Without Me

Passageway

Classes happened as though nothing happened. Jonathan couldn't remember a single thing the teachers taught in the classes after lunch. He wasn't focused at all and he knew why but he just couldn't do anything about it. He sighed as he packed his bag after the bell rang. Jonathan could only guess that Shou wanted to meet him in the dorm since that was more or less their meeting place without a doubt.

"Hey, Jonathan. Sorry you had a fight with Chuck earlier but... he's... well, he's not doing so good either so I thought I'll just mention it," Ares said as he walked over to Jonathan since they shared the same class. Jonathan stared at him for a short while before nodding with a blank look on his face.

"Thanks for telling me," Jonathan replied blandly. "But I have to go now. You just keep being his friend."

With that, he walked past the boy and headed back to his dorm. He had other things to think about now. He didn't want to think that blaming Chuck or anyone at all was a good idea. Everyone was different and have their own point of views. Jonathan just wished Chuck didn't make it such a huge deal. Plus he couldn't have had avoided Shou when he was his roommate. He hoped he didn't accidentally pull Ares into this too with what he had said earlier. Though it was true that Ares hadn't told Chuck anything much about his relationship with Viktor. Jonathan had just stumbled upon it by accident.

He entered his dorm and tossed his bag aside. He let out a deep suppressed groan as he sat down and clutched his head. He wanted to just lash out at something, just to throw whatever leftover pent up frustrations there were away. But he knew he couldn't so he started breathing as calmly as he could again. The door opened and shut as Shou entered. Jonathan glanced at him as the other approached him. At first, he had this excited look but the moment he saw Jonathan, his expression dampened slightly.

"Are you okay, dude? You don't look too well," Shou said with a worried tone as he dragged his seat over to Jonathan who moved his hands away and nodded.

"Yeah. I... got into an argument but nevermind about that. What about you? Why did you want to meet me so early?" He asked, trying to distract himself from whatever was happening. Shou raised a brow but nodded.

"I'll ask you later but now. Now is the big reveal. So I was following a teacher who had been going around suspiciously and today. Bam. I found something. Finally! He entered the gym storage room so I followed him in after. Next thing I knew, he disappeared!" Shou explained excitedly despite trying to hold back slightly. Jonathan could tell he was trying to fit the atmosphere and he felt apologetic about it yet thankful somehow that Shou was controlling his excitement. This was definitely interesting though. Jonathan regained some of his lost willpower and nodded.

"So he disappeared... Did you check the entire storage room? Just to be sure?" Jonathan asked. Shou nodded.

"Of course! I had to be sure or else I wouldn't be telling you about it. There might be a secret passageway in there. I just know it but I don't know where," Shou replied. A secret passageway...

"Would that be too far-fetched though? A regular school. Built on a secret passageway?" Jonathan asked as he gave it some thought. Shou shrugged and pursed his lips.

"Maybe but I know there's something in the storage room. And I'm going to find it tomorrow during free time. This is where I need your help," Shou said and Jonathan was all ears. He motioned Shou to continue. "Look. I don't want to put you into trouble so all you have to do is stand watch for me as I search inside. Tell me if there are any teachers nearby and maybe students too. I don't want anyone else to find out or you and I both will get into deep trouble."

Jonathan couldn't exactly disagree at this point. There was something there. A curious feeling yet one that harbored possible ill intent as well. Jonathan thought it through. It might work but they would need to work out on other things too.

"Alright. I'll help but if there are any problems, you bolt the s**t out of the storage at once. Promise me," Jonathan said and Shou let out a chuckle before nodding.

"Promise. Cross my heart," he said and grinned slightly. Jonathan offered back a small smile.

"Good. Also, we should use knocking as an indicator. One knock for approaching, two for danger and three for get the hell out. We cool?" He asked after his suggestion and Shou easily agreed, fancying the idea too.

"Great! I knew I could count on you!" Jonathan let out an awkward laugh with what Shou had said and rubbed his arm. He didn't think he was dependable in the slightest bit but as long as he could help, he was glad enough. "So, now that that's over with, tell me about your problem. I've shared mine so it's only fair I get to hear from you too."

Jonathan was definitely surprised that Shou actually wanted to know. He wasn't sure how to tell him though.

"Well... the gist of it... is my friend told me to stay away from you and another friend but I didn't know he was referring to you since he didn't know your name or looks. He found out today when you came to the cafeteria and his overreaction just... ticked me off. Sorry."

Shou blinked and laughed after that. Jonathan was surprised and rather confused as to why Shou was laughing. "Oh dear. That's it? God, Jonathan, geez. I'm sorry. I don't think laughing was the right action but... Hoo boy. I didn't think you would have gotten mad over something like that."

"Yeah... I accidentally say things that... well."

"That you actually mean. It's cool, dude. I've been shunned quite a lot of times, mostly because of my ethnicity and personality but... to think that someone actually stood up for me. Thank you, Jonathan. That was more than I could ever ask for."

Jonathan raised his brows and smiled sadly, to think that the other had to face this kind of treatment. Not that his past had been any better or worse.