#69: "Knock-knock" "Who's there?" "Friendship?"

[lordchen]

Prompt: #69
Title: "Knock-knock" "Who's there?" "Friendship?"
Pairing: Chen/D.O
Rating: r
Warnings: consuming of alcohol, underage drinking
Word count: 11180
Summary: Jongdae doesn’t like the idea of Kyungsoo not sitting with anyone in class or during lunch, so he decides he needs to befriend him. But it’s not as easy as it sounds.
Author’s note: thank you to the prompter, I hope you’ll like what I did with the fic!! (I had loads of fun writing this but also a really hard time, so I hope I didn’t screwed it up too much) Also, at one point there’s a totally unnecessary paragraph about Jongdae being a mama’s boy, what can u do~



”I really hate being friends with you,” Baekhyun says and leans against the hallway-wall before taking a bite of his sandwich.

“What? Why?” Jongdae asks and looks at him, feeling slightly offended.

“Because you’re a huge nerd,” Chanyeol answers for Baekhyun who is still chewing but nods approving. Jongdae gapes.

“You’re literally wearing One Piece merchandise right now,” he points out and eyes Chanyeol’s t-shirt. Chanyeol sticks out his chest and is about to defend himself when Baekhyun opens his mouth again.

“Yeah, but Chanyeol’s lame manga isn’t preventing us from finishing our lunch whilst sitting down right now.”

"Listen, no one asked you to come," Jongdae says and taps lightly with his feet. He's getting impatient. "You just tagged along- as always." He looks towards the door to the staffroom. The reason they're not sitting in the cafeteria right now, is because Jongdae is supposed to pick up a bunch of papers from one of their teachers. It's permission slips for the upcoming weekend-trip the class is having in two months, and everyone needs their parents' signatures to be allowed to participate. As the student council president for their class, Jongdae has certain responsibilities and one of them is to make sure, that everyone gets a slip, and no one is forgotten. That's why he needs to pick them up during the break, so he can hand them out to his classmates in the end of the next period. He never asks Baekhyun og Chanyeol to come with him, yet they always do and they always complain. As annoying as it can be, Jongdae thinks it's kinda nice.

"But what kind of friends would we be if we left you to do this all by yourself!" Baekhyun says, and Jongdae smiles. The door beside opens and Jongdae straightens his back as their teacher appears.

"Sorry for the wait, here you go Jongdae," she says in a friendly tone and hands Jongdae a stack of papers.

"Ah, thank you very much," he simply answers and bows slightly. The teacher smiles at him before closing the door again. Jongdae flips through the papers and sighs. "Let's head to class," he says, and Chanyeol and Baekhyun groan simultaneously before following Jongdae.


They're sitting in class, as the only ones, because break isn't over yet, but Jongdae needs a flat surface in order to check if every classmate is getting a formula. Baekhyun and Chanyeol are talking loudly besides him, but it doesn't bother him- he's pretty used to it, and he thinks they're funny to listen to while he has 'work'. It's not hard being president of the student council, it's just that sometimes he needs to spend his lunch breaks on meetings or other stuff like this.

"So, what are you planning for you birthday, are we going out or will it be a house party?" Chanyeol asks, while Jongdae ticks off another name on his list.

"I thought going out would be the easiest thing to do," Baekhyun says before eyeing Jongdae. "But some people aren't comfortable with that."

"Ah, come on, why are you always like this!" Jongdae wails and looks up from his papers. Baekhyun and Chanyeol laugh before Jongdae continues. "I just don't like going out when I'm still underage, I feel uneasy."

"Why? No one'll know you're not 18 yet," Chanyeol says.

"Easy for you to say," Jongdae groans and twists Chanyeol's ear so he whines. "You're like 2 meters tall, they never ask you to show ID."

"Okay, but I have a baby-face, and even I rarely get asked," Baekhyun argues and Jongdae points his pencil at him.

"I don't like it," he simply says, and Baekhyun scuffs.

"Then I guess I'll have to host a party," Baekhyun concludes and Jongdae nods while checking his papers.

"Then I'll definitely be there."

"Would you have missed my 18th birthday if we were going out instead!" Baekhyun yells. "After everything I've done for you!"
Jongdae laughs briefly, but is too fixed on the paper before him than Baekhyun right now, if he has to be honest.

"I don't understand this," he says and interrupts Baekhyun's dramatic wailing. He shows the others the paper. "Look, this one's for Do Kyungsoo," he continues. "Who's that? There must've been a mistake?"

Chanyeol grabs the paper. "No no, Kyungsoo is the weird kid in the back," he says and point towards the back of the class. Jongdae frowns

"What weird kid..." he begins and looks backwards. There's no one there.

"He's not here right now, but he always sits in the back of the class," Chanyeol explains and hands over the paper to Jongdae. This is bad, he thinks.

"What does he looks like? I have to hand out these papers, it's gonna be too awkward if I don't know who he is!"

"Oh chill, he's easy to spot," Baekhyun assures. "He's always alone, and he always stares like this with his enormous eyes; as if he hates you," Baekhyun lowers his head slightly and stares coldly at Jongdae who feels mildly disturbed now.

"W-why?" he asks. Baekhyun shrugs.

"I don't know, why don't you ask him yourself. Not that the chances of getting an answer are high, he never talks to anyone." Jongdae looks down at the name on the paper. Do Kyungsoo.

"Maybe I will..." he mutters just as the bell rings. He curses briefly and quickly checks the rest of the papers while everyone enters the classroom and finds a seat. Afterwards the teacher announces the plan for today's class, and while he does so, Jongdae scans the classroom to see if he can find this Kyungsoo, or if Baekhyun and Chanyeol are pulling some kind of prank on him. He almost concludes that but then his eyes land on a kid in the corner in the back. A kid with smooth black hair, round cheeks and full lips, but most of all that stare, Baekhyun imitated. Jongdae doesn't understand how he could've possibly missed this person, but then again, he never sits in the back of the class.

At the end of class Jongdae is called up to hand out the papers to everyone. He explains all the rules, even though everyone is probably just dying to get their paper and get out of school. He hands out the papers one person at a time, and after the person has received it, they can leave the class. So, the classroom is pretty much empty when Jongdae gets to the back of the class. Do Kyungsoo is the last to receive his permission slip. Jongdae holds out the slip in front of the tiny, ghost-looking boy.

"Here," he says brightly. There's not really a reaction besides a slight glare. Jongdae gulps and decides to just place the permission slip on the desk. He looks at the paper. The name Do Kyungsoo is staring up at him, and even though it says so right there, Jongdae isn't quite sure if the boy in front of him is actually the owner of that name. He's never noticed him after all. That really isn't okay, Jongdae thinks and so he musters up his courage to get a proper introduction (or something like that).

"Hey Kyungsoo?" Jongdae asks friendly as the boy starts packing his bag. Jongdae's voice makes him stop though and he looks at him.

".. yeah?" he hesitates. Jongdae takes a brief moment to thank God that he wasn't wrong about the name (otherwise it would've been really awkward right now) before trying to start a conversation.

"Are you… looking forward to the trip?"

"Uh--"

"Jongdae!" Baekhyun interrupts loudly from the door at the other side of the room. "Hurry up and pack your things, we gotta go!"

Jongdae remembers that it's Friday, and every other Friday he, Baekhyun and Chanyeol go out to sing karaoke after school (unless something better comes up- which in Baekhyun's opinion can either be a party or just any other opportunity to kiss girls). Jongdae shifts. "Yeah yeah, I'll be right there!" he yells back before turning to Kyungsoo again, who has a very confused facial expression.

