[center][b]A Collab between Apoalo and LostDestiny[/b][/center]

Marco nodded at Landon, forgetting he had his jacket caught in his locker. He went to follow the other boy but felt the tug reminding him of his own stupidity. [color=a2d39c]"Hold up. I forgot something in my locker."[/color] He said, unsure of what he was going to grab from it to make his cover up more legit. He opened up his locker, keeping his caught jacket hidden from Landon. When he got it open and his jacket was free he rummaged around in his already messy locker for a moment before sighing. He once again closed his locker, being sure nothing got caught this time. [color=a2d39c]"Probably put it in my bag already. Nevermind, my bad man." [/color]The ginger scratched the back of his neck nonchelonly and then motioned for Landon to lead the way. 

Landon was just thanking his well-wisher when Marco headed back his way from his locket. He shrugged at the red head's apology and shook his head. [color=#008000]"Not a problem man, I think I forget things all the time. One time during practice I forgot where I put my helmet, that I was wearing at the time mind you."[/color] He chuckled and led the way down the hall to the library, he knew the school like the back of his hand and it seemed like everywhere he went people would open the door, smile at him and give him high fives or talk about how awesome the team was going to be this year. Most of it Landon ignored but he always made it a point to thank each and every single person and try and encourage them in some way. It was like his father told him, [/i]'it doesn't matter how popular and skilled you become, the most important people are the ones that make it all possible.'[/i] He continued sneaking looks over at Marco but had to stop as they reached the library and waved at one of his teammates who was just leaving, the football jersey showing off just who he was. Landon preferred not to wear his during the school day, but techinically it was over so he could put it on now. Maybe in the library itself, he held the door for Marco and pointed to an empty table. [color=#008000]"Look good to you?"[/color]

Marco laughed when Landon told him about losing the helmet on his head. It made him feel a little better about his own goof. The ginger watched as everyone they passed wished Landon luck and other things. He was lying if he said he didn't enjoy when he got this much attention before any of his sporting activities, in fact he loved the attention. This was something he wouldn't admit out loud though, not wanting to seem big headed or anything else. He simply smiled and followed Landon to the library. He thanked Landon as he held the door open and entered the library, following his finger to the empty table. [color=a2d39c]"Where ever is fine, I'm not picky."[/color] Marco headed to the table and lazily threw his bag on the table as he took a seat. [color=a2d39c]"Oh, by the way. I didn't actually think I left anything in my locker. I got my jacket stuck in it. Didn't want to look like a total goof. But your helmet story made me feel better about it."[/color] He was slightly teasing Landon about forgetting his helmet on his head, though he knew if it wasn't attatched to himself he would likely lose his own head in a totally unorganized mess. [color=a2d39c]"Anyway, should we study or do you want me to enflame your ego before the game?"[/color] Again he was teasing and he made a stupid face to let Landon know this was the case. 

With a roll of his eyes Landon threw his own bag on the table and began taking out his notebook and English essay. It was a simple thing, just three pages on the book [i]'To Kill a Mockingbird.'[/i] To be honest Landon enjoyed the book quite immensely and was looking forward to when his honors class did a Mockingbird Tea Party where they got to dress up as a character. When he heard the locker story he grinned from ear to ear and imagined Marco stuck to a locker and trying to get free while the locker began eating his backpack. Now -that- would be a funny story to tell a teacher. The ego comment made Landon roll his eyes again and scoff loudly. [color=#008000]"It needs constant attention I'll have you know, otherwise It'll shrivel up and die! Do you really want that happen, eh?"[/color] He raised an eyebrow for dramatic effect and then busted out into a huge grin once again. Blast what is this kid doing to me, I'm like a smiling freakshow or something but damnit I can't stop, everytime I freaking look at him I just break out like little miss daisy from that older movie. He sighed inwardly and tried to look busy on his work even as his eyes shot up to take in Marco's sitting form more than Landon would have wanted.

