Chapter Text
ANDREW
After school that day he stood by his car smoking and ignoring the confused looks being shot at him by his brother and Katelyn. Renee just stood there quietly, waiting. Before long, a figure appeared, slowly making its way towards their little group. Understanding appeared in Renee’s face and she wordlessly got into the back seat of the Maserati.
Neil approached them, looking awkward and unsure. Andrew just smirked at him, waiting.
“I don’t know how to get to the stadium.” Neil admitted and Andrew was sure he’d settle for directions and get there on his own steam. Andrew’s cigarette spun a lazy arc through the air and landed at Neil’s shoes. He frowned and stamped it out.
“Aaron, get in the back.” Andrew commanded and didn’t have to look at his twin to guess the outraged expression. He heard Katelyn’s comforting murmur and the slam of the car door. Andrew went around and got in the driver’s side, leaving the passenger door open for Neil. He waited for a moment, undecided, before sliding into the expensive leather of the seat and closing the door behind him with a decisive thud.
Andrew didn’t give him time to buckle up before speeding out of the parking lot.
“I thought you had your own car Josten.” Aaron griped from the back seat. Neil didn’t bother to turn around to answer him “it’s my mum’s car, she has work.” He said simply.
“Alright then did she drop you off this morning? Did little Neil get a lift to school like a middle schooler?” Aaron mused in a mocking tone, apparently still peeved to having been shunned to the back seat for the second afternoon in a row.
“He ran.” Andrew said with little inflection. There was a stunned silence in the car.
“You ran to school?” Katelyn asked in surprise. Neil didn’t turn. “Yeah, didn’t have many options did I.” he said with some bitterness.
“Andrew.” Renee quietly chastised. He shot her a look that said something along the lines of don’t blame me for his idiocy, I didn’t know what he was up to and did you expect me to go after him? Really? They’d perfected talking without words.
“You’ll ride with us from now on Neil.” Renee declared kindly. Aaron scoffed from the back seat and Katelyn remained silent, now she won’t be able to stay the night and expect a lift Andrew thought, somewhat smug. He’d definitely prefer Neil to the girly perfume trailing the cheerleader everywhere, Neil smelled familiar, like fresh laundry, mint and apples. He didn’t know when he’d developed an opinion on Neil’s scent but somehow it didn’t bother him.
He spent practice watching Neil stumble through hurdle runs and watched Kevin yell at him. For someone comparatively short who’d never done hurdles before, Neil was picking it up remarkably fast. Not that Kevin would ever admit it. Or Andrew for that fact. He knew Kevin’s standards were ridiculously high but instead of indignation, Neil seemed to grow more motivated the more Kevin tore him apart.
“Drew?” Renee asked softly. He whipped his head around to look at her, he hadn’t noticed when she’d stopped practicing. “What?” he said, sounding (to his chagrin) slightly defensive.
“He is rather attractive don’t you think?” Renee offered lightly, slumping down in the grass next to him. Andrew refused to blush. He refused.
“What of it.” He said mildly. Renee just slid him a soft smile. Sometimes he hated how well she knew him. Only sometimes. He sighed, exasperated. “We both know it’ll never happen, I’m just being self-destructive as usual.” He allowed, knowing that if she got nothing from him she’d keep talking about it.
The afternoon was hot and sticky, Andrew usually forwent the locker room preferring to shower at home but today was the exception. He could admit, only to himself, that he was curious about the scars he’d seen briefly the other day on Neil but upon entering the men’s locker room Neil was nowhere in sight and it wasn’t like Andrew was going to ask someone. It was probably for the best. When Neil did emerge, it was wet-haired and fully clothed from one of the shower stalls. Andrew had stripped down to just his armbands and had a towel around his waist. He tensed up when Neil’s eyes landed on Andrew, hopelessly Andrew scanned his face for any reaction at all, any sign of attraction but Neil’s expression was unhelpfully blank. The slight pink tinge to his skin could easily be attributed to the hot shower he’d emerged from.
Without a word, Andrew headed to the stall furthest from the one Neil had used, shaking his head when he was safely inside the stall. He peeled off his armbands, they’d stuck slightly to his skin in the humidity, and revealed the jagged scars peppering both wrists. He gave his forearms a harsh rub before slinging his towel over the stall door and turning the water on as hot as he could stand it.
When they were all showered and changed Wymack sat them all down and explained that they’d be starting up at the gym every weekday morning from now on and that yes, it was optional for the high school seniors seeing as their classes started earlier in the day but that yes, he recommended them coming anyway. Andrew snuck a look over at Neil and almost rolled his eyes at the eager look on his face. Andrew resigned himself to early mornings every day although the thought of having to deal with Nicky’s whining first thing in the morning wasn’t a pleasant one.
NEIL
His alarm woke him early the next morning and he groaned at it. 5am. But he had access to an actual gym for the first time in years. He held tentative hope that Andrew would let him ride with them to the stadium or that he could at least go with Nicky if neither of the twins were going. He knew Erik had a car and wondered if Andrew ever let anyone else drive that black monstrosity.
Soon enough he was out by his front porch, bag filled with his new track shoes and his school clothes. He nervously bounced his knee, waiting for any sign of a blonde head and piercing amber eyes. His musings were interrupted by the screech of the garage door opening and he was sure Andrew was mocking him with his eyes as he eagerly approached the car. Through the windshield he could see the passenger seat was empty so he went over and got in, noticing Nicky passed out in the back as well as a seething Aaron.
