EXO; where your friends are

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~480 words


Things change. Kyungsoo's reappearance at school wearing a walking cast and holding his arm in a sling, dressed in comfy, but stylish, sweats revealed the truth to the school: Do Kyungsoo was nothing more extraordinary than any other human being.

Jongdae and Baekhyun sat with Lu Han at their table for lunch the day Kyungsoo returned, and they quietly told the former queen off with his own "rules."

"They're not even real, anyway. Whatever." No one knew where he went after that, but Lu Han rather hoped he holed himself up in the bathroom like he'd wanted to so many times as the whispers and rumours continued.

The one comfort came in the form of the dazed Yixing. He sat beside Lu Han, across from Baekyhun and Jongdae, who continued to gossip between themselves, but didn't say anything. It wasn't ignoring; it was just Yixing. It was nice.

Not even Yixing could tame the cafeteria commentary, though, and Lu Han left before the period was half over, just to find someplace quiet. He didn't even realise he was being followed until someone dropped something behind him, and he turned to see Yixing fumbling with the mess of his ear buds.

They ended up in the library. Few students were around, as usual. The librarian looked up, almost surprised people were actually coming in, but simply nodded a greeting and returned to his newspaper.

The back is dusty with lack of use, but neither boy minds and sits on the carpeting rather than hard chairs pushed into the tables. Yixing said nothing, Lu Han sighed, and Lu Han started talking.

He talked about moving to the area, about coming to an actual school, Chanyeol hitting on him the first day, meeting Minseok, learning about the cliques, learning about Kyungsoo, stress over projects, happiness over being accepted by his classmates and making friends, meeting Jongin, his crush; he talked about everything through the party to Kyungsoo's fall, his detention, and being ignored by his best friends.

Yixing sat quietly through it all. He may not have been paying attention, but he didn't fall asleep or interrupt and let Lu Han run his mouth until his lips felt numb.

Lu Han was 95% sure his next class has started by the time he's finished, but it's history with Minseok, and Lu Han is tired.

He began to pack his things, but Yixing stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Stay here."

"I have class."

"So do I."

It was convincing. Lu Han sat back down with his thigh brushing Yixing's. Neither made an attempt to move away; Yixing scooted down the wall a bit to lean his head on Lu Han's shoulder.

"I should've brought my guitar."

"We're in a library."

"Oh, yeah..."

Lu Han stayed in the back of the library with Yixing, where there were no plastics, Minseok, or Chanyeol, and simply breathed.

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