MRS KEERY'S VOICE ZOOMS TOWARDS Giovanni and when he thinks it's about time this class finally enters his head, it makes a V-turn straight into his left ear and comes out of the right ear. In short, his tuition fees is burning in whatever government bank account it is in right now but his parents are too well to care.

Pink nails tap his desk, arrhythmically, he also chews inside his cheek, trying to shove his attention back into his body but it's yet another failed attempt.

Chemistry probably is vaguest and most not-straightforward thing he's ever encountered in his life. After philosophy, that is, but at least he loves the latter. There's something fancy about spewing metaphysical jargon that makes him seem so smart. Not chemistry though; he really doubts knowing oxygen has eight atoms will help his future in any way.

Plus there's something else making this class uncomfortable for him. Gio peeks from the corner of his eye and there's it again.

Last time he checked, his forehead is neither big as Bruce's nor is it the whiteboard. Then why is Khalid staring him down like that?

Gio has to touch his face incase the boy is really staring superman laser beam thingies into his skull because there's just no way.

It's this guilty look but also as if he's trying to tell him something? What can possibly be Gio's business with jocks? Especially a background comic-relief character like Khalid.

Gio tries to ignore this but when he realizes he can't handle it another five seconds, he spins in his seat. "Do we have a problem? -- in the tone hushed but emphatic enough for the other boy to know he's creeping him out.

"Price, do you have anything?" Gio jumps and turns to face the teacher. "Anything that you and Khalid might want to share with the class?" She eyes them both suspiciously.

"Um wait. Sorry. I was just, you know, zoning out and shit--" Gio winces at himself cursing.

"Zoning off?" Her face is red now so quick. "So in other words, my class is boring. Chemistry is boring. I am boring."

Gio blinks. "Huh, no?"

"Detention."

"Wait, that's not fair. I didn't--"

"2 days."

"What now--are you kidding me?"

"3 days."

"I--"

"4 days."

Gio's next syllable screeches into a stop in his throat. As much as he wants to curse her out that she explodes and runs out of the class with her tail between her legs.

Damn Mrs Keery and her crazy class control.

Besides, arguing isn't exactly on his plate at the moment. A terrible hangover is gnawing at his brainstem and no amount of Advil will knock it out of his system.

He takes a deep breath, his upper limb twitching but he keeps being classy.

That's when some unlucky blockhead bursts in short laughter that was unfortunately not short enough.

"Ma, I'm so sorry--"

"Dorian, detention."

This is just in time for the closing bell to ring and the students disappear from the class in a matter of seconds. All except for the latest detentionaires.

"Ninety minutes. No leaving the classroom. No bathroom breaks. Live with your regrets."

Gio groans out loud. "What if my bladder bursts?"

"Well, live with your ruptured bladder too." And she slams the door.

Sighing, Gio retires to placing his head on the table. He may not be a lightweight but it's a small price to pay because nature is unforgiving and his consequent hangover is in a thousand folds.

When he realizes counting sheep and conjuring sleep won't make him better, he raises his head back up. That's when he actually dawns on him he's locked with Dorian of all people, in a class, alone, after school hours.

Giovanni contemplates his next move.

"Don't even think about it," Dorian voices all the way from the front of the class. What a front-sitter, disgusting.

"You're unbelievable, Ayuba. Think about what?" Gio shakes his head.

"I just know you're plotting some obscene gay-as-hell scheme in that thick head of yours."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Gio composes himself, pulling his shirt down and redoing his bun. "You've got this low-key bad impression about me and I'd be lying to say it doesn't at least hurt."

Dorian shrugs. "I mean--you still haven't given up. After making it clear I play for the other team."

Gio raises a brow. What is this boy talking about? "You're kidding me, Dory."

The other boy just scoffs. Gio stares his broad back down, challenging him. But Dorian is still the same smug son of a bitch. The latter is flipping his chemistry note like he's the only one in the room, ignoring Gio's accusingly painful existence.

Something snaps in Gio, just for a moment. He jerks out of his seat, which falls backwards with a dull thud, and he stomps all the way to Dorian who still keeps up his clueless facade.

Or so Gio thought.

"See you looking like a ball of sunshine despite what happened yesterday night?" Gio is deadass about this. Dorian's eyes look bright and alert, his dark skin glowing as if he wasn't higher than a kite some hours ago.

"It's not like pigs will fly because I went to a party. I'm not exactly the stereotypical nerd, you know," Dorian says, cocking his head to the side. "I'm just a jock with a future."

He really doesn't remember! Just how much is missing in that thick skull of his? "Do you think anything interesting happened in the party? Anything suspicious." Gio probes further, because there's just no way.

"I remember drinking a fudge ton. I remember you pushing it on me, jerk. Then, Khalid found me passed out on the counter. So he drove me home. Maybe he's nicer than I gave him credit for." Dorian narrows his eyes at Gio as if he can't believe what he himself is saying.

"Yeah, he's nice alright."

"Besides, I can hold my alcohol than a sea sponge. I'm sure I can remember doing anything. Heck I can't see myself being ratchet. If it's one thing, I like about myself, it's my composure and collectiveness."

"Yeah..." With that, Gio walks back to his seat without breathing another word. His headache has intensified now with the new information he's trying to process.

Dorian will have to wait it out for a while before it all starts flooding in. Yes. And then, maybe Gio won't have to take all the blame. Because like, technically it may look like he took advantage of Dorian while he was drunk but Gio too was tipsy too, to an extent anyway.

He will need to have a chat with Khalid. He will have to explain everything that happened and if it has to do with his weird behavior during the class.

Mrs Keery comes storming into the class soon enough exactly when ninety minutes is exhausted. Not like Gio has been watching the clock anyways. The door is slammed open and he flies out of his seat, drool connecting him to his open textbook.

