i think i like coming up with my own AUs
but the next oneshot will probably be angst (i say that every time)
this is an Evo highschool AU where all of the members are in the 12th grade (seniors) and all go to the same high school
TWs:
- homophobia
- crying
- shipping (Grian x Taurtis)
enjoy!
"Put your hands in the air!"
"You have the right to remain silent!"
"What do you two want now?" Grian asks his two friends. He was just peacefully reading his book on a bench in the school's courtyard, until these two idiots named Timmy Solidarity and Martyn Littlewood show up and disturb him.
Martyn points a fake, paper gun at Grian. "You're under arrest!"
"For what?"
"For scoring higher than me on the last math test!" Martyn tries his best not to crack a smile, but is obviously struggling.
"First of all," Grian starts. "It's not my fault that I'm smarter than you. Second of all, maybe you'd do better if you didn't fold your homework into a paper gun to point at innocent people like myself. Third of all," Grian closes his book and stands up. "It's not the end of the world. Just because you didn't do so well on one test does not mean your entire high school career is going to come tumbling down."
"Wow," Timmy starts after the two stare at Grian for a second. "That was, actually kind of wholesome."
Grian rises off of the bench and turns to walk away. But before he leaves he turns his head back to his friends. "And fourth of all, skill issue."
He listens to the chaos that ensues as Timmy tries to hold Martyn back from running at him as he walks away, a smirk on his face.
Entering the school building, Grian takes a right and walks down the hallway for a few seconds before turning and walking up the stairs. He comes upon another, identical hallway, and takes a right, heading towards the science wing. All 12th grade students' lockers are in the science wing, as shown by a few of his fellow classmates in the hallway as well.
Grian approaches and opens his locker, analyzing the contents before grabbing a binder as well as a few extra pieces of paper for taking notes. He stuffs them in his backpack and closes his locker, jumping with surprise to see someone standing behind the door.
"Geez, say something next time!" Grian says, looking up at the person.
"What? Did I scare you?" Pearl asks, smiling deviously.
"Yes!" Grian replies, only slightly miffed at his sister's shenanigans.
Pearl laughs and pushes herself off of the locker she was leaning against. Readjusting her backpack on her back, she glances around the hallway, causing Grian to raise an eyebrow.
"What's up?" he asks, confused.
"Just making sure this one girl isn't in the hallway with us. She likes to make fun of my arm," Pearl replies, refocusing her attention on Grian.
"Your tattoo?" Grian asks in surprise. He thinks the crescent moon with a few surrounding stars tattooed on Pearl's arm is beautiful, especially since he has a matching sun tattoo on the same forearm. "Why would anyone make fun of that?"
"I don't know," Pearl replies, looking at the floor before meeting Grian's eyes again. "It doesn't matter. Let's just make our way to the cafeteria. The others are probably confused as to why we're late."
The two start walking back towards the staircase to go down to the ground floor. "Oh, yeah, I was reading a book in the courtyard earlier and the Property Police came up to me. Something about me scoring higher on a test?" Grian says.
"Oh, hah, that's kind of funny. Timmy and Martyn are adorable sometimes. What test was it?"
"I don't even know. I basically said, 'I'm better, you don't even do the homework, it's not the end of the world, skill issue'."
Pearl laughs at this remark. "That sounds like something you'd say."
They enter the cafeteria together and continue talking about some classes while walking towards their usual table in the far corner.
"Hi Grian, Pearl!" Salem calls out.
"Took you long enough," Timmy says.
Martyn and Netty are deep in a conversation about cats and do not greet the siblings. BigB looks up from a book he's reading and waves politely with a smile, and Zee is fast asleep with his head resting on the table.
Grian and Pearl take their seats and start eating their lunch, talking about whatever comes to mind with the others at the table. But there are a few empty seats, which Grian decides to ask about.
"Hey, BigB?"
BigB perks his head up. "Hmm?"
"Where are Tomohawk, Mini, and Taurtis?" Grian asks.
"Oh," BigB lifts his head up and closes his book. "Thanks for reminding me, I was supposed to be meeting Tom and Mini in the library during lunch today. As for Taurtis, I have no idea. Sorry!" BigB stands up and grabs his bag, shoving his book into it and swinging it over his shoulder.
"That's okay, thanks!" Grian thanks BigB as he waves goodbye and leaves the cafeteria. That leaves Taurtis.
Where could that idiot be? Grian asks himself while looking at the empty seat where Taurtis usually sits. He must've stared at it for a while, because before he knows it, Pearl and Salem are whispering and Grian can hear a chorus of 'ooooooo~'s coming from their general direction.
He looks over at them and they're smirking at him. "Why do you wanna know where he is?" Salem asks teasingly.
"Shut up," Grian stands up. "It's not like that. I just was wondering where he is," Grian picks up his backpack and puts it on, sticking his tongue out at the two girls as he throws his scraps in the garbage can and leaves the cafeteria.
He walks through the empty hallway alone with his thoughts. There's no way I like him. He thinks to himself. That's too much of a trope.
The rest of the school day goes by fairly quickly, Grian having three classes and a free period before meeting with Timmy to walk to the dorm building.