“No Renee?” Neil asked in lieu of a greeting. “She’s not a morning person.” Andrew said, grimacing as if he’d had a bad past experience. Neil was confused by this seemingly sweet girl who could get Andrew to grimace but he kept quiet.
“Why does he get to sit in the front seat, like what the fuck.” Aaron muttered in German. Neil tensed up, wondering how they’d known he spoke German but he relaxed at Andrew’s words, also in German.
“I got tired of seeing your ugly mug.” Andrew replied. Neil had to stifle a snort. “We’re identical you piece of shit!” Aaron shot back, unhelpfully. “Shut up you two I’m trying to sleep.” Nicky grumbled. Aaron mumbled something unintelligible as they sped off towards the stadium.
“Well then.” Neil said, for some reason he didn’t feel like telling anyone he could speak fluent German. “Sorry Neil” Nicky said in English this time “Erik’s German and the twins learnt it in middle school because they had us to teach them.” Neil just grunted noncommittally and gazed out the window letting his thoughts wander.
He’d rightfully assumed Andrew would be going to the gym, he’d seen yesterday just how fit the other athlete was. While Neil was all lean muscles and toned skin from running, Andrew had proper muscle mass and definition, not to mention a killer shoulder to waist ratio.
Neil tried to convince himself that his appreciation was mere jealousy but he couldn’t help the blush that crept into his ears and neck.
He was used to hiding his sexual preferences from people, well, half of his sexual preferences. He’d heard his father use some nasty homophobic slurs often enough to know what would happen if he was ever caught staring at another guy’s ass. He didn’t know how his mum would react but she’d beaten him in the past for being attracted to girls.
“You can’t trust people Neil, you can’t! They’ll let you down, they’ll turn on you. It’s better to be alone, you understand?”
He knew she’d meant well but it hadn’t mattered when she’d punched him in the face and scared off Milly Peterson in the 6th grade for kissing him. Those years had been the worst. He’d learnt not to show it and worked with the assumption that all guys were straight, it was easier that way. Andrew was definitely straight. A short, straight, dangerous jock. Probably. It didn’t matter that his startling eyes constantly followed Neil. It didn’t matter that his hair looked soft as anything or that his plump mouth looked amazing curled up into a sneer, it didn’t matter that-
Neil shook himself internally, resolutely clearing his mind and staring out the window at passing cars, counting in his head how many went by.
They were greeted by the sight of Matt’s blue truck with Katelyn sitting in the passenger seat looking tired. Aaron scrambled to get out of the back seat, squashing Nicky on his way out. Nicky grunted in outrage “Use your own door you psycho, you have bony fucking knees!”
Neil’s blood was pumping by the time they got into the stadium gym and his eyes widened at the state-of-the-art equipment and weights.
“exercise junkie, he’s already fit enough.” Andrew muttered in German. Neil had to stop himself from reacting because he’s pretty sure that was a compliment. There’s no way he was letting on that he spoke German. No way in hell. They all split off to do their own thing but Kevin made a bee-line straight for Neil and thrusts a piece of paper into his hands. “Exercise regimen. Follow it.” Kevin declared, leaving no room for argument. Neil was just glad to have some expert guidance.
The workout was intense and Neil couldn’t help but watch Andrew bench press an astounding amount. It’d be a lie if he said he wasn’t mesmerized by the way muscles flexed under thin fabric. He tried to focus on his own work out and soon got into a proper rhythm.
His mindless actions were interrupted by a teasing phrase in German “Jeez Andrew, who’s the girl?” Nicky asked. Neil, again, had to stop himself from reacting or acting anything but confused. “There-“ a grunt as he set the bar down “is no girl, what are you on about.” Andrew said, going for his water bottle. “You never go this hard cuz, who’re you trying to impress!” Andrew Nicky a peeved look. “Why would I try to impress someone? I don’t want or need to.” Andrew said coldly.
“Josten! Keep at it!” Kevin quipped from across the room. Neil shot a look over to where Allison and Seth were feverishly making out on a bench as if to say really? You’re giving me shit? And to his satisfaction, Kevin’s attention moved to his other wayward team members.
By the time they were all done it was almost time for the seniors to leave. Aaron opted to go with Matt and Katelyn and Nicky stayed at the stadium for his classes later that day. It was just Neil and Andrew in the car as they made their way to school and the silence was very, very loud.
“You drive like a maniac.” Neil said after a couple minutes of tense silence.
“You could always walk.” Andrew shot back
“I could always run.” Neil corrected.
“I hate you.” Andrew replied, Neil just shot him a devious grin and the silence stretched between them again. This time it was Andrew who spoke first “You should see Nicky’s driving, or fuck, Aaron’s.” he said after a beat. Neil raised his brows “They’re worse than you?” he said, incredulous.
“I barely let Nicky drive this car, I’d never let Aaron touch the wheel.” Andrew said with an evil grin.
“Fuck alright then I should drive us everywhere, it’d be much safer.” Neil said, jokingly. The silence stretched long and tense and he mentally kicked himself for saying something so stupid. They’d bought this car with their mother’s life insurance.
“We’ll have to see.” Andrew finally said, sending a calculating glance Neil’s way. Andrew turns on the radio, purposefully filling the silence.