#tsunamine

Locker Flowers

Or: The Mitochondria is the Powerhouse of the Cell, but You are the Powerhouse of My Heart.

There were flowers in his locker.

They were nice flowers, a really cool shade of blue. But Lea didn’t remember putting them there; in fact, Lea didn’t remembered buying flowers.  They were pretty flowers, don’t get him wrong, but he would have loved to know where they came from.  More importantly Lea wondered how the flowers got into his locker, which he distinctly remembered locking up.   The flowers, however they got there, were even in a vase and wrapped with ribbon with a card- oh, there was a card.  That might explain a few things.  Lea untangled the card from the ribbon to see if it had any more explanation. 

Your hair is red

These are blue

I’m bad at pomes

You’re cute, okay?

Well, that both explained everything and nothing at all, Lea thought.  He looked at the back of the card for a name but instead found a heart sticker.  He couldn’t help but think that it was stupid, who left a card and flowers and didn’t want credit?  How was he supposed to respond to this?  What kind of person broke into a locker to leave flowers and a card? Lea could easily see why someone would want him; he was memorable and awesome, but breaking into his locker?  Lea glanced at the clock, noticing that he only had two more minutes until his next class, it’d take him three to get to the third floor where his class was.  Putting the card back, he pried his biology book out of his locker and shoved it in his bag.  He’d deal with the card and flowers later, after he was late to his class.  He hurried toward the stairwell. 

Whoever put the science wing on the third floor needed to be shot, at least that is what Lea believed as he climbed what seemed like a mountain of stairs. He wasn’t out of shape, but this was just too much for him.  On the second flight, he heard the bell ring to start class.  With a curse he continued climbing up to hell, the stairs seemed to multiply as he climbed, creating new steps as he got up one.  He’d never make it!  He would die here, climbing stairs; he would never graduate, never get married-or even get kissed, not everyone in the world would know him yet, Lea would never be immortal by having no one know his name.  He would forever be that kid (nameless) that died climbing stairs!  Even worse, he would never see his best friend again!  He would die here, and poor Isa, said best friend, would find his body…and probably kick it down the stairs again, that was just the kind of guy Isa was.  These stairs would kill him, he would-oh, he got to the last step.  Huh, he didn’t completely die, and that was good.  Maybe Isa wouldn’t have to go to his funeral; now he just had to get to the classroom.  Lea went down the hall, not bothering to run as he was already late, and opened the door to the classroom.  Walking in late, he hurried to his seat, taking a quick second to notice Isa actually face palming and shaking his head. 

Lea forgot how much he hated biology, especially this advanced biology bullshit.  He knew he should have taken the normal class, but he wanted to have some classes with Isa, who wouldn’t back down from the advanced science classes. At the end of the last school year they had tried to sign up for as many classes together as they could, that way they could see each other all day instead of just at lunch.  While they did get five out of eight classes together, all the teachers had known about the duo and tried to separate them in class.  Isa sat two seats ahead of him in the row to the right of him, making it hard to talk, but easy to communicate as long as the teacher wasn’t paying attention.  Isa had been in a good mood in literature two classes ago, so Lea felt like Isa wouldn’t mind a little note passing. 

 He made a quick check to make sure the teacher wasn’t paying attention, ripped a piece of paper off his notebook, and scribbled a message on it.  With another quick check of the teacher he folded it and flicked it at the back of Isa’s head.  He could imagine the other boy rolling his eyes as he reached back to get the note.  Lea went back to taking notes-okay, okay, doodling in his notebook, until he saw the paper land on his desk again. 

this class is pointless.  Mitochrandia is powerhouse of the cell.  thats all this class has taught me

Maybe if you paid attention instead of passing notes, you’d learn something, Lea.  And why were you late?  Stair drama again?

u passed a note back :p. clearly u dont care either.  and yes those stairs will kill me one day!

Someone has to keep you entertained or you do things like think climbing stairs will kill you.

uh-huh thats it.  just admit your bored to.  that or you just love taking to me that much. your going to save these notes for when im famous one day i know it.

How does your ego fit though the door? Surely you must get stuck.

