Chapter Text
“Cyrus, can you give us the playground?” Buffy asked, an apologetic look on her face.
“Yeah. Um, you know where to find me,” Cyrus replied. He then turned to TJ with a smile, “And so do you.”
TJ gave a small smile in return before Cyrus began walking away. Cyrus feared TJ up until this point. After all, TJ was a big, angry jock who acted like a jerk towards Cyrus's best friend, Buffy. It almost seemed out of character when TJ spoke kindly and pushed Cyrus on the swings. In fact, Cyrus was still in disbelief that that had just happened; however, he was willing to be TJ's friend. He knew people weren't always as bad as they seemed.
Cyrus found his smile widening at the thought of a new friend. His pace quickened, and there was a bounce in his step as he walked back to finish his video with Jonah.
Meanwhile, TJ couldn't feel any more irritated. He believed he and Cyrus were sharing an intimate moment until Buffy came along, bearing bad news. He wasn't just stupid. He had a learning disability. TJ felt like the world was working against him, and he found it incredibly unfair. This only made him angrier. So despite how the saying goes, TJ decided to shoot the messenger. He shouted at Buffy and refused to believe her. It wasn't hard for him to do since, admittedly, he had never been nice to Buffy. Though this time, he felt a twinge of guilt as he left her. He couldn't help but wonder what Cyrus would think of his actions.
As TJ walked home, he hummed the song Cyrus had sung to himself on the swings. Obviously, TJ didn't know the words to either of Cyrus's songs, but the simple tune stuck with him. He found it almost endearing when he first heard Cyrus sing. It reminded him that there was still innocence in the world. Although it was impossible for TJ to be certain of Cyrus's character after two brief conversations, he chose to believe Cyrus was nothing but good after their time swinging together. He didn't seem to hold anything against TJ for his past actions and was friendly despite his obvious fear.
• • •
Buffy was astonished, to say the least. She couldn't understand why TJ acted the way he did towards her. She was only trying to help him, but he got frustrated with her for some reason.
If anyone should be frustrated, Buffy believed it should be her. She had never done anything that could've made TJ hate her the way he seemed to. In fact, she had tried to approach him nicely one day after Cyrus asked her to. But being nice to TJ hadn't worked then, so Buffy didn't know why she thought it might work now. She just knew she was right about TJ having some sort of math dyslexia. And she was pretty sure she was the only one who knew about his learning disability. So if Buffy didn't talk him into getting help, she knew no one else would. But if she continued trying to convince TJ into seeing someone about his problem, she'd have to deal with mistreatment from him more often. It seemed Buffy was caught in a dilemma.
And to add to Buffy's confusion, she had seen Cyrus and TJ together. She couldn't exactly tell what was going on between them, but Cyrus didn't seem upset by TJ, so she decided to let it be. She didn't even bother asking them about it. She just let the bewilderment fester inside of her for the time being.
• • •
Cyrus finished filming his video, his smile never leaving his face once. Jonah, though usually oblivious, seemed to notice Cyrus's good mood.
“Something good happen, Cy-Guy?” he asked. “I don't think you've stopped smiling since you came back from... wherever it is you went.”
Cyrus thought about telling Jonah where he went, but he feared more people would start using the swings like him. Sometimes he simply needed time alone, to think and to calm down. So the thought of Jonah being at the swings one day when Cyrus truly needed them bothered him. Especially since Jonah was often the cause of Cyrus's stress.
“Nothing, really,” Cyrus answered. “I just had a nice conversation with a friend.”
“Oh, really?” Jonah smiled. “Who was it?”
“Uh, it was a new friend.”
“So what's their name?”
“...TJ Kippen.”
“Oh, he's on the basketball team, right? I don't really know him. How'd you two become friends?”
“We just did. I don't really know how it happened. He sorta came up to me out of nowhere, and we got along.” Cyrus changed the subject, “Anyway, you probably need to get going now. I know I have to. My step-mother is making shakshouka for dinner.”
