Confounding Expectations--RP non-slash 3/3 complete
Title: Counfounding Expectations
Author: borgmama1of5
Summary: Jared was happily proceeding with his final year of high school-a star on the football team, a great girlfriend-until the new kid in class made him reevaluate what he was doing.
Wordcount: 17,000
Genre/pairing: HS AU; Jared/Sandy; Jensen
Warnings: violence, homophobia…um, not slash?
Rating: PG
Beta: sandymg
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction.
Art: sandymg -she worked hard for her present
Part 1: http://borgmama1of5.livejournal.com/57117.html
Part 2: http://borgmama1of5.livejournal.com/57398.html
-----
Jared called Sandy that night. He hadn’t let on that his stomach was knotted at the thought of Jensen being alone in school tomorrow. He tried to tell himself that the mental picture of Jensen swimming in a sea full of sharks was terribly overdramatic. It confounded him to be afraid of his classmates’ prejudices. Jared had never paid attention to the unwritten caste system. Hadn’t occurred to him that his comfortable place in the pecking order rested on his status as a football player and also one of the ‘smart kids.’ Jared talked to anybody who talked to him. Only now was he realizing how many kids wouldn’t talk to him because there were social lines that didn’t get crossed.
“So what’s the shit at school now?”
“Mike says he was defending himself from Jensen’s groping. There’s a half-dozen guys from the team who back him up. Jensen had it coming.”
“You know Mike and you know Jensen. Do you believe Mike’s story, Sandy?”
“Mike’s story gets more over-the-top every time he tells it. But there’s enough fag-busting talk going around that a lot of kids aren’t thinking about the facts. God, even a couple of the teachers are acting like turning gay is like catching a cold virus and you get it from being in the same room!”
There was a reason Sandy was his girl …
“So Jensen goes back tomorrow. Should I … he be worried?”
“I hate to say this, Jare, but … I wish you guys had been suspended for equal time …”
“He’s gonna get creamed tomorrow, isn’t he? There’s gotta be something … Maybe he can be convinced to pretend he’s sick for a couple days …”
Sandy was silent and Jared could picture her biting distractedly on the corner of her lower lip.
“I … I might have an idea, Jare. Let me make a couple calls …” Her voice trailed off. “Jared?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s just … I’m really glad that you befriended Jensen. He needed friend. Tell him he can count on me, too. Okay?”
“Thanks, Sandy. “ Jared hung up feeling better.
He knew it was a questionable decision, but Jared drove over to the school and parked across the street from the main door a half hour before classes got out. When kids started coming out of the double doors he got out and stood by the front fender, hoping Jensen would spot him.
He saw Jensen first, though, because his friend was talking to the gaggle of girls surrounding him. Which was completely weird. When the pack reached the sidewalk across from him and Jensen still hadn’t looked over, Jared yelled and watched Jensen extricate himself.
As Jensen crossed the street, Jared noticed Mike and some of his friends on the school steps. Mike looked like he was going to follow but Steve put his arm out to block him. Even from a distance, Mike looked furious.
“Okay, how did you do that?” were Jensen’s first words as he settled in the passenger seat.
“Do what?”
“I was … concerned … about a reception from Mike and his buddies today, but, as soon as I got to school I was … surrounded by girls all day. Mostly the cheerleaders … Sandy walked me to every class, even when it was in the wrong direction for her. Danneel, too … really a lot of ‘em.” Jensen chuckled. “It must have looked like a personal harem. Mike couldn’t get within ten feet of me. I think he was pissed. So what did you do?”
Jared grinned. “Wasn’t me. At all. Completely Sandy’s idea. We were …” He glanced at Jensen, hoping he wouldn’t take it the wrong way. “Um, talking about you last night. And worried … And she said you could count on her as a friend, too. Then she said she had an idea and had to make some calls, and hung up.”
Jensen flashed that blazing grin. “I’ll be damned. You have one awesome girlfriend, Padalecki. Maybe we should promote her to Lady Macbeth.”
-----
Feeling masochistic, Jared went to the Saturday football game. As he pulled into the parking lot of Henderson High, he had a cowardly thought of sitting in the home team section so no one from West Alamo would see him, but he immediately knew how stupid that idea was. Being six-four made him pretty noticeable.
It felt incredibly wrong to be sitting in the stands. He focused on the game to avoid noticing how he was being looked at by the kids around him. He couldn’t help but hear some of the comments, though, as the Mad Dogs quickly went down 14-0.
