Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“John?”

The sound of his teacher's voice snapped him out of the daydream he was stuck in. Shaking his head, he looked up at his history teacher, Mr. Price, who had a small frown upon his lips.

“With me, John?” Mr. Price asked, earning a soft sigh and a confident nod from John. Price was always good about that sort of thing, keeping his students interested, never getting angry. He was a little impatient, but he would never yell or embarrass them. Although John was the most frequent of his students to space out, it wasn’t like he didn’t try to pay attention. He really did, but sometimes it just happened. That's what comes with being on the spectrum, John guessed.

Mr. Price continued what he was saying. John remembered bits and pieces of what he was originally talking about. Something about an essay about one of the wars?

“Regarding your essay about the Spanish-American war…”

John sighed in relief, sitting up straight to give his full attention to the assignments being handed out.

“You will all be grouped in teams of two,” Mr. Price continued as the students around him suddenly got loud. “Ah, before you get excited at picking out partners, for this project, I’ll be deciding that.”
John heard a few groans and huffs around the classroom. Well, at least he’d probably get a decent partner this time. The last time Mr. Price let the students decide who their partner would be, John ended up with someone he didn't exactly get along with. That whole week, John basically avoided that classmate like the plague, trying to limit interactions and conversation with him as much as possible. Football players were scary, especially since they had a reputation.

John sighed as Mr. Price began to hand out a paper with the assignment on it out to everyone, naming off students he was pairing together. While waiting for his turn, John glanced up at the clock; it was almost 3 pm. He was basically counting down the minutes until he could leave to his extracurriculars.

“John MacTavish and Simon Riley.”

John's eyes widened slightly, looking up at his teacher in utter disbelief. When he looked over at Simon, he saw the most popular football player in the school doing the same.

“Mister, you can't be serious,” chuckled John.

“Yeah, there has to be some mixup or something,” the classmate he got paired with last time said with a scoff.

“No mixup, boys. I feel like you two would get along quite well,” Mr. Price said as he handed Simon and John the last two assignment sheets in his hands.

“Get along?” John asked, raising an eyebrow

“Yes. Now, class is dismissed. If you have any questions about the essay you can see me, and not about your essay partners.”

Loud groans could be heard around the room, and John was one of them. John looked over to his partner just to see Simon already looking at him, so he quickly averted his eyes, going to swiftly take his bag and leave. As long as he avoided him, it would be fine. He can just limit interaction, right? He hoped so.

But, as he moved through to his extracurriculars, he found it very hard to shake the football player. Why the fuck was this guy following him around like a dog? He had tried to push past him once his theater arts meeting was over, but the dude was like a fucking brick.

“John,” he said, his British accent shining through. It was actually pleasing to the ears, but that's something John would never admit. “We need to talk about the essay.”

Well shit.

“Can't you just text me about it?” John asked, averting his eyes from Simon’s piercing dark gaze.

“Brett told me you ignored him the entire time when you two were partners, plus I don’t have your number,” Simon replied as he crossed his arms over his chest. “You think you're about to do the same to me?”

Simon tilted his head at him, as if reiterating the question without saying a word. John sighed softly. Of course Brett complained about him…

“Look, I’m not exactly the most social,” John said, trying to come up with some excuse so he didn't have to talk to Simon.

“You seemed social while you were in your club.”

“Were you watching me?”

“Had to make sure you didn't slip past.”

John gave a soft huff, running a hand through his hair. “Well, I’m only social with friends or… people I'm close to, y'know?” He had to double down, since Simon seemed like he wasn't going to give up easily.

“Then let's get to know each other.”

This dude cannot be this persistent.

“Get to know each other? No!”

“Why not?”

“I mean- why?”

“We’re going to be stuck with each other till the end of the deadline, why not make it enjoyable? I mean… unless you have some sort of reason why we shouldn't get to know each other to make it easier for you to be social with me?”

“Well-”

“Mhmm?”

Fuck. John groaned, sliding a hand down his face.

“Alright.”

“Alright?”

“Let's get to know each other. I don't know how hanging out with me could possibly benefit you though.”

“Do I need to hangout with someone simply for my own benefit?”

“No, I suppose not…”

Shit, this dude had him stumped. He knew he wasn't going to wriggle out of this one.

“So, when do you want to hang out?”

“Uh? Already?”

“Yeah. I mean, if we’re going to do this project together, we’re gonna have to meet up either way, and since the weekend’s coming up, I thought we could use the two days to hang out. That way, you're a little more comfortable around me when we start working, y’know?”

That was… surprisingly thoughtful. John didn't expect that from the most popular guy in school. “Alright, how about around 1pm? We can meet up at that gas station near the school.”

“Sounds good. And I'll see you there? Not gonna flake out?”

“No, I won't flake out on you,” John said, getting ready to try and walk past him, until Simon pulled out his phone, pressing on it a few times, before handing it to John. He stared at it, a little confused, before taking the phone from Simon.

“Just in case.”

He glanced up at him before nodding. Giving Simon his number would be needed for communicating while they worked on this essay, though he usually just used his email in these types of situations. Perhaps just this once wouldn't hurt. It's not like they would see each other again after this project.

