Bet part 2!

After numerous pictures and a few crossdressing jokes, the group of teenagers piled into Henry's van with Larry in the driver's seat.

"This isn't my truck Larry," Lisa began in a stern tone. "Not one single scratch or I'm taking your Sanity's Fall albums." She aimed a finger at him threateningly. "And no spiking the punch bowl."

The teen shrugged. "Well, there goes my night's plans."

Lisa tugged on some hair that fell from her son's ponytail, she looked over to Sal. "Keep him in line Sally."

Sal saluted the woman. "Always Lisa." He replied getting chuckle out of Larry.

Lisa rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Have fun you troublemakers."

"Of course mom." Larry revved the van and Lisa stepped back from the vehicle. The van was put in gear and pulled away from the apartments.

Neil leaned up between the front seats from the back. "So...." He began with an amused drawl. "Sal, any nerves about being seen by the rest of our school?"

It didn't take long for those words to sink in. Sal turned to him, eyes narrowed. "Now I am." He shifted his eyes to Larry. "I'm blaming you, asshole." He lightly punches Larry's arm.

Larry gasped in offence. "Excuse me. They'll only be staring in awe and jealousy." The lanky teen declared. "You'll blow over half the girl's out of the water."

"You're welcome." Neil chimed in with a smug tone in his voice.

"Sit back Neil." Larry ordered. "Or else I'll do a brake check." He spared a glance away the road, a smirk on his face. Sal took a preparatory grab on his seatbelt in case Larry went through with it. Neil quickly fell back into the backseat and strapped on his own belt, Todd chuckling at his side.

Larry chuckled to himself lowly, his attention back on not driving Henry's van into a ditch.

The school gym was not-to shittily decorated considering the lack luster committee behind it all, they managed to afford a decent DJ after all. No eyes turned to the group as the seven walked in, at least not right away.

Sal stuck close to his date as the number of eyes on him slowly grew. Curiosity and confusion, maybe some disgust. Larry wraps and arm around his shoulder, giving him a gentle squeeze in comfort.

"Do you want to leave?" He asked loud enough to be heard over the music but quiet enough for no one else to hear.

Sal shook his head silently. He lost the bet, he'll take the punishment.

"Alright." Larry murmured, uncertainty in his tone, leading his date further into the gym.

The group gathered near the propped open doors that lead outside, like any other group of outcasts. Neil and Todd danced together close by, big smiles on their faces as their own world parted them from reality. Ash bopped along to the music at the edge of the mass of students. Maple and Chug leaned against each other their entwined hands swinging gently between them.

Sal watched their friends enjoy themselves and their dates. At the last dance the school had, Ash got into an argument with the hired photographer and Neil dared Larry to spike the punch bowl with the whiskey flask he had on him. The number of teens that ended up drunk that night was hilarious, you could tell who were lightweights.

It's a bit weird now, stares aside.

"Sally Face?" A voice rose above the noise. Oh no. "Are you seriously wearing a dress?!"

Blonde hair, tanned skin, fading bruises, and nicely dressed, Travis pushed through the crowd. Disbelief widened his eyes as he took in the sight of the blue haired teen's clothing.

Larry stepped forward, more than ready to tell Travis to get bent, but Sal grabbed on to his sleeve and pulled him back. "Yes, Traaaavis." Sal answered with mockery in his voice. "Don'tcha wish your date was hot like me?" He popped his hip with sass, leaning his upper body towards Larry.

The taller teen gave a gross snort about his date's response to the religious asshole.

"Gay." Travis commented but continued eyeing Sal's ensemble, occasionally focusing on his makeup.

""Love your neighbors as you love yourself."" Neil quoted materializing into the conversation, his expression was calm like some corny monk mentor before glaring at Travis. "You fucking hypocritical bimbo."

The blonde met Neil's glare with his own. "I don't need to be hearing a heavenly law from a sin ridden faggot."

"Guys," Sal tried to interject himself into the battle of religion vs moral.