“… suspended, didn’t care what that would do to the team …” “Hauled off and hit Mike for defending himself against a fag …” “Padalecki’s fault if we lose …” “Hey, it was Segel who kicked him off the team …”
Jared looked around to see who was defending him, but instead met the belligerent eyes of one of Mike’s friends.
“You got nerve, Padalecki. Here to watch us lose so you can gloat?”
Jared looked away. This had been a bad idea. With the Henderson team ahead by four touchdowns, he didn’t see the point in hanging around and he stood up to make his way to the aisle. He was a few seats away when a leg kicked between his feet and he had no chance of stopping his momentum. He went down hard, flailing for something to grab, but only upended one girl’s soda and pulled another down with him. The back of his head connected with the seatback behind him.
“Sorry! Sorry!” Getting back to his feet in the narrow space disrupted a sizeable portion of the crowd around him. The sticky drink dripped down the side of his jacket, and the jeans of the girl who’d been holding it were soaked.
“I’m so sorry!” he said again.
“It’s not your fault, Jared,” she answered quietly, and when Jared finally reached the aisle he saw she’d followed him.
“Gonna mop up,” she said to his puzzled look. “But listen, you should know that not everyone in school thinks you were wrong.” He just stared at her so she continued softly. “Jensen’s not the only gay student at West Alamo. And some people appreciate that you stood up for him.”
Huh. Jared had not expected that.
He stopped in the men’s room to wipe the soda off as best he could, then decided he’d wait to see if Sandy needed a ride. He sat in his car until he saw her coming out of the stadium with the other cheerleaders.
“Hey. Want a ride?”
“I’m going with Jared!” she called to her friends by way of answer, then promptly pulled his head down for a kiss. The warmth pooled low in his belly as it always did when they connected, pulsing like a hot flush through his veins. He tugged her closer, half lifting her in a slightly desperate embrace. Maybe he needed more than just a kiss. It fucking hurt sitting there watching his team play without him.
As Jared began driving Sandy remarked, “It must have sucked to watch us lose that bad.”
“Yeah. Felt totally wrong to be sitting there watching. Everyone thinks I screwed up. They’re mad at me, like I stuck it to the team on purpose.”
Sandy didn’t respond and Jared glanced over with sudden alarm. He knew she didn’t think that, but her sudden silence was unusual. Her usually cheerful face was clouded.
“Something’s wrong at school,” she said finally. “I never thought about it before. But some kids … really are scared of people like Mike. And I don’t think most of the teachers care. It’s wrong, Jared.”
Jared couldn’t help his grin. “You and your girlfriends really messed up his plans for Jensen on Friday. How’d you do that anyway?”
Sandy answered seriously, “I asked the squad who wanted to help your friend … our friend. And stick it to Mike at the same time. We’re gonna do the same thing on Monday.” Now Sandy did smile. “It was entertaining to see him frustrated.” Soberly again, she continued, “Jared, if Mike comes after you, can you take him out?”
Jared could hear her worry in her tone. “If he fights fair, it’d be a pretty even fight.”
The weight of that ‘if’ settled between them for a moment. “But I really don’t want to have to punch him again. My hand still hurts.”
As intended, that lightened Sandy’s mood. And if they didn’t head straight to her house, well, that was nobody else’s concern.
-----
Walking through the school doors on Tuesday morning, Jared felt like a pariah. He was expecting to be shunned, sure that everyone would be blaming him for the lost football game - he’d gotten himself suspended, so didn’t that make it his fault? But a surprising number of students acknowledged him.
Then he opened his locker, and a mini-avalanche of folded paper cascaded to the floor. Puzzled, Jared squatted down and unfolded one.
“The only thing worse than a fag is a fag-lover.” “You and your bitch better get out of this school.” And then, “Thanks for standing up against the bullies and the homophobes.” There were a few more like this and one that stopped him cold. “Thanks for taking care of Jensen like I wish I could have.”
When he’d read them all, the pile of positive notes was actually higher than the threats. And Jared wondered if there was an entire secret network of gays woven through the school. He looked forward to telling Jensen that he had more students on his side than he realized.
Everything was fine until gym class. Coach Playk was waiting for Jared outside the locker room.
“Coach Singer wants to see you,” he said.
Jared’s heart sank. He wanted to apologize to Mr. Playk for letting the team down, and he wanted to ask if the substitute teacher had explained the truth about what had happened between Jensen and Mike and him. Before he could say anything, though, the coach added, “Wait till everyone is in the gym before you go,” and stepped aside so Jared could continue in.
