhere but here.

“What happened to you?” Dan asks, amused, and waits for her boyfriend to come closer, so she can press a kiss against his lips.

“I accidentally walked in on Neil and Andrew,” he says and shakes himself. “I really shouldn’t have opened the door without knocking. I think Andrew’s gonna come for me for that. Probably with knives.”

The information makes it to her brain, but they refuse to be worked with. She’s sure that Neil’s just left the room to get a glass of that orange juice that Renee buys, which is outrageously expensive.

Dan’s not sure what exactly shows on her face, but Matt lets out a sound. “I didn’t linger or anything. I immediately closed the door after I saw Andrew leaning over Neil I think. They were only kissing. I promise I closed the door as soon as I realized,” Matt says at Aaron, who’s looking at Matt with a stony expression.

“Realized what?” Neil asks, a glass of orange juice in his hands with one of Renee’s crazy straws peeking out at the top.

Matt blinks, once, twice, thrice. The common area has become deadly quiet. Neil’s here, so who exactly is Andrew kissing in their dorm room? Her heart breaks a little at the thought. Neil is happy and relaxed, probably thinking everything’s alright in the world when it really isn’t.

Neil laughs, shuffling his feet at the attention of the whole team on him.

“You’re smooching,” Matt says helplessly.

“Smooching?” Neil repeats, a grin slipping on his lips as he repeats it towards Renee. Renee … doesn’t look too surprised, but there’s something in her eyes Dan can’t describe.

“Yeah. Smooching. Making out. Kissing. With Andrew in your dorm right now. Because if you’re not then—”

Neil opens his mouth on a silent ‘o,’ realizing just what Matt is implying. Dan doesn’t see anger or hurt or anything she would have associated with a breach of trust like that. It’s more … annoyance and worry that’s overtaking his face.

“You—” Matt starts again, but Aaron’s already off the couch. There’s something like fear on his face, as he speeds out of the common area, quickly followed by Neil and Matt. Then the rest of the Foxes jump up to run after them.

«Wait, I can explain,» Neil gasps, somehow sliding in front of the boys between Aaron and Matt and the door to their dorm room. His face is set, decisive and Dan doesn’t think anyone would be able to go past him without Neil getting ready to fight.

«You can explain?» Matt asks, trying hard to keep his voice calm.

Neil nods, his whole head bouncing, and it would look funny if the situation wasn’t that dire. Plus there’s the thought that keeps repeating in Dan’s mind again and again. If Neil already suspects that Andrew might be cheating on him, why would he try to stop them? It’s almost like he already knows what they’re going to find out behind the door.

When she looks at him, blue eyes blazing defiantly, standing between the team and the door, between the team and Andrew, she can’t help to think that there’s more to it.

Did they break up perhaps? But then Neil would have said something, right? At least to Matt. Her boyfriend is infatuated with Neil and it’s really cute. They talk more and more and he doesn’t tell her all of it, which she respects, after all she doesn’t tell him everything Allison tells her. But a break-up seems pretty major, so maybe it’s not that.

“You have to promise to be calm about it,” Neil says, looking first at Matt and then, his gaze settling on Matt.

“I am calm,” he says, inhaling and exhaling in an exaggerated manner and Dan snatches his elbow to keep him back. With Neil’s background, she really thought he’d be better at lying, or at the attempt of lying. She gives him credit that his reluctance to not tell them the truth is so clear on his face.

Neil doesn’t get any farther. Behind him the door opens and Andrew’s bored expression faces them. He blinks at them slowly and then focuses his attention on Neil. Next to him, Kevin peers through the door.

Dan’s not sure whether it’s her touch that’s grounding Matt or whether he’s simply stunned speechless by Kevin’s appearance. His hair is mused and his lips shiny and kiss swollen. There are red spots on his neck, which definitely will be forming hickeys. Andrew, now that she’s looked at Kevin, looks similar. Lips red, but not quite as ruined as Kevin’s. He’s watching them, daring them to say anything.

«Hey Renee,» he says, as if it were completely normal for their whole team to just assemble in front of their room.

“Hi Andrew,” she says pleasantly and does a little wave.

“What’s going on?” Kevin asks, earning glances from both Neil and Andrew. Neil sighs as he steps back, leaning against the doorframe in front of Kevin.

“Yes, what’s going on?” Matt repeats, and she can feel the honest confusion in her boyfriend. That is not to say that she herself isn’t … well not quite confused, she just doesn’t understand it. “He just—Andrew just made out with Kevin,” Matt says, but it sounds more like a question directed at Neil.

Neil turns towards the two and Andrew nods, then shrugs. “Looks like it,” Neil answers, repeating the shrug.

“But—” Matt says, then stops.

“It doesn’t bother you,” Allison says, a sparkle in her eye.

“No, it doesn’t,” Neil affirms her suspicions.

«Because you know about them,» she strings the thought further and Dan watches as Matt’s eyes bug out. «Because they’re your boyfriends, too.»

Neil grins at that and reaches back to place his hands on Kevin’s thigh.

«No way! What? Wait what?» Nicky says, mouth wide open. Aaron has the same expression but without the words, staring at them for a moment before he reigns his feelings back in.

«You wouldn’t be that surprised if you had paid attention,» Kevin says. «We didn’t even hide it.»

Nicky shakes his head, and mouths ‘the audacity’ at Dan. She grins at him.

«If that’s all, can you all leave now?» Andrew asks.

«So you can go back to making out?» Aaron asks, but there’s a new kind of levity between them, the words less acid and more… dare she call it teasing?

«Yes,» Andrew affirms and snatches Neil’s arm before he can move. His grasp is light, easily evading should Neil chose to. «You wanna join?»

Neil grins at Andrew, who rolls his eyes.

«112, Josten.» Andrew says, making Neil laugh and Kevin chuckle. Neil presses a quick kiss to Kevin’s plush and red lips before they all push back into the room and close the door in the team’s faces.

For a moment there’s nothing but silence as the six of them stand in front of the door, but of course Nicky breaks the silence.

“Looks like you got what you wanted,” Nicky says to Aaron. “Kevin’s Andrew’s boyfriend.”

Aaron groans. “Yes, but I wanted Andrew to exchange a boyfriend and not add another one,” he answers and pushes his hands into his pockets, walking towards the common room, probably in search of Katelyn.

“But aren’t they cute,” Nicky calls after him, watching as Aaron gestures towards his ears, signaling that he can’t hear him, which only causes Nicky to run after him.

“Did anyone bet on Andrew, Neil and Kevin being in a poly relationship?” Matt asks, after watching the two cousins leave.

“I did,” Allison announces.

“So did I,” Renee says. The girls high five and smile at each other.

«We could open an office,» Alison muses.

«Get our PI licenses,» Renee agrees. Allison laughs, takes Renee by the hand and guides her away.

«Are these two…» Matt starts, watching them leave.

«Don’t,» Dan sighs. «We already lost enough money today.»

Notes:

Hi, come talk to me on tumblr. You can find me under @nuandia 🙂

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