She gives Dorian an acknowledging nod, clearly impressed that the boy has been studying throughout detention. However, she scoffs at Gio who appraises her with his hands crossed.

"Price, don't forget tomorrow or I double your jail time." She exits before Gio can even get a witty comment in.

Nevertheless, Gio doesn't even look towards Dorian as he flings his bag behind him amd storms out of the class. Gio has to catch basketball practice, although it's most likely over, Gio may be lucky enough to meet Khalid and gang somewhere still goofing around and abusing curfew.

Plus Gio doubts Dorian will even bother going for practice by this time. Mommy's boy is probably Uberring it away fast enough to wash yesterday dirty dishes.

Giovanni is now in front of the door, the boy's locker room on the other side. He's not been in there for a while now. Not since his sickness has taken a turn for the worse and anything physical can mean his last breath.

This locker room in particular has been home to his most depressing, overwhelming moments. Junior year was his time of exploring what kissing a boy felt like, hiding unwanted boners by just showering with the others, the smell of sweat and grimy underwear. Puberty had a chokehold on him. Good ole times.

Opening the door, steam and the smell of various lotions pulls at his nose before he knocks into Khalid as if the other boy has also been waiting for him.

"Look who the cat dragged in. I didn't honestly expect you to come."

Gio rolls his eyes almost immediately. He anticipated this kind of response. Stereotypes are embarrassing to say the least.

"You didn't expect me to come? Something kind of a big deal happened yesterday and you didn't expect me to come seeking you? Cut the bullshit."

Khalid just laughs. There's a painfully attractive and melodic undertone to his voice. To anyone, it may sound charming. But not to Giovanni who takes it as a challenge and his hand flies to his hair. He recently picked up this habit to tightening his bun in a fight-or-flight situation.

"Where is Dorian by the way?"

"Exactly. Dorian must not know anything about this. Like, at all. Right now, he doesn't seem remember anything. Hell, Dorian doesn't look like he'll remember anytime soon."

"Good."

Gio furrows his brow. "Good?"

"Huh?"

"Plus he's got this strange idea that you took him home after passing out by some couch. With clothes on, mind you."

"Thanks to me."

Gio pauses. "Thanks to you? Wait, you lied to him?"

"I did what I had to do," Khalid replies smugly before ruffling his wet mop of curls. More water drips from his scalp, down his shirtless torso and into his towel's waistline, which is too low to not be intentional by the way. "Don't give me that look man. We both know Dorian is as oblivious as a pinball machine."

"Still, it's wrong. I don't like the idea."

"Okay, let's get this straight. We might've been involved in some shit--"

"What do you mean shit?"

"Nigga, take a chill pill. Okay? We'll just paint it out as the alcohol taking over. Someone spiked our drinks and we were...confused."

"Khalid," Gio deadpans.

"Yeah, what?"

"We had a threesome."

"No!" Khalid slams his hand over Gio's mouth, gently though. "You can't say that here."

"Get your hands--" Gio peels the other boy. "--off me."

Khalid now has a pinched expression on his face. He's probably pained now that he's realized how ridiculous he sounds.

"Look, it's for his own good. And mine too; I have a reputation to keep. Besides, you're the gay one." Khalid bursts in a cheshire cat grin. "You're the only one getting something good from this. You should be happy."

Gio is just about to object and possibly break Khalid's smugness with his fist when someone barrels into him, knocking the air out of him.

Gio's ears let out a loud shrill into his head which bangs against the adjacent locker. His eyes begin to adjust into focus just to see a red-faced Bruce Wei holding a fist.

"How dare you drug Khalid--"

Another momentary blackout hits Gio's brain as it vibrates on the tiles. Some thick liquid is flowing down his face but he knows the taste enough to realize it is blood. Despite the rain of punches beating his face into a pulp.

At least, he can hear Khalid's protesting, begging Bruce to stop. Giovanni lost count after seven hits. Then it all stops. Confused, he opens a swollen eye. He instantly regrets this action because pain shoots across his face like he just took a dive face-first in a pool of hot needles.

What he sees however surprises him even more.

"What the hell is wrong with you?! Do you want to kill him?"

"Dorian--" Gio whispers like greeting his calvary. What is he still doing in school; did he follow him here?

Bruce is held back now by Khalid, barely. His fists still balled and hungry. "Funny he still has the guts to come here. Why don't you ask your boyfriend right here?"

"Pfft, he's not my boyfriend?" Dorian contorts his face like that's the most important thing right now.

"Ask your fellow fag why he will have to drug Khalid, of all people, just to suck his dick? Isn't that mental?"

Khalid whines, "I told you, Bruce, he apologized. Just let him go, goddamnit!"

"He drugged you."

"It was a party. Worse could've happened to me so just let's forget please."

"Giovanni did this?" Dorian turns to him as he still lies on the ground.

Everyone's eyes are on him now. Dorian has this disappointed look in his face and Gio's heart stings a little that Dorian can believe this incredulous shit so easily.

Khalid's face is guilty and pleading at the same time. Khalid didn't lie for anybody's sake other than himself. Khalid is selfish enough to dump all the blame on him. Just because he's afraid of getting outed to Bruce, his friend.

Bruce, on the other hand looks ready to tear Gio into shreds.

Tears fill his eyelids and they're salty enough to sting his swollen eye, causing even more tears to fall. Biting his lower lip to stop it from trembling, he struggles on his feet.

"I'm sorry," Giovanni manages to say. Everyone goes quiet, watching him limp out of the scene, a bloody trail behind him.

++++++++++++++++++++

Hey everyone. I'm back, I'm alive and im kickin. Sorry for the short, unedited chapter? Please leave feedback, i love y'all 😭

Poor gio baybee, but i thrive on my characters suffering uwu