"No, we're in a rush today, I have to be home at five," Chanyeol says, making Jongdae all stressed out.

"But I--"

"Y-you can go?" Kyungsoo says carefully as he continues to pack his bag.

"Oh but I--" Jongdae begins. "It's just, we haven't really talked at all, so I just wanted to--"

"Jongdae!" Baekhyun yells.

"to-- jesus christ okay!" Jongdae snaps and rushes to his desk to pack his bag in a hurry. He turns to Kyungsoo. "Maybe another time!" he says before speed-walking over to Baekhyun and Chanyeol and the immediately leave the classroom.

"What were you doing?" Baekhyun asks and wraps his arm around Jongdae's shoulder.

"I was talking to Kyungsoo," Jongdae answers. "Don't you think it's weird how apparently no one talks to him? And I didn't even know he existed!"

Chanyeol shrugs. "Not really, he's kinda creepy."

Jongdae huffs. His friends sucked sometimes... Maybe it was time to make a new one.

/////////////


Jongdae has just finished drying his hair after showering when Baekhyun calls. "You wanna hang out today?" he asks through the phone while Jongdae looks at himself in his mirror and mentally curses at his hair for not behaving.

"Nah," he answers and turns to his drawers to look for a t-shirt. "I can't."

Baekhyun grumbles. "Why not?"

"I gotta bake with my mom," Jongdae says as he fishes an old white t-shirt out of his drawer. It has an image of Pikachu on it, and he's had it since he was 8, but back then they had only had it in a size way too large for him. He kinda whined until his mother bought it for him anyways, and now it actually fits him.

"You always bake with your mom!" Baekhyun says in a high voice. Jongdae gapes

"No I don't!" he protests but he realizes that it's kind of a lie (he often bakes with his mom in the weekends; it's something they used to do together when he was little. She would bake, and Jongdae would occasionally help, but mostly he would just sit at the kitchen table and talk and talk and talk while his mom did everything. While the cookies, or the cake or the bread were in the oven they would clean up and make tea, and then when whatever they had baked was done, they would eat some of it and drink the tea, and Jongdae would swing his little legs from his stool as his mother would praise him for being the best baking-buddy and he would praise her for being the best mother in the world) so he quickly withdraws. "Okay maybe, but anyways, I love my mom."

"Mm, I love your mom too," Baekhyun replies in a sleazy voice.

"Eeew, stop that I'm hanging up," Jongdae whines as he tries to put on his shirt without dropping his phone. "Now I definitely won't hang out with you."

"As if you would've said yes even without my comment," Baekhyun laughs.

"True," Jongdae mumbles as he fixes his shirt. "Anyways, I gotta go, good luck finding someone to entertain you, we'll talk later."

"We will, and thanks mama's boy," Baekhyun chirps and Jongdae waits for him to hang up and then puts on a couple of sweatpants and strolls out to the kitchen.



"Hey mom?" Jongdae asks as they sit in the kitchen, drinking their tea and eating the cookies they've made. "There's this kid in my class, who apparently always sits by himself and never talks to anyone."

"Oh that's too bad," his mom says before taking a sip of her tea. "Why?"

"I think it's because people think he's weird, but I don't really know, 'cause I've never really noticed him, but I think it's kinda sad. What if he has no friends?" Jongdae imagines. That would be the worst scenario for him but who knows; maybe this Kyungsoo doesn't like having friends. Jongdae wouldn't know.

"Well, if you're worried about that," his mom says calmly. "Then maybe you should make friends with him?"

Jongdae nods. "He seems very shy though. More shy than me." he debates. "How do you become friends with really shy people?"

Jongdae's mother laughs. "Just be nice to him. Don't be pushy but try to make him feel comfortable- that's what you would want people to do with you right?" she asks.

Jongdae nods and frowns in concentration whilst looking at his tea. "Yeah," he mumbles and brings the mug to his lips. "I guess I can try doing that"

/////////////

Jongdae is nervous before stepping into class the following Monday. What if the ghost boy- err, Kyungsoo- doesn't want a new friend? What if Jongdae offends him by talking to him? What if Kyungsoo thinks Jongdae pities him for being alone? Well, to be honest, he kinda does, because not having any friends at all seems horrible in Jongdae's eyes, and Kyungsoo can't possibly feel comfortable in the class if he doesn't talk to anyone; and it's Jongdae's responsibility as a member of the student council to make sure everyone in his class is comfortable! And on that note Jongdae steps into the classroom. He passes by Chanyeol, who is clearly waiting for him and Baekhyun to arrive and sit next to him (Jongdae feels a bit bad, because Baekhyun is almost always late, so without Jongdae, Chanyeol will sit alone... but it's only for a while).

Jongdae feels as if the whole class is staring at him when he sits next to Kyungsoo, but in reality it's probably only Chanyeol and Kyungsoo who's staring. Jongdae looks at Chanyeol who has turned in his seat and is mouthing a 'what' at him, but Jongdae just shrugs. Chanyeol is about to say something, it seems like, but then the teacher arrives, and instead Chanyeol just frowns and huffs before turning around to face the front of the class. A few minutes later Baekhyun arrives in class, looking all out of breath (he probably ran all the way up the stairs) and he apologizes politely, before turning around and spotting Jongdae in the back of the class sitting next to Kyungsoo.

"What the hell?" Baekhyun blurts out.

"Baekhyun, language," their teacher corrects calmly, and a slight snicker spreads in the class room. Baekhyun apologizes again and sits down next to Chanyeol, and Jongdae can see them looking back at him and whispering, which honestly makes him a bit anxious, but he's confident about his decision!

"Um... why are you sitting next to me?"

Okay, now he's not that confident. Jongdae looks at Kyungsoo who just silently asked the question. "I-- why wouldn't I?" Jongdae replies. Kyungsoo frowns. Jongdae can tell he's not going to answer that, so he continues talking, but with a low voice so the teacher won't notice. "Sometimes I need a break from Baekhyun and Chanyeol, and you seem nice."

Kyungsoo looks a bit weirded out and it's making Jongdae panic a bit. "But I can move, if you want me to?" he offers, because he doesn't want to seem weird or pushy. Kyungsoo is silent for a bit before shaking his head.

"I don't care," he mumbles. Jongdae doesn't know how to feel about that statement.

During class, Jongdae tries to be as friendly and outgoing as possible, but Kyungsoo doesn't really seem to catch on. It's making Jongdae anxious. Kyungsoo isn't as much as twisting a muscle in his face whenever Jongdae says anything, and it's becoming awkward. After class Jongdae feels slightly defeated. Kyungsoo digs out a book from his bag during their 15 minute break before next period, and Jongdae can feel Baekhyun and Chanyeol looking at him, waiting for him to just give up already. But Jongdae can't give up this easily!

"I- wanna hear a joke?" he asks.

Kyungsoo replies. "Not really." Okay, Jongdae thinks, I guess I give up then.

"I... fair enough," Jongdae mumbles and gets up from his seat. He takes his bag with him and walks over to an empty spot besides Baekhyun.

"What are you even doing?" Baekhyun asks as Jongdae sits down with a sigh. "I arrive in class and suddenly you're sitting next to ghostboy over there?" He widens his eyes. "Is this because I hadn't done my homework last time? I swear, Jongdae, you are such a ne--"

"What? No it wasn't because of that!" Jongdae interrupts and goes back to sulking. "... But you should do your homework, it's annoying working with someone who hasn't done it."

