smiling critters

Once kai got into the gym and sat at his spot, he decided to scroll through Instagram to either wait for the bell or one of the boys to get there. it was a decision he very quickly regretted because the second he opened the app, he saw a video of Neil changing. he quickly closed Instagram and shut off his phone in shock before unlocking it to check who posted it, it was Simon. he was never more disgusted in a friend then he was in that moment. he and Simon were friends, Simon was ok, but this was fucking gross and Kai prayed simon's account got hacked or something, but that wouldn't explain how he got a video of neil changing. he screenrecorded the post for a second or two for evidential purposes before tapping on his profile pic to go to his account and verify it was him before reporting it. he went to his DMs and went to Simon's account before sending the screenrecording and saying 'what the fuck, dude?' Simon quickly texted back.

what? it's funny

no it's not, your fucking sick

take it down or I'm telling a teacher
you did this

dude, chill out

since when did you care?
besides I already got in
trouble for it

then delete the post

or what?

I'll tell a teacher that you posted it

ok ok, fine

thank you

dont fucking do something like that
again

Kai turned off his phone and put it away, desperately resisting the urge to go to Simon's spot in the gym and deck him in the face.

"hey, you ok?" Bryson asked, suddenly beside him and putting a hand on his shoulder.

"fucki- no! Did you see what Simon posted like three hours ago?!"

"I don't have Instagram, dude."

"It was a video of Neil changing. I just wanna punch him in his stupid smug face!" Kai raged as his feathers puffed out.

"ok, ok. I kinda get where you're coming from now. But for now, do you wanna focus on how Neil's feeling about it?"

"I dunno. it's jus- if that fucker has any basic decency or common fucking sense, this bullshit would've never happened!"
Even in his rage induced state, Kai saw Neil cautiously approaching them, it was enough to calm him down enough to think straight.

"dude, when did Simon record you changing?!" Kai exclaimed, still mad at the eagle owl. Neil looked shocked and started running his fingers through his hair, like he wasn't expecting that to be brought up. He looked at the floor and sort of shrunk. The hyline rooster calmed down a bit and stood up.

"Dude, why didn't you say anything?" he asked. Neil didn't say anything, he just hugged him and gave him a quick squeeze before separating from it.

"I didn't want to ruin your relationship with him," Neil signed as he sat down at his spot, which was right next to Kai's.

"my guy, if he fucking records you changing, I don't wanna be friends with that prick in the first place!"
They decided to change the topic until they had to go into the locker room and change. they got changed and did weight training stuff until they had to get back into their usual clothes and go to 6th period. Usually Kai would leave as soon as he got done changing, but this time he stayed back, keeping an eye on the lockers that were preventing from seeing Neil's locker, waiting for Simon to come back.

"you're. a. loser, baby, a loser goddamn baby, you're a fucked up little whiney prick, you're a loser just like me. you're a screws-loose boozer, an only one star reviews-er, you're a power bottom at rock bottom, bot you've got company!" the feline sang, thinking no one was in there with him. For as much as Kai made dumb jokes about Neil's voice, he really did like it, especially when he was singing. It was clear he'd been doing it a while, since it rang and reverberated in the room like a bell, and choir only made it sound prettier. Neil finished the song as he walked out before seeing Kai standing by the door and freezing in his place.

"Please don't tell me you heard all that," he muttered.

"why the hell were you singing about a gambling addict and a stripper?" Kai asked.

"don't. ask."

"I'm asking!" Kai snickered as they walked out together.

"Why were you in the locker room with me?" Neil eventually asked.

"I wanted to make sure Simon didn't fucking film you again."

"oh, uh... he got suspended for that today."

"no shit, really?"

"Yeah, he was pretty mad about it."

"I can imagine, he doesn't really like consequences."

"How long have you guys been friends?"

"Since uhh... I'd say around middle school. He was new to our church and I was bored so I started talking to him before the sermon started. It was over the summer and we kind of bonded and got closer over the years, but his sense of humor always rubbed me the wrong way. It was more mean-spirited than I felt comfortable with, and more often than not he'd aim these attacks at people I'm fairly acquainted with, even you guys sometimes. Like, he knows I've been friends with Bryson since daycare, and he still made jokes about his weight, his nerdiness, his atheism, and other stuff. And it was never just Bryson, it was all of you! He made comments about all of you!" Kai raged as they started getting closer to Neil's sixth period class.

"Hey, it's not your fault. Some people just refuse to change," Neil put a hand on his shoulder.

"Yea, but did you feel safe changing in the locker room after he filmed you?!"

"Not really, but don't blame yourself for it. You didn't encourage him to do it, did you?"

"no. But-"

"Then don't worry about it," Neil smiled as he walked into his class. Kai just sighed and went to his last class. he wasn't safe from Simon's snide comments either, his insults would range from something as innocent as missing a kick in gym back in middle school, to him being too skinny for most of the workouts they did. he was also a raging narcissist, seeing anyone who wasn't exactly like him as a bad person, but kai was fairly vulnerable back in summer of 2021, and when he was feeling down he usually threw himself into being social to distract himself from his problems, that's how he and simon became friends in the first place, and kai started noticing Simon's weird behavior a few months after meeting him, but he'd always say that Kai was his only friend, guilting the hyline rooster into staying with him. He let Simon go too far this time, he already felt guilty letting him talk about his friends behind his back, but now this? Simon recording Neil changing when he was already in a bad mental spot? He just couldn't stand by him anymore, because who the hell does that? He'd tell him that he needed another break from him, and he didn't care what Simon said, he'd stand his ground this time. He auto-piloted through 6th period until he got to go home.

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