The illusion that everything was okay evaporated in the toxic atmosphere inside the lockers. This was Mike’s turf, no one to keep him separated from his victim. It wasn’t physical - yet, but the obscene words being hurled at Jensen were just as deadly.
Jensen had started to change into his gym uniform. His skin had gone as colorless as his plain white tee-shirt, and Jared could see the muscles of his jaw knotted with tension. And yet, even as Mike crudely described what needed to happen to Jensen as a ‘mother-fucking fag,’ Jensen continued to stare with deadly calm at his tormentor’s face.
About to wade through everyone standing between him and Jensen, Jared was arrested by an arm thrown across his chest. He turned to push past Chad, the team quarterback, who’d stopped him and was yelling at Mike, “Hey, Mike, ya gotta make up your mind, he can’t be a fag and a mother-fucker!”
Nervously released laughter ricocheted around the room, and then Coach Playk was blowing his whistle and ordering everyone to “knock it off and get in the gym.”
The room emptied and Jared headed through the corridor to the football coach’s office.
Coach Singer didn’t pull his punches. “Getting suspended from the team for the last three games will probably cost you a scholarship. Not to mention knocking the Mad Dogs out of contention.”
Jared felt sick. “I know … I’m sorry, sir …”
“But from what Playk and I pieced together, if you hadn’t intervened, Ackles might have been seriously hurt. Segel suspended the wrong one of you, and I’m meeting with him tomorrow. I don’t know if he’ll change his decision. And it’s a damn shame if he won’t. I want you to know that a number of teachers think you did the right thing.”
Jared had emotional vertigo from the rapid turnaround of the coach’s words, and he couldn’t think of anything to say beyond, “Thank you, sir.”
“Now get back to class. If Segel lets me reinstate you, I’ll want you at practice tomorrow afternoon.”
Jensen’s swarm of ‘new friends’ surrounded Jared on the way out of the building at three-fifteen. A few girls were discussing dresses for the Homecoming Dance, which jolted Jared into realizing it was just two weeks away. He had completely forgotten. This would be his last one … he wondered if he would be on the football team or not for it.
“You and Sandy are going, right?” Jensen asked, catching Jared’s interest in the topic.
“I guess. Did you ever go to the dances at your old school?”
Jensen looked wistful. “Yeah. At my old school, most everyone - guys and girls - went stag, and it was just a big dance party.”
“Huh. You can’t even buy single tickets to West Alamo dances. Everyone goes in pairs.” Jared had never thought about it before.
Jensen settled in the Neon as Jared climbed in the driver’s seat. “You should ask one of your ‘posse’ to go,” Jared suggested.
“No, I don’t think so. I should probably be embarrassed at hiding behind a bunch of girls … I’m not, but if this thing’s so couples-oriented then it’s not fair to single out one of them, especially when it wouldn’t mean anything.”
“But you said you like to dance?”
Jensen grinned. “You should see me bust a move.”
“That’s just a scary sentence, dude!”
“They used to call me John Travolta Junior.”
“God, no! Tell me you don’t have a white suit!”
“More like Grease, man, not dancing to the Bee Gees!”
“If I’m off the football team, maybe Sandy won’t want to go with me and I can be your date,” Jared joked.
Jensen gave a half-smile. “Kinda don’t see that happening.”
“There is good news-Singer’s gonna talk to the principal tomorrow. He said he thought the principal suspended the wrong student.”
“So he’s gonna try to get you back on the team?”
“Yeah. Couldn’t promise anything, but … it matters that he’s trying, you know?”
A beat before Jensen spoke again. “Did I thank you for taking care of Mike and getting me out of there?”
“I’m pretty sure you did, and it’s not like you need to say it, anyway.”
“Helping me cost you … How bad did your folks freak out? I don’t see you as the kid who gets suspensions all the time …”
“They were cool. Actually, my mom was pissed at the principal. And ‘cause she’s a teacher, she’s usually on the administration’s side. But she’s pretty upset that Segel isn’t standing up against the crap that Mike is saying.”
“My mom wants to invite your family over for dinner sometime.”
“That’d be cool.”
“Want’a come in and work on Morgan’s physics stuff together?”
“Yeah, between our two brains we out to be able to get more’n half the answers right.” Jared snagged his backpack from the back seat and ambled up the steps behind Jensen.
----
Jared called Sandy after supper. He wanted her to know what Coach Singer was doing, and he figured he’d better formally ask her to Homecoming. It’s just that Jensen’s comment about the dances at his old school was stuck in Jared’s head.
