Chapter 14: Unpleasant

Toviel blinked and rubbed his eyes with one hand, the other searching for the alarm clock that was blaring loud music in his ear. After a few misses he finally smacked his palm down on the button and rolled over onto his back into bed, too comfortable to get up right away. Then he felt an arm wrap around his chest.

His eyes snapped open at once. Peering down, it took him a few seconds to actually recognize that it was Evett snuggled at his side, sound asleep. Toviel sighed, rubbing his temples with one hand and relaxing. Then he distinctly felt another body move beside him. Glancing to the side, Toviel spotted Niguel, still in his clothes from the day before, curled up like a kitten on the other side of him. When had that happened?

“Oh right…” Toviel muttered as it came back to him.

Evett had woken up, eaten a hamburger, fainted, woken up again an hour later, and then they had discussed sleeping arrangements. There had been an argument because Niguel was being unreasonable (as per usual), his jealousy taking a whole new level when Evett had declared that he would be sharing a bed with Toviel from now on (without consulting him of course). Things got out of hand, and it had turned out like this because Toviel hated arguing, Niguel loved getting his way and Evett just wanted to sleep.

And it was a school day.

“Get up! Everybody up!” Toviel barked as he clambered over Niguel and out of bed in a hurry, “Today is a school day!”

“Who the FUCK cares…” Niguel moaned and rolled over.

Evett, on the other hand, all but leapt out of bed with the kind of energy that Toviel wasn’t aware he was capable of. His eyes were wide and alert and he rushed down the hall, claiming the shower. Scratching his head, Toviel hobbled into the kitchen to pack everyone’s lunches.

Niguel remained dead to the world, of course.

As the morning progressed Niguel was eventually carried to the shower by both Toviel and Evett and doused with ice cold water while he was still in his clothes, and he would have chased them around the house had he not been so tired. By the time Niguel got to the kitchen, fresh dry clothes on his back, hair dripping and bag dragging on the floor as he walked, Toviel was dressed too and had finished making them omelettes for lunch.

“Okay, I put in juice boxes and carrots and grapes too!” Toviel announced as he shoved the wrapped up omelettes into brown bags and shoved them forward on the island for the blonde and the insomniac to take.

“How are you NOT gay?” Niguel grumbled as he grabbed his lunch, “You’re such a MOM.”

“If you guys don’t hurry we’re all going to be late.” Toviel added, ignoring the blonde.

“I rest my case.” Niguel added, and Toviel assumed he was talking about the nagging.

“Just get to school, won’t you?” Toviel insisted, “And don’t get into any trouble! As of ten o’clock I’ll be there too, so I’ll know!”

Evett grabbed his lunch and grinned.

“Thanks for the sleep, and thanks for the lunch!” He said quickly, stuffing the brown bag into his knapsack and zipping it up, “See you after school!”

And like a whirlwind Evett was out the door and out of sight in the blink of an eye. Niguel, however, had just barely managed to secure his schoolbag on his shoulders and was lazily wandering out of the house. Toviel shook his head and started putting his own lunch bag together.

The Principal’s Office. That dreaded place where students are sent when they’ve done something bad…and were dumb enough to get caught. And here was Toviel, staring at the sign over the door, dreading to go inside and discover what Niguel had done now.

He’d been called to the office while he was filing paperwork, the secretary’s voice informing him that Niguel had cause “a disturbance” in between classes. Fabulous.

Eventually accepting his fate, Toviel knocked twice on the door and stood back a little. A tall older man opened the door, a grave look on his face.

“Hello,” Toviel said hesitantly, “I’m here about Niguel?”

The man nodded.

“Come on in.” he said, gesturing inside and holding the door as Toviel went in and took a seat, “I’m the Principal, Mr. Brown. You’re Toviel Glade, aren’t you? You’re working with Mr. Dawson I hear.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Well, I guess I just better come out and say it,” Mr. Brown sighed, “Niguel was involved in a fight today with another student.”

Toviel’s shoulders slumped.

“Mr. Brown I…”

“The student he fought with was a young man that’s started quite a few brawls just this year alone.” The Principal continued, “Steavan Valmont. That boy’s been causing trouble since day one, and he was apparently tormenting some ninth-graders today when Niguel tried to cut in. The teacher that was present told me that it was Steavan who initiated the fight, so Niguel isn’t in any trouble.”

