ᵒᵖᵖᵒˢⁱᵗᵉˢ ᵃᵗᵗʳᵃᶜᵗ

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❝ opinions change. ❞
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𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚, 𝐛𝐞𝐞-𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝. You missed breakfast this morning due to sleeping in, which was a shocker to your parents. They thought you were in some kind of funk all of sudden, your mother having to slow you down from running around the house trying to gather your things for school.

"Hungry?"

You glanced over, finding Will watching you with an amused smile. You eyed the plastic cup filled with the familiar caffeine in his hand, one of the last in the fridge propped up on the table.

With a sigh, he handed it to you and you smirked, bumping his shoulder as you reached for a stacked sandwich. "Very. Forgot to eat this morning."

"Yeah, you were dead asleep when I was leaving," he nodded to himself. "I was gonna bug you for a ride."

"I'm glad I missed that then," you sighed in relief, your brother rolling his eyes at your snark. 

"Oh, I have to tell you!" Will suddenly perked up, practically slamming his lunch tray onto the table. The counter shook, and you flinched as a dozen extra trays fell to the ground. He was good enough to look sheepish, sending the lunch ladies apologies before bringing his attention back to you. "I got asked to homecoming!"

Finally, Layla had the guts too-

"I'm going with Gwen!"

Your soft smile dropped in a split second, eyes furrowing slightly as your lip quirked downwards. "Wait, Gwen?"

"Yeah, Gwen."

"As in my friend Gwen?"

"Yes."

"Techno-path Gwen?"

"Yes...?"

"Brunette Gwen who sits with me all the time Gwen?"

"Okay, five times. You've said her name five times in the span of ten seconds," Will furrowed his brows in mild confusion. "What about it? Why are you acting weird?"

"It's just, um, you know, you're a child," you deadpanned. "And she's not so much of a child. Like you are literally just entering high school and she's about to finish, so, I hope you can see my concern here-."

"You're making this weird," your brother chided, squeezing his eyes shut in a grimace. 

"Me?" you sputtered. 

"Yeah. Gwen and I are just going as friends."

You squinted your eyes accusatorially, watching as Will gulped soft enough for you to almost miss it. You didn't. 

"You're just going as friends? So you don't like her?"

"Of course I like her-."

"Then it's weird," you shrugged. "I think I might end the friendship, not gonna lie."

"Don't do that," Will scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Besides, who are you going to homecoming with?"

"Who says I'm going with anyone?" you asked, glancing at him as you reached for a helping of fruit salad.

"Please, half of this cafeteria wants to take you," he chuckled. "Zach's been telling me all the ways he wants to ask you."

"Cute," you mumbled absentmindedly. You didn't mean to find yourself distracted, but you had just looked up at the worst possible moment to find Warren.

He was sitting at his usual table, head cast down as he analysed the book in front of him. He barely paid attention to his food, too engrossed in the novel. 

"... Y/N?"

You blinked, snapping out of your trance at the sight of Will's hands flying over your face to try and gather your attention. "Yes?"

"I've been calling your name for like a minute now. Where'd you go?" he wondered.

"I'm gonna sit down."

"But your-." You were gone, making a bee-line for somewhere. "Potato gems..."

Your eyes were glued on his frame from afar, and you hadn't even realised you had walked straight past your friends' table, Ariella calling your name in confusion when you didn't acknowledge her.

Warren looked up at the sound of a tray hitting his table, nearly doing a double take when he saw that it was you. But he refrained himself from doing so in public.

You were a sight, as per usual, but you were never a sight for him to have the pleasure of seeing up close- willingly on your part. But here you were, deciding to sit down across from him as if this was a usual occurrence.

"Did I do or say anything last night to make you think this is okay?" was the first thing he said.

"Yeah, you flashed me that smile and I'm just too hooked now," you quipped, adjusting your skirt. "Look, I just need to sit away from them for now."

The glance you cast over your shoulder to your usual table was deathly.

"But aren't they all your friends?"

"One of them is," you corrected quickly. "But seriously, I need you to be kind - I know, that's a big request for a guy like you - and just let me sit here."

The look on your face had his heart stuttering, and he masked this with a shake of his head. "You could sit with anyone else, so why me?"

"I'll make this painless, I promise," you said, before a smile curled at your lips. "And besides, don't act like you aren't happy."

"Happy? Happy? You think this is me happy?" he fumed, his glare as intense as the flames licking beneath the rough skin of his palm.

