Chapter Text
The first time Neil Josten pulls Andrew Minyard's attention he knows he's going to be interesting. Andrew doesn't care for Kindergarten. He doesn't like his teacher Mrs. Johnson and her insistence that he joins the rest of the students for recess when he'd much rather sit by himself. He doesn't like any of his classmates. They're loud and annoying and he misses when it was just him and Aaron. As soon as they came into this building they separated them. Aaron might only be across the hall but Andrew doesn't like it. He was told it was so they could make friends on their own but Andrew doesn't want any friends and he doesn't trust any of the friends that Aaron has made himself. So Andrew spends all his time planning on how to convince every adult in his life, and Aaron himself, that he needs to be kept out of school for another year like last time. He can never come up with something good enough. He needs more time. He'll get out of here.
Or at least that's what he told himself until a week in mid-October. It starts on Monday when a new student is brought into the class. A boy with bright orange hair and the bluest eyes Andrew has ever seen. He's small, but most of his classmates are compared to him considering Andrew is a whole year older. Andrew doesn't care to learn this new students name. He doesn't know the rest of his classmates names he's not going to start now.
And then this new boy didn't say a single word.
Not when Mrs. Johnson tried to pull it out of him during his welcome. Not when he was called on to pick the book for story time. Not when a couple of kids came up trying to be friends with him. Nothing. He'd stare at them with his big eyes and then promptly turn away.
On Tuesday the boy is just as quiet and no one attempts to talk to him besides Mrs. Johnson who gives up easier than the day before. It's halfway through the day that the boy ends up curled up in a ball in the corner pulling at his hair. Andrew doesn't know how he got into the corner, one second he was in his chair drawing and the next he was against the wall his chest moving up and down much too fast. He flinched away from Mrs. Johnson's touch when she tried to comfort him and a big kid from down the hall had to end up coming to sit with him. Andrew watched as the boy relaxed before being led away into the hallway. He wasn't seen for the rest of the day.
On Wednesday the boy doesn't come in and Andrew thinks that his short distraction is gone and he can go back to his original plan of getting him and Aaron out of here.
On Thursday the boy comes back and against his will Andrew learns that his name is Neil. He reads it on the name card taped down to his desk and Andrew is cursed to remember everything. Neil doesn't do anything new this day but Mrs. Johnson sits with him for all of free time trying to get him to talk to her. Neil ignores her and keeps his eyes trained the on the picture he's drawing. His tongue sticks out in concentration. Andrew sits on the other side of the room in the center of the reading rug glaring at everyone who tries to sit on it with him. He can't help but look back at Neil every third second to see if anything has changed but he watches as Mrs. Johnson gives up with a hidden sad smile. Neil keeps on drawing like nothing even happened.
On Friday Andrew decides that he's done looking at the new boy. He's done calling him by his name, even if it's only in his head, and spends all his free time plotting how to sneak Aaron away from the new friends that have stolen all his attention away. He doesn't even think of the new boy. He walks out of the classroom ready for the weekend and he puts it all behind him. He spends his Saturday giving Aaron the silent treatment after he refused to team back up with Andrew again. Then he spends his Sunday watching cartoons with him because he bribed him with the ice cream in the freezer they can only reach with each other's help.
By the time Monday comes it feels like it's been forever since he's last seen the new boy and he thinks he's done with him. Then halfway through the day one of the girls comes over to his desk and pulls on his sleeve. Her smile is wide as she asks him if she can help him color. He doesn't even look at her. She pulls on his sleeve, and when that doesn't work his arm doing everything she can to grab his attention.
Then the boy does something new, he says firmly, "No."
His voice is louder than Andrew thought it would be. It's not too loud as no one else looks over at the two of them, but it's enough to drag Andrew's head in his direction. The girl's face twists up in anger which a touch of embarrassment and she turns around with a huff. Neil goes back to coloring, resting his cheek in his palm; sitting innocent as if he wasn't just glaring at the girl harder than Andrew has ever seen anyone glare at anything before.
It takes Andrew until the end of the day to decide that he is going to keep Neil. It's right before the final goodbyes of the day when they're given free time to do what they want. Andrew doesn't normally do anything. He waits for the time to go faster so he can go and take Aaron away from his classroom and they can wait to be picked up together. Today Andrew strides over to Neil's table, in which he's always alone at besides the times everyone has to be in their own seats.
Andrew sits beside him and says, "We are going to be friends."
Neil looks over at him his face scrunched up but he doesn't say no. He doesn't say anything he just tilts his head like a puppy who was just asked who's a good boy.
Andrew doesn't repeat himself, instead he says, "Share your crayons with me."
