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[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

He's not new, not exactly. Caleb's been here maybe a month or two longer than him, but he's the latest new kid to come to the city, so he's still The New Kid. His emotions are always a swirl of hope/boredom/excitement, tinged slightly with a bitter edge, like he's constantly got a bad taste in his mouth, or something. There's more to it, but Caleb can't pinpoint it. He's furtive, distrustful, but it's not an active thing. It's always under the surface, this dark plum purple that's not fear but not suspicion, either.

Wariness, he thinks.

His name is Michael Guerin, and Caleb hates the days he's not in class. His feelings are always so easy to latch onto, because he never has to try. He doesn't stress out. Class is easy for him, but he's going to fail out if he doesn't start participating, which is why Dufresne had suggested him when she'd told Caleb he should look into tutoring.

It's not like Caleb is dumb. He's usually a pretty good student. But he's under eighteen, so he still lives at the Children's Home. He's surrounded by pubescent kids, some of whom don't know how to control their urges, some of whom never fucking sleep, which means Caleb gets, maybe, two hours a night. He goes to school exhausted, has no focus, and has stopped being able to balance the most basic emotions. So his grades are slipping. If they keep slipping, he's going to be kicked off the team, which he really, really doesn't want, so he finds himself outside the auto shop some of the music kids said Michael works at part time, staring at the door like it might swallow him.

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[littleorphanalien]

Michael never pays attention in class.

He skips them to work at the shop for money, but also because it's boring. They tell him that they can advance him to the university (Barton? Or something?), but Michael keeps waiting, holding out hope that Alex might turn up, and he wants to be in high school for that. It's been months since that decision and it's pretty clear that Alex isn't coming, but he's made his bed now.

Besides, there are other interesting people here, like Caleb, who seems like he's from somewhere other than Darrow.

He'd moved out of the group home pretty early on. He remembers homes from back in Roswell and the other cities and knows that he'd rather be homeless, which is why he's been working as much as he can to keep the truck in good shape, to buy a guitar, but then the idea of tutoring for money comes up and he leaps on that, too.

What he's not expecting is any visitors at the shop today, so he doesn't have his books, working on the electrical system of an old truck, greasy and hair a mess as he does.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Finally working up the courage to enter, Caleb looks around. The shop is a mess of feelings — frustration, focus, annoyance, exhaustion, loneliness — but he picks out the familiar swirl from across the shop. He tries not to think Michael's cute when he sees him looking all grease monkey and tousle-haired.

He swallows and makes his way over.

"Um, hey," he greets. He knows he stands out with his green-and-gray letterman jacket, hand tangled in the strap of his backpack, like a lifeline.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael glances up from where he's on the roller, wheeling out and sitting up, running a hand through his hair. His eyes slide over Caleb, pausing at the football jacket while his lips twist up with unhappy memories, before moving on.

He's not like Valenti and his douchebros, but Michael still remembers way too much bullying. "I don't do bikes," he quips. "Or scooters or whatever else you rode here on. Cars only," he says, grabbing a rag and pushing to his feet to wipe his hands down, adjusting the zip of his coveralls as he moves.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb rolls his eyes, but he's blushing when he offers a sarcastic "Ha, ha." He adjusts his bag on his shoulder and shuffles back a half-step. He stands over Michael by a good three or four inches, and outweighs him besides, and he doesn't want to be too intimidating. Okay, he never wants that, but especially now, when he's trying to ask for the guy's help.

"No, um. Dufresne says I need to find a tutor, or I'll get kicked off the team, and the music kids said you charge pretty decent rates?"

[littleorphanalien]

"Shit, that's what you're here for?"

Michael's pretty pleased that he's made a name for himself, seeing as his first few clients didn't think he was worth it, what with the fact that Michael had a tendency to skip more classes than be present at. Technically, he could arrange to test out, but he's liking the money, so he might need to show up some more.

Besides, he's noticed Caleb. He's cute and he's got that kind of awkward thing going for him, which Michael doesn't know what to do with. He'd barely figured out his feelings for Alex were a massive crush, now he's here.

