My Teenage Dream' Chapter 7
Logan was not a very social person, he'd admit that. But seriously, he couldn't take it anymore. Xavier was his favourite student, even if he wouldn't admit it out loud. And Lehnsherr, well, he was good, sort of. But the googly eyes they made at each other, was too much for Logan to bear. Seriously, he could feel their unrequited love-crush-tension -whatever it was, whatever the kids these days call it- yeah, Logan could feel it come off them like bright rays of sunshine and rainbows, aimed directly at him, and if he had to see one of them steal a glance at the other for one more time, he was sure he'd puke, right there, in front of the class.
Okay, so maybe he called them both to detention so that they could solve whatever it was between them. Okay, fine, so maybe he did want to help them, but he would deny this side of his to his grave.
Yeah, so he didn't want two of his brightest students to get distracted anymore and flunk. So, what? Sue him! He'd never admit it out loud that he was actively talking part in a high school love story, even if it meant he'd have to remove his head.
He dragged both of his students to the library. "The Mathematics section needs cleaning. Now, get to work, idiots!" He said roughly, and walked back to his desk, without glancing back twice.
Charles was confused. He'd never been punished, not even once. And now, here he was, in detention, cleaning the library as his punishment, when all he did was to try to read a note being passed to him. And he didn't even read it!
So he should've been feeling angry, frustrated, sad, maybe. Not have his heart hammering in his chest as their teacher dragged them both to the library. And then he ordered them to clean and rearrange the entire Mathematics section. Which would take the entire afternoon.
Which meant, an entire afternoon with Erik Lehnsherr (!) Alone. In the library. (Okay, maybe not alone, since a few kids were still reading, here and there…but that was endurable.)
And now Charles wanted to impress him, because yeah, he was such an intimidating presence. Erik was finally paying attention to him, now that Charles was no longer the geek-head Charlie, but the um, new Charles, and he didn’t want to waste his opportunity.
Luck was on his side this time, because this was the library of all places. He’d spent 97% of his middle school here itself, so yeah, he remembered where every single book was supposed to go, unless one of the hipster kids had messed them up.
Erik on the other hand, looked like a lost kitten on the highway or something. As if he’d never stepped in the library before.
“Umm, that way, darling,” Charles said, and great! His awkwardness was coming back. He could feel it. Why was his awkwardness back again? It always happened around Erik. Like he couldn’t pretend anymore.
No Charles. Erik doesn’t like the dork Charles. If you want to impress him, you have to be cool and hip.
So he forced back a smile, walking quickly to the destination. The Mathematics section was two whole shelves, with some books as thick as Charles’ wrist. Or Erik’s p- wait, what?
Charles blushed at his thoughts. What the hell was he thinking? He blinked, trying to clear his head.
He looked at Erik, who was scaling the shelves as if it was Mount Everest.
“Would it be okay if I got on top?” Charles asked, and Erik snapped his head to him, and okay, that’s not how he had framed the question. “I mean, I got the top section clear?” He babbled hurriedly, pointing to the small ladder.
Really Charles, amazing choice of vocabulary!
Erik nodded, but his eyes seemed out of focus.
And so Charles got on top, of the ladder, pulling out the dusty volumes. He sneaked a few glances down, where Erik was squatting, pulling out books from his section as well.
Charles climbed down carefully, setting the huge pile of books on the table, next to Erik’s. He then repeated the whole procedure again. Only this time, Erik was setting down his pile at the same time, and their hands brushed, and Erik looked up to him like he wanted to say something. But he didn’t, and Charles pulled back his hand, apologizing, and looking away, and getting back to his ladder with a duster.
But woah, his hand sure was warm, and Charles wanted to touch him again. Mr Logan was his favourite teacher now! He started dusting off the shelf, wiping the corners. His eyes spotted a dust bunny in the farthest corner, and okay, maybe if he just stretched some more, he could reach it. He didn’t want Erik to think he was useless, not able to clean a meager shelf by himself.
He grabbed the shelf with one hand, standing on the tip of his toes on the little ladder. Just a little more, and he was almost there, stretching just a little more, when the stepladder gave away, and he went scrambling down.
Honestly speaking? Erik had never been to the library before. He was naturally good in Physics, and never showed enough interest in other subjects to actually need to go the library.
It was like, stepping into another dimension. The air smelt different, the noises were dissimilar to what he was used to. There was this, this tang in the air…which reminded him of Charles. The whole atmosphere reminded him of Charles. The old Charles, whatsoever.
