The Music Freaks
[[Hailey]] -- In Process
Hailey and Henry share an art class. For their semester final, their teacher assigns them as partners. For three weeks, they have to spend time together and learn about someone new. Then, they have one week to create a piece inspired by each other. Also, Henry is trans and his dead name is Hailey, but Hailey doesn't know that, yet.
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Hailey liked her art class. It was mostly quiet and the teacher played soft Jazz music when they were working. It was easy to pass, even for beginners. The name Advanced Art was just a fancy nickname to differentiate between the two teachers’ classes. Intermediate Art was strictly for freshman and sophomores; Advanced was for Juniors and Seniors. You were put into whichever matched your grade.
That being said, it still surprised her when she walked in on the first day to see Henry sitting at a desk twirling a pencil in his fingers. She was less surprised when, in his introduction, he said he wanted to be able to draw his own anime girls.
She’d rolled her eyes at that.
Still, she wondered why he didn’t pick PE like Liam and Drew. She chalked it up to the PE classes being full, so Henry was thrown onto an empty art roster.
Hailey sighed quietly, drumming her fingers on her table and watching Ms. Gray stand up from her desk.
Ms. Gray clapped her hands and called, “Good morning, friends! We all had a fun weekend, I hope.”
A few students gave half-hearted nods and agreeing noises.
“Right,” she began to pace in front of the class. “It’s getting to that time of year where I’m supposed to test you on what you’ve learned. Midterms.”
The class groaned.
“However, if you’ve learned anything from my class, it’s that art cannot be taught. You all have your own styles and views on what art is and how it’s made. I’ve designed a project I hope you’ll all at least tolerate. It’s a partner project.”
Hailey noticed a few people sit up straighter, eyeing their friends. She dropped her eyes.
“Don’t start just yet. I’m assigning partners-” she was interrupted with annoyed groans “-but I think once I explain the project, you will understand the why .” She stopped in the middle of the classroom. “You will have the next month to complete your piece and turn it in to me. For this project, your assigned partner will be someone I haven’t seen you interact with. Your job will be to spend three weeks getting to know each other. This can be in or out of school, as long as you’re learning something about the other. At the end of three weeks, you should have the last week to create an art piece you think best represents your partner fit with a caption explaining what it means. Any questions?”
Ms. Gray took the next few minutes answering questions Hailey didn’t pay attention to.
“Alrighty, then. Pay attention everyone! Here comes the partners. Adam and Jamaica. Jillian and Marie. Pecos and-”
Hailey zoned out, waiting to hear her name. When she did, she’d missed her partner's name. She sighed, hoping her partner was paying attention enough to know they were with her.
When they were dismissed to spend the rest of class chatting, Hailey didn’t move. She tapped on her phone, texting the band’s group chat about her project.
A bag landed on the table beside her. She looked up at her partner and almost reeled back.
Henry smiled at her nervously. “Uhhh, hey…”
“Wait, you? You’re my partner?”
Henry shrugged. “You weren’t paying attention either? Dude, I had to go ask the teacher just now.” He tried for a laugh.
Hailey sighed. “Great.”
560/4188 Words
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[[Sex Ed]] -- In Process
Well, I love me a rarepair. This one is a Drew x Sean fic! Sex Ed happens this week in PE. In their borrowed classroom, Drew and Sean end up rubbing elbows at their table. This is the story of how the go from enemies to acquaintances to friends to lovers.
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Sean regretted not bringing an umbrella this morning. He had this feeling in his gut that told him he wouldn’t need one. He thought maybe it might’ve been a grumble reminding him to eat breakfast. He didn’t.
He clutched his bag to his chest as he walked. He’d saved up for months to buy himself a computer, he wasn’t about to throw it away because of some rain.
The rain came down hard and he was quickly dripping with water. He shivered. He was definitely going to be late for work. He hoped his boss would understand.
Headlights light up the sidewalk ahead of him, letting him walk just a bit more confidently.
A horn made him jump and he nearly dropped his bag. He turned to watch the car pass. To his surprise, though, the car swerved to the side of the road.
He froze. Shit , he thought. What should he do?
The window rolled down.
“What the fuck are you doing?” It was… Drew?
Sean stared at him.
“Get your ass in my car, you crazy bitch.”
Sean didn’t need to be told twice.
It was warm in Drew’s car. His shivering increased tenfold.
Drew flipped the AC on.
“Woah, what? Don’t make it cold-”
“Shut up.” Drew said. “Are you stupid?” He turned in his seat, leaning on the center console. “You have to warm up slowly or you’re going to get sick.”
Sean didn’t know that. He watched the leather crease under Drew’s elbows.
Drew frowned. “Why are you walking in the rain?”
“I don’t have a car.”
“The school has buses.”
“They don’t go close to my house. I’d be walking just as far anyways.”
“So ask your mom to pick you up.”
“She’s working. She works late.”
Drew sighed. “Right. What about the rest of your dumb club?”
“They don’t live this way.”
“Aren’t they your friends? Don’t friends do that kind of thing for each other?”
Sean scoffed. “I’m not going to make my friends-”
“I didn’t say make. If they’re your friends, they’ll do it, no questions asked.”
He deflated into the leather seat. “Yeah, but I still wouldn’t ask that of them.”
Drew took a breath before turning back to the windshield and putting both his hands on the wheel. “Whatever. Where do you live?”
“You’re not driving me-”
The doors clicked locked. “Where do you live?” Drew repeated.
