rivers_bend

Title: Woah, in this World
Pairing: Adam/Tommy (high school AU)
Words: 2,000
Rating: PG
The Obvious: I do not know anyone whose public persona is mentioned here and neither believe nor mean to imply this actually happened.
Warnings: discussion of homophobic bullying (verbal).
A/N: This follows And Follow Thee my Lord Throughout the World and comes before The World is Not Enough, in what I think I'm gonna start calling my World Verse. Since I can't seem to let it go. (for day 18 of mmom
Summary: Tommy's sitting under a tree eating lunch, wondering if Adam might drop by his locker after school, invite him over again today, wondering if he might get up the nerve to ask Adam to hang out if he doesn't, when he hears someone yell, "Hey, sissy boy, where's your dress?"



Ms. Lipetsky is Tommy's favorite teacher. He never really liked science much in junior high, but she's so enthusiastic about everything it's hard not to love biology. Today they're learning about cells, and how plant cells are different from animal cells and like, that should be so boring, but she's practically dancing back and forth between the two big diagrams, waving her arms and explaining how efficient every part of each cell is, and how each thing does its job so well, and Tommy actually wishes he could look at his own cells under a microscope and see them working.

Five minutes before bell, she asks them to put away their papers so she can make an announcement. "I wanted to call attention to this poster," she says, pointing to a purple and white sign by the door. It says, SAFE SCHOOLS: This is a no-hate zone. Hate speech, violence and bullying will not be ignored.

"What this means is that if I hear any language or see any behavior designed to make another person feel bad about him or herself, I will call you on it. If it's ignorance on your part, we will have a talk about language and how it can hurt people. If it's a problem that persists, the vice principal and your parents or guardians will get involved."

Tommy has never seen her look so serious. She's leaning seemingly casually against her desk, but she's gripping the edge with both hands, and she's making eye contact with every one of them.

"It also means you can come and talk to me any time if you feel like you're being bullied or you see someone being bullied outside this classroom."

Tommy's lab partner raises her hand. "What if the bullying is happening at the mall?"

"I'm always here to talk. If the bully isn't a student at this school, we can discuss strategies for dealing with their behavior, and if we need to get the authorities involved, we can do that too."

The bell rings then, and Ms. Lipetsky shouts over the din of scooting chairs and thumping bookbags. "Look for the posters in other classes, too. I'm not the only teacher you can come to."


Apart from the time in fifth grade Tracy Stellman hit him in the back of the head while he was at the drinking fountain and he got a bloody nose, Tommy's never really been bullied. But he's glad about the Safe Schools thing, because he sees it sometimes, and he can't stand it when people get picked on, because he's small, and not particularly popular or anything, so he always feels helpless.

A couple of weeks after the posters start showing up in classrooms, Tommy's sitting under a tree eating lunch, wondering if Adam might drop by his locker after school, invite him over again today, wondering if he might get up the nerve to ask Adam to hang out if he doesn't, when he hears someone yell, "Hey, sissy boy, where's your dress?" from off to his left. The shouter has two friends with him--they're juniors or seniors who Tommy's seen around but doesn't know--and the boy they're calling names is another freshman. He's in orchestra, and at the Halloween Carnival they performed in like, Death's robes. Tommy thought it was pretty badass, actually, but apparently these dudes just saw a skirt.

The kid--Alex maybe?--doesn't seem like he's going to cry or anything, and Tommy figures it would be better to talk to him alone, see if he wants anyone to back him up with one of the teachers, when two kids come out of B hall onto the scene. When they turn, Tommy sees it's Adam and his friend Danielle.

"Hey, Alec," Adam says, oblivious to what's happening. Alec turns and gives him a little wave.

"Aren't you gonna give your boyfriend a smooch hello?" one of the older kids asks.

Alec frowns and starts to scuttle off toward the classrooms, but Danielle turns and says, "What the hell does that mean?" as Adam says, "Why, you want a kiss?" Tommy's heart freezes.

"I'll take a kiss from her," the third guy says. Danielle looks at him like the only kiss he's getting is the toe of her boot on his balls.

"It's me or nothing, big boy," Adam says as the guys advance toward him. He's as tall as two of the three guys, but a hell of a lot scrawnier than any of them. Tommy doesn't fancy Adam's chances, even with Danielle on his side.

Scrambling to stuff his lunch bag in his backpack and stand up, Tommy calls, "Hey, Danielle! Did you do the math homework yet?" He's not actually in any classes with Danielle, but he figures it's safer to engage her than Adam in front of these assholes.

"What?" Danielle asks, looking annoyed as hell.

"Hey, Adam," Tommy says, almost an aside, like he's the one Tommy hardly knows, not Danielle. "I really need it, please?" Tommy says right in Danielle's face. She and Adam both seem to get it at the same time, and they let him hustle them back the way they came.

