School Shenanigans [cw]

It was normal to try and deny that part of oneself, but Damiano knew it was all about masking, and he had hated that. He was the kind who wanted to show off, do the same things as her sister did and while his family had been apprehensive at first, they had now more or less fully embraced it. But then again, this was a journey and it wasn't one that had a definitive answer. If Jeremy wanted to play make belief then that was fine, but then he wouldn't be able to grasp all of the good things that life could ultimately offer. Damiano just left him to go start his shift, dragging his long hair back in a small bun at the back of his skull, eyeing as he saw Jeremy leave. Giana was of course curious, and as she showed the tip he sighed a little, but ultimately let his sister keep it. They could use the money.

Zaira felt his arms wrap around her, and she sighed at his words. He couldn't protect her all the time, and she knew that she had been strong for standing up to herself yesterday. It had taken a lot of guts to actually defend herself and not just wait for a savior to arrive. She didn't know why, but suddenly she felt like she wanted to spill the beans, just say it and then never think about it again. "I went to find Jeremy after you helped me with Jamie," she muttered, not daring to look at Kurtis, just because she was not going to shed a single more tear over this. "He was with Finn; And Finn was really drunk, so I offered to stay with him for a while so that Jere could go have some fun." she could feel that fear again, that dread that she had felt as she now was sort of reliving the moment. She knew he could feel it too, and she wouldn't get angry if he let go of her to escape the feelings she had.
"Finn leaned in as he touched my thigh, kissing my neck ... I'm used to dealing with shit like that, so I told him off," she whispered, closing her eyes shut and pressing her lips together as she felt like that wasn't the worst part. "He ... He started touching me, pressing me down on the bed - I don't think I've ever been afraid before that moment," one thing was opening up about past heartaches, but this was so fresh in her memory. "He wouldn't get off, even though I told him no multiple times -" holding her breath as she gathered a bit of courage to continue, "- I ended up punching him in the face and he seemed to get the hint, but not before he managed to rip my shirt - after that I just, I don't know, I just bolted home."

He just held her close, hoping that it would help her feel better as he wouldnt know what else to do. She started muttering and he listened, humming to let her know he heard her. Finn. Somehow Kurtis didnt really know what to think of the guy, because he was supposedly being the friend that was taking Abel's place and that was really all he was to the lycan, just a placeholder.
But as she hadnt even had to gone into detail as Kurtis had felt her fear as soon as she had mentioned having Jeremy leave and leaving her alone with Finn. He pressed her a little closer even though it wasnt a pleasant feeling. He just knew that it was what he would have wanted if he felt that way. She went on to explain and he just listened, gritting his teeth as the details were unfolded. He had heard her scream at the party, he had been too self absorbed in drowning his own shitty feelings by being with Vanessa that he hadnt gone to check on her. He felt a little sour taste in the mouth at the thought that she had gone through that and he had just been oblivious and even ignored it to some degree.
"Shit..." he mumbled as it was quite a mouthful. He leaned back and looked at her, shifting between her eyes. "Everyone was already talking about the guy you were screaming at, but of course it was sleazebag Finn of all assholes." but that wasnt even the whole of what people were talking about. It was also her shirt that had been torn and her and Jamie in the pool. It was everything mixed together, but not even Kurtis knew that. "I'm not good at this kind of shit. It's fucking great that you punched him, serves him right."

He held her closer, and she just felt that rush of being safe when he was there. It wasn't one she had felt much of, well unless you counted the trust she had in Abel. He looked at her, and she felt her own eyes a little wet, but she wasn't crying. There were just so many feelings in her, and she nodded as he said something about her screaming. It had been so embarrassing, but she hoped that the weekend would let everything die down and once Monday rolled around she could put it all behind her. "I just got so scared ... Because he's Jere's friend and I'm still new here, so who will people honestly believe?" she sighed, looking at him as she felt a little strange. "My hand still fucking hurts," she muttered.

"Fuck people. Fuck all of them." he just said a little aggressively but he was honestly not even going to bother with whatever rumors that would spark. "And Finn and Jeremy are not even that close. They just have French together or some shit." he said, shifting between her eyes before he moved one arm off of her to take her hand and have a look at it. "You really put everything into it huh?" he mumbled as he could see the small bruise that was already forming. It would probably get worse before it got better. He kissed her knuckles in tender small kisses, mindful of pressure. "Lets hope his bruise is worse. That may help, because for what reason would a girl actually punch a dude if it wasnt because he was creepy as fuck?" he said in an uplifting tone, though he was still a little pissed.

