Chapter Text
Another week, another Monday. Engel Demi is sitting at lunch with some of his close (and only) friends: Bubble, Abbie, and Lana. Abbie is just poking at the food on his lunch tray, the usual worried expression plastered on his face, as Bubble listens to Lana yap about sewing. Though, someone is missing from the table this time around... Claire. He scans the cafeteria nervously for his sister, but to no avail. He looks down at his food, a bit stressed out. Claire doesn't share a class with him before lunch, but she always meets her in the cafeteria afterwards. Abbie, on the other side of the table, seems to notice his unusual mood.
"...Engel? You okay?" His soft voice catches Engel's attention. "Huh? Oh, uh, yeah.. Um.. Have you.. seen Claire since last period?"
"..Nnnno? Why?"
Shit , he curses under his breath. "N-Nothing, just wondering..."
"Oh.. Okay.." Abbie goes back to picking at his food as Engel just stares at his. Minutes pass as he waits for Claire.
The infamous bully trio is sitting just the next table over, giggling as they chatter. Chip is there as well, tapping around on his sister's phone.
Oliver looks at the empty seat next to Engel. "Huh.. Claire's not showin' up. Who wants to bet she ran home or somethin'? Hah!"
"Ten bucks she's dead," Edward blurts jokingly.
"Eddie!" Zip scowls.
"Whaaat!" Edward protests. "You literally tried to get her killed. She would've been dead if it weren't for her lame-ass dad."
"A) It was Oliver's idea--”
"Thanks for the cred!" Oliver blurts.
“-- and B) I feel differently towards her now..." A simultaneous "Oh?" arises from Oliver and Edward. "After I-.. The fuck you ‘Oh?'ing for??"
"Nothin', nothin'... Go on," Oliver says, a sly smirk plastered across his face.
Zip shoots the other two a look before continuing. "Whatever.. After I apologized to Claire and all -- which was genuine by the way, OLIVE OIL. (Oliver snorts.) -- I.. started to see her differently... I still pick on her, obviously, but it's more like.. playful teasing-"
"Dude, just admit you have a crush on her already," Oliver blurts.
"I- NO?! No , I won't admit it!" Both Oliver and Edward grin at her, letting her process what she just said -- "...GOD FUCKING-" -- before breaking out into laughter. Zip puts her head in her hands, steam floating off her from embarrassment.
"Hey, don't sweat it, Zippy," Edward butts in. "Wanna be a fruit? Be a fruit. Just kinda odd you're crushing on Claire of all people, that's all."
"I'm not a fucking fruit.. let alone for her- "
"Calm down, bruh. We're on your side," Oliver adds, Edward nodding. "By the way, Eddie, you just lost 20 bucks."
"Wha-" Edward starts before getting elbowed by Oliver, pointing with his pencil arm. Claire can be seen rushing out of the lunch line with her tray. Edward groans as Oliver and Zip snicker at him.
"..Sister?" Zip looks over towards her little brother. "What do you want, Chip?"
"I wanna ask that guy a question. The one with the feathers." He points with his tiny nubs-for-hands.
"You mean Engel? Uhh.. Sure, I guess."
He pushes her phone to her and waddles over to the other table.
"Big Brother!"
The voice catches Engel's attention, looking up from his lunch. "Claire! There you are. I was getting worried about you..."
Claire quickly sits beside him at the table. "Sorry I was late... I had to stay after class."
"Ah.. Well, I'm just glad you're okay." He hugs Claire tight as she reciprocates.
"I'm sorry, Big Brother.. I-I didn't mean to leave you here alone.."
"Nononono, Claire, don't apologize.. It's okay.." Engel gently pets her head, staying careful of her horns as he tends not to be. Their short moment is cut shorter when Engel feels a tug on his shirt accompanied by a "Bwaah." This gets the siblings' attention as well as Lana and Bubble. Abbie simply glances.
"Engel? Engelll.. Engel!" Chip repeats his name as he pokes his cheek with one of his nubs-for-hands.
"Okay, okay, I get it." Engel pushes the little one's nub away with his finger, letting out a light chuckle. "Whaddya need, kiddo?"
"I has question for you..."
"Uhh.. Sure? Go ahead." All eyes from the table are on Chip.
Chip seems to space out as he says that, the single thought in his head vanishing behind his eyes. Engel snorts at Chip's goofy expression right before the latter suddenly gains consciousness again.
"Are you gay for Abbie?"
Engel freezes up as his friends look at Chip, the whole table shocked. Even Abbie snapped back to reality, him and Engel exchanging embarrassed looks. "WHAT?!" Both parties yelp simultaneously. Meanwhile, the bully trio at the other table break out into laughter, Oliver in particular shooting milk out of his nose.
"Wh- How did- Why-" Engel can barely make a sentence. He looks around, seeing that more eyes from other tables were looking at his table. He starts to sweat a bit from the attention.
"I saw pictures of you and Abbie kissing on Zip's phone," Chip adds. Zip yelps his name from the other table.
"What the f- Why does- ZIP??" She throws her arms in the air as if to say ‘I DIDN'T DO SHIT!' She looks at Oliver, who's grasping his nose (or rather, where it should be) in pain.
"ACk! It f uck ing BURNS -"
"Big Brother?? I didn't know you had your first kiss..!" Claire comments.
"N-NO? I DIDN'T KISS ABBIE! I DIDN'T KISS ANYONE !" Engel counters, embarrassment tainting his face. Chatter and laughter about them rise from the other tables. Engel looks at Abbie again. Anxiety coats his entire face and then some. "Abbie, vouch for me here!"
Abbie, with the focus suddenly on him, forgets how to speak English and fumbles his words terribly.
"N-Nevermind, Abbie, just-"
The cafeteria is interrupted by a loud ringing filling the room. Saved by the bell. Engel sighs with a mix of relief and embarrassment. He gets up and leaves the cafeteria, putting his head down as he speed walks to his next class. He can feel a hundred eyes on him the entire time.