The Captain

The Relief

And all that counts

Is here and now

My universe will never be the same

I'm glad you came

The wanted- Glad you came

____________________________________

Paul woke up to the sweet smell of Toast, eggs and grapes. He stretched from the carpet below opening his eyes and taking in his surroundings. He had slept over at the Cooper's after last night’s weird incident. He glanced around to find Fiona and Harris sleeping soundly on the carpet next to him. Sighing, he pulled out his phone to call home when he took notice of the time.

It was 8:00.

.....And they had a soccer meeting with college sub's that day.

Paul cried out loud startling the Cooper's as they woke up wondering what was going on. Paul simply pointed at the time as he was panicking too much to speak. Harris looked at the time and realized they were simply late for school... Then it dawned on him.

It was the day they were supposed to meet the sub's.

"Nooooo!!" He screeched running up to his room and quickly raced back down with a toothbrush hanging from his mouth and fresh pair of cloths for him and Paul.

"Hurry hurry hurry!" Harris cried quickly changing from his cloths and covering himself with deodorant.

"Let's go let's go!" Paul hurriedly grabbed Fiona's keys and run outside with Harris quick on his tail.

Fiona simply shook her head and headed towards the kitchen to see what was cooking. Eh, she'll just skip school.

Paul drove like a mad horse. Breaking every road regulation possible. He zoomed pass all red lights till they finally arrived at school with Harris clutching unto his dear heart and their hair a mess.

With a driving like that he thought they were going to die!

The boys didn't spare anytime at all, they quickly raced to the bleachers where the gathering had already began. Wolfhard looked at them suspiciously as the boys took their seats heaving pants and blinking wildly. Harris just thanked his angels they had made it in time. He slumped down unto the bench and leaned back breathing like the world was running out of oxygen and he needed to get enough into his system.

Paul wasn't any better. He had chosen to lie in the grass bellow Harris to catch his breath zoning out whatever the sub's were preaching.

After all, all they had to do was show up and get their names registered right?

Harris sighed and took in his surroundings. Not a single soccer player had missed the meeting. They all knew how important this was for their lives and career. Harris sighed again looking at all the faces which had their attention focused on the college coach speaking.

Not a single face even closely resembled the face he was looking for.

Lesley was the only absentee. But Harris knew one had to be present to get their names down or they could kiss playing at states goodbye.

Did that mean Lesley wouldn't be playing with them at states? Then he'll be leaving the Wolfhard team then. So he would be going back to his old school?

Harris was doing it again. Over thinking. Maybe he should give all this a break? Push the whole Lesley issue to one side and concentrate on himself.

After all Lesley barely gives a crap about him right?

He groaned and run his gaze around the school field to distract himself from all the talk when he thought he saw........

Lesley?

Harris wasn't sure because as soon as he set eyes on the person, he disappeared behind one of the school buildings.

Lesley was back?

Harris didn't waste anytime at all. He quickly shot up from his seat jogging towards the school.

Mason who had his eyes on the dirty blonde the whole time saw the boy quickly shoot up from his seat and running towards the school. He called him out a few times but it turned futile, Harris barely heard him at the speed at which he was running now.

He arrived at where he thought he had seen Lesley but there was nobody there. He jogged into the school and check the hallways along with the locker rooms but still nothing.

Sighing at how stupid he had been, he decided to just check out the washroom before taking his leave.

The stalls were empty since it was first period and no one was allowed to leave class at that time. Panting, Harris held unto the sink and lowered his head catching his breath.

So it wasn't Lesley he saw?

Harris groaned at himself for thinking he saw Lesley. Has it gotten into his head that much to be hallucinating?

"Miss me?"

Harris span around in a flash to find Lesley behind him.

He was here.

Lesley had on his iconic smug look and short thick dark hair. He was in black pants and a black T-shirt with his school bag hanging on one side. He leaned against one of the stall doors with his chocolate brown eyes fixed on Harris making Harris feel uncomfortable under his watch. Harris noticed he looked better now. There were no more bags under his eyes and he didn't look as thin as before either.

Harris didn't know what to say now that Lesley was really in front of him. He was lost for words.

"Get over yourself." Harris scoffed leaning against the sink.

He was happy to see Lesley. Very. But he definitely was going to say that or show it for it to get into the dipshits head.

Harris felt his insides sink. He didn't know someone showing up in school could cause so much relief.

The boys were standing still looking at each other without talking, and strange enough that didn't feel strange at all.

Lesley noticed how satisfying it was to see Harris again, weird enough he was relieved to see the asshole after a week of being away. But he wouldn't admit it of course. He was Lesley.

Lesley noticed Harris' stressful look. He had light bags around his eyes with his hair looking like a science experiment gone wrong.

"You look like shit." Lesley said.

Harris snickered shaking his head,

"Coming from you I'll take that as a compliment."

Lesley snorted and moved towards the sink, the farthest Harris was and began washing his hands.

Harris was thinking of apologizing, no matter how his ego was inflated right now that felt like the right thing to do. How was he going to say it anyway?

I'm sorry I stumbled upon your erotic stash?

Ok that sounded weird. But Harris had noticed something that day, the envelope hadn't ever been opened until he had sneaked to take a peek. Which meant Lesley knew what was in the envelope but didn't ever open it.

For some reason that brought a comforting feeling to Harris.

"Hey uhhh........ Can we talk?" Harris asked feeling an awkward feeling. They couldn't just ignore the huge elephant in the room. They had to get this over with one way or another right?

Lesley looked up from his soapy hands and gave him an incredulous look.

