School Shenanigans [cw]

Damiano chuckled, at least the nephilim knew it was David Bowie who was singing to them. "Well you've at least heard of him," he shrugged, listening to the music while looking at him felt a little otherworldly. Maybe that was what gave him that spinning feeling in his chest. "And this album was a bit controversial, so perhaps that's why," taking out the cover art to show the man himself laying rather flamboyantly in drag on the cover.
Fuck, he caught him staring. Damiano chuckled, his eyes softening up as he nodded, looking away and on to the record player. "It's just not often I get to introduce people to something new," he said trying to explain away his staring. He sighed shaking his head a little, "it's just really nice to have someone to share things with."

"Yeah he's one of my idols," he smiled, as if it wasn't clear. He wasn't obsessed with Bowie, but he definitely had a great amount of respect for the guy and his art. The notion that it was nice to be looked at by him was at least making him feel more relaxed. But it didn't change the fact that maybe he was developing a crush on Jeremy. There was just something about him. But then again, coming out and saying it might scare the guy away, and Damiano liked their friendship as it was. There was no real need to change that, right?
The notion of his parents made him hum, nodding as he could imagine the nephilim slaving over the ivory bones with his small kid fingers. It was kinda cute. "Mixing? Like DJ stuff?" He asked, as he was clearly not in the lingo. He just liked listening to music, but he had always been told he had a decent voice. "You got any samples?" He asked.

He didn't say much, but he did want to hear what he had made, pausing the record player he took the phone to look at the screen with the different songs listed. Wow, they actually had quite decent listening counts. "Here goes nothing," he smiled, pressing play on a song. At first he was a little surprised at the song choice, but then the other came in and he pulled a rather surprised expression, smiling as he bopped his head along. "This is really good," he praised him, waiting until the drop came and yet again he was pleasantly surprised. he listened to a few more, and he felt like the next was better than the one before. It was a little crazy that Jeremy was sitting on a goldmine of mixes that sounded this good.
"Have you ever thought of sending those mixes in to some radio channels? They always really like trying new stuff like this," he suggested as he handed the phone back. He felt like he liked Jeremy more now knowing that he had a creative side too, even if he felt like he had to hide it. This guy just had a thing about hiding himself, huh?

"I can probably sing a few lines if you want? Wouldn't cost you anything and it would still be anonymous for you?" it was perhaps a bit much to suggest, but if Jeremy didn't like his vocals, then he didn't have to use it. "I'm just worried my accent might shine through too much," he chuckled, getting up from the bed and leading them out to the kitchen.
He found a pot that he filled with water, adding salt to it before placing it on the stovetop. He then grabbed a pan, turning the heat up as he went to the fridge. There was quite a lot of food in there, but it made sense when they did have a restaurant right beneath their feet. "What sort of lyrics do you like? I could even make up some in Italian if that would make it more fun?" he suggested, taking out some minced meat that he threw on the pan, adding different sorts of spices, but being mindful of Jeremy's delicate taste buds. He could still remember how he hadn't dared to try the chili oil. With the meat browning he took out some cream, adding it to the pan, making it sizzle a bit before the water started boiling. He moved rather fluently in the kitchen, like he had done this a million times over and knew the recipe by heart. "Do you like cheese?" he had to ask.

"If you'd let me audition," he said, because he couldn't decide what Jeremy saw for his music. It was a delicate matter, and creativity had to be nurtured and not forced. It did however feel good to not have to worry too much about his accent, but he guessed he was never going to be not self-conscious about it to some degree.
Anything with passion? Gods, could he hear himself and how flirty that sounded? He had to take a deep breath, smiling as he nodded, "I can probably just make something up," he shrugged as a light tease, but he was genuinely going to give him something that might work. Meanwhile he was just working along, the water boiling and he added the macaroni to the pot, letting it cook and take care of itself as he continued to work on the meat sauce mixture. He chuckled at the question, shrugging as he wasn't sure what to say. He usually had to take in to consideration some form of dietary thing, but just being able to make it how he liked it was nice too. He added some parmesan cheese to the sauce. As the noodles were done, he drained them well and added them to the pan, mixing it all together.
Grabbing some fresh tomatoes and basil he cut the cherry tomatoes in half before adding them to the pan, but saving the basil for a while as he wanted to make sure it was well cooked. Taking a quick taste test, he added some more spices before finding some plates and utensils, seeing as Jeremy hadn't been here before that was just easier. The table was set and he took the macaroni off the heat, placing it on the small kitchen table gesturing for the nephilim to sit. "it's a really simple dish, but I'll be honest it's sorta my go-to comfort meal," he explained, sitting down across from him before remembering drinks. He came back with a jug of cold water and two glasses, sitting down once more and scooped some of the meal out of the pan and on to Jeremy's plate.
"Now, if you hate it, just tell me," he said, placing some fresh basil on top of the portion on Jeremy's plate. Damiano himself wasted little time before digging in, making sure to blow on it and not burn himself.

