I sat at my desk, finishing up my homework. Leo was sitting on his bed with Mikayla, helping her with her math homework.

Kaz and I had kissed away our lunch period before returning to classes and acting like everything was normal. Right now, we were all getting our homework done before we hung out.

I was still worried about Kaz and me getting caught. If we started a relationship, everyone would know soon enough. But what happened then? I didn't want to be used to hurt Kaz. Low key also didn't want to get hurt myself, but you know.

Our door was suddenly flung open and I jumped in surprise. I turned just as Siggy slammed the door shut, his eyes locking onto Leo and Mikayla.

"Did you know?" he demanded, voice furious.

"Know what?" Leo asked in confusion. "Sig, you've got to be more specific here. Kaz does a lot of sketchy shit."

"Not Kaz," Siggy said, clenching his fists. "Pete."

"Pete?" Mikayla said in surprise. "What about Pete?"

"He stopped taking his pills!" Siggy snapped. "I went in there to talk to Kaz and Pete just about killed me with his bare hands. He's refusing to take the medication that alters his mood."

Leo and Mikayla jumped off the bed. I got up and followed all of them out into the hallway and down to Kaz's and Pete's room.

We went inside and Pete glared at us. Kaz and Beckett were sitting on Kaz's bed, Kaz at ease despite the situation.

"Get the fuck out, Siggy!" Pete snarled.

"They're going to send you back to Constance," Siggy warned.

Pete gave him a dangerous grin. "Good. Let them. I'd love to punch that fucker in the face."

"Pete, you have to take your meds. You have to," Mikayla said.

"Why?" Pete said, rounding on her now. "Because I'm dangerous when I'm off of them? Guess what Mikayla; we're all dangerous here, but I'm the only one forced into a drugged euphoria constantly. Do you know what it feels like to have your whole personality repressed by a few pills? I'm fucking sick of it. I'm fucking sick of people like Constance pushing me around because I can't fight back. I'm not taking those damn pills anymore, and I'm going to raise some hell."

"Kaz, you're not going to do anything about this?" Siggy said, gesturing to Pete.

"What do you want me to do? It's not my decision," Kaz said with a shrug. "Besides, I already warned Pete here that once withdrawal hits, he'll be begging for his meds back. He just came off his morning dose a little while ago. It won't be long until he gets sick."

"Whatever. Don't make this my problem," Siggy said and left the room.

"Fuck you, Kaz. You think you know everything," Pete said.

"I do know that you can't just cut yourself off of pills you've been on for over year and not suffer withdrawal. You're an addict, Pete. If you really wanted to get off those pills, you'd need professional help doing it," Kaz said.

"The fuck do you know about professional help? You need it and you've never gotten it before, you damn klepto," Pete shot.

Kaz shrugged. "Guilty as charged. Really, I don't have a comeback for that one." He leaned back against the wall. "Look, if you don't want to live out your days drugged up, that's fine. But I doubt your parents or your body will cooperate with that."

"Fuck my parents!" Pete said. "They couldn't handle me so they drugged me until I wasn't a damn problem for them."

"I mean, you're kind of an asshole. You also swear a lot and I think it's rubbing off on me." I slapped a hand over my mouth and my eyes widened. So much for sewing my mouth shut.

I don't know who moved quicker; Pete, Kaz, or Mikayla.

Kaz was off his bed before I even realized Pete was moving at me with murder in his eyes. Mikayla stepped in front of me and shoved Pete back. Kaz restrained him.

"You're going to regret it if you hit him, Pete," Kaz said, struggling to keep a hold on Pete.

"You're only protecting him because you're infatuated with him!" Pete cried, trying to break his arms free of Kaz's grip so he could strike Kaz.

"Yea, and what about me? Do I look like I'm all hot and bothered over that filterless idiot?" Mikayla said in annoyance.

"I'm insulted and relieved," I said, backing away from Pete.

"Listen Pete, we don't hit our own. The second you're back on your meds, you'll remember that," Mikayla said. "Play fighting, sure, fair game. But not serious fighting. You're reckless and violent and a total bitch. That's why your parents drugged you up. Because you couldn't learn to control those things. The rest of us learned."

"Well, maybe not Beckett," Kaz said. "But he's only 11. He has time."

"Kaz," Beckett said impatiently.

"Well, it's true," Kaz said with a shrug.

Pete suddenly kicked his feet back as hard as he could, tripping Kaz. The two stumbled to the ground, Kaz landing on his back hard and Pete landing on top of him, the floor shaking with the impact.

