“Ah yo, get your shit and get to school.” Fezco mumbled as he glared at Ashtray who was still slumped on the couch with his hood over his face and arms crossed over his chest.
“I ain’t got to go.” Ash mumbled but he knew better then to start something this early in the morning with his older brother.
“Ya ain’t gonna be some drop out like me.” Fez so before throwing the kids backpack at him. Ash grumbled a few curses under his breath before making his way out the door. He didn’t get why he had to go to school, it wasn’t like he was going to go to college.
You smiled as you finished writing the warm up problems on the black board. The kids started filling up the class with a groan. Math isn’t everyone favorite but you tried to make is as less painful as possible.
You where a new young teacher this school year and didn’t feel like many other senior teachers where on your side about progressive learning. You did you best to help your students but push them as well.
“Good morning class.” You said smiling leaning against your desk that was in the front of the class room.
“Midterms are graded, i will pass them out and the end of the period.” You said making a few other student groan. You gave the students option of working in groups or alone for the rest of the period going over the new material that will be covered.
Just when the bell rang the student quickly made their way out the classroom. Your eyes darted to a certain student.
“Ash can you hang back for a minute?” You asked before he could make his escape.
“I ain’t do it.” Ash said not knowing what the school was tying to blame him for now.
“I want to have a parent teacher conference, it’s about your midterm” You said giving him a paper to give to his parent.
“I ain’t got a parent.” Ash said giving you a glare. It usually worked, teachers mostly left him alone. But you seemed to be up his ass about school.
“Tomorrow after last period.” You said with a stern voice. Ash just groaned leaving the classroom.
As soon as he got back home he noticed Fez still at the table sorting. Fez easily could tell something was up with his younger brother. No sly remarks.
“What?” Fez asked not evening looking up. He knew something was on his mind, he basically raised this kid.
“Here” Ash mumbled shoving a paper to Fez.
“The fuck you do now?” Fez asking looking over the note request for a parent teacher conference.
And thats hows Fez found himself in the middle school sitting at student desk next to Ash. It’s been years since he’s been in side a school, you couldn’t stop shaking his leg.
“Sorry bus duty the worst.” You mumbled panicked as you rushed back into your classroom to fin dAsh sitting at a desk with a man around you age. You weren’t sure what to expect but he wasn’t it, but it was a pleasant surprise.
“I’m Miss (y/l/n), Ash’s math teacher” You said smiling extending your hand out. Fez seemed to be almost frozen when he noticed you walk in. Your hair was pinned away from you face, a few strands hanging form the long day. Your smile made his inside turn and the shine in your eyes he’s never see before. It was probably brighter then the sun. That and your outfit wasn’t helping him at all. Even with the khaki slacks, black turtle neck and loafers he could see ever curve of you body without you even trying.
Fez felt like he was getting punked. No way in hell could you be a teacher, he was probably older then you. Fez’s thoughts got interrupted as he felt Ash shove a hard elbow into his side snapping him out of any fantasy he was in.
“O shit- I’m Fezco” He said quickly as he stood up taking you hand in his.
“He’s my legal guardian.” Ash mumbled rolling his eyes at his dumb older brother. He just wanted to get this stupid conference over with.
“i just wanted to talk about Ash’s grades. I know he’s been out of school but he doesn’t turn in any homework or classwork. But heres his midterm.” You said handing over the test to Fez.
He looked down at the almost perfect score of the math midterm. Fez also was decent at math when he was still in school.
“I ain’t cheat.” Ash said thinking he knew where this was going.
“I know. Im just worried that without doing the other work you’ll fail this class. And i know you know understand the material. I just don’t understand why your not turning in your work?” You asked looking at them.
“I’ll make sure he does his homework.” Fez said looking back in your eyes. He was expecting the worse thinking Ash got suspended again or worse, kicked out.
“He’s too smart to be held back or get stuck in summer school.” You said before grabbing a packet you made from your desk.
“This is the missed homework form this year. He if at least gets this done it’ll bump him up to a high C” You said handing Ash the packet.
“He’ll get is done” Fez said before standing up and nodding towards Ash who followed in suite.
“It was nice meetin ya.” Fez said giving you a smile and you nodded smiling back at him.
“You too, And Ash i’ll see you tomorrow morning then.” You said giving them big smiles as you watched them leave out the door.
“Why you ain’t tell me yo teacher ‘s hot” Fez asked bumping his younger brother as they walked down the hall together.
“Why does it matter?” Ash said giving Fez a glare.
“When I think of math teacher, I ain’t think of her” Fez said as images of you still lingered in his thoughts. He was far to busy to ever spare a second thought on any girl. Sure there have been hooks up but no one he ever grew attached to. No one ever hunted his thoughts like you did. And he had no idea why.
Before the party, she had mild expectations for summer, concerts in the park, time with friends and her family. She had no idea something special would happen.
After that night, True and Fezco became inseparable. Though they both had separate lives and their own sets of worries, they spent as much time together as possible, creating a magical bubble that made all the bad things go away.
Before the party, she had mild expectations for summer, concerts in the park, time with friends and her family. She had no idea something special would happen.
