Chapter Two: Crushing Resolve

I turned to face Lance and right away he kissed me on the side of the ridge of my nose, he then kissed my eyelids and then my lips once again. I've kissed Lance so many times today and I haven't tried to pull away once in those times. Although this could all be fake and full of lies, although I might be using Lance for my own selfishness, I feel that I'll be alright, even if I'm the one who ends up hurting him the most. But, in spite of that, I don't want to part with him. But...

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I sat at my desk in a daze from only moments before. I couldn't contraction to save my life. All I could think about was how Lance kissed me. The way he was so gentle, but yet, at the same time he was powerful. Lance took charge about everything today. From coming up with a "solution" to my "problem", to coming to my rescue with that girl. They weren't his problems, but he was taking them on like they were and I'm grateful for that, but I also feel responsible for causing him so much trouble.

"I can't make Lance do this for me. He has his own problems I'm sure. He doesn't have to deal with mine. When I see him again I'll just tell him that this dating thing is just a bad idea, and I'll think of something else to help me."

I placed my head on my desk as I thought about what to do. What was the right way to deal with something like this? I didn't want to hurt Lance's feelings, but it's either hurt his feelings now and break up with him before it gets too series, or wait and break his heart even more, which could end our friendship, no matter what Lance said about us still being friends if that ended up happening.

"Mr. Kings, am I boring you?"

My head shot up to see my teacher, Mr. Farrelly, standing next to me. I was screwed, for once I hope this curse of mine will do me some good. I looked up at him and for once tried to use my looks to get me out of this.

"No sir, I'm sorry. I promise I'm paying attention."

For once my "gift" actually paid off. Hearts suddenly flashed in my teachers eyes and a light blush of pink washed across his nose. Hopefully I wouldn't regret this later. He smiled down at me and patted me on the head before making his way back up to the front of the class. Right away I was getting looks from both genders of my classmates, yep, I totally regret my decision to actually use my looks this time.

All I had to do was get through this class, quickly get out, and find Lance as soon as possible. That's all, but of course, because it's me, my plans exploded into thousands of little pieces. As soon as the bell goes off to end class I quickly make a b-line for the door but ended up getting stopped by my teacher.

"Mr. Kings, can you stay after for just a minute?" Mr. Farrelly gave me a smile that I didn't like as he tapped his pencil on his desk.

Once the classroom was empty Mr. Farrelly closed the door to his room. I had a bad feeling about this. I screwed myself badly this time.

"Now, Mr. Kings--"

"Sir, if it seemed like I wasn't paying attention I seriously was. I just have a lot on my mind right now."

"Oh, I know. I just want to clarify something I heard earlier today." Mr. Farrelly started to circle me, like a lion stalking its prey.

"And what would that be sir?"

"Is it true that you're now dating Mr. Lance McCall."

My eyes widened and my body shuttered has I suddenly felt hands drop down on my shoulders. I don't like this at all, not one little bit. I quickly got out of the grip of my teacher, turning to face him as calm as possible.

"I don't mean to be rude sir, but I don't see how that's any of your business." I stayed calm and stood my ground against Mr. Farrelly. I had to get out of that classroom as soon as possible and find Lance. I've always had this feeling that Mr. Farrelly didn't like Lance through another class that Lance had with him.

"By how you're acting I'll take it as a yes to dating Mr. McCall. I'd be careful if I was you Mr. Kings."

"And why's that?"

Mr. Farrelly suddenly gave a small chuckle.

"You never know who might find out about such a thing. Something like this could ruin a friendship or maybe even start family troubles."

"Are you threatening my family Mr. Farrelly?"

"I-m just saying---"

"And I'll say this. My parents know about the relationships I've been in, both males and females, and there supportive none the less. Now, if you don't mind... I have a class to get to." I reached out to open the door only to have it shut quickly from behind. I slowly looked behind me to see Mr. Farrelly, his face so close to mine that I could smell the faint smell of tobacco on his breath (most likely from a cigarette he managed to sneak before class).

"I really have to get going Mr. Farrelly. My next teacher will wonder where I'm at if I don't hurry."

"Let them wonder Mr. Kings, I'm not finished talking with you."

I suddenly got this eerie feeling that I was going to be in a hell of a lot of trouble. I pulled at the door, but Mr. Farrelly just kept his weight on it, preventing me from opening it far enough to get out. I had no idea what I was going to do.

Lucky for my Lance was making his way to Mr. Farrelly's room (since I didn't show up at my locker), to see what was taking me so long. He was worried that maybe I had gotten into trouble for almost being late. Before reaching Mr. Farrelly's classroom, Lance saw a classmate of ours who shared the same class as me and ask if he had seen me.

"Hey, have you seen Aden anywhere?"

"Mr.Farrell asked him to stay after class got out, but that was like five minutes ago. He better hurry or he's going to be late for his next class."

That's when Lance started to get really worried about me. He never really liked Mr. Farrelly much for some reason but hearing that he had asked me to stay after, after all the trouble I had been having, made him have a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"He better not fucking touch Aden. I don't like him, I've never liked him, and he's always looking at Aden with--- I don't even want to think about it. I just have to get to him before something happens, before that bastard does something to him."

Lance quickened his pace to get to Mr. Farrelly's room as soon as possible. I was trying to keep my distance from Mr. Farrelly. But I was running out of time. Mr. Farrelly was starting to cross a line a teacher shouldn't. With the door block there was one other option I could take. Yeah, if I wanted to possibly die that is, I could try my chances with the window, and I was thinking about it when I heard someone at the door.