Toviel exhaled a sigh of relief. This was a first. Being called to the office when Niguel was not being punished?

“We’ve had Niguel sent to the nurse to treat a few scrapes, but he should be just fine,” Mr. Brown continued, “I’m terribly sorry about all this, we’ve been doing our best to get Steavan under control but he has some serious issues, I’m sure. He’s been suspended for the rest of the week, but when he gets back we’ll be sending him in for counseling.”

“I…I see.”

“We really don’t know what else to do. His father isn’t very supportive of his schooling and no amount of punishment seems to be getting through to him. He bullies other students, rarely does his school work…we’re at our wit’s end here.”

The Principal was rubbing his temples and slouching. Toviel kind of felt bad for him.

“What if the counseling doesn’t work out?” Toviel asked.

“Well, we’ll just have to expel him I suppose.” Mr. Brown admitted, “Sometimes there’s just no other choice. We can’t allow him to terrorize the other students any longer.”

Toviel nodded. In a small school like this one, one big bad bully was enough.

“As for Niguel, it was probably his first time seeing Mister Valmont.” The Principal continued, “Steavan always arrives in school late and he’s in all applied courses so there aren’t many students who have class with him, and he’s also been staying after school for detention for…well I can’t quite remember when he’s been out of detention, actually. In any case I’m terribly sorry that Niguel was involved.”

“Yes well, thank you but I’m sure he’s alright.” Toviel smiled, “He’s a pretty tough kid.”

A few minutes later Toviel was escorted to the Nurse’s Room. When Niguel looked up from his seat, he was wearing the expression that a dog might have when it knew it had done something wrong. Niguel smiled and rolled his eyes, which cheered the blonde up considerably.

As they walked back down the hall after the nurse allowed Niguel to leave, Toviel examined the blonde’s bandages.

“Four band-aids,” the taller boy counted, “And a patch of gauze. You sure it doesn’t hurt?”

“Fuck no.” Niguel replied, looking mighty proud of himself, “You should see the other guy.”

Toviel grinned.

“It looks like I’m going to have to, he’s being sent to counseling after his suspension is over.”

Niguel looked over at him, eyebrows raised.

“Damn, are you in for a fuckin’ basket case or what?” His tone was mocking but his expression was laced with concern, “You want me to stay in the next room as your bodyguard? Fucker doesn’t stand a chance against me.”

“That’s okay, I’m hoping stuff like that won’t be necessary.” Toviel insisted as they both stopped beside the door to Niguel’s classroom.

“You’re call, but if your counseling doesn’t work and that motherfucker tries anything again, I’m gonna beat the shit outta him.”

“You won’t have to, he’d get expelled anyway.” Toviel added.

“Still, I mean one minute he’s got a ninth grader cornered and he’s shoving him and talking shit, and the second I tell him to fuck off he looks at me like I’m the devil himself and lunges at me! Who does that? What’s his damage?”

The blonde was getting agitated, so Toviel just patted his shoulder and smiled.

“You can give me a play-by-play back home.” He offered, “But for now you go back to class and I’ll go finish my work. Deal?”

“What am I? Three?” Niguel stuck out his tongue, “I’m fine, I’m just fucking pissed.”

Toviel gave him a rough pat on the back, and Niguel flinched.

“Watch it! That’s tender…” he whined, but Toviel just chuckled and waved as he headed back down the hall.

“Remarkable…” Dr Dawson muttered for the tenth time, glancing back down the hallway, “So you say he actually slept through the whole night?”

“Yes,” Toviel said once again, “I can’t say for sure though, I was asleep too. But he certainly had a lot of energy this morning. I hope he ate his lunch…”

“This is great news!” the older man exclaimed again, “Maybe Evett feels more at ease around you? Well whatever you’re doing, just don’t stop.”

Toviel resisted the urge to slap himself in the face. Another one. He’d taken in another one, inadvertently. At this rate he might as well put up a sign and turn it into a business.

Just then, the door burst open and Evett crashed into the room, throwing his bag into a nearby lamp and collapsing on Toviel.

