Damien threw his phone down next to him and went to answer his mother, taking the steps down to at a time.
"What is it?" he asked her.
"Get Lily ready for bed, please. She needs a bath too."
Damien sighed, but he scooped the giggling 4 year old into his arms and brought her upstairs.
(do we wanna timeskip?)
Jared sighed quietly, and pulled up a game on his phone, and began to play.
(Sure, let’s)
(To at school next morning)
(alright! Want me to do it, or do you want to?)
(S'ok I got it :)
Damien was leaning against his closed locker, full bag held in one hand while his free one drummed a frantic beat across the metal wall behind him. He totally wasn't waiting for anyone, totally wasn't searching the crowds for a face.
Last night's conversation played through his head like a slideshow, sending little bubbles of happiness up and down his body. This was an… unknown feeling. He didn't know what to make of it.
Jared arrived with plenty of time to spare, heading to his locker. He didn't really notice Damien watching him as he walked past, focused on getting to his locker and getting his books. He opened the locker, putting his jacket inside and depositing books and homework that he would need later, grabbing the textbook for his first class.
Damien tensed when Jared appeared and he hastily turned around, tugged his locker open and buried his head inside of it. He pulled out one book, watching Jared from the corner of his eye. He was going about his business, not having noticed Damien was watching him.
Jared hummed softly. Setting his backpack at his feet, he pulled out a book that he was reading in his free time, and opened it, then started to read, leaning against his locker. His brown hair hung into his face a little, the book cradled in his hands.
He was reading again. Damien watched as Jared fell against his locker, cradling his book like it was the most precious treasure to ever have graced the Earth. It was evident that the was immediately immersed, not even bothering to shrug the hair out of his face as it fell across.
He smiled softly, turning away to leave him alone. Lukas was waiting by the classroom with a gaggle if people. Damien smiled, waving at and greeting everyone.
“We’re all getting pizza tonight, come along?” He asked, and Damien nodded absently.
Jared hadn’t left His thoughts.
Jared continued reading until the five minute bell went off. He stuffed the book into his backpack, and headed to his next class, sitting down in an open seat. After setting his phone on vibrate so it wouldn't ding too loudly, he got out his book again and began to read without taking any notice of his surroundings. He tended to be a bit blind like that; when he had a new book he enjoyed, he tended to ignore everything and everyone else.
Just as Damien turned his back the conversation, Jared walked into the classroom, head down. He made for en empty seat near the window, and Damien quickly but casually calculated what seat would be close enough to talk, but not close enough to freak him out, and not close enough for Jared to immediately notice Damien but close enough for it to seem casual and normal if… when Damien said hello. Finally, Damien settled for a seat diagonally in front of Jared. The perfect in between.
Oblivious to Damien's agonizing over seat positioning, Jared continued to read his book as he waited for class to begin. He let out a sigh as he turned a page, resting his chin on his free hand. Once class started, he put the book away and turned his attention mostly to the teacher.