"Relax goody two-shoes," Chanyeol says and doddles some more in his notebook before showing it to the others. There's a small drawing of two tiny persons, both looking rather awkward, sitting next to each other. One of them has a dark cloud above their head and a bunch of signs saying 'don't talk to me' around them, yet the other person is still talking. "It's you and Kyungsoo!" Chanyeol beams and continues to explain while pointing at the gloomy character. "The tiny vampire--"

"Ghost," Baekhyun corrects.

"-- yeah ghost, whatever; the dark unfriendly creature is Kyungsoo, and the annoying person who can't take a hint is you!"
Jongdae can't help but launch forward. "You're an asshole!" Jongdae whines and manages to rip the page out of Chanyeol's notebook and crumbles it. He sits back with a sigh as Chanyeol is frozen in disbelief.

"That... was my English notes you just crumbled."

"Was it, oh my god, Chanyeol, I'm sorry--" Jongdae babbles and tries to straighten the paper which he can now see, has actual notes on the other side of the mean drawing.

"Wow," Baekhyun says. "You have issues."

"What, what do you mean?!" Jongdae asks the exact moment he places a stack of books on top of Chanyeol's single page of notes in order to straighten it.

"You're just a freak," Baekhyun says with a bit of concern in his voice. "I mean... who gets this worked up over something this small?"

Jongdae sighs once again and slides some of the books, on top of the paper, away. The drawing is staring up at him. "It just seems like everyone is mean to him, and--"

"Pretty sure it could just be me and Chanyeol though," Baekhyun interrupts but Jongdae lets it slide.

"-- I don't know. I just wanted to make sure he was okay but… it didn't go that well and now I'm kind of disappointed."

Baekhyun pats Jongdae on the back. "Oh well, you tried!" he simply says before the bell rings. Jongdae just stares at him for a while.

".. Was that it?"

/////////////

Baekhyun and Chanyeol are extremely unhelpful the following days to say at least, so Jongdae tries to seek advice from other friends. Yixing, however, has tons of assignments hanging over his head and Jongdae doesn't want to bother him, and Minseok just joins Baekhyun and Chanyeol's team, and tells him he should let it go if Kyungsoo seems better off alone… which wasn't the answer Jongdae wanted to hear. However, if everyone else thinks that way, maybe it was just Jongdae being weird, so he decides to let it go. Until he sees Kyungsoo leave for lunch by himself. It's the third day in a row this has happened, and Jongdae knows that it's none of his business, and he knows that he should stay out of it, and he certainly knowshe shouldn't pity Kyungsoo at all because everyone is different, but for some reason, Jongdae doesn't care about what he knows right now.

"Where are you going?" Chanyeol asks when Jongdae suddenly stands up in a hurry and gathers all of his stuff. "You haven't even finished your lunch?"

"Uh, you can have it," Jongdae mumbles and begins walking. "I just need to go, it's--" He bumps into another table in his hurry and almost trips and falls. "Sorry, I, I'm just in a hurry, I have to... go," he babbles before finally turning around to follow Kyungsoo, leaving Baekhyun and Chanyeol looking very confused.

Jongdae can see Kyungsoo exiting a door at the end of the hallway and he runs after him and ends up in the green area outside of the school- the space just between the school building and the p.e-area. Jongdae's a bit out of breath from his short run and he looks in every direction until he finally spots Kyungsoo taking place under a tree in the very corner of the school's area. With a deep breath, Jongdae decides to walk over to him.

"Kyungsoo," Jongdae calls out when he's a few meters away, and Kyungsoo (who has just stuffed an entire rice ball into his mouth) looks up in confusion. "Hi," Jongdae says a bit awkwardly when he's standing right in front of Kyungsoo. It's rather hot outside, but standing in the shadow of the tree feels cooling. Jongdae hopes that'll also make his mind feel cooler.

"Hi?" Kyungsoo replies rather hesitant. Jongdae gulps before placing his hands at his sides. Keep cool, he thinks to himself.

"I would like to know, if you feel comfortable in the class!" Jongdae feels like he's shouting (and who knows, maybe he is, he's always been told he can be pretty loud at times) and he feels like panicking, because this doesn't feel cool at all!

Kyungsoo stares at him for some time, looking rather bewildered. "What?" he finally says with a frown on his face. Jongdae feels awkward.

"Well, I--" he begins and clears his throat. "-- It is my duty as a member of the student council to make sure everyone thrives in the class!" There's a long pause, and Jongdae feels like this weird authority-thing he's trying out right now isn't the best approach he could've chosen.

"... so yeah," he mumbles and scratches his nose, when Kyungsoo has stared at him for approximately 3 minutes.

"I'm good," it comes promptly from Kyungsoo and he turns back to his food.

Jongdae frowns. "Really, you never smile?" he blurts out, and it's making Kyungsoo look up at him again. He swallows his food.

"I don't smile much," he says and takes another bite. Jongdae widens his eyes because he doesn't know how else to respond at first because that was a wild thing to say.

"Well," Jongdae huffs. "I'm gonna make it my mission to make you smile more." He sits down next to Kyungsoo under the tree and crosses his arms over his chest as he tries to ignore the weirded out look Kyungsoo is giving him.

"What are you doing?" Kyungsoo asks, sounding mildly disturbed. Jongdae keeps looking straight; it's the best way for him to stay focused.

"I just told you. I want to make you smile more, and in order to do that, I need to spend time with you."

"Don't be too sure of that," Kyungsoo grumbles and takes another bite of his food.

"Don't be like that," Jongdae whines and Kyungsoo wipes his mouth.

"No offense, but I don't think you can just make me smile more," he says and looks away and whispers "Besides... isn't it a little weird thing to do?"

"It's my mission," Jongdae simply says. Kyungsoo looks at him, which feels kind of weird.

"Fine, good luck then."

"Thanks!" Jongdae beams with a huge grin. He hopes that it may make Kyungsoo smile too, because smiles can be infectious sometimes. Kyungsoo however doesn't budge. This is like English class all over again, Jongdae thinks to himself. Then a weird silence falls upon them. It's fine, Jongdae thinks until he suddenly sees that there's less than 5 minutes left of the lunch break. He needs to make some sort of progress with Kyungsoo today, or else he'll fail every time. In a state of mild stress he blurts out the first thing he can think of to break the ice.

"Knock-knock!"

Kyungsoo slowly turns his head in Jongdae's direction, but Jongdae doesn't dare to look at him, too embarrassed of himself.

"What," Kyungsoo asks.

"Knock-knock," Jongdae says again.

"Are you kidding me right now?"

"You're supposed to say 'who's there?'," Jongdae says and looks at Kyungsoo. He doesn't really know Kyungsoo, but it's safe to say, judging by his face, that he's unimpressed. Slowly he looks away and sighs.

"... Who's there?"

Jongdae doesn't even care if he screws up the rest of the joke to be honest, because the fact that he just made Kyungsoo- the boy who apparently never talks to anyone- participate in his joke is a victory in itself.

"Lettuce." Jongdae continues though and looks straight ahead again.

"... Lettuce who?"

Jongdae takes a deep breath. "Lettuce see a smile already."

And then the weirdest thing happens. Something Jongdae would've never predicted would happen with his shitty joke. Kyungsoo laughs. It's only a brief laugh, more like a slight grunt, but Jongdae also manages to catch the slight twitch of Kyungsoo's mouth before the boy covers it.

"You laughed!" Jongdae cheers.

"N-no I didn't!" Kyungsoo protests. "I don't have such a bad sense of humor!"

"Yes you do!" Jongdae is over the moon happy. "You love shitty jokes!" He starts standing up and he swings his backpack over his shoulder. "This is amazing!"

