Chapter Text
“I need help.” Books slam down onto George’s wooden desk with a loud thud. The Brit looked up to find a blonde staring down at him.
“Look, you’re the smartest kid in class.” The taller male started. George blinked up at him.
“I am?” George answered stupidly. The kid rolled his eyes and continued.
“I need you to do my homework for me.”
“For you?” George blurted. The kid nodded. George studied him for a moment. Freckles adorned his face with bright green eyes staring back at him.
“I can’t just do your homework for you.” George’s accent came out thick, causing the blonde to smile.
“What do you want for it? I can pay you?” George shook his head quickly.
“I don’t want to be paid.” The blonde let out a huff.
“Mr. Clay! Take your seat right now!” Their teacher yelled, causing the both of them to flinch. The boy named Clay grabbed his books and mumbled profanities under his breath as he made his way back to his seat. George noticed that he didn’t sit too far away from him. How did he not notice this before. Maybe because he actually paid attention in class instead of looking at cute boys. George mentally shook himself from his thoughts and dragged his gaze back to the front of the room. The bell rang and kids reduced their conversations to a low chatter.
“Alright class. Today we are starting a new project.” Everyone let out a groan.
“Everyone is going to be paired up with a partner.” Kids were starting to look around the room, shouting at one another and waving their hands.
“I will be picking partners.” Another loud groan erupted from the class room. Their teacher always did a good job of ignoring their antics. As she went through everyone’s names, George started to get more and more panicked. His only friends in that class had already been paired up with someone else. Karl giving him a knowing frown. George started to chew on the inside of his lip, tearing pieces of skin off in the process.
“George and Clay.” The Brit heard his name called. He looked up from his desk, being ripped away from his day dreaming.
“Who?” He asked, looking up at his teacher.
“Clay.” She repeated. His eyes scanned the room, falling upon the blonde he had exchanged words with not too long before class had started. Clay was already staring back at him, a shit eating grin on his face. George knew all too well that he was going to be the one doing the whole project.
“I was really hoping we would be paired up together.” Karl said as he set his plate down on the table. George, Karl and Alex all sat down at the lunch table together.
“I was hoping so too.” George agreed.
“Who did you get paired up with?”
“Sam.” Karl shrugged, picking at a soggy carrot on his tray.
“Oh. That’s not bad.” George admitted. Karl nodded his head.
“He at least will help you.” George’s eyes fell upon Clay who walked into the cafeteria with a few of his friends. The brunette let out a light sigh before turning his attention back onto the peanut butter and jelly sandwich that was in front of him.
“Yeah. You got paired up with Clay!” Karl couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s not really that funny.” George said before taking a bite from his sandwich. Alex chuckled lightly.
“It kind of is.” George rolled his eyes.
“I’m just not looking forward too doing all of the work. He already tried to get me to do his homework this morning.”
“I saw that.” Karl laughed.
“Don’t be a push over.” Alex suggested, biting into his limp pizza.
“You know. This food is shit.” Alex said around a bite of his food. Everyone nodded.
“It’s why I pack everyday.” George rang.
“Have you even talked to him about the project yet?” Questioned Karl. George shook his head. Karl let out an audible sigh.
“Yeah. You’re screwed buddy.”
“Hey!” The slam of metal next to his head caused George to jump, almost slamming his fingers in his locker. The brunette whirled around to find Clay staring back at him.
“So about that project.” He started. How did George know this was coming?
“I’m a little busy. You know with football practice and everything. So I was thinking that you could do it without me. Plus you’re smarter than I am.” George rolled his eyes, slamming his locker shut and ducking under Clay’s arm.
“I’m not doing this by myself.” George stated simply.
“Oh come on!” Clay pleaded, following George down the hallway, stepping backwards carefully.
“Either we do it together or we both get a bad grade.” This little outburst of his surprised not only Clay but himself as well. Usually George didn’t care if he did other people’s homework or finished their projects. But something about Clay irked him.
“I need this grade, though.” Clay pleaded.
“I guess we are going to have to work together then.” George shrugged. Clay’s mouth fell open. George came to a halt in front of one of the classrooms, turning towards the tall blonde.
“We have study hall together don’t we?” Clay raised an eyebrow.