Lea was about to scribble a reply, when the teacher stopped writing on the board and turned to the class.  Well, that meant he’d have to look like he was taking notes.  While the teacher droned on about…whatever, probably the mitochondria, Lea’s thoughts drifted to his friend-if that was the right word.  Date-friend?  Lea wasn’t entirely sure; to be honest, he felt like there was something between him and Isa, something slightly more than had been in previous years.  He was also pretty sure that Isa felt that way too.  Lea himself was too afraid of ruining things to mention it, and was waiting for Isa to say something.  Lea rested his head on his hand, using the other to scribble at his notebook.  His eyes wandered to Isa’s blue hair: such a lovely color.  It reminded him a lot of those locker flowers.  Huh, now that he thought about it, Lea could just hear that half-assed poem coming from an annoyed Isa.  If he thought about the poem though a sarcastic voice, it was easy to connect it to Isa: Isa who knew his locker combination.  Well, that put a nice spin on those random flowers. 

So Isa must have felt it too!  Lea figured that this must be Isa’s indirect way of wooing him.  With a smile on his face at his revelation Lea waited out the class, his doodles taking on a different nature (little hearts with I+L instead of explosions and freebies.)  He didn’t even notice that class ended until his light source was cut off by a human shape.  He looked up to see Isa looming over head. 

“Do you want to stay here, or can we go and get lunch?”  The blue haired boy asked. “Seeing as how you didn’t want to be here in the first place, I’m going to assume you want food.”  Even though the words Isa were saying sounded cold, Lea could see the small smile on his friend’s face, one of those ones that only he got.  Those smiles, along with the whole looking deep into each other’s eyes all the time, were the reasons that Lea was sure that Isa felt the same.  The flowers just proved it.  Now how to bring them up so he could kickstart this relationship? 

Lea got up out of his seat, putting his book and notebook back in his bag. 

“Right! Lunch, let’s go!” he said, as he started to leave the classroom, with Isa following behind him.  The two made their way down the stairs (“I’m going to die!  Isa, will you speak at my-“, “You’ll be fine”. “You’re supposed to be on my side, Isa!”) and started heading towards the cafeteria.  Lea tried to bring up the flowers all lunch, but he never found the right time to, especially seeing as how they were joined by their other friends: Sora and Roxas, sophomore twins a year younger than them, Xemnas, who was a senior (whom Lea though was a bit creepy), and Demyx, another junior.  With the table full, he didn’t want to bring up the flowers to Isa.  Isa clearly wanted privacy in this matter, hence the anonymous flowers.  After lunch, the group split, going to their afternoon classes.  The whole day he tried to figure out how to bring up the flowers to Isa, but he found himself unable to find an opportunity. 

He sat though their shared literature class (the readings were about the Powerhouse of the cell) wishing this teacher would look away or assign group work so Lea could talk to Isa.  After school that day Lea approached his locker and got what he was going to need homework wise.  He grabbed the flowers and made his way to his bus (one day he’d get a car) to head home.  As much as he and Isa tried, they didn’t manage to get their final class together, and their houses were on different bus routes.  He’d have to wait for later in the day to see the blue-haired boy of his affections.  After a long bus ride, he got to his house and entered, placing the flowers on the table, his mother liked flowers a lot and would enjoy looking at them as well. 

For most of the day he hung around the house, waiting for Isa to call to hang out.  He would just call but last time that happened…well, that was fondly (or not fondly, in Isa’s case) known as the chili cheese incident of horrors.  As the day grew later, Lea knew that he wouldn’t be seeing Isa for the rest of the day.  Accepting that his confrontation would have to wait for the next day, he worked on his homework (all the answers seemed to be mitochondria) at the table while he looked at the flowers.  Maybe he could call one of his other friends to talk and bounce ideas off of?  That might take the edge off of this.  Pushing his chair out, he grabbed the phone, wondering which friend to call.  Roxas was probably busy (something about sitting on a clock tower with other people-or something,) he debated his lunch group and then his other friends before dialing the phone.

“Yeah?”  The voice answered, hard to hear because of background noise.   

“Demyx, stop playing whatever you’re playing.  I need help,” Lea’s reply was answered with a sigh and the back noise cutting out. 