Simon would go back to doing whatever Simon did, and John would go back to being John.

“Here,” John said, handing his phone back to Simon, who nodded and stuffed it back into his pocket. “Was that all you needed?”

“Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow?”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Simon.”

And with that, Simon moved out of John's way, but even as John walked past him, he could still feel his eyes on him. He didn't know how to feel about that. Simon wasn't the person who he thought he was going to be, after all. He expected all the football players to be the same,and quite frankly, John assumed Simon was going to be much worse. It was a pleasant surprise to be proven wrong. Without even realizing he was doing so, he relaxed his tense shoulders and let out a breath of relief he didn't know he was holding in.
John pushed through the doors that led outside, feeling the buzz of his phone in his back pocket as he walked down the stairs to get to the parking lot and look for his mother. Turning around when he heard a honk, he smiled to himself when he recognized his mother’s car. Speed walking over to her car, John opened the passenger side’s door, climbing inside and gently placing his bag onto the floor.

“School was good?” she asked softly, turning down the music that she had on in the car. It was just some random song that was playing on the radio. He was glad she turned it down, because he just needed to sit in silence for a while and process everything.

“School was alright,” John responded.

“Is this a now conversation or a later conversation?”

“Later conversation.”

“Okay, honey. Take your time.”

John gave a soft sigh as he felt the rumble of the engine beneath his feet when his mother started driving, suddenly remembering he had gotten a notification earlier. He took out his phone only to be met with an unknown number, and he opened it to be met with some dumb ass meme of some guy with a flaming skeleton head.

‘I didn't mean to send that’
‘Yes I did’
‘It’s Simon’

John shook his head. This dude couldn't be serious. He saved Simon as a contact, and put that meme as his profile picture.

‘i hope you know that's your profile picture now.’

‘I’m taking that as a compliment’

‘i’ll see you tomorrow.’

John shook his head again as he stuffed his phone back into his pocket. Maybe hanging out with Simon wouldn't be terrible, but only time could tell. Plus, he had what, a week? Plenty of time to do this essay, and maybe if he tried to finish it early, he could cut that time in half…

Chapter Text

‘I’m here’

John let out a shaky sigh as he quickly turned off his phone, stuffing it in his pocket.
He took a quick look around, as he awkwardly stood next to the soft drink machines on the side of the store.
It was a small corner store that's been here since he started going to this school. A local family owned store, that was a popular spot for teens to congregate before and after school.
He fidgeted with a bracelet he had on, sliding it off his hand and rubbing it between his fingers.
This was new to him, usually if he was going to meet up with Gaz or one of his other friends he would just slip on something random, like an oversized band shirt and a pair of jeans.
But this was Simon fucking Riley.

He didn't know exactly why he felt a need to impress him, he thought maybe it was because he didn't want to get bullied, or perhaps it was because Simon was so intimidating.
Whatever the reason was, John had spent at least an hour trying to decide the best outfit for a stupid hangout at a stupid corner store.
He was so lost in thought fidgeting with his bracelet John didn't even notice that Simon was right behind him until he felt a hand on his shoulder, he tensed quickly turning his head only to be met with dark amber ones.

“Ah, didn't mean to startle you, did you wanna get some snacks while we were here?”
Simon said as John shook his head

“I'm alright, I'm not hungry right now”

John said, watching as Simon reached to get a few chip bags, then moving to the coolers to get a coke.
Following him as he moved towards the cashier who smiled at Simon, ringing up his things

“I've never seen you here on the weekend”
She said taking a glance at the screen in front of her

“16.05”
She read the total before looking over at John who awkwardly avoided her gaze.
“New friend of yours?”

She said as Simon put a 20 on the counter for her to take.
“Were just working on a project for school”

Simon hummed as she counted out his change
“Ah I see, good luck!”

She waved as Simon stuffed the rest in his pocket taking the plastic bag she had put his stuff in.
Simon walked out the door, John following close behind.
He was curious how they knew each other but he didn't say anything and simply followed the other to a nearby bench.

“Here”
Simon said once John had taken a Seat next to him.

“Didn't i say i wasn't hungry?”
John said, as he raised an eyebrow at him gently taking the chips from Simons hands.
“You did, but just in case you do get hungry later on”

Simon said as he pulled on the tab on his soda can, opening it, taking a sip from the fizzing drink.
John blinked just staring at the other in confusion.
He didn't expect Simon would be so nice.

“Thank you”
he placed the chips right next to him on the bench.

“Don't mention it”
Simon gulped down some of his drink before speaking again
“So you're a theater kid?”
John looked up at him, oh right, Simon had caught him while he was leaving the Theater arts club.

“I guess you could say that”
John started,
“I don't go onstage, I work on clothes and props for the actors. It's not as important as some of the other stuff but im passionate about it”
John said with a small smile

“I don't believe that”
Simon said looking over at John

“The way I see it, the actors are like the head, the lights and stage management is like the backbone, but the props and orginization of everything is like- the nerves”
John chuckled softly as he looked up at Simon
“Are you seriously using a human body analogy on me?”

