LoveStoned

LoveStoned
Chapter 4
The Dance


Lavi tapped the end of his pen against his notebook, hoping the rhythmic sound would help keep his mind awake and focused on his history teacher who was currently giving an incredibly dull lecture over imperialism in the East. His eyelids slowly drooped and he felt his head heavily begin to fall forward with a small jerk. The redhead winced as a small piece of paper struck his cheek just beneath his eye. He opened and peered over at his white haired friend with a tired green eye.

'Leave me alone.' He mouthed silently to Allen. Allen scowled and shook his head and mouthed back, 'He's going to catch you!'
Lavi let his eyes fall back closed as a sign to Allen he didn't care.

The redhead did however cast a quick glance over his shoulder and sure enough Lenalee was staring at his back spacing quietly, tapping her pencil just as he tapped his pen. Lavi turned back quickly before she noticed and rubbed his visible eye in guilt. He felt sorry that he could not return her feelings but that was how it was.
Sure Lenalee is pretty…I love her hair. Even when she cut it short it was still so beautiful…come to think of it the color…
The image of Kanda, walking in front of him in the dim streetlights his hair flowing behind his back and gently swaying with each step, slowly slipped into his mind.

Lavi felt a wave of heat go through his cheeks and quickly covered his hand over his nose and mouth as he tried to fake a cough. That was interesting.
"Lavi. Would you care to answer the question or not?"
"eh?"
The redhead jerked upright in his seat and heard the sound of Lenalee doing the same as she was awoken form her daze as well.
"Er…I'm sorry sir. I wasn't paying attention."
He gave him a scolding look and shook his head in disdain.
"Anyone else—"
Lavi sunk back into his chair with a groan. He was so tired.

The rest of Lavi's classes felt as though they dragged on for twice as long then they really were and when the final bell tolled the end of the school day he was still rubbing sleep out of his visible eye and yawning heavily.
"We still going tonight?" he asked through another powerful yawn as he stretched his arms up and then let them rest with his fingers laced together behind his head.
Allen pushed his textbooks into his bag while he nodded, "Yeah. Lenalee is meeting up with us at the gate…" he paused for a moment, casting a quick glance up to Lavi then back to his bag, "…so where are you suppose to meet er-Kanda?"
The redhead could see the discomfort written blatantly on his best friends face and he shrugged once before letting his shoulders fall a little lower then they were before, "Don't worry about that kiddo. I'm meeting him outside the building."
The corner of Allen's mouth twitched into a frown, "You mean he is walking with us?"
"Like I said, don't worry. He'll be far-r-r to busy ripping into me to try and start something with you besides-I don't think he's as bad as I thought."

Allen raised a silver eyebrow at him, "What caused the change of heart?"
"I don't know…the kid just seems so-"
So damn lonely.
Lavi just couldn't get the image out of his head. The way he could have sworn Kanda's face had flushed when he asked him to come along, how his voice had trembled as he spoke. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
It's nice being the one to fluster him for once. He's kinda funny when he's ruffled.
"Lavi?"
The taller boy's eyes widened as he finally paid attention once more, "What?"
"Heh, nevermind." Allen chuckled as he slid the bag over his shoulder and Lavi grinned privately to himself as they walked out the door.

Lenalee was hard to miss with her short black cropped hair among a sea of long curled blondes and brunettes. Allen was at her side in an instant smiling and asking her how her day. The little bean sprout was the only person Lavi knew who genuinely had interest in the daily activities of others. Well at least Lenalee's activities…he scanned over the crowds with his one good eye until he spotted the long hair tied up that he had been looking for. He was surprised when the smile came unforced and how natural it had felt to raise his arm and wave Kanda over to their group.

"Kanda~CHAN! Over heereeee!!"
Instantly the other boy had whipped around the vicious glare in his eyes exaggerated by the sudden redness in his face as he searched furiously for who had dared call him by such a name. Allen gave a nervous smile, "Lavi-what are you doing?!" he whispered quite loudly underneath his breath.

Hands tight into fists Kanda marched over to their group radiating rage and embarrassment, "WHAT did you just call me?"
Lavi was happy to reply, "I called you-"
"NEVER…" the volume of his voice attracted more interest then he had intended and with an aggravated sigh he lowered his tone,
"Never address me in such a-a-childish way ever again. Do I make myself quite clear?" his teeth clenched together as he forced out that last word.

The redhead just grinned wider and put his hands up his eyes growing wide in mock fear, "Oh noes! Don't worry Kanda-san I won't ever dishonor your name again."
He had pronounced the word "dishonor" in a mock Japanese accent which only furthered the dark haired boys rage.
Lenalee and Allen stood awkwardly off to the side as the two bickered and hoped silently this wouldn't continue at the club.

Their hopes were dashed however when the two spent the remainder of the walk pissing each other off. At first it had merely been Lavi teasing Kanda shamelessly to get a rouse out of him but after the fifth or sixth insult Kanda had begun to give the redhead a tongue lashing as well which had ruined the childish atmosphere of the teasing and had made it quite personal.

"Well at least my parents don't abandon me every weekend so they can-"
"You mean at least I have parents."
"Do not even go there."