She looked at him as he studied her bruised hand and as he kissed her knuckles she felt butterflies in her stomach. How could he just make her feel better like that? She tried not to think about it too much as he spoke about Finn's bruises being worse. It made her smile. "It was hard enough to knock him out for a while," she disclosed, chuckling a bit as she felt silly.
She heard a knock at the door, her eyes widening, "fuck, it's my mom, uhm, hide," she said, pulling the duvet over his head before she adjusted herself a bit before saying "come in!" Her mother opened the door, smiling as she saw her daughter. "¿Te divertiste anoche?" her mother asked in Spanish and Zaira hummed, nodding, "sí mami," she replied with a smile. She could feel Kurtis under the duvet, and she had to bite down on her lip a little, just to not give away that she had a boy sleeping over without permission. Maybe her mother was preaching safe sex, but having a guy over without permission was a big no-no. "Estaré abajo en un minuto," she said and her mother nodded, talking about having prepared brunch for them downstairs.
As her mother left she lifted the duvet up, looking down at Kurtis with an apologetic look in her eyes.

Knowing that she had given it her all, he was quite proud of her, scoffing while a pleased smirk was on his lip. The knock made him frown a little but as she told him to hide, he did, moving under the covers and trying to keep himself rather flat. He however quite enjoyed being close to her and there was also the thrill of secrecy. All in all he didnt mind this at all, carefully caressing her side as she spoke to her mom. Hopefully her mother wouldnt notice his clothes next to the mattress as it was quite distinct. Once her mother was gone and the duvet was lifted, he moved up and greeted her lips with his in a small peck. "Dont feel sorry. Just be happy that I didnt bite you." he said with a gleeful smile because he was an asshole after all and a hundred percent had considered it. "Is this the part where I get dressed and sneak off?" he asked, though he would have liked to stay.  

Fuck, he was caressing her too? She had to really focus as to not just moan at the feeling and let her mother know that she wasn't alone. He crawled up to her, and she greeted the small peck with a small chuckle, her jaw dropping a bit at the notion he might've bit her, "wait, that sounds kinda hot tho," she muttered but shook her head. They had to focus, right? "Yeah, clothes," she said, getting off of the mattress, going to her closet to pull out some booty shorts, but keeping the shirt she had slept in on. Her hair she threw up in a messy bun, looking at herself in the mirror, she smudged her make up some more to get rid of the tear stains.
"Aight, c'mon, she's playing loud music," she said, getting out of her room and heading downstairs. If he followed her, she would lead him towards the back door where he could go out and around the garden. But as they passed the living room she stopped in her tracks, turning around as she saw the one person who had been worlds away. "Abel?" she said, rather surprised but also very confused.

"Yeah it does." he agreed with a sigh. But they had to focus and he went to gather his clothes before getting dressed. He wasnt as brave to climb down the way he had come up, mostly because if he fell they would be busted. They went out of her room and headed for the door, just as Zaira stopped in her tracks and looked into the livingroom. "z-Z-Zaira." Abel smiled bright at her until he saw Kurtis next to her, his smile fading as he then looked confused. "K-Kurtis?" he asked, the lycan widening his eyes a little before he looked at the door. He should've probably just ran for it. "W-Wh... Why is h-he here?"

Zaira could hardly believe it, her face lighting up as she heard his stutter. She forgot everything, but then she saw him notice Kurtis, and that hurt in his eyes. "We were at a party last night and he kinda followed me home," which wasn't a lie. There was just so much more to the story. She went to Abel wrapping her arms around him, and he still brought her that happiness. "I've missed you," she muttered, pulling out of the hug, and she felt more confused than ever. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in America?" she asked. She could hardly wrap her mind around it. He was actually right here in front of them and she felt so happy, like she could burst from that emotion alone.

Abel had a lot of questions but she seemed to go ahead and clear it all up. He just wrapped his arms around her as she came to him, much to the lycan's dislike, though what could he really say? Abel was the boyfriend material and he was... Fuck, he didnt even know. "You sounded s-s-so sad, that I b-booked the first f-f-flight available.." he said, looking at her as he moved some hair off her face. Kurtis could tell just by looking at them, that he could never compare or so it felt. He just grit his teeth and went for the door, not wanting to see more that would just end up hurting him. "Your m-makeup" he said, looking at her as he carefully touched her cheek. Had she been crying?