Harris cleared his throat and kicked himself of the sink and turned to face Lesley.

"About what happened last two weeks I just....." Harris flicked his thumb around each other feeling very nervous under Lesley's watch. Why is he even feeling nervous? This never happened.

"I just..... I want you to.."

Lesley wasn't saying anything which was making this really hard for Harris. He simply stared at Harris not shifting his gaze, partly because he wanted to hear what Harris really had to say. And this made Lesley nervous.

"I just want you to know you could talk to me if you need anything...." Harris said with his voice fading out. He slightly glanced up to see what Lesley's expression held but well, Lesley being typical Lesley had on a blank expression.

Lesley knew what Harris meant by 'you could talk to me'. Harris was talking about the magazines he had found in his locker which would make a normal person insinuate he was gay. But he wasn't..... Maybe he was. He wasn't sure. He didn't know.

The issue was, Coach beck was trying to help out when he realized Lesley was confused with his sexuality, affecting his performance at school and that of football as well. Lesley had adamantly and clearly stated he didn't need the books but the coach gave it to him anyway trying to help.

Lesley then stuck them in his locker to dispose of them later when well....... What happened happened.

It felt weird hearing Harris say what he just said. It didn't sound pitiful, he actually wanted to help.

And Lesley wasn't sure whether to be relieved or mad.

"You can umm.... You could get my number from the soccer group chat if you want to...." Harris trailed of. He looked expectantly at Lesley for any emotion or expression of that sort but nothing.

Harris didn't even have any idea what help he was going to offer because he knew little about these things as Lesley did. But it felt good to actually offer for an assistance, especially if it was to Lesley. Because Harris still felt guilty.

Harris nodded and looked at Lesley taking strides back until he turned around and sauntered out of the washroom completely.

Lesley stood there replaying all he had just heard. He realized harris was acting nice which was weird, but that wasn't what mattered now. What matters was Harris knew Lesley could be gay and was ok with it. He had even offered to help which was highly comforting.

The whole week he had spent in Cali at his dad’s funeral, Lesley was bothered by what Harris would be thinking of him now. He was so worked up he didn't even want to get back to school, afraid Harris would look at him with disgust. It made him almost miss his flight this morning.

But here he was, with Harris actually being caring. Lesley couldn't help but smile.

It felt..........nice.

He finished washing his hands and joined the other soccer players at the bleachers

Harris saw Lesley taking a seat not as farther away as he always sat and this made Harris smile. In silence, they all listened to what another coach had stood up to say but Harris was finding it difficult to do that.

Not when Lesley had finally shown up, not when he just spoke to him. Harris would steal glances at Lesley now and then. He didn't know why he felt so relieved but it felt good.

Mason who had seen Lesley join them at the bleachers got worked up.

He thought the douchebag had disappeared for good.

When he looked around and saw Harris with a permanent light smile on his face, mason knew something was up. For a week he lived without Lesley and he enjoyed every second of that moment because Lesley wasn't around to soak up Harris' attention. But now he was back.

Mason couldn't deny it anymore, he's gradually turning into the jealous best friend. He didn't care how much the two were at each other’s throat, he simply didn't want Lesley anywhere near Harris.

The meeting ended and everyone got up and dispersed.

"Yo wassup." Paul jogged to catch up with Harris. He woke up when he heard the meeting was over and they were supposed to get their names down. Now they were done with everything and they were heading back to the classroom. Lesley had disappeared right after to god knows where. Harris was just glad he got to see him today.

No he wasn't glad. He thought to himself. He was merely relieved, that's all. Just a relief.

Nothing more.

"Look who finally woke up." Harris snickered and hit paul lightly in a jest manner.

Paul scoffed and ruffled his own hair,

"I'm still creeped out by last night though. What the hell happened back there?"

"I have no idea Paul. I'm just glad we got out alive." Harris sighed rethinking the events of the night. Whoever scared them like that definitely knew how to prank.

Harris had his suspicions. Initially he thought wheeler might have had a hand in it but he realized wheeler was beyond that. He meant Come on, wheeler? Really? Even Harris scoffed at his own thoughts.

Then he thought of mason. Harris wasn't blind, of course he had noticed how different mason had been acting. Especially anytime Lesley popped up in Harris' conversation. He knew mason might be a little jealous but he didn't even get the point of it all. Harris and Lesley were always at each others throat, is that not what mason might want?

But then mason didn't know they were going to pay Lesley a visit so maybe he was out of the picture.

"Hey do you think... you know hypothetically speaking, that it could be mason?" Harris asked with a ceased brow.

Paul gave him an incredulous look,

"Mason? Really?"

Harris shrugged, "well I dont know. Just saying. It could be anybody right?"

"Yh. But let's just not jump into conclusions alright?" Paul said as they exited the fields fence.

"Hey can we go back to your place? I mean...we dont have books, we haven't taken our baths and I'm practically reeking from all that running and our hair looks like s**t and ....."

"Alright you could have just said you want to skip school." Harris laughed flicking Paul's ear.

Paul rolled his eyes, "Yh that works too."

In as much as Harris wanted to stay and see more of Lesley... He didn't know why he just did, they had to get back and clean up. He was glad Lesley was back and being his cocky self as hideous as that sounds. But that made Harris get some sense of peace because now things were back to normal.

Well not exactly normal since Harris now knew a deep secret of Lesley before Lesley even found it himself. And Harris was glad Lesley didn't push him away. It made him feel as if he had gotten a new friend....

Wait, scratch that....... Harris thought. We aren't friends. I still hate him........And he probably hates me more.

So we definitely aren't friends.

Right?