Hotshot and the Geek (Everett)

[Everett Lilien]

It had always bothered Everett that somehow it was the "bad" boy with the leather jacket and cigarette breath that got all the girls. Everett just turned out to be a target for those bad boys, like James, to make fun of, to make the girls laugh their girlish laughs. "You pretty much used me to get attention," he pointed out. "And for your information, comic books are art. They're literature." Okay, he was getting a little heated, stabbing at the noodles in his tupperware container.

"Good," he said, matter-of-factly. "Because we're not."

[James Lawrence]

James picked up his discarded file folder, intent on focusing back on his work instead of engaging in strained conversation with a former tormentee. He flipped it back open, staring down at printed pages until the next accusation hit him. His grip tightened on the pen, pulse faltering in the moment after. Most accusations didn't bother James, but for some reason, this one did. Maybe Ev was right; afterall, everything the trainer did seemed to lead back to a need for attention.

It had worked.

"I didn't need to use you to get attention." James replied, the same distantly cold tone to his voice. He received plenty of it whether he was making fun of the blonde or not. He raised an eyebrow at Ev's sudden defensive nature over comic books, letting out an amused snort. He didn't find it worthy of a reply.

"Never were, never will be." James added. Friends? The idea was laughable. He still didn't hate him, not then or now. It seemed that Ev had a different opinion.

[Everett Lilien]

"Maybe you didn't need to, but you did. That's my point. You could have done fine with your leather jacket and cigarettes, so why did you have to torment a geeky kid, huh? Bonus points?" Everett felt feelings bubbling up, all of which were not pleasant. He wasn't an angry person, but he was someone who could hold a grudge. And he hadn't known it, but he'd definitely held a grudge against James. He didn't realize it until he was in the same room as him again. "I don't care if it was meaningless teasing to you that just got you off or whatever. You're the reason I didn't even try to get a girl to like me." Tough to admit, but it was mostly true. Besides the fact that most girls didn't find his pranks of turning out the lights very amusing.

"Glad we're on the same page, at least." He stabbed another noodle with his fork.

[James Lawrence]

"Why didn't you stick up for yourself?" James countered, with what was a slightly weaker argument and he knew it. "By that, I mean, you didn't say anything. Nothing. You let me walk all over you and God knows who else in high school. No sense of self-esteem." Which made it so much easier.

But the real reason for teasing Everett was it gave him more attention. Every action of his in high school seemed to boil down to that.

James couldn't contain the shock in his features, raising an eyebrow. "Wait, you're saying... blaming me for the fact that you couldn't talk to girls? You can't really force a girl to like you." Even people like himself got rejected by unattainable girls, from time to time. It just happened.

"You should have sought advice from someone who knew what they were doing." He smirked, pointing to himself with his index finger. At this point, James didn't really care how he came across to his coworker.

[Everett Lilien]

Everett instantly became angry. It was probably because James was pushing him. Asking why he didn't stand up for himself? "How many kids did you know who were able to stand up for themselves when they were being bullied in high school?" That was like asking the parents of a kid who got bullied and ended his life over it why they didn't just stick up for themselves. It was hard to do that! Words hurt. "And you're the poster child for self-esteem? Or do you just dress like that because you feel cool?" The spite was evident in his voice and he wasn't even thinking about the fact that he was at work and acting so immaturely, letting this asshat get the better of him.

"I'm not saying I couldn't talk to girls, I'm saying I found it pointless when you'd pointed out to me how undesirable I was." The guy wasn't even getting what he was saying. Figures.

He scoffed. Really? Knew what he was doing? Ev might have thought that in high school about James, but he certainly didn't now.

[James Lawrence]

"Why do you dress the way you do?" James asked, glancing over to Everett's direction with a look of contempt. He didn't give time to answer, continuing on. "It's how I enjoy dressing. And I presume you dress the way you do because you like." What a stupid question. He didn't need to feel cool; it was innate. Natural.

At this point, James was done with the conversation. Ev's jabs weren't getting to him per say, but it was annoying. To give up and throw in the towel because of one person seemed absurd. To completely give up and call it pointless. He was sure there had to be somebody out there for Everett, but his rock bottom self esteem had held him back.

"And that's the difference between you and me; I had confidence." Still did. One glance at James and you could tell, with the way he held himself. "You let someone who didn't even know you dictate your worth."

Because James didn't know Everett on anything more than a superficial level, then and now. They'd never be close. While the teasing might have been uncalled for, Everett certainly didn't try to help himself. With that, he stood up from the couch, gathering his things.