Had he really done that for her? "Abel," she muttered, looking down as she felt so embarrassed. She could hear Kurtis trying to sneak out, and she felt her heart break a little. They had been in a bubble upstairs, hadn't they? Just playing that they could be something for one another when he wasn't one to commit and she still had feelings for Abel. He mentioned her makeup and she turned to look up at him, "it looked prettier yesterday," she scoffed before turning around to look at Kurtis. "Kurtis," she said, considering her words wisely. She wanted him to stay and she felt so selfish, but then again her and Abel hadn't decided to be a couple. She was free to do what she wanted to. "Would you talk to Jere for me about yesterday?" she asked, trying to find her words to plead with the lycan to stay, but why would he when Abel was here?
Her mother came in a big smile on her face as she tried saying surprise but said it halfway Spanish instead. She noticed Kurtis and smiled, "Niño, stay eat, you're too skinny!" she said, walking over to drag the poor lycan with her out in to the dining room where a big feast was ready for them all. Zaira felt a bit awkward now, because she didn't know what to say, so she just looked at Abel, sending him a smile before taking his hand, leading him in to the dining room as well.

"No you were s-sad. I had to come." he insisted as she looked down. He could imagine that her makeup had been really pretty when she applied it, but now it was just smudged and ruined, probably not as much as last night, but Abel couldnt know that. Kurtis stopped as Zaira spoke his name, but what was there really to say? He looked at her with those eyes of indifference he could have when he was really hurt but not willing to show it. "Yeah, sure." he said a little dryly, just as Zaira's mom appeared. She was always just a ray of sunshine, wasnt she? He felt her pull her with him, though he would have preferred heading for the door. Abel gave her hand a soft squeeze as he just smiled at her. He stopped right before they got to the dining room, looking at her as he put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a little trinket. "I got you this. It's n-not much, but I thought you'd like it." he said, placing it in her free hand before they went into the dining room.

Why did he have to be such a good guy? He was everything that would be good for her, he was smart and got good grades; He had ambitions and dreams and he treated her nicely. Could she really ask for more? She saw as her mother entered, dragging Kurtis with her as she sighed. At least her mother could entertain for a while, right? They stopped and she looked down in her hand as she saw a small keychain with the letter R on it. For Rojas. She just knew it, smiling as she placed a light kiss against his cheek, "thank you," she said in a genuine tone. He really just knew how to make up for any time he hadn't been there.
Going in to the dining room she looked at the lavish setup. "Mami, this is way too much," she said, but her mother hushed her, placing Kurtis down in a chair, pulling one out for her daughter and one for Abel as well. Zaira sighed, sitting down but placing the keychain on the table. Her mother saw it, praising it, and Zaira translated it for Abel. She felt guilty. She hadn't cheated, because her and Abel were not exclusive, but she just felt a little bitter. "How long will you be staying?" she asked. She was afraid of when he was going to leave, because last time it had taken her weeks to feel good again, and yesterday was the first night where she hadn't thought about Abel without getting a headache.

The kiss on the cheek made Abel's smile grow as they walked into the dining room to see the way her mom had beautifully decorated. Kurtis was just put in a chair and drew in a deep breath to make a small sharp sigh. He knew her mother had good intentions with keeping him here to eat, but wasnt it obvious that something had happened that wasnt supposed to happen? He leaned his head back a little and tried not to seem too dejected, but it would probably only get worse if he had to watch Zaira and Abel interact like a couple. Because that was what they were in the end, wasnt it? Abel smiled at Zaira's mother at her praise, mumbling a small it's r-r-really not that much in a humble tone. Her question made him hum as he thought about it. "Well it w-was a bit in a hurry so I d-do have to leave tomorrow night." he said, knowing it probably wasnt a good answer. Once they were allowed to dig in, Abel took a few different things, Kurtis wasnt really feeling that hungry. Actually he wasnt feeling anything else than bitter and tormented, but he just picked something so his plate wouldnt be empty. He was quite good at just playing along and not seemingly seem as distraught as he was, it was just like home and he fucking hated that even more.

Tomorrow night? She felt her stomach hurt again. Could she really do it all over? Just love Abel and just watch him leave within the next 24 hours? She looked down, playing a bit with the keychain before she got up from her seat. "I can't," she muttered. Her mother scolded her, telling her to sit down again, but she refused, going out the door and up to her room. Her mother yelled after her, something in Spanish but she didn't turn around. Once she reached her room she was shaking, grabbing her pillow as she tossed it across the room, just standing there for a while staring at it as it slumped over on the floor. Going out to her bathroom she decided to just remove her makeup. She looked stupid. She was just so fucking angry and sad. That pit in her stomach back from when they had said goodbye at the hospital.

