30 Days of Cames Drabble - Day 1 - 7
A/N : Though I'm pretty much gave up on my love life (due to keep failing finding the right person), I know I won't give up on my ship, Cames. There's hundreds of reason as towhy Cale will not be a perfect mate for me but I guess opposite attraction does play it's role in this ship.
Thanks to my beautiful, lovely and talented best friend, saar_fantasy has given me her permission to turn her daily Puckurt drabble into my version.
Comment, rate or click on the link to read the original writing.
30 Days of Cames drabble
Day 1
"I have absolutely nothing to say to you right now."
"Come on, James. You know I didn't do it on purpose."
"No, you're just clumsy like that." James bit back, "You spilled beer all over my music sheet, Cale. How the hell am I gonna get the words printed into my head before the audition."
"You already know the song completely out of your head. Why stressing about it?"
"It's tradition. Everybody has their musc sheet with them to read it through one last time before the audition."
"But you don't need that."
"I don't care!" James yelled, "If I forget the words of the song during my audition, it's all your fault!"
James slammed the door closed behind him as he walked out of his and Cale's living room.
He knew he might be a little bit overreacting, but he didn't care right now. He was simply too stressed out.
Jumping into his car he drove over to his audition for the new musical. Hoping his anger wouldn't get in his way or make him forget his words.
If that happened, James knew he would blame it all on Cale.
The boy wouldn't know what happened to him if James would get home and didn't get the role.
~~++~~
James was pacing through the now almost empty waiting room backstage, where he was waiting until someone would call him on.
Suddenly the door opened and James tensed, knowing he would be the next one who had to go up. The fear of not having his sheet paper with him while the others, like he expected, had.
Imagine his surprise when his boyfriend came striding into the room, his guitar strapped around his neck.
"Cale?" James asked confused, "What are you doing here?"
Without saying a word, Cale sat down on a chair and plucked at his strings to get the right chords. When he was satisfied, he looked up at James smirked, and started singing.
James's eyes widened when he recognized the song. The song he was gonna sing for his audition.
The song totally wasn't Cale's style, James knew, but somehow he made it work.
James was mesmerized by the boy in front of him, ignoring the other few auditioners who were all looking at Cale in awe as well.
When the song was over, the other auditioners clapped but James didn't do anything. He just couldn't.
Cale stood up and pulled some rolled up papers out of his jacket when he had put his guitar to the side against a wall.
He closed the distance between him and James with just a few steps, holding out the papers.
"Here," he said, smiling rather sheepishly, "I print them out again."
James took the sheet and threw it onto the ground, launching himself into his boyfriend's arms instead.
"I don't need it," James said softly as both boys pulled away to look at each other. "Your singing wll help me more then this stupid sheet ever could. Besides, you were right. I don't need it. I was just freaking out."
"I know how important this audition is for you, James. You've been talking about it for weeks."
"Yeah," James breathed out, trailing the tips of his fingers over Cale's smooth hair, "Still, I shouldn't have worked it all out on you."
Cale shrugged, "I did spoil beer over the sheet."
"Doesn't matter anymore," James smiled, then startled a little when the door opened again. This time it was a man to call him on.
James turned back to Cale, who lovingly kissed his forehead.
"Knock 'em dead, babe."
James winked, pressed a quick kiss against Cale's lips, then turned towards the door and followed the man to the stage.
Cale was waiting in the waiting room for James to come back. He wouldn't know yet if he got the role, but e would be able to tell if he had done good or not.
Cale really hoped his little intervention stunt had calmed down James's nerves.
After what seemed like hours to Cale, but probably were only a few minutes, James appeared into the waiting room with a blank look on his face, which really worried Cale.
Cale stood up, ready to console James if it was bad news, ready to celebrate if it was good news.
Cale panicked when it seemed like James was gonna burst out into tears, but then a smile broke open on his face.
"You little shit!" Cale laughed as he lifted James up and twirled him around, "You really got me worried for a second."
James chuckled, wiping a tear; a happy one; out of his eye when Cale put him down, then went in for a kiss.
Cale moaned when he felt James's tongue enter his all too willing mouth and they battled for dominance, only to end up equally in strength and passion.
"Thank you, Cale." James whispered as their lips weren't touching anymore. "I couldn't have done this without you. Any of it."
Cale just smiled. A real one. One that reached his eyes. One that James came to love so very much.
"I just hope I'll get the role."
Cale pulled his boyfriend against his chest again and whispered in his ear.
"There's no doubt in my mind that you will."
Day 2
"Why did you throw sand in Zac's eyes, James?"
James frowns and pouts and stares at his feet and his teacher sighs.
"Ok, if you can't answer me now then you'll have to stay into the corner until you can. And I want you to apologize to Zac."
James scowls at her, then buries his head into his knees and refuses to look up again.
The teacher sighs again and shakes her head. This really isn't James Walker's usual behavior. Normally he's such a nice kid.
She really doesn't know why he would do a thing like that. Unless...
Her eyes shift over to a little boy who's standing a few feet away, looking nervous, his eyes never leaving James's crumpled form.
Cale Mills.
Ever since Cale joined their school and was put into James's class, James had done everything he could to befriend the closed off new kid and eventually, he had succeeded.
She had seen the proud smile on James's face when Cale had finally let him play with the dinosaurs, together with him. She was glad the new kid had let James in, because she knew James could really use a friend and, since he was the new kid and all, Cale could use one as well.
After that, James and Cale had been inseparable. That is until another new kid arrived. Zac Efrons.
Zac was trying too hard to make friends and soon enough most of the kids ignored him. Except for Cale and James.
Those two boys knew what it was like to be outcasts and they wanted to include Zac into their little group.
Zac was very grateful and his boyish, a little dorkish, charm made Cale and James like him almost instantly.
Soon it became clear that Zac and Cale were growing closer and closer and James became jealous.
The teacher tried to distract James a lot of times when Zac and Cale were playing on their own together without involving him, but she could see the hurt and rejection in his eyes, which really tore at her heart.
It probably became too much for the little boy today and he took it out on Zac in the wrong way.
She never really knew why James was so jealous, but now she got it.
James was afraid. Afraid that he would lose Cale to Zac.
But seeing Cale like this, looking so genuinely concerned for James, she knew that would never happen. If only James would realize that too.
Smiling to herself, she walked over to Cale and laid her hand gently on his head. When the boy looked up at her, she nodded to him and walked away.
Knowing very well where the boy was going and knowing it was the best thing for both of them to clear things up.
Make things go back to normal. Or as normal as they ever were.
~~++~~
Day 3
"I can't do this!" Cale exclaimed frustratedly, slamming his books closed on top of his desk.