Neil held up his hand to quiet him, annoyance and determination in his expression. Where is Todd to contain his boyfriend?

"Isn't envy a deadly sin Travis?" Neil asked, crossing his arms and staring the blonde down. "You certainly look green with it."

Sal looked to Larry for some sort of help but the stoner was just enjoying the show. The short teen raised his eye to the gym ceiling, quietly begging for some entity to present a diversion. The two opposing teens started getting attention from their schoolmates around them. Great.

The blue haired teen stepped forward into the verbal battle. "Guys." Larry gave a disappointed groan behind him.

Travis turned on him mid-insult. "Fuck off drag show!" A collection of "Ooohs" followed the statement as the center four comprehended what had been said.

Now the rest of the usual group of friends showed up, watching for the reactions of the bully and other three.

Larry reacted first in a surprisingly calm way. The metal head took hold on Sal's wrist gently and pulled him into the mass of bodies but not before aggressively bumping Travis aside, the blue haired teen followed in an almost mindless manner. A pained grunt could barely be heard behind them over the new song rising from the DJ's speakers. Neil must have gotten Travis too.

Larry spun Sal skillful and pulled him close, initiating a slow dance. A large slender hand settled itself in the curve of Sal's back.
Automatically, the shorter teen rested his free hand on his date's bicep. The two then swayed together to the music, ignoring the mass of gossiping classmates and concerned friends.

"Impressive." Sal spoke finally after what felt like eons. Larry gave him a curious look.
"You didn't start a fight with Travis for once." He explained.

The metalhead responded with a shrug as if the blonde asshole insulting his best friend hadn't bothered him. "I wanted to but," he looked down at Sal with a rarely sight of seriousness I'm his eyes, "then we'd get kicked out and that would sorta ruin our homecoming."

Sal could only roll his eye. "And last homecoming wasn't a wreck?"

A chuckled emitted from Larry. "I didn't exactly plan to give up my drink but Neil dared me to." The taller teen subtly tugged the other closer, shrinking the space between them. "And no one could stop Ash from fighting the photographer, so that's not my fault."

"How many parents got called to pick up their drunk kids?" Sal questioned teasingly, raising a colored-in eyebrow.

A casual grin spread across Larry's face showing off the charming gap between his teeth. "I blame Neil. His idea, his dare, his fault."

Sal snickered quietly. The prior disturbance forgotten for all but a moment.
"Do I look that weird in a dress? Like a drag show?" He asked looking down at their two bodies self-consciously.

Larry's grin fell, seeing Sal get upset about his appearance. He looked great, beautiful even. Personally, Larry hoped Sal would show his scars, but the small teen did wear makeup pretty well.
"Nah, man." Larry assured him. "Real drag queens, you can tell are dudes in makeup. You wear it better and look pretty natural."

Sal lift his head again with a deadpanned expression. "That's almost as concerning as looking like a drag queen."

Larry barked a laugh, abruptly twirling Sal again before bringing them both chest to chest. "What does it matter?" He asked lowly. "I said you'd blow over half the girls here out of the water and I'm fucking right."

Sal couldn't help the smile that grew on his lips, he rested his head on Larry's chest as they continued swaying with the music. The song ended and a new one began, the duo left the dance floor and their friends for the beverage table.

"No spiking the punch bowl." Sal reminded Larry with a sly grin. Larry rolled his eyes and grabbed two half filled cups.

Leaning down close to Sal's ear Larry's voice rumbled smoothly. "Then how about I just spike our drinks?" He patted the pocket of his jeans where both teens knew Larry stashed his flask.

"You can keep your drink." Sal took his unspiked drink from his date's slender hand. "But I do want a cigarette." He murmured.

Larry nodded in understanding, placing a hand on Sal's back, he guided the way to the propped open doors toward the outside. Bypassing a sulking Travis who didn't seem to notice them leaving.