  “Okay, you have my attention.  What’s your problem?” 

“So I found flowers in my locker today and I-“Lea started, but was cut off by Demyx.

“That’s a strange thing to need help with.  I’m not sure how I can help with magically appearing flowers,” the blonde stated. 

“Shush.  I’m getting to that.  They came with a bad poem, and I’m positive they’re from Isa,” Lea explained. 

“Oh.  I am so shocked,” was the deadpan reply.  “No one ever guessed the two of you would be a thing.  The surprise might kill me.”  Lea didn’t need his friend’s sarcasm in his life at the moment.

“Yeah, yeah, I know.  Everyone knows it, even I know.  My question is how do I ask about this?  Do I just…ask?” With the phone held between his shoulder and head, Lea made gesturing motions that his friend couldn’t see.

“How should I know, you know him better,” knowing that wouldn’t satisfy the redhead, Demyx went on, “just go for it.  Everyone knows he likes you.  It’ll be fine.”

“You think so?”

“Yes, everyone thinks so.”

“Then I’ll do it!  Tomorrow will be the day!” the red head said before hanging up the phone.   

Well, he thought it was going to be the day.  Apparently the universe was against him in the whole dating Isa thing.  By the time he got to school he was too late to talk to the other boy in the morning.  He had to go though his first few classes not able to even speak to Isa, and then his concentration was so off that all of his teachers noticed and held him after class, so talking to his friend was out then as well.  He’d have to wait to pass notes in bio, which was the only class where the teacher paid little attention so they could pass notes.  After what felt like an eternity, he went to his locker to get his biology book.

There were flowers in his locker.

Again. 

This time there was no vase, but a bundle of red and white flowers tied with ribbons.  Another card was attached.  Lea picked up the card, reading the message on it.

I’ve got you memorized

Well, at least Isa had stopped with the poetry.  At least this one made sense; Lea was always flattered when people remembered him.  He slipped this note in his pocket, feeling like he was walking on air as he hurried up the three flights of stairs.  He hurried to class and took his seat, already preparing the note he was going to write to Isa today.  As soon as the teacher had his back turned, Lea began.

so,do u have me memorized? ;D

Unfortunately.  I try so hard to forget you, but you just keep sticking. 

come on Isa, i bet thats not true.

You are very memorable. 

and?

I couldn’t possibly forget you.  Now take notes, the Mitochondria is very important.

no its not. 

I’m not letting you borrow my notes for the test, Lea. 

you say that now but u care to much to let me fail.

Who said I cared?

u do.

Lea was about to throw the note back, when the bell rang, ending class.  Lea slipped the note into his bag to throw away later (or keep, anything that helped them toward a relationship is important after all,) and the two headed to the lunch room. 

“Are you going to tell me why you’re asking if I have you memorized?”  Isa asked him as they started their decent down the stairs.  So, he was going to play coy?  Well, thought Lea, two could play at that game.

“Just, making sure you did.”

“You are so strange,” Isa told him with a laugh, “sometimes I wonder why I spend so much time with you.”  When Isa mentioned this, he turned to face Lea, who could see the fond eye-rolling and small smile.

“You just want to be remembered with me!  Don’t worry; I’ll share my immortality with you!  Lea and Isa, everyone will be talking about us one day!”  Lea responded, throwing his arm over Isa’s shoulder with a grin. 

“Oh dear, my name is going to be attached to yours forever?  I don’t know how I’ll deal with being known for sticking by you forever.”  Isa deadpanned as the two made their way into the cafeteria, getting food before sitting down. 

“I think you mean you’re upset that I’m going to overshadow you with my memory.  Don’t worry about that.  I’ll make sure everyone knows that we’re a team!”  Lea proclaimed, thrusting his fork in the air and spilling school-fake-food on the table and Isa.  Isa picked up a napkin and wiped the food off of him.

“Lovely, I’d rather not be a team if it means being covered with…what even is this?” Isa asked, looking at the food-stuffs.  Instead of being answered by Lea, he was answered by another friend that had come to sit down

“Welp, the sign says chicken, but I’m pretty sure it’s really the kids that fail Mr. McPhat’s tests,” The answering fashion disaster said as he sat down.  