In their school, students are dormed in an entirely separate building from the school building itself. Said other building has a, thankfully covered, pathway that leads to and from the school building, which is where classes are held. Inside the dormitory building, there is a small 24/7 shop where students can buy things they might need, ranging from midnight snacks to shampoo.
The two make conversation about whatever comes to mind, and, as per usual, it ends up with Grian calling Timmy stupid as they enter their shared living area.
Each dorm consists of a small kitchen and a livingroom-type area, as well as four private bedrooms, meaning that each dorm has room for four occupants. Grian, Timmy, Martyn, and Taurtis dorm together.
"Right, that's it," Timmy says, opening the door to his room. "I'm done. I'm taking a nap."
"Okay, you go do that!"
"Don't you sass me, Grian!"
"I'm not sassing you!"
"Oh, yes, you totally a-"
Grian shuts the door to his room before Timmy can finish his sentence, effectively cutting him off. He drops his backpack next to his desk before pulling out his phone and some headphones, as well as his book. He plops down on his bed and continues reading to the sound of his music.
Before he knows it, it's dark, and time to close the curtains. Putting his book down momentarily, Grian gets up to close his curtains and hears the door creak open behind him.
He turns around to see Taurtis there. Instantly, butterflies start to generate in Grian's stomach. His chocolate eyes look into Grian's baby blue as he leans against the doorframe, not saying anything for a minute, before entering the room and softly closing the door behind him.
"You okay?" Grian asks, not getting a response. Instead, Taurtis just walks over to Grian's bed and sits down, looking into his lap. Grian takes a seat next to him and takes Taurtis' hand into his.
"What's wrong?" he tries again, hoping to get some sort of answer.
Taurtis sighs before looking up and forward. "My mom called me last night," he starts. "And I- I accidentally let it slip."
"Let what slip?"
"Uhm," Taurtis stutters, which is out of character for him. "Well, us," Taurtis turns his head and the worrisome look in his eyes burns its way into Grian's brain.
"Oh," he says, not sure how to answer. "And?"
"Let's just say she wasn't happy, and neither is my father."
"Oh," Grian starts. "Oh no, that's not good. What was their response?" he asks, worried.
Taurtis takes a deep breath before answering. "They told me not to even come home to get my belongings, unless I wanted a pile of ashes," as he says this, Taurtis starts to let tears fall and Grian pulls Taurtis' head into the crook of his neck gently with his hand. He wraps the other around Taurtis' back, softly rubbing circles into it.
"Oh my gosh, I-" Grian stops, not sure what to say to try and ease Taurtis' pain. "That's horrible! I'm so sorry, Love-"
Taurtis cuts him off. "They took everything, Grian. They've terminated my credit card and phone data, and are not going to pay tuition anymore. The only thing they haven't taken is my health insurance, which they are legally obligated to pay since I'm still 17. I'm sure that'll disappear on my next birthday too, and-"
"Taurtis, stop," Grian interrupts him, cupping Taurtis' face and pulling it to face him. "You're going to overwhelm yourself. Breathe."
They sit there for a minute or two in silence, before Grian speaks up again. "Is this why you weren't at school today?"
Taurtis nods. "Yeah, I didn't really feel like getting out of bed this morning."
"That's fair," Grian reassures him, pulling him into a quick yet soft kiss. "I wouldn't feel like doing anything either," he smiles, trying to make Taurtis feel better. This doesn't necessarily work however, as he only smiles for a second before it drops and the sadness returns to his face.
Grian sighs. "Look, don't worry about the money," he starts. "My parents will pay for everything you need replaced. Everything you listed a minute ago. How does that sound?"
Taurtis immediately sits up straight, taken aback by the idea. "What?! I can't ask that of you! Grian, I love you, but that's way too much."
"It's fine, really," Grian counters. "My parents have a lot of money to spare, and they'd say yes to anything I ask for as long as I stay away from them. It's really not that big of a deal."
"But I-"
"Taurtis, no," Grian cuts him off. "Don't feel guilty. This is a choice that I am making to help the person I love. Even so, you don't really have a choice in this matter. I am not going to let you suffer."
The last two sentences are enough to make Taurtis accept his fate, knowing that he won't change Grian's mind. That is one of the things he loves about him, after all.
He rests his head on Grian's shoulder. "Thank you, but I don't think anything could possibly make me feel any better right now."
Grian brings Taurtis' head up again and presses his forehead against his. "I know, and I understand. And I will be here for you as you heal, no matter how long it takes."
"I love you so much, Grian," Taurtis says, starting to tear up again.
"I love you too."
"Hey Grian, can you-" Pearl stops speaking as she peers into her brother's room. What she sees isn't a surprise, and instead of just leaving like a normal person, she whips out her phone and takes a picture of the scene.
Grian is leaning against his wall with his legs outstretched, and is fast asleep. Taurtis rests his head against Grian's chest and has one of his arms draped over his legs.
Pearl then leaves, excited to show everyone else about how their suspicions were correct.
1,988 words
im having a staredown with a squirrel at this moment in time
you didn't need to know that
but now you do
hope you enjoyed, take care of yourselves <3