After that night, True and Fezco became inseparable. Though they both had separate lives and their own sets of worries, they spent as much time together as possible, creating a magical bubble that made all the bad things go away.
Before the party, she had mild expectations for summer, concerts in the park, time with friends and her family. She had no idea something special would happen.
After that night, True and Fezco became inseparable. Though they both had separate lives and their own sets of worries, they spent as much time together as possible, creating a magical bubble that made all the bad things go away.
For Fezco, the beautiful and charmingly awkward girl was like the rising sun. True came with sunshine, the mystery of the moon, the allure of the stars, the wonder of the galaxy. She was like no single person he’s met in his young life. Fezco’s reality was raw, one other teens could never fully imagine or understand. It was gritty, dark, dangerous, depressing.
True shined light into the darkness and gave Fez something he didn’t think he’d ever have. Though girls showed interests here and there, and at parties some were more forward than others, he never thought a girlfriend would be part of his story. Not with what he did. It was simply too dangerous to bring someone into that. So, he kept people at a distance and didn’t get his hopes up for more. Until her.
For True, the quiet, highly observant, protective, guarded boy with green eye’s quickly captured her heart. Fezco was special, deep, beautiful, complicated. She never judged him for his circumstances or made him feel less then. Fez loved that about her.
Through their growing intimacy as the summer days pass by, Fezco enjoys seeing True open up. In only two weeks, Fez found out how silly and playful True was. That’s why he gave her the nickname Mariposa.
Everyone knew True loved butterflies, especially the blue ones. As fez watched her open up and blossom before his eyes, he started to see her like a butterfly too. True came out of her cocoon that summer and Fez enjoyed every moment of it.
True was good with Ashtray too. That was extra points in Fez’s mind. She would even help with little things in the house, like checking on his grandma and making sure he ate.
Like True, Fez was happy. But he was worried too.
He was far from a normal teen. He was raising his little brother, caring for his immobile grandmother and running two businesses. Though he tried not to think about it, Fez was logical too and Trues’ closeness to his lifestyle made him uneasy.
His bubble with True was a dream, their dream. But reality remained unchanged. It didn’t matter that she had nothing to do with that world, took no interest in it, and even avoided rooms if he was doing anything drug related; all it would take was one mix up, bad timing, one wrong place and wrong time and all this shit would involve her too.
Fezco loved her too much for that to happen. True had goals, big things to do in this life and Fez wanted all that for her. He knew, being involved with him could only hold her back, or she would pay a price later on.
Early on, though neither of them felt shame for the other, they kept their relationship a secret. True was mainly worried how her mother and father would react when they found out what he did. She didn’t want to add that stress to the already hurting household. And for Fez, he didn’t want True to be used as one of his weaknesses.
So, they snuck around, True used her friends as cover when she slept over and spent long periods of time with him. It was going smoothly and no one but her friends knew. True was sure her mother didn’t pry too much because of how overwhelmed she was, plus True was a good kid. Leslie didn’t have to worry about her along with everything else.
It was the middle of summer when True blurted out the words that laid in her heart for weeks. When Fez said them back, True felt like she was floating on air.
Flashback
True scribbled in the notebook, trying to calm her thoughts with writing, but it doesn’t work. She looks over at the window and readjusts the headphones on her head. She doesn’t see Fez walk in but knows it’s him when the bed dips behind her.
“I like walking in and seeing you here, foreal, it’s nice.” He says warmly. She slides the headphones down to her neck and turns to face him.
“I like it too,” she cups his face and kisses him, “if i could, i’d sneak you into my room more but it’s really hard to do.”
“Don’t even worry about it, I get it -” Fez smooths his hand over her hair while gazing into her eyes, “we make it work.”
“We do.” She smiles and drops her gaze.
Those pesky words are dancing on her tongue again. The words she wants to tell him so bad. But then there’s the fear. What if it’s too early? Too fast? What if he doesn’t feel the same.
Fezco notices the energy shift and pulls True into his arms, against her chest.
“You okay? Somethin’s been off since you got here. Your family good?”
“They’re good…” she trails off and contemplates telling him, just to finally get it off her chest, no matter the outcome. “There’s something I want to say but I’m so fucking scared to say it.” Her eyes meet his.
“You can tell me anything, you know that.” He reassures her.
“I…” she searches his eyes, “I love you.”
As soon as the words leave her lips, she’s met with relief, but just behind it she feels that voice of doubt trying to push its way through.
Fez smiles, his eyes soften as he caresses her face, “True, I’ve been in love with you for a long ass time. Maybe even before you felt the same.”
About 20 minutes later they arrive at the park; it’s quiet, empty, serene. True brings Fezco to her favorite spot, a little nook by the edge of the park, overlooking the river.
They sit and dangle their legs over. There’s a slight mist in the air but the stars are still visible in the sky. The party was over stimulating and only made her anxiety worse, but this, this is exactly what she needed.
That peaceful lull in conversation returns. Though they chatted the whole way over, after they left the house any silence moments felt natural. True stares up at the skies and thinks about the constellations, when she was young her mother pointed out all the ones she knew. That was where her love for astronomy and stars began.
