High School AU, the most original concept

[mithrarin]

Schools tended to follow the same basic pattern, as microcosms of humanity organized themselves according to innate needs and drives and goals. There were the preppy kids, smart and aimed forward at college and then solid jobs as doctors or lawyers or politicians. The jocks and the cheerleaders, confident in their athletic prowess and the acclaim they received from crowds. The Popular Girls, wielding looks and style and fashion like blades, always ready to turn them on each other. Geeks and nerds, talking tech and roleplaying in the corner of the lunchroom that wasn't quite as empty as some other groups tried to claim it was. Stoners, goths, the list went on. Categories and categories of subdivision and tribalism.

Then you had the kids who were so far out of the moment, they were like a bow pulled back and never fired, all tight tension and potential utterly unaimed. If you described it like that, or any other similar way, pretty much every student in his grade and many outside of it would say you were talking about Dust.

And to that end, everyone assumed he would never join a club.

But the truth is, he wanted to. He didn't know what. Wasn't sure if any of them appealed. Didn't know what he wanted. Just that he wanted something to give voice to all this energy and drive within him that had no outlet.

Embarrassed by his feelings, he'd retreated to the library, spreading out the newsletter with club listings to read over it.

Comments

[mithrarin]

[Sometimes, being the social outcast means you can say what you want, do what you want, and -- well, it isn't accurate to say that 'nothing' will come of it. Just nothing new. Teasing and gossip and isolation all go hand-in-hand for him. He doesn't like it, doesn't welcome it... But what's the worst she can do if he speaks up?]

[He glances up again, catching her eyes.]

They don't want the same thing you do. Follow them to a club and you won't enjoy it at all.

[redmare]

[ They had already passed him when he suddenly spoke up, his words making her stop in her tracks. Her friends doing the same. ]

Excuse me?

[ She turns, raising an eyebrow at him. ]

Hang on, Chinatsu... [ They had a bad feeling about where this would go. ]

[mithrarin]

They don't care about it. It could be anything. You should do what you want to... not just follow them as they pick whatever for the sake of how easy it is, or what guys you'd be near.

[Why bother beating around the bush? Dust delivers his opinion with a sharp cutting edge to his voice and no mercy whatsover, before he looks back down to his papers.]

[redmare]

And you know what I want?

[ She takes a step closer, and now her friends aren't sure how to reel her back. ]

Do you even know what you want?

[mithrarin]

[He'd expected her to be mad, but -- challenging him? Wow, okay, that's -- that's something. Dust manages to keep his cool on the outside, thanks to long practice of not showing his feelings in the face of teasing or isolation, but yikes.]

I want a club where I'm enjoying what I'm doing. Even if I'm all alone in doing it. What about you? Do you want to be close to a senior, or to spend your meetings chatting instead of -- anything else?

[redmare]

"What makes you think I wouldn't be happy being with my friends? Also, did anyone even ask for your opinion?"

Even if maybe he was right. Chinatsu didn't want any of those things, but she sure as hell didn't appreciate some stranger telling her that.

[mithrarin]

"You just asked what I wanted, and if I knew what you want," Dust pointed out, still not looking up. It was easier to be a smartass without making eye contact, especially when the girl involved was scary. "That's why I asked. So I could find out what you wanted."