Picking up the kid ((OPEN))

[Desmond Giuseppe]

Since he didn't have drumline after school today, Desmond's uncle Rivers had asked him to pick up his cousin after school. Rivers said he was worried about Ravi walking home by himself after the kid, Kyan got stabbed. This was a few weeks after the fact and Ravi had survived so far, but this was the first day since then that Desmond didn't have drumline and he could actually pick the kid up.

Ravi annoyed Desmond, but in a tolerable way. He wasn't about to say his was best friends with the kid, but he did look after him, hence spending his first free afternoon in two mouths making sure the kid got home ok. And Desmond had to admit the stabbing shook him up a bit too. After this and all the other things he'd heard, Desmond was really beginning to dislike this Kyan fellow. Not just because he wouldn't hook up with Ravi, hell, he couldn't blame the kid there, but because Desmond didn't approve of his loose, slutty lifestyle. He decided he was going to hold off most of his judgments until he actually met the kid, just to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Desmond parked across the street from the school and got out of his car. It was far too nice of a day to sit in his car and wait for Ravi, plus the kid was so retarded he's probably walk right by unless Desmond was waiting for him on the front steps. That's where Desmond sat and waited; the front steps. He put on his trademark Dior Sunglasses and made himself comfortable. Usually Ravi took forever when Desmond had to wait for him so this left Desmond sitting on the front steps of George Washington, looking extremely out of place in his St. James uniform.

[brower]

Andy had shouldered his back pack and planned on having a quick smoke at the bottom of the stair case before making his way home, getting a shower and making some dinner before work. He often had an after school smoke. . .his last one had been pleasantly interrupted by Toby. He felt a smile touch his lips at the memory still fresh in his mind.

He had stuck around, talking to a teacher about an extra credit assignment for history class, and most of the students had gone home by now. There were just the stragglers like him left: kids walking home, or catching rides.

He almost failed to notice the boy sitting on the steps, and stopped himself just before he walked into him. Lucky he had spotted him too, or he'd have taken a spill down the steps, face first.

"Whoa," he said, his cigarette pack halfway out of his pocket. "Sorry bout that, almost didn't see you."

[Desmond Giuseppe]

"Oh, no it's my fault!" said Desmond, moving over to the side of the steps as far as he could go. He felt really bad seeing as he really didn't belong there in the first place; it wasn't his school after all. "I really shouldn't have sat in the middle of the step, I guess a just wasn't thinking!" Desmond took of his glasses and smiled at the boy in an apologetic way. He always thought it was a bit rude to talk to someone while wearing sunglasses; it took away from eye contact. Plus it gave him an opportunity to get a good look at the boy. He was very cute, in a puppy dog way, and he was blond which added to the overall cuteness. Desmond had to remind himself that he had a boyfriend, but he wasn't getting the gay vibes from this kid anyway. Too bad.

[brower]

"Don't sweat it," Andy said with a carefree shrug.

He didn't much mind, the almost crisis had been averted, and all was well. Andy wasn't easily pissed off, so a little thing like this was hardly worth getting upset over. The boy took off his sunglasses to look at him, and Andy pulled his cigarette pack out of his pocket fully. He placed a cigarette to his lips and pulled out his lighter. He glanced over at the other guy and held out his cigarette box towards him.

"You want a cig?" he asked.

[Desmond Giuseppe]

"Sure!" said Desmond, brightening up at the offer of a cigarette. He wasn't a hard core smoker, but he enjoyed a nice cig from time to time. In fact, he was just thinking this was the perfect time to have one, while waiting for Ravi that is. He took cigarette out of the box the boy was offering.

"I'm Desmond, by the way," he said. He thought he should at least give out his name seeing at the boy was giving him a cigarette. He put the cig between his lips and waited for the boy to hand in the lighter.

[brower]

Andy waited until Desmond had taken the cigarette out before putting the box back in his pocket and lighting his own cigarette. He held out the lighter for Desmond to take, while taking his cigarette out of his mouth with his free hand.

He glanced over at the boy, after hearing his name: Desmond. There was something oddly familiar about him, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Strange. . .

"I'm Andy," he said. "Nice to meet you."

[Desmond Giuseppe]

"Nice to meet you, Andy." said Desmond as he took the lighter from Andy and lit his cigarette. "Thank you," he said as he handed it back, "you know, for the cigarette and the lighter." Desmond realized he's forgotten to thank Andy for the cigarette, this was his way of making up for it. Now he hoped this was going to be one of those days where Ravi took forever; it wasn't everyday Desmond got to smoke a cigarette with a cute boy. Perhaps he'd pick up Ravi more often.

