Three Cheers for Sweethearts [Frerard AU]

PART III: Chapter 4

                  

CHAPTER 4 – SIXTY PERCENT

Next period, the unexpected happened.

Frank spoke to me during History.

Nothing huge. He just needed to know where to turn in his late homework (Frank? Late homework? Those two didn't go together at all). I told him in one sentence and then we took on our silence for the rest of the day.

For whatever reason, Hunter had been leaving us alone for a while. While it was nice to have that peace, the anticipation that he had trained us to feel when expecting a smart remark didn't go away, so he may as well have been saying those smart remarks anyway.

Back in Theatre later that day, Mr. Burner looked me dead in the eye when I walked in and asked how I was doing. I assumed he was talking about my dramatic exit after yelling at my friend. So much had happened in the last 24 hours that I'd nearly forgotten. Catching me off guard, I stuttered for a moment until I could speak English again. "Fine. Was just surprised yesterday."

He nodded cryptically and slinked back to his desk.

The bell rang and he announced that it was our final dress rehearsal tomorrow. As if we weren't fully aware. Austin immediately called us in for a "group meeting," where he generally just told us we needed to be better actors, because we sucked.

"You two," he said, looking between me and Frank. "You are FALLING in LOVE."

"Stealing lines from Mr. Burner, now?" my snarky comment resounded. Austin rolled his eyes. Something urged me to add more. "Say, why does this matter so much to you? You never struck me as the theatre kid type." I said. Other than the whole ridiculously outgoing attitude, that is, I thought.

Austin sighed like it was some huge burden for him to have to explain to me why Theatre class was such an important aspect of his life.

But his answer surprised me. "Because. Maybe I like getting a good grade or two – even and especially when it's an easy A, like this – and getting onto a teacher's good side. Maybe I'm actually not the kind of person who likes to slack off, even when I can. Maybe I'm starting to like theatre. Maybe I always have. I made the mistake last year of not trying hard enough and everyone knows that. I'm not becoming a senior for the third year in a row. Can you just accept that for me?"

I didn't have to answer.

The next ten minutes were spent with Austin's voice filling our ears with lectures about our talents and our techniques, and us smiling and nodding at all of his critiques, notes, and suggestions. How many of them we were actively going to accept, we'd find out on Monday.

We only worked in a few minutes of actually rehearsing, but that was okay. Although it mattered a lot to Austin, nothing he could say could make me care very much.

As I was walking out of class, Frank tapped my shoulder for attention. "Hey," he said. "I've been thinking-"

I couldn't resist. "-thinking that we're FALLING in LOVE?"

He smirked, but didn't say anything. He straightened his tie and started talking again. "Those drawings... they were incredible. And, well..." he rubbed his neck, right over the scorpion tattoo, while he hesitated. "This is kind of embarrassing, but I have a sixty percent in my art class right now, so I was thinking... would you consider tutoring me? I mean, I know it's kind of dumb, considering th-"

"I'd be happy to tutor you," I cut him off, and I honestly meant it. Anything for more time to draw, in my book. "I could... stay after school tomorrow?" I offered.

"Really? Yeah, sounds great. Ah... thanks." He awkwardly thumped my back and turned around to head back the way we came.

I chose to sit in the back after a polite request to do so, and then tried to think up some things to teach Frank. I had no idea where his skill level already was, considering the only way to get a bad grade in art is by not trying at all.

***

Friday came and we had our final dress rehearsal. There was plenty of stress pounded on us to be perfect, both from Austin and Mr. Burner. The three of us who were most subject to it almost had an unspoken alliance with each other, where we shot each other sympathetic looks if one of us was given a particularly hard time.

While Mikey only had one line, they were on him about expression. Anyone who knew him in daily life knew it took a lot to get him to move his stone-still face. However, the progress was made. As we left the classroom for the last time before the performance, Austin told us we'd done well.

I sweetly requested to sit in the back during Drawing, where I texted Frank.

Meet you in the library by the giant globe when the bell rings?

He didn't answer by the end of class, but I assumed he'd check his phone if he was wondering were to meet me. I shot a text to Mikey as well, telling him to go ahead and head home without me.

I stopped at my locker, where I found some new graffiti. It was Friday, so it would be gone in about an hour, so I didn't mind too much that it said DOESN'T DEATH SOUND FUN?