"What subjects you looking for? I do 'em all."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"You're, like, a genius, right?" Caleb asks. "I mean, it's that or you're really good at hustling, because you're never in class, but you ace all your tests."

It doesn't answer Michael's question, at all, but he can get to that in a minute. Right now, Michael's a little smug, but it's not the Styrofoam feeling he got used to feeling from Henry, back home. It's the kind of smug that's actually earned — close enough to pride that Caleb almost can't tell the difference. Almost.

[littleorphanalien]

"I mean, that, or maybe I'm just stealing all the exam answers," he deadpans, because he's so used to people treating him like a shitty criminal that it's just easier to joke about it than to do anything else. That's not going to get him any new clients, though, so maybe he needs to back off.

"I'm not stupid," is all he says. "And I'm taking on new clients, if that's what you're after."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Well, like," he says eloquently, "what d'you charge? 'Cause I don't have a job. Between school and football and homework, I don't really have time, so I just have the shitty allowance that the city gives me, and the Home only lets me access like, twenty bucks a week, so."

He tries not to wince as he basically admits that he's an orphan here, but there are rumors going around that Michael's homeless, so maybe he won't judge. It doesn't feel like he does, anyway.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael lets his gaze slide over Caleb. The truth is, it's not about the money always. When it's the rich kids at school, then yeah, he'll charge whatever, but Caleb seems like he's in a shitty spot. "Burger," he says. "Or pizza," he adds, because being homeless means he's independent, but often super hungry.

"How about when I tutor you, you get my lunch and we'll call it even, even if you're just bringing in leftovers," he says, extending his hand to make the deal.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb looks at his hand, hesitating for just a few heartbeats as he feels out Michael's emotions. He doesn't feel any pity, which is good. He also doesn't feel any deception, so he reaches and grips his hand.

Michael's skin feels impossibly warm, but not in an awkward, clammy way. It's like Caleb's been out in the cold and never even realized it, not until Michael's hand grips his like this. He has the sudden, irrational urge to pull him close and just snuggle him and feel that warmth, but he tamps it down and clears his throat.

"Um, so," he says, pulling his hand away when he realizes he's... probably been holding it for way too long. "When d'you want to start? It's, it's mostly math and science? I'm doing okay in English and History."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael tugs him in a little on that handshake, but lets him go.

Ever since he got here, he's been waiting for Alex or someone else, but he's not blind and he's able to see how eager and earnest and good Caleb is. Even if he's a football player, he's not like Valenti's crew. It goes a long way.

"Perfect, my specialities," he says cheerfully, because when he's building a spaceship, he can handle high school math. There's something weird in his head, like this frisson he gets with Max and Iz, but they're not around. It's something to think about, though. "My shift here ends in thirty. We can start today, if you're really desperate."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Man, I am counting on football to get me into Barton," he admits. "My grades alone are not gonna cut it. If we could start tonight, that'd be awesome?" He tries not to do puppy eyes, because Michael had basically offered, but he doesn't always have control over them.

[littleorphanalien]

"Sure," Michael says, and is grateful when his stomach doesn't instantly growl and give away how fucking starving he is, because he hasn't had anything to eat. The donuts the guys brought in were gone when he got here, so he's been living on coffee with a lot of sugar and cream for calories.

"Let me change and grab my stuff," he says. "My truck's here, if you wanna drive somewhere?" he offers, looking up at Caleb, rocking a little on his toes, like he's trying to see how much closer that gets him.

Party Time

[littleorphanalien]

Sure, he's at the party, but it's not like he's the popular guy or the one people want to hang out with. He chugged a bunch of acetone before he came to sort of get mentally calm, making an appearance mainly because he's bored, he's not working, and it's better than sitting in the back of his truck reading textbooks. Here, it's warm and there's food.

He's been hovering around the snack table when he hears a cheer go up nearby, his name being shouted for, and then talk about Spin the Bottle.

Apparently, he's still got that reputation from the couple of people he'd made out with, a few times by the bleachers, in an attempt to try and recapture some of that old magic, but he'd come out of those feeling pretty empty. He settles into the circle, shrugging because, why not? What's the worst that could happen?

