AUGUST 22ND, 2017 - TUESDAY

ADAM’S POV

“Did you take up baking for Casey?” Adam paused in his whisking but didn’t look up from the bowl.

“Nope.” He poured the bag of chocolate into the batter, pointedly not meeting his mom’s eyes. She hummed quietly beside him as she worked on the second batch of cookies.

“You know, when you came out, we all thought it was because of Casey.” He paused again, brows furrowing.

“I never came out, though.”

“Fine, when you started mentioning actors you thought were attractive alongside actresses, we just called that your coming out story.” The two chuckled quietly in the kitchen. “Your father worried about the sleepovers, but we knew there was nothing to worry about.”

“Yeah, because we’re just friends,” Adam retorted. “Just because Casey is the one gay guy I know doesn’t mean we’re gonna hook up.” For anyone else, the words “hook up” would not be said in front of the parentals, but Adam was honest with his family.

Sue smirked. “Don’t let your father hear that. He would try to give that poor boy the shovel talk if he could.” Adam pressed his palm to his mouth to muffle the laughter that the image produced. Casey was so uncomfortable around authority, but his dad was the farthest thing from authoritative. He usually deferred to ma when it came to punishments. It would be the most awkward encounter known to mankind.

“Casey’s my best friend, just my friend.”

“You baking cookies for any other friends, hm?”

“What other friends?” Adam retorted, only slightly bitter. The genius hadn’t given his lack of friends much thought until Casey mentioned the lack thereof. Mickey and Jasmine were more Matt’s friends despite their tension, while Winston was undeniably Casey’s, which left Adam with a singular friend. God, that’s sad.

“Have you two ever considered that you might be too close for friends?” Not until those damn feelings popped up. People had commented about their friendship from the beginning, but both boys had brushed it off without worry. Now, all Adam could think about was how nobody could possibly understand their bond. To them, their closeness was average, but to the outside world, it must have appeared quite odd.

“Do you think we’re too close?” His ma was quiet for a few moments, her expression thoughtful as Adam spooned out scoops of batter onto one cookie sheet.

“I think we’ve gotten used to your closeness that it has become the norm, but one could argue that this friendship is just a slow burn to the next level.” That is precisely what Adam was afraid of. “How about you go get ready, and I’ll watch these?”

“Thanks, ma.” Adam brushed past his ma and ambled down to the basement for a shower.

It was nearly seven-thirty when the genius made it back up to the kitchen, hair still damp at the ends and Converse unlaced. Two trays of cookies sat side-by-side on the island, and Adam gently placed one group into an oyster pail.

“Ooo, are those cookies?” Adam smacked the hand that zeroed in on the pail and glared up at his brother.

“Pick from the tray, jackass.” Matt poked out his tongue but did as told.

“Making your boyfriend cookies, how sweet.”

“Not my boyfriend,” Adam said without looking up. His fingers deftly knotted a piece of green ribbon to the metal handles of the carton with a name tag. Casey’s present was safely tucked into his backpack alongside a red can, but he kept the cookies in hand to keep them from getting crushed by his textbooks.

“You guys are literally dating without all the drama.”

“Still not my boyfriend.” The eldest Tolliver rolled his eyes as he stole another cookie and flicked the blond’s nose.

“You guys are totally endgame,” he commented between bites. Adam looked back at him, brows raised in question.

“I’m sorry, totally endgame?” The genius repeated. “When did you become a preteen girl?”

“When did you become a little-”

“Boys, quit arguing and get to school before you’re late,” dad interjected as he came down the stairs, looking sharply at Matt. “Tell Casey I said happy birthday.”

“Will do, dad. Let’s go, frankenteen,” the blond grinned while the other boy glared.

The ride began in silence as it usually did, but Matt could never keep his mouth shut for very long.

“You do know that a black mark isn’t the end-all-be-all, right?” So that’s what he wants to talk about? Adam shook his head, platinum strands falling into his eyes. “You can still find someone.”

“Last I checked, your soulmark was still red, asshat,” Adam replied shortly. “ Mine is black. Mine has always been black. Of course, you still have that hope that you’ll find whoever has the matching mark, but I don’t have that luxury.” The blond was tired of the false sympathies and pitying looks from strangers. He did not need them from his brother as well.

“I know it’s hard.” You really don’t. “Nothing is stopping you from dating and falling in love. Mom found her happy ending, didn’t she?”

“I wouldn’t say that since she had you.” Matt’s truck slowed to a stop outside the gym, and he twisted his body to fully face the genius.

“Don’t be a douche. I’m just saying that you could date anyone, not specifically Casey,” the older boy stated. “You have the beauty of choice, bro. You know that whoever you choose will really love because you’re not held under the expectations of soulmarks.”

“I get what you’re saying, I do, “ Adam looked out the window, biting the inside of his cheek. “You don’t want me to settle, and I won’t, but Casey, isn’t it for me. He and I are best friends, and I’ll get over whatever the hell it is I feel. I’ll see you after school.” The boy resisted the urge to slam the door shut and instead took a slow breath because nothing made him more annoyed than discussing soulmarks.