He would definitely see what Damiano had to offer and he somehow didnt feel like the hybrid would disappoint. Frankly he was looking a bit forward to it because he thought Damiano had a nice voice. The table was set and he sat down as he was gestured to, nodding at his explanation. "Well, I'm looking forward to it then. Hopefully I'm not getting too hooked, unless you're up for sharing the recipe or cooking." he said with a small chuckle, though he would never really force him to make dinner. He took the plate and grabbed his fork, digging in and spinning it before he lifted the delicious bite. He was lucky enough to notice the steam or he definitely would have just eaten it and burned his mouth. When it was cold enough he ate it, humming in delight as a smile spread on his lips and he nodded. He chewed it thoroughly and swallowed before he pointed towards his plate. "Okay, this is some pretty good stuff. I can see why it's your comfort food." he said, getting himself another bite that just seemed better and better.

He chuckled as it seemed like the nephilim genuinely enjoyed the meal. It was all he could've asked for, really. "Yeah I know it's cliché that the Italian loves pasta, but I mean who doesn't like it?" chuckling as he took another bite, chewing as he looked down at his plate. Maybe because he felt like he had been staring at the nephilim for far too long today. Not that it was a bad thing, more the fact that he was afraid of making Jeremy uncomfortable or act out in frustration against him. "And this recipe is super easy, there's really not much cooking to it," he said humming to himself as he thought it through, "Maybe I could teach you some cooking and you could show me some mixing?" he suggested. Although he knew he wouldn't be much of a mixer, but it would be nice to know some terms or just what Jeremy's creative process was like.
"That party Friday I gotta work before we go there, so I was thinking we could just meet there?" he suggested, talking about what the whole school had been buzzing about for the last week.

"I'm not biting the stereotype. I've heard there's also bread and pizza in there too among the pasta." he chuckled. He noticed the hybrid looking down but maybe he was a bit too comfortable right now to notice anything being off. He just thought they were getting along and having fun. But as Damiano called it simple, he widened his eyes slightly and shook his head. "Dont give me all that. I saw you with the spices and how you're actually just eyeing it all and not doing measures. I cant just do that." he argued. But the suggestion of him giving the recipe for a bit of Jeremy's knowledge on mixing wasnt a deal he could just deny. "Yeah sure. I wouldnt mind showing you the process and hopefully teaching you a thing or two." he said with a nod. That way they could hang out more.
He continued eating as Damiano suggested meeting up at the party. He nodded a few times as he thought about it. "Will you be late then?" he asked, eating a few more bites, though he definitely wanted seconds. "We can meet up there. I think it's better anyway, dont want your friends to think you're babysitting a first year or something weird like that." he said, as it was something that had crossed his mind at least once.

"It shouldn't be too bad, I just promised my dad to help out; Friday is a busy night, but as soon as rush hours are over I'll be on my way," he smiled. He loved his family, but sometimes he wished he could just do whatever he wanted to with his free time. However he did understand that the restaurant was what provided the food on this table and the clothes on his back. At least the scholarship came with the uniform. The notion of him babysitting made hum chuckle a bit, covering his mouth as he had just taken a bite, chewing and swallowing before answering. "Well babysitting you should be pretty easy as long as you don't go falling while I'm not there," he teased. He however looked at Jeremy rather seriously for a second, his brow furrowed and frowning a bit, "is that how you think they'll see us? Just me bringing along some kid?" It was pretty hard of a judgement for his friends, but even so he felt a little hurt that Jeremy would think like that.

"I'm pretty sure I wont be falling this time. But you never know." he said with a shrug, continuing to eat for a bit. He noticed Damiano's serious look and wondered if he had said something wrong. However ask Damiano asked, he frowned for a bit before he shook his head. "Well no, I dont really want to think that way. But isnt that a bit how it's going to be? You're a second year while I'm a first year. I'm practically a baby compared to you." he said, hoping he was explaining himself. He sighed shortly and shrugged once more. "But I dont know shit about the hierarchy in school, I mean Kurtis managed to pull Vanessa so what do I know?"

"To be fair Vanessa gives in to anyone with a basic bad boy aesthetic," he said, rolling his eyes before he chuckled and shook his head. "And no, I'm only turning 17 this summer, so we could've been in the same year if things were different," he explained. He had never really thought about the whole year segregation thing, but it was stupid. Sure, you should respect any senior at the school, but they were just studying. It wasn't really something that people cared a lot about, right?
"I was actually kinda surprised that you suggested we go together," he confessed, humming a bit as he pushed a tomato around the plate for a while as he thought his words out rather carefully. "I know you don't really seem to like a certain part of me, and going to a party with the openly gay guy isn't always the first thought people have." Not that he didn't have straight male friends who wouldn't take him with them to parties, but this felt different. And maybe it was because their friendship was still so new? He couldn't really tell if it was that or the fact that he really liked Jeremy more than a friend.

