Hidden in Fabia

Ruvio thumbed his fingers on his desk impatiently.

“And that’s how you get this equation.” The teacher, Flora, explained while pointing to the whiteboard with a black dry erase marker in the front of the classroom. A boy walked in, his vibrant red eyes had a fog of violet around the irises as he scanned the classroom. “Xander, thanks for joining us. Detention.” Flora said.

“Ooooh noooo but ma’am it’s not like you keep me here alll the time after school” Xander replied, rolling his eyes.

“Oh wow, so cool, Xander.” Vanessa said, rolling her eyes, then continued reading.

“Heh.” He sat putting his feet on the desk.

Garrett snickered, “Troublemaker as usual.”

“You know it.” Xander replied with a wink.

“Oh look, a bumbling blonde.” Ruvio said.

Adriel slammed her book closed. “Who the hell are you calling a bumbling blonde?”

Ruvio rolled his eyes and sighed. “Mrs. Fucker can you explain the equation again?”

“Again? This the third time.” Logan chimed in.

Ruvio faced the back of the room to talk to him. “Sometimes third time’s the charm.”

“Never gonna learn anything.” Schuyler mumbled, faceplanting into his text book.

Neil was looking himself in his iPhone. Owen, bored as fuck, said “Same shit as always.”

“Please just let me learn!” Kade begged, “One day!”

“This is so dumb.” Lance said, making Felicity giggle.

Logan looked at his brother, “You’re telling me. It’s like they don-”

Schuyler got up onto his desk to throw wads of paper at the heads people talking, “Shut up some of us are trying to learn.” He sat back down into his seat.

“Hm? What just happened? Oh hello handsome” Neil winked at himself. Ruvio looked bored and slumped into his desk.

“Awwww Schuyler, chill out.” Felicity pleaded.

“Yay, Schuyler the hero!” Kade added in. Flora continued attempting to teach.

“Heh sure.” The hero said. Adriel was already bored so she threw scissors at Schuyler and Flora. Then she made sure the evidence pointed to Ruvio by kicking it under his desk.

“Ah!” Flora yelped in surprise.

“Ow!” Schuyler rubbed the back of his head and looked around the classroom.

Flora looked towards Ruvio accusingly. He sat back in his seat, just waiting to get blamed. “Ruvio, you’ll be staying as well.”

Adriel was working and smiled to herself. Ruvio flipped Flora off. “You know I don’t think it’s smart to keep a trouble maker longer because then the said trouble maker can cause more trouble.”

Flora ignored him and continued to teach until the bell rang. Xander stayed behind. Ruvio got up to sneak out with the crowd. Flora grabbed his collar. “Back here.”

“Eyes of a hawk.” Xander commented.

A short girl with black hair and bright blue eyes tilted her head into the doorway.“Hm? Is Ruvio not out yet?

“No, he got in trouble.”

“Oh... don’t worry. I’ll wait for you, Ruvio.” She smiled hugging her books.

Ruvio’s face softened. “Serena head home. I’ll be out soon ok?”

Serena pouted, “But I want to walk with you.”

Xander chuckled. “Awwww, how sweeeeeeeet.”

“Oh stop being so cute. I might make you kiss Xander.”

“Ewwww Xander!”

“Hey! So cruel.” Xander whined.

Ruvio blew some black hair out of his eyes then turned to Flora “Mrs. Fucker, I didn’t throw those scissor at you.”

Serena chimed in “Ruvio may have a foul mouth, but he would never harm anyone.”

“You know, I hate seeing a little girl upset, but I was so looking forward to hanging with Ruvio, but if I must,” Xander sighed. “I threw it, I thought it’d be funny and it was.”

“But-” Serena tried.

But Xander put a finger on her lips, “Anyway yeah.”

“Fine. Ruvio, you may leave.”

Ruvio grabbed all his stuff then ran out before their teacher could change her mind. Once they’re far enough, he gave Serena a funny look, ”Never harm anyone? Since when did you learn how to lie?”

Serena smiled. “It’s a secret. But Xander didn’t do it either. Now he has more time there, it must be lonely. Ventus always waits for his brother, it’s quite sweet.”