Desmond loosened his tie for a better smoking experience. He didn't want to take it all the way off because it had Gryffindor colors in it and it sort of made him feel like he went to Hogwarts. Little childish things like that were never going to leave him, even if he would never openly admit them. He did, however, take off his blazer and roll up his sleeves. It was a bit warm for late October and Desmond had been getting a little hot. He took a deep puff of his cig a blew it out slowly.

"I really should quit," said Desmond, looking down at the cigarette in his hand, "eh, I'm young, I've got plenty of time." he said with a shrug, taking another nice puff from the cigarette.

[brower]

"Yeah," Andy agreed without really meaning it. "I should probably quit before I become more dependent."

He chuckled slightly: with the way he smoked, he'd probably get lung cancer by the time he was 30. But as Desmond had said, he had plenty of time to quit before then. Andy noticed him pulling at his tie to loosen it. He recognized the school colors and uniform for St. James.

"You're from St. James?" he asked.

It was weird those colors also seemed to remind him of Harry Potter, and what with the guy's black hair and everything. . .Ugh. That only made him think back to that annoying prick who'd picked him up last week. God, once Steve heard about it, he hadn't heard the end of it.

[Desmond Giuseppe]

"Ditto," said Desmond with a smile, "right now I can pretty much control my cravings, but who knows? Midterms might get a bit too stress full and before I know it I'm going through a pack a day! I just need to watch myself, that's all." Desmond never had a problem talking to complete strangers; he liked meeting new people, That's why he was perfectly comfortable chit chatting with Andy.

"You're from St. James?"

"huh? Oh yeah, I am." said Desmond. Even though he'd just mess around with it, he's forgotten he was wearing his uniform, so the question took him a bit off guard. "I go to St. James, but I'm just here waiting for my cousin. My uncle asked me to give him a ride home. I don't think he knows I'm here for him, but he'll see me when he comes out. His name is Ravi, by the way, I don't know if you know him. . . he does tend to keep to himself a bit. He's a little shy." Desmond didn't feel the need to offer Ravi's last name because is name was so uncommon. He was named after his great grandfather who was Indian. Desmond was named after a Beatles song. He thought the origin of his name was much cooler, even thought he only mildly liked the Beatles. ((strange, I know))

[brower]

Ravi? Andy thought only briefly about it. . .that wasn't exactly the kind of name you forgot. He shook his head at Desmond, taking another drag from his cigarette.

"I don't think I've ever met him," he said. "What grade is he in?"

[Desmond Giuseppe]

"He's a junior," said Desmond, "It doesn't surprise me that you've never met him, like I said, he keeps to himself. His a bit squirrelly and awkward if that helps. Messy dark hair, a bit on the short side-" Just then Desmond was distracted by the sound of a beeping car. He looked up and saw that it was his uncle Rivers driving by. Desmond waved then a thought came to mind.

"Wait a, minute," said Desmond, "If he's not at work then why did I have to pick up Ravi?" Desmond then remembered Andy was there, "Oh sorry, that's my uncle, Ravi's dad. I mean, he's cool most of the time, but he can be a real dick like right now and the other night, total dick move here by the way. He convinced this hustler kid to go home with him and said he was going to pay him extra to dress up like Harry Potter. Once they got to his apartment he lead the kid on more then told him to clean. I mean, I'm not saying hustling is the best career choice, but I thought that was just mean, you know? Rivers said he did it to get the kid of the street for a bit, but there's other ways other than being a douche bag you know? Take them to get some dinner or something, I dunno, just don't be a shit head about it." Desmond flicked some ash of the end of his cig before continuing. "If someone is forced into that profession, obviously they're going through some hard times and the last thing then need of for someone to make fun of them. I don't know, my uncle is good man, he's a doctor for Christ sake, but he's just got some fucked up morals."

[brower]

"Oh," Andy said to Desmond's description of Ravi. "Yeah I'm a senior, and I don't know a whole lot of the juniors."

Then a car went by, beeping the horn at Desmond. He claimed it was his uncle, Rivers. . .who had picked up a hustler the other night and led him on. . .making him think he wanted him to dress like Harry Potter. . .

"Oh? A hustler, huh?" he said akwardly.