"Yes, you can."
"No, I can't, James." Cale shot back, "I better go home and let you do your other stuff you usually do. I don't want to be a pity case."
"You're not a pity case, Mills." James replied sternly. "I know you can do this."
Sighing, Cale dropped down on James's bed and stared up at the standing boy.
"I'm not worth your time. Just go on and move to New York, or wherever the fuck."
James sighed and sat down next to Cale. "I care about you, Cale. Even though you threw me in dumpsters for a long time, before you joined the Glee club, I'd like to think we're kind of friends now."
Cale liked what James was saying, but he didn't let himself believe it.
"Give up, James. It's not like you don't know where to find me if you need me. Here, in fucking Lima Ohio, trying to graduate over and over again."
James almost growled his response, "This is not the Cale I came to know. The Cale I admire for his courage and his talent. The Cale that scored the winning goal for the one football championship McKinley High has ever won. The Cale that would just jump up in Glee club and start singing songs of Jewish artists. The Cale who just radiates confidence as he walks wherever he goes."
Cale sighed and carded his hand through his hair in a frustrated manner.
"That guy is gone, James."
James scooted closer, Cale didn't move away.
"Then let me bring him back."
Cale turned his head when James tried to kiss him. James expected Cale to shove him away. To jump up and kick his ass. Beat him into a pulp.
He didn't know why he initiated a kiss in the first place. Somehow it had just felt right.
He certainly didn't expect what Cale's real reaction was, though.
"I'm not worth it."
James smiled sadly, not breaking eye contact with Cale as he answered.
"I think you are."
Then he surged forward again and this time, Cale didn't pull away.
~~++~~
All the seniors of the Glee club were waiting, together with Cale, in the hallway next to the class room in which Cale's test was being graded.
This was his second and last chance to graduate and they were all nervous, hoping and keeping their fingers crossed for Cale to have made it. To have passed his test.
Cale was the most nervous of all, but that was only normal, shouting something about hunting season being open on all faculty tires before the door finally opened and his teacher stepped out, holding his test paper.
Kate wanted to take the paper, but the teacher held it away from her and Cale snatched it out of her hand, turning his back to his friends so his emotions wouldn't show that much. Especially the devastation if he hadn't made it.
That devastation didn't happen though, 'cause when Kris asked him what he got and Cale finally dared to look at his paper, he turned around and held the paper up in victory.
"C-!"
"That's a Mills A+!" Kris yelled excitedly and then Cale was overstepped with hugs.
Except from James, who hugged the teacher instead.
Cale did catch James's eye while he was hugging Katy and he didn't have to speak to convey his thoughts.
The perfect kiss, with the perfect guy at the perfect time could only end up in the perfect ending.
Day 4
A/N: Takes place in elementary school. Kind of in the same 'verse as the drabble on day 2
"I don't like him."
Zac looked up, staring a little confused at his friend.
"You don't like who?"
"Jensen."
Now Zac was completely confused, "I thought he became one of your best friends."
"He is," Cale answered and Zac literally thought he was going insane because he really couldn't follow anymore. "I just don't like him."
Zac scrunched up his face, "How can you not like him while you still claim he's your friend?"
Cale sighed and rolled his eyes. He really didn't want to explain this to Zac, but apparently he had to.
"I don't like the way James looks at him."
Zac blinked, then started laughing and didn't stop until Cale slapped him, lightly, on the back of his head and was glaring at him.
Zac's laughter dissolved into chuckles and he shook his head a little.
"I'm sorry," Zac finally wheezed out, "I just seem to recall something quite familiar, only the other way 'round."
Now it was Cale's time to be confused, "What?"
"I still remember the day I got sand thrown in my eyes by a certain James Walker."
"Yeah, he was a little-" Cale stopped when he realized what Zac was accusing him of. "I'm not jealous."
Zac just raised his eyebrow, which pissed Cale off, but he couldn't say something back anymore because the teacher was making her rounds and was now standing between his and Zac's desks.
He looked down at his book, pretending to read and fill in the exercises they had to make, but he couldn't get Zac's words out of his head.
He wasn't jealous. He just wasn't.
~~++~~
Cale wasn't sulking. He was just...a little bitter because he was send to the bench by his sports teacher for throwing the ball too hard at Jensen during dodgedball.
He couldn't help himself. James had been trailing after Jensen like a lovesick puppy and Cale simply couldn't stand it anymore.
While almost all of the rest of the guys on Cale's team were aiming for James, Cale was aiming for Jensen. And he got him, rather quickly.
Normally he and Jensen were on the same team, but this time Cale had made sure that he wasn't. His plan to get Jensen off the field before James was hit; that boy was freaking flexible; had succeeded. He only hadn't thought about the consequences when the ball hit Jensen straight in the face and ended him up with a bleeding nose.
The look on James's face when Cale was send off the field and banished from gym class for a week was unreadable.
There was concern, mixed with anger, mixed with something else. Cale wasn't sure he wanted to know what it was.
When the gym teacher blew on his whistle to indicate the end of class, everyone disappeared from the field to go to the locker room, except for Cale. He stayed seated on the bench, staring at the ground.
He didn't have to look up when he felt someone sit down next to him to know who it was.
There was silence for a little while until the other boy spoke up.
"Did you really have to do that?"
Cale shrugged, "It's just a game, James."
"Just a game?" James replied, "You're not allowed to throw the ball at someone's face in this game. His nose could be broken."
Cale snorted, "If you care so much about him then why are you still here?"
James didn't hesitate for one second as he answered, "Because I care even more about you." He smiled when Cale finally turned his head to look at him. "You're my best friend, Cale."
A smile tugged at Cale's lips, but he held it back.
"Everyone always chooses Jensen's side. I know I shouldn't have thrown that ball in his face, but-"
"No, you shouldn't." James interrupted him, then leaned closer to Cale's ear to say softly. "But I'm always on your side."
Cale didn't hold back his smile when he felt James's lips against his cheek. He also didn't hesitate to take James's outstretched hand when he had stood up and pushed himself up with one hand, while James pulled, gently, on the other to help him up.
"You want to go see if Jensen is ok?"
Cale tensed just a little bit but nodded, comforted by the fact that James was still holding his hand when he apologized to Jensen and was still holding his hand as they both went to the locker room to change into their clothes.
When they were dressed in their usual clothes, James held out his hand again and Cale took it, holding onto it when they went back to class.
Jensen, and Cale's not-so-jealousy at him, was long forgotten when James stays with Cale and Zac for the rest of the day.