"Definitely," you smirked. "But if this is you happy, I'd hate to see you mad."

"Just you fucking wait-."

"Well, this is interesting."

You both turned, and whilst you smiled sweetly, Warren groaned in annoyance as Ariella sat down next to you.

"Gosh, I've been waiting for this moment for, like, ever," Ariella beamed, sticking her hand out to Warren. "I'm Ariella; it's so lovely to meet you." However, the boy simply stared at her hand in bemusement, your friend slowly pulling it back after a moment. "Not a shaker, that's fine with me."

"Don't be rude," you scolded immediately.

"I don't know her," Warren rebuked with an almost childlike-esque attitude.

"I don't care. She's my friend."

Warren seethed, his fist illuminating for almost a moment before peeling his gaze away from you to look at Ariella. "It's... nice to meet you."

"Wow," you deadpanned. "That seemed really difficult for you to muster up."

"Fuck off," he spat out.

Ariella couldn't help but laugh at your dynamic. You two were spitting quietly, sure, but the way you were looking at one another when the other would turn away in annoyance was something straight out of a book or something.

"So, Warren," Ariella started, the boy glancing up from the book to her. "Any plans for homecoming?"

"No," he answered quickly.

"Why even ask that, Ri?" you questioned, glancing at the boy with a slight smirk. "Warren Peace here isn't a sucker for dances. I'm not even sure he knows how to dance."

"I can dance," he scoffed.

"Then why aren't you going?" your friend wondered. "Do you want to go with someone? Because, I doubt she's told you, but Y/N here-."

"Oh, you're doing this? You're actually going through with this?" you seethed, knowing exactly what she was planning.

"Doing what?" Ariella batted her eyelashes at you innocently, and you nearly conjured the water to splash all over her new blouse. But you refrained.

As annoying as she was being, she was trying to be a meddlesome best friend. She's always had a thing about you and Warren, and you've tried to redirect her attention to something else, but it's never budged. She seriously thinks you are going to suddenly realise just how 'incredible' he is and fall in love.

As if.

Ariella did, however, know when to quit, and she shrugged off her words for nothing as the three of you went to sit in silence.

"I'm not friends with Gwen anymore."

Ariella glanced at you in astonishment, as did Warren, though the latter kept quiet whilst your friend spoke, "Woah, how come?"

"She asked Will to homecoming," you answered with a slight grimace.

"...Ew," Ariella cringed. "Isn't he like-."

"A child? Yeah," you nodded. "It's so weird. And now she's his tutor so she'll be at my house. I'm booting them both to the curb tonight when they come over."

"Wait, does that mean you're alone tonight?" Ariella questioned to which you nodded.

A slow smirk pulled at her lips, and you sighed, shaking your head. "No."

"Come on!"

"No!"

"Y/N, you haven't had a party since last semester! It'd be so fun!" she beamed.

"Yeah, because last time Toby Knight threw up in my parents' tribunal vase they were gifted saving the president of Athens," you berated, cringing at the memory. "Mum was pissed, Dad thought it was funny until he saw the look on her face."

"Okay, I'm done."

You and Ariella looked over at Warren who had spoke, finding him standing up from his seat and gathering his belongings.

"Where are you going?"

Did that sound desperate? You hoped not.

"Away," he grumbled.

"Oh, well, it was nice meeting you!" Ariella smiled, waving at him even though he had already turned away. However, you thought it was sweet of him to lift a hand by his shoulder as a way of returning the gesture. Not a wave, just a flick of his fingers, but it was enough. "Well, he's lovely."

"Isn't he?"

After school, you had decided to head to the local library to brush up on your powers anatomy test that was in the next couple of weeks. You had found yourself a booth, laying out your things for studying.

Glancing up, you were about to start when the sight of Warren sitting across the library had you pausing. Once again, he was reading that novel like this morning, his brow furrowed in a cute look of focus. 

He must've felt someone's eyes on him for he looked up, his gaze meeting yours from across the room. However, you didn't back down and look away, instead holding his eyes for as long as he wanted to. 

You felt a slight pinch in your chest when Warren visibly sighed, grabbing his bad in a tight fist and standing up. He disappeared into the library, and you scoffed to yourself.

"... Staring is very rude."

You let out the softest of yelps, pressing a hand to your heart and mouth as Warren's deep voice resonated from your left. Glancing there, you found him standing over you, the smallest of smirks dancing across his lips.