Marco chuckled. [color=a2d39c] "An athlete's ego must always be stoked, that's the way it goes right?"[/color] He questioned with a raise of and eyebrow. He pulled out his math book and sighed at it.  [color=a2d39c]"Man I hate math, and math homework."[/color] He muttered sounding slightly annoyed. He wanted to get that out of the way first though. This way he didn't have to try to do it later on when he was tired. Though his motivation was at an all time low as he stared that the book. [color=a2d39c]"Like I really, really hate math."[/color] He muttered again as he pulled out his notebook, and turned the the page the assignment was on. Lucky for him it was rather simple stuff to get them back into the groove of things. Just some simple finding the area stuff. He glanced at Landon a couple times when he was sure the other male was focused on his own work. Landon's boyish looks, for whatever reason, seemed to draw Marco's attention. He knew he was into guys, it wasn't the first time he had been attracted to one, but it is the first time he actually considered acting upon his attraction in any way. He sighed again at his own distraction and crinkles his freckled nose, looking back at his work which only made him groan agian. [color=a2d39c] "Whelp, I have had enough of this."[/color] He said shutting the book, he had only managed to get 3 and a half problems done. Instead he reached for his own English notebook to finish his report on the book he had to read over the summer 'Lord of the Flies' a book he would probably never pick up again. 

[hider=Long Post PART 2]Glancing over from his first page of the report he chuckled a little bit as he watched Marco go on a trip of hatred on the Math work. Math and English were Landon's two best subjects, which was awkward since most people did well in either Math and Science or History and English. It was just another way for Landon to be an enigma. [color=#008000]"I'll help you with the Math if you want, I'm pretty good at it and I know all the short-cuts to make it eazy peezy."[/color] He chuckled and kicked himself mentally, the hell was eazy peezy? Hoping he didn't just sound like a completed loser Landon tried to see what book report Marco was working on but couldn't really tell from the simple written down notes. He wondered if Marco was in one of the Honors classes as well since it was mostly them that had the summer work to do before school started. [color=#008000]"You in an Honors English? Was only asking since you had to read during the summer. Honestly with all the Honors I'm taking this year I felt like I was in school all summer long instead of having a break. It was insane, and I'm really looking forward to my Senior year when I can just relax heh."[/color] He was trying hard not to blush, but when the red head crinkled his nose Landon felt like his heart exploded and a burst of joy and this giddy feeling spread all over. He felt his smile forming again and tried to beat it back, it was half successful changing his smile into more of a simple one while his eyes twinkled instead, and his cheeks dimpled. God how he hated those dimples, but he found himself thinking that if Marco liked them then he'd probably do a happy dance that he had them instead. 

Marco looked at Landon when he offered to help him with his math.  [color=a2d39c]"No, it is fine, I understand it well enough, I just can't stand math."[/color] He shrugged casually. He focused back on his paper as he answered Landon's question about him being in Honors classes.  [color=a2d39c]"Actually Maria and I took the sophmore english class over the summer at the community college. We are both in the Junior english glass, though it is pre-AP. English is my best subject, I could take these classes half asleep."[/color] He shrugged again.  [color=a2d39c]"I am also pretty bomb in science, you know, the none math part. The math drags me down a bit."[/color] He chuckled and looked back at Landon who he noticed was smiling, his dimples showing as they always did when he smiled. Though he did notice the other boy was attempting to force back the smile. He chuckled at that.  [color=a2d39c]"Why do you do that? Try to cover up or push back your smile." [/color] He asked, his head tilted to the left slightly as he spoke. 

Well there goes being nonchalant and keeping the fact he even -was- smiling at the red head secret. Wait, that meant that Marco was keeping an eye on him. His mind began whirling with the possibilities of this new information and as his mind worked overtime he just shrugged and looked a bit uncomfortable, his cheeks turning red. [color=#008000]"I er, well... I was trying to be a bit less conspicuous, since I er. Well I didn't want to make things awkward."[/color] Oh god, he just basically admitted to liking him, oh shit, now what. The possible answers to keep things from coming out started hitting his brain then and he wanted to take a baseball bat to whatever part of his brain failed him. He realized he was holding his breath a little, and his cheeks were now a more fiery red and he looked down and away. Well his life was over now, stupid, stupid, stupid.