As long as James stayed at his side, Cale didn't care that he sometimes shed a weird, kind of longing, look at Jensen.
As long as James would still be there for him when he messed up again, Cale just knew that everything would be ok in his further school life.
Day 5
"Give it back!" James yelled, standing in the middle of a bunch of jocks who were throwing his cellphone around like it was a football, wincing when one of the jocks almost dropped it. "You're going to break it!"
James was near tears, but he held them back because he didn't want those jerks to see him cry.
His first day back at high school after summer vacation and those assholes were after him, and his poor cellphone apparently, again.
Lucky for him, he only had to go there one more year. One more year that he had to endure those Neanderthals and then he was out of there.
Out of Mckinley High. Out of Lima Ohio.
But for now his priority was to get his cellphone back and rather in one piece than broken.
"Give it back now!" James yelled again when his phone almost saw it's faithful ending once again.
He knew the other students were staring at him and the jocks as they passed them by, but no one ever bothers to stop and help him.
They were all just glad it was him instead of them.
Then suddenly something happened...
An old truck appeared and parked close to the dumpster where James and the jocks were standing and a guy James had never seen before stepped out on the driver's side of the car.
James's attention was drawn back to the jocks when he saw one of them suddenly start to punch on the numbers and the keypad of his cellphone, probably searching through his messages.
James lunged himself at the guy holding his cellphone and tried to snatch it from his hand, when two of the others grabbed him and pulled him back.
"Let me go!" James was getting completely hysteric, "Stop going through my cellphone. Just give it back!"
The guy who had stepped out of the truck stopped and looked at the scene in front of him. His hands at his sides balled unconsciously into fists and he set his jaw, which was firmly clenched.
"What seems to be the problem here?"
The jocks all looked up at the stranger, then one of them; it must have been their leader or something; spoke up to him.
"It's none of your business. We're just having fun."
"I don't think that boy's having fun." the stranger said, inclining his head towards James.
"Oh but he is," the leader jock guy spoke up again, now draping an arm over James's shoulders. "Aren't you having fun, Walker?"
Looking at the stranger, James shook his head, until the jock tightened his hold on him. He looked down and nodded.
"You see? We're all having fun here so move along. You're not welcome here."
James closed his eyes and hoped silently that the stranger would stay. He was the first person who ever stood up for him.
His hope died away when he heard footsteps and he saw the stranger turn his back to him, starting to walk away.
Then suddenly there was a loud "SMACK" and all heads wheeled around to see the guy holding James's phone pressed against the dumpster. The stranger standing right in front of him, one hand on his throat.
All the jocks just gaped at the sight, then some shuffling was heard and the stranger spoke up again.
"Don't move. Any of you."
That voice sounded so dangerous that all plans of trying to attack the stranger left all of the jocks' minds.
The stranger pulled the guy against the dumpster forward and moved his hand to the back of his neck, then dragged him with him to right in front of a shocked, gaping James.
"Give the kid his cell back." the stranger demanded, almost growling, "Now."
James held his hands open and the jock dropped the cellphone in it, then scurried away as fast as he could when the stranger let go of his neck, quickly followed by the rest of them, except for one.
"Who the hell are you?" the captain of the jocks asked, trying to keep his cool.
The stranger removed his sunglasses to reveal intense green-hazel eyes.
"The name's Mills." the stranger answered, "You better remember that. Now move along. You're not welcome here."
The jock didn't want to get chased away by his own words, but when the stranger, Cale, took a step forward towards him, he quickly ran off so that only James remained behind.
James didn't really know what to say or do. This Cale guy had helped him and even though it had looked scary what he did to others, James had been completely fascinated by him and his actions.
After looking after the jock to make sure he was really gone, Cale turned his head and looked at James.
"I don't think those guys will bother you again now."
"Thanks," James said sincerely, sticking his cellphone into his pocket after having checked that everything still worked."I'm James."
"Cale," the now-not-so-stranger-anymore chuckled when James frowned. "Mills is just a nickname," he explained. "You go to school here?"
James nodded, "How about you? I've never seen you around before? Are you new in town?"
He just couldn't help it. This guy had peeked his curiosity and well, it was true, he had never seen him around before so James wondered what he was suddenly doing here.
"Just moved here," Cale answered, "Unfortunately I have to do my last year of high school here."
"You're a senior? I am too!" James replied, suddenly excited. "I can show you around town if you'd like? Or, um...Maybe just around school..." James trailed off, feeling a little embarrassed at pushing himself on too much.
Who said Mills, or Cale, would even want to hang out with him? Sure, he had helped him, but-
"I'd like that."
James stared at Cale, a hopeful smile on his face, "Really?"
Cale chuckled and swung his arm over James's shoulder. For once, James didn't flinch.
He was used to the jocks doing that to hurt him, but he somehow knew Cale wouldn't hurt him. He could trust him. At least in this he could.
"Let's start with the school tour, shall we?"
James beamed and lead the way to school, Cale's arm still firmly around his shoulders.
Maybe James's senior year wasn't going to be that bad after all.
Day 6
"You're such a prude."
"I'm not a prude, Mills."
"Then why won't you tell us anything about you and Duncan?"
"Because there's nothing to tell!"
"Liar."
"I'm not lying. Now shut up and let's just cross this street."
"James! Watch out!"
A scream. A hard shove. Two men lying on the ground.
~~++~~
That's how James ended up in the hospital. Not in a bed, but on a chair in the waiting area of the ER.
Waiting to hear news from the doctor about Cale.
~~++~~
James sat slouched down in the very uncomfortable hospital chair, one hand clutching onto Sarah's hand, the other one holding onto Kris's.
They had been there to witness the whole dramatic scenery.
First the usual Cames banter, that's what the boys called it, then the car that sped through a red light, Cale pushing James out of the way and getting hit by the car instead of James.
~~++~~
The guy in the car had first stopped, but when he saw the two boys on the ground, he quickly sped off again.
Cale had rolled over the car and dropped back down again, landing on the ground, his body limp.
Kris and Sarah were staring in shock while passersby stopped and started shouting for someone to call an ambulance. Someone did and called the police as well. At least one of those passersby had taken notice of the car who did a hit-and-run and the number plate.
James, although in pain and complete shock, was the first one to rush over to Cale, crouching down beside his body.
"Why?" James asked silently, "Why did you push me away? Why did you have to play the hero? Don't you know that heroes aren't always invisible? Sometimes they don't get their happy endings."
Then the paramedics arrived, lifted him up onto a stretcher, and then pushed them into their ambulance.
James, Kris and Sarah were all staring after the ambulance which drove away at high speed, sirens blaring.