“So, you wanna go to Homecoming?”
Sandy sighed in exasperation. “Good thing I like you already, Jared, because that was the lamest-ass date I’ve ever been asked for!”
“It’s … I’m not … grrr, this is frustrating.”
“What, asking me out is frustrating? You’re not really fixing the problem, Jare,” Sandy teased.
“Okay, hear me out a minute, okay? All of our school dances are for couples, right?”
“Yeah …”
“And that means a guy and a girl, right?”
“And your point is?”
“Well, there’s kinda two of them. What if a guy wanted to go with another guy, or two girls wanted to go together?”
“Are you serious? You know how that would go over!”
“Which kinda leads to my other point … what about guys who just want’a go to the dance to have fun but don’t have the nerve to ask a date? Or the girls who don’t get asked because there’s more girls than guys in the class? Or, hell anyone who just isn’t into dating right now for any reason?” He was getting really into this now.
“I’m not sure where you’re going with this …”
“Well, maybe the school policy should change to allow single tickets.”
“Okay, you’re thinking way too much on a dance for being a guy, here.”
“But I’m just thinking about it in terms of equal opportunity! Why can’t the single girls just come and hang out and dance and have fun? And the guys who like to dance but don’t have a girlfriend.”
“This is about Jensen, isn’t it?”
“Well .... not just him …”
“So you just want to chuck years of tradition out the window and make a new policy starting with Homecoming in two weeks.”
“Um, yes?” Jared shook his head at his own hubris. “So I don’t know, it’s like I’ve been oblivious to the crappy way some kids are treated at our school, and I want to do something about it. Something that makes people rethink their automatic perceptions.”
Silence from Sandy. Finally, “You know, your idealism is contagious. Because you’re right, there are all kinds of cliques that keep people from just being themselves. And stupid prejudices … So what’s your idea?”
“You know, if you were here I would kiss you!”
“I know. I deserve it. And you owe me. Now what are we gonna do?”
-----
If he was ever going to plan a caper like Ocean’s Eleven, Sandy would be the one to have on the team. Not only did she somehow have the connections, but Jared watched her subversive streak in action for the first time and was a little in awe. If she hadn’t been on his side, he might have been scared.
Pretty much every girl who didn’t already have a date for Homecoming had one by lunch the next day. With another girl. By Friday, every guy who hadn’t asked a girl before Sandy swung into action was out of luck.
That’s when phase two went into operation.
However, Jared had another reason to feel that things were changing when he was called into the principal’s office at lunch and saw Coach Singer waiting for him.
“Sit down, Padalecki.” Jared smirked to himself. He was nearly a foot taller than Mr. Segel, and for once he was going to take advantage of it.
“I’ll stand, sir, if you don’t mind.”
Segel blinked, then walked behind his desk.
“Coach Singer has been making a case for your reinstatement on the team. He says that he and Mr. Playk feel the entire scrap was the fault of the substitute teacher losing control of the class. I don’t agree with condoning violence. But in this case it may have prevented a student being injured. So, I am revising your punishment to one game’s suspension, which you have already served.”
Jared succeeded in not letting the whoop he wanted to yell at his vindication surface.
The coach spoke up. “So I want to see you at practice today. We’ve got a game to win this weekend!”
And Jared knew that was the real reason the principal had caved - he didn’t want to be responsible for the Mad Dogs ending the season as losers because he’d suspended one of the star players.
Jared figured he could live with that. Maybe even salvage one of the scholarships. Now he just had to get the Mad Dogs to win the last two games.
-----
Only two other players were still in Mike’s pocket by the end of the week. Steve came up to him and told him point blank that Mike was a jerk and that Steve would have Jared’s back. The rest of the team just wanted to win a football game, and Jared could ignore the angry looks and nasty verbal jabs as long as Mike directed his temper at the other team on the field. Jared caught two key passes, and there were victorious high-fives after the game was won.
Then it was his turn to move the plotting for the dance along. He waited until Mike was out of earshot, then casually mentioned to the crowd in the parking lot at large, “So, anybody else having trouble getting a date for Homecoming?”
“Thought you were going with Sandy.”
“So did I, but she said she’s going with someone else.”
“No way, I thought you two were tight!”
“Huh, I asked Kristen and she said someone else asked her first.”
“ ‘S only a week an’ I can’t get a date either.”
“They should let us buy single tickets,” Jared interjected. “Sucks if we can’t go to our last Homecoming. I think I’m going buy a set of tickets and I dunno, maybe I’ll have to take you, Steve. What color corsage do you want?”