A slightly confused look went across Marco's freckled face. [color=a2d39c]"Why would it be awkward?"[/color] He asked, completly oblivious to Landon's feelings. The other male's red face was enough to give it away but Marco wasn't the smartest in this feild. He was slightly more experienced when it came to telling how girls felt for him but that was simply because almost every girl had at least a tiny crush on him. Marco blinked at Landon a couple times in the silence before the realization actually smacked him in the face. His eyes got wide for a second before he could attempt to form words. [color=a2d39c]"OOOOOOOOH. I get it, you...okay...yea."[/color] He chuckled as he continued to struggle with his words, his face turning red in the process. After a minute or two of stumbling over his words he ended up slamming his head on the table, hard enough to make a decent volume thump. [color=a2d39c]"I suck at this."[/color] He muttered to the table, he took a breath before liting his head and taking a breath. [color=a2d39c]"Youlikemedon'tyou."[/color] He got out in a really quick, awkward sentence. His face was still more red then his hair. 

Landon hesitated as Marco started, he had thought it was rather obvious but perhaps there was hope to salvage this and make it like it had never happened! He was still super red and he was quite glad there was no one really in the Library, most of the students heading out to get ready to spend the night out. He concentrated solely on Marco and was quite startled when the red head slammed his head into the table and winced, concerned and a bit alarmed as a part of him wanted to rub it to stop any pain Marco was feeling. Jesus, his entire brain just needed to shut down and reboot... He then watched as Marco's eyes widened and he knew that the jig was up. When Marco turned as red if not redder than his hair Landon could only think of how cute he was like that and he wanted to find ways to make it happen more often but the part of his brain that he actually -liked- at this moment was actually listening to Marco talk and as such blurted out in a single loud word. [color=#008000]"YES!"[/color] He gasped and slammed his own head into the table and started shaking it back and forth. God he needed a long rest before the game or he was going to start throwing the ball to the other bloody team. He slowly looked up from his headbutt position and sighed, his face crinkling up a bit. [color=#008000]"I like you a lot actually..."[/color]

Marco jumped a little when Landon loudly blurted out his reply and a part of him wanted to cover the dimpled boy's mouth as to not draw attention. However he refrained from doing this and instead listened to the rest of what Landon said. [I]He likes me a lot? How do I reply? I like you too? I think you are cute? Oh good I thought I was the only gay one? Oh goodness Marco, why did you actually have to figure it out this time. You were not prepared for this.[/I] He looked to his other side, almost expecting Maria to be there to tell him what to do or urge him on but alas, she wasn't and he was completly lost. [color=a2d39c]"I...um...ha...um, I, yea...okay."[/color] He found himself stumbling over his words once more. Marco was normally so confident and outspoken that he was in shock that he had no clue what to do. Face still red he looked back down at his paper, as if that would give him the answer he was looking for. He didn't want to sound any more stupid than he already did. It was true he did have at least a minor crush on Landon but he had to clue how to voice it. For whatever reason he coudn't just come right out and say it. After several long, drawn out moments Marco found the words that he thought sounded the best together. [color=a2d39c]"I have a crush on you too."[/color] He managed to get it out very slowly, as if speaking were something he was getting used to all over again. As soon as the words came out of his mouth they were out there, he couldn't take them back, neither of them could. Marco looked at Landon's face with an unreadbale expression. It was a mixture between suprise, joy, relief, and, for some reason, fear. He hoped that Landon wasn't just messing with him, though Landon's reaction to it all would say otherwise. He was just as embarrassed as Marco was. Not to mention this was the first time he had stated outloud that he was even a little gay to anybody but his sister, which was a huge step for him. This was probably where the fear came from as he wai
ted for what Landon would say next. 