“Okay. I'll see you later then, Cyrus. Bye!” Jonah waved, and after Cyrus waved back, he walked out of the school.
Cyrus sighed. Having an unrequited crush was difficult. He wanted to seem cool in front of Jonah, but that was hard to do when being near him made him nervous. Cyrus wished he and Jonah could just be friends. Their relationship would be much more stress-free if it weren't for his stupid crush on the other boy.
• • •
TJ's mind was going a thousand miles an hour. Honestly, his life so far had been pretty easy. He had friends, a good family life, and the spot as captain of his basketball team. Sure, his grades were never the greatest, but he made up for it on the court. And people seemed to be fine with that until now.
Now, suddenly, math and basketball were somehow related. And he was failing math, because he might have some sort of learning disability. And the only person who knew this was practically his enemy. And the boy he wanted to get to know better happened to be the best friend of said enemy. This just couldn't be real. At least, not to TJ. It was like his lucky streak had come to an end, and now, he was promised only misfortune for the rest of his life. He cashed out all of his luck early on and became broke.
TJ lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He didn't know what he'd do the next time he saw Cyrus at school. They weren't exactly friends, but TJ definitely hoped they could be. However, he had no idea if Cyrus felt the same way. He eventually decided he'd let Cyrus start a conversation first, so he wouldn't accidentally bother him.
• • •
Cyrus couldn't believe he overbooked the bimah. There were still people he wanted to invite. He was happy he could fit Buffy, Andi, and Jonah into the candle lighting ceremony, but it would've been nice if they didn't have to share a candle. Luckily, there was still some room in the after-party.
Cyrus wanted to invite TJ, so he walked around the school, looking for him. Finally, he spotted him talking to Buffy. When Buffy walked away, she seemed angry, which worried Cyrus. He didn't want to make her more upset by inviting TJ, so he decided to ask for her permission first. He made his way toward her and asked.
“Whatever,” she replied, not stopping in her tracks once.
“That was easy,” Cyrus said to himself before turning to face TJ. “Hey! Not-So-Scary Basketball Guy!”
TJ looked over from his conversation and felt a sense of elation upon seeing Cyrus. He was worried Cyrus would never talk to him again, and that would be the end of a friendship that never existed. So when Cyrus called out to him — with a nickname, no less — TJ was incredibly happy. All of his worries melted away for a moment.
TJ began walking towards Cyrus with a smile, “Hey! Underdog! What's up?”
“Well, I know it's kind of last-minute, but, if I could get an RSVP ASAP, I think I could get you into my bar mitzvah party.” Cyrus handed TJ an envelope with all of the details inside.
TJ took the envelope, and without opening it, nodded with a smile, “I'm there.”
He was sure he could convince his parents to let him go, no matter when the party happened to be. He looked at Cyrus who was smiling at him. He debated on whether he should ask about Buffy. After all, TJ didn't want to risk being uninvited, or worse — hated by Cyrus. However, he really needed help with his math. He knew he couldn't do it himself, but he still didn't want to fail. Failing math meant no longer being able to play basketball.
“Hey, can I ask you something about Buffy?” TJ asked.
“Sure,” Cyrus answered.
“Is she always so... high and mighty?”
“Pretty much.”
“Let's say I needed to get her to do something for me. How would I go about doing that?”
“Easy. Just use her two favourite words.”
“I'm sorry?”
Cyrus almost jumped forward, “No. She hates those words.”
“Then, what?” TJ was confused.
Cyrus let out a sigh, “Come with me.” He began walking with TJ before continuing, “You might not like saying this, but Buffy will love hearing it.”
He explained that Buffy liked being told she was right. And it was true, but Cyrus didn't understand why he told TJ. Cyrus knew Buffy wouldn't like that he said anything. Especially not to TJ. But something about TJ made Cyrus want to spill his guts out. Something about TJ made Cyrus want to tell secrets that weren't his to tell.