“Something that matches his baby blue eyes!” was hollered over the general laughing.
Jared kept quiet as ribald jokes flew around. He knew a couple of Sandy’s friends had done some idea-planting with their boyfriends, and now everything hinged on one of them taking the bait.
“Y’know, I asked Genevieve who the fuck asked her and she said I’d have to come to the dance to see.” Roy, one of the defensive ends, was snapping his gum obnoxiously. “But if I can’t find anybody else to take I won’t find out who I need to punch out. You got the same problem with Sophia, Tom?”
At Tom’s affirmative nod, Chad dropped his voice conspiratorially. “I heard a rumor that all the girls in the school are going together to show the guys what assholes they’re being about bashing the gay dude. They figure none of the guys will get dates and they’ll have the party all to themselves. You know what I think? I think we need to show them that we’re not all insensitive douchebags like Rosenbaum, and ask each other to the dance, and then we can sort out who we’re dancing with when we all get there.”
Roy looked horrified, but as he started to sputter, Tom interrupted, addressing Chad. “Lemme get this straight. Or maybe that’s not the right word,” he laughed at his own wittiness. “All the girls are going as each others’ dates. So there’s no one to take. But if you and I buy tickets together, then we can both get in and I can party with Sophia once I’m in the door.
“So if I ask you, then you’re the girl and have to wear the dress?”
Hoots and catcalls erupted.
“Ooh, I’ll have to get my manicure after the game next week, sweetie!”
Jared mentally fist-pumped at Chad’s comeback. It was going to work. And he had something he had to ask Jensen.
He stopped at the Ackles house on his way home.
“You’re joking, right?”
“Nope, I want you to be my date for Homecoming. Pretty much all the guys are asking each other because the girls are all paired up together.”
“How did … What did … That’s crazy!”
“Well, Sandy’s going with Danneel, so unless you say yes, I miss my last Homecoming dance here.” Unable to read the look Jensen was giving him, Jared suddenly worried that Jensen was offended.
“This isn’t because of you, Jensen. Well, okay, some of it is. Like you were the catalyst. Some of us have been bouncing along in our little bubbles and not seeing how others of us were getting treated like shit. And the way Mike and his pals treated you, well, it took our blinders off and we wanted to do something about it. So we’re kinda turning Homecoming into a … well, an intervention to change peoples’ attitudes, sorta. Screwing with pre-conceived notions. It’s … well, I’d like you to go with me because … because you made me think about this. And stand up for something.”
Jensen was looking at him with a mixture of humor, awe and a little fear. “I don’t know, Jared … “
“Aw, shit, Jen, you’re my best friend, okay? We have fun hanging out no matter where we are. And Sandy and Danneel, they’re your friends, too, right? And you like to dance … So we’ll all go together and dance. And … screw their dumb ideas of how it should be!”
Jensen scraped his fingers through his hair. “This is crazy, you know. You’re crazy. And I think …” Jared waited for Jensen’s decision. Finally Jensen smiled. “What the hell, what else have I got to do Saturday night?”
-----
It was an intensely close game, but the Mad Dogs pulled off a touchdown in the final minutes to win. The usual after-game crazy in the locker room was ramped up higher than normal, a combination of the adrenaline rush of the last game for the seniors and the nervous anticipation of the boys going to the dance tonight as each others' dates.
“Shut the fuck up!” Mike slammed his locker door so hard the entire row rocked. Heads turned in the sudden quiet as he then stormed out.
“Guess Mike’s not going to Homecoming,” Steve said mildly, but Jared couldn’t help see his secret smile. “So … you’re … um, going with Jensen, right?”
“Yeah.”
Jared had this feeling he was missing something but really he needed to shower. “Sandy and Danneel and Jensen and I are all going together.”
“Oh,” Steve said in a rush. “Like friends?”
Jared raised his brows. “Of course like friends.” What the hell else were they, after all? Dismissing Steve he quickly stepped into the shower. Before he turned the faucet on he heard more teasing from the other side of the room.
“Off to get my hair done!” Chad warbled in a falsetto. Tom smacked him lightly across the back of the head. “Hey, don’t forget my corsage!” Chad smacked him back.
Jared was the last player to leave. He was unlocking his car when he heard the scrape of a foot behind him. He was unprepared for the hand that grabbed his shoulder and jerked him around. The punch to his gut doubled him over.