Feeling a hand on his shoulder, James looked up, his vision becoming blurry.
"He'll be alright, James." Sarah's voice sounded foreign, detached, even to his own ears."He has to be."
James didn't answer, just stared down at the place where Cale had been lying just seconds ago. Blood smeared all over the ground.
"Come on," Kris finally found his voice again, "I'll drive us to the hospital."
So that's how they ended up there, waiting until someone would finally tell them what was going on.
Ms. Mills, Mr and Mrs Allen had all arrived almost an hour ago, all worried about their children.
Ms. Mills was the only one who still had to be worried though. It was her son who was fighting for his life.
All because he had to play the hero...
"What's taking them so long?" Ms. Mills asked, "I'm his mother! I'm supposed to get some information about the condition of my son! He's been hit by a car for Pete's sake! What does a mother have to do to get to know if her son is still alive?!"
Kim put her hand on Ms Mills's shoulder and she turned around, slumping into Kim's arms.
Everyone was beyond anxious to know how Cale was, so when finally a female doctor approached them, they all jumped up and looked at her expectantly.
"You're all here for Mr. Mills I presume?" the doctor watched them nod and smiled, "I'm doctor Avery. I have good news for you all. Cale is going to be alright."
The whole group let out a collective sigh or cry of relief and Ms. Mills to throw her arms around the doctor.
"Thank you," she whispered over and over again in the doctor's ear while tears rolled down her cheeks. "Thank you for saving him."
Doctor Alice Avery patted Ms. Mills's back, then smiled as she pulled away.
"That's one tough kid you brought into this world," Alice said and Ms. Mills couldn't help but smile proudly. Then Alice looked at the rest of the little group of people, all there for Cale. "You can all visit him in a little while, but first I'm looking for a boy named James?"
Everyone turned their heads to look at James, who was just staring at the doctor in confusion. Then Sarah gently put his hand on the small of James's back and pushed him forward a little.
"I- I'm James."
Alice's smile got even wider as she talked and watched the boy's expression.
"I had to come and get you so he can see you first. You were the first thing he talked about when he woke up. Asking me the whole time if you were alright, but didn't believe me when I said that you were unharmed, safe from a few scratches from your fall, so I told him I would look for you and bring you to his room so he could check for himself."
James just stared at the doctor, then at Ms. Mills, who just nodded at him encouragingly.
James let go of Kris's hand, which he was still holding onto until then, then followed the doctor down the hallway towards Cale's room.
He didn't exactly know what to do or say once he was there at the door of Cale's room, but somehow he knew it would all come naturally.
The doctor opened the door and let James inside, telling him she had other patients to go to when he shot her a questioning look, then closed the door once James was inside and walking to the bed.
She watched him through the window for a few minutes before walking away. Those kids were gonna be fine. She just knew it.
James sucked in his breath when he saw Cale lying there, hooked onto a machine that kept check of his vitals and some lines in his arms that probably provided him with pain medicine.
It was weird to see the tall, strong boy now completely battered up. And it was all his fault.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, right at Cale's side, and softly trailed his finger over the bruises on Cale's face.
They would heal. Or at least James hoped they would. But the doctor said he was gonna be alright, so...
"James?"
James looked down when he heard Cale's croaking voice and smiled, pulling his hand back from the other boy's face.
"Hey."
"You really are alright."
James laughed. A soft, pained sounding laugh.
"Yes, I'm alright. All thanks to the hero."
Cale smirked, or at least tried to, but his face hurt a little too much.
"You can thank me later, Princess."
James was silent for a while. Thinking hard.
Maybe it was time to let Cale read into his cards, just a little bit. Maybe then Cale's whole teasing game, about Duncan, would end and he would finally realize who James is really interested in.
"James?" Cale asked again.
James just smiled, letting his fingers smooth out Cale's frown on his forehead. Then he leaned down and whispered softly.
"That's exactly what I'm planning to do."
Day 7
Nobody knew why or how, when James had been bullied by some of the jocks, those jocks always ended up getting some kind of payback.
Nobody knew who was behind it either. They just teased James with the thought of having a secret admirer.
So, definitely color Kris surprised when he found Cale one time after school, breaking into one of the jocks' lockers.
Curious, he walked over to the Glock and cleared his throat.
"What are you doing?"
Cale jumped and whirled around, looking down in Kris's curious, frowning face.
"I'm just putting some stuff in my locker, dude." Cale answered, trying to remain cool although he felt a little nervous at getting caught.
"This is not your locker," Kris replied, "I know where your locker is, Cale. It's right across from mine, except higher."
Cale knew he didn't have an excuse and he couldn't think of one so quickly either. He opened his mouth to answer, but Kris was faster than him.
"It's you, isn't it?"
"Huh?" Well, if he couldn't find an excuse, he could fall back on his "stupid jock" image.
Kris rolled his eyes. All the times he gave private lessons to Cale gave him the knowledge that Cale wasn't that dumb as he tried to make people think he is.
Lazy? Yes. Dumb? Hell no.
"It's you who's taking revenge on your team mates when they harass James."
It wasn't a question, so Cale didn't bother to deny it.
"Not only when it's James."
Kris's eyes widened a little. "It was you who locked Mason up in that port-a-potty after he threw a slushie in my face?"
"Yeah."
"It was you who- And when-"
Cale held up his hand to stop him, "Yeah, man. It was all me."
"But...Why?"
Cale just shrugged, "We're kind of like a family, right?"
"Right..." Kris confirmed, not sure where this was going.
"Well, I don't let people mess with my family, man. It's as simple as that."
Kris blinked, then smiled up at Cale, holding out his fist.
"Right, man. Family."
Cale smirked and bumped his fist against Kris's.
The next day at school there's a loud scream ringing through the hallway, followed by even louder curses.
Everyone turns to look into the direction of the sounds and look on confused as one of their precious beloved jocks is jumping around on one leg, holding onto his other foot in the air with both hands.
There's a hammer lying on the floor next to him, which probably fell on his foot when he opened his locker.
Then there's laughter and Cale turns his head to see Kate, Sarah, Lauren and a few others of the cheerleading squad laughing and pointing at the jumping jock.
He looks around some more to see more people start to giggle or snicker, holding their hands in front of their mouths to try and hide it.
Cale takes the most pleasure in seeing their faces, all smiling, eyes sparkling with mirth.
He catches Kris's gaze and sees him smile at him. Cale gives him a wink, then strides over to him.
"Where to, dude?"
"Off to Geometry my good man."
Cale ignores all the shocked, curious stares of the other students and walked with Kris to his classroom.
He knows that Kris is still smiling proudly and that's all that matters to him.
