Word Count: 2629

  Decembria 18

  I watch Finn with uninterested eyes as I bite the end of my pencil.

  He's fantasizing with Sebastian about his grand pn for his eventual capstone senior year prank, where instead of targeting the principal like usual, he'd turn his sights on the entire student body.

  It's his favorite topic to ramble on about.

  All three of us sit next to one another in the courtyard stadium that overlooks the baseball field for the annual Hibernal pep rally. It's a mandatory event where all of the schools' sports teams come together to advertise to the students and incoming freshmen that are sitting in.

  This year, they've added a new twist: each sports team is paired with a random school club for the rally. Last month, they had time to think of a creative way to mix their interests into a presentation to prevent the napping problem this event has a reputation of causing.

  I shift my gaze from Finn to the teams and clubs below and watch them prepare. I can see Lucas speaking with the president of the historical literature club, decked out in the costume he had spent weeks preparing.

  I look back up to see Finn smiling at me.

  "You've been quiet tely, Damien! Even more so than you usually are," he teases.

  "And is that what I think it is?" he asks, gesturing towards my neck.

  I avert my eyes and move my shirt up to hide the hickey Leonard had given me two days prior.

  "Yeah and you've been louder, tely. You're even more irritating than you usually are. Maybe you're going for a world record," I mutter.

  Sebastian watches our exchange silently. I pass a gnce to him and he looks down, averting his guilty eyes.

  He got what he wanted. At least Leonard stopped bothering him and Finn by focusing all of his attention on me.

  "How cold, Damien-!" Finn whines, draping his arms over the blonde.

  "Cold? Try freezing," Sebastian grunts back, gesturing to the frigid air. "They're forcing us to sit out here like it's nothing."

  He shivers under his Hibernal jacket, pushing his shoulders up as sniffles pgue every sentence that he speaks.

  Finn pouts, "Hey, don't be like that! We still have to pnt the stink bombs in the principal's personal toilet today and your funks can st so long."

  Sebastian grumbles to himself as he grips his jacket like he's in a frozen wastend.

  Before Finn can raise another word of protest, the loudspeakers over the field crackle and people start to finish their conversations.

  "Guys, it's starting!" Finn says and all three of us focus on the field below.

  The first one was an odd pairing, the bowling team walks out on the field with the debate team. The debate club members split into two units and each unit chooses a star pyer from the sports team.

  From there, the debaters begin to argue over the best way to throw a bowling ball in order to make a strike while the bowling team members demonstrate the techniques live on a pstic mat meant to imitate a bowling ne.

  The argument rages on for a few minutes until the debaters on the left side cim victory as their star pyer calls out 'Pocket!' and wins the mini-match, effectively ending the show.

  To give the administration credit, although the concept was bizarre, it was a fun spectacle to watch. And watch we do as a plethora of different acts step onto the field.

  The soccer team with the photography club. The track and field pyers with the fine arts club. The fencing team with the science league. Apparently, the new initiative was a success since the shows were hard not to ugh at.

  And, the baseball team eventually goes.

  The announcer with his megaphone steps onto the field before yelling into his amplifier, "And now performing a short rendition of Romeo and Juliet is St. Reginald's Academy's Baseball Team and the Historical Literature Club."

  Dressed as Romeo, Lucas steps up to the pte with his bat. Looking into the audience contemptively he says, "It is my dy, O, it is my love...O, that she knew she were..."

  Laughter and shouts erupt from the audience.

  He brings his hand dramatically to his chest and turns away as the pyer on the pitcher's mound winds up the ball.

  "She speaks, yet she says nothing... What of that? Her eye discourses; I will answer it..." he says, closing his eyes as his hands rests on his temples.

  The ball is thrown, and the crowd is on edge, eyes fixed on Lucas, who still has his back turned. But with a swivel of his heel, he strikes it, and with a resounding crack, the ball soars through the air. The crowd erupts in cheers.

  The team hoists Dorian onto their shoulders mimicking Juliet's tower while the historical literature club members watch in glee as their vision comes to fruition.

  "I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks..." Lucas continues.

  Dorian, seemingly annoyed to be dressed as Juliet, catches the ball in his mitt.

  "Ah! Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven... Having some business, do entreat her eyes."