Neil stays frozen for a long time like he's trying to figure out how Andrew's words fit together. Andrew waits. He doesn't rush him or tug on his arm like the girl did. He just waits. Neil gets there eventually. A look of determination covers his face as he pulls away from the table slightly, just enough for Andrew to catch a glimpse of the drawing he's working on. He's coloring on black construction paper, the kind they're not supposed to use. Mrs. Johnson says it's only for special projects and she keeps it behind her desk so there shouldn't be a way to sneak it. Neil's in the middle of scribbling a planet on the edge of the paper with three rings wrapped around it. It takes another minute for Neil start drawing again. Andrew reaches across from him to grab the white crayon, going slowly to make every one of his actions known. Neil doesn't rip the crayon out of his hand instead he pushes the paper closer to him, not by much and it's still in front of Neil but it's enough that Andrew feels free to reach over him and draw something in the corner. He has to sit on his knees to reach but he doesn't find that he minds all that much.
It takes three minutes for Neil to turn back to Andrew with a confused look on his face. Andrew can read the confusion lined in his eyes and answers for him, "I'm not done yet."
Neil gestures to the rabbit Andrew's in the middle of drawing the ears for and he can hear him say, "He can't breathe in space," without Neil even having to say a single word.
Andrew sighs, shaking his head as he draws a circle over it's head as a helmet, "I said I wasn't done."
Before Neil can react Mrs. Johnson's shadow is cast in front of them. "Andrew?"
Andrew looks up, the crayon still clutched in his hands as Neil goes back to coloring seemingly content with Andrew's drawing now. Andrew doesn't answer he doesn't need to.
"I think our friend Neil wants some space now," Mrs. Johnson says with her smile that Andrew thinks is supposed to be sweet but it doesn't look it. She leans down to be further on their level and it only makes Andrew glare at her more. "Why don't we draw at one of the tables over there?" She points to one of the other groups of students that Andrew doesn't even care enough about to look at.
"No," Andrew answers simply, going back to his drawing.
"Andrew," Mrs. Johnson repeats, refusing to leave. "We need to give people space when they ask for it."
This time it's Neil's head that lifts and Andrew follows to see the same glare Neil gave the girl earlier on his face now. Neil doesn't say anything this time but he silently moves the paper closer to Andrew until it's perfectly in the center of the two of them.
Mrs .Johnson doesn't hide her surprise very well, or at all, "Oh."
"We're drawing," Andrew tells her, even if it's obvious hoping it's enough to get her away from them.
Luckily she nods, her smile growing on her face, "Of course," she says, "Carry on." She sounds giddy, like she's about to laugh and Andrew want her away from their table. He'll have to add Neil to the plan of getting out of here now. It shouldn't be too hard. It'll be easier to convince Neil to come with him than Aaron. Then they won't have Mrs. Johnson around to interrupt them again.
Neil doesn't stop glaring at her until she's far enough away not to add anything else to the conversation, and then he goes back to the drawing like nothing happened; the same as last time. Andrew follows suit reaching over Neil to grab another color. They work in silence and Neil sticks out his tongue again in concentration just like before. Over the rest of their free time they move closer to the small paper in front of them. It feels like no time has passed until Mrs. Johnson is in front of the room again calling for them all to line up at the door to go to the buses. Andrew never lines up with them he's never ridden on the bus before. Neil never lines up with the rest of them either, the big kid always comes and gets him. Neil doesn't move now though so Andrew doesn't either. They have a drawing to finish.
Neil passes on the crayon he's using to Andrew when he sees him waiting for it, Andrew doesn't even need to ask for it. Neil finishes his planet before creating stars throughout the sky. Andrew joins him but makes little dots instead, he's never been very good at making stars.
This only lasts a short amount of time. A very short amount of time.
"Neil!" A call comes from the door as footsteps approach.
Andrew looks up to find the big kid rushing over his backpack already on. He's decided he hates him from the second that he steps close to the table.
"Why weren't you waiting by the door?" The big kid asks, "We're gonna be late."
Neil doesn't acknowledge him, not even for a second before he steals the crayon right out of Andrew's hand and goes on drawing.
"Neil."
"We're drawing," Andrew says, hoping the same trick will work twice and whoever this is will go away and never come back. Andrew can take Neil home and they can go on drawing there with no one to distract them or call their name.
The big kid ignores him, and grabs Neil's arm before tugging, "We have to go."
"No," Neil rips his arm away.
The big kid doesn't give up, he only grabs Neil and tugs on him harder, "Come on."
"No, Kevin," Neil calls out louder. "Go away."
It's the most Andrew has ever heard him speak and from the looks of it Kevin is just as surprised. He opens his mouth to argue some more but Andrew beats him to it.
"He said no," Andrew tells him.