"I was not staring," you rebuked. Warren scoffed, planting himself down on the seat opposite of you. "And now you're just sitting wherever you want."

Instead of responding, he simply hummed, deft fingers curling the pages of his book as he started reading again. You watched him for a moment, annoyance beginning to bubble up inside you for him not speaking.

"What if I don't want you to sit here?"

Nothing. Just a quick glance over the edge of the book to glance at you.

"You didn't have to be so rude to Ariella," you continued. "She's wonderful."

"I don't doubt that," Warren finally muttered, continuing to read his book. "I just..." He sighed to himself. "Never mind."

"No, spit it out," you prompted.

"You'll get mad."

"No, I won't."

"I think you will."

"Oh my God, stop being such a p-."

"You talk about stupid stuff with your 'friends'," Warren suddenly stated, not caring for the way your lips parted in slight shock at his words. "When you were with me, you were actually interesting. And I know you; you don't care for those parties and that stupid bullshit."

"You don't know me."

That was all you could muster up.

Your mouth opened and closed, trying to figure out a response. Shit. You always had something to say to his stupid face. You hated to admit that his words actually kind of hurt.

"See? This is what I meant." Warren let out a sigh, rolling his eyes. "I meant to say that... when we were together, you didn't seem to care or have to think out what you were saying. You just spoke your mind. And it was... it made you bearable."

"Have you always thought of me like that?" You hated how upset you sounded, how you were begging for him to say otherwise. "Is that what you see when you look at me?"

Warren clenched his jaw slightly. "Yeah. Yeah, I did." The sight of you visibly wilting under his words had him quick to continue. "But lately..." You glanced up, eyes drawn to his lips as he spoke. "Lately, I've had some different opinions about you."

"... Hmm," you hummed gently with a slight nod. "I'm thinking of you differently now too." You couldn't help but smile, and Warren had to restrain himself from sharing it, simply angling his eyes sharper to show his accordance. "Look at you finally maturing."

"Me?" he echoed, and all the softness between you both was gone. 

"Yeah, you."

A few hours later, you found yourself side by side with Warren. He had offered- no, he had demanded he walk you home, although masked it with casual indifference if you had denied.

You didn't though. You wanted him to walk you home.

You both hadn't really spoken to one another, the silence between you both comfortable yet painful.

You have no idea what's going on. These past few weeks, everything has shifted. You remembered the time so clearly when you hated Warren Peace with everything in you, and now, you could barely reminisce a time when you weren't hanging on his every word or seeking him out in a crowd.

It's always so interesting how feelings progress so quickly-

No! What the fuck? You did not have feelings for Warren. That would be- That would be...

"You okay?"

You snapped your gaze to Warren, who was watching you with furrowed brows that could definitely be perceived as concern. 

"I'm fine," you answered after a moment. "Thank you for walking me home. You really didn't have to."

"I know you hate me, but I'm not a complete asshole," he chuckled softly, and you careened at the sound.

You didn't really want to rebuke his thoughts, not wanting to dig yourself into a deeper hole. You were just coming up to your house now, and you wanted to say something, anything... to maybe get him to stay.

Warren watched as you came to a stop by your house, his back turned to the property to look at you. You both watched one another for a moment, and you looked as though you were to speak. He expected- no, he hoped something stupidly sweet made its way out of your lips-

"What the fuck?" you hissed, brows furrowed in confusion.

"What?" he murmured in confusion. Wordlessly, he turned around towards your house, shocked to find it lit up from the inside with shadows of people dancing and drinking through the windows. "I thought you said you weren't throwing a party," Warren said.

"I wasn't!" you exclaimed, bolting towards the house and hoping he followed.

You slammed the door open, and the partygoers in the hallway spun around in shock at the sight of you. You were enraged, and they panicked, parting like the Red Sea.

"Oh, shit," one of them muttered.

"Is that Warren Peace with her?"

You ignored their words, storming through your house with determination to find Will. It was obviously his doing, and you bet your goddamn powers that Gwen was the influence.

"Will!"

The boy visibly tensed at the sound of your shout, turning around and finding you watching him from the entryway of the living room.

"Y/N, this is not what it looks like," he weakly started.

"Not what it looks like?" you echoed deeply. "It looks like a party, Will! It looks like a party in our fucking house that Mum and Dad have no idea about?"

"Wait, wait, just wait," he sighed, glancing to the side for only a moment before a frown crossed his face. You matched his expression, looking over to find Layla tearing up in front of Gwen. The latter held a look of smug rudeness, the sight of it enraging you.