“You fucker! You think you’re so clever but you’re just playing the bitch for your cock-sucking fag! Well screw you, Padalecki!”
Struggling to catch his breath he swung wildly, not sure what he hit, just feeling the shock down his arm. A fist connected with his jaw and Jared’s head snapped sideways, but he managed to block the next swing and then Jared landed two fast punches of his own before Mike’s knuckles connected again. He grunted in pain as Mike’s ring ripped open Jared’s lip.
“You and that queer have fucked everything up for me!”
Jared had the longer reach, but Mike had manic fury to throw behind his fists, and he pinned Jared against the car and pounded Jared’s ribs. Jared landed a grip on one of Mike’s wrists and twisted.
“Stop that! Now!”
The sound of his name being screamed caught his attention abruptly as Coach Singer and Coach Playk were there, blocking his arms and wrestling Mike away from him.
“Oh my god, oh my god, Jared!” Half a dozen cheerleaders, led by Sandy, crowded around while the two coaches restrained Mike.
Jared put the back of his hand to his lips, wiping at the blood coming from the stinging cut.
“Oh god, you’re bleeding! Here!” One of the girls handed a Kleenex to him.
Singer had Mike in an armlock and Coach Playk quickly looked Jared over. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“Uh-uh.”
“Can you get yourself home?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll go with him,” Sandy said firmly.
“Singer and I will take care of Rosenbaum. There’ll be a formal report to do on Monday, but get the hell out of here for now.”
“Y’sir.”
Sandy threw herself in his arms the minute the crowds dissipated. “I saw him pounding on you, Jare … it was awful.”
“I’m fine. Wasn’t that bad. Just caught me off guard.”
“I hope they kick him out of school forever!” Took a whole lot to blow Sandy’s cool, though Jared’s automatic smile turned into a wince. .. He looked down at the slightly trembling bundle in his arms. They stayed still together until the adrenaline in his blood died down to a dull murmur.
“Jared, are you sure you can drive?”
“I’ve had worse in a football game, Sandy, I’ll be okay.”
It took persuading but finally she agreed to be dropped off at home. He kissed her gingerly and told her he’d see her later. By the time he pulled into the driveway, Jared was ready to say he must have had worse, but damn, his lip was still trickling blood, and his ribs throbbed as he twisted out of the driver’s seat.
His family had gotten home from the game first, and his parents were in the living room as Jared opened the door. His mother’s reaction would have been perfect in a sit-com, her casual acknowledgment followed with a double-take and gasp.
“That didn’t happen in the game!”
“Uh, no. There was a little … fight in the parking lot.”
In minutes his mom was hovering over him with first aid supplies as Jared perched on the toilet lid. The cut on his lip from Mike’s ring was the worst, it stung like a bitch as she wiped it with antiseptic. As she cleaned the other abrasions on his cheek and temple, he briefly recounted what had happened.
“Your coach was right, there is going to be a formal report on Monday,” his mother muttered. “Okay, let’s see your hands.”
When she was satisfied with her ministrations, his mom jumped to the next issue.
“You’re going to go to the dance tonight looking like you were just in a brawl.”
“Well, I was …”
She shook her head. “Your sister and I can do something about that. You go eat something and then get ready, I’ll figure it out with her.”
Jared palmed a couple aspirin after she left, he was definitely going to have bruises on his ribs tomorrow.
His suit wasn’t new, but his shirt was. When he’d picked out the bright pink, he thought he was being clever. Now, though, looking in the mirror, he thought the color just made his banged-up face look even worse.
When he was ready except for his jacket, his sister tugged Jared into her bedroom and ordered him to sit on the bed, then began to tackle him with the contents of her make-up tray.
“What’re you doing, Megan? I’m not wearing make-up!”
“I can cover these up so they’ll hardly be noticeable, Jare. It’s not like I’m putting mascara on you, for Pete’s sake! Hold still!”
“Mom!”
“It was her idea, don’t be a baby. Hollywood actors wear make-up all the time.”
Jared could tell she was trying to be gentle but he hissed nonetheless as she rubbed little circles over his wounds.
“Sorry.”
He was surprised when she finally held up a mirror for him to see that, while not completely disguised, the marks were much less obvious.
“It doesn’t look like I’m wearing make-up?”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Well … thanks, Meg.”
“You’re welcome! Now go have a good time!”
He swung by Sandy’s house first. The plan was to pick up Sandy and Danneel there and then they’d all go get Jensen. He didn’t know if any of what happened that afternoon had gotten back to Jensen. He thought not because Jen hadn’t called.
