Pity the Child

[Goblin]

Sebastian Pearson went to a really good school. With the money his parents had, that was no surprise. He also had a lot of friends, because he was good at talking to people. He could always figure them out at a glance and win them over accordingly--with flattery, bribery, blackmail, whatever it took. It was exhausting and not all that rewarding, since none of his friendships were especially sincere, but it kept people from picking on his little sister, Clara, the smallest and shyest kid in the whole school. And that was all the motivation he needed.

Today, he was surrounded by "friends" in his history class when the last bell rang, and all of them sent up a cheer. It was Friday, after all, and they'd been going on all week about some epic party they were throwing tonight. Sebastian didn't cheer, and not only because he didn't give a damn about the party. The last bell meant that he'd have to go home. Telling himself that everything would be fine, that this might be a good day instead of a bad one, he headed out of the school, waited for Clara, draped an arm around her, and started toward the parking lot.

[Cavalier]

Benjamin Kingston was a Scholarship Kid, which meant his family wasn't even close to being able to afford this place, but his grades were good enough he got financial aid. And everybody knew it, too, and rubbed it in his face every chance they got.

He knew about the party, but he hadn't exactly been invited. Whatever, not like it mattered. These trust fund assholes weren't really his style.

He hung back after class was over, writing down the homework and frowning.

[Goblin]

When they reached the car, Sebastian cursed. He'd forgotten to copy down the homework. All those goddamn kids distracting him with their stupid party. "I'll be right back, okay, Clary?" he said, letting her into the car.

She nodded and curled up in the passenger seat, and he retraced his steps back to his history classroom--where there was still one lone kid sitting at his desk and scribbling something. "You do know the bell rang, right?"

[Cavalier]

Cav didn't look up, just started putting his stuff in his backpack. "You try waiting at the bus stop while everyone yells shit at you from their Beamers and Benzes. Then tell me you wouldn't hang out a while before you left."

[Goblin]

He raised an eyebrow, jotted down the assignment, and headed out the door. Then hesitated. "You want a ride home?"

Strategically, the offer didn't make much sense. Trust-fund kids were too busy fending for themselves in the social jungle to be a threat or an asset to Sebastian or his sister. But he figured no one would know if he gave the guy a lift, and it wouldn't hurt to be genuinely nice for once in his life. Besides...and maybe more to the point...it would take him that much longer to get home.

[Cavalier]

Cav stood up, looking at him with a raised brow. "I live across town." He said it like that was an obvious reason for this guy to be offering him a ride. But at least there wouldn't be an hour bus ride, and a walk. "If you're offering, I'm not saying no." As an afterthought, "Do you even know who I am?"

[Goblin]

He was Benjamin Kingston, here on a scholarship, pretty quiet, kept to himself, and half the kids in their class felt the need to harass them. "Nope," Sebastian said smoothly, leading the way out the door. "You know who I am?"

[Cavalier]

He glanced over at him as he walked alongside. "Sebastian Pearson. Everybody practically worships the fuckin' ground you walk on. Though I can't figure why." Sure he could. Sebastian was attractive, well spoken, charming. Totally not his type, or anything.

[Goblin]

"I think it's the car," he said with a smirk as they approached it. It was an ancient Chevy, an actual antique. Probably worth more than any other car in the lot, but it looked ridiculous next to them. Sebastian was a little bit in love with it.

When Clara saw that her brother was bringing a friend, she spun around and dove into the backseat like her life depended on it. "Uh...that's my sister, who's apparently not that attached to shotgun," Sebastian said, opening the car door. "So wait, who are you again?"

[Cavalier]

Ben arched a brow at the girl, giving her a little wave as though to say 'I come in peace.' To Sebastian, he lifted his eyes as he answered. "Ben Kingston."

[Goblin]

"Nice to meet ya," he said, getting into the car and opening the passenger door for Ben. He glanced at the backseat. "Clara, you could say hi, you know."

"Hi," she murmured almost inaudibly.

Sebastian started the car. "So where am I going?"

[Cavalier]

Ben look at Clara curiously as he setled in. "Just drive down Main 'til you hit the tracks. I literally live on the wrong side of them." He smirked over at Sebastian, meeting his gaze for a moment.

[Goblin]

"I wonder if they put the tracks in just so we could tell," Sebastian said, smirking back at him as he pulled out of the lot and drove down Main Street. "I mean, what if someone was right on the border? And no one knew which set of insults to use for them? Couldn't have that."

[Cavalier]

Ben snorted out a kind of half-laugh. "And you rich kid-types would just explode if you didn't have someone to insult."

[Goblin]

"Hey, it goes both ways," he pointed out. "If we go to your side of town, everyone glares at us. Which is really unfair, 'cause you've got better Chinese food. And the only bar in town that doesn't card."