My Other Half // PRIVATE with Crocs

Nikolas shot a glare at Markus but otherwise civil for the first time. He was confused and frustrated and angry, so driving his precious Challenger with its satisfying roar of an engine would surely calm him down some. He sighed one last time before closing his locker again, grabbing his bag, and stalking out of the locker room without a word towards the nerd. They'd be better off not acknowledging the sign, or each other for that matter. Nothing would come of it.

Nikolas spun his keys around his fingers as he walked, clicking his piercing against the roof of his mouth in an erratic pattern, likely unconsciously following his heartbeat, as he often did. If he was quick, he would be able to catch the start of the races just in time. More time spent at the tracks, more money to snatch from those losers. A lot of them were worthless druggies, so he didn't feel bad about taking their money. It was their fault, he reasoned, for challenging him, a champion at the tracks.

Nikolas was in his car by that time, driving to the tracks and talking to Tessa on speakerphone. "Look, dude," the girl said calmly though not without a hint of amusement, "Sure, it's slightly fucked up that the guy you beat on a daily—not cool by the way, Nico–"

"I know," he ground out, jaw clenching again. How she could be so calm when she was just basically abandoned was beyond him, but at least she was feeling alright, however much was to his expense.

"–is your soulmate, but that doesn't mean you have to be pissing and moaning about it. Try to make it work. I'm sure he's good for you."

"Yeah," he said with a harsh bark of laughter, fingers raking through his thick hair, "I'm sure the poor bastard wants to be stuck with someone as damaged as I am."

"Beat yourself up and I'm gonna do it for you," Tessa tactfully responded, and Nikolas couldn't help but feel a smile twitch at his lips when he imagined her sitting back and picking at her nails. It was such a Tess thing to do. "Just trust me. Take a few chill pills before school every day, stop worrying about me for once, and leave the poor guy alone. He'll continue to hate your face if you keep shoving your fist in his."

"I–"

"Shut the fuck up and let me talk," She cut him off sharply, and he clamped his lips shut. "I know you feel bad about it, but what matters is you making an attempt to stop. If you weren't such a Spencer, then I think Markus will come 'round. Eventually."

"He's not gay."

"He will be. Trust me."

"If you say so," Nikolas mumbled, then rose his voice to a dramatically cheerful tone as he spotted the tracks, "Love ya, gotta go!" Tessa sighed, then blew a kiss and hung up the phone. Nikolas pulled into the tracks, then grinned in excitement as the heavy bass thumped through the air, loud enough to challenge the roar of his car's engine.

Tessa clicked her tongue as she gazed at her phone, then glanced at the box sitting on her bed. "Time to play the game," she said to herself with a smirk, then dialed a number that's been unused for quite some time. "Yo fucker. How's life?" she greeted when the other person picked up.

Tessa grinned despite his reasonably shitty day and swiveled back and forth in her chair, legs swinging. "So, I may or may not possess an entire box and a half full of shit I stole from you from once upon a time ago. You may or may not want to swing by my current residence to sort through. I know you have school right now, so you don't have to come right now. Just wanted to let you know." She picked up a pencil and twirled it through her fingers while she swiveled in her chair, waiting for her former foster brother's response.

Tessa giggled maliciously, then told him the address of Nikolas's place—though Markus didn't need to know who it belonged to just yet. "Can't wait to see you again," she said, meaning it. She might've run away due to the treatment of that horrid woman, but she had liked Markus. He was one of the few foster siblings she had actually liked.

"Sorry man," Tess said, pulling a leg up against her chest and resting her head against her knee. "I just had to get out of there. I feel bad for leavin' ya to that psycho." She paused then sighed. "And it's not like I could come back. I got kicked a week ago. Happy 18th birthday to me," she drawled oh-so enthusiastically.

"Oh? Now I'm intrigued." She smiled as if Markus was there with her, hearing the grin in his voice. She was happy for them both, happy that her two favorite people were soulmates. They didn't realize it just yet, she knew, but the time would come when they wouldn't be able to leave each other's side. It was probably wishful thinking, but she had a gut feeling.

"That was one time," she sighed, then let out a small laugh. "You have my full interest, Markus. I can't wait to see what it is." She smiled happily, also looking forward to Markus seeing Nikolas in his natural habitat—and likely a little calmer. She was bound determined to get them together.

"Now I just feel like you're overselling it, Markus," she accused playfully, setting the pencil down in favor of turning on her laptop and stereo. She turned on some music for background noise, then turned it down so it didn't drown either of their voices out. "Am I really going to love it?"

"Let's hope so," she said, her bright grin evident in her voice. "Now I feel like I need to get you something in return. You sound so confident." She chuckled and tapped her fingers on the desk along with the beat of the heavy metal song, so at odds with her happy mood.

"Nope," she said, popping the p. "I'm free from the system, I'm living at a nice place rent-free, I have full access to comfy clothes, aaaannnd I'm talking to my second favorite foster brother, so… I think I have a valid list of reasons why I'm happy."

"Oh, I still get that," Tessa said, looking at her nails and rolling her eyes. "All I have to do is feed him some coffee and it's all good. I'm still trying to get a job, looking into maybe modeling or dance, at least part-time until I can find a steady career I want to get into. Still no license or permit, though. Dis bitch ain't driving anytime soon. 'Too likely to blow something up with the heavy machinery,'" she said, rolling her eyes as she quoted Nikolas.

Tessa scoffed and spun around in her seat. "Oh fuck off. I was bored and left unsupervised with a creative plan in my head. Not my fault physics decided to shit all over it." She stuck her tongue out at him as if he were right there, then her voice softened slightly as she smiled and picked at her leggings. "Thank you, Markus. I just wish I could get you out as well."