If he winks at the other Gleeks when he passes them, well...no one's going to sue him, right?
He found a second family. He found something close to happiness.
No one was gonna take that away from him again.
Thanks to my beautiful, lovely and talented best friend, saar_fantasy has given me her permission to turn her daily Puckurt drabble into my version.
Comment, rate or click on the link to read the original writing.
30 Days of Cames drabble
Day 1
"I have absolutely nothing to say to you right now."
"Come on, James. You know I didn't do it on purpose."
"No, you're just clumsy like that." James bit back, "You spilled beer all over my music sheet, Cale. How the hell am I gonna get the words printed into my head before the audition."
"You already know the song completely out of your head. Why stressing about it?"
"It's tradition. Everybody has their musc sheet with them to read it through one last time before the audition."
"But you don't need that."
"I don't care!" James yelled, "If I forget the words of the song during my audition, it's all your fault!"
James slammed the door closed behind him as he walked out of his and Cale's living room.
He knew he might be a little bit overreacting, but he didn't care right now. He was simply too stressed out.
Jumping into his car he drove over to his audition for the new musical. Hoping his anger wouldn't get in his way or make him forget his words.
If that happened, James knew he would blame it all on Cale.
The boy wouldn't know what happened to him if James would get home and didn't get the role.
~~++~~
James was pacing through the now almost empty waiting room backstage, where he was waiting until someone would call him on.
Suddenly the door opened and James tensed, knowing he would be the next one who had to go up. The fear of not having his sheet paper with him while the others, like he expected, had.
Imagine his surprise when his boyfriend came striding into the room, his guitar strapped around his neck.
"Cale?" James asked confused, "What are you doing here?"
Without saying a word, Cale sat down on a chair and plucked at his strings to get the right chords. When he was satisfied, he looked up at James smirked, and started singing.
James's eyes widened when he recognized the song. The song he was gonna sing for his audition.
The song totally wasn't Cale's style, James knew, but somehow he made it work.
James was mesmerized by the boy in front of him, ignoring the other few auditioners who were all looking at Cale in awe as well.
When the song was over, the other auditioners clapped but James didn't do anything. He just couldn't.
Cale stood up and pulled some rolled up papers out of his jacket when he had put his guitar to the side against a wall.
He closed the distance between him and James with just a few steps, holding out the papers.
"Here," he said, smiling rather sheepishly, "I print them out again."
James took the sheet and threw it onto the ground, launching himself into his boyfriend's arms instead.
"I don't need it," James said softly as both boys pulled away to look at each other. "Your singing wll help me more then this stupid sheet ever could. Besides, you were right. I don't need it. I was just freaking out."
"I know how important this audition is for you, James. You've been talking about it for weeks."
"Yeah," James breathed out, trailing the tips of his fingers over Cale's smooth hair, "Still, I shouldn't have worked it all out on you."
Cale shrugged, "I did spoil beer over the sheet."
"Doesn't matter anymore," James smiled, then startled a little when the door opened again. This time it was a man to call him on.
James turned back to Cale, who lovingly kissed his forehead.
"Knock 'em dead, babe."
James winked, pressed a quick kiss against Cale's lips, then turned towards the door and followed the man to the stage.
Cale was waiting in the waiting room for James to come back. He wouldn't know yet if he got the role, but e would be able to tell if he had done good or not.
Cale really hoped his little intervention stunt had calmed down James's nerves.
After what seemed like hours to Cale, but probably were only a few minutes, James appeared into the waiting room with a blank look on his face, which really worried Cale.
Cale stood up, ready to console James if it was bad news, ready to celebrate if it was good news.
Cale panicked when it seemed like James was gonna burst out into tears, but then a smile broke open on his face.
"You little shit!" Cale laughed as he lifted James up and twirled him around, "You really got me worried for a second."
James chuckled, wiping a tear; a happy one; out of his eye when Cale put him down, then went in for a kiss.
Cale moaned when he felt James's tongue enter his all too willing mouth and they battled for dominance, only to end up equally in strength and passion.
"Thank you, Cale." James whispered as their lips weren't touching anymore. "I couldn't have done this without you. Any of it."
Cale just smiled. A real one. One that reached his eyes. One that James came to love so very much.
"I just hope I'll get the role."
Cale pulled his boyfriend against his chest again and whispered in his ear.
"There's no doubt in my mind that you will."
Day 2
"Why did you throw sand in Zac's eyes, James?"
James frowns and pouts and stares at his feet and his teacher sighs.
"Ok, if you can't answer me now then you'll have to stay into the corner until you can. And I want you to apologize to Zac."
James scowls at her, then buries his head into his knees and refuses to look up again.
The teacher sighs again and shakes her head. This really isn't James Walker's usual behavior. Normally he's such a nice kid.
She really doesn't know why he would do a thing like that. Unless...
Her eyes shift over to a little boy who's standing a few feet away, looking nervous, his eyes never leaving James's crumpled form.
Cale Mills.
Ever since Cale joined their school and was put into James's class, James had done everything he could to befriend the closed off new kid and eventually, he had succeeded.
She had seen the proud smile on James's face when Cale had finally let him play with the dinosaurs, together with him. She was glad the new kid had let James in, because she knew James could really use a friend and, since he was the new kid and all, Cale could use one as well.
After that, James and Cale had been inseparable. That is until another new kid arrived. Zac Efrons.
Zac was trying too hard to make friends and soon enough most of the kids ignored him. Except for Cale and James.
Those two boys knew what it was like to be outcasts and they wanted to include Zac into their little group.
Zac was very grateful and his boyish, a little dorkish, charm made Cale and James like him almost instantly.
Soon it became clear that Zac and Cale were growing closer and closer and James became jealous.
The teacher tried to distract James a lot of times when Zac and Cale were playing on their own together without involving him, but she could see the hurt and rejection in his eyes, which really tore at her heart.
It probably became too much for the little boy today and he took it out on Zac in the wrong way.
She never really knew why James was so jealous, but now she got it.
James was afraid. Afraid that he would lose Cale to Zac.
But seeing Cale like this, looking so genuinely concerned for James, she knew that would never happen. If only James would realize that too.
Smiling to herself, she walked over to Cale and laid her hand gently on his head. When the boy looked up at her, she nodded to him and walked away.
Knowing very well where the boy was going and knowing it was the best thing for both of them to clear things up.
Make things go back to normal. Or as normal as they ever were.
~~++~~
Day 3
"I can't do this!" Cale exclaimed frustratedly, slamming his books closed on top of his desk.
"Yes, you can."
"No, I can't, James." Cale shot back, "I better go home and let you do your other stuff you usually do. I don't want to be a pity case."
