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[color=gray][sub]During a passing period, midday
Collab with [@Universorum]
[color=6174ff][b]Joy[/b][/color] & [color=309b75][b]Damian[/b][/color][/sub][/color][/center]
[indent]The library. One of the safest places on campus, but along with safety, there were secrets. Lots and lots of secrets. It was like a double edged sword, because even if it brought a [i]Darling[/i] sanctuary, it was also a place where scandalous and dangerous things happened. And yet, Joy didn’t care about any of that. Even if there were days she did get in on the ‘scoop’ or spot something she probably shouldn’t have seen, she wasn’t one to brag about someone else’s business. At the moment, she was preoccupied putting away books and listening to Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars, which her uncle played all the time, for as long as she could remember. With all the school drama happening, it was nice to get away from all that and more. 

Be in her own world. 

Before the morning show, she wanted to talk to Damian about what happened the night of the party since she couldn’t remember a thing, like was she even still a virgin? The morning after consisted of her rushing home, not really seeking answers until today. [i]Classic Joy[/i]. However, once the morning show happened, Joy was genuinely worried about her friend. Finding answers could wait. Unfortunately catching him free wasn’t an easy task, she spent most of the morning trying to find an opportunity to talk to him and never finding an opening. Everyone felt superbad for him and weren’t afraid to show it. By now, maybe he thought people were pitying him too much? She didn’t know. 

Regardless, here she was, going through row after row of neatly lined up books, rolling down the aisles with no care but herself. Just her, her cart of books, and music. Joy was dancing, twirling, and putting the books away based on the colour coded dots on the spine, the alphabet letter they started with, and obviously, the genre. This song was her jam. 

Almost turning into the fantasy aisle, Joy subconsciously and nervously stopped when she saw Damian holding [i]The Hobbit[/i] and trying to put away the book himself. Rather than the logical thing and go down the aisle to say hi, she left her cart at the end of the aisle and scurried down the neighboring one, to the left.

What was she doing? Wasn’t this her chance to talk to him? Why did she stop working...? 

Just like the room in its entirety, the bookcase was basic, worn down, but still held history, integrity, and comfort. Besides the super computers, the library was one of the more ancient rooms for the sake of ‘design’, with scratches still on the wood and the architecture screaming early ‘2000s’.  As quiet as a mouse, she went to the spot she assumed Damian was and pulled a book off the shelf so she can see him (or well his back). Could she get an idea of how he was feeling from a distance? Why was she nervous? Using the opening in the bookshelf like a peephole, she watched the ex-captain of the football team in silence, all the while her phone was still playing Jericho’s Favorites in her ears. The song playing now? Immortals by Fall Out Boy.  

Damian was currently experiencing the worst day of his life. He wasn’t sure that he could sink any lower than this? There would be nothing good to happen to him, his life was all downhill from here. All he had left was muscular arms and a charming smile and money from his parents and a dog. They’d taken football from him, and they’d sent him to detention and they’d punished him by forcing him to join the dance committee.

His life was over. It wouldn’t get better than this! It surely couldn’t. All this for a party, where he didn’t even get laid! Sure, he’d gotten touched [i]a little[/i] bit, but Joy had ACTUALLY THROWN UP ON HIM before he’d even gotten his hand all the way up her shirt. Then, the party didn’t even work, and the Weekend Warrior happened…

If Damian ever found out who was in charge of that, he’d slap them around. They were stupid, far too stupid to be in charge of something that so many people read. Did they even pay attention to reality? Their enemy was the SAME PERSON. This entire social ladder thing was bullshit. Damian was at the top of it, for some reason, and he’d planned to use that to his advantage TO GET RID OF IT, but noooo. They went and ruined that too.

Then, [i]on top of that[/i] his fucking mother showed up and got on the morning show and SCREECHED to everyone about the end of his life. And today? Today he got his book report back, which he’d done on the Hobbit. And you know what? He got a fucking C+. A C+. Seriously? Now his grade would be dragged down to at least a fucking B+, instead of an A, so he was going to have to desperately try and fix [i]that[/i] before the year ended or he was FUCKED.

Why did he even try? Honestly. Maybe death was the best option after all… He had to call Ender. Ender would know what to say, probably. So would Dad, but his mom was right! Dad was gonna beat his fucking ass. Damian went to shove the Hobbit on the shelf, and when he did so… he slammed too hard.

Sometimes, Damian forgot his own strength. With the slam of the hardcover book on the cheap, wooden shelf, Damian shattered it. [color=309b75][b]“Mother[i]fucker[/i].”[/b][/color] He hissed, as the books fell to the ground in front of him.

Oh! This was her chance. She wanted to let out a eep when he almost knocked over an entire bookcase, but luckily it was just the books that fell and a shelf that would require a repair job. An entire bookcase tumbling would cause other bookcases to tumble and that would be a bitch to explain to Ms. Perrywinkle. Like a ninja, making sure no other person, particularly of the female race, made their way to help Damian, Joy tiptoed to the other side and found herself on her knees helping him pick up the books, [color=6175ff][b]“I can take care of this.”[/b][/color] She slid a book toward her pile.

[color=309b75][b]“No, it’s fine, I got it.”[/b][/color] Damian hissed rather harshly, not entirely seeing who it was. He stacked up a few of the books before he looked up and his face softened slightly, and he let out a sigh. [color=309b75][b]“Oh, sorry, Joy. I didn’t realize I did that. I broke the shelf,”[/b][/color] he said in a positively miserable tone, looking down at the stack of books and putting them aside. Then, Damian just sat down and put his head in his hands. This was it.