“I’ll see you then.” The taller male opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water. It was usually the period he skipped, except for one time which was the beginning of the school year. How did George remember that? The Brit asked himself the same question.
“I…I guess.” Clay stumbled over his words as George started into his next class.
The rest of the school day went by fairly quickly. It usually did after lunch. All George had left was two more classes and then study hall at the end of the day, which was nice because he could relax a little. Clay stepped into the cafeteria and looked around the room at the sea of students. He spotted George, alone, at one of the tables in the far corner. Heading towards the back of the room, he plopped himself down at the table with a loud sigh, frightening the smaller male out of his thoughts.
“What are you working on?” Clay asked as George gasped at the sudden company.
“Geeze Clay! You scared me!” George hissed. Clay laughed, a bright smile on his face. George shoved his books aside and got out his blue folder which was labeled ‘Science’.
“You ready?” The Brit asked, barley glancing up to meet Clay’s gaze.
“Not really but go off.” George rolled his eyes again. That was becoming a thing with Clay. George felt the sarcasm in Clay’s energy. George slowly started to explain the project, trying to make sure that the blonde understood everything that they needed to do.
“So wait,” Clay started, words falling short. George sucked in a deep breath, trying not to get aggravated.
“Basically we have to make a diagram of the star constellations. It’s easy.” Clay nodded slowly and George could tell that he was still lost. He looked up at the clock, the bell for the end of the day was about to ring. Shit.
“Listen. I know you’re busy but I need this grade.” George started, looking at Clay.
“I need it too.” Clay agreed.
“Can we do this after school?”
“What do you mean after school?” George let out a sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
“I mean like, you come over to my house and we work on the project.” Clay blinked a few times.
“That sounds lame.” He stated. George let out a frustrated groan.
“Shhh!” Their teacher glared at them from the front of the room before looking back down at her papers. Letting out a frustrated sigh, George looked back to Clay.
“Listen, it’s either that or we are going to fail.” Clay pondered for a moment, scratching his stubbled chin.
“Fine. But only for an hour. I’m not throwing away my social life for this shit.” George nodded.
“Fine. One hour. Everyday.”
“Everyday?”
“Everyday.”
The bell rang and kids started to flood the halls. George made his way over to his locker to drop off his books.
“Hey George!” Alex walked up from behind the brunette, leaning against the locker next to him. George turned to greet his friend.
“Hey Alex.”
“Did you want to jump on Minecraft when you get home?” The shorter male asked. George simply shook his head.
“I have work to do. Stupid project, remember?” Alex nodded, pursing his lips together.
“I thought it was a group project? Did you work on it in study hall?” George let out a light sigh as he slammed his locker shut and turned towards Alex.
“I tried.” George admitted. Alex chuckled lightly.
“That bad, huh?” George nodded in defeat.
“And now we have to work on it outside of school because he won’t cooperate.”
“Wait wait wait.” Alex waved his hands in the air, shaking his head.
“You guys are working on it outside of class? Clay, the Clay, is actually doing school work on his free time?” Alex let out a loud cackle.
“You broke him!” Alex followed George as they started for the front door.
“I just told him we needed to do it if we were going to get it done.” George shrugged. Alex let out another laugh.
“Clay doesn’t even do his own homework, let alone work outside of school!” Alex couldn’t stop laughing.
“What? What!?” George was getting frustrated with the shorter male.
“Good luck.” Alex finally said between hiccups. George rolled his eyes.
“It’ll be fine. We could probably finish the project by tomorrow and not have to worry about it anymore.” Alex slowly nodded with a smirk on his face.
“Sure.” He stated simply as he started to brake off from George, heading for the bus.
You don’t want a ride today?” Alex shook his head.
“I told Darryl that I would go with him today.” George nodded.
“Alright. I’ll talk to you later.” George waved his goodbyes before heading for his car.
“I’m home!” George called into the quiet house.
“I’m in here!” His mother called from the kitchen. George kicked his shoes off at the front door and dropped his back pack on the ground near the hallway table that held a small plant and their keys.
“Hey mom.” He simply said as he walked into the kitchen, the smell of cookies filling the air.
“What are you doing?” George looked around the room to find trays upon trays of chocolate chip cookies. His mother turned towards him with flour all over her apron, her shirt, and even splashed onto her cheek.
“Bake sale, remember? It’s tomorrow.” George nodded his head, pursing his lips.