“So funny, Demyx.  Really.”  Was the response from an annoyed Lea.  Couldn’t he have waited till Lea had some more alone time with Isa to come and sit down?   More people joined the table, and the opportunity was lost.  Lunch ended, and the day continued, still with no time to confront Isa. 

Even after school there wasn’t a chance to.  Isa had invited him over after school, but the two of them got stuck watching his younger brother.  The kid, in Lea’s opinion, was too old to need a baby sitter (But the emo-haired brat was still too young to be in high school-that kid was way too smart).  After having a 13 year old help him with his bio homework was not the time to confront someone about leaving flowers.  Lea would have to wait another day. 

Sadly the next day was not his day.  Nor was the rest of the week.  It seemed like the universe was against him.  Every day he found flowers, though.  At the end of the week he left a return note to Isa. 

Meet me after school under the bleachers?

With the note left at the beginning of the day, he was hoping for a response by biology.  Thankfully, the universe decided to be nice and his ‘secret’ flower giver had responded that he would very much like to meet Lea after school. 

The day went on, Lea bounced though his classes and lunch, excited for this to finally be happening.  At the end of the day he made his way to the gym to sit under the bleachers.  He’d be walking home, but it would be worth it.  He waited and waited, looking down at his shoes and trying to calm the butterflies in his stomach.  Finally he heard footsteps.  He looked up to see Isa and…that wasn’t Isa.

Before him stood Sora, who was not Isa.  That…that wasn’t right. 

“You’re not Isa” was the intelligent response Lea gave to Sora’s approach.

“Am I supposed to be?”

“Well…yeah.”  Lea thought that everyone knew that him and Isa…apparently Sora missed the memo.

“So…that means that I wasted my time?”  asked the younger boy.  Lea nodded. 

“Yeah…I’m just…gonna go.  You know…Isa.”  Lea didn’t quite know how to handle this.  In what world did Sora think he was cute (this one apparently.) 

Lea left the gym, leaving Sora to himself to lick his wounds of completely misinterpreting Lea’s affections.  Something in Lea snapped and he decided he needed to tell Isa, once and for all.  Leaving the school he made his way to Isa’s street, not even bothering to give him warning.  This was happening.  Lea was going to make it so.  After walking for what seemed like hours (man he needed a nap after this) but was only fifteen minutes, Lea got to Isa’s home.  He waited to be let in.  When let in, by Isa’s annoying little brother, Lea made his way up to Isa’s room, not bothering to knock.

“Lea?  What are you doing here?”  Isa asked, sitting on his bed, “and did you forget how to knock?” 

“I thought you were sending me flowers,” Lea stated, ingoing the real questions.   Isa blinked.

“What? Flowers?”  Isa looked confused.  “Why would I send you flowers?” with that sentence, Lea’s heart fell. 

“I thought that you…what?”  Lea, still in shock from everything that was happening, made his way over to sit down by Isa.  “I mean, I…you.  What?”

Isa looked unimpressed by Lea’s non-sentences.  “Okay, what did you think I did?”  

“I thought you liked me like that.  The romantic flower sending like,” Lea admitted.  “But then it wasn’t you that was sending them, and I thought it was.”

“I do like you that way, but I wouldn’t send flowers,” Isa told him, “I’m allergic to flowers.  I’d do something better.  Something not for total girls.” 

“You do like me?”  His heart sped up again, “In the send me things kind of way?  Why didn’t you tell me before?” 

“How was I to know how you felt?  You never mentioned it either.”  Isa turned to look at Lea, a smirk on his face.  Lea knew this was his moment to confess.  He needed the perfect words. 

“Isa, the mitochondria might be the powerhouse of the cell, but you are the powerhouse of my heart.” Lea said, reaching down to take Isa’s hand that was on the bed.  Isa blinked, moving his hand before Lea could get it. 

“What.  Lea.  Just…I refuse to dignify that sentence with a response.  I will accept that you think stairs will kill you, but I will not accept that is the way you’re telling me your feelings.   Please try aga-“

What better way to express his feelings than a kiss?