"I wasn't scared of them," Adam says, once they're far enough down the hall that they're out of sight.

"I woulda kicked 'em in the fucking nuts," Danielle adds.

"Do you know any of their names?" Tommy asks.

"The one in the red jacket is Karl Weinberg," Danielle says. "He lives on my street. I'm pretty sure the one who thought he had a chance with me is called Jake or Jack or something."

"Why?" Adam asks.

"We need to go to Ms. Lipetsky and report them."

Adam and Danielle look at him like he's lost his mind.

"The Safe Schools thing," Tommy says.

"They won't do anything," Danielle scoffs.

She must not be in bio. Ms. Lipetsky will totally do something. "Yeah," Tommy says. "She will."

Danielle tugs at Adam's sleeve. "Come on, Adam. I still wanna eat my lunch."

Tommy steels himself to go on his own, but Adam says, "Nah, I think I'll go with Tommy. I'll see you in World Studies?"

Danielle shoves him a little, like maybe that's their usual way to say goodbye, and heads back outside.

Ms. Lipetsky is just unlocking her door when they get there. She greets Tommy warmly and lets him introduce Adam. "We want to report some bullying," Tommy says once they're inside the room.

She lets them tell the story without interrupting them while she takes notes, and then asks them questions for clarification. It seems she knows all three boys from having taught them, as well as by reputation. "It's not the first time, I know," she says. I'll ask Mr. Kramer to have a word with them."

Tommy hasn't met the VP yet, only seen him at assembly, but he's heard about him. Hopefully he's as scary as his reputation. He's fantasizing about the guys getting yelled at when Ms. Lipetsky interrupts his thoughts.

"I wonder if you boys might be interested in joining our GSA. The second meeting is today after school."

"We have a GSA?" Adam asks.

Tommy says, "What's a GSA?"

"A Gay/Straight Alliance," they both answer him.

Tommy's stomach lurches, and it must show on his face, because Ms. Lipetsky pats his hand. "You don't have to know yet which one you are, if either," she says. "And there are no assumptions either way. It's just a good place for kids who won't stand homophobia at their school to get together and talk about it. And whatever else comes up."

"How did I not know we have a GSA?" Adam doesn't seem to have noticed Tommy feeling all squirmy.

"Well, like I said, today is only our second meeting. Mr. Lipton and I are the faculty advisers. A few of the seniors from his psychology class started it. I don't think they've made any posters yet or anything. You're more than welcome to come, and bring any friends who might be interested."

"You'll come, right Tommy?" Adam sounds really excited.

In the month or so since the Romeo reading, they've hung out a couple times a week, listening to records, or watching movies, or just doing homework. Last time they watched a movie, Adam spent like half of it playing with the loose ends of Tommy's friendship bracelets. Tommy had kind of been hoping they might watch another movie today. But maybe a meeting where kids might talk about being gay would be even better. "Sure," he says.

It turns out that no one really talks about being gay or straight. They talk about bullying a little, and about Maria Vaughn's new car, since she's one of the girls who started the group and she seems to think she's in charge. They spend most of the time, though, talking about what the posters advertising the club should look like. There are eight of them there: the four girls and one guy who started the club, Adam and Tommy, and another freshman girl who's in Tommy's Spanish class. Poster design isn't really his forte, but Tommy enjoys watching everyone argue their ideas, since everyone is being nice about it and no one is fighting.

A few times, in his enthusiasm, Adam puts a hand on Tommy's knee or squeezes his arm. It makes it hard for Tommy to concentrate on rainbow text versus rainbow background and typeface versus handwriting. He's starting to think Adam's probably pretty sure which side of the gay/straight fence Adam falls on. And it isn't the straight one. Tommy hasn't so much been thinking in terms of labels, but he's definitely been thinking more and more in terms of Adam the last few weeks.

Not just in English and at lunch and after school, but at night, under the covers, grinding into his spare pillow.

"They don't all have to look the same," Tommy says, mostly in the hopes that talking will distract him from the way his dick wants to pop up and say hello. "We could always have a couple of different designs, as long as they have the same information."

Everyone turns to look at him.

"He's right," Maria says.

"Totally right," Adam agrees.

The third guy tries to argue that people might get confused, but no one else follows his lead.

Of the five various poster designs, they decide to make three. Adam volunteers to make one, and volunteers Tommy to help him. "We can work on it tonight if you don't have to be home for dinner. And maybe tomorrow after school."

The girl from Tommy's Spanish class looks at them like they're puppies at the pound. Tommy's stomach does that flippy thing again, but this time it's more thrilling than terrifying. "Yeah," he says. "That sounds good."

"It sounds great," Adam agrees.