And then there was the Mathematics section, and yeah, that was the Great Wall of China alright. Because all those shelves would take years to clean. What sort of punishment was this?
And then he heard Charles saying that he wanted to get on top and woah! That seemed like a good idea. Only then, Charles amended his statement, and reality sank in.
Okay, so his position was a good consolation, nonetheless. The view from down here was great, including that occasional piece of skin above his waist band that showed whenever Charles stretched. Or the fact that when he stood beside Charles’ ladder, he was face to face with Charles’ crotch.
So maybe Erik was enjoying himself when he placed the third stack of books on the table, balancing them like tetris. He stood near the ladder, examining his work; he was almost done with the bottom-most shelf. Now he needed the duster and-
His thoughts were interrupted as he got an armful of Charles, without any prelude.
It was all like they showed in the chick flicks. The ladder-thing just wobbled and gave away and before Erik could do anything, Charles just fell on him and he had no other option but to hold onto whatever his hands found, encircling around Charles’ waist, the brunette’s arms gripping tightly onto his arms.
And just like the movies they stood, into each other’s arms, while time slowed down and the dust particles swam in the afternoon sun. It was too unrealistic and straight-out-of-a-disney-movie for Erik, but then again, the events from the past two days weren’t much real either, so he wouldn’t complain.
Charles’ hair was tousled and he had some blackish-dust-mark-something on his cheek, which Erik desperately wanted to brush off. But given their current positions, all he could do was stare into those blue eyes. And woah! Had they always been this electric blue or were the lens amplifying their hue?
Charles’ lips were red, so red, probably because he’d been worrying them, and for a second Erik felt that his old Charles was back. Would it be okay if he just kissed him? Of course it would be…right? Erik just had to cover the small distance between them, the mere inches that kept them apart. Because Charles had cherry red lips, and lips so red that he could simply devour them and-
“Uhhm?” A gentle voice interrupted them, and Charles sprang away like he’d been tased. Erik pointed a death glare to the owner of the voice, which was Moira, if he recalled correctly.
“Erik, um, Mr. Logan has called you to his office,” she said, looking here and there, and avoiding his glare. He nodded roughly, and looked back at Charles, who was avoiding his gaze as well, blushing scarlet.
Fine. It wouldn’t take much time…He hurried out to Logan’s office, hoping he could continue what he’d wanted to do.
The Math teacher simply huffed and handed him a few more books to be returned to the library, and good Lord! They were heavy. No wonder Charles had a fit body; these books were perfect gym materials, and Charles carried them around like a mother monkey carried her children.
Oh, Charles reminded him something. Maybe he could finally ask Charles about the dance. Yeah, that would be a good idea, now that they were alone, (except for a few obstacles like Moira).
Erik walked back to the Math section, but found it deserted. He placed his dumbbells (books) down, looking for any hint of brown hair. Then he heard it, laughter coming from somewhere nearby, and followed it. He could hear the voices, muffled, coming from the other side of the shelf.
“Thank you so much, Charles! I was thinking I wont ever find it, but you did it!”
“Oh, no, that’s alright, love. Also, there are other books in the catalogue over there, in case you need it.”
“That’s wonderful! Would it be okay if I asked for your help again?”
“Absolutely! It would be my pleasure.”
A wave of something -Erik refused to recognize- surged through him. Oh? So now Charles called everyone his love or darling? Does that mean Erik wasn’t … any different for him? Would spending time with someone like Moira really be a pleasure to Charles?
Then why was Erik wasting his time? Fine! Charles had time for everyone, but him. Charles would be pleased to spend time with everyone. Erik wasn’t anything special, was he?
Charles came around the shelf, oblivious to Erik’s mood.
“There you are, Erik!” he said, smiling. Was this a plastic smile, reserved for everyone? “Come, lets go back and finish our work before the professor checks on us.” He walked past Erik, still unaware of the taller male’s anger.
Erik didn’t utter a single word till they were finished. He even avoided Charles as much as he could. Finally Charles noticed something was wrong.
“Is everything all right, darling?” He asked, concerned. Or was he really concerned? The word darling spiked off something in Erik.
“Sure is. Why don’t you ask Moira,” Erik muttered.
“What?” Charles asked, eyes going wide. He walked closer, placing one hand on Erik’s shoulder. Erik twisted away, eyes gleaming with anger…and something he couldn’t explain.