With another deep breath, Adam straightened up and swaggered into the gym. His eyes landed on Casey as he climbed the bleachers, and his annoyance seemed to evaporate as the genius plopped down beside him.

“Happy birthday, asshole.” The artist tilted his head in acknowledgment and leaned into the younger boy for a split second. “I brought you gifts, and you’re not allowed to reject them.” Casey rolled his eyes but waved one hand, a sign for him to continue. Adam pulled out the cookies and his wrapped gift, presenting them to his best friend with a hopeful smile.

“You made me cookies?” Casey bit into one and hummed, licking his lips with a grin. “These are great, man, thanks. You’re getting better and better with each recipe.” He ate another cookie in two bites, and the blond absently wondered if he was eating enough. Then, wiping his hands on his jeans, Casey ripped off the paper, and his smile grew the widest that Adam had ever seen.

“I saw them and thought you’d like them,” he shrugged. “Plus, I knew you would never let me buy anything above, like, twenty bucks.” The pencils were a dark grey with a different golden swear word on each one, perfect for his thorny counterpart.

“These are great, Adam, really.” His tone was so sincere and his gaze earnest that Adam couldn’t help but flush.

“I also got you this.” Adam pulled a pin from the pocket of his jeans. “You’re like the sun, bro; you make things grow and keep them happy even if you don’t realize it.” The brunet pinned it to the lapel of his jacket, fingers brushing across the enamel almost fondly.

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“Does that make you the sunflower?” Adam flushed at the unintended suggestion but tried to play it off by rolling his eyes.

“Nah, I’m the moon,” he replied, “all dark and mysterious. I’m a creature of the night, after all.”

“I conveniently forget about your vampire fetish, and yet you always find a way to remind me.”

~_~.~_~

“So, you mentioned vampires this morning, and it got me thinking,” Adam started as he slid into their booth. “You could name yourself after a vampire.”

Casey didn’t bother to look up from his sketchbook. “No.”

“Hear me out. Edward.”

“No.”

“Jasper.”

“Nope.”

“Emmett.” The artist paused, pencil poised above the paper.

“Yeah, no.”

“Oh, come on!” Adam huffed. “What’s wrong with vampires?”

“Nothing, werewolves are just cooler,” was Casey’s reply. The blond rolled his eyes as he opened his lunch box but slid a sandwich across the table nonetheless.

“You’re lucky I like you. I could refuse to feed you for those slanderous words.” He wouldn’t really withhold food, and he figured Casey knew that. The brunet unwrapped the sandwich with practiced ease and took a bite, smirking.

“I know you love me, Adam.”

“You’re a pain in my ass that I tolerate.” Adam took a bite of his sandwich. “What about Seth?”

“What is it with you and Twilight?” The artist complained. “You have so much pop culture to choose from, and that’s what you go with.”

“Fine, lightning round then. Derek, Scott, Peter, Isaac, Tyler, Klaus, Jacob, Paul, Remus, Romulus-”

“You really think I’m gonna use Romulus?” Casey interjected, eyebrows raised.

“You’re the one who likes werewolves.”

“I just think they’re neat,” he shrugged. “You can’t tell me you wouldn’t choose to be a werewolf if you could. I mean, they’re faster, stronger.” In truth, Adam had thought about it. Every human child usually dreamed of becoming a creature or gaining magic until they grew old enough to realize the cons. The blond had wanted to be a vampire from the very first story, and even growing up hadn’t changed that.

“Not the point. You want a new name, and I am offering viable suggestions. Do you have any requirements you’re not telling me?” Casey finished his sandwich and shrugged again, expression guard.

“I don’t know what I want; I don’t know who I am yet.” It was oddly wise coming from the ordinarily acerbic teen, and Adam found that he was unsure of what to say. “I’m gonna run up to the library, be back in a few.”

“I’ll be here,” he replied, watching his friend slide out of the booth and leave the cafeteria. For all the good that being a genius was, Adam still couldn’t ascertain why he actually liked his best friend in that way. They had been friends for years, so why did his feelings change now? Of course, there was good and bad to have a crush on your friend, but the blond wasn’t sure what the good was. Wait. A list!

Adam patted down his pockets and pulled out a piece of scrap paper and a pen with a soft ‘aha'. He paused, looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was behind him, and wrote down the first reason he liked Casey.

He always protects me. It was the core of their friendship, so it was obviously necessary. He cares about my interests even if he doesn’t understand. Casey always asked about whatever Adam was researching, whether he was interested or not. He sends me songs he likes. Music was essential to the brunet just as it was to him, so it was a love they shared. He never pushes me. Casey didn’t push his boundaries, nor did he ever pressure the young genius into things he didn’t want to do. He cares about me. Casey may be emotionally stunted in the kindest of terms, but he showed his feelings through actions rather than words. He may not say it, but Adam knew that he was loved.

