"Jamie Clairfield, I do not believe this to be your class.", the teacher's stern voice spoke, his eyes drawn to the blond-haired boy who was crouching next to one of the desks. "Can't I spend some time in my favorite homeroom teacher's math class? We all know Mrs. Knocks' English lessons are boring.", the boy said back, earning a few chuckles from the younger students; especially the girls. "As flattered as I am about you calling me your favorite homeroom teacher - I am also your only homeroom teacher and you do not belong in my first-year math class, where I cover stuff you should have learned two years ago.", the teacher answered, not budging. "Oh, come on Mr. Adams! Don't you enjoy my presence?", the boy tried to argue, before adding, a sheepish smile on his lips: "Besides, I think we both know that I got no idea what you are teaching here because I did not learn this two years ago, or at least I don't remember it...", which made the younger kids snicker and laugh. "Go back to your class, unless you want to get detention again. I will not repeat myself.", the teacher said. The class went silent. Everyone knew this was not an empty threat. "You hurt me, Mr. Adams.", the boy said, pretending to be shocked, "But since you insist... do I get a slip so Mrs. Knocks won't be mad at me?", he then added, pushing his luck and earning a few more giggles. "No.", came the answer. The boy then shrugged and muttered: "Well, at least I tried." A short, soft laugh came from the table next to the boy, who turned his head around when he heard it; so he could look at the younger boy next to him. Their eyes met as the younger boy muttered a soft "Idiot." to the older one. The hand that was covering his mouth did nothing to hide the smile evident in the younger kid's gleaming green eyes. Which he rolled then. "Go, before he actually sends you.", he whispered to his friend, trying to make it short. The older one sighed, then nodded and got up. As he walked to the door, the teacher picked up the lesson again. Before the boy left he looked back at his black-haired friend, his eyes lingering for a second. Then he went back to his classroom.

After school and after both boys said bye to their shared friend group, they took their bikes. "Race you home?", the older one asked. "Sure, but I get a head start.", the younger one answered with a smile. The older boy laughed shortly, then said: "Not that you actually need it, but fine.", while grinning at his younger friend, shrugging his shoulders. The younger boy was on his bike in seconds, shouting: "The loser has to make dinner.", the older one rolled his eyes, and followed the younger one soon after. A few minutes later they arrived at their destination - pretty much at the same time. "That wasn't much of a head start.", the younger one complained, panting. "I gave you, like, twenty seconds.", the older answered with a smile, also panting. "I'm not the one who plays soccer.", the younger one shot back, the smile on his face not ceasing. "Well, you're still fit.", the older one said back, a bit more quietly. "So... let's make dinner together?", the younger boy asked. "Or", the older started, "We could order take out. My treat.", he said, which made the younger one smile up at him brightly.

After they brought their bikes to the garage, they headed inside. "We're home!", the older boy called out. "Hello, boys.", a middle-aged woman greeted them. "Hey, mom.", Jamie said as he walked up to her and pressed a short kiss onto her cheek. The younger boy followed suit, doing the same, but choosing the other cheek. "You're going out?", the older boy asked his mother after seeing her formal attire. "Yes, we've got this church gathering today. Your mother will be there too, won't she?", she said, directing her question at the younger boy. "Yes, I think so.", the black-haired kid answered. The woman nodded at that. "Good, I really like having Monika around for those - she's attentive and knows how to handle those lazy youngsters. I really don't know what's wrong with the younger wives.", Mrs. Clairfield states, making the boys chuckle. "I'm pretty sure that's what granny said about your generation, too.", the older teenager said with a smile on his lips, making his mother huff. "Just go to your room and do whatever you teenagers do nowadays.", she answered dismissively. The boys did not hesitate before shooting up the stairs. "And ask your sister if she wants to have dinner with you!", the mother shouted after them, getting an "Okay, mom.", in response.