“I’m coming doooown!” He cried, “Hurry, help me sleep! I was doing so well! I was completely alert in Algebra! I was! And…nngh…”

He dropped his head heavily against Toviel’s shoulder. Toviel sighed.

“I think you’re pushing yourself too much.” Toviel said, dragging Evett over to the couch near his desk while Dr Dawson put the lamp back on the end table and brought over the young boy’s bag.

“But…it felt so good…the being-awake part….” Evett mumbled.

“Of course, but you’re body’s not used to it.” Dr Dawson said patiently, “You’re overexerting yourself. You need to take things slow…”

“But…” Evett moaned, but Toviel sat down beside him and let the youth rest his head on his legs.

“Just take a little nap.” Toviel offered gently, “You’ll feel better when you wake up, and from then on you’ll have to take things slow, okay?”

“Mmm.”

Within seconds he was out. Toviel sighed and Dr Dawson handed him some paperwork and a clipboard.

“If it works, it works.” The doctor said with a shrug.

Toviel ended up carrying Evett home. No amount of prodding, shaking or shouting could wake him. So now, on top of numb legs, he’d have to deal with a sore back as well.

It would have been fine if the way home had been straightforward. However, the men in brown jackets had chosen this particular day to try and corner him. He’d noticed them following him after they’d passed by the grocery store. Four of them maybe? No, five. Definitely five.

It was a rare occurrence in general, but the few times that it did happen, Toviel had always had the option to fly out of there.

Today, things were not so easy.

If he flew, there was a chance that Evett might wake up and see his wings. There was also a risk of him dropping the boy by accident. Frankly, he might not even manage to get either of them off the ground. Evett was alarmingly heavy despite his size. He certainly weighed more than Niguel, the only other person that Toviel had air-lifted anywhere.

He ducked into an alley with a dead end and crouched behind a dumpster. Evett was still sleeping sounding against his back. This was getting dangerous. He could hear them closing in on the alley. He’d have to try and fly.

He stood up and jerked Evett higher on his back. All five men were there, blocking the exit. Toviel was starting to panic. This area was almost deserted, there wouldn’t even be witnesses. And what about Evett? He couldn’t let him get dragged into this...

Just as the first man reached into his jacket for his gun, Toviel felt Evett move. The student had shifted his head and propped it up of the older boy’s shoulder. He lifted a slow arm upwards, and Toviel felt a strong pulse resonate throughout them both. He craned his neck to see Evett’s face.

His face was expressionless, like he was still asleep. His lidded eyes, however, were set on the men in front of them. His irises shone a bright shade of blue, and he flicked his outstretched hand, flattening his palm towards the men. Toviel felt a second pulse.

There was a low rumble, and suddenly the ground shook beneath them. In a matter of seconds, a fissure formed in the ground under their feet. Whether it was out of alarm or by instinct, Toviel unsheathed his wings at once. It was a good thing he had, because the fissure widened so quickly that the men in brown didn’t even have time to run. They stumbled, screamed and fell, swallowed up by the massive pit that had formed beneath them. A few strong wing beats were enough to spare Toviel and Evett the same fate.

The older boy hovered a few meters above the ground, beating frantically to keep them both in the air. Evett was terribly heavy, and it felt like he was getting heavier. But that wasn’t possible, was it?

Moments after the men had fallen, Evett clasped his hand quickly into a fist. Another pulse throbbed through them, one that almost knocked Toviel from the air. As if responding to Evett’s whims, the large cavity in the cracked pavement smashed back into place, leaving nothing but an uneven cleft in the ground as evidence. Not intent on wasting time, Toviel only struggled a few moments longer before allowing himself to plummet back down, landing hard on his feet and lowering both Evett and himself to the ground.

Gasping from the effort it had taken to stay afloat, his wings still outstretched, the raven haired youth leaned over the younger boy.

Evett was sound asleep.

Incredulous, Toviel wiped the sweat from his brow, and then prodded the brunette a bit, just to be sure. Evett groaned and scrunched his eyes together. Then the blinked awake, and squinted up at Toviel.

“You’re okay…” Toviel said mostly to himself, relief flooding over him.

At least until he realized where Evett was looking. Which was not at his face.

End of Chapter 14.

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