"You're not a pity case, Mills." James replied sternly. "I know you can do this."
Sighing, Cale dropped down on James's bed and stared up at the standing boy.
"I'm not worth your time. Just go on and move to New York, or wherever the fuck."
James sighed and sat down next to Cale. "I care about you, Cale. Even though you threw me in dumpsters for a long time, before you joined the Glee club, I'd like to think we're kind of friends now."
Cale liked what James was saying, but he didn't let himself believe it.
"Give up, James. It's not like you don't know where to find me if you need me. Here, in fucking Lima Ohio, trying to graduate over and over again."
James almost growled his response, "This is not the Cale I came to know. The Cale I admire for his courage and his talent. The Cale that scored the winning goal for the one football championship McKinley High has ever won. The Cale that would just jump up in Glee club and start singing songs of Jewish artists. The Cale who just radiates confidence as he walks wherever he goes."
Cale sighed and carded his hand through his hair in a frustrated manner.
"That guy is gone, James."
James scooted closer, Cale didn't move away.
"Then let me bring him back."
Cale turned his head when James tried to kiss him. James expected Cale to shove him away. To jump up and kick his ass. Beat him into a pulp.
He didn't know why he initiated a kiss in the first place. Somehow it had just felt right.
He certainly didn't expect what Cale's real reaction was, though.
"I'm not worth it."
James smiled sadly, not breaking eye contact with Cale as he answered.
"I think you are."
Then he surged forward again and this time, Cale didn't pull away.
~~++~~
All the seniors of the Glee club were waiting, together with Cale, in the hallway next to the class room in which Cale's test was being graded.
This was his second and last chance to graduate and they were all nervous, hoping and keeping their fingers crossed for Cale to have made it. To have passed his test.
Cale was the most nervous of all, but that was only normal, shouting something about hunting season being open on all faculty tires before the door finally opened and his teacher stepped out, holding his test paper.
Kate wanted to take the paper, but the teacher held it away from her and Cale snatched it out of her hand, turning his back to his friends so his emotions wouldn't show that much. Especially the devastation if he hadn't made it.
That devastation didn't happen though, 'cause when Kris asked him what he got and Cale finally dared to look at his paper, he turned around and held the paper up in victory.
"C-!"
"That's a Mills A+!" Kris yelled excitedly and then Cale was overstepped with hugs.
Except from James, who hugged the teacher instead.
Cale did catch James's eye while he was hugging Katy and he didn't have to speak to convey his thoughts.
The perfect kiss, with the perfect guy at the perfect time could only end up in the perfect ending.
Day 4
A/N: Takes place in elementary school. Kind of in the same 'verse as the drabble on day 2
"I don't like him."
Zac looked up, staring a little confused at his friend.
"You don't like who?"
"Jensen."
Now Zac was completely confused, "I thought he became one of your best friends."
"He is," Cale answered and Zac literally thought he was going insane because he really couldn't follow anymore. "I just don't like him."
Zac scrunched up his face, "How can you not like him while you still claim he's your friend?"
Cale sighed and rolled his eyes. He really didn't want to explain this to Zac, but apparently he had to.
"I don't like the way James looks at him."
Zac blinked, then started laughing and didn't stop until Cale slapped him, lightly, on the back of his head and was glaring at him.
Zac's laughter dissolved into chuckles and he shook his head a little.
"I'm sorry," Zac finally wheezed out, "I just seem to recall something quite familiar, only the other way 'round."
Now it was Cale's time to be confused, "What?"
"I still remember the day I got sand thrown in my eyes by a certain James Walker."
"Yeah, he was a little-" Cale stopped when he realized what Zac was accusing him of. "I'm not jealous."
Zac just raised his eyebrow, which pissed Cale off, but he couldn't say something back anymore because the teacher was making her rounds and was now standing between his and Zac's desks.
He looked down at his book, pretending to read and fill in the exercises they had to make, but he couldn't get Zac's words out of his head.
He wasn't jealous. He just wasn't.
~~++~~
Cale wasn't sulking. He was just...a little bitter because he was send to the bench by his sports teacher for throwing the ball too hard at Jensen during dodgedball.
He couldn't help himself. James had been trailing after Jensen like a lovesick puppy and Cale simply couldn't stand it anymore.
While almost all of the rest of the guys on Cale's team were aiming for James, Cale was aiming for Jensen. And he got him, rather quickly.
Normally he and Jensen were on the same team, but this time Cale had made sure that he wasn't. His plan to get Jensen off the field before James was hit; that boy was freaking flexible; had succeeded. He only hadn't thought about the consequences when the ball hit Jensen straight in the face and ended him up with a bleeding nose.
The look on James's face when Cale was send off the field and banished from gym class for a week was unreadable.
There was concern, mixed with anger, mixed with something else. Cale wasn't sure he wanted to know what it was.
When the gym teacher blew on his whistle to indicate the end of class, everyone disappeared from the field to go to the locker room, except for Cale. He stayed seated on the bench, staring at the ground.
He didn't have to look up when he felt someone sit down next to him to know who it was.
There was silence for a little while until the other boy spoke up.
"Did you really have to do that?"
Cale shrugged, "It's just a game, James."
"Just a game?" James replied, "You're not allowed to throw the ball at someone's face in this game. His nose could be broken."
Cale snorted, "If you care so much about him then why are you still here?"
James didn't hesitate for one second as he answered, "Because I care even more about you." He smiled when Cale finally turned his head to look at him. "You're my best friend, Cale."
A smile tugged at Cale's lips, but he held it back.
"Everyone always chooses Jensen's side. I know I shouldn't have thrown that ball in his face, but-"
"No, you shouldn't." James interrupted him, then leaned closer to Cale's ear to say softly. "But I'm always on your side."
Cale didn't hold back his smile when he felt James's lips against his cheek. He also didn't hesitate to take James's outstretched hand when he had stood up and pushed himself up with one hand, while James pulled, gently, on the other to help him up.
"You want to go see if Jensen is ok?"
Cale tensed just a little bit but nodded, comforted by the fact that James was still holding his hand when he apologized to Jensen and was still holding his hand as they both went to the locker room to change into their clothes.
When they were dressed in their usual clothes, James held out his hand again and Cale took it, holding onto it when they went back to class.
Jensen, and Cale's not-so-jealousy at him, was long forgotten when James stays with Cale and Zac for the rest of the day.
As long as James stayed at his side, Cale didn't care that he sometimes shed a weird, kind of longing, look at Jensen.
As long as James would still be there for him when he messed up again, Cale just knew that everything would be ok in his further school life.
