Alec sat in the second to back row of the class, away from his usual seat. It was dangerous sitting so close to the back as that was where all the troublemakers were known to hang out, but he hoped that this way the teacher wouldn't notice the glasses. He wasn't sure they were against the dress code as he wasn't even entirely sure what the dress code even was, but he didn't want to take the chance. Even so, he was less willing to take the chance that no one would notice his hideous eye. Multiple washings had lessened the dark color to something more like a grouchy grey than a baffling black, but he was beginning to suspect the eyeshadow had actually stained his skin. He hoped not. He could only wear sunglasses for so long to so many different places.
Most of the class seemed to be going fine as Mr. Major tried to teach them the importance of color theory in art. The kids at the front were trying to follow along while those at the back mostly tried to catch a few more winks of sleep. Alec took notes, trying to follow but not really understanding, especially as the shades blurred the colors.
"Hey, carrot top, what's with the granny glasses?" whispered one of the boys behind Alec.
Alec tried not to glance back. It was one of Logan's friends. Logan hadn't noticed yet, at least not enough to care as he leaned back against the wall. "A new thing," Alec whispered back. If he tried to ignore him, the other kid would just get louder looking for a response. It was better to respond and try to buy himself time until class was over. They'd leave him alone when he was with Xander, usually because Xander actively tried to keep the focus on himself.
"It's a really stupid thing," the kid snickered. "Here, lemme try them."
Alec shifted, leaning forward a little more. "They're borrowed. I shouldn't."
"Oh, borrowed Granny glasses? Seriously? Who borrows granny glasses?" the kid cackled, earning a couple of snorts from his friends.
Alec wasn't sure he was actually supposed to answer that question, so he stayed silent and scribbled a note about how the color yellow could be associated with either safety and caution, or warmth and cheerfulness. A foot kicked the back of his chair.
"Come on, man. Those glasses make you look even stupider than you already do," said the kid behind him. "Lemme take them off your hands."
"I can't, they're borrowed," Alec said without looking up.
"I'll give them back!"
Alec glanced at the clock. Class was almost over. Two more minutes! "No, I don't think I should. It would be a really bad idea for you."
A brief pause behind him as the kid tried to figure that out. "Why would it be bad for me?"
Alec took a deep breath and watched the clock tick closer. "Because... if they look stupid on me, just imagine how they would look on someone who's even stupider."
"Huh?" the kid blurted, but he didn't get a chance to say anything more as Mr. Major raised his voice and yelled out their homework assignment.
Alec shoved his notebook into his backpack and scurried toward the front of the room the second the teacher called dismissal. He hoped to get lost in the crowd. What was he thinking?! That was not an Alec line, that was more like something Xander would say! He must have lost his mind. Stress. It was due to stress. It had to be. What else could it be? He hurried into the all, hugging the wall.
"Hey!"
Alec froze like a caught rabbit. He turned slowly. Logan stood with his four pals. The one who'd wanted the glasses scowled angrily while the other three looked more confused than annoyed, as if they weren't entirely certain why they were here. Logan grinned at Alec.
"Yeah, you, carrot top," Logan drawled. "Good job responding, pup. So, you gonna hand over those glasses?"
"I can't. They're borrowed," Alec managed to force out. He started backing up.
Two of the minions were faster and blocked his path behind him. The moving crowd of students barely glanced at them. Even if they saw what was happening, none of them wanted to be involved, but in truth, most were too focused on their own business to even clock what was happening.
"Glasses, carrot top," Logan said sternly. "Hand them over." He held out his hand as if asking for the item, but before Alec could respond, his hand snapped out and snatched the glasses from his face.
"No!" Alec yelped.
Logan cast his eye over the glasses until one of his minions nudged him, indicating Alec's face. "Woo-ho! What's this?" He leaned forward, squinting at the eye. "Finally letting your freak flag fly, huh? Joining the fairy kingdom? Good for you!" He let out a roucus laugh that his minions joined eagerly. "Well, then, you won't need these." He held up the glasses.
"Please?" Alec whimpered, his heart pounding frantically in his chest. "They're borrowed. I need to return them."
Logan hummed and tapped the glasses on his palm. "Mmm, nah." Gripping the glasses between his fingers, he twisted them.
Alec gasped at the sharp snap and reached out helplessly. Logan dropped the glasses on the ground and walked around, deliberately stepping on one of the lenses, crunching it under his boot.
"There you go, as good as new! I hope your new boyfriend likes the style," Logan sneered.
The kid who had wanted the glasses laughed as they started to walk away. "His new boyfriend? What do you wanna bet it's those supposed foster parents of his?"
"Yeah, he's just the type Dracula would like. Fresh and young!" Logan snickered. "Forget the parents. No way is he interested in parents. Look how he lets Addison join the detention club every time he's there! You have to be stupid not to see that. Obviously, he's encouraging it."
Alec knelt and scooped the glasses into one hand. He felt numb as the group continued to talk about how Dark was hooking up with students and his foster kid was trying to get his attention. It was vulgar. Nasty. Horrible. How could they say such things?! No, he couldn't let them! And they'd broken Daizi's glasses! Daizi who was having a baby! A baby that was going to replace him! He couldn't take it!
He gripped his backpack in one hand and swung as he stood, sweeping the backpack at the much larger boy. The backpack struck and bounced off Logan's shoulder weakly. Alec had little by way of upper body strength, and not even the weight of the books in his bag could save him.
Logan turned and glared at him. "You little..."
He didn't finish his statement as he and the others grabbed Alec. Alec squeaked in fear as they lifted him bodily off the floor and hustled him down the nearly empty hallway. Alec couldn't see where they were going. He could only feel the hands grabbing him and yanking him along. Then a door opened, and he was shoved through. The door shut, and he heard a lock click. Darkness descended, softened only by a little light coming through the narrow rectangular window in the door.
Alec stood shaking and turned in a slow circle. Storage closet. They'd locked him in the small, overcrowded storage closet. Whimpering softly, he sank to the floor and huddled against one of the metal shelves. He sat there, hugging his knees, tears trickling down his cheeks. He didn't bother trying to call out for help. He doubted anyone could hear him. Besides, it was quiet in here. Dark, quiet, and safe. He could sit and think without a bunch of other students. He closed his eyes and waited. Someone would find him. Eventually.
Eventually, he had no idea when, he heard keys jangling outside the door. Hastily, he wiped the tears from his cheeks. The door opened, letting light stream in, and he squinted at the figure standing in the doorway.
"Great, a class skipper," grumbled the janitor. "Stupid place to hide. You even realize you got yourself locked in? Come on. To the principal."
Alec tried to stammer out an explanation, but the janitor wasn't having it. He gripped Alec's arm and pulled him down the hallway to the principal's office where the janitor would explain to the secretary that he was a class skipper and also seriously in violation of the dress code with his ridiculous makeup. Alec fell silent. What was the point in talking? No one ever heard him.