“I’m… not going home. I’m going to work.”
“Okay, so where do you work?”
“TJ’s.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a coffee shop twenty minutes down this road.”
Drew pulled away from the sidewalk. “You were going to walk for twenty minutes in the rain? Are you trying to discover a new disease?”
Sean couldn’t help but laugh.
“Oh, you think this is funny? Next time, when you die, don’t expect me at your funeral, dumbass.”
They were silent for most of the drive. Drew’s phone was connected to Bluetooth and was playing soft music. Sean noticed that it was his playlist and found himself growing warm.
“You put on my playlist again,” said Sean, a questioning lilt to his voice.
Drew nodded. “I like it.”
“Really?”
“Didn’t we already go through this in class?”
Sean went quiet again. After a moment, he asked, “Why are you being nice to me?”
Drew didn’t answer right away. When Sean thought he was being ignored, he finally said, “I just… realised I never should have been mean.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“When I was younger, I thought it was a standard of life to be mean to people you…” he sighed, “anyways. I’ve been doing some reflecting recently. It… occurred to mean that you guys probably didn’t deserve any of what I did to you.”
“We didn’t.”
“Sorry.”
Sean cleared his throat. “It's here.” He pointed to a building on the corner of the block. “Thanks for the ride.” He unlocked the door and got out of the car. It wasn’t raining anymore. As he stepped up onto the sidewalk, the window rolled down behind him.
“Hey,” Drew called gently.
Sean turned back to the car.
Drew held his phone out. “Give me your number.”
“What? Why?” He didn’t take the phone.
“I’ll come back. Let me drive you home.”
“It’s fine, Drew. I’m gonna walk.”
“No. Let me take you home.”
Sean shook his head. “I can’t give you gas money.”
“I don’t care. I like to drive. Let me come back.”
Sean watched his face for a moment. Slowly, he took the phone and entered his number. “Fine.”
Drew glowered at him. “Don’t forget to text back.” He took his phone and sent a text, making Sean’s phone buzz in his pocket.
Sean tilted his head, smiling softly. “I won’t. Thanks, Drew.”
“Have a good day at work.” With that, he rolled up the window and pulled away.
Sean put a hand over his face. He would’ve thought the weather would leave him cold, but he could feel the blood heating his cheeks. Maybe he’d contracted something after all.
Work was usual for Sean. On weekends, he could work more hours and spent a lot of his mornings making coffees and dipping donuts. Night shifts - he wouldn’t be out until eleven, an hour after close - consisted of making small orders of food, a rare coffee, and lots of cleaning for the next morning. Sean found it therapeutic. He didn’t mind the burning water, so the manager on shift let him set up his computer, blast whatever music he felt like, and scrub mindlessly at the dishes. When he finished there, he took to sweeping the floors and wiping down tables. By six, he and the manager were the only two in the store. She let Sean play his music over the speakers and man the whole floor. He was in charge of the few orders, keeping the place clean, and throwing out old food. At the end of the night, he took out the garbage and counted his register.
He’d texted Drew to let him know when he’d be out. He made sure to give him plenty of time to change his mind.
Mary flicked off the lights behind her as she left the office. She yawned. “Welp! It’s home time, Sean-y.”
Sean nodded. He yawned, too. “I’m gonna crash so hard when I get home.”
Mary sorted through her keys. “My husband’s keeping the bed warm for me, I’m sure.”
Sean pushed open the door. He liked the noise the bell made.
Mary locked the door behind them. “Thanks for being a great employee, Sean. I know I say it too much, but if you’re still here when you graduate, you’ve definitely got yourself a manager position and a hefty raise.”
Sean smiled. “Thanks Mary. I’ll probably still be here.”
“You want me to drive you home, kiddo?” She shuffled through her keys again. Her car honked in the distance.
Sean shook his head. “I’m walking-”
Headlights caught their attention.
“People are out at this hour?” Mary sighed. “Go home, dude. God knows that’s what we’re doing.”
The car slowed, then pulled up to the curb.
Sean’s jaw dropped. “Shit.” He smiled wide. “You- He-”
“Thought you said you were walking?” Mary smiled, too.
The passenger window rolled down. “Hurry up!” Drew shouted. “It’s cold as hell out there and I’m hungry!”
“I got a ride,” Sean whispered.
“Go get ‘im, Tiger.” Mary patted his back. “Night, kid.”
1236/7930 Words
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[[Milly's Guide to Passing Biology and Befriending Your Enemy]] -- In Notes
In her Freshman year, Milly failed her Biology class. Now, in her Sophomore year, she's retaking it and it's going just about the same way it had last year. Liam loves science of all kinds. And, well, Ms. Harper was his favourite teacher, so he volunteered to be her TA. When Ms. Harper realises Milly isn't putting in any extra effort, she sends Liam to be her tutor. Liam finds out that the Freshman are picking on her. To everyone's surprise, he jumps to defend her, starting them on their journey to friendship.
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[[No Working Title]] -- In Notes
A trans!Drew story about his relationship with his dad. His dad was never a good guy. He'd been absent from Drew's life for fifteen years. Suddenly he had the time to take care of Drew now that his mom was hospitalised? Not if Drew had any say. He packs his bag and goes to stay with Liam. His dad gets the bright idea to show up at their school, get a visitors pass, and wait by Drew's locker. Surely Drew won't make a scene with so many people around. Oh, how wrong that is. "A lady should never speak to her father that way." And if Drew wasn't waiting for this moment... "I am no lady and you are no father."