A young, blond hustler. . . Of course, Desmond hadn't mentioned the color of the hustler's hair, but Andy knew. Of course he knew: the hustler had been him. He completely agreed with Desmond's logic: it had been a dick move. He had enough to worry about in his life without being humiliated for someone else's benefit.

The recognition on his face had been fleeting, and instantly replaced with a mask of indifference. His voice when he spoke, however, was a tone of would-be-casualness.

"Yeah that sounds like a real crappy thing to do," he said. Oh and the guy was a doctor. Well no wonder he was up on that high horse of his. "--Uhh but that's just my opinion. . .I'm sure you're uncle's a nice guy."

[Desmond Giuseppe]

"It was a crappy thing to do, but he's nice when he wants to be." said Desmond with a shrug. "My mom always says I got my gay from him. She thinks we look a lot alike, but I don't see it." Desmond didn't care that he just told a complete stranger he was gay. Whatever. He'd gotten used to being openly gay and really didn't care who knew. It was common knowledge at St. James so why not GW? Not like anyone there actually knew who he was besides his cousin and a few others. "I'm named after him too. My middle name is Rivers which is weird because my uncle was only 16 when I was born."

"Hey, do you need a ride home?" he asked, "I really don't mind if you do; I have to take Ravi home anyway." He thought it would be nice to offer since he'd been sitting with Andy for the past few minutes, and Andy had given him a cig.

[brower]

Andy knew that no matter what Desmond might think of his uncle, he wasn't likely to ever grow to like the man. Desmond was all right by him, though. He was very open about his gaiety. . . so he supposed he might as well be. Not many people at GW knew he was gay, but that was simply because no one had ever bothered to ask him.

"I don't think anyone in my family was gay, so I must be a fluke or something," he said, with a little shrug.

"Hey, do you need a ride home? I really don't mind if you do; I have to take Ravi home anyway."

He hesitated momentarily; he wasn't entirely certain he wanted that man, Rivers, nephew knowing where he lived. Then again, he could use the ride home, and he seemed like a nice guy.

"Yeah, if it's all right," he said. "I could use a lift."

[Desmond Giuseppe]

So any Andy was gay too? And he was cute. Too bad Desmond had a boyfriend. . . who was nine years older than him and had AIDS. . . but he was in love with that boy, er, man. Desmond laughed. "Isn't anyone straight anymore?" he said Jokingly, flashing Andy a smile. "I'm sorry, but I didn't expect to be lucky enough to run into another gay while I was sitting here. It seems like openly gay kids in high school are hard to come by." Desmond thought about the sparse amount of people he knew were gay at his school. The more he thought about it he realized none of his close friends were gay guys. Hmm, that was weird.

"Oh it's not problem," said Desmond when Andy asked if it was alright if he gave him a lift, "We just have to wait for my cousin, but if he doesn't come out here soon I'm going to storm in there and drag him out. . ." As much as Desmond was enjoying this little chat with Andy, he really want to go see Vinnie; Audrey told him she saw Vinnie leave school with a girl and Desmond wanted to know what was up with that.

[Ravi Malone]

"Oh no!" Ravi exclaimed as the papers in his folder fell out and spilled all over the stair well. Some kid had ran by and knocked the folder out of his hand like he hadn't noticed Ravi was there. No one ever seemed to notice Ravi. All the attention he'd gotten from being there when Kyan got stabbed had worn off. It really wasn't the best reason to be getting attention anyway, but for the first time people actually knew who he was. . . With a sigh Ravi began collecting his papers.

Once all his papers were collected, which took some time, he went out side. He was shocked to see his cousin sitting on the front steps, smoking a cigarette with a blond boy.

"What are you doing here?" he asked curiously.

[brower]

"Yeah," Andy said simply, but with a slight chuckle. He didn't know if he was considered, openly gay. . .but he never denied it if asked, so . . . yeah, he supposed he was.

"That'd be interesting to watch," he said, picturing Desmond dragging out his cousin kicking and screaming, with the hint of a smile playing at his lips.

He then heard the voice of a young man behind them. He seemed comfortable enough to approach them, and Andy could only assume he was Desmond's cousin, Ravi. His face still didn't seem familiar to him though. He quirked an eyebrow at his fellow student.

"Me? Or him?" he asked. "Cause, I'm having a smoke and waiting to get a ride home."