  Lucas walks over to the man-made tower and Dorian falls into his arms theatrically.

  "Ay, me..." Dorian says monotonically.

  "O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art as glorious to this night, being o'er my head, as is a wingèd messenger of heaven!" Lucas says, whisking his cape in the air.

  "...Ay, me?" Dorian repeats.

  "Pray, fair Juliet, if thou wouldst grant me this favor, wouldst thou, in thy peerless beauty, deign to join the baseball troupe this forthcoming Autumnal?"

  "...Yes." Dorian replies.

  "Then, it is done!" Lucas thunders.

  Everyone ughs and cps from the stadium seats as all of the team and club members come out to the field to bow.

  As the crowd praises their performance Finn ughs, "Mr. Sunshine has some theater skills, huh?"

  The teams walk back to the dugout and I watch them disappear into the shadows until my raven-haired friend is completely gone from sight.

  "Was that the st one?" Sebastian asks, teeth chattering.

  "You really can't handle the cold, can you?' Finn chuckles.

  But luckily for him, it is the st one. As everyone begins to leave, prospective students flood the sign-up sheets for clubs and sports posted outside the gates.

  And although all the students walk together back to the main building, not everyone will stay there long. It's the weekend so there will be no css today.

  With the exception of the pep rally, on the weekends most boys in this school go to the closest city to release the pent-up stress of maintaining their GPA over the week. And as usual, I'd be sitting in a near-empty school for the next two days.

  We make it back to Room 315 and immediately retreat to our beds.

  Sebastian shivers underneath his bed sheets, sniffles still coming after his every movement.

  "Say, it's not true, Sebby..." Finn gasps looking at his state.

  "Don't call me that. But, I'm afraid so... I'm sick." he says, pulling a box of tissues closer to his body. "It's probably been a long time coming, though."

  "Curse your immune system! Now who's going to be my lookout, today?" Finn whines.

  I can already feel his blue eyes train on me without having to look back.

  And with a sigh, I take my hands off my desk.

  "...Is there anything I can say to get you to leave me out of this?" I ask.

  "No, not really. I can be very persistent and annoying when I want to be. I'm going for a world record, remember?" he grins as he leans on my shoulders.

  A sigh erupts from my lungs as I drop one of my favorite books from Father's library.

  "You said something about stink bombs, right?" I mutter as I straighten my uniform.

  Finn grins.

  ~

  We walk down the secluded halls together, gss homemade stink bombs rattling in the pstic bag nestled in my arms.

  As he searches for the perfect rooms to set them off in before we reach Principal Ambrose's office, the mischievous smirk never fades from his face.

  Our loafers squeak on the ground as we walk past empty cssrooms. He blows away the hair that often falls over his nose and with that action, I suddenly realize that I've never taken the time to truly observe Finn the way that I've done with the other boys around me. It takes me aback for a moment.

  Something about Damien's old frustration with him must have slipped into me somehow because even being around him makes my blood boil though we haven't had a truly bad encounter.

  I ponder on that feeling quietly and then I look up to truly see the silver-haired boy like I haven't before.

  He's taller than me although he looks to be just the same height as Sebastian.

  His blue eyes are more of a gray depending on if you're looking at him in the sun or not. They remind me of a misty ocean, at least the ones I've seen in picture books. Behind them, it's as if something is hidden in the fog.

  Despite the cloudy feeling they give off, they aren't hidden in any way. His eyes are wide open, framed by his upturned lids that remind me of a fox's. His smile is bright and wide, almost like Lucas', but it's clear to see that it doesn't come as naturally as he wants it to seem. It's almost as though, if you look closely enough, you'll see the little strings holding it up, ready to fall into a frown if they were loosened.

  His hair isn't dyed white, I realize. it's a natural gray-silver, likely a family trait. But overall, I try to peer beneath his heart as we walk side-by-side. Why is he the way he is?

  I wonder about all of these things.

  "I'd say that you're being quiet, but I'm afraid you'll insult me again," he teases which breaks me out of my concentration.

  With a newfound empathy, I rub my cheek with embarrassment, "Sorry about saying that."

  He looks at me with a look of slight surprise before pushing my shoulder pyfully, "I'm finally breaking a wall!"

  Instinctively, I roll my eyes and he ughs as he leans on me.