“His brother is one of the only few people who don’t blame him for one thing or another.” They spotted Ventus climbing a leafless tree in the distance. “And gets his obsession with getting into high places.”

“He’s very nice, I think.”

“I’ve never really cared to talk to him but then again people seem to hate me at first glance. And before you say anything about you not hating me, may I remind you of the summer of pebbles?”

“Hm?”

“We threw rocks at each other before Officer Fuckey got us in trouble.”

“But we’re friends now.” She stated. “If people get to know you they won’t hate you.”

“And yet they still blame me for things. But hey I’m not complaining fear is just another way of power I hear.” He put his hands behind his head, using it like a standing up pillow. “So what was the crazy in class today?”

“Hm?”

“Come on don’t tell me I have the only fucked up class.” He whined, “What happened during school today?”

“Well...” Serena thought for a minute, “Zain was studying really hard, Ember was sleeping in class again, Mae was designing dresses. Romeo was talking with Ari and I the whole time. Randy and Maria were not listening and having a pen sword fight in class and Mary joined and made a ruckus. Yair was doing a card trick to impress Mary but she was busy. Iago was being a prankster and Jordan was talking to Mae about the dresses. He is way more knowledgeable than everyone in the class about style it’s really cool.”

“So I what I’m hearing is you need to be tutored by me again.”

“Yes pleeeeease.” She gave him a toothy grin.

“Well ok.” Ruvio opened the door to his apartment. “Step into my office.” In a smug tone, then winked.

Serena giggled “Yay!”

“Your innocence sometimes kills me. Either because it’s adorable or I can’t stand it. I still don’t know which.” He walked into his apartment and smelt like baked apple pie.

“Mm smells yummy.”

“I would offer you a bite but it’s still hot.” He took his pie out of the oven.

Serena smiled “You like to bake?”

“Uh yeah, it’s just a hobby. I got nothing better to do so you know, apple pie, apple crisp, cinnamon apple slices, peanut butter and apples, applesauce, apple bread, and apple cider donuts.”

“And love apples.”

“Heh” He ran his hand through his messy hair. “They’ve been a weird obsession of mine.”

Serena giggled, “It’s okay. It’s cool, I can cook too but I like singing too.”

“Yes and then deer start to follow us.”

“But Betsy and Carl, Casey, Lillian, Olive Pat are my friends, they always get so lonely.”

Ruvio raised an eyebrow, “You named them?”

“Yup!” She smiled.

“Why?!”

“’Cause they’re my friends and I needed to call them something!”

“Wild animals are your friends?” He sighed and patted her head, “You’re an odd little girl.“He took a bite out of an apple then sat at the table. “What were you suppose to learn about today?”

“We were learning about algebraic equations.”

“Ok” He took out his notes from the year before and started to teach her, when they finished about 5 apples were eaten. “Ugh, I’m stuffed. But you understand it, right?” Serena nodded. “Good, cuz now I’m confused” He slumped in his seat. She giggled. “So are you going to sleep over or you staying at you little cottage?”

“Uncle Grumpy, Sneezy, Happy, Dopey,Sleepy, Doc and Bashful. I don’t think they’d mind.”

“I still don’t get why you have 7 uncles and why they are named like the dwarves from the story. And how the hell it’s normal to you?!”

“’Cause I grew up in the house like that.”

Ruvio gave her an envious look but it quickly passed, then he sighed, “So di-”

A blonde person with piercings popped out from behind the counter making Serena jump, “What about bangers and mash?!”

“Pfft, with you? No thank you, Ari.” Ruvio said.

“Ew no, I meant the lovely food!” The blonde turned their head to Serena. “Hi Serena! Did I scare you? Oh I’m terribly sorry.” Ari leaned over the counter, “I don’t know why I have that effect on people.”

Serena giggled,“It’s okay.”

“I know I’m gonna regret this but how did you get into my apartment?” He asked.

“I sleep under your sink of course!” Ari giggled.

Ruvio put his hands up in defeat, “Ok, I guess I’m making dinner for three.”

“Awww, what about meeeeee?” Another random colorful person dropped from the ceiling making Serena jump again,“Awwww sorry!” The blue haired wonder gave her a snuggle.