Day 5
"Give it back!" James yelled, standing in the middle of a bunch of jocks who were throwing his cellphone around like it was a football, wincing when one of the jocks almost dropped it. "You're going to break it!"
James was near tears, but he held them back because he didn't want those jerks to see him cry.
His first day back at high school after summer vacation and those assholes were after him, and his poor cellphone apparently, again.
Lucky for him, he only had to go there one more year. One more year that he had to endure those Neanderthals and then he was out of there.
Out of Mckinley High. Out of Lima Ohio.
But for now his priority was to get his cellphone back and rather in one piece than broken.
"Give it back now!" James yelled again when his phone almost saw it's faithful ending once again.
He knew the other students were staring at him and the jocks as they passed them by, but no one ever bothers to stop and help him.
They were all just glad it was him instead of them.
Then suddenly something happened...
An old truck appeared and parked close to the dumpster where James and the jocks were standing and a guy James had never seen before stepped out on the driver's side of the car.
James's attention was drawn back to the jocks when he saw one of them suddenly start to punch on the numbers and the keypad of his cellphone, probably searching through his messages.
James lunged himself at the guy holding his cellphone and tried to snatch it from his hand, when two of the others grabbed him and pulled him back.
"Let me go!" James was getting completely hysteric, "Stop going through my cellphone. Just give it back!"
The guy who had stepped out of the truck stopped and looked at the scene in front of him. His hands at his sides balled unconsciously into fists and he set his jaw, which was firmly clenched.
"What seems to be the problem here?"
The jocks all looked up at the stranger, then one of them; it must have been their leader or something; spoke up to him.
"It's none of your business. We're just having fun."
"I don't think that boy's having fun." the stranger said, inclining his head towards James.
"Oh but he is," the leader jock guy spoke up again, now draping an arm over James's shoulders. "Aren't you having fun, Walker?"
Looking at the stranger, James shook his head, until the jock tightened his hold on him. He looked down and nodded.
"You see? We're all having fun here so move along. You're not welcome here."
James closed his eyes and hoped silently that the stranger would stay. He was the first person who ever stood up for him.
His hope died away when he heard footsteps and he saw the stranger turn his back to him, starting to walk away.
Then suddenly there was a loud "SMACK" and all heads wheeled around to see the guy holding James's phone pressed against the dumpster. The stranger standing right in front of him, one hand on his throat.
All the jocks just gaped at the sight, then some shuffling was heard and the stranger spoke up again.
"Don't move. Any of you."
That voice sounded so dangerous that all plans of trying to attack the stranger left all of the jocks' minds.
The stranger pulled the guy against the dumpster forward and moved his hand to the back of his neck, then dragged him with him to right in front of a shocked, gaping James.
"Give the kid his cell back." the stranger demanded, almost growling, "Now."
James held his hands open and the jock dropped the cellphone in it, then scurried away as fast as he could when the stranger let go of his neck, quickly followed by the rest of them, except for one.
"Who the hell are you?" the captain of the jocks asked, trying to keep his cool.
The stranger removed his sunglasses to reveal intense green-hazel eyes.
"The name's Mills." the stranger answered, "You better remember that. Now move along. You're not welcome here."
The jock didn't want to get chased away by his own words, but when the stranger, Cale, took a step forward towards him, he quickly ran off so that only James remained behind.
James didn't really know what to say or do. This Cale guy had helped him and even though it had looked scary what he did to others, James had been completely fascinated by him and his actions.
After looking after the jock to make sure he was really gone, Cale turned his head and looked at James.
"I don't think those guys will bother you again now."
"Thanks," James said sincerely, sticking his cellphone into his pocket after having checked that everything still worked."I'm James."
"Cale," the now-not-so-stranger-anymore chuckled when James frowned. "Mills is just a nickname," he explained. "You go to school here?"
James nodded, "How about you? I've never seen you around before? Are you new in town?"
He just couldn't help it. This guy had peeked his curiosity and well, it was true, he had never seen him around before so James wondered what he was suddenly doing here.
"Just moved here," Cale answered, "Unfortunately I have to do my last year of high school here."
"You're a senior? I am too!" James replied, suddenly excited. "I can show you around town if you'd like? Or, um...Maybe just around school..." James trailed off, feeling a little embarrassed at pushing himself on too much.
Who said Mills, or Cale, would even want to hang out with him? Sure, he had helped him, but-
"I'd like that."
James stared at Cale, a hopeful smile on his face, "Really?"
Cale chuckled and swung his arm over James's shoulder. For once, James didn't flinch.
He was used to the jocks doing that to hurt him, but he somehow knew Cale wouldn't hurt him. He could trust him. At least in this he could.
"Let's start with the school tour, shall we?"
James beamed and lead the way to school, Cale's arm still firmly around his shoulders.
Maybe James's senior year wasn't going to be that bad after all.
Day 6
"You're such a prude."
"I'm not a prude, Mills."
"Then why won't you tell us anything about you and Duncan?"
"Because there's nothing to tell!"
"Liar."
"I'm not lying. Now shut up and let's just cross this street."
"James! Watch out!"
A scream. A hard shove. Two men lying on the ground.
~~++~~
That's how James ended up in the hospital. Not in a bed, but on a chair in the waiting area of the ER.
Waiting to hear news from the doctor about Cale.
~~++~~
James sat slouched down in the very uncomfortable hospital chair, one hand clutching onto Sarah's hand, the other one holding onto Kris's.
They had been there to witness the whole dramatic scenery.
First the usual Cames banter, that's what the boys called it, then the car that sped through a red light, Cale pushing James out of the way and getting hit by the car instead of James.
~~++~~
The guy in the car had first stopped, but when he saw the two boys on the ground, he quickly sped off again.
Cale had rolled over the car and dropped back down again, landing on the ground, his body limp.
Kris and Sarah were staring in shock while passersby stopped and started shouting for someone to call an ambulance. Someone did and called the police as well. At least one of those passersby had taken notice of the car who did a hit-and-run and the number plate.
James, although in pain and complete shock, was the first one to rush over to Cale, crouching down beside his body.
"Why?" James asked silently, "Why did you push me away? Why did you have to play the hero? Don't you know that heroes aren't always invisible? Sometimes they don't get their happy endings."
Then the paramedics arrived, lifted him up onto a stretcher, and then pushed them into their ambulance.
James, Kris and Sarah were all staring after the ambulance which drove away at high speed, sirens blaring.
Feeling a hand on his shoulder, James looked up, his vision becoming blurry.
"He'll be alright, James." Sarah's voice sounded foreign, detached, even to his own ears."He has to be."