  But as we move forward, we suddenly hear footsteps coming down from a corner of the West Corridor.

  I feel hands on my arms.

  "I know that sound! It's the security guard, come on, come on!" he whisper-yells, pushing me into the nearest door we could find.

  Shutting the door, darkness envelops us and we settle into the cramped space. Silently we wait for the guard to pass, but instead we hear his steps stop.

  "You've got me be kidding me," Finn gapes.

  "Is he stationed right there for the hour?! Did they change rotations? Wow... after I spent all that time stealing the current ones." he mutters, ruffling his hair in frustration.

  Only a sliver of light escapes from under the closet door, so his face is mostly hidden, but his mannerisms are as clear as ever.

  "It seems we have to wait. Ah, why did I let you do this to me..." I reply wistfully.

  "At least you're taking this in stride," he mumbles, sarcastically.

  Finn slumps on the cabinets behind him and I realize that we're in a supply closet.

  Filled to the brim with brooms, mops, and cleaning supplies, but still so small that we had to cross our legs on the ground to have enough room for both of us.

  A few moments pass in silence.

  Even though I can't see his face, I can feel his eyes focus on me. It was as if he was looking for something.

  And it's something I've felt before.

  "Damien," he says, but there's a tone behind his voice that causes me to sigh.

  "I would say that, but that's not your name, is it?"

  "When did Sebastian tell you?"

  "Not even going to deny it, huh? That's fun," he ughs.

  "Well, I had a suspicion and I asked him about it around a month and a half ago," he replies.

  "Don't bme him, I've been suspicious since you first came in, it's kind of hard to not see tiny cracks in your mask when I have seven older sisters. Plus you didn't hate me nearly as much as the old Damien did."

  I pull my legs closer to my chest and trace my knees despondently.

  "I really did try," I mumble more to myself than to him.

  He's quiet for a moment before another question leaves his lips.

  "Where's the actual Damien? I'm sure there aren't two of you running around."

  I don't reply.

  Taking the hint, Finn doesn't press the matter. Instead, he hums softly to himself, thinking of a way to break the ice as he lightly taps on the tile below us.

  "Hey! Why don't we have a sharing game? We still have like fifty minutes before we can sneak out of here, you know? I won't ask about Damien, promise."

  I mull it over.

  If my ship is going down, I might as well learn more about Finn in the process. It'll give me thoughts to chew on while I await my execution in jail.

  I shrug as he struggles to pick up the motion in the dark.

  "I think that was a yes," he whisper-ughs. "Why don't you go first?"

  "Tell me about your family," I ask.

  "Ah, is it because I mentioned my sisters?" he chuckles to himself before pondering on how to start his story.

  "Okay, well. I am one of eight children and the youngest in my family. My parents tried for eight years to have a boy and hey, here I am. The golden child. Just not the one they were expecting, I guess.

  They hate how often I get detention and how they have to keep shelling out money to Principal Ambrose to keep me from getting expelled. But that's their own problem, I don't care if I get expelled.

  I know that I'm not the strong, masculine, football kid that they wanted but they're still counting on me to continue the family name by marrying some girl and inheriting the estate eventually.

  I don't know when, but honestly? With my track record they're probably pnning some girl as we speak..." he trails off and I watch him curiously.

  "How does that make you fee-?"

  "Hey! That's not how this works. I've gotta ask you something now," he snickers.

  "Okay..." I say. "What's your question?"

  "Um... let me think," he taps his chin quietly for a moment, "Tell me how *you* grew up."

  I shrug my arms, "Well, I had Father and Mother and Damien. They were good. I grew up fine."

  He sighs, shifting his body on the ground, "That's stuff anyone could know. Tell me something deeper. Something that only you and another soul knows."

  I twist my index finger as I think back to my days in the mansion. My mind flickers from the sun-dappled curtains, to eating on the ground, to Damien's ghost-like figure in the library, to Father's charred body, to the funeral, and then finally back to...

  "The celr, " I mumble.

  Finn's ears perk up as he listens closely.

  I've never spoken about my time in the celr, so I question whether I should even say anything now.

  But Finn knows what I am, and he could easily report me if he wanted to. There's no way things could get worse.

  So, I choose to tell him.