Simon shook his head with an amused smile, realizing how goofy it was.
“Hear me out, you can't move the spine, and the head cant give signals to nothing. So your just as important as the head and the spine”
John hummed as he thought about what Simon was saying

“I suppose you're right, well what about you?”
John said as he watched Simon's eyes visibly brighten at the question

“Football has always been a passion of mine ever since I was a kid,”
Simon said putting down his drink

“The rush, the adrenaline, your teammates pushing you to get better, faster, you always have to be able to improve because you never know who you'll be put up against next.”
Simon said, with a smile, it seemed to be contagious cause John had started to smile too.
“Like a well oiled machine?”
“Exactly! You need all the parts in order for it to run smoothly”

John chuckled at the others' enthusiasm.
Simon glanced down at John before looking away

“But i don't wanna bore you with the details.”
“Well, I mean we're getting to know each other right? As long as i get to bore you with my crafts, you can bore me with your football terms i probably wont know”
John said, picking up the chips he had set down on the edge of the bench gently opening them, eating them as he listened to Simon tell him about some of the terms and positions he could remember off the top of his head.

And in return John pulled up pictures of his own projects he was currently working on, talking about the different techniques he could use to make props.
And before either of them realized an hour and a half had already passed, they noticed only when Simon had received a text and he checked his phone.

“Fuck we have been here for an hour already”
Simon said making John quickly check his own phone
“Damn your right”

John said quickly stuffing his phone back in his back pocket
“Do you wanna take this back to my place? Where it isn't at hot, and where we can talk more”
Simon said as he got up drinking his now warm can of coke, his face contorted into one of disgust before he tossed it into a nearby trash bin.
John stood up throwing his own trash away as he looked up at Simon.

“Are you sure your parents will be okay with me coming over?”
John asked nervously, he didn't know what to expect, he had only ever been over at Gaz’s house before.

“I have had my teammates over before, so I don't think they would mind, but i can call them and ask if you want me to”
For a second he thought Simon might be mocking him, until Simon pulled out his phone looking through his contacts before his phone started to ring.

“Hey mom? Can a classmate come over?”
A small pause
“Okay thanks, love you too”
He could hear the soft sound of the call ending before Simon put his phone back in his pocket
“She said yes”
Simon said with a small smile.

“My house isn't that far, it's maybe a 15 minute walk, my parents are at work right now or else i would have probably asked for a ride”
He said as John nodded, going to follow him across the street close by.

The walk was short, and Simon told John about a few areas he used to go to when he was a kid when they passed them.
They soon arrived at a small row of houses, Simon led John to his house which had a dark red door with a ‘welcome’ mat with little woodland creatures hugging onto branches and vines that surrounded the big bold words.

Simon took his keys out from his pocket unlocking the door and letting John inside the house before he turned and closed and locked the door.
John still felt a little uneasy about it, having been so used to only ever being over at Gaz’s house, but John guessed they would be spending a majority of the studying at either of their houses.
John looked around, noticing some of the artwork and large pictures on the wall.
Before John could get a real good look at some of the pictures on the wall Simon was leading him to his room.

John looked around, it's what you would expect of a football player, he had a few football related posters, with pictures of him and the team at their school and a few trophies.
What John did not expect was the rock band posters he saw plastered next to the football ones.

“I didn't know you listened to arctic monkeys”
John said, looking around spotting a few notebooks on top of Simon's desk that had a few rapper name stickers on it as well.

“Oh yeah i do, you listen to them?”
Simon said with an eager smile at seeing John nod in agreement.

“I didn't expect you to be into rock if I'm being honest”
John said joining Simon on the bed

“Yeah? What did you think I was gonna listen to?”
Simon said curiously

“Country”

“Country??”

Simon and John both laughed as Simon was going to gently shove him but stopped half way when he saw John slightly lean away from the close proximity.
They continued to hang out and talk about their different hobbies, generally just talking about different interests they both had, taking turns going late into the day and before either of them had noticed it was almost time for John to leave.
Simon checked his phone, it was almost ten.
“Hey john you should probably-”

He started but stopped mid sentence as he saw John fast asleep against the wall, softly snoring,
Simon chuckled softly going to gently move him down onto the bed pulling his covers over him.

He gently took his phone to plug it in before it suddenly rang.
He answered it quickly, fumbling with it in his hands trying to be fast so the ringing wouldn't wake the sleeping boy.

“Yes?”
Simon whispered walking to the other end of the room

“It's John MacTavish's mother who is this?”
Simon sighed with relief, just realizing he had no way to actually contact his parents to tell them he thought it was easier if John just stayed the night.

“It's Simon Riley, I'm one of John’s classmates that was meeting him today. He's over at my house and he's fallen asleep, I thought it would be better to just let him sleep over here. He seems exhausted and i don't wanna wake him up, if that's okay with you of course?”
Simon asked as there was a long pause on the other end

“I’ll allow it but only if i get your mothers phone number”
She said in return, so Simon agreed and gave her his mothers number
“You'll return him tomorrow?”
John's mother asked clear concern for her son in her voice

“Yes of course”
Simon said with a small smile

“Alright, thank you for taking care of him, I'll see you tomorrow”
And with that the call ended.