“It’s okay, Jayden.”

“What the fuck? How?!” Ruvio inspected his ceiling, “I need to change my locks.”

“I’ll still get in” Jayden smirked

“How?!”

“Hmmmmmm, your a girl!” Ari looked pleased.

“And you’re neither, and thanks for noticing!” Jayden said with a wink.

Ari had wide smile. “Ha ha! I am the non binary gender noticer! Fear my power!”

Ruvio looked befuddled. “Ok then, dinner for 4 then.”

“Yay!” Serena exclaimed.

“Thank you.“Jayden and Ari laughed.

“So what’s for dinner?” Ruvio asked

“Hmmmmm I don’t mind anything.” Jayden said.

“As long as we have tea!”

“You guys are helpful.” Ruvio grumbled.

“I’m sorry we can have some pancakes?” Serena asked.

“Pancakes for dinner! Yes!” Ari cheered.

“Ok?”

“Yummy!” Jayden agreed. The girls practically inhaled the apple cinnamon pancakes.

Ari sat on the counter and sipped their tea. “Oh this is positively, absolutely-”

Ruvio’s eye twitched. “Get to the fucking point!”

They sipped and jumped down. “I’m going to my room now.” They went under the sink. Ruvio blew his bangs out of his face.

“Bye bye.“Jayden went through the ceiling and walked into her house.

Serena laughed awkwardly. “Sorry for intruding. Thanks for the help.”

“I have my limits with those two. They are just...just...They are something.”

Serena hugged him. His eyes grew wide, “Eh?Why are you hugging me?”

“I’m sorry I caused you so much trouble, so hugs are my apology.”

“I don’t think you need to apologize but..” He shrugged and leaned into the hug. Serena smiled at him.

Ruvio poked her nose up. “Hey look, piggy.”

Serena giggled, “Oink!”

“Pfft” He pinched her nose and pulled her to the couch. She continued giggling, “You confuse me.” He plopped onto the couch but sat up straight like a gentleman. More giggles, “Why are you so giggly?”

“’Cause I’m happy.”

“Why?”

“I’m always happy.”

“Yeah and I can’t understand why. Your parentless, you have me for a friend, your classes are completely insane and I insult you all the time!”

Serena cocked her head to the side, “I’m just happy to be alive. I’m happy I have freedom enough to play and make friends like this.” Ruvio shoved an apple in her mouth then hunched over and rested his head in his hands, elbows on his knees. Serena took it out. “You okay?”

“Just bored. There’s nothing to do here. I can’t wait to get to college.”

“Awwww, I’ll be all alone without you.”

“You’ll have tweedle dee and tweedle random.”

“But it won’t be the same.”

“Heh,” He patted her head, “cute.”

“It won’t! Who will make me apple pie and teach me things and be my best friend?”

Ruvio blushed because he’s never had a best friend before. “You must be really stupid.” She giggled, “What now with the giggles?”

“I’m just happy you think the same.”

“Well that still doesn’t change the fact that I want to leave this town.”

“I know.” Ruvio clicked on the TV, “I guess I’ll leave then.” She smiled. “It’s all dark now.”

“I thought you were going to sleepover.”

“Am I?”

“We still have school tomorrow so I guess your 7 uncles wouldn’t like that, that much.”

“I’ll sleep over” She sat back down.

Ruvio laughed, “I think you’re starting to become a rebellious teenager.”

“Yay!”

“Why are you cheering for that?”

“Because I think it’s a compliment.”

Ruvio laughed and got out a mattress for her.

Serena smiled and layed down. “Thank you.”

“Well I’m not giving up my bed.”

“I know.”

Ruvio put blankets on her. “In this light you’re so pale. You can almost match the snow we get around here.”

“Yeah,” She laughed, “I’m definitely the lightest of them all.”

“I’d almost say you’re Snow White.” He winked and laughed. “Or Elsa. She’s pretty pale too.” He stood up.“Well,” He pinned his bangs back into his black hair, “I’m going to bed. If Jayden comes in from the ceiling tell her not to bother me.” He started to retreat into his room.

“Night night.” She smiled. Ruvio closed the door and slept peacefully through the night.