[Desmond Giuseppe]

No sooner had Desmond said something about Ravi, the boy can out of the school. ". . . If Brandon Flowers doesn't get out here soon I'm going to drag him out here!" Desmond waited for a moment, "damn it, I knew it wouldn't work."

"I think he was talking to me," Desmond told Andy with a smile before turning to Ravi, "Your dad asked me to pick you up because he's been freaked out about you walking how by yourself since that Kyan kid got stabbed." Desmond explained, "It's about damn time you got out here! Come on now! I've got some serious gossip to tend to." Desmond stood up, took one last puff of his cig then threw it on the ground and crushed it with his foot. He hoped Andy didn't think he was getting impatient with him; for some reason he was just uncontrollably mean to Rave some times. . .

[Ravi Malone]

"Why do you always call him 'that Kyan kid'?!" said Ravi with annoyance, "his name is just Kyan ok?" Ravi didn't like that he was getting the vibes that Desmond didn't like Kyan all that much even thought he's only spoken to him twice and bot occasions were rather short. Kyan really wasn't that bad. . . he was just misunderstood. . ."I don't call Audrey, 'that whore!'" Ravi blushed when he realized he was having this argument in front of the blond boy. Ravi walked down the steps and was ready to follow Desmond to his car.

[brower]

Andy didn't mind Desmond's judgement of Kyan too much. He didn't like the way Kyan treated Toby at all. On the other hand. . .if it hadn't been for Kyan he and Toby might never have gone back to his house the other day.

He nodded his head upwards at Ravi, before taking a final drag on his cig, and tossing it onto the ground. He blew out the smoke while simultaneously crushing the ashes with his black chucks. He was dressed simply today in a grey, form fitting t-shirt with a black crew cut collar and a pair of blue boot cut jeans.

He didn't mind that Desmond seemed to be in a hurry. He had things to do before he went to work anyway.

"Hey," he said in a simple way of greeting to Ravi.

[Desmond Giuseppe]

"What ever," said Desmond lazily waving his hand as if brushing aside his cousin's comments about Kyan. The poor kid had been totally brain washed by that Kyan kid into thinking he was cool. Ew. "Well, come on. Andy gets shot gun by the way because he's cuter that you!" Desmond giggled and lead the way to his car; a 1998 red Camero ((yes, I gave him my brother's car)). It was his dad's up until about two years ago when Desmond got his license. Then his father put his sons needs in front of his own and gave up to cool, fast car and went to the more practical Audi A6.

Desmond unlocked his car and pulled up the front seat. He waited for Ravi to hope in the cave like back seat of his car.

[Ravi Malone]

"Hello." Ravi said awkwardly to Andy. He'd noticed the kid around because he was cute, but doubted Andy had ever noticed him before. Ravi didn't have time to say anything else because it was just then that Desmond informed him that he would, once again, be forced to sit in the back.

"Awww!" Ravi whined, "Why do I always have to sit in the back!" Desmond always made an excuse for Ravi to sit in the back, whether it was because he had a friend with him, or because he wanted his books or snare drum in the front. Ravi miserably followed Desmond to the car, threw in his book bag, then climbed into the front seat.

[brower]

((Is Desmond's stick shift? 'Cause if not, Andy'll totally steal it. ; ] ))

Andy followed Desmond and Ravi over to the car, which was a pretty sweet ride, actually. Most of the guys he met didn't have hot cars like this: they drove sensible models, or just generally the same sort of new ones. Once Ravi was in the back, and he got into the front seat, he buckled himself in.

"Don't sweat it," he said to Ravi. "I don't live too far away, and then you can hop up front."

[Desmond Giuseppe]

((sorry, it's stick shift))

Desmond waited until everyone was seated and buckled in before blasting off. He really wasn't comfortable breaking the law, but for some reason, being behind that wheel of that car made him just want to speed! . . . and steal shit for some reason, but he never stole. He was able to fight that urge. Speeding was another story.

Desmond always loved the frightened look on his cousin's face as he whipped around corners. Even though it didn't look like it he was in complete control. He'd never one had an accident in the two years he had been driving the car.

"So, Andy." Desmond said conversationally as he passed some old lady in a green station wagon, "Where do you live?"

[brower]

Andy didn't mind the fast driving, when he was younger, well when he was 14 at any rate, he'd had an older friend, who'd wanted to be a race car driver. He was used to the fast motion.

"Oh, I live over at the Montgomery apartment complex," he informed him.