Sunnydale AU: knowing what this world is about

[americas_son]

Two days, Violet Chandler has declared, are more than enough time for Cal to mope around avoiding school. It's time for him to get back onto a normal schedule; just because he doesn't like the new arrangement doesn't excuse him from his responsibilities.

So Cal is at school, the high he's carefully maintained for the last couple of days wearing off. He's out back smoking a cigarette during lunch, but nicotine is hardly a decent substitute.

Only three and a half more hours to go.

Comments

[if_inconvenient]

Of course he did.

"I'll keep that in mind next time I break in."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

This gets a faint almost-smile in answer.

"I'm pretty sure you're still allowed to visit."

[if_inconvenient]

"Only if you answer the phone."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal glances at him again.

"You only called once," he says. "I didn't feel like getting up."

[if_inconvenient]

"And you'll notice I did not thereafter break into your house."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Why not?"

Cal would have thought it would be the next logical step. (If Sherlock cared enough to do it.)

[if_inconvenient]

"I planned to call at least once more first, and now I have found you at school instead. Rest assured it is still in the cards should you continue to ignore me."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Something in the set of Cal's shoulders eases a little.

"I wasn't ignoring you."

[if_inconvenient]

"Pleased to hear it."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"My phone was . . ." Cal gestures vaguely with the remaining stub of his cigarette.

"I was too high to go looking for it."

It is true, at least, that he wouldn't have made the effort for anyone else, either.

[if_inconvenient]

"While I can see the appeal, I find that circumstance somwhat worrying."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal shrugs.

"You can't overdose like you can on other stuff."

[if_inconvenient]

"True. Nevertheless."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal drops his cigarette and steps on it.

"I know it's not your thing, but. It helps."

[if_inconvenient]

He shrugs.

It is not as though he is in a position to judge.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal's not ready to go back in yet, and there's time, and the teachers have a tendency to pretend that this area doesn't exist. It's an unwritten agreement - they won't bust students for smoking if those students make it easy for them to ignore.

Cal feels like he's lived his entire life based on that kind of agreement.

(He won't draw attention to his father being a vampire if his father makes it easy for him to ignore.)

He takes out another cigarette.

"Not like it matters otherwise." As far as safety is concerned.

[if_inconvenient]

Sherlock raises his eyebrows.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal shrugs, lighting up.

"He promised."

[if_inconvenient]

"And do you believe him?"

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal takes a painfully deep pull from his cigarette.

"Yes."

It's the least convincing lie he's told in a long, long time. Sherlock isn't the only one he's lying to.

[if_inconvenient]

"You don't," he concludes.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal holds the smoke in as he would with weed, until the nicotine makes him too dizzy and he has to let it out.

"I do."

(He has to.)

"He still wants - the same things as before. It would, it wouldn't make any sense to kill any of us."

[if_inconvenient]

"I have noticed that vampires tend to have very poor impulse control."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Well, what else can I do?" Cal asks shortly. "He's my dad."

He kicks at the cigarette butt laying at his feet.

[if_inconvenient]

"That is where my expertise falls short."