The evening was cold with the air of oncoming winter as the two leaned against the stone wall. Larry extracted a cigarette pack from his back pocket then handed it to Sal before pulling out his flask and pouring some of the contents into his cup. Meanwhile, Sal maneuvered the removal of a single tobacco tube and the lighter while still holding the cup of punch.

Carefully lighting the cigarette, Ash's warning whispering softly in his mind, he sucked in the igniting drag to exhale the cloud of harsh grey smoke.

The two were silent as one drank and the other smoked against the wall. Sal gave up his cup when Larry's emptied of the punch and liquor concoction for him to mix again.

Larry took the first sip of his refreshed drink, a somber expression. "So, uh, Sally Face," He began, turning his head to face the blue haired teen.

"Larry Face?" Sal habitually turned to face the metal head with a curious expression.

Larry chewed on his lower lip in a moments thought. "Are we, like, uh. . . Are we dating?" He asked.

Sal was silent, taking another drag from the cigarette as he contemplated his answer. He blew smoke in his date's face with another sly smile. "I don't see why not." He answered finally, shifting to lean against the taller teen.

A grin spread across Larry's face as Sal snuggled into him. Wrapping an arm around Sal's shoulders and hugged him close.

"There you two are!" A voice interrupted the tender moment.

The cuddling twosome turned to the voice and found Ash peering out of the open door. She had an incredibly smug grin on her face seeing how cute her friends were being by themselves. Larry glared at her for the interruption. "Picture time fellas." She chirped and disappeared back into the gym.

Sal dropped the cigarette butt, grinding it into the concrete with his boot, then began walking towards the doors. Larry pulled him back by his waist, the metal head pecked a kiss at the corner of Sal's mouth.
He meant to kiss Sal's cheek but owned the outcome that had already happened.

The blue haired one thanked every entity out there and Ash that the thick makeup hid his flushed reaction.

A sparse amount of students remained on the dance floor when the two walked back inside, the majority lining up along the wall in groups either eating small snacks or waiting to take pictures with their friends and/or dates.
The two joined their group closer to the end of the picture lineup.

"Where'd you two run off two?" Neil pried, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Neil..." Todd nudged his boyfriend as a warning.

Larry just shrugged. "Stepped out for a smoke break." Sal answered.

Neil nodded exaggeratedly as if that wasn't all he believed they did.
"Relax Neil," Ash butted in with a wave of her hand. "I only found them cuddling in the cold."

The male teen scolded and dug into his pocket. "Dammit." He muttered lowly, pulling a bill out of his pocket and slapping it into Ash's open palm.
The girls grinned smugly as she skipped the bill into her bra.

Larry and Sal exchanged a shared look of unsurprised indifference.
"So," Sal spoke up. "Who's all buying a picture?"

"More importantly, how are we all posing?" Larry asked.

"How ever we want, of course." Neil answered like it was obvious.

"Ash just wants to be in the center." Todd added, pushed his glasses further up his nose.

Ash crossed her arms. "Hey, single ladies gotta be in the middle of her nonsingle friends." She stated as if it were a fact.

"Like some kinda advertisement?" Larry asked with a raised brow and a grin.

The girl flushed a deep red. "Shut up." She growled dangerously. The four boys involved in the conversation just chuckled quietly at her.

Slowly, oh so slowly, the line shortened til the group of outcasts were up next for their pictures.

"I hate social events." Todd grumbled pouting as he leaned against his boyfriend.

Neil combed his fingers through Todd's orange-ish curls as a soothing attempt. "After pictures are done, let's get in at least one more dance then we'll bust a move to the van." He promised.

"Are we not gonna asked the driver?" Larry piped up sounding almost offended.

"No." Neil deadpanned. Larry flipped him off and quickly ducked his head as a teacher passed by.

The group shuffled in front of the backdrop when their turn came.
Ash, as guaranteed, took center of their group, lying on the floor in a "draw me like one of your French girls" pose. Chug and Maple stood to her left in the traditional "him holding her" pose.
Neil, being the slightly over the top kind, decided to hold Todd in a dipping movement as if they were dancing off the the right of Ash. Which left the remaining two in the middle behind Ash, Larry simply decided to hold Sal bridal style.