Layla was like a little sister to you, and she was running out the door before any of you could do anything.

"Layla? Layla!" Will exclaimed, chasing after her.

"Have fun with Gwen," she spat when she turned to face him. "You two deserve each other."

She slammed the door behind her, and you grabbed Will by his shoulder, spinning him to face you. "What did you do, Will?"

"I don't know!" he yelled. Will looked over at Gwen, and shouldered past you to walk to her, calling her name in the process. "What did you say to Layla?"

"Nothing," Gwen shrugged innocently as she twisted the cap of the drink she had taken from him. "I just told her the truth. You're a hero, she's a sidekick. She's holding you back."

"What? Why would you do that? Layla's been my best friend since first grade," Will mumbled.

Gwen smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Well, you've got new friends now. And I think that you need to figure out  whether you want to hang with us, or with those losers. Come on, let's go."

She went to grab his hand, but Will wrenched his arm away from her instead. "No, forget it. I'm not going anywhere with you. Not now, or not to Homecoming." Your brother glanced to the side, the nerves eating at him and met your gaze. A wordless nod of encouragement from you had him looking back at her. "Might as well just find yourself a new date, Gwen."

"You're dumping me?" she scoffed, shaking her head. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Let's get something straight, okay? You do not dump me! Not the night before the dance!"

A tiny smile curled at Will's lips as he spoke, "Sorry, Gwen. I just did. You're dumped!" 

Will sighed, shaking his head before yelling out for the party to be over. The students glanced at him, confused as to why he was saying this, until a new voice echoed through the house.

"Don't stop on our account."

You knew your father's voice, and you turned, finding him and your mother dressed in their superhero garb. "Your father and I fly to Europe for two hours and you throw a party?" she questioned Will.

"Unbelievable. When I reach the count of 3, I want everyone out of this house!"

Immediately, the house was empty, all of the students rushing out every exit they could find, not wishing to anger the Commander.

You let out a breath, brows furrowing in slight confusion when your parents stared at you. Realising they weren't, you turned slightly, finding Warren beside you. Shit, you'd nearly forgotten about him.

"And... you are?" your father questioned.

"No one," you answered immediately. "I'll show him the door."

You ignored your mother's smile as you dragged Warren by his arm towards the door, droning out their scolding of Will, knowing they weren't the reprimanding type.

"Well, that was... something," Warren muttered when you closed the front door behind you.

"It was embarrassing, that's what it was," you sighed, shaking your head. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

"What? You didn't do anything wrong," he said, evidently confused as to why or what you were apologising for.

"No, my parents and then the party-."

"Hey, hey." You let out a hitched breath when he grasped your hand in his. The feel of his rough palm gliding across yours felt so right, and the two of you stared at the exchange. "You didn't do anything wrong, okay?"

You lifted your eyes to his face, and you found yourself leaning forward ever so slightly. Warren gulped, blinking rapidly at the sight of you slowly approaching him, and his foot came forward to close the distance.

"Honey, who was- Oh!" your mother paused, the door mid-open to find the both of you. You reeled back from one another, your arms twisting behind your back as Warren shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Mum," you sighed out, sending her a sharp glance. But she took no notice of it, instead holding her hand out to Warren with a smile.

"Hi, my name is Josie. It's so nice to meet you," she grinned toothily. Warren glanced at you for a moment, before reaching his own hand out to return the gesture.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Warren," he introduced with a nervous gulp. 

"Well, Warren, how do you know Y/N?"

"Oh, my God, Mum," you seethed. "Please go inside so I can say goodbye."

"Fine, fine," your mother shrugged off, waving at Warren as she left. "It was lovely meeting you."

"You too," he smiled with pursed lips. She disappeared behind the door, and you sighed, blowing out a raspberry. "That was-."

"Don't," you stopped, shaking your head. "I'll just- I'll see you soon."

"Yeah, okay."

"And thank you for walking me home tonight. I really appreciate it," you said as you opened the door and held it open slightly.

"Anytime."

"Oh, by the way, you're going to Homecoming, right?"

Warren's eyes widened slightly, surprised by the question. "Uh- you know, I'm not really-... I'm not sure-."

"I'll see you there, then, won't I?"

You didn't wait for a response, instead smiling and closing the door. His lips parted slightly, a breath escaping before he took a step back down the pavement.

Well, he was definitely going now.