"Kaz!" I said in alarm.

"Shit!" Leo said.

The two of us hurried forward as Beckett jumped off the bed. Mikayla came over as well.

Kaz was hidden under Pete, but Pete's face was scrunched up in pain. Leo groaned and raked a hand through his hair.

"Get his hydros!" Leo said to Beckett.

Beckett hurried to Pete's desk and shoved through the various pill bottles there. He came over and held a pill out to Pete.

"Two," Pete said, squeezing his eyes shut as he took the pill dry. Beckett handed him another one and he swallowed it down.

Leo and Mikayla rolled Pete off of Kaz, ignoring Pete's hiss of pain. Kaz propped up on his elbows and winced.

"Jesus, Pete," Kaz said. "I think you broke my spine."

Beckett and I pulled Kaz to his feet. It took Kaz, Leo, and Mikayla to get Pete up and over to his chair. He stretched his leg out carefully and winced as he rubbed his bad knee.

"O'Malley and I will get him an ice pack," Kaz said.

We left the room and Kaz led me downstairs. I stopped him when I was sure no one was around and inspected his bruising elbows.

"He didn't mean it. Imagine being constantly angry and frustrated and having to fog those feelings up day after day for over a year," Kaz said, pulling his arms away from me. "When the effects of his meds die down, all of that just explodes. It's why he has certain times he's supposed to take his pills by. I tried to give them to him today and he threw them across the room and yelled at me. That's when Siggy came in, and Pete tried to attack him when he ordered Pete to take his meds."

I stared down at the ground, hating that Kaz had saved me yet again. He was always saving me even though I was now a weapon against him.

"Kaz?" I said, looking up at him. "Aaron hurt you on purpose, right?"

"It was complicated," Kaz said, shrugging.

I wanted to tell him that I wouldn't hurt him on purpose. That I would try not to let myself get used against him.

But the words wouldn't leave me. "Maybe he was just angry you got that bad haircut."

Kaz rolled his eyes. "Honestly, O'Malley, you're the only person who doesn't like my hair. I looked like a 12 year old when my hair was longer. As soon as I cut it, I looked older."

"Congratulations, do you want me to sing Dinosaur by Kesha?" I asked.

"Let's go. Pete needs an ice pack for his knee. And then you guys better stay out of the room. Withdrawal will hit him fast," Kaz said, grabbing my arm and pulling me down the hallway.

We got an ice pack for Pete and went back upstairs. He was still in the chair and he took the ice pack from us, placing it on his knee.

I grabbed Kaz's shirt and tugged it a little, hoping he'd get the point. I knew he wanted to stay with Pete, but I needed to talk to him.

"Mika, stay with him," Kaz said to my relief.

"We both will," Leo said.

"Where are you going, Kaz?" Beckett asked suspiciously.

"On a little walk," Kaz said. "And if you bitch about it, you'll be the next one body slammed against the ground."

He led me out of the room with Beckett scowling after us. Kaz and I left the dorm building together and started down our usual path.

"What did you need, O'Malley?" he asked.

I pouted. "You called me Killian earlier. Feel free to do that more often."

Kaz shook his head. "Not going to happen. I only did it earlier because I was trying to save your ass from Sudlow's rage."

"I was defending you!" I reminded.

"I'm capable of defending myself," he said, but he was smiling.

We walked in comfortable silence for a while. Kaz eventually led me off the path and over to a large tree, sitting against it. I sat next to him, the shade keeping us cool.

"I want to see your longer hair," I said, finally breaking the silence.

"You are so obsessed with my hair." He pulled out his phone and unlocked it, scrolling through it. He tapped on the screen and held it out to me. "There, pictures from when I still had long hair. Feel free to scroll through at your own risk."

In the picture I was seeing, Kaz and a girl stood together in front of a lake. Kaz's hair was the same length as mine currently was, and he was right. He did look a lot younger with his dark hair falling just past his ears.

I swiped through the pictures, a lot of them being of Kaz and that girl. There were a few random pictures and a few of Kaz's parents. I stopped at a picture of Kaz and Aaron, though.

In it, Kaz's hair was still long. He had an arm slung around Aaron's shoulders and they both had devilish grins on their faces. I swiped over a couple of pictures until I came across another picture of them. In it, Kaz had his undercut, and he was holding an energy drink, mid laugh. Aaron was leaning against him with a busted lip and a bruise forming near his eye, but he looked sharp and alive, watching Kaz.