Just as the flash of the camera blinded the entire group, a downpour of a fruit scented drink rained down upon them.
Ash screamed at the sudden cold clingy to her, she sat up trying to stop ice from slipping down her dress. Neil slipped, dropping Todd then hitting the ground harshly next to him with a yelp. Chug managed to push Maple back, taking most of the backlash than splattered off the drenched center three.
Larry stood with Sal still in his arms, the overly strained hairtie broke in the sudden heave of liquid leaving his hair to fall in his face tunnelling his view of the glaring blonde standing behind the moron that splashed them with punch.

This meant war.

Sal hand gone very quiet as the other humiliated teens checked each other over for anything serious and teachers came to investigate the situation. His head hung low not facing the crowd that whispered and scoffed and snickered at them.

"You alright, Sal?" Larry asked with concern, leaving his own anger for later.

Ash looked up at the two and quickly got to her feet. "We got to get him out off here." She hissed. "That makeup isn't water proof."

Larry's eyes widened at the realization. "Lets get out of here." He spoke loud enough for the other four to hear.

Todd helped Neil to his feet, who started clutching his shoulder almost immediately afterward. Chug and Maple just nodded taking the forefront of their group and pushing people out of the way.
The teachers said nothing of the actions as an understanding thought the group would be grumpy after public humiliation.

It didn't take long to get out of the school nor to get to the van but the one that were hit with punch were freezing. Larry could feel Sal trembling in his grip as he barely managed to unlock the drivers seat.
Once everyone was in and the vehicle started he just let it sit there, turning the hot air on blast in hopes to warm up the van faster. Sadly it took a few minutes for the air to even turn warm but there was a collective sigh of relief when it did.

Larry looked over Sal who had stayed in his lap. The smaller teen gave the occasional shiver but remained silent.

"I swear to fucking god..." Neil groaned from the backseat. "I am going to beat the ever loving SHIT out of the fucker who had the idea to waste a bowl of fucking fruit punch on us." He gave a yelp as Todd grabbed his hurt shoulder.

"I'm going to move you to the passenger seat." Larry muttered gently to Sal then lifting the smaller teen off his lap.

Sal didn't say or do anything as he was seated in the passenger seat. His stiff, frozen hair hid any expression that may have been on his face.
Larry buckled him in then himself. "You guys settled in?" He asked twisting around to look at the other teens.
Everyone nodded, Neil grumbling with a purely pissed off expression and a 300% done Todd hold his hand; Ash shivered clutching Neil's, Todd's, and Chug's jackets around herself; Chug and Maple sat quietly in the far back.

Larry shifted the van into gear and steered away from the school building.
Maple, Ash, then Todd at Neil's were all dropped off. Nobody had really spoken during the trips but the can was really quiet without Neil's grumbling and vague threats.

Chug said his farewells and see you later at the elevator.

Larry and Sal stood in the lobby silent as the noise of the elevator faded away.
The metal head looked to Sal tiredly. "Wanna crash at my place?" He asked softly. "You can borrow one of my shirts for pyjamas."

At last for the evening, Sal lifted his head he didn't look up at Larry but it still was something. "Yea. I feel too gross to wait that long for a shower anyway."

Larry gave a snort in response then pressed the call button for the elevator. "Shame we can't have a smoke when we get downstairs, mine are all soaked." He said, a grimace adorning his face as he clutched the mushed outline in his pocket.

"You, a stoner, are out of something to smoke?" Sal questioned teasingly turning his head to show just the upturned corner of his mouth.

The elevator doors opened as a new grin showed itself on the metalhead. "So you wanna get stoned?" Larry asked. "That's rare."

The two boarded the metal box, Sal not turning until Larry slipped his card into the slot and pressing the button for the basement. "After what happened tonight," the blued haired teen began, "getting stoned doesn't sound so bad."

