Lucas wouldn't lie; he was a little disappointed but wasn't an ass, as much as he looked it and relented, "Okay, I'll leave you to focus." He turned to his notes, opting to doodle in the corners of the page and around the maths he disliked. He couldn't help the want to get to know Bailey, because someone was always talking about someone in the school, and usually, it was the weird kids, the quiet ones with no friends who got picked on.
And as the class progressed the boredom became worse and his thoughts swirled around here and there but returned to the quiet boy he was sitting next to. It was then he remember they were in pretty much all of the same classes, and Lucas was in need of a tutor when it came to English…
After a few moments of contemplation, and knowing the class was ending soon, he turned back to Bailey, "Hey uh, can I ask you something?"
Bailey continued with math, with Sillmud helping him out. She leaned on him uncomfortably, her wild hair getting everywhere. They guided his hand along the page, telling him what to write. Half of the time it sounded like demonic phrases, but Bailey ignored this. He was somewhat used to it. Cedrak had vanished by now, but Bailey got the sense that he was still watching.
Soon enough, he finished with the math assignment for the day and turned it in at the front. He went back to his seat and slumped in his chair, Sillmud waiting for him.
“We’re such a good team, right Bailey?” They smiled.
“Yep,” Bailey muttered. “Going to nap, Sill.”
But just as Sillmud went quiet, he heard Lucas’s voice. He raised his head and turned to him. He couldn’t help but sigh. “What?”
(genuinely thought I replied to this I'm so sorry!)
Lucas felt a pang of guilt when he heard the smaller boy sigh. Damn, was he really that annoying? Or was Bailey just like this with everyone? Considering the other didn't really have any friends Lucas hoped that it was the latter. He knew that he could be big and intimidating, and well, probably annoying when he was pushy and wanted something, but he did his best not to be. His friends were dicks but that didn't mean he had to be. And regardless, he actually did need the help. Academics wasn't his thing, as shown by the fact that he had enrolled in and participated in every sport under the sun that he could get his hands on.
He tapped his pen on the page, chewing his lip for a moment before he looked from Bailey, down to his maths book, and then back again, "You're smart, you seem to know what's going on when it comes to," He gestured with his pen vaguely in the air, "This stuff. I uh- I'm having some trouble with English, not exactly my thing, and I was wondering if maybe you would be willing to help me out?" Otherwise, he was going to fail and he couldn't have that. His dad would kill him if he did and Lucas was looking for as little confrontation with the man as possible.
(…. Hello this is awkward-)
Bailey was just wondering how this guy still had the audacity to speak to him. What was this, the third time? Most people would have just gone back to avoiding him like before. Bailey wasn’t sure if it was something to do with himself or Lucas.
He watched the other boy, resting his chin on his hand. Now things made sense; he wanted something from him. This wasn’t too different from his middle school days.
He considered it. “Is there a catch?” He asked.
“Don’t even consider it, boy,” said Cedrak’s voice in his ear. He groaned internally.
(asjnda don't even sweat it man lmao)
Lucas was quick to shake his head, "No! No of course not, there's no catch," Why would Bailey think there would be a catch? Was it because other people were assholes to him? He didn't know, nor did he want to know for the time being. Right now what he needed to know was how to write that damn essay before the teacher flunked him and he couldn't graduate, "I swear, I just- no one else is as good at it as you so… and I'd be in your debt if you helped." Maybe he could help with something that Bailey had to deal with- like a person or people. That he could do. Being known gave him an advantage with that sort of thing.
His eyes narrowed. There didn’t seem to be anything disingenuous about Lucas’s plea, as far as he could tell. He took a deep breath and sighed. Ignoring Cedrak’s complaints, his expression relaxed. “If you really need me to, then I’ll do it.”
Bailey kept his guard up, though. Just in case. Just in case something went wrong. He’d had too much experience with bullies who had disguised themselves as friends. He didn’t want to be taken advantage of again.
“Well, I think he’s nice!” Sillmud said, her large yellowish eyes peering down at Lucas.
Lucas breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh thank you so much." He knew how he came across sometimes. Scary, intimidating. He was big and often frowning when he didn't mean to, and it was why he tried so hard to be friendly. Because that was who he was. But he was also aware that he could be too much sometimes, and from the way that Bailey was acting around him, maybe he was doing just that. He would make a note to turn it down later.
The bell rang for the end of the period and Lucas was quick to pack up his stuff, "Meet me by the front of the school later, yeah? Thank you again, really, it means a lot that you're willing to help." Another smile, softer than his usual grin, but genuine nonetheless.
He nodded, watching as the other demons became aware of the commotion and began appearing, inspecting the other boy. Sillmud, Cedrak, Azrith making a return. Marronae, the tallest, with her cow tail and spots. Then Dirgan, with his dark scales and his blue tongue.
“You’re too kind for your own good, kid,” he said.
Marronae pursed her lips. “Hm. Poor taste, darling.”
Bailey shook his head and got up as the bell rang. “Oh, sure, okay. Don’t mention it.” He packed up his stuff.
(meep meep- writing juices gave up for a while there sorry fam)
The rest of the day went by smoothly for the jock. There were only a few periods left and, for the most part, they were classes that he didn't mind all that much. Science and art. The latter was a class that not many people thought he would take considering his sporty nature, and more than half the class were surprised to learn he had actively chosen to take the course. But Lucas enjoyed it, and it was the only way he was able to partake in any of those activities without his dad knowing about it. God, the look on his face if he ever found out would surely kill him.