Sandy swung the door open and Jared found himself uncharacteristically speechless, his breath literally caught in his lungs. Sandy’s hair was up in an elaborate ‘do that left soft twirly wisps framing her heart-shaped face. Her strapless cream dress was embellished with poufy sparkly netting over the skirt and she looked like an angel. Like his angel.
“You look amazing,” he said when he found his voice.
She smiled brightly at him, eyes dancing. “You don’t look so bad yourself. Pink suits you,” she added with a giggle.
Danneel’s husky voice came down the stairs. “Oh, Christ, you two are going to make me sick all night, aren’t you?”
Jared loved Sandy. He did. But he was human, and holy smokes was Danneel scorching. Her tight black dress just barely covered decently and she was showing more boob than the cover of a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
Sandy put her hand on his arm possessively and his eyes returned to her deep brown ones. Danneel was hot. But Sandy was his.
Jensen’s front door opened as they came up the stairs in a group.
“Hi, Jared, girls, come on in. Jensen’s almost ready, and would you mind if I took a few pictures?” Mrs. Ackles’ smile was a mature mirror of Jensen’s.
Sandy’s and Danneel’s jaws dropped as Jensen came in the living room. His black suit fit him flawlessly, from the fitted shoulders to the sharp creases of the pants. His sun-gold tie contrasted brilliantly with the black dress shirt. His entire appearance drew focus to the flashing green eyes behind the wire-rimmed glasses.
Only the unruly blonde hair remained of the Jensen from classes, as Jensen absently brushed it back from his forehead.
Sandy’s smile was sun-bright. “Um … wow. You look … nice. Uh, Jared ….”
Fighting the pang of jealousy at the way both girls were ogling Jensen, Jared fumbled the small florist’s box into Jensen’s hands. Sandy’d said to get boutonnieres and he’d picked the simplest ones, something ‘stephany-or-other.’
His mom had pinned his on, and fortunately Mrs. Ackles stepped over to do the same for Jensen.
Jensen complimented them all on their appearance, his eyes locking on Danneel’s almost-dress. “Nearly enough to convert me, girl,” he said with a wink.
When Jensen looked Jared up and down Jared blushed slightly at the appreciative gaze. “Hey, shouldn’t I be the one in the pink shirt?” Jensen grinned before his eyes narrowed darkly. Jared saw the moment Jensen registered the cuts under Megan’s handiwork.
“Shit, Jared, what …?” Jensen muttered.
“A little disagreement in the parking lot. ‘S nothing. Please?”
Jensen understood Jared’s reaction, because he reached one arm around Jared’s shoulder and another around Danneel’s and ordered “Smile!” as his mom said “Say cheese!,” and gave a little squeeze.
Mrs. Ackles finally had enough pictures, and hugged her son as he headed out the door, then surprised Jared by stopping him for a hug as well.
“You kids have a good time,” she called after them.
Jared’s dad had offered to let him drive the Taurus, but Jared knew he’d feel more comfortable in his baby, even if the Neon was a little shabby and they all were rather crowded. As soon as Jensen settled into the back seat he pounced. “What the fuck happened?” He then glanced toward the girls and mumbled, “Sorry.”
Danneel chirped in, “Nope you got that right. Mike happened.”
“Shit.”
“Jensen, it’s alright,” Jared soothed.
“No, it’s not,” Sandy said emphatically. “But the silver lining is that the coach saw it all. This time Mike is not getting away with it.” She stewed silently. “Asshole!” she muttered after a second. At the unexpected outburst from the usually gentle Sandy, they all cracked up.
The school lot was nearly full. Before entering the gym, Jensen stopped Jared with a hand on his arm and a lopsided smile as he murmured, “Thanks.” He turned and squeezed Sandy’s hand, too. ”Both of you. For everything.” Jared looked between his girl and his new friend and let the moment soak into him.
The bouncy beat of the Black-Eyed Pea’s latest hit leaked out the gymnasium door. Jared flourished his tickets to Ms. Ferris, who took them smiling, and then they were inside, surrounded by blue and silver streamers, and pockets of perfume, and the buzz of teenage voices calling over the music. Chaotic excitement swirled around as they merged with the crowd.
Sandy gave an impromptu happy whirl and grabbed Jared’s fingers, and Jared got that same small thrill he always did when her soft hand was totally enveloped by his much larger one.
“You don’t mind if I borrow your date for a dance or two?” She asked Jensen with a grin.
“I’ll try not to be jealous,” Jensen joked back. Then he turned to Danneel. “Is there a guy meeting you here?”