Kaz took the phone from my hands and locked it. "Don't even think about it, O'Malley. That's an old part of my life. I don't regret any of it. It got me here."

"How can you not regret coming here?" I said.

"Because I'm happier here than I ever was back home," he said, tucking his phone into his pocket. "Besides, I got to meet you. You're a complete moron most of the time, but you're cute to look at."

"This has been Flirting 101 with Casimir Warrick," I said. "I'm also very disappointed in your name, by the way. I totally thought it would be spelled K-A-Z-I-M-I-R. How the hell do you get Kaz out of Casimir?"

"As my parents," Kaz said with a shrug. "Well, actually, ask my mom. You can't really ask my dad."

"Oh my god you made it awkward," I said, smacking him in the arm.

"How? I told you my dad died," he said, rubbing my arm.

"You can't just bring up your dead dad! It makes me uncomfortable!" I said, glaring at him.

Kaz grinned. "I'm going to bring it up every chance I get."

"That is rude!"

"Sorry, I couldn't learn manners because my dad died before he taught them to me."

"Kaz!"

Kaz laughed and I hit him again. I leaned back as he got his laughter under control.

Kaz was completely different than I had expected when I first met him. I'd expected him to be stuck-up, selfish, and cruel. But in reality, he was a mama's boy who laughed freely and cared about his friends so much that he'd risk himself for them.

I found myself really hating Aaron. I imagined that picture I'd seen on Kaz's phone, of him laughing and Aaron watching him. I bet he killed Kaz's laughter for a while when the reality of the relationship made itself clear to Kaz.

"Hey, Kaz," I said.

"What, O'Malley?"

"How does Moses make his tea?"

"How?"

"Hebrews it."

Kaz stared at me for a moment before laughing. "That was the worst pun I've ever heard and I'm tempted to hit you."

I smiled and laughed along with him. "I'm hilarious, fuck you."

But this was what I wanted. I wanted to laugh alongside Kaz, because he deserved to have someone to laugh with.

Kaz looked at me and I nodded. He pulled me close and kissed me, hand tangling into my hair. I put my arms around his neck and kissed him back.

"Kaz," I mumbled against his lips. "If they find out, they'll use me against you."

"I know that. But I'll do whatever I have to, to protect you from them," he said, the tips of his ears red. "Just trust me, O'Malley."

"Unfortunately, I do," I said, kissing him again. "But I swear to fucking god, if you say you stole my heart, I will make your face look worse than the CGI in Sharknado."

"Wait, wait, wait," Kaz said, pulling away from me. "You actually watched Sharknado?"

"It was on Netflix and I was high," I said defensively.

"This relationship is not going to work."

"If I can deal with your hair, then you can deal with my guilty pleasure of bad science fiction movies."

"My hair is not that bad."

"Your hair is worse than Cowboys Vs. Dinosaurs, and that is saying something."

Kaz sighed and kissed me. "Fine, fine. But I get to pick any movies we watch."

"No way. First date is Zoombies."

"Does that mean we get a first date?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I blushed. "Oh, shit, did I just accidentally ask you out?"

"I accept," he said, grinning a little and kissing my cheek.

"I've never had a boyfriend before," I said awkwardly.

"It's like having a best friend that you just happen to kiss a lot," Kaz said. "Or occasionally get hand-jobs from in a bathroom."

"I think you and I have had very different experiences," I said.

"Really? Because you were more than happy to tell me about that friend of your sucking your dick," he said.

I blushed again and hit Kaz. "Shut up. I have a big mouth."

"Apparently so did that Tanner guy."

"Kaz!" Bright friggin' red, man. Curse my pale Irish skin.

Kaz checked his phone and sighed. "Pete hit his withdrawal stage. They took him to the health center and are putting him back on his meds. They're going to call his parents."

"It sucks that his parents just drug him up," I said, frowning.

"Yea, well, they don't know what else to do with him. They took the easy way out. Pete will forget all about it by tomorrow. He'll never be the same after all these drugs," Kaz said, standing up. He held his hand out to me.

I took it and let him pull me to my feet. "Okay, so I feel bad for Pete and everything, but are we boyfriends?"

"You're the one who wanted a first date," Kaz said.

"Shit. We're boyfriends. I'm dating a thief with an undercut. Looks like my mom's plan backfired," I said.

"Just...let me know if anyone gives you trouble. They will try to use you against me," Kaz said.