And then, he looks across the circle and smirks. "Caleb," he greets, raising his brows with a waggle.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Oh, shit," Caleb says, grinning. "Michael, hey!" He should've recognized the soft, warm amber feelings coming from the next room, but everything is swirly and happy, and fuck, did Michael get prettier?

He takes a swig of his flask, trying to calm down a little. It doesn't work — everyone's too close, too happy and drunk. But it's nice. Caleb's been sleeping better, and everything seems a lot nicer as a result.

"Let's gooooo!" someone yells, and spins the bottle in the middle of the circle. It feels silly, childish, and perfect, and Caleb can't help the little giggles that slip out when people catcall and wolf whistle at the people who end up kissing.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael smirks when he sees Caleb, his cheeks flush from the little bit of booze he'd had earlier, and he notices that he's definitely hit the bottle a little more than Michael had, but it's also kind of adorable.

He laughs as they get into the game, waiting for Caleb's turn, biting his lip as he watches him. He's got plans, he does, and he needs to wait for that bottle to spin, his eyes fixed on the bottle as it keeps going around the circle.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb watches it spin, too, feeling dizzy and giddy. He laughs when it's his turn, drinks from his flask, and twirls the bottle. It spins around, round and round, swirly and dizzy like Caleb is, and he giggles as he feels everyone's excitement and anticipation.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's still attentive enough that he's able to focus on the game, his powers carefully attuned, but he waits. He waits, and then, when the bottle starts to slow, he makes sure that it keeps going until it can wobble, and then finally come to a true stop when it's pointed directly at him.

Then, he acts suddenly shocked.

"Wow, would you look at that," he marvels.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Oh my god," Caleb says. He shakes his head, hand up for a moment as if to wave away smoke. "Fuck, what are the odds?" he asks — almost crows, because he's getting drunker by the second, because everyone else is getting drunker by the second.

But one thing he isn't? Turned off from the idea. He leans forward, a bit wobbly, and balances on one hand as he reaches for Michael with the other.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's grin is smug and endlessly self-serving, because the odds were perfect, when you have powers and you use them for your own purposes. He crooks his fingers to coax Caleb in, having been wondering what it'd be like to kiss him ever since they started study sessions.

And now, this is the perfect opportunity.

He sways onto his knees and cups Caleb's cheeks as he presses forward for that kiss, ignoring the hollers from around them, loving the way he can melt into Caleb's touch the way he does.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Michael's mouth is hotter than his neck had been, that first night Caleb had buried his face in it and slept better than he had since coming to this messed up city. And he tastes good, sharp and musky and like he knows what he's doing. Caleb licks into his mouth, and he's pretty sure he moans, but he can't tell under the whoops rising up around them. Fuck, he tastes good. He feels good.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael grabs for Caleb's neck, palming it so he can't slide away until he's thoroughly done kissing him, and he yanks at him, trying to keep him close, parting his lips to deepen it at that moan, knowing that there's no way he can possibly hold back.

Not now, not like this.

Fuck, it's as good as he'd expected, even if he's a little surprised that Caleb doesn't taste like booze, given how tipsy he's been acting all night.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

He doesn't want to stop kissing him. He's wanted to do this since barely a week into their tutoring, and now that they've done it, he doesn't want to ever stop.

But he had to, because someone's hands are pushing at his shoulder.

"Yo, guys, get a room if you're gonna make out!" someone says.

"Um, no?" someone else says, "I want to watch!"

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's all flustered by the time he eases back, his curls a complete mess, and his cheeks flushed. He rubs a hand over the back of his head, filled with nerves now that he's remembered they have an audience. "I'm kind of thirsty," he admits, because he could use some water after that.

"Do you, uh, do you want to get something?" he asks, eyes brimming with hope as he stares at Caleb.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb nods, eyes trained on Michael's. He's drawn into that sharp, beautiful hope, and it pushes away the rest of the emotions for a moment. Caleb manages to get to his feet, grabbing his flask on the way, and he steps over the circle until he's beside Michael, helping him stand.

"I'm, I'm really thirsty," he agrees, sort of belatedly by this point.