Her makeup was a bitch to get off, and as she rubbed her face it just got more and more red. As if she was trying to wash away her features as well. Being with Abel made her happy, more happy than she had tried before but when he had left something inside of her had broken. Even though she still cared for him, it was just too complicated to describe. She knew it hadn't been Abel's decision to leave, but he hadn't made it seem like it would be easy for them to be apart either. She had tried to erase him from her thoughts, she had tried not worrying about him and yet she was still so hung up on him. Some days just to get through it she imagined that she would wake up the next day to go see him. But now that he was here, it was uprooting every progression she had made.
And then there was Kurtis. How he had smiled at her, how he had held her close last night and made her feel safe. Made her feel like Abel was just some distant memory. She was guilty about feeling that way, because did that mean she didn't like Abel anymore? She didn't think so. Gods, emotions were a mess, huh? She couldn't even imagine what Kurtis felt half the time. She could hear the door downstairs close, and she knew it was Kurtis who had left, because all of a sudden she felt so heavy in her heart.
Zaira's mother was a bit surprised at what was going on, but her English also wasn't the best, and when the boys were practically speaking over each other, it wasn't too easy. But it ended up with Kurtis leaving and she was left with Abel. "What's wrong, chico?" she asked, looking at the kid who was still in the dining room. She sighed, "I'm sorry," she said, before she headed upstairs to her daughter. There she found her curled up on the bathroom floor like she had when she was a little kid. Sighing she went to her, sitting down on the floor and stroking her head. "Why does it have to hurt so much?"" she asked, clearly hurting in her chest and stomach. Carla sighed, comforting her daughter to the best of her abilities. "You are still so you, kiddo, but some day it's going to get better," she promised her kid, kissing her hair carefully, picking out some glitter from her roots. "It just feels like someone has tied a knot on my insides," she complained, turning to look up at her mother, "I know, but one day that knot will loosen, and you'll feel good again."

Abel felt like he couldnt really figure out what it was that was going on. Zaira was clearly unhappy and now Kurtis was... he felt weird for even considering it. But in love? He honestly wouldnt ever have seen that one coming, but he had also been gone for a while. He just sent Zaira's a smile and shrugged at her question. "I-I've been gone for t-too long to kn-know at this point." he admitted with a saddened smile, letting her go as he just sat behind and looked at all the food. He looked at the keychain and drew in a deep breath. He had really thought that coming here would cheer her up but now he just felt bad.

She felt so bad, because Abel had come all this way and here she was feeling sorry for herself on her bathroom floor. Her mother always seemed to know just what to say. She laid there for a while until she felt like she had calmed down enough. "I'm taking a shower," she said and her mother nodded in understanding, getting up and helping her daughter with her. While Zaira jumped in the showers, Carla went downstairs and in to the dining room. She sent Abel an apologetic smile, "You've come far for my daughter, thank you for that," she said, sitting down next to the kid. It seemed like they were going through some heartache, and she was not going to let him leave before he had had a proper talk with her daughter. "Stay," she smiled, patting his head gently as if he was a kid, and he was in her eyes. She had years of experience, and she was just happy that her daughter had made some really good friends here.
It didn't take long before Zaira was done with her shower, feeling clean and her hair packed away under a towel she headed downstairs. She was wearing something rather simple, just some sweat shorts and a t shirt with some band she didn't really listen to anymore. "Can we talk?" she asked, standing in the door, biting the inside of her cheek that felt so sore from last night. If he agreed she would hold out her hand, and if he took it she would lead him out in to the garden. Sitting down in the shadows on a canopy she felt a little distant before she rested her head against his shoulder. She was silent for a while, just holding his hand and staring at the grass. "I have missed you ... More than I really want to admit," she said, feeling that knot in her chest grow.

Abel just sat there, tapping his fingers a little on the table. He pulled out his phone to send Kurtis a message but he knew the lycan wouldnt answer. It wasnt the point anyway, he just had to have him read it. Carla returned and Abel sent her a trying smile, though he wasnt sure what he was supposed to expect. "O-of course I'd come. I'm... I l-like her a lot." he said, not really minding the pat on the head though it didnt help him with his troubling thoughts.
He turned his head as Zaira showed up, nodding at her question because they had to. There was obviously a lot of stuff that he didnt know about. He got up and went to take her hand, following her out into the garden. They sat down and he sighed as he looked at her. It had just been so long since they had seen each other that he felt like he couldnt just look away. The silence was fine but he wasnt sure what was on her mind. "I h-have missed you too." he said, giving her hand a soft squeeze. He then sighed and moved his head to look out on the garden. "Sooo... Where do w-w-we start?" he asked a little meek in tone.