"Leave me alone," Kyungsoo mumbles and ducks his head. Jongdae smiles.

"Fine, that's enough smiling for one day then," he jokes and starts jumping towards the school building once again. "See you in class Kyungsoo!" Jongdae can't help but smile all the way up to the class room. Huh, he thinks. Smiles really are infectious?

/////////////

Baekhyun is lying on Jongdae's bed one evening, staring up at the ceiling, rambling on about his birthday party coming up, while Jongdae sits by the computer by his desk. He's not really paying attention to Baekhyun's horrible struggles right now, and that's often not a problem, because Baekhyun can talk for ages about nothing, and if you just reply with some approving noises, he'll think you're listening.

"It's just... I don't wanna spend money on alcohol but I also wanna make sure a lot of girls show up, and you know girls always show up if there's free alcohol, so what should I do?"

"Yeah sure," Jongdae replies, too focused on his google results.

Baekhyun rolls over on his stomach and pops up on his elbows to look in Jongdae's direction. "What do you mean 'yeah sure'?"

"Mmm," Jongdae hums, and Baekhyun groans and gets up from the bed.

"You're not listening to me at all, what are you--" he begins and peeks over Jongdae's shoulder to see the screen. The google results have him baffled. "Good jokes?" Baekhyun reads, sounding very confused. "Jongdae, you don't need to do that, you can be pretty funny!"

Jongdae huffs. "Thanks, but this isn't for me, it's for Kyungsoo."

"Why do you have such a hard on for Kyungsoo?" Baekhyun wonders out loud. Jongdae spins around in his chair to hit him.

"I don't have a hard on for him, God!" he whines but Baekhyun just laughs. Jongdae fixes his hair whilst talking. "I just want to make him feel more comfortable in class, and this is my approach to becoming his friend."

"With knock-knock-jokes?" Baekhyun questions while eyeing the screen.

"Yeah, he likes them," Jongdae answers and spins around in his chair again to face the computer. Baekhyun smirks.

"Are you spinning around to hide your stiffy for Kyungsoo from me?"

"Get out of my house."

/////////////

"Do you wanna hear a joke?"

Kyungsoo looks up to see Jongdae standing in front of his desk with a smile on his face. He doesn't answer.

"Come on," Jongdae urges as he sits down next to Kyungsoo. Baekhyun and Chanyeol will probably glare at him again, but he doesn't care. He's made up his mind and wants to befriend Kyungsoo. "You liked the joke yesterday; I have a new one today!" Kyungsoo shrugs. Jongdae takes that as a yes.

"Okay, why did the duck cross the road?" Kyungsoo's face twitches at the sound of Jongdae's words, but not in a bad way. Jongdae continues. "To prove he wasn't a chicken!"

Kyungsoo laughs briefly, just like he did yesterday, and immediately looks like he regrets it. Jongdae can't tell if he's laughing because he actually finds the joke funny or if he finds it funny how hard Jongdae tries (and how bad he is at telling jokes), but it doesn't even matter, because a smile is a smile, and a smile is the beginning of a friendship.

"You laughed again!" Jongdae laughs and Kyungsoo can't quite help but smile slightly. "That makes me so happy."

"Okay," Kyungsoo mumbles, a bit too flustered to say anything else. Suddenly Jongdae gets and idea and he taps Kyungsoo's shoulder in excitement.

"How about we make it a thing!" he suggests. "Joke of the Day!"

Kyungsoo looks towards him. "That sounds..." he begins before looking away again. His eyes land on Baekhyun and Chanyeol in the other end of the class, eyeing them. Kyungsoo gulps. "... Stupid."

"I don't mind being stupid if it makes you relax enough to smile," Jongdae confesses as he places his math homework on his desk. He flashes the younger boy a smile again, and Kyungsoo just looks confused.

"What are you doing?" Kyungsoo asks, when he's about to leave for lunch and Jongdae follows him. Kyungsoo was positive Jongdae would leave him alone now, since they've been sitting together for two whole periods now. They haven't talked like crazy- or, well, Jongdae kinda has. It's like, now that he has seen Kyungsoo laugh at him, he's not as afraid to approach the boy and try to talk to him.

"I thought we could eat lunch together?" Jongdae says. "I really like the place we sat by yesterday."

"We..." Kyungsoo tries before giving up. "Okay... I guess I can't decide where you eat your lunch."

Jongdae smiles and together they walk out to the tree. The minute they sit down, Jongdae begins to talk. "So, how come you don't really talk to anyone in class?"

Kyungsoo unpacks his lunch and just shrugs. "I just don't talk much in general."

"No, I've realized," Jongdae laughs. The winds blows, making both boys shiver a bit. A piece of paper is carried by the wind and winds up next to Jongdae. Out of curiosity, he picks it up. It's a flyer from an entertainment and music company. "Jellyfish Entertainment" Jongdae reads out loud. "Such a weird name right?" Kyungsoo gives a slight nod, making Jongdae continue.

"I don't know, when I hear it, I just can't help but picture a jellyfish as an idol," he explains and chuckles. Kyungsoo looks at the flyer.

"Wouldn't that make it," he begins and then briefly looks at Jongdae before looking at the flyer again. "A starfish."

"Oh my god," Jongdae whines before he begins laughing. "Yes it would!" He laughs loudly, and it's making Kyungsoo chuckle a bit at his own joke too. Jongdae takes a deep breath, trying to contain his laughter. "You should talk more, that was so funny."

"It really wasn't," Kyungsoo insists, but he's also trying not to laugh. After a while of slight laughter Jongdae wipes his eyes.

"Being an idol must be fun, though," he says and looks longingly at the flyer. "You're just doing what you love and then you have people appreciating you, and you get paid to do it!"

"I think it's hard," Kyungsoo voices and takes a mouthful of his food.

Jongdae nods. "You're probably right," he agrees and places the flyer next to him. "But what I wouldn't give to actually sing for a living."

"You like singing?" Kyungsoo asks. Jongdae laughs, a bit embarrassed.

"Yeah, I really love it. I've been doing it as long as I can remember."

"Me too," Kyungsoo slips out and Jongdae quickly turns his face to look at the other boy.

"You sing too?" he asks, sounding eager. Kyungsoo looks a bit nervous.

"I mean, I--" he stutters. "I like singing, but, I don't know if I'm very good at it or anything."

"Me, Baekhyun- he loves singing too- and Chanyeol- he's just with us for giggles- sing karaoke every other Friday!" Jongdae tells Kyungsoo. His eyes are all widened in excitement. "You should come with us sometime!"

Kyungsoo almost blushes. "N-no, that's probably not necessary," he says. Jongdae nods.

"Alright, no pressure, but it would be so much fun!"

"Yeah.. maybe someday in the future," Kyungsoo 'lies' and turns back to his food. They sit in silence for a while and concentrates on eating until Jongdae talks again.

"It's so cool knowing that about you, though," he mumbles and looks at Kyungsoo. "Tell me more about yourself."

"That," Kyungsoo begins and plays with his food. "Makes it sound like we're on a date."

"You're right, I heard it, I'm sorry," Jongdae quickly agrees, and Kyungsoo can't help but laugh a little.

/////////////

For the next week or so, Jongdae and Kyungsoo sits together in nearly every class, and has lunch almost every day (except for the days when Baekhyun throws a hissy fit and demands that Jongdae spends time with him and Chanyeol. Jongdae agrees because he doesn't want to neglect any of his friends, and Kyungsoo says that he doesn't care- which makes Jongdae feel a little discouraged). Jongdae breaks the ice every day with a new stupid joke, and Kyungsoo laughs a little more every day, but Jongdae can tell that he's still not fully relaxed around him.