“Depends. I hear you can dance. Is it true gay guys will actually dance with women?”
“I dunno, do you promise not to give me cooties?”
Laughing, Danneel pulled Jensen to the dance floor.
“I guess our dates have abandoned us.”
“Guess we’ll have to manage best we can.” Jared started to maneuver Sandy over to dance when he noticed Tom from the football team coming in the door with his date, a short-haired blonde with long legs.
“Who’s with Tom?” he poked Sandy.
“Not sure, doesn’t look like she’s from our school, which is weird, he said …” Sandy started, and then she began to choke with laughter. “Look again!” she managed to exhale.
He did, and wondered why she seemed familiar, and then he heard her voice.
“Oh my god!” and Jared joined everyone else who had stopped moving to point.
It was Chad. Complete with earrings, lipstick, fake boobs, high heels, and a purse. Very tastefully in drag. He actually made an attractive girl. With damn fine legs.
The issue of Jared’s pink shirt seemed very insignificant after that.
The dance floor was a free-form mash-up moving with the music, people changing places randomly, most everyone in circles of a half-dozen bodies unfocused on any one partner. The DJ kept the music fast and light. No one stayed still when he put on Y.M.C.A.
Halfway through the evening the Homecoming Queen and King were announced. The gym erupted when Chad was crowned Queen and Tom King.
“My hat’s off to you ladies,” Chad said as he strode barefoot to the fabric covered throne. “I don’t know how you can walk in these torture devices for five minutes, let alone dance all night!”
Jared met up with Jensen at the punch bowl, filling his plastic cup. “To the craziest dance ever held at West Alamo High,” Jared toasted.
“I’ll drink to that,” Jensen replied and they touched cups. Just then a slow song started.
“May I have this dance?” Jensen asked.
A second’s hesitation, then, “Why not?” and they strolled to the edge of the dance floor. Jensen put his hands upon Jared’s shoulders, Jared loosely hugged Jensen’s waist, and bodies carefully held apart, they swayed with the music. There were as many girl partners as couples shifting around. A few other boys were dancing together, which pretty much laid to rest the question of whether or not Jensen was the only gay boy in school. And Tom and Chad. Jared looked down at the happy smile on Jensen’s face.
“You look positively sappy.”
“Bite me.”
“Think I’ll pass.”
When the last song was announced, Sandy found them. “I really am stealing your date for this one,” Sandy announced and pulled Jared after her. A minute later, though, Jared spied Jensen back on the dance floor. Bodies were in the way and he couldn’t make out who he was dancing with.
Jared had closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of Sandy against him as they moved slowly together with the music.
“Huh.”
Opening his eyes, Jared followed Sandy’s gaze. Jensen was dancing with Steve. They were about the same height and Jared watched as Jensen rested his hand lightly on Steve’s hip while Steve’s hand rested on Jensen’s back. They were chest-to-chest close and once Jared got over the oddness, he thought they looked right.
“Huh,” Jared echoed.
“Who knows, maybe that will be the start of a beautiful friendship,” Sandy said with a huge smile.
Jared bent his head to kiss her. He was dizzy from the whole evening. “Want to see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Mmm. Good idea.”
A sudden whoop had them both jerk toward the other side of the dance floor. Tom was dipping Chad dramatically to sudden applause. Hard to believe that this was the same bunch threatening Jensen for just existing not that long ago. Jared liked to believe that this was the real school. But he wasn’t naive enough to realize that peer pressure could go both ways. Maybe some of these kids were tolerating all this because it suddenly seemed expected. Maybe nothing changed in their hearts.
Sandy, as always, read his mind. “Jare … you did good. You’re an amazing friend. An amazing guy.”
The music was fading but he held on. He had a new best friend and the best girlfriend ever and they’d won the last game of the year. Yeah, maybe amazing was the right word for all of it.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sandymg’s original prompt:
Jensen is twinky and slight, wears glasses. You know, overall Jensen Ackles teen adorable ;) Jared is a jock and popular and everyone's fave. Jensen is outed leading to extensive bullying. He can get hurt but no rape and nothing permanent injury-wise. Jared sees the ongoing abuse/bullying and is torn. He's got a good sense of right and wrong. And he's been secretly attracted to Jensen forever.
Would like first time sex scenes and protective!Jared who eventually outs himself and stands up for both Jensen and what's right.
---------------
I don't know why the font got wonky in the middle of this I spent nearly an hour trying to fix it and gave up...