To a Squirrel - chapter 5
Title: To a Squirrel at Kyle-na-no
Rating: PG
Fandom: Ice Age
To a Squirrel at Kyle-na-no
CHAPTER 5
I figure you all pretty much know the gist of it by now.
So please, read on, enjoy.
All the usual disclaimers apply.
*
Manny decides about three weeks into his senior year at St. Peters Highschool that this really isn’t going how he planned. Since his arrival at the school, he’d prepared to play the part of the silent-giant. No one would befriend him, and he would remain quite happily on his own as an intimidating force. But all of a sudden, he’d had this…this freshman leech onto him, sucking out his life force. Not only that, but the Ellie-girl paying him unwanted attention and now, now this.
Lunch tray firmly in hand, he stares unhappily at the sight before him. Sid however, blinks a bit with those strangely distant eyes of his, before shrugging absently and waddling over to the table.
Only, Manfred thinks, no one should accept this so readily, least of all himself. Here at his lunch table, sat not only Sid, but now one of Soto’s lapdogs too…Daniel? Dienjoe? Diego. That was it.
The boy leaned back on the bench, fanged smirk, shaggy blond hair, chiselled good looks, the epitome of cool. It was so wrong.
None the less, the elder boy sighed in something akin to resignation, and marched himself over to his table.
“Manny, old-buddy-old-pal, this is Diego Pride. Saved my skin the other day.”
The blond rolled golden eyes, “Something I regret to this very second, Osmond.”
Despite his disapproval at their latest lunch guest, Manfred really couldn’t help but agree.
Sid went on though, as if he hadn’t heard a word, “This, new-buddy-new-pal, is Manny Torelli.”
“Manfred.” He grunted, almost uncomfortable at Diego’s fanged smirk.
“Pleasure to meet you, my friend.”
“I’m not your friend,” He stated, ignoring the younger boy’s amused look. “I’m not his friend either.” He added, nodding in Sid’s direction.
Diego didn’t bat a lash, his grin seemingly unshakable. But he didn’t say a word, in fact, neither of them said a word for the rest of lunch. They instead opted to engage in some unverbally issued staring contest, drowning out Sid’s oblivious chatter.
By the end of lunch, Manfred left the table unsure as to whether or not he’d won.
*
Art was one of Ellie’s favourite classes, second only to Gym. She found a form of solace in the paintbrushes, in the paper and the pastels. So relaxing, so peaceful, so…just so.
“Ellie!” Mandee gasped, grin widening on her dark face. “Heard you were grouped with Soto for the History project.”
So much for peaceful, “Yeah. We’re doing a presentation about the ice age.”
Mandee scoffed, flicking black hair over her shoulder as she fiddled with white chalk. “Pft, Ellie. Who cares about the project? Soto is hot, you should totally hook up with him or-“
“Really? I don’t think he’s that…”
The other girl shot her a look, because really Soto was that good-looking.
Ellie laughed though, and Mandee hid a grin, “To be honest? I don’t really have my eye on him.”
“Hm?”
But the redhead didn’t say anything, merely smiled secretively and continued her oil-on-canvas.
Mandee’s eyes widened comically, just as Ellie had predicted they would. “You like someone? What? Why was I not told?”
“It’s no big deal, Mand.”
“No big deal?!” The girl scoffed, “Ellie, you have never expressed an interest in anyone, like ever. I have gone out of my way to try and hook you up, and every time you turn them down. Really, I was starting to worry you were a dyke or something.”
“Geez, Mandee. Way to be open-minded.”
Mandee shrugged, she hadn’t meant it insultingly, the girl was just shockingly blunt.
“Well, who is it?”
“Like I’d tell you.”
The shorter girl pouted, flashing Ellie the puppy dog eyes.
“C’mon, El, I’d tell you.”
Sighing, Ellie glanced back at Mandee, good grief she never should’ve said anything.
“You’ll have to swear not to say anything to anyone, Mandee.”
The girl shot her a look.
“Seriously.”
Mandee nodded, flushing in obvious excitement.
“Um…well…Manny Torelli, I guess.”
Surprise had leaked onto Mandee’s smooth face, before it shrivelled up in disgust, “God, it would’ve been better if you were a dyke.”
Ellie laughed, shoving her friend to the side, “Geez, Mandee.”
“Alright, alright. Well, you want me to hook the two of you up?”
Ellie laughed again, this time in slight disbelief. “What?”
But Mandee’s grin was wide and kinda evil, and Ellie realised she’d just made what was probably the biggest mistake of her life.
*
The end of school bell rang in an ear piercing screech, leading the way to running feet, slamming lockers and an empty school within minutes.
Manfred sighed, closing his locker swiftly, and heading to the school gates, only to stop just short of them.
There was Sid, waiting for him as he had done since the first day of school, and there, as well, was the short, lean frame of one Diego Pride. Fuck, this was screwed up.
Making his way slowly to the gate, Sid shoots him another of his wide grins. “Hey Manny, look who decided to tag along.”
“I thought something smelt off.”
But Diego didn’t respond, merely flashed yet another fanged smirk.
Walking directly past the two of them, he started to wonder if this was how it’d be for the rest of the year. If he’d be subjected to an additional two shadows, two echoes, two extra seats everywhere he went, because really, he didn’t think he could handle that.
The familiarity of Sid’s footsteps speeding up to catch up to him was slightly unnerving, however this extra set, the ones belonging to Soto’s crony, they were outright unsettling.
Finally, to try and put a stop to this discomfort, “Is this becoming a habit, Diego?”
The boy shrugged in that way that he did, and Manny could smell the tobacco smoke leaking from the end of the cancer stick dangling from the younger boys lips. “Define habit.”
But really, Manny wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he tuned out Diego, and for once tuned in to Sid’s oblivious chatter, well, at least till they got to the kid’s house.
“See you tomorrow!” Sid called, bouncing contently towards the door of the shabby building, leaving Manfred and Diego on the pavement outside.
Swiftly, Manfred made the move to separate himself from Diego, “Well, bye then.” He stated, starting the walk down the street. He grimaced as footsteps followed him.
“What are you doing?” He said, watching as Diego smirked unpleasantly.
“Going home, guess I live this way too.”
Manfred grunted, picking up his pace.
“You really don’t like me, huh?” Diego asked, quirking his brow.
“What’s there to like?” He says, but when he turns around, the younger boy is gone.
*
Diego had left quite quickly at Manny’s last words; he’d take a different route home. Awkward silences really weren’t his thing.
Hands in his pocket, cigarette dangling from his lips, he didn’t notice the figure in the shadows till a brawny set of arms dragged him into a back alley. By instinct, he fought back, sending an elbow into a tough stomach, a fist into a skull.
“Jesus Christ, Diego.” The figure screeched, clutching vainly to their wounds.
“Senwe?”
“Who the fuck did you think it was?”
“Diego shrugged, “I figured it’d be you.”
Senwe grimaced, and shot him an ugly look, rubbing furiously at his head.
“Saw you walking with the two freaks, you up and ditched us?”
“Don’t ever recall being on a leash, besides it was Soto’s request.”
“You really are his bitch, huh?”
“You’re one to talk, Senwe.” Diego responded, growling out of pure pride.
Shrugging, Senwe quickly changed topics. “Soto’s arranging the next job.”
“Yeah?” This had Diego’s attention, why did Senwe know before him?
“Yep. Drug heist, details thus far are a little hazy, just thought you should know.”
Diego nodded in an almost thanks, as Senwe continued rubbing his head. “Fuck, Diego. You have a mean right hook.”
“You should try not to forget it too.”
And Senwe nodded, flashing the other boy a smarmy leer.
*
TBC