Allen exchanged a wary look with Lenalee.
"Allen and me are going to head on in okay? You guys-er-settle this okay?"
She gave a small shy and some what pleading smile to Lavi as she took Allen's hand and reluctantly pulled him through the club door.

Lavi locked his one good eye with Kanda's dark ones and they continued to smolder in silence for a good three more minutes.
"…I didn't ask to come." The dark haired boy's voice was surprisingly quiet and all the malicious intent had faded.
"I was shocked when you asked me…I mean…I know you and I don't get along-but-I guess I thought…"
The redhead's face fell. I invited him because I felt bad for him…I mean. Being all alone all the time…I know he acts like a big toughie but can he really be that big of a hard ass? Jeez when he starts acting so vulnerable I just can't...damnit.
"Look the point is we don't get along. We tried, it failed. I'm going home."
Kanda's voice was direct and decided and for a moment Lavi thought he wouldn't stay even if he asked him to. But hell it was worth one last shot.
"No…er wait. Look. I started this by leading you on so I'm sorry I guess."

Egging you on! I meant egging you on…oh sheesh.
Kanda regarded him for a moment with a blank expression then gave a shrug, "Fine."
He pushed past Lavi and opened the door, "Oh…and sorry for bringing up the whole…orphan thing. It was a low blow."
Lavi gave a tight smile,
"Don't worry about it"

It was crowded and dark inside. Colored lights flashed and the music was loud enough to feel the rumbles in your chest. Kanda seemed taken back at first but finally walked in with the same arrogant confidence he always had with Lavi trudging behind. Allen and Lenalee were at their usual table but it seemed a thousand times further with the huge crowd dancing right at that moment.
"C'mon! We need to get through here." Lavi yelled above the roar of the music.
The other boy's eyes widened, "Can't we go around!?"
"No way! It's worse on the outsides! It's super crowded today…c'mon no one will hurt you!"
Without thinking he grabbed hold of Kanda's elbow and pulled him into the mass. It was a lot more crowded then Lavi had originally thought and suddenly he found himself being bumped, banged and bounced all the wrong directions and was only barely able to keep a hold of Kanda who he was certain would probably have an anxiety fit if he lost hold of him. In fact he had now become aware of a hand gripping tightly unto his own arm and risked a small turn to check on the dark haired boy.

Kanda had managed to reach his own arm up and grab hold of Lavi's elbow, linking them tightly now. The lights turned so the only color was red in the darkness and with a frown of defeat Lavi jerked Kanda close against him so he could talk into his ear.
The slightly taller boy had tried to shove Lavi back but stopped after the redhead had managed to speak, "There is no way we can get through here! Damnit! And now we're stuck! We'll just have to wait for the slow song it normally comes in after this one!"

He pulled back to see if he had heard him and froze when he realized just how close his face was to Kanda's. He was suddenly thankful for the dim lights that hid his expression of surprise.
"You can't be serious! What are we going to do?"
Lavi shrugged, "We could dance!"
He couldn't see it but the color drained from Kanda's cheeks.
"But we're both guys!"
The almost horrified tone of his voice made Lavi laugh, "Don't be stupid! No one gives a shit! C'mon we have to stay close."

He hadn't meant it to seem the way it did but the moment he twisted his arm around Kanda's back and pressed his hand against the other boy's hip he realized he may have gone too far. He counted the seconds slowly in his head as the music pounded and the lights flashed around them. Kanda said nothing as he placed his own hands on Lavi's shoulders.
"You tell anyone about this and I'll fucking kill you." He said in a hushed snarl.
Lavi only nodded, he believed him.

It was the most awkward thing either one of them had ever done. They spent the first few minutes trying to decide who should be leading and then the next were filled with Lavi mouthing endless apologies when he accidentally grinded his hip against Kanda's as he would with any girl. Someone then had to go and bump into the sleek haired boy and push him further against the redhead until they could both feel one another's rapid breathing against their cheeks. The worst part was the more embarrassed they got the hotter their skin flushed and the hotter their skin flushed the more they were aware of the others body heat. Finally after several trials and errors they managed to ignore their proximity and focus completely on the sounds and lights praying that each second was the last one.

But in all honesty Lavi found he really didn't mind it so much. I mean…I wasn't like he was completely repulsed by their situations it was just not familiar and for some reason he was sure Kanda felt the same way. They both had been successfully avoiding the others gaze until another small bump from another outside source caused the two to lock eyes.

Lavi would play the moment over and over again in his head later that evening desperately trying to figure out what had made him do it. Was it the heat of their closeness combined with the hectic confusion? All Lavi knew was in that moment his heart seized in his chest and his stomach churned in an almost pleasurable pang and then he did the unimaginable.
He kissed Kanda. Right there on the dance floor.

Now of course no one of real importance saw the occurrence and thankfully five seconds later the song had come to an abrupt end leaving him amble time to realize what he had done and run away. The door swung and slammed against the wall and the cool air outside would have been heaven to him had he taken the time to notice it but he was far to busy forcing himself to breathe as he ran down the road sweat sliding down his face and tickling the nape of his neck.

His first thought was, Oh shit, Allen and Lenalee.
His second was, Oh fuck...fuck man this is messed up.