Again with the people like that comment. It made Damiano sad, mostly because without Jeremy realizing it he was putting a distance between the two. Even in a friendship you needed to be mindful of your wording, and this just felt like being estranged or even not a real person. "People like that," he repeated, taking a deep breath, looking down at his plate with a frown. "Is that all I am to you? A that?" Maybe he could sound like he was angry, but he was mostly disappointed. It felt like no matter what he was never going to be seen as someone in Jeremy's eyes. Biting his tongue for a while as he calmed himself he tensed his jaw, feeling the loss of appetite. "It doesn't matter, I guess I was just hoping for a miracle," he muttered, getting up from his seat and walking over to the kitchen window that he cracked open. Placing a cigarette between his lips, he lit it, inhaling the calming nicotine as he felt stupid. He always had to fall for the closeted and internally homophobic guys, didn't he? Blowing the smoke out the window he looked at the city.
"I am a living being, Jeremy, I'm not some that," he finally said, looking at the nephilim with hurt eyes.

"Yeah, I know I am all of that, you don't have to tell me," he said, being rather defensive, but this was a pattern, wasn't it? Jeremy refused to even think about what Damiano was, and maybe he was even disgusted by it. It was hard to tell. "You know, most bigots at least have the guts to call me a faggot," he said, looking down as Jeremy was standing by him now. He knew that he couldn't change Jeremy, and he wasn't looking to do that, but he would like to widen the guy's horizon. Maybe be some sort of gateway for the nephilim to be happy, even if just for a while. Damiano was used to being used, so it was almost second nature to him by now. It was his way of helping, even though it wasn't healthy for himself.
"What do we have?" he then asked, looking at him with eyes that probably said more than they should. He cared about him and the more he learned, the further in to his heart the nephilim crawled.

At least calling him a homophobic slur would mean that Jeremy recognized what Damiano was. That he was a guy who liked other guys, that he was not just a that. But in the end he didn't know if he could handle being shunned more by the nephilim. Even if he wasn't trying to, he was dehumanizing him in a way that felt even worse than being confronted with violence or swear words.
The question was perhaps wrong for him to ask. He knew it wasn't fair, and Damiano wasn't trying to force him to come out or even be as flamboyant as he was. But it would be nice to just be recognized. That he was a friend? That he was fun to be around, but as soon as he saw and felt Jeremy's reaction to his question he wished he could take the words back. Seeing the discomfort it was clear he wasn't ready to do or say anything that would make him feel incriminated. But hadn't they grown to trust each other more? Couldn't they at least be honest around one another when the world would judge them enough? The nephilim backed away, but Damiano remained by the window, looking at him with hurt eyes.
The conformation followed by the rejection did hurt, especially as he used those estranging words once more. He was about to leave, and this time he wasn't going to let him leave, reaching out and taking his hand. Damiano was calmer than he should've been, but looking at him he just felt hurt over and over. "No-one is like me," he said seriously, "I am a person, I'm gay, sure, but that doesn't define everything about me." He needed the nephilim to hear this. It felt like he had to beat it in to the guy with words over and over. "You look at me and you see everything your parents would never accept, I get that, but at some point you gotta grow up and question whether you want to live their life or your life."

He had expected a slap, maybe a punch or a knuckle to the face, but not the way his hand so tenderly yet firmly grabbed around his neck. Damiano barely had time to react before he felt the nephilim's lips against his own, surprised at first, but eventually leaning in to it as he felt his heart pick up in pace. By everything that was holy, this felt so right, but then the feeling ended. Damiano stood with his mouth pouting, his eyes looking at Jeremy with a mix of confusion and sadness before the nephilim hurried out the door. He was left alone in the empty apartment, only the sound of the restaurant guests outside filling the silence. His hand folding in to a fist he hit it against one of the cabinets, knowing it was going to bruise, but the pain seemed to ground him. How he managed to clean the kitchen and do his homework that night he didn't really know, but he was sure that Jeremy felt even worse.

Zaira's doctor had scolded her, and she was now laying on her bed after a round of physical therapy, one that hurt like a bitch, but it was going to help her long term as to not develop any bodily disabilities. She had pulled out her phone, looking through social media as she read the latest news about that party she wasn't going to. Was she obsessing a bit? Yeah, but it wasn't like she felt ready to go out in the state she was in. Besides it wouldn't really feel the same without Kurtis. Thinking of him she smiled. Her very own boyfriend. It felt almost irrational to think that the bad boy of Saint Jules had gotten her this weak in her knees.

[Messages between Zaira and Kurtis]
[Zaira:] Hey u up?
[Zaira:] Was just thinking of you
[Zaira:] OK that sounds lame, you know what the fuck I mean <3