I nodded, but Kaz had protected me so far. I wasn't so much worried about myself (lol totally was RIP me) as I was Kaz. Constance needed a way to keep Kaz under control, and I was now that way.

The two of us walked back to the dorm building and went inside. We went to my room, where the others were gathered.

"You weren't there when his withdrawals hit," Beckett said furiously, glaring at Kaz. "You were off sucking face with Killian."

"Well, you're not wrong," Kaz said.

Beckett looked infinitely frustrated. "You're favoring him."

"I don't favor anyone," Kaz said. "May I remind you who will have to take care of Pete when the health center returns him to the dorm? May I also remind you who helped get your brother off your damn case, Beck?"

Beckett crossed his arms. "You can't ditch us for him."

"Actually, he can. But he won't," I said before I could stop myself. "Look, I get it, you're 11 and you have a shitty brother and your family stresses you out and Kaz is your best friend or whatever. If Kaz was a shittiest enough person to ditch his friends, trust me, I wouldn't bother with him. Maybe you're so angry all the time because you're so insecure. Honestly kid, just go tell your family off so you can spend more time with everyone here."

Beckett got up and shoved past me, leaving the room without another word. I stared at the door as he slammed it and shook my head.

"I do not belong here and my gay ass is very afraid," I said.

Kaz pulled himself onto my bed and laid against my pillows, hands behind his head. "That's him trying to control his temper. I think he's improving."

"Oh, yea, really improving," I grumbled. "You're not sleeping on my bed again."

He pat my bed. "Sure I am. It's more comfortable than mine. I think I got a shitty mattress."

"You did get a shitty mattress," Leo agreed. "So did Mika. That's why she steals my bed all the time."

Kaz sat up. "Hey, what do you guys say we plot a little something to get back at Sudlow and cheer Pete up tomorrow?"

"This is going to get you hit pretty hard, huh?" Leo guessed.

"Absolutely. Let's go now," Kaz said, jumping off my bed. "Actually, give me a few minutes. I'll come get you when I'm ready."

He left the room and I groaned. "He's going to get us all in so much trouble."

"Welcome to friendship with Kaz," Leo said.

"Leo, really? They're beyond friends," Mikayla said. "Didn't you notice how close Kaz was standing to Killian?"

"Damn girl," I said. "You are impressive."

"Killian, you get it, don't you? That Kaz belongs here?" Mikayla said.

"None of us belong here. This is an abusive school," I said.

Mikayla sighed in annoyance. "Damn, I thought your thick head could actually understand this. Kaz belongs here. He was born to be a leader, and this is the perfect place for him. He can fight back again and again. His goal isn't to take down the Academy or the teachers. His goal is just to show us that we don't need to change and to show himself that he's capable of being a leader. He thrives in a place like this. When he leaves this year, he's got nothing."

I opened my mouth and then snapped it shut, realizing she was right. What did Kaz have going for him after this school? He'd lose his crew by the end of the school year.

"He's losing everything he's worked so hard for soon. Don't be one of those things," she said.

"You're getting sentimental on me, Mika. We're all still keeping in touch," Leo said, frowning.

"I know. But it won't be the same. We're from different places. Getting together will be hard," she said with a shrug. "We'll be off at college."

Leo punched her in the arm. "You better visit me at college, bitch."

"I'm going to, shitface," she said, punching him back.

Ah, what affectionate friendship.

We waited around until Kaz returned to the room, a bag slung over his shoulders. "Let's go."

We followed him out of the dorm building and across campus to the academic building. It was getting late, so the door was locked, but Leo picked the lock with ease, letting us inside.

"The janitor will still be here," Kaz warned before starting down the hallway.

We snuck down to Mr. Sudlow's room and Leo unlocked the door for us. Kaz pulled us all inside and shut the door, stashing books under it to hide the light when he turned it on.

Leo picked up one of the books shoved under the door. "Kaz, did you really just block the door with the bible?" he asked, laughing and tossing it back to the ground.

"I grabbed the first thing I saw," Kaz said, setting his bag down and looking around the room. "Sudlow thinks he can embarrass me. We'll see about that."

We all froze as we heard someone walking. Kaz looked over at the door and cursed under his breath.

"Hide," he hissed, grabbing my arm and yanking me behind a bookshelf. Leo and Mikayla darted under Sudlow's desk just as the door opened.

"Hello?" the janitor called. "James?"

