"Hey, new kid!" chapter 2 (Karter melbourn x Frank iero)

Karter sighed as he walked out of his Geometry class with Mikey. He regretted his lack of breakfast this morning as his stomach growled. Mikey looked at him, slightly concerned. “I told you you should've had a snack during class.” Karter smiled slightly, trying to subdue his worry. “Well, we're going to lunch right now, so why eat when I only had to wait a few more minutes?” Mikey sighed, then shrugged. “I guess you're right.” Karter nodded as he followed Mikey into the lunchroom, where he scanned the room and began walking toward a table with Ray and another guy who was speaking very animatedly and full of energy, with a bright look on his face as Ray listened intently. As they approached, he stood up and rushed toward Mikey, squeezing him tightly as Karter took in his height. It was close to Karter's own height, which looked abnormal against Mikey's taller frame. Once he was done squeezing the breath out of Mikey, he turned to look between Karter and Mikey. “Mikey, dude, you got a girl?” He joked. Karter's face fell. “I’m a guy.” The guy then looked mortified. “Oh god! Dude, I’m so, so sorry. What's your name, man? Let's go sit.” He grabbed Karter's hand and dragged him to the table, letting him sit next to him. “It's fine, man. I know I don't look like a guy in this uniform. I’m Karter.” “I’m Frank. You do look like a guy. I just saw the uniform and spoke too soon.” Frank sighed, fiddling with his nose ring a bit. Karter’s eyes softened slightly before there was a bang of books on the table. The two looked up to find Illi, who seemed upset. “What's up with you, girl?” Frank asked, to which Illi groaned. “I don't even want to talk about it!” She went off to the lunch line just as Mikey and Ray came back. “What's up with her?” Mikey asked, to which Frank and Karter shrugged in unison. Ray put his tray down and followed her into the line as Mikey sat down. “Probably some a-hole or something.” Mikey sighed as he began eating his lunch. Karter suddenly became aware again of his own hunger and grabbed the sandwich he packed the night before. When Illi and Ray came back, she was much calmer and had already taken a few bites of her lunch. “Sorry, my math teacher is so annoying.” She sat across from Karter. He nodded. “It's fine,” Karter said with a light smile as he suddenly realized how close he was to Frank, but he shook it off. Frank nodded and waved his hand. “Yeah, girl, don't worry about it.” Frank smiled mischievously, wrapping an arm around Karter's shoulders. “I've been getting to know this cutie anyways.” Karter froze, his cheeks flushing what he could almost assume was a bright red. Illi sighed as Mikey passed 10 dollars to Ray. Frank paused and seemed shocked for a moment before exclaiming, “Did you two bet on me? For what?!” The two looked at each other before Ray sighed and answered. “If you’d hit on Karter or not.” Ray shrugged. “You can keep him if you want him; we won't get in your way.” Frank sputtered as Karter covered his face. “I was joking! I swear!” Everyone simply just nodded; Ray hummed sarcastically. “Sure thing, dude. Keep telling us that.” Karter cautiously looked up from his palms, still attempting to cover his flush cheeks as the group laughed. He looked to Frank, who seemed equally flustered. He went back to his food, quickly finishing it before the bell rang. As Karter walked to his jewelry class, he couldn't get the butterflies out of his stomach, but perhaps it was simply embