Cultured Spirit

A/N: I am inspired! Here's another chapter... and thank-you for the reviews, also!

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Daniel stood in front of Ian with an unreadable expression on his face. His eyes lowered, shadowing their toffee colour for only an instant before growing caustic. Ian had almost taken an awkward step forward, his hand caught in midair between them. He didn’t know why he had extended it in the first place – to offer the fragile looking boy some sort of support? But the new expression on Daniel’s face made him rethink all of it and he leaned back again, his hand falling to his side.

Daniel’s eyes flickered to the arm, their acidic tone lifting slightly, before he looked at Ian, locking their gazes. This was also peculiar, because the smaller boy didn’t look as easily swayed as usual and he was always too skittish to look Ian straight in the eye.

“Er, that really sucks.” Ian answered weakly while trying not to sound too apathetic. He vaguely remembered about his plan by a nagging voice that told him the play was important for him as well, but he mentally swatted it away.

Pursing his lips, Daniel let his clipboard drop to the floor with a noisy clatter. Ian cringed though felt foolish. He was supposed to be the one intimidating Daniel after all, not the other way around.

“It gets worse. They cut the drama funds to increase the athletic budget.” Even though his posture was rigid with his anger, his voice was soft and wary. Ian was stunned by the contrast.

He let out a laugh of disbelief, which made Daniel narrow his eyes. “Sorry, it’s just – you always hear about this type of thing happening on T.V. I never knew the school board actually was unfair to the lesser activities at our school.” He straightened his back arrogantly but recoiled when a paper ball whizzed past his ear. He figured Daniel was aiming for his head, but didn’t comment on the lack of coordination.

“This play is just as important as waving your arms underwater and trying not to drown.” Daniel replied sarcastically. His gentle voice sounded odd when it was using a tone that was so normal, rather than the proper speech etiquette he normally used. It made him seem less strange and more approachable.

So Ian did just that. He finally took the step forward and picked up the paper ball that had bounced back in front of him. Unraveling it, he scanned the crinkles closely and grimaced.

Daniel seemed pleased by his reaction.

“They’re giving track four percent more than us, relative to the old budget.” Ian crumpled the ball again, tossing it behind him where it smacked into the back of a chair.

That was not the reaction Daniel had been eagerly expecting. He crossed his arms over his chest and his pale cheeks flushed lightly in anger. “Well they cut the play budget one hundred percent.” His tone was icy, and he would’ve been able to pull off a really terrifying look if he hadn’t stuck a pencil behind his ear a moment later. Though, his eyes grew unfocused with confusion. “Wait a minute; they did not get seven percent more. You got a nine percent budget increase, track only got seven.”

Ian’s face didn’t settle into an expression right away, too surprised with the sudden topic change. He had decided long ago – which was saying something, because he had only really spoken to Daniel for the first time the previous week – that his current companion was bizarre and had the worst habit of speaking his mind. He realised then that anyone who engaged often in conversation with the brunette would often end up confused or uncomfortable.

But, finally after a moment he caught up and smiled in amusement. “God, you suck at math, don’t you? Look at the track’s original budget, and look at ours. Even if they raise our budget more in numbers, they take the percentage of our budget before and add it on, sort of like interest.” Ian had wandered over and flattened out the page. “Track’s always had a higher budget than us, by a lot.” He rolled his eyes and handed the paper to Daniel. “So they’re still getting loads more.”

“You’re both getting more than the arts department,” Daniel huffed, refusing the paper while looking embarrassed and angry at the same time. “And my play.”

Ian’s eyes crinkled in mirth, while he nodded. “Bit unfortunate for you, yeah. But look on the bright side, now the swim team can afford that trip to the competition at Vicks next month.”

The corners of Daniel’s lips dropped and Ian stifled a laugh. “Oh come on, have some school spirit.”

When the boy didn’t reply, his rage having seemingly disappeared, Ian frowned. Daniel’s eyes were thoughtful, but in a less enthusiastic way than normal. He looked defeated and Ian felt guilty which he knew was unnecessary. It wasn’t his fault his team was earning all the school’s money – they did well and won competitions, it was only logical to get a share of the play’s money when the production was obviously going to be horrible.

Rolling his eyes at himself, Ian nudged Daniel with a sorry expression on his face. “Don’t look so down.”

Daniel was silent again, and it annoyed Ian slightly. He irately ran a hand through his dark hair then gripped the back of his neck feeling discomfited. “Look, maybe they don’t want to fund your play for other reasons than their favouritism to the athletics department.”

This caught Daniel’s attention, and his clustered eyelashes rose partially.

“Maybe they didn’t think the play would be a success.” Ian continued while trying to find gentle words. After a moments pause he mumbled ‘screw it’ and rounded on the other boy fully. “Because, Daniel, listen. The script was just plain bad.”

Honey-like eyebrows arched but Ian’s persistent glower did not waver. His own plans were unraveling and he was still anxious about the “study-session” between Riley and Adeline, he didn’t really need to think about the insecurities of a horrible play-writer on top of it.

Daniel sighed exasperatedly, walking over to the nearest chair and dropping his slender frame onto it. He looked breakable and Ian made a face as the stray thought of ‘you probably did break him’ entered his head.

“You’re absolutely right.”

That startled Ian. His head tilted to one side and unkempt hair in a poor mess of spikes scratched at his ears. “Uh. What?”

“My script was disgustingly unoriginal.” Daniel leaned his elbows on his knees, his nose scrunched up but his eyes unseeing.

Ian pulled a chair next to Daniel’s, looking baffled but impressed. He expected Daniel to be unable to handle criticism. In fact, he thought of the boy as sensitive and was fully intending to be consoling a sobbing mess of shredded budget papers and rumbled clothes at that moment.

“Yeah it was.” He muttered dumbly, and grinned a bit at Daniel’s glare.

“Even my dad can’t get them to loosen up the budget.” He leant his arm on the armrest and it bumped against Ian’s elbow. Ian shoved back in a sort of ‘I was there first’ gesture.

Then, he scoffed. “Who was it that was complaining about favouritism before?”

Daniel rolled his eyes, but his lips turned up in the first relaxed smile he succumbed to that night. In fact, even back when Daniel was just that random boy in his English class that just happened to be related to the girl of his dreams, Ian couldn’t remember him openly smiling in a way that wasn’t guarded. Not counting the night of the play auditions, though. Daniel had been all excited smiles that day.

Ian felt a sort of unsettling discomfort in the pit of his stomach. It really was unfair that Daniel was deprived of doing what he loved because he wasn’t particularly a genius at it. He remembered Hannah and grimaced.

Daniel had given her a break, hadn’t he? Where was the karma in this?

“You know, I’ve seen a lot of movies in my days and my mom studies film.” He began, hoping he wouldn’t regret anything he was about to say. “I bet I could help you put together something really awesome, if you want.”

Daniel’s expression brightened, but he tried not to show it. Ian smiled a bit at the boyish expression. “Your mother studies film?” The smile faded and Ian shrugged dismissively.

“She might,” he mumbled dryly. But Daniel smiled back in a way that was truly appreciative and Ian grinned back.

Because Dautry Sr. knew Daniel’s play was a dead-end, he apologized for not being able to come over that night when Ian invited him. His dad was expecting him and being the well-mannered, perfect son Ian suspected he was, he left soon after their conversation.

His mom already left for her shift at the hospital when he arrived home, and instead of picking up Ryan’s phone call and joining in on what was sure to be a damn good party, he tossed himself on the cushions of his bed. Sifting through a nearby drawer, he let out a grunt of victory when his fingers gripped his old math notebook and a pencil.

Remembering Daniel with an identical pencil sticking out from his disheveled hair, he smirked and titled the page: Play Planning.

It was evident his mom had found the pages of his notebook pressed to his face as he slept because the next morning she was sending him amused glances that held an annoying amount of pride.

Ian stared back at her, pushing the box of cheerios in front of him to one side of the table in order to do so.

“You’re really taking all this play stuff seriously, aren’t you?”

Shrugging, Ian tapped the edge of his bowl with a spoon. “I guess.” He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t tell her he was so dedicated because Daniel had the uncanny ability to look like a wounded kitten that was putting on the pretense of apathy, especially when he was allergic to kittens and hated them with a passion.

After a moment’s hesitation, he finally caved under her intense scrutiny. “I just have a friend that’s really into it, and I promised I would help. Speaking of that, do you mind if he comes over to interrogate you later today?”

She looked delighted and Ian wondered why she ever became a nurse when she obviously didn’t have any passion for it. He thought back to Daniel and vaguely hoped the same thing didn’t happen to the boy because he gave up on his dreams due to some budget problems.

“Of course. Just remember I’m working the night shift and won’t be here past eight.”

Ian didn’t expect Daniel to be over past dinner and shrugged, pouring out some more milk into his already soggy cereal. “Will do.”

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Ryan perched his skateboard against the bike racks, his and Ian’s usual meeting place since their freshman year. His friend appeared with his short hair sticking up in the wind and half a sandwich in his mouth.

“Where were you last night?”

Ian raised a brow, swallowing and kicking Ryan’s skateboard so it sped slowly forward. The blond stopped it with his foot, hands snug in his pockets. “Just busy.”

Leaning against the racks, Ryan shook his head. “I called you probably a dozen times. Dude, I really think you should back off Adeline, it looks like she and Riley are a real severe situation.”

“They were at one of Kale’s parties?” Ian knew the skepticism in his voice was obvious. Adeline never showed at those things, he was always sober enough to figure that much out.

“Naw, man. If you hadn’t screened all my calls,” Ian laughed guiltily, “I could’ve told you I was out with Melissa at that French restaurant she’s been badgering me about.”

Ian’s wide smile wiped off his face in seconds as if it had rushed away with the wind withering his jacket. “She was there? With Kirk?”

Ryan nodded, looking slightly apologetic. He rubbed his hands together while pushing his skateboard toward the school with his shoe. Ian followed. “Using her brother was a bad idea; she’s probably just hanging around because she appreciates the gesture of you helping out Danny-boy.”

Ian’s eyes dropped to the floor. Almost immediately, his gaze lifted as he tried to look less pathetic than Daniel had the previous day. He was feeling a bit resentful toward the boy, especially because he now had an entire play to deal with and all he was getting out of it was keeping Daniel’s dreams in tact. There was nothing left of his glorious plan if Adeline was already Riley’s.

“Whatever man, she’s real flirty with you anyway. You’re way better off. Now you can stop acting love-sick and get back in the game. Melissa knows this girl Erica – not only is she hot, but she’s also an only child.”

Ryan sent Ian an amused glance and Ian couldn’t help but return it, despite his mood.

But his mood got the better of him when he saw Daniel waiting outside his physics classroom, eyes darting through the hallways as if looking for someone. Ian tried to avoid Daniel’s eye, but had no such luck.

“What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be inside the classroom?” Ian muttered. He wasn’t quite over his resentment… in fact, it seemed to be growing.

“I was waiting for you, actually,” he said almost timidly, the boy from last night becoming a stranger again. “I figured you, uh, might be with Adeline again.”

Ian scowled through his impatience. “Yeah, well I’m not. What’s up?”

Taken aback, Daniel fiddled with his notebook, twisting the coil back and forth. “Oh, it’s not important.” He said eventually, before sliding through the door as quick as he could.

Ian knew Daniel had been waiting and expecting another invitation over, but couldn’t bring himself to feel the same sympathy he had the other night. He walked away from the busy classroom, fully intending to take Ryan up on his offer. He also intended to throw his old notebook into his mom’s garbage dispenser and forget about Daniel and his stupid play forever.