"Aden are you still in there?!"

Thank God for Lance.

"Lance, je suis lŕ! S'il vous plaît aider!" (Lance, I'm in here! Please help!) I yelled out in French to him. Knowing that he would understand since we take French together.

"Accrochez-vous à Aden! J'arrive!" (Hang on Aden! I'm coming!)

Just what I expect. He understood what was going on. Almost automatically the door swung open, almost hitting Mr. Farrelly. When Lance stepped into the classroom he eyed Mr. Farrelly with an intense glare, and Mr. Farrely gave one back at him.

"What the hell did you do to Aden?" Lance's voice was soaked in venom as he made his way towards me, never taking his eyes off of Mr. Farrelly.

"I'd watch how you speck to your teacher Mr. McCall, and I didn't do anything to Mr. Kings. We were just having a little chat."

"That's bullshit right there. There's only one reason why Aden would call out to me in French. Now what did you do?"

"Lance, it's fine. Let's just go. We're going to be late for our next class if we don't hurry." I grabbed a hold of Lance's arm, trying to calm him down before something happens that can't be taken back.

"Fine. Let's just get out of here." Lance grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the door to leave. Trying not to look at Mr. Farrelly as we passed by.

"If I hear you tried anything on Aden, I swear, I'll find a way to get you fired and put in jail." Lance sneered at Mr. Farrelly just as I left the room.

"I would have to say something similar to you as well Mr. McCall. As a teacher I can make your next few years here very difficult, as well as Mr. Kings'. Just keep that in mind if he means so much to you."

"Why you son of a--"

"Lance?"

I noticed that Lance wasn't following me. There was a look on his face that read he wanted to kill Mr. Farrelly for whatever he just said to him. I didn't want a fight to break out, I had to get him out of there before something happened.

"Lance, please. Let's just go."

Lance looked back at me with a sad smile. I caused him more pain, more than I ever thought I would, and it's all because he's doing all this for me. He held tightly to my hand as we walked down the hall to my locker (since I had yet to get my things for my next class).

"Qu'est-il arrivé là-bas, Aden?" (What happened in there Aden?) Lance suddenly broke the silence we were in for a while.

"You don't need to talk in French now Lance. It's alright, nothing happened, I promise."

"I still don't trust him. I made everything a lot more difficult for you now Aden. Because Mr. Farrelly doesn't like me I have this sickening feeling that he might try something. Something that could ruin your future."

"Lance, don't be silly. Mr. Farrelly is a teacher. He wouldn't do something like that just because I'm with you. You're worrying too much about the situation."

"Then why did you call out to me in French? We said we'd only do that if we needed to say something to each other when someone else was in the room. We did this so they wouldn't know what we're saying. Explain that to me Aden, please. If I'm causing you more problems then what's needed please tell me!"

Lance stopped me right in front of my locker. A hand on either side of my arms, his head hanging down like he was trying to hide that he was crying. Now I felt bad. I couldn't break up with him now and to be honest, Lance is the one person I knew who would come looking for me if I didn't show up at my locker in the first place. I exchange the things I needed for my next class, before heading to class I had to use the bathroom.

"Can you hang onto these for me Lance. I have to use the bathroom."

"Sure, just hurry up so we're not late for our next class."

I gave a node and quickly made my way to the bathroom. As I entered I noticed just how quite it was inside. There was no one but me doe to everyone most likely already being in class. As I stood in front of the mirror the bell for the next class went off. We were late. Things just weren't going my way today. Letting out a heavy sigh I studied myself in the mirror. What was this person I was seeing. He's someone I'm not proud of. It's a person I don't want to be. Someone who relies on someone else to fix my problems for me. And even then, I'm the one who causes problems.

"You're weak!"

I could hear a voice tell me. A voice that sounded like my own.

"No! No, I'm not! I'm not weak!"

"But you are. Look at all the trouble you've caused Lance today, and the day isn't even over yet. He's going to get tired of you if you keep causing him trouble. You know that... don't you?"

"You're wrong! Lance wouldn't!"

"But he would. He's only human after all, unlike yourself. You're different then everyone else, but because of that you'll only cause him pain."

"Shut up."

"You can't stop what's bound to happen."

"I said shut up!" Out of the anger I had for the voice that kept talking to me, I punched the mirror in front of me, causing it to shatter all over the floor.

I stood there for a moment, then the door opened, and I looked over to see Lance standing there with a shocked look on his face. He threw both our things on the floor and rushed to my side, taking my hand in his.

"Aden, why hell did you do that for?!"

"Lance, I'm causing nothing but trouble for you? Your relationship with Mr. Farrelly isn't the best and now because we're together, it's going to get worse. I'm causing you nothing but pain. Is it really okay for us to be together because of all that's happening?!"

Tears started to fill my eyes, but they never had a chance to fall when I felt hands on both sides of my face and there was a soft peck on the lips. His soft eyes looking back at me. Taking off his jacket he placed it over my head and wrapped his arms around me.

"It's alright Aden. It's like I said this morning. Even if my heart gets broken by you, I will always love you, I will always care for you, so there's no reason for you to worry so much about what might happen. Now, I believe that going to our next class is out of the question. We need to get your hand looked at and tell the principal about what happened here. I'll take you home."

If what the voice said was true, then I need to do my best to make Lance happy. To get stronger so I don't have to rely so much on him for my happiness. I will make it possible so that I can stand on my own two feet.

Note: This takes place two years after Season 2 of Young Justice. Making Lance and Aden 17 and Cassandra 16.