"Hey Kyungsoo, do you want to eat with us today?" Jongdae offers one day during lunch just as Kyungsoo is about to leave the class.

"What, no, why?" Baekhyun answers for Kyungsoo and Jongdae sends him a scowl.

"Don't be rude," Jongdae scolds and Baekhyun just snorts. "And why shouldn't he eat with us," Jongdae gestures towards Kyungsoo, who looks a bit lost. "Me and him are friends after all."

"No we're not," Kyungsoo corrects. Jongdae looks at him right away and frowns.

"We're not?"

"Not really, no," Kyungsoo admits and avoids Jongdae's eyes.

"Oh," Jongdae simply mumbles and looks down at his table. "Okay then." He doesn't say anymore and Kyungsoo just looks at him for a while with an apologetic look before he exits the class.

"That was awkward," Chanyeol says. "Haven't you been together a lot lately?"

"Yeah," Jongdae almost whines and rests his head in his hands. "And we're often having a laugh, and just... I don't really understand why he keeps insisting, he doesn't care whether I talk to him or not."

"Don't worry so much, it's probably just how he is," Chanyeol comforts. Jongdae eyes him.

"Okay, fair enough, but it can be kinda tiresome when you try so hard, and you don't really get anything in return?"

"But to be fair, it's you who wants to be friends with him, not the other way around, maybe it's kind of unreasonable to just expect him to give something in return," Baekhyun suddenly says. Jongdae sighs, because he gets what Baekhyun is saying, and now he feels more awful than before.

"Can't we drag me another day, I'm not feeling it right now," he pleads. He's feeling seriously tired.

/////////////

Kyungsoo feels kinda bad about what he said to Jongdae, but it's true, he wouldn't actually consider them friends yet when he doesn't really care for Jongdae. Sure, it's nice to have him around so the school days aren't as boring, but Kyungsoo has been doing this for many years now; he's used to sit alone in class. It's just his thing. So it doesn't bother him that much when Jongdae doesn't show up to school the next day.

Okay, if he's being honest, it does feel slightly weird, because he and Jongdae has been together every day for a little more than a week now, and although it's not every minute of the school day they spend together, Kyungsoo's getting slightly used to Jongdae now. He spaces out during class wondering why Jongdae isn't at school, but he figures he's just in need for a day home or something. Maybe Kyungsoo can ask him when he returns. If he can find the courage to do it, that is. And if Jongdae still wants to talk to him.
When Jongdae doesn't show up the next day either, Kyungsoo starts to get a bit worried. Perhaps, will too much time without Kyungsoo make Jongdae realize, how much of a drag he is and make him cancel his mission when he comes back to school? Or what if Jongdae isn't at school because Kyungsoo was mean to him? Maybe he's not showing up because he ran out of jokes? Is he even okay, he's never seen Jongdae miss a single day of school ever? The thoughts are making Kyungsoo crazy and after not paying the least bit of attention for the entire last period, he decides he needs to find out if Jongdae is okay. And before he can make a decent plan on how to achieve his goal, he's standing in front of Chanyeol and Baekhyun.

"Uh," Chanyeol says when Kyungsoo has been staring at him for some time without talking. "Are you okay?"

"I," Kyungsoo begins, and he feels his voice trembling a little bit. He really hates talking to people he doesn't know. "I wanted to know, if you know where Jongdae lives."

"We do," Baekhyun says, raising an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm... just wondering where he's been for the past couple of days."

"Oh, he's super sick," Chanyeol says calmly, but Kyungsoo still feels anxious right away. "Yeah, he's caught this nasty cold, I was scared for my life when I visited him!"

"Ugh, I know right, but he loves visits when he's sick, he's such a baby," Baekhyun complains. "Real friends take care of you when you're sick! " He mimics Jongdae's voice and ends with a long whine.

"Haha, you sound just like him," Chanyeol laughs. He stops however, when Kyungsoo steps dangerously close.

"Where does he live."

/////////////

"Honey, one of your friends is here to check on you," Jongdae's mother says. Jongdae looks up from his manga with a confused look. It can't possibly be Baekhyun or Chanyeol after the dramatic visit they made yesterday, where they rambled on about how they didn't want to get sick and blah blah. And Jongdae hasn't really talked with any of his other friends about his cold (which was probably for the best, he thinks, because he can be really boring when he's sick).

"Which friend?" Jongdae asks curiously and his mom opens the door a little more to reveal a tiny, gloomy-looking boy. Jongdae looks surprised. "Kyungsoo?"

"Do you want me to make you some tea?" Jongdae's mother offers and Kyungsoo refuses politely, so she leaves him to enter Jongdae's room. He does so, but rather awkwardly so. He's just standing in the middle of the room, looking at Jongdae or looking at his room and his furniture.

"What are you doing here?" Jongdae asks and sits up a bit more.

Kyungsoo scratches his cheek. "I... you hadn't been to school for a few days and I..."

"You missed me?" Jongdae interrupts and blinks rapidly.

Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. "N-no," he insists somewhat coolly, but Jongdae can tell he's lying. "I missed... my Joke of the Day."

Jongdae's practically glowing as he fiddles with his blanket. "You actually like Joke of the Day?" he asks shyly. Knowing that his efforts with Kyungsoo maybe actually paid off is making him warm inside.

Kyungsoo crosses his arms over his chest. "No but I... was getting used to them, so like..."

Jongdae smiles and clenches his blanket between his hands. "We're friends," he says lovingly and immediately Kyungsoo looks at him.

"What makes you say that?!"

"Real friends look after you when you're sick," Jongdae explains, making Kyungsoo grunt. "What?" Jongdae asks. Kyungsoo waves his hand.

"Nothing... You just reminded me of someone-- and besides, I only came over because I wanted my Joke of the Day!"

Jongdae tilts his head in confusion for a brief moment before shrugging. "Okay, but you obviously told my mom we were friends," he points out, and Kyungsoo avoids eye contact. "It's so weird how tsundere you are about a friendship," Jongdae laughs."Shut up!" Kyungsoo wails with a bit of laughter in his voice before trying to change the subject. "Can I sit down?"

"Only if you admit we're friends," Jongdae demands. Kyungsoo widens his eyes.

"What, why?"

"Because I only let my friends visit me when I'm sick. And I only let my friends sit in my room," Jongdae explains, and Kyungsoo groans.

"I can't do that," Kyungsoo admits, and even though Jongdae appreciate his honestly, he can't help but feel a bit disappointed. It seems like Kyungsoo can see it in Jongdae's face, and he can't quite pretend that it doesn't bother him, that he's making Jongdae sad.

"Fine, I consider you as my--!" He stops mid-sentence to take a deep breath. "... kinda... almost friend... maybe..."

Jongdae can't quite control the smile on his face. Even though Kyungsoo could only go as far as to say they were kinda almost friends (maybe), Jongdae can tell it's a huge step (and he won't push Kyungsoo to say something he doesn't mean or isn't comfortable with) so as a reward he pats his bed. "You can sit here," he says with a smile. "This place is reserved for my kinda almost friends."

"Maybe," Kyungsoo adds, and looks at the spot at the other end of Jongdae's bed. "... I don't want to get sick though," he mumbles rather hesitant.

"Don't worry, that won't happen!" Jongdae assures him. "And even if it does, I promise you I will check up on you every day!" A slight smile spreads over Kyungsoo's face and he walks over to Jongdae's bed and sits in the other end of it, with his knees pressed against his chest. Jongdae smiles too. "After all," he continues. "Isn't that what almost-friends are for?"

Kyungsoo hides his face in his knees. Jongdae thinks it's rather interesting as to why the boy in front of him is this hesitant in terms of friendship, but he guesses it's just because he's a shy and private person who's not too keen on opening up to people. And that's fair, because everyone is different. Someday (hopefully) Kyungsoo will be comfortable enough around Jongdae to truly consider him as a friend.

"So," Jongdae coughs. "Knock-knock!"

Kyungsoo looks up from his knees and his face lights up in a shy smile. "Who's there?"

/////////////

Jongdae and Kyungsoo are chatting a bit during one of their breaks between their classes (okay, it's mostly Jongdae who's doing the chatting, but Kyungsoo is being a great listener! It's actually very nice to see Kyungsoo like this, Jongdae thinks, because even though he is very shy, it's obvious that he's comfortable enough to actually let Jongdae talk properly to him now, instead of just telling jokes), when suddenly Baekhyun and Chanyeol are towering above their tables.

"What's this?" Jongdae asks and looks at his friends. Baekhyun is narrowing his eyes and has a rather pissed off expression on his face, so Jongdae is a bit worried. Chanyeol however looks as dumb and clueless as ever (bless Chanyeol,, Jongdae thinks).

Baekhyun huffs. "Well, since you won't come to us during class anymore, we have to come to you!" he announces and with Chanyeol's help he pushes two tables up against Kyungsoo and Jongdae's and they both take a seat.

Jongdae feels very bewildered. "Really?"

Chanyeol shrugs. "Yeah, we're friends, and apparently ghostboy there--"

"Chanyeol!" Jongdae scolds while Chanyeol gestures towards Kyungsoo (who looks just a little bit offended, mumbling "ghostboy," to himself).

"-- is very important, so we guess, we'll have to hang out with him too now, if we want to hang out with you."

"You're too direct sometimes," Jongdae complains before turning to Kyungsoo, who's looking a bit uneasy. "Listen, I can make them leave, if you want to?"

"Harsh," Baekhyun grunts, but Jongdae ignores him.

Kyungsoo's eyes flick between Jongdae and Chanyeol and Baekhyun. "N-no, it's fine, I don't mind," he lies, but he would feel guilty if he made Jongdae make his own friends (his original friends) leave.

"Are you sure, they can be pretty annoying," Jongdae explains.

"Keep up that attitude, and you're uninvited from my party!" Baekhyun threatens and points at Jongdae.

"Fine," he accepts and leans back in his chair. "But then you won't get the birthday present me and Chanyeol got you."

"Why not, I'm still going?" Chanyeol says, looking confused. Jongdae sits up straight again.

"Because I paid for it, you owe me money!"

"You brought me a present!" Baekhyun cheers and cups his face in his hands. His eyes lands on Kyungsoo and suddenly he feels awkward. "Uh," he mumbles. "Sorry about that."

Kyungsoo flinches. "Sorry about what?" he manages to ask back. Jongdae feels like praising him, because he really has realized just how shy Kyungsoo is, and how hard it is for him to talk to 'strangers', and especially when they're loud and 'intimidating' like Baekhyun and Chanyeol.

Baekhyun taps his fingers on the table. "You know... for talking about a party... you're not invited to."

"Oh," Kyungsoo simply says.

"And it's not necessarily because we don't want you there!" Chanyeol explains, trying to diffuse the awkwardness in the air. "It's just; we thought maybe parties weren't your style."

Jongdae looks at Kyungsoo and is surprised to see the slightly offended expression on the younger boy's face. "Okay?" Kyungsoo says and raises his right eyebrow. "That's not... bigoted at all."

"I--" Chanyeol stutters. "Wow?"

Jongdae feels himself getting suffocated in the tension, and he quickly speaks up, trying to lift the mood. "You know what, you're right, Kyungsoo!" he says nervously. "It was a little bit narrow-minded of us- you should come to the party!" Jongdae looks at Baekhyun. "He can come, right?"

"Depends," Baekhyun says, leaning in over the table, and Jongdae is 2 second away from calling him out on his rude ass, when Baekhyun opens his mouth again. "Do you know any girls?"

/////////////

So, even though Kyungsoo didn't really know any girls besides the ones who were already on the guest list, he was invited to Baekhyun's party. Jongdae made sure to tell Kyungsoo that it was up to him whether to attend or not though. He wouldn't want Kyungsoo to feel uncomfortable or anything, and Baekhyun's parties/night outs could get a little out of hand sometimes (Jongdae still hasn't forgotten that one time Chanyeol fell out the window from the first floor and- luckily- landed in the bushes below. Nothing happened to him, but Jongdae started crying out of shock and now he won't let Chanyeol near a window when he's drunk. Ever.) and maybe Kyungsoo had been to parties before, but Jongdae just wasn't sure if he was ready for the heavy drinking that always comes with Baekhyun's parties. Baekhyun could barely take it himself, but then again, Baekhyun was a light-weight (and so was Jongdae, so he couldn't really keep up either).

But even though Jongdae assured Kyungsoo he didn't have to come if he didn't want to, he has to admit that he gets a little disappointed every time the door opens and it isn't Kyungsoo who enters.

"You're not drunk enough," Chanyeol says and shoves his beer in Jongdae's face.

"Stop that," Jongdae demands and grabs Chanyeol's wrist to move his hand out of the way. "It's too early to be shitfaced."

Chanyeol looks skeptical. "You're just moody because Kyungsoo hasn't showed up."

Jongdae pouts. He guesses that's true. After all, the party is pretty decent so far, there are a lot of people, because Baekhyun is so likeable and they're all having fun, and the music is good, and in general there's a pretty good atmosphere. But the fact that Kyungsoo isn't here just reminds Jongdae that they probably aren't proper friends yet, and that makes him a little moody. He's about to actually give in and tell Chanyeol that, when Baekhyun stumbles along, already a little too drunk probably.

"Jongdae! You're ruining my party," he accuses *making Jongdae whine briefly). "You're brining the mood down."

Jongdae is about to defend himself, when Chanyeol butts in. "He's sad because Kyungsoo isn't here."

"You just need a drink," Baekhyun slurs and leans against the wall beside him, almost falling over in the process.

Jongdae sighs. "What's with you two, alcohol isn't some magic liquid that can make you happy."

"I am literally the happiest I've ever been right now," Baekhyun counter argues and practically hugs the wall before reaching out to grab Chanyeol's beer. "Okay, but promise me this," he continues and takes a sip. "When Kyungsoo arrives--"

"If he arrives," Chanyeol corrects.

"--whatever, when or if he arrives... you have to do shots with me."

Jongdae laughs at the thought, because he can't possibly imagine that going well, but he can't really picture Kyungsoo showing up either, so why not give in. "Sure," he says.

"Great," Baekhyun exclaims. "Because he just walked in the door."

"He did what--?!" Jongdae blurts out and spins around to spot Kyungsoo just like Baekhyun said. Chanyeol is the one to shout across the room to call him over, making Kyungsoo look a little bit startled, but he still walks over.

"I... you came," Jongdae says warmly and Kyungsoo just shrugs.

"Yeah I... didn't have anything to do, and I know a few people who are here as well, so I though--"

"You know someone here, other than us?" Chanyeol blurts out, making Kyungsoo squint his eyes.

"Yeah, I know other people than you," he says coldly and Chanyeol flinches.

"That's so interesting, what a small world," Baekhyun babbles and grabs Jongdae's wrist. "But now it's time for shots! Kyungsoo you can come too, you're not drunk enough either!"

Jongdae gulps, because first of all his alcohol tolerance isn't the best, and doing shots often results in him getting too drunk; but second of all, he thinks it's a bit of an extreme welcome for Kyungsoo. Nevertheless, Baekhyun drags him through the guests on his way to the kitchen, and Chanyeol follows behind them with Kyungsoo.

"B-Baekhyun, I'm not too sure about this," Jongdae tries when Baekhyun releases him to unpack the tiny shot-glasses of plastic. "I mean, you're pretty drunk already, so--" Jongdae forgets what he's trying to say, when Baekhyun drops half of the shot-glasses on the floor, but he just shrugs and starts lining them up whilst Chanyeol fetches the alcohol.

"Listen, you can't chicken your way out of this one Jongdae," Baekhyun says and cheers briefly when Chanyeol starts pouring up the shots before turning to Jongdae again. "I'm turning 18, I'm a big boy, I know how to take care of myself."

"That's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard," Jongdae scoffs and Baekhyun just waves his hands in the air.

"Okay, but even so, let me die while having fun."

"Baekhyun--"

"You promised!" Baekhyun interrupts in a whiny tone. Jongdae sighs and looks at Kyungsoo, who seems oddly calm.

"Fine," Jongdae gives in and before he knows it, Chanyeol has shoved a shot into everyone's hands. Jongdae wants to make sure Kyungsoo is okay one last time, but he's too slow, because instead Chanyeol cheers and they all down their shot. Jongdae wants to die, to be quite honest, but he has no time, because there are still two more shots left for each of them. "Is this pure vodka?" Jongdae asks concerned when he sees the clear liquid.

"Shut up and drink," Chanyeol urges, and Jongdae wants to cry, because that means yes.

After the third shot, Jongdae is literally ready to give up and he just stares unfocused into the air, reevaluating his choices in life. He looks over and sees that Baekhyun is still missing his third shot, and it makes him uneasy, because Baekhyun was already too drunk and now he looks ready to vomit, and Jongdae just knows that the third shot will be the final straw.

"Baekhyun, don't drink that," Jongdae hiccups and covers his mouth.

"Who... who's gonna stop me," Baekhyun sneers. Jongdae signals for Chanyeol to do something, because his alcohol tolerance is great, but unfortunately he's also an asshole, so he declines Jongdae's plea for help. But before Jongdae can even begin to imagine himself taking that shot, Kyungsoo suddenly grabs it from Baekhyun's hands and downs it with a completely straight face. Jongdae, Chanyeol and (especially) Baekhyun all look shocked.

"I..." Jongdae manages to say before Baekhyun interrupts.

"Why?" he just asks, looking confused. Kyungsoo pads Baekhyun's head.

"I took one for the team, you've had enough," he says.

"But," Jongdae begins and looks at Kyungsoo. "Can you handle that much?"

Kyungsoo laughs briefly. "Please." he simply says, and raises an eyebrow at Jongdae, as if to say 'this was nothing', and Jongdae honestly feels like an idiot.

Chanyeol frowns. "But... you're so tiny?"

As the night goes on, Jongdae learns that Kyungsoo is actually less awkward than him at parties (but to be fair, Jongdae is super awkward, because he doesn't like talking to new people, and he doesn't like to get out of his comfort zone at all, so parties can be difficult, but Kyungsoo seems a little more chill). Maybe it's the alcohol that makes him just a tiny more talkative or something, but he doesn't seem like he needs Jongdae around, because he actually does know a few people at the party, whom he can talk to. And after a pretty heavy drinking game, Jongdae has also learned, that A: Kyungsoo is the king of that game and has an impressive high alcohol tolerance; and B: Jongdae is shit at drinking games and is now way too drunk to function.

"Kyungsoo," he slurs and rests his shoulder on Kyungsoo's shoulder. They're sitting in the kitchen, and Kyungsoo has just poured Jongdae a glass of water, which he hasn't touched yet. "I'm so glad you came here tonight. I thought you wouldn't come because maybe you didn't like partying and drinking."

"Clearly, I'm better at it than you are though," Kyungsoo says and taps the glass. "Drink some water."

Jongdae tries to sit up. His head is spinning, and it feels like everything around him is just a little bit of a dream. "You're a good friend," he mumbles, and suddenly this horrible feeling washes in over him. As if his stomach is bubbling, and oh nohe thinks, because he's a little too familiar with that feeling.

"Jongdae?" Kyungsoo asks slowly when he sees the look in Jongdae's eyes. "Are you okay?"

Jongdae shakes his head and blinks slowly. "... I'm gonna vomit."

Jongdae has never seen anyone move this quickly in a drunken state as Kyungsoo does when Jongdae's words had left his mouth. He immediately rises from his chair, making it fall over, to grab Jongdae and pull him with him towards the sink in the kitchen, and if he had only been a second slower, they wouldn't have made it, because as soon as Jongdae's head is above the sink, he vomits. His dinner and all the alcohol he has consumed during the night is making its way up his throat, and Jongdae literally starts crying a little bit because of the burning feeling.

"God, Jongdae," Kyungsoo mumbles and rubs the older boy's back when he starts shaking a bit. "Just... out with it, and then I'll follow you home." Luckily Jongdae doesn't live far from Baekhyun, but he can't help but feel a bit guilty making Kyungsoo leave the party- where he's obviously having fun- just because Jongdae is an idiot who can't handle alcohol. Kyungsoo is afraid Jongdae is gonna clog the sink if he pukes anymore, if he has to be honest, but finally Jongdae stops, and Kyungsoo forces him to drink the glass of water from earlier before helping him fetch his things and leave. "You can walk right?" Kyungsoo asks when he's back in the kitchen with Jongdae's jacket, and even though Jongdae is very wobbly, he can actually almost walk by himself. "I've never experienced you this quiet," Kyungsoo jokes on their way out, and it's not until they've left the house that Jongdae speaks again.

"Nnno, I can't go home," he mumbles and walks into Kyungsoo who manages to catch him and make him stand straight again. "I haven't said goodbye."

"Don't worry, I found Baekhyun and Chanyeol before we left and told them we left, they understand," Kyungsoo assures and keeps his firm grip on Jongdae, to make sure he walks somewhat straight. "Baekhyun looked like he was one sip of a beer away from being in your condition," Kyungsoo continues and chuckles but Jongdae doesn't think it's funny at all and just keeps his head down. They've walked for barely 5 minutes before Jongdae untangles himself from Kyungsoo and sits down on the pavement.

"Jongdae," Kyungsoo soothes in a hoarse voice and tries to reach out for the older boy's hand. Jongdae shakes his head.

"I'm a bad friend," Jongdae almost cries. Kyungsoo blinks rapidly and squats down to look at Jongdae's face.

"What are you talking about?" he asks but Jongdae just shakes his head again.

"You're so nice," he whines. "Taking care of me and everything, even though I'm a bad friend."

Kyungsoo tilts his head. "You're not a bad friend Jongdae."

"I am though," Jongdae sulks. "I'm just leaving. I'm not there to make sure Baekhyun doesn't do anything he regrets."

Kyungsoo grins. "Pretty sure that's a little too late."

Jongdae quickly looks up. "What, what did he do?!"

"Uh, it doesn't matter, anyways, that doesn't make you a bad friend."

"But I'm also ruining your night by making you leave with me," Jongdae explains and buries his head in his knees. "And I'm such a bad friend that you won't even consider me your friend."

Kyungsoo sighs. "Do you really think now is the time to discuss that?"