Kevin sputters, "We have to go I'm gonna miss practice."
"My Bee is coming to pick me up," Andrew says, "Neil will come with me."
He never asked him and Andrew knows he's supposed to ask. He knows he's not supposed to just take people wherever he wants to even if he's tried with Aaron countless of times. He doesn't care what adults say though. He said he was keeping Neil and he meant it. Neil looks over at him with a smile. It's small but Andrew likes knowing that it's more than anyone here has gotten with him. Neil nods before looking back at Kevin. He doesn't say anything, but his smile is enough of a confirmation.
"You can't go with him!" Kevin argues.
Neil gives him a 'why not' look.
Kevin doesn't answer he only crosses his arms and gives a look that Andrew thinks is supposed to be intimidating. It's not.
"Neil says he doesn't want to go with you," Andrew says. "He said go away."
Kevin lasts five more seconds before he dramatically throws his hands up," Fine!" he says, before pushing through the line to get out of the classroom. Andrew watches him long enough to know that he's really gone and not going back before he looks back to Neil.
"You'll like my Bee," Andrew says. "She'll like you too," he says as he puts his crayon back onto the paper.
Neil sinks beside him taking a deep breath before he goes back to drawing too. The line of students are brought out to the buses by another teacher while Mrs. Johnson asks the students in the classroom to get their bags ready for when their parents come. Andrew and Neil don't listen instead they finish their drawing at their own pace. By the time they're done Bee comes walking through the door.
She finds Andrew easily despite him being in a completely different spot than normal. "Andrew," She calls out softly, "Where's Aaron?"
Andrew shrugs, "I don't know. Me and Neil were drawing."
Neil doesn't look up at Bee, he only moves closer to Andrew and grabs a crayon to go back over his first planet even though it's already done.
Before Bee can say anything Andrew says, "We're friends now."
"Oh?" Bee says, a smile rising on her lips.
Andrew nods, "I'm taking him home with me."
"Oh," Bee laughs softly, "Honey, you know you can't just take people wherever you want to."
"Neil wants to go," Andrew tells her, before looking over at Neil, but he doesn't confirm it. He only meets Andrew's eyes for a second before looking away again. Andrew isn't deterred. He taps Neil's leg softly with his hand to get his attention again before turning his hand upwards hidden between them. Neil looks over at him for confirmation and when Andrew nods he slides his hand into his. Neil's hand is warm in Andrew's and he decides he likes holding his hand and he's never liked anything like this before.
Bee sighs, clearly not believing him. "We can't take Neil without his guardians' permission."
"Kevin left him here," Andrew tells her.
Bee is hearing him as she shakes her head, "How's this? I'm going to go pick up Aaron so you and Neil can say goodbye and then I'll come back and get you."
"Neil is coming with us," Andrew says. It's not a request or a question or anything of the sorts and there's nothing anyone can say to get him to change his mind.
Then a man comes strolling into the room with his hands in his pockets. His gaze settles on the two of them easily and he shakes his head easily before he casually says, "Come on, kid, we've gotta go."
Neil looks up at him before shaking his head.
The man gives him a look, but there's something more to it a gleam in his eyes, "You'll be back tomorrow."
"Neil is coming with me," Andrew tells the man squeezing Neil's hand.
The man laughs but before he can say anything Bee beats him to it, "Sorry about him," she says, "He can be a bit possessive about the things he likes, or people."
Andrew glares at her but she doesn't even look over at him, even if she did she wouldn't be phased by it. His only weapon has never worked against Bee and he's never hated it more than now.
"It's alright," The man reassures her with a smile, "It's nice to see Neil's found a friend." he slides his phone out of his pocket, "How about this kids, the two of us will exchange numbers so you can see each other outside of school."
"Tonight?" Andrew asks.
"I don't know about that, honey," Bee tells him, accepting the man's phone, "But I promise we will make plans soon."
Andrew doesn't like it. He doesn't like settling for a plan that's not his own. He doesn't like that he'll have to let go of Neil's hand to go home, but he also doesn't like the idea of taking Neil home just to share him with Aaron either. Andrew looks over at Neil who's already looking at him. He can see a goodbye without hearing it, but he also catches a reassurance that they'll see each other the next day in between Neil's eyelashes.
Andrew huffs before dragging himself up, taking Neil along with him. He stands in front of Bee and squeezes Neil's hand one last time. Neil squeezes it back before letting go and following the man closely out of the classroom. He doesn't turn around to say a final goodbye, even if it's only with his eyes. Andrew doesn't call out one of his own, he only goes over and grabs his backpack before following Bee to find Aaron.
He catches a final glimpse of Neil as he rounds the corner deeper into the school and determination spikes inside of him. Yeah, Andrew is keeping him.