Adam realized that there was more he could write. There were plenty of reasons that he should like Casey but just hadn’t seen them before the night they shared a bed or the discussion of another friend. I guess I don’t like the thought of sharing his attention with anyone else.

“You’re wearing your thinking-face.” Adam discretely crumpled up the list and slipped it back into his pocket as Casey slid back into the opposite seat.

“I don’t have a thinking-face,” he replied simply.

“Yeah, you do. Your brows furrow, and you bite the inside corners of your mouth.” The blond wanted to deny those words, but he realized that Casey was right. “What are you thinkin’ so hard about, anyway?”

He lied, obviously. “The fact that I haven’t met your dog yet.” Adam wondered if the older boy believed him, but his expression gave nothing away.

“Come over after school then.”

“Really?” Casey never said it, but the genius knew that he was uncomfortable having guests at his house, even him.

“Sure. Meet Shuri, order pizza. You always entertain me; I guess it’s my turn.” Adam thought about his listen and then mentally tossed it away.

“Okay, let’s hang out at your place.”

Casey’s POV

He wasn’t sure why he offered for Adam to come over. Casey hated being in his house as the vibes were just downright depressive most nights, but he would do anything for his best friend. Even if it meant the brunet was always watching out for things Adam shouldn't see. He watched the blond shove his books haphazardly into the locker, rolling his eyes as he knew he would be the one to fix the mess tomorrow.

The artist’s head turned sharply at the pain that flared behind his eyes, and he found himself staring at Percy. The other boy smiled, but his gaze was calculating in a way that unnerved the brunet. Turning away, Casey shook his head and focused his attention back on his best friend. After yesterday, the teen was convinced that something was different about the Schuyler family. He had a guess as to what.

“You ready?” Casey looked around for the youngest Schuyler, but he had already disappeared into the sea of students.

“Yeah, let’s go.” They joined the crowds milling out of the school and began the trek to Cedar Street. As they walked, Casey resisted the urge to pull out one of the cigarettes when they reached the forest trail.

“Your fingers are twitching; just smoke, dude.” The artist immediately stilled his hands and frowned. I hadn’t even realized.

“I can wait till I get home; I know you hate the smell,” Casey replied while bumping the other boy’s shoulder. True to his word, the older boy waited until they were in his backyard to pull out a cigarette and even stood a few feet from where Adam was playing with Shuri.

“I am never leaving. This is our dog now,” the blond said simply as he rolled around on the grass with the Pitbull.

“You know that what’s mine is yours. Including Shuri,” he added. “You weren’t thinking about my dog at lunch, though.” His friend paused for a split-second, barely noticeable had he not been paying attention.

“I was thinking about the Schuylers.” Something told Casey that wasn’t true either, but he chose not to press and instead took his opening.

“I got some new information and a working theory.” Adam turned to look at him from the ground but continued to pet Shuri, who delighted in the attention. “I met Percy’s older brother, Charlie.”

“I didn’t know he had a brother. Matt only mentioned a sister.”

“He’s clearly the oldest; now stop interrupting.” The blond only grinned. “The family has only been in Ashford for around six months, same with the Hales whom I think are connected, but that is another theory.”

“You’ve connected the dots,” he intoned.

“Shut the fuck up, yes, I’ve connected them. Put it all together, dude. The Schuylers are all adopted; they just moved to town, Percy has that weird-ass tension with the Hales, and then their eyes.”

“You’re giving plenty of evidence, but no actual theory, bro.” Adam pointed out, back to focusing on the dog. “Just spit it out.”

“Vampires, dude. They have to be vampires.” The blond froze for a moment before his head whipped around to face Casey. “I know, we don’t know shit about vampires, but it’s a possibility. If I had access to the creature forums, then I’m sure I could find out for sure.” That was the one downside of the creature community. They valued their privacy.

Many online forums catered explicitly to creatures or their human friends in the know but were password-protected. Human-oriented libraries rarely had any literature about creatures that weren’t trashy harlequin novels. At the same time, online sources were almost always supremacists spewing hate about people they did not understand. Casey had spent hours scouring the internet once, doing his best to find any information. Still, there was nothing he could access. It only emboldened his desire to learn about who the humans shared their world with.

“You know the laws still protect their right to privacy,” Adam stated, holding out his hand so the shorter boy could pull him up. They ended up nearly nose to nose, and he could have sworn the genius was blushing.

“For how long?” Casey countered. “You know the laws are being changed and repealed every day. They want to have creatures identify themselves; they even have a bill in motion to require it for all ages.” They moved back into the house now, Adam flopping down onto the couch and letting Shuri settle across his lap.

“So, it really is just a theory with very little evidence to back it up, huh?”

Casey sighed, shoulders slumping. “Yeah.”

“Alrighty, I’m with you then. Tell me how the Hales tie in, I guess.” Casey smiled, a fluttering feeling in the pit of his stomach, when the blond smiled back and settled in for the second part of his theory.