Her chest felt so heavy. But where did they start? Breathing out she knew she had to be the first one to speak, because she had been the one asking if they could talk. "Well how about we start with when you had to leave," she said, just resting her head against his shoulder, looking out at the garden as the canopy moved slightly. She couldn't really reach the ground when she sat in it, but that was alright. "Being with you was what made me really happy about being here in Churchill ... But when you left you took that happiness with you," she said. She had had a lot of time to think about all of this, but it was hard for her to sound like she wasn't blaming him. Because he had no control over what his family decided, just like she had no control over moving to Churchill. "I spent days where just getting out of bed was my whole workout; Jeremy had to stop by every day to pick me up or else I wouldn't have gone to school," it sounded so weak when she said it like this, but it had been her reality.
"I thought about you constantly; About what we had together and what we could've had if you hadn't left," feeling her voice get a little hoarse because talking about it brought up so many feelings. Feelings she didn't want to remember. "I would spend hours waiting for you to get up and reply to my message, I would set countdowns for when we agreed to speak on the phone." she looked at his hand in her own, lifting it up to kiss the back of it. She really liked him, maybe she even loved him, but it felt so hard to say. Because that would mean she loved Kurtis too. "But every day it got easier, every day I found myself again and started piecing myself together; Jeremy was there and Kurtis too, even though he had his own roundabout way of supporting me." It wasn't fair to any of them. Turning her head she looked at him. "Yesterday I thought I was ready to throw myself back in the game, I kissed a guy, but it wasn't really the same feeling as when you kissed me ... Then some things happened and, well, Kurtis wound up at my place; We just talked, we kissed a couple of times and then we fell asleep." It was rough to admit it, but Abel was a good guy, he deserved to know everything, so she told the story that had lead up to Kurtis coming to her home. All of the shit with Finn, which was why she had called, and how she had been so scared and all of the rumors that were no doubt sparking still today. It hadn't been an easy night, but Kurtis had been there to get her through it.
"I am telling you all of this, because I actually love you Abel; Like my body is terrified of you leaving tomorrow night because I won't know when I get to see you again," she finally admitted, feeling her eyes well up, "but I think I also love Kurtis, and I know that it's stupid and that I might come off as some bitch, but now you know."

Yeah the beginning was probably the easiest part to begin with and she went on as he listened. He was quite sympathetic by nature so as she explained, he just looked worried for the sake that he had no idea that he had made her feel that way. They hadnt really spoken about the fact that they were about to have something before he left and maybe that was a mistake. It was good to hear that Jeremy and Kurtis had helped her but he couldnt help but feel at fault.
She then got on to what had happened yesterday and he could understand that she eventually had wanted to move on. It was fine and he didnt feel like he could be angry at her for wanting to be happy again. But it did hurt to hear her talk about Kurtis in that way, and he couldnt deny it. It was just something else when it was a friend. Like an unknown barrier on the line of trust that had been breached and now just left hurt. Her confession made him smile a little saddened, looking at their hands as he could almost tell that there was a but. He felt his eyes well up but he just kept smiling, letting go of her hand before he wrapped it around her. "A-and I l-l-l-love you. T-t-t-the o-only thing t-that I want i-is f-f-for you t-to be happy. A-a-and if that's w-with K-K... K-K-Kurtis... then t-there's n-no more t-to say." he said.

He wrapped his arms around her, and she did the same to him. It had never meant to get this complicated, and even though she could confess her feeling to Abel, it would be something different with Kurtis. He said he just wanted her to be happy, but she didn't know if being with or without anyone was really a solution. "I want you to be happy too; But I think we both need to realize that you are halfway across the world and I'm still here," she sighed, looking at him with a small smile on her lips. Nuzzling her nose to his, she rested her forehead against his chin, breathing in his scent for a little while. Yeah, she was going to hurt again when he left, but somehow she knew it was going to be alright. She had gone through it before and she could do it again. "My only problem is telling Kurtis," she admitted, leaning away knowing he might not want to hear about this, but Abel knew the lycan so much better than anyone. "Like I know his rumors, but somehow I don't feel put off by them, y'know.

"Y-yeah... That is o-o-our reality." he admitted with a sigh, keeping her close. Her nuzzle made him smile a bit, because he really had missed her, he hadnt lied at all when he had told her. He liked just sitting there but then she mentioned Kurtis. He bit the inside of his cheek as he drew in a deep breath. "Well, I-I h-have seen how he can p-put down g-g-girls that just say it as it is. I-I cant tell you w-what to do. Y-you will just have t-to t-try." he said, tensing his jaw a little as he remembered what Kurtis had said at the table. "Just remember. T-this is t-the g-guy that thinks he i-isnt e-enough for a relationship. Which is why he avoids it. I-I think anyway."