Any other girl would’ve probably felt the sting in his tone, but Joy wasn’t like most girls. [color=6175ff][b]“I know someone who can fix it. It’ll be like this never happened.”[/b][/color] Sitting on her knees, she carefully watched him. He who was dominated by defeat and sadness, very unlike the Damian she knew. What Melody did this morning was a bit uncalled for, but it was Mel… she was one of the most dramatic people Joy has ever been blessed to know. With intention (and slight anxiousness), Joy crawled her way beside him, sat upright, and leaned her head on him, knowing very well of his quirk. He was having a moment, and she didn’t necessarily think it was a bad thing. People were allowed to get sad. Even strong boys like Damian. [color=6175ff][b]“Want to talk about it? I understand if you don’t. I’m sure a lot of people have been asking if you’re okay.”[/b][/color] When obviously, he was not. 

As she leaned against him, Damian froze up and resisted the urge to move away from her, slowly looking up at her. [color=309b75][b]“Hey, uh, Joy. I… I really don’t like being, uh, touched, really.”[/b][/color] He explained in a shockingly awkward voice, his eyes shifting around a little bit. He wasn’t used to having to explain this, but here he was. Explaining it. It was one thing to be touched like, sexually. It was another thing to be used as an unwilling pillow.

Lifting her head off him, she glanced up at him and gave him a tender simper, [color=6175ff][b]“I know. I remember.”[/b][/color] Even after all these years, there were some things that didn’t change, but she got what she wanted with making him uncomfortable. Pushing herself up, leaning her head closer to his, she put his head in her small hands. her dark gaze locking with his light. Perhaps the party ignited something new in Joy, she didn’t know, but she knew what could make him feel better. Friends or more? They’d discuss that later. Her lips brushed against his - roughly, urgently. There was no need to push away, and for once, Joy was one of those individuals creating stories in the library. If there was something Mitty told her, lust and desire could make anyone forget their problems - at least for the moment.  

Well, it seemed like it was working! After all, she got off of him… and then she put her hands on his face, and Damian was getting ready to protest while she stared at him. But, he didn’t have a chance to before she stopped him by pushing their lips together, which took away his ability to speak. That was not what he expected, like at all. Damian, for once in his life, was taken off guard. He shifted a little bit, wondering if he should break it, but instead he slid his arms around her, and melted into it. Yeah, Kylie was right. It worked.

Locked in the present. Whatever he was worried about, whatever she was concerned about, evaporated. They had time to kill. It wasn’t like many people ran to the library during the ten minutes given to get from one class to another. She savoured his lips and her breathing quickened, matching his. A kiss like this was like a promise. 

A promise of much, much more to come.

Was Joy aware of what her future had in store for her? Absolutely not. His warmth that radiated from his body simply brought her closer in - was it odd that this felt natural to her? This thing called [i]kissing[/i]. And she kind of… liked it. A lot. Closing her eyes, seeing only darkness but letting him take the lead, Joy hadn’t realized that she was [i]practically[/i] on top of him.  

While her eyes were glued shut, Damian’s were wide open… and he [i]may[/i] have been the reason she was now ontop of him. Unfortunately, there wasn’t [i]really[/i] ten minutes left. Damian had taken his sweet fucking time getting here, and that meant that something was due to end their fun… and it did.

[i]Ringgggg![/i]

The bell rang and Damian broke away, wiping his lips and staring at her for a few seconds, catching his breath. Then, he spoke lightly, [color=309b75][b]“...being touched like that is okay.”[/b][/color]

[color=6175ff][b]“I like it.”[/b][/color] Joy blunty responded and then pulled off him. [color=6175ff][b]“We should do it again sometime.”[/b][/color] Her eyes rested on him, not unblinking but slowed. Her assured aura had a warm, inviting, and charming effect, as she adjusted her shirt a wee bit. [color=6175ff][b]“Like tonight, if you’re free.”[/b][/color] Ballsy, Joy. 

Was he free? Damian considered it. Not [i]really[/i], he should probably go home so that he could face his mother. BUT, there was one thing his father had always told him: ‘it’s better to ask your mother for forgiveness, than permission.’ So, he’d cross that bridge when he go to it, and he’d just text Trevor later.

[color=309b75][b]“Yep.”[/b][/color]

[color=6175ff][b]“Good.”[/b][/color] Joy was well aware of Damian’s predicament (having seen the morning show). Was this her being selfish? Maybe. Or testing the waters, seeing how far he’d go for her! Only time could tell. After licking the bottom of her lips teasingly, she stood up and smirked, [color=6175ff][b]“My place, around eight.”[/b][/color] The time she put Lil’ Boss to sleep. With her dismissive words, she lightheartedly shooed him away, [color=6175ff][b]“You’re going to be late for class and I have to clean up your mess.”[/b][/color] 

Damian hopped up to his feet effortlessly, and nodded to Joy, turning to walk away, before he froze as something came to his mind. Turning to look at Joy over his shoulder, he carefully asked. [color=309b75][b]“What about your parents? Do I need to come in through the window? I [i]will[/i], but if I’m coming to make out with you, I definitely don’t want Ender to see me.”[/b][/color] Hell no, dude. Jude? Maybe. Ender? No fucking way.

[color=6175ff][b]“Date night.”[/b][/color] Her parents wouldn't be home until late. 

Don't worry, Damian, Joy knew what she was doing. 
[/indent]