James didn't answer, just stared down at the place where Cale had been lying just seconds ago. Blood smeared all over the ground.
"Come on," Kris finally found his voice again, "I'll drive us to the hospital."
So that's how they ended up there, waiting until someone would finally tell them what was going on.
Ms. Mills, Mr and Mrs Allen had all arrived almost an hour ago, all worried about their children.
Ms. Mills was the only one who still had to be worried though. It was her son who was fighting for his life.
All because he had to play the hero...
"What's taking them so long?" Ms. Mills asked, "I'm his mother! I'm supposed to get some information about the condition of my son! He's been hit by a car for Pete's sake! What does a mother have to do to get to know if her son is still alive?!"
Kim put her hand on Ms Mills's shoulder and she turned around, slumping into Kim's arms.
Everyone was beyond anxious to know how Cale was, so when finally a female doctor approached them, they all jumped up and looked at her expectantly.
"You're all here for Mr. Mills I presume?" the doctor watched them nod and smiled, "I'm doctor Avery. I have good news for you all. Cale is going to be alright."
The whole group let out a collective sigh or cry of relief and Ms. Mills to throw her arms around the doctor.
"Thank you," she whispered over and over again in the doctor's ear while tears rolled down her cheeks. "Thank you for saving him."
Doctor Alice Avery patted Ms. Mills's back, then smiled as she pulled away.
"That's one tough kid you brought into this world," Alice said and Ms. Mills couldn't help but smile proudly. Then Alice looked at the rest of the little group of people, all there for Cale. "You can all visit him in a little while, but first I'm looking for a boy named James?"
Everyone turned their heads to look at James, who was just staring at the doctor in confusion. Then Sarah gently put his hand on the small of James's back and pushed him forward a little.
"I- I'm James."
Alice's smile got even wider as she talked and watched the boy's expression.
"I had to come and get you so he can see you first. You were the first thing he talked about when he woke up. Asking me the whole time if you were alright, but didn't believe me when I said that you were unharmed, safe from a few scratches from your fall, so I told him I would look for you and bring you to his room so he could check for himself."
James just stared at the doctor, then at Ms. Mills, who just nodded at him encouragingly.
James let go of Kris's hand, which he was still holding onto until then, then followed the doctor down the hallway towards Cale's room.
He didn't exactly know what to do or say once he was there at the door of Cale's room, but somehow he knew it would all come naturally.
The doctor opened the door and let James inside, telling him she had other patients to go to when he shot her a questioning look, then closed the door once James was inside and walking to the bed.
She watched him through the window for a few minutes before walking away. Those kids were gonna be fine. She just knew it.
James sucked in his breath when he saw Cale lying there, hooked onto a machine that kept check of his vitals and some lines in his arms that probably provided him with pain medicine.
It was weird to see the tall, strong boy now completely battered up. And it was all his fault.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, right at Cale's side, and softly trailed his finger over the bruises on Cale's face.
They would heal. Or at least James hoped they would. But the doctor said he was gonna be alright, so...
"James?"
James looked down when he heard Cale's croaking voice and smiled, pulling his hand back from the other boy's face.
"Hey."
"You really are alright."
James laughed. A soft, pained sounding laugh.
"Yes, I'm alright. All thanks to the hero."
Cale smirked, or at least tried to, but his face hurt a little too much.
"You can thank me later, Princess."
James was silent for a while. Thinking hard.
Maybe it was time to let Cale read into his cards, just a little bit. Maybe then Cale's whole teasing game, about Duncan, would end and he would finally realize who James is really interested in.
"James?" Cale asked again.
James just smiled, letting his fingers smooth out Cale's frown on his forehead. Then he leaned down and whispered softly.
"That's exactly what I'm planning to do."
Day 7
Nobody knew why or how, when James had been bullied by some of the jocks, those jocks always ended up getting some kind of payback.
Nobody knew who was behind it either. They just teased James with the thought of having a secret admirer.
So, definitely color Kris surprised when he found Cale one time after school, breaking into one of the jocks' lockers.
Curious, he walked over to the Glock and cleared his throat.
"What are you doing?"
Cale jumped and whirled around, looking down in Kris's curious, frowning face.
"I'm just putting some stuff in my locker, dude." Cale answered, trying to remain cool although he felt a little nervous at getting caught.
"This is not your locker," Kris replied, "I know where your locker is, Cale. It's right across from mine, except higher."
Cale knew he didn't have an excuse and he couldn't think of one so quickly either. He opened his mouth to answer, but Kris was faster than him.
"It's you, isn't it?"
"Huh?" Well, if he couldn't find an excuse, he could fall back on his "stupid jock" image.
Kris rolled his eyes. All the times he gave private lessons to Cale gave him the knowledge that Cale wasn't that dumb as he tried to make people think he is.
Lazy? Yes. Dumb? Hell no.
"It's you who's taking revenge on your team mates when they harass James."
It wasn't a question, so Cale didn't bother to deny it.
"Not only when it's James."
Kris's eyes widened a little. "It was you who locked Mason up in that port-a-potty after he threw a slushie in my face?"
"Yeah."
"It was you who- And when-"
Cale held up his hand to stop him, "Yeah, man. It was all me."
"But...Why?"
Cale just shrugged, "We're kind of like a family, right?"
"Right..." Kris confirmed, not sure where this was going.
"Well, I don't let people mess with my family, man. It's as simple as that."
Kris blinked, then smiled up at Cale, holding out his fist.
"Right, man. Family."
Cale smirked and bumped his fist against Kris's.
The next day at school there's a loud scream ringing through the hallway, followed by even louder curses.
Everyone turns to look into the direction of the sounds and look on confused as one of their precious beloved jocks is jumping around on one leg, holding onto his other foot in the air with both hands.
There's a hammer lying on the floor next to him, which probably fell on his foot when he opened his locker.
Then there's laughter and Cale turns his head to see Kate, Sarah, Lauren and a few others of the cheerleading squad laughing and pointing at the jumping jock.
He looks around some more to see more people start to giggle or snicker, holding their hands in front of their mouths to try and hide it.
Cale takes the most pleasure in seeing their faces, all smiling, eyes sparkling with mirth.
He catches Kris's gaze and sees him smile at him. Cale gives him a wink, then strides over to him.
"Where to, dude?"
"Off to Geometry my good man."
Cale ignores all the shocked, curious stares of the other students and walked with Kris to his classroom.
He knows that Kris is still smiling proudly and that's all that matters to him.
If he winks at the other Gleeks when he passes them, well...no one's going to sue him, right?
He found a second family. He found something close to happiness.
No one was gonna take that away from him again.