forum O/O with @Caustic-Fraust-is-The-Pokemon-Champion

Started April 14, 2020 by @MusicElle-is-here

tune

Nick shrugged. “I dunno, probably Thursday or Friday,” he replied. “The end of the week is usually the least busy for me.”

Cas nodded a bit. "Alright, Friday it is. See you later!" He smiled softly and waved as he headed off to his next class.

Nick waved as well, heading off to his class. Maybe he and Cass would be better friends soon after all.

(Alrighty!)
After school on Friday, Cas stood by Nick's locker to wait for him. Considering he still didn't know how to read, he had requested to just follow Nick home instead of asking for a written address.

Nick walked to his own locker, giddy with relief that both Ian and Brandon were absent that day. He hoped this meant that he wouldn’t have to deal with either of them. He waved and grinned when he saw Cas standing at his locker.

"Hello." Cas smiled weakly and moved out of Nick's way. "What're we gonna do at your house?" He asked curiously.

“I dunno,” Nick replied. “Play video games? Talk? Maybe eat junk food? Those are things I usually do.”

"I've never played video games before… are they fun?" He asked curiously, adjusting his grip on his things.

“Wow, you have been missing out!” Nick crowed. “Of course they’re fun! I have so much to teach you.”

"Alright. I'll just… follow you, I guess." Cas stepped out of the way and followed Nick when he was ready to go.

Nick grinned, turning to talk to Cas as he walked out of the school. “My house isn’t too far, so we can just walk.”

"Alright. I usually walk back home myself anyways." Cas hummed softly to himself as he walked, sticking close to Nick.

Nick walked alongside Cas, a bit awkward at first because he wasn’t used to walking home with new people.

Cas adjusted his grip on his books again. He wasn't even sure why he'd brought them. Sooner or later the teachers were going to be suspicious of him not turning in any work.

“So, how are you adjusting to the school?” Nick asked, glancing at Cas.

"Um… honestly, not fantastic… but I'll be alright." Cas smiled weakly. "I'm just… um… not used to a school setting."

Nick nodded. “Well, if you need help, let me know,” he responded. “Unless it’s math. I’m horrible at math.”

"I'm horrible at every subject, so you're doing better than me." Cas sighed, looking down at his stack of books.

Nick frowned. “Seriously, I can help you if you want help.”

"I-I'm… um… not sure if you can actually help, too be honest. It's… complicated." Cas looked away, fidgeting uncomfortably.

“What is it?” Nick asked, concerned. “Maybe we can use the internet or something.”

"Um…" Cas hesitated for a few seconds, considering. I might as well just explain… "W-Well, you see… My dad never taught me anything when he was 'homeschooling' me, and I ran away when I was twelve, and I lived on the streets until now, and I kinda don't know how to read or write?" Cas spoke quickly, clearly nervous, and bit his lip when he finished. He seemed to be unable to meet Nick's eyes.

Nick blinked, not having expected that. “Oh,” he muttered, thinking for a moment. “Well I can teach you?”

"I-I really don't wanna put something like that on you, I… I'm really stupid and I'm probably hard to teach or something and you've got enough work to do on your own…" Cas sighed, clinging tighter to his books and hiding his flushed face in them.

“I’d like to teach you,” Nick responded empathetically. “I don’t think you’re as dumb as you say you are.”

"But I don't know how to do anything. Even things that like, everyone can do. I can't ride a bike, I can't swim, I can't read, I can't write, I can't fucking do anything!"