As soon as they entered the older boy's room, they chucked their bags into the corner next to the desk and both jumped onto the double bed with the younger boy crossing his legs and one of the older boy's legs dangling off of the bed. "Thank god it's the weekend and I don't have to do homework now.", the older teenager said then, stretching his arms out, before letting himself fall onto the bed, sighing. "True.", the younger one said with a smile. He stretched before putting his arms behind himself so he could lean back. Jamie looked at him shortly and avoided his gaze when he caught himself looking at the boy's skin above his jeans while it was exposed a little during his stretching. They sat like that for a while, comfortable silence surrounding them. It's because of that, that they were easily able to hear the front door close. "So... what do we want for takeout later, so we can ask the demon to join?", the older boy said after a while, breaking the silence. "Hmm. Maybe Chinese? But we'll probably have to heat that up...", the younger boy answered, referring to the fact that they did not have Chinese food in their small town and would have to order from the next town over. "Or we could just get Pizza.", he added with a shrug. The older one seemed to ponder on that for a second, before saying: "Pizza it is.", while nodding his head.

"Hey, slut.", the older one shouted as he barged into his older sister's room without knocking. "Barge into my room like that one more time and I swear I'm going to yeet you out the fucking window and throw a chainsaw after you, asshat.", the older girl replied. She had her blonde hair, which was a few shades lighter than her brother's, in a messy bun and one of her feet up on her desk while painting her toenails a dark pink. After rolling his eyes at their interaction, the younger boy greeted her with a simple: "Hey, Trisha.", making her smile at him shortly. "Hey, Yu.", she said back. Then, turning to her brother, she added: "See, he totally knows how to play the cute younger brother role. You should learn from him.", which he answered with: "I don't think that's necessary when we're barely a year apart.", making her scoff. "I'm still older than you and you are just annoying. Why can't Yujah be my brother? I'm sure Jax wouldn't mind switching." Despite her words, there was some light sarcasm in her voice. "Anyways, what do you two idiots want?" Her brother shrugged. "Just wanted to ask if you want to get takeout with us. We're getting Pizza later." Patrisha responded without looking at them, as she went back to painting her nails. "Nope, sorry boys. Going out with some friends later... which I'm currently getting ready for, so get out." When they didn't move, she looked at them and said: "Are you deaf?", making the two friends look at each other and shrug their shoulders before leaving the room... but not before the older one made another jab at his sister for being moody and asking if she was on her period, which she simply replied to with: "Get the fuck out."

Since the older boy's sister kicked them out of her room, the two boys returned to the older ones, both of them laying down on the double bed. This time facing each other. "You think she's actually going out with friends or going on a date with some guy?", the younger boy asked. The other shrugged. "We'll see it when we see the way she's dressing up. Pretty sure there isn't a party today, though. Unless it's some high school only thing?", his eyebrow quirking up at the question. "Nah, Jax didn't say anything, so probably not. He's watching Jonah today, remember? He wouldn't do that if there was a party waiting for him." They got their answer about an hour later, when the sound of high heels hitting the floor made them stop playing the video game, they were trying to beat each other at for a while. They paused the game, making their way to the door just in time to see the older girl descend the stairs. After seeing the tight dress which was hugging her figure and the amount of make-up on her face, they both shouted: "Have fun on your date!", with smiles plastered on their faces. She turns slightly to show them her middle finger, before yelling: "Don't tell mom and dad, or you're dead!", making the boys laugh.

After they heard the front door shut, they decided to shut off the game and go back to their positions on the bed, making guesses at who the girl might possibly be going on a date with, which just ended with them laughing their asses off at the image of her together with the least likely candidates. A while later, the older boy's phone buzzed with a text message. The name 'Luke' is spelled out as its sender. "Who is it?", the younger boy questioned, making the older boy turn around his phone so the other could look at it. 'You guys still coming to practice?', the message read. "So?", the older one asked. His friend didn't even have to answer that verbally, as the smile on his face said everything. "You know the answer.", he answered anyway. The older teenager answered the text with a 'Hell yeah, not missing out on that', before throwing his phone next to him. "Wanna 'warm up' before practice?", he then asked his younger companion. "Sure. Can I play?", Yujah answered while his friend was grabbing his guitar which was leaning against his bedside table. "Only if you sing, too.", the boy said as he gave his guitar to his friend, a smile on his face. "Any wishes?", the younger asked. "Casual love.", the other answered without hesitation. "You really love that song, don't you?", and without waiting for a response, the younger teenager started to play and sing, a smile on his lips, his voice soft and soothing. The other was looking at him, taking in his every being, a bright smile on his lips. Both of their smiles were content, happy. Back then, everything seemed perfect in their little bubble. Back then.