The main room was dark in Larry's apartment, Lisa must have went to bed or was called on for one of the upper floors.

"You can get a shower started, I'll bring you some clothes." Larry said quietly in case Lisa had been home.

Sal nodded quietly and stepped through the living room then into the bathroom. Larry watched him go before turning to head to his room. Nearly passing his mother's room, the metalhead leaned in close nearly touching his ear to the door, he could hear the sound of snoring. Relaxing, Larry continued to his room, gathered up a clean shirt and a snug pair of boxers as promised before walking back to the main room.

He knocked softly on the bathroom door. A "come in" came from the other side.

Larry opened the door slowly, peering in first before steeping in. The shower was running but Sal hadn't even undressed, he was rubbing at his face with some water out of the sink.

"You okay there, Sally Face?" He asked gently, shutting the toilet lid then setting the clothes atop it.

Sal replied with a grunt behind his hands, when he dropped them to let the water run over them, pale colored droplets dripping from his fingertips. "Yea, just washing the rest of this stuff off." He said, looking up but not facing the other teen. Part of his reflection showed in the mirror Larry could see the scarred side of his face where some of the wax still clung to his flesh.

From the decorative basket on the toilet, Larry grabbed a wash cloth and handed it to the blue haired teen. "This should help." He said.

Sal shook his head. "That's too coarse." He splashed more water into his face, rubbing away the makeup with his bare hands.
Larry watched him for a few minutes before returning the cloth to its basket.
When Sal finished washing away the makeup he dabbed his face dry with a clean towel then eyed Larry curiously as the metal head still hasn't left to the bathroom.

The taller teen stepped closer to the shorter, an unfamiliar look in his tired eyes.
He took Sal's face in his slender hands gently causing the blue haired teen to blush, the coloration now noticeable without the thick makeup or his trademark mask. A grin stretched across Larry's face.

"Heya handsome." He said in a deep rumble. Larry's grin widened as the shorter teen's face turned an incredible shade of red.
The metal head gave a chuckle then leaned in slowly.

Two pairs of lips touched, gentle and nervous at first, then, again with more confidence.

Larry couldn't tell how Sal was reacting to the kiss but the smaller teen wasn't complaining so he assumed it was alright. He slipped his left hand from Sal's face to his neck, deepening the kiss. The tiny sigh that escaped the smaller teen was music to his ears, feeling Sal's hands crawl their way up his chest causing Larry to release a pleasant hum.

Then, Sal pulled away, pushing back his recently dubbed boyfriend, his face about as red as a bottle of hot sauce. The metal head couldn't help the cocky grin spreading across his face.

"I..." The blue haired teen paused to gather the mess of thoughts rolling around in his head. "I still need to shower," he managed to say albeit a bit breathless, "s-so do you." He pushed Larry back a little farther.

Larry's hold on the smaller teen relaxed, he nodded. "Sure thing, baby blues." He chuckled at Sal as he hid his face in his hands. "I'll give you some privacy." The metal head gently pulled one of Sal's pale hands from his face to press a sweet kiss on the smaller's forehead before leaving the bathroom to let the shy teen have his shower in peace.

He strolled casually but quietly back to his room, the grin seeming to not leave his face. Once he entered his room, Larry left the door open just a crack and carried on into the bedroom stripping off his tie and stiff dress shirt, dropping them to the ground. Sitting on the unmade bed he kicked off his nicer pair of sneakers then pulled off his socks.

Everything smelt of fruit punch, it filled the room drowning out the usual smell of dirty laundry, weed, and general teen adolescence bringing both good thoughts and angry plotting. Good thoughts like the wonderful kiss that happened just moments ago, plotting the revenge the shitty priest's son had coming on Monday. But Larry decided to just revel in the good and leave the revenge for Monday. The prick's had it long since coming.

Once both teens had their showers they curled up comfortably together on Larry's bed passing a lit joint between themselves.