“Just-Just stay away from me, okay Charles?” Erik snapped. He didn’t want this. (Of course he wanted Charles, but not this Charles.) He didn’t want this pretense. He didn’t want to be just another darling to Charles.
He wanted his old Charles back.
Okay, so maybe he called them both to detention so that they could solve whatever it was between them. Okay, fine, so maybe he did want to help them, but he would deny this side of his to his grave.
Yeah, so he didn't want two of his brightest students to get distracted anymore and flunk. So, what? Sue him! He'd never admit it out loud that he was actively talking part in a high school love story, even if it meant he'd have to remove his head.
He dragged both of his students to the library. "The Mathematics section needs cleaning. Now, get to work, idiots!" He said roughly, and walked back to his desk, without glancing back twice.
Charles was confused. He'd never been punished, not even once. And now, here he was, in detention, cleaning the library as his punishment, when all he did was to try to read a note being passed to him. And he didn't even read it!
So he should've been feeling angry, frustrated, sad, maybe. Not have his heart hammering in his chest as their teacher dragged them both to the library. And then he ordered them to clean and rearrange the entire Mathematics section. Which would take the entire afternoon.
Which meant, an entire afternoon with Erik Lehnsherr (!) Alone. In the library. (Okay, maybe not alone, since a few kids were still reading, here and there…but that was endurable.)
And now Charles wanted to impress him, because yeah, he was such an intimidating presence. Erik was finally paying attention to him, now that Charles was no longer the geek-head Charlie, but the um, new Charles, and he didn’t want to waste his opportunity.
Luck was on his side this time, because this was the library of all places. He’d spent 97% of his middle school here itself, so yeah, he remembered where every single book was supposed to go, unless one of the hipster kids had messed them up.
Erik on the other hand, looked like a lost kitten on the highway or something. As if he’d never stepped in the library before.
“Umm, that way, darling,” Charles said, and great! His awkwardness was coming back. He could feel it. Why was his awkwardness back again? It always happened around Erik. Like he couldn’t pretend anymore.
No Charles. Erik doesn’t like the dork Charles. If you want to impress him, you have to be cool and hip.
So he forced back a smile, walking quickly to the destination. The Mathematics section was two whole shelves, with some books as thick as Charles’ wrist. Or Erik’s p- wait, what?
Charles blushed at his thoughts. What the hell was he thinking? He blinked, trying to clear his head.
He looked at Erik, who was scaling the shelves as if it was Mount Everest.
“Would it be okay if I got on top?” Charles asked, and Erik snapped his head to him, and okay, that’s not how he had framed the question. “I mean, I got the top section clear?” He babbled hurriedly, pointing to the small ladder.
Really Charles, amazing choice of vocabulary!
Erik nodded, but his eyes seemed out of focus.
And so Charles got on top, of the ladder, pulling out the dusty volumes. He sneaked a few glances down, where Erik was squatting, pulling out books from his section as well.
Charles climbed down carefully, setting the huge pile of books on the table, next to Erik’s. He then repeated the whole procedure again. Only this time, Erik was setting down his pile at the same time, and their hands brushed, and Erik looked up to him like he wanted to say something. But he didn’t, and Charles pulled back his hand, apologizing, and looking away, and getting back to his ladder with a duster.
But woah, his hand sure was warm, and Charles wanted to touch him again. Mr Logan was his favourite teacher now! He started dusting off the shelf, wiping the corners. His eyes spotted a dust bunny in the farthest corner, and okay, maybe if he just stretched some more, he could reach it. He didn’t want Erik to think he was useless, not able to clean a meager shelf by himself.
He grabbed the shelf with one hand, standing on the tip of his toes on the little ladder. Just a little more, and he was almost there, stretching just a little more, when the stepladder gave away, and he went scrambling down.
Honestly speaking? Erik had never been to the library before. He was naturally good in Physics, and never showed enough interest in other subjects to actually need to go the library.
It was like, stepping into another dimension. The air smelt different, the noises were dissimilar to what he was used to. There was this, this tang in the air…which reminded him of Charles. The whole atmosphere reminded him of Charles. The old Charles, whatsoever.
And then there was the Mathematics section, and yeah, that was the Great Wall of China alright. Because all those shelves would take years to clean. What sort of punishment was this?