"James is Sudlow's first name," Kaz mumbled in my ear, barely audible. We pressed far too close together and I was trying my best not to move even an inch. Oh, sweet Jesus, everything down south needed to find its chill because now was not the damn time to get excited. Still, my body was pressed against Kaz's, and he had an arm wrapped around my waist to keep himself from falling over.

The janitor let out a long sigh and picked up the books that had been blocking the door. He set them on top of the desk and my heart sped up as I peeked through the cracks in the bookshelf. If he moved around to the front of the desk, he'd definitely see Leo and Mikayla.

But he didn't. He just walked back to the door, flicked the lights off, and left the room, shutting the door. We listened as his keys jingled and the lock clicked.

We stayed hidden for about two minutes before crawling out of our spots. Kaz used the flashlight on his phone and handed it to me.

"You're in charge of the lights," he said.

"Oh, goody," I said.

Kaz went over to his bag and dug around in it. "Let's see...ah, there we go. The things Sudlow is ashamed of. Fun fact: His parents sucked at naming kids. They have three kids, all of them are teachers, and they're named James, Jared, and Julia."

"And you this because...?" I said as Mikayla and Leo went over to help him.

"Because I did a little research. I like to have ammo to fight back with. Constance and I have similar ideas when it comes to punishment," Kaz said.

The three gathered whatever was in Kaz's bag and went over to the whiteboard. They began to tape things up under Kaz's instructions and when they were done, we admired the work.

On the board were pictures of four people. Kaz had taped up a small paper banner over the collection of pictures that read out "Sudlow Sins".

One picture was a girl, about 22, with brown hair and ears that were so small they made me uncomfortable. Under the picture was the caption "Maria (Sudlow) Ellis- Alcoholic Niece". Well shit, I'd be an alcoholic too if my ears were that tiny.

The next picture was a blond guy, probably 17 or 18. It was captioned "Evander Sudlow- Gay Nephew".

The next picture was a pretty girl who looked like she would punch you in the face if you didn't treat her right, probably 19 or so. "Breanna Sudlow- Horny Daughter".

And the final picture was Mr. Sudlow himself. It was captioned "James Sudlow- Child Abuser".

"You have ice in your veins," I informed Kaz.

"I'm well aware." He pulled the cover over the board. "Prepare for hell tomorrow, everyone."

I knew he would protect me. Him and Leo would probably end up taking the hits for this stunt.

We snuck out of the academic building together and hurried our way back to the dorm. Mikayla said goodnight to us and went off to take a shower. Kaz followed us back to our room and I glared at him.

"Oh, hell no. Go back to your own room!" I said.

"Pete won't be there tonight. He'll be in the health center. Besides, your bed is comfier," he said, jumping up on it and tugging his shirt off. He dropped against my pillows and waited for me to join him.

"God fucking dammit Kaz, this is no fair! I'm a flaming homosexual and I can't ignore a shirtless guy on my bed," I said in frustration, stomping over and climbing onto my bed. Kaz moved over so that I had room.

Leo laughed and got on his bed. "Just tell me when to leave the room."

"Shut up," I said, blushing and glad that I hadn't actually gotten excited in the classroom. God, that would've been embarrassing.

Leo turned the lights off and I got under the covers, annoyed now that I couldn't see Kaz's nice body anymore. Way to ruin my mood, Leo.

Kaz pulled the covers over himself and hid his head under the pillows, completely hiding his body. I stared at him in confusion, but realized what he was doing as Cam opened our door to make sure we were asleep. He shut the door and Kaz pushed the pillows off of his face, letting his head rest on it.

"Goodnight, O'Malley," he mumbled.

"Hey, if you're stealing my bed, you're going to do the cute thing," I said, grabbing his arm and forcing it over my waist.

Kaz's lips quirked up into a smile, his eyes closed. He put both of his arms around me and drew me closer to himself. I let my head rest against his shoulder and closed my eyes.

Tomorrow, he'd get into a major bitch fight with Sudlow. But for right now, he made a comfy pillow. Oh man, I finally get a boyfriend only to have an abusive teacher murder him the next day. Sigh. My life was a pain.

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A.N.- Alright, you guys seem conflicted on the Kaz prequel. It would focus a lot on his relationship with Aaron, but not particularly for the romance aspect of it (not for you guys anyways, since you already know how that ends). It would be more to show how Kaz became who he is today and how he ended up at the Academy. But it's up to you guys whether you'd want a story about it or just have me leave it at prompts!