By the end of the day, he was ready to simply hit the track and run until dinner, but he was more than a little excited to know that he was going to be studying with Bailey. Honestly he couldn't quite believe it, both that the other had even agreed in the first place since he wasn't usually the type to do so, and second that he was looking forward to it. No matter how much he hated English and that damned assignment, maybe it could be kind of fun with Bailey. He hoped it would be.
Lucas leaned against a pole at the front of the school, swinging his keys around his finger in one hand as he waited for Bailey. Half of him expected the boy to not show up, but he hoped he would. If he didn't it was going to be more than a bit disappointing.
By the end of the day, Bailey was exhausted, though this was nothing new. It was rather worse today because his agreement with Lucas had given the demons a lot more to feed on, at least for the ones who found the goings on of his brain to be particularly delicious.
He was now outside, walking towards the bicycle rack to get his bicycle. A breeze temporarily pushed the hair away from his face, and he inhaled softly. He wasn’t sure what method of transportation Lucas used to get home, but at the very least he didn’t want to just leave his bicycle where someone could steal it. When he found it, he pulled it out of the rack and guided it around the school towards the front doors, still on foot.
As he walked he felt a strange shiver. ”Baaaillleeyyyy,” a voice sang. ”You know this isn’t a good idea, right?”
His grip tightened on the bike’s handles. When he looked, he was met with a towering figure looking down at him. Her cow’s tail reached out and brushed against his cheek. The demon chuckled slowly, batting her long, thick eyelashes.
“Marronae,” he said, mouth pulled into a thin line. “You’re not hungry, are you? I’m sure you’ve had enough.”
”Oh, no, of course not, my dear. Why would you ever say such a thing?” Marronae bent down so she was eye-level with him. Her opalescent eyes were almost hypnotizing, and her lips were pulled into a wide, unnatural smile full of large, sharp teeth. Anticipating what she was about to do, Bailey quickly looked away and kept walking.
”Baaaaiiiillleeeyyy,” the demon called after him. ”Do you think he really cares about school? He’s probably planning to make you his little punching bag right outside those front doors.”
“Shut up!” But the fear was already inside of him. His body shook. When he looked again, Marronae was there, her expression dreamy looking now. She was feeding.
Bailey tried to fight it, tried to keep walking, but no sooner had he looked back in front of him than he realized he couldn’t go any farther. Dirgan was there, blocking his way. The demon’s lips were pulled into a smug smirk, and Bailey caught sight of his forked tongue wetting them.
”Where do you think you’re going, kid?” he asked.
“You’ve had plenty,” Bailey said, trying to keep himself from crying. “You’ll have some later.”
Dirgan raised a brow. ”I don’t think so, kid. You know what they say. A demon’s hunger is never satisfied.”
Bailey gritted his teeth and pushed past him, hopping on the bike. He heard Dirgan’s chuckle as he rode off.
Not long after, he arrived at the front doors. He got off of his bike and looked around for Lucas, half hoping that he wouldn’t be there. When he spotted him though, he took a breath and slowly went over.
As time ticked by Lucas was growing less and less hopeful that Bailey was going to show up. The boy was elusive, skittish, and didn't talk to anyone unless forced to. Or if bugged enough, as proven earlier in maths when he had managed to spark up the conversation with him. It was a damn miracle that he had agreed to help him out. None of his other friends would even dream of it. They didn't care enough about school to bother trying other than the bare minimum.
Half of them, at least all the guys were too busy focusing on sports scholarships into college to care about what it would be like if they failed academically. Lucas on the other hand, did care, which was why when he struggled he had no one to turn to but the internet. Maybe that could change, now, with Bailey. Maybe he could make a new friend out of this. He hoped so.
And Lucas was itching to get going, practically bouncing where he was standing, chewing his lower lip as he waited for the other to show up. Finally, through the trickling crowd of students that were leaving the school, he saw the small man and Lucas didn't stop his soft smile. He came. He really, actually came.
He pushed himself off the pole and crossed the small space that was between them until they stood before each other, "Hello," He breathed, "I'm really glad to see you." There was no lie in his voice, nothing but genuine surprise and truth. He was happy to see him. Happy to have someone helping him out with his work and hopefully, happy to maybe make a new friend.
His eyes flicked to the other's bike, "I think we'll be able to fit that in the boot of my car." If he shifted all his gym gear around a bit.
Bailey stared up at the other boy, muscles locked into place. It was only now, standing next to him that he realized how tall Lucas was. He felt his chest tighten when he noticed the smile on his face. Why does he look so happy? Is he really going to beat me up? Did I fall for a trap?
“H— hi,” he managed to say, not looking him in the eyes. He was spooked, too focused on preparing himself for the first blow. When it didn’t come, he finally looked up at Lucas. He really did seem happy. Happy to see him, not to beat him up. Bailey looked at his bike, then back at him.
“Oh, really? That— that would be good.” He coughed a bit, trying to relax. He shouldn’t have let Marronae and Dirgan work him up so much.
"You're saving my life here, truly. I appreciate you coming." Lucas did his best to tone down his excitement. He knew that he could come across as intimidating, especially with his size, but he tried to soften his smile into something smaller than the grin he was wearing. Either way, he unlocked the boot of his car before he motioned to the passenger side, "You can get in, it'll only take me a second to put the bike in."
Moving quickly, Lucas gently took the bike from the smaller male, rolling it the short distance to the trunk of his car. Luckily, even with the bag of sports gear jammed into the back that took up maybe a tad more space than necessary, the bike slid right in with no complaints. At least that was good to know for future reference. Maybe he was getting his hopes up considering Bailey had been so apprehensive to helping him today, but at least he knew if they were to hang out again he was able to fit everything into his car rather than having the other wheel his bike around after him.