The more Marco rambled the more Landon felt his stomach tearing itself up, and he slammed his head down into the table again. He coul feel the budding friendship destroying itself all because he couldn't keep control of his emotions and just enjoy being friends with the amazing boy sitting across from him. He slowly looked up just like before and saw how red Marco was and Landon felt like he was trying to decide how to say 'hell no' without crushing Landon's heart. At this point the french boy just wanted Marco to get it over with and when Marco opened his mouth to speak Landon felt himself wincing only to suddenly be blown totally away, and he felt his mouth drop and his eyes grow wide. Marco had a crush on -him-? Landon was not used to that, sure girls had called him adorable before but really Landon felt that was more of a detrement since what teenage boy wanted to be called adorable. He searched the red heads eyes, looking deep and he saw so many emotions inside them. Not that Landon was an expert in reading people but he could for sure detect a hesitancy but at the same time a certain amount of happiness which Landon put down to coming out and saying that he liked a boy. It certainly took Landon a long time to figure himself out and accept that he wasn't ever going to like a girl. Still not knowing what to do but making the awkward moment stretch out more and more Landon took a breath and nodded quickly and firmly. [color=#008000]"Well, alright then. Now that that's all out in the open, do you want to go catch a movie tonight after the game? I heard theres a huge party but I'm not all that big on parties, I prefer to go destress and stuff and well, going to a movie with you would probably be the absolute best thing I could think about."[/color] He grinned stupidly again, his face still red and his body shifted a little in his chair, god this amazing and gorgeous creature actually -liked- him, not only that but had a crush on him! It was probably the best moment in Land
on's life and his heart felt like it was exploding. 

The silence nearly choked Marco. He hadn't realized that he had been holding his breath until Landon finally spoke, at which point the breath was released in an awkward chuckle. [color=a2d39c]"Ha, yea, guess it is out there now."[/color] He muttered looking down at the table. His usual confident demenor had deteriorated slightly in the moment and he was struggling to get it back. Landon suggesting the movies seemed like a nice thing, maybe he could find time to wrap his head around exactly what just happened. He nodded, his voice taking a moment to form words. [color=a2d39c]"Yea, sounds good, I am not to into parties either. Though I have never actually gone to one..."[/color] He felt weird for admitting that for some reason. As much of an athlete as he was one would thing he would have made it to at least one party, but he never had, he had always spent his time with Maria, who, as social as she is, was never in the mood to deal with a bunch of more then likely drunk teens. [color=a2d39c]"Yea, a movie sounds great."[/color] He said again, managing to look up at Landon once more. His face was still slightly pink, but it was nothing compared to the red it had been not to long ago. 

Landon smiled at Marco reassuringly, knowing that this was really rough for both of them, Marco especially since Landon had a feeling the red head wasn't used to revealing his feelings, at least not the ones having to do with other boys. He wanted to reach out and squeeze Marco's hand but honestly the idea of touching the other boy was terrifying since he day dreamed and night dreamed about it all the time. Ever since seventh grade, and now it seemed like things were moving in that direction. This would be Landon's first real relationship if it worked out since all of his 'dates' he had gone on were with girls mainly for image sake and he never cared much about the girls, though he acted the part and was a gentleman. He listened to Marco accept to go to the movies twice and smiled at how nervous the usually structured and in control red head was. It made him cuter to Landon and he found himself already wishing the football game was done so they could spend time together. He wondered if this was technically their first date and his grin grew even wider at that though, and this time he didn't try to hold it back. His face was slowly returning to normal though a bit of pink still remained but with his paler skin tone it was a constant that he dealt with all the time. [color=#008000]"Alright, after the game I'll ask my dad to take us, if that's ok. My brothers might want to tag along since they're spoiled rotten."[/color] He was more than scared his brothers would embarrass him, Corbin particularly since they both knew Landon was gay and having another boy in the car that was going to a movie with their brother could only mean one thing to them. He groaned mentally at the thought and would have to find a way to blackmail them. He then looked down at the time and his eyes boggled out, [color=#008000]"crap! I gotta run, or I'm going to be late, I'll look for you at the game in the stands and then afterwards! CYA!"[/color] He put his stuff in his bag and then took off out of the Library towards the Stadium field.[/hider]