More exploration into Donovan and Link's high school years before transferring to Hamilton. Also Link being a cute muffin as usual!

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Link popped up beside Donovan as he was shoving his textbook into his locker. Donovan glanced at Link.

"Will you skip lunch and go to the drama class auditions with me?" Link asked.

Donovan returned to fitting his books together. "Kelsey Knight isn't going to date you."

"How do you know?" Link asked.

Donovan closed his locker and leaned against it, facing Link.

"Because she's a junior and you're a sophomore. Also, Ethan Jacobs is in drama and he looks like the next Chris Evans."

"I still want to try," Link said.

"It's a musical. You are tone-deaf."

"Then I'll be in the ensemble."

Donovan stared at him and Link looked back, clearly determined to go despite the evidence pointing to the fact that it was futile.

"All right," Donovan said. "Let's go."

Grinning with victory, Link led the way to the school's theater. It was a lavish auditorium with plush velvet red seats and a large, empty stage. Already crowding the first few rows were the hopeful auditioners. Kelsey stood next to Mrs. Hartley, the drama teacher, who welcomed all the eager students. Donovan and Link quickly claimed seats in one of the empty rows.

"This is just the singing portion of the audition," Mrs. Hartley said. "We will get through as many as we can before the bell. When your name is called go on stage and give us all you got."

Kelsey called out a girl's name and a perky girl leapt from her seat and scurried up the steps to the stage. Once there she announced her name and the song she planned to sing.

Before she began, she lifted her gaze to the rest of the theater's audience. When she noticed Donovan, she froze and her face flushed red.

"Any time you're ready," Mrs. Hartley prompted.

When the girl continued to stare at Donovan and he stared back, Kelsey too glanced his way, which encouraged others to do as well until half of the students had found Donovan sitting behind them.

Finally, the girl on stage managed to start singing, though her voice shook and wasn't very loud. When she finished, Mrs. Hartley thanked her and the girl hurried off the stage.

As the next student took the girl's place, Kelsey slipped from her spot and trailed back to where Donovan and Link sat. Sitting on the armrest of the chair in front of Donovan, she leaned in.

"Hey, Donovan," she said.

Donovan greeted her with his customary silence.

"Are you auditioning?" she asked.

Donovan shook his head.

"Okay, then do you mind leaving?" she asked.

This surprised Donovan. "Why?"

"Because some of the girls are nervous about auditioning with you watching."

"But aren't they supposed to be used to people watching them?"

"Yes, but there's apparently something about your intense blue-eyed stare that flusters them. Also, they're okay with average-looking audiences and well..."

Donovan thought this was ridiculous, but looked to Link. Link was looking at Kelsey, resigned.

"I never would have gotten your notice, would I?" he asked.

Kelsey looked at him like she was surprised someone was sitting next to Donovan.

"Sorry?" she said.

"Whatever," Link sighed and stood up.

Donovan followed him out of the theater and towards the cafeteria.

"Look on the bright side," Donovan said. "Kat Martinez takes pottery, you can join that."

Link rolled his eyes.

"Lynn Satō looks good in tights, you can join ballet. Maybe you look good in tights."

"Shut up."

Donovan laughed at Link's annoyance. But when a group of girls nearby cut off their conversations at the sound, Donovan swallowed his laughter and dropped down a blank face. It hardly worked, their whispers not low enough for him to avoid hearing his own name. When they were far enough away, Donovan jostled Link's shoulder.

"You shouldn't worry," he said. "You'll meet someone and it will be in a natural way."

"Yeah, like what?"

Donovan shrugged. "You're in the library and you both are looking for the same book."

Link simply looked at Donovan like he was ridiculous.

"Easy for you to say," Link said, as they claimed their normal lunch table. "All you have to do is look at a girl and she won't just join a class for you, she'll walk right over."

"That is not true."

"Really? You want proof." Link pointed to a girl in a cheerleading uniform walking away from the lunch line. "Look at Summer, the girl who is out of pretty much everyone's league, and see what she does."

"Just look at her."

"Yup, just look at her."

Donovan shook his head but did as Link wanted, focusing his gaze on Summer. For a few seconds, she didn't notice his stare but when she did, she paused for a fraction.

Donovan thought she might simply smile and wave but instead, she redirected her steps towards his table.

"See," Link muttered as Summer stopped in front of them, smiling.

"Hey, Donovan. You beckoned," she said teasingly.

"Sorry," Donovan said. "I didn't mean to stare."

"It's okay. I didn't know if you wanted to come sit at my table with me but weren't sure how to ask it so figured if you looked at me I would come over here and invite you."

Link snorted behind his hand.

"I didn't realize my eyes said so much," Donovan said.

"A lot more than you normally do. So is that a yes?"

"Sorry, I'm good here."

"Okay, well know that the invitation is open. If you can't speak then just look my way and I'll wave you over."

She spun around, her high ponytail swishing behind her back.

"See," Link said. "Proof."

Donovan let out a sigh. "It seems we both aren't going to meet anyone in a natural way."

"Yeah," Link muttered. "We're on opposite ends of the same boat."

"It seems so."

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Hey there monkey! 🙈

(That's right, I'm just going to start using animals now as greetings so give me what animal you want to be or else forever hold your piece)

Donny boy being all cute and intense and Link being a helpless muffin, is there anything better? *sighs* go ahead and share your own thoughts. 💬💭🗯

Honestly I have so much fun writing Donovan because if you think about it he would always stand out or make an impression because he's not a normal teenage guy. He's got the confidence of age and the mystery of never letting anyone get close. I don't care who you are, anyone would be drawn to that.

So that means he can pull off anything. Let's face it, who isn't going to walk over to Donovan if you saw him staring at you. I know I'd probably trip along the way and I'm not even clumsy!

Deny it all you like but you know you're with me on this.

Vote, comment, follow because you know we hold these truths to be self evident that all men...Donovan is created attractive.