"No," Jongdae admits and wipes a tear that suddenly fell. "But I can't help myself. I'm sad because I'm only your almost-friend."

Kyungsoo looks at Jongdae for a little while, watching the boy trying to fight down his sobs (although it's not going very well) before taking a deep breath. "Not to sound cliché," he breathes out. "But it's not your fault I haven't called you my friend; it's my fault." Kyungsoo tries to sit down next to Jongdae, stumbling a bit on the way, and looks up at the moon. "I'm just a pretty weird and antisocial type, everyone knows that."

Jongdae peeks up from his knees. "You're not weird," he assures.

"Thanks, but I am; and I'm okay with that," Kyungsoo replies before frowning. "But... not everyone is okay with that, and I always feel like I have to... slowly let out my weirdness." There's a pause, while he traces little doodles in the dirt beneath them with his index finger. "And until I'm sure, the person is okay with my weirdness, I just can't call them my friend."

Jongdae nods. He understands, but he's not happy about it if he has to be honest, but that's just because he's a horrible person (according to himself), and that makes him want to cry again. Kyungsoo sees it and puts an arm around him. "But honestly, I would never do this for someone, I didn't consider my friend," he mumbles, and Jongdae's eyes light up.

"Really?" he mumbles and rests his head on Kyungsoo, suddenly feeling really tired. Kyungsoo begins standing up and pulls Jongdae up with him.

"I really think we should talk about this in the morning," he insists. Jongdae wails a bit and nuzzles his head in the area between Kyungsoo's shoulder and his neck.

"Fine," he groans. "But only because I want to hear you say we're friends in when you're sober- promise me you'll say it."

"Would you even remember, if I promised you anything right now, though?" Kyungsoo asks and begins to talk, guiding Jongdae along. Jongdae nods.

"Yeah, my memory is the best," he brags, and even though he feels it's true, he's also a little worried he might forget in the morning.

/////////////

"How are you feeling?"

How could he possibly forget when Kyungsoo wakes him up the next morning, holding out a hand with two pain killers in it. Jongdae had insisted on Kyungsoo staying over, because he shouldn't go home alone, and also, he really wanted someone to help him get up to his room and into bed without his mother waking up and seeing him this drunk. And even though huge parts from last night are missing in Jongdae's brain, and he's feeling like absolutely hell right now, he hasn't forgotten what Kyungsoo promised him. Or actually... he can only remember wanting Kyungsoo to promise it, but he can't quite remember Kyungsoo actually promising him, because around that time everything became a bit of a blur. But now that Kyungsoo is sitting in his bed next to him, with a bucket and a few pain killers, there's no way he cannot talk about their 'some-friendship'.

"What are we?" Jongdae blurts out, and immediately regrets it, because--

"Not a couple?" Kyungsoo answers and Jongdae whines.

"I know, it sounded wrong, it just slipped out," he assures and accepts the pills in Kyungsoo's hand. "And thanks."

"No problem," Kyungsoo mumbles and retreats his hand. "Anyways, I've never seen anyone this keen on defining a friendship."

"I just love friendship," Jongdae mutters and looks at the pills. Even though his head is throbbing, he's not in the mood for medicine.

"And I... think you're nice, and I don't like you sitting alone in class or at lunch."

Kyungsoo looks away. "... I don't really like it either," he admits. "I mean, I like the silence, something I definitely can't enjoy when you're around lately, but... I guess it can get kind of lonely, but I'm just not outgoing enough to just... talk to people in class."

Jongdae reaches out for Kyungsoo's hands. "But I feel the same way!" he beams looking sincerely at Kyungsoo. "The only reason I have anyone to talk to in class, is because I've known Baekhyun and Chanyeol since kindergarten!"

Kyungsoo looks at the way Jongdae's hands are embracing his own before looking at his face. "But you talked to me? Out of the blue?"

"But that was because I could imagine myself in your situation, and--" Jongdae babbles and tries to find the words. It's kinda hard to explain why he suddenly got the courage to talk to someone he didn't really know. "-- I guess I just thought, I would've been happy if someone reached out to me like that, if I didn't have anyone to talk to, and I thought I should do that too- and then you actually seemed nice."

"I seemed nice?" Kyungsoo asks and raises an eyebrow. "But I didn't even reply to half of what you said, the first week!"

"No, it made me feel really discouraged," Jongdae laughs, making Kyungsoo laugh a bit too. "But I don't know, I just thought it would be a shame to give up."

"You've been really persistent," Kyungsoo adds. "... and you're really nice, so eventually, I thought it would be mean of me to not give in just a little bit. Like. To respond at least."

Jongdae smiles. He's not sure why, he just likes where this is going. Kyungsoo grins. "I mean... you told me a new joke every day, who does that."

"You liked it though," Jongdae protests and Kyungsoo rolls his eyes before Jongdae continues. "It made you relax, didn't it?"

"I guess it did," Kyungsoo admits and looks out the window. "I just thought... this person is going out of their way just to see me smile, that's so weird, because they don't know me, but it's also..." He pauses and takes a deep breath, still not daring to look at Jongdae."... Nice."

Jongdae feels warm inside. This is better than anything else he's ever experienced. That feeling when you suddenly realise, you've made a friend. It beats most feelings in Jongdae's book. Kisses and romantic love is great too, but... there's something so much more comforting in knowing, you might've made a long-lasting friend. Relationships can be so uncertain in Jongdae's eyes, but friendship is just... such a pure bond.

Kyungsoo twists a bit uncomfortably in the bed. "Um, can I come with a Joke of the Day?" he asks. Jongdae tilts his head in confusion but also urges Kyungsoo to continue. The younger boy clears his throat before speaking up. "Knock-knock."

Jongdae looks surprised at Kyungsoo's words, and he hesitates a bit, but eventually replies with "Who's there?"

"Kyungsoo."

Jongdae narrows his eyes. "What are you--"

"That's not how it goes," Kyungsoo interrupts. Jongdae laughs before accepting to just play along.

"Kyungsoo who?"

Kyungsoo takes a deep breath, and his face is filled with some sort of regret and embarrassment, and Jongdae can't wait to hear the punchline of this joke. "Can't you even recognize your own friend's voice; just let me in already, Jongdae."

It feels as if they're silent for a few seconds, but in reality, Jongdae burst out in a cry between laughter and a whine. "Ah, why!" he wails. "That was so bad! Is that your way of telling me, we're friends now?"

Kyungsoo can't help but laugh at Jongdae's extreme reaction and just nods. Jongdae shakes his head.

"Okay, but now that we're friends, it's settled," he says.

"What's settled?" Kyungsoo asks, looking a bit nervous. Jongdae grins.

"You're going out with me, Baekhyun and Chanyeol for karaoke on Friday."

Kyungsoo smiles, seeming a bit nervous and shy at the thought but also kinda excited. He sighs and looks at Jongdae. "Fine," he says, as if he's admitting a defeat. "I mean... isn't that what friends are for?"

Jongdae smiles widely in excitement. "Exactly!" he beams. That's exactly what friends are for. "Which reminds me, now that we're friends, can I ask you something?"

Kyungsoo widens his eyes in curiosity. "What?"

Jongdae's been too afraid to ask before, because he thinks it's kind of rude, but not that they're friends, he hopes it's okay. "Why do you always stare like that?" he asks, and imitates the stare he first noticed about Kyungsoo. "Chanyeol and Baekhyun were sure it was because you wanted people to keep their distance" Kyungsoo wails.

"I just need glasses!" Jongdae think he's going to cry from laughing too much

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