“I think you went a little overboard this time.”
“What? No I didn’t!” She defended. George chuckled lightly.
“And you have a little.” George pointed to his cheek. She pointed to her cheek before smearing the flour across her face even more.
“Nevermind.” George shook his head, a smile spreading across his face.
“Oh hey.” He started, keeping his mother’s attention for another moment.
“I have someone coming over to work on a project with me.” His mother raised an eyebrow.
“You’re working on a project with someone?”
“Don’t make it a big deal mom.” George went into the refrigerator to grab a Coke.
“Well you never have anyone over except for Alex and Karl. It’s neither of them right?” She bent down to grab another tray of cookies out of the oven. George shook his head, taking a sip from the can in his hand.
“No. His name is Clay.”
“Well I’m glad you’re making new friends.” His mother said with a smile.
“He’s not a friend.” George leaned against the marble countertop. His mother rolled her eyes. George reached for one of the cookies, snatching it before his mother caught him.
“Just be cool when he gets here.”
“Cool.” She repeated.
“I mean it mom.” She nodded.
“I can be cool!” She retorted.
“You say that and then you try too hard and scare everyone off! You even scare Alex sometimes and that’s hard to do!” She laughed.
“That is hard to do. Alright I’ll be cool.”
Clay rang the door bell as he bit at his cuticle. No answer so he rang it again.
“Coming! Coming!” A female voice came from the other side of the door. The big wooden door quickly opened to reveal a woman with long brown hair and a thick British accent.
“How can I help you?” She asked, sounding a bit out of breath.
“Yeah, uh, is George here?” Clay stumbled over his words, looking everywhere but at the woman.
“Oh yeah! You must be Clay!” She held out her hand, covered in flour. Clay shook it anyway.
“Nice to meet you.” Very cheery, Clay thought. Just the opposite of George.
“Well come on in!” She ushered Clay into the house before shutting the door behind him.
“George is upstairs in his bedroom if you want to head up there.” She suggested as she headed back into the kitchen.
“Or I can get him for you?” She peaked her head out from behind the kitchen wall to look at him again.
“I’ll go up, thank you.” Clay said, turning towards the stairs. He kicked his shoes off and shrugged his backpack further onto his shoulder before heading up the stairs. George’s room was the first door on the right. Clay knocked on the doorframe lightly, startling the smaller male. George looked up from his desk to see Clay standing in the door frame.
“Oh.” He simply stated as Clay walked into the bedroom.
“What? You didn’t think I would actually come, did you?”
“Honestly, no.” Clay chuckled lightly, setting his backpack down on the ground.
“You already started working on it, didn’t you?” George looked down at his desk and then back at Clay.
“No.” He tried to defend. Clay snatched the paper up from George and looked it over.
“You did!” The blonde let out a loud wheeze. George couldn’t help but smile.
“Give that back!” He snatched it from Clay’s hand and put it back down on the desk.
“Why did you come? Just to harass me?” Clay shook his head.
“No. I need this grade. I’m failing this class.” The taller male admitted.
“You’re failing?” George questioned. Clay nodded.
“Quit paying people to do your homework.” George mumbled. Clay sucked in a deep breath.
“Well I don’t get like ninety-nine percent of the stuff our teacher is talking about!” George shook his head.
“Have you thought about a tutor?” The brunette suggested. Clay fell silent. George could slice the tension in the room with a knife.
“Would you be my tutor?”
“Me?” George pointed at himself in shock. Clay nodded.
“Yeah! Why not? We have to do this stupid project anyway. Why not do both?” George shook his head.
“No.”
“What!? Why not?” Clay questioned, his shoulders slumping. The blonde took a seat on George’s bed with a sigh.
“Because that’s extra work for me.”
“I’ll pay you.”
“What’s with you and paying people?” Clay shrugged.
“It just works.” George rolled his eyes.
“Fifty a session.”
“That’s everyday.” George nodded, a smile on his face. He knew Clay wouldn’t go for it.
“Okay.” George’s mouth fell open.
“You need the help that bad? What’s your grade in this class?”
“An ‘F’.” Clay whispered under his breath. He really had his work cut out for him. The quarter had just started and he already was failing that miserably?
“Fine. But we do things my way.” Clay nodded.
“Fine.”