Foster Household: Chapter 9, part 14
CW: Mental Health Struggles - Guide to content warnings
Friday. It should be the best day of the week with school winding down but instead someone decided to make Fridays exam days. First up was the exam for English class, testing reading comprehension and writing skills.
Darwin: Why didn’t you guys tell me it was exam day
Carson, William, Onyx: EVERY Friday is exam day
Darwin: Yeesh, calm down. You’d think I asked who killed Father Winter
Mrs T: 10 minutes to go!
Carson panicked. He still had another paragraph he wanted to do, could he fit it in and triple check his multi question answers? Pushing his doubts aside he began a breathing exercise and started on the paragraph. He needn’t have worried. He managed to do it and recheck the first two pages before Mrs T announced it was time for pencils down. As she collected the papers he rhythmically tapped his foot to make sure she wouldn't laugh at his first paper.
Onyx: I feel like I did okay, how about you?
Carson: I probably failed but if I didn’t maybe a solid B+
Onyx: You’ll be fine. All your family head home then?
Carson: Yeah they’ll be off by now. I didn’t kill Reece so I suppose it went well
Onyx: He might have killed you with a slow acting poison in your breakfast
Carson: Oh my- Nyx could you not!
Onyx: Right, anxiety, sorry, bad joke. I’m just trying to improve my comedy
When they got to the cafeteria they split with Onyx heading for food and Carson looking for Ariadne.
Ariadne: Hey! I didn’t think I’d get to see you at lunch
Carson: I’m going to go study in a minute but I wanted to check you’re still okay with me getting you home?
Ariadne: I’d love some company on the trains
Carson: Good. Well, see ya
He turned to go but hesitated. The hug had been good, maybe... Carson turned back to face Ariadne, leaned down and kissed her on the cheek and sped off to the sounds of her friends oh’s and ah’s. Well that hadn’t been bad. He still didn’t feel an urge to woohoo but it felt comforting to be close to her, that he was letting her know how he felt. Seeing her smile after, knowing he’d made her smile like that, it felt satisfying enough for him.
The after exams were the STEM subjects. Carson felt reasonably confident about his knowledge. He may have been distracted thinking of Ariadne but he’d completed all his homework, and done the extra study. He finished double checking everything five minutes early and started thinking about after school. It was just one question he was worried about. Flirting was one thing but would she actually want to be his girlfriend?
The train ride was easier than he thought. Carson and Ariadne talked about the various things they could spot out the windows and were together when their exam results came through. They’d both done pretty well and Carson was happy with getting the top score in the art section of the exam. When they got to Ariadne’s house she didn’t want to go right in, preferring to sit outside and admire the lake for a bit.
Ariadne: It’s so beautiful when it’s all covered in a blanket of white
Carson: Well you’re beautiful full stop
Ariadne: *smiling* Thank you
Ariadne: Thanks for bringing me home, it was fun. I should probably get inside before I turn into ice. Unless... you want to come in?
Carson: Oh no that’s okay, I do have to get back to Sulani. I’ve got planning to do before scouts tomorrow. But um... I’ve really liked hanging out with you more
Ariadne: *smiling* Me to
Carson: So I wanted to ask, and you can totally say no, if you would maybe... be my girlfriend?
Ariadne: You want me to be your girlfriend?
Carson: Yes. I... I would like if you’d consider it
Ariadne: So you’d be my boyfriend?
Carson: Yeah that’s... that’s kind of how it works
Ariadne: If I say yes do you promise to take me to our next prom?
Carson: *laughs* Of course I’d take you to prom
Ariadne: Yes. Yes!
Carson: Are you sure? I mean I like how I look but I worry you’d be embarrassed to be dating a four eyed overweight guy. I don't want you to die of embarrassment
Ariadne: *sighs* You worry a lot huh
Carson: Yeah. I ah.... I have OCD actually
Ariadne: Listen Carson, I like you. I think your glasses are cute. Anyone makes fun of you for being overweight and I’ll show them you have a girlfriend that’s not to be messed with
Carson: *laughs* You’re like ant height
Ariadne: But you like me regardless, and I like you regardless
Carson: I do
Ariadne: Can you wait five minutes before heading off? I just want to grab something for you
Carson: Okay. If you come back and I’m not here tell them to dredge the lake
Ariadne: *laughs* I’ll just be a minute, no one’s going to murder you in a minute
She races inside and Carson can’t stop himself grinning. He’s glad for the falling snow to cool the blush in his cheeks. It’s longer than a minute but Ariadne comes back outside with a rose.
Carson: What’s this
Ariadne: My dads got me some pots and seeds and not much has grown yet but this rose bloomed a few days ago and it just made me think of you
Carson: Watcher you’re so cute
That’s the Foster’s for now! Harvey is still chomping at the bit for grandkids while Kayleigh is making a habit of painting masterpieces. Carson may have a lot going on in his head but hopefully making his relationship official will take care of some of his worries.
Rotation Wrap Up will be out tomorrow morning.
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