WARNINGS: This story has homosexuality in it. And cursing. Be warned, ye homophobes.

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Evan didn't much like the color pink. Oh, sure, it was an okay color- like any other hue (shade?) of the rainbow, but pink. He scrunched his nose in distaste. "I'm going to kill you Tim," he muttered darkly.

Across the room, Tim grinned rakishly. "You love it," he declared.

Evan's hands twitched. Oh, how he wanted to wrap his hands around that neck and just squeeze-!

Sprawled on the couch, Julie snickered. "It doesn't look that bad."

Evan glared at her. "It's pink." Yes, pink. His bangs were pink. Bright, luminous, ugly pink. And damnit, Tim had been the one to do it. Julie had probably just sat there and watched while he had done it too.

He tugged at one strand of bright pink, the color sticking out against the dark black of the rest of his hair. His eyes locked with Tim's amused ones. "I'm going to kill you."

Tim smiled again. "No you won't," he crooned. "You love me."

"Love you like the Black Plague," came the sarcastic response.

Tim placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "You wound me!" Groaning, he fell onto the couch, right on top of Julie. There was a loud squawk as he landed and the siblings started to fight.

Evan threw a quick glance at the clock, cursed, and grabbed his jacket. He was just about to walk out of the apartment when he spun around on his heel and stabbed a finger at Tim. "I will get you for this."

He didn't wait for Tim's response and walked out.

---

All morning, he got questions from his students.

"What did you do?"

"You do know that pink isn't in anymore, right?"

"Isn't that against school codes?"

"Why?"

Then he was called down by his boss.

David Jenkins glared at him from across the desk. "Mr. Malone, do I need to remind you what the dress code for this school is for teachers?"

Evan held back his frowned. Dear God, this guy was exactly like his old pricipal. Now, why hadn't he taken that other teaching job again?

"Hey, David- oh, sorry, didn't know you were in a meeting." Evan glanced back while David glared at the newcomer, Adam Riley.

"Mr. Riley, would you please come back later?" from David. Blue eyes crinkled as Adam smiled and then backed out of the office. "Now, Mr. Malone, answer my question."

Evan rolled his eyes. "No, I didn't. My roommate decided to prank me. It'll be gone tomorrow." Then added as an afterthought, "Sir."

David frowned and then shooed him out. Evan rolled his eyes, sighing, and walked out, almost running into Adam when he walked into the hallway.

Adam grinned, teeth bright and pearly. "Love the look. Why pink though?"

Evan scoffed. "Tim did it. The bastard."

Adam reached up and tangled the tips of his fingers in the pink strands. "It's...interesting to say the least."

"Or fucked up as all total hell? But that just depends on the persceptive, right?" Evan shot Adam a scathing look.

Adam smiled while he played with the bangs. "I think it looks good."

Evan snorted in disdain. "Yeah right."

Adam pulled back. "At least it's not boring."

Evan actually paused to consider that. He glared darkly at Adam as he muttered, "You do have a point there."

They started off down the hall, walking slowly. Lunch wouldn't be done with for another ten minutes. It was silent until Adam said, "It also shows you have some guts." Evan shot him a look. "Most people would have taken the day off and gone and got the dye out."

Evan felt heat settle in his cheeks. "I don't have guts." Twenty-five and no girlfriend? Well, boyfriend in his case all because he didn't have the guts to do anything about it...

Adam grinned again, this one somehow brighter than the rest, and it made the heat in Evan's cheeks burn even more. "Yes you do."

Evan glanced away. "If that's what you want to say."

"Yes, I do want to say."

Pushing the door to his classroom open, Evan flipped on the lights and replied, "Whatever you weirdo."

"So now I'm the weirdo?"

Evan went over to his computer and moved the mouse, watching as the screen saver disappeared. "Yep."

Adam raised an eyebrow and leaned against the desk. "Right." There was a pause. "I still think you have guts. I wouldn't come to here like that. First you have to deal with Jenkins, and you have to deal with the kids, and then," he shuddered, lips pulling into a slight grimace, "Romeil will come and talk to you about expressing yourself."

Evan scowled. "She already did."

Adam started to laugh. "See? Guts. Especially dealing with her and Jenkins."

Evan looked at his coworker and then glanced away quickly. Adam probably didn't realize how leaning against the desk like that emphasized the clean angles of his torso and legs. "Sure," he responded hollowly. Yeah, guts. Right.

Adam pushed himself away from the desk and started to walk out. "I'll see you later. Chinese right?"

Evan blinked. "Huh?"

"It's Monday remember?"

"Oh yeah. Chinese."

Adam shot him a look, one that Evan couldn't clearly name, before walking out of the classroom.