And then he heard Charles saying that he wanted to get on top and woah! That seemed like a good idea. Only then, Charles amended his statement, and reality sank in.
Okay, so his position was a good consolation, nonetheless. The view from down here was great, including that occasional piece of skin above his waist band that showed whenever Charles stretched. Or the fact that when he stood beside Charles’ ladder, he was face to face with Charles’ crotch.
So maybe Erik was enjoying himself when he placed the third stack of books on the table, balancing them like tetris. He stood near the ladder, examining his work; he was almost done with the bottom-most shelf. Now he needed the duster and-
His thoughts were interrupted as he got an armful of Charles, without any prelude.
It was all like they showed in the chick flicks. The ladder-thing just wobbled and gave away and before Erik could do anything, Charles just fell on him and he had no other option but to hold onto whatever his hands found, encircling around Charles’ waist, the brunette’s arms gripping tightly onto his arms.
And just like the movies they stood, into each other’s arms, while time slowed down and the dust particles swam in the afternoon sun. It was too unrealistic and straight-out-of-a-disney-movie for Erik, but then again, the events from the past two days weren’t much real either, so he wouldn’t complain.
Charles’ hair was tousled and he had some blackish-dust-mark-something on his cheek, which Erik desperately wanted to brush off. But given their current positions, all he could do was stare into those blue eyes. And woah! Had they always been this electric blue or were the lens amplifying their hue?
Charles’ lips were red, so red, probably because he’d been worrying them, and for a second Erik felt that his old Charles was back. Would it be okay if he just kissed him? Of course it would be…right? Erik just had to cover the small distance between them, the mere inches that kept them apart. Because Charles had cherry red lips, and lips so red that he could simply devour them and-
“Uhhm?” A gentle voice interrupted them, and Charles sprang away like he’d been tased. Erik pointed a death glare to the owner of the voice, which was Moira, if he recalled correctly.
“Erik, um, Mr. Logan has called you to his office,” she said, looking here and there, and avoiding his glare. He nodded roughly, and looked back at Charles, who was avoiding his gaze as well, blushing scarlet.
Fine. It wouldn’t take much time…He hurried out to Logan’s office, hoping he could continue what he’d wanted to do.
The Math teacher simply huffed and handed him a few more books to be returned to the library, and good Lord! They were heavy. No wonder Charles had a fit body; these books were perfect gym materials, and Charles carried them around like a mother monkey carried her children.
Oh, Charles reminded him something. Maybe he could finally ask Charles about the dance. Yeah, that would be a good idea, now that they were alone, (except for a few obstacles like Moira).
Erik walked back to the Math section, but found it deserted. He placed his dumbbells (books) down, looking for any hint of brown hair. Then he heard it, laughter coming from somewhere nearby, and followed it. He could hear the voices, muffled, coming from the other side of the shelf.
“Thank you so much, Charles! I was thinking I wont ever find it, but you did it!”
“Oh, no, that’s alright, love. Also, there are other books in the catalogue over there, in case you need it.”
“That’s wonderful! Would it be okay if I asked for your help again?”
“Absolutely! It would be my pleasure.”
A wave of something -Erik refused to recognize- surged through him. Oh? So now Charles called everyone his love or darling? Does that mean Erik wasn’t … any different for him? Would spending time with someone like Moira really be a pleasure to Charles?
Then why was Erik wasting his time? Fine! Charles had time for everyone, but him. Charles would be pleased to spend time with everyone. Erik wasn’t anything special, was he?
Charles came around the shelf, oblivious to Erik’s mood.
“There you are, Erik!” he said, smiling. Was this a plastic smile, reserved for everyone? “Come, lets go back and finish our work before the professor checks on us.” He walked past Erik, still unaware of the taller male’s anger.
Erik didn’t utter a single word till they were finished. He even avoided Charles as much as he could. Finally Charles noticed something was wrong.
“Is everything all right, darling?” He asked, concerned. Or was he really concerned? The word darling spiked off something in Erik.
“Sure is. Why don’t you ask Moira,” Erik muttered.
“What?” Charles asked, eyes going wide. He walked closer, placing one hand on Erik’s shoulder. Erik twisted away, eyes gleaming with anger…and something he couldn’t explain.
“Just-Just stay away from me, okay Charles?” Erik snapped. He didn’t want this. (Of course he wanted Charles, but not this Charles.) He didn’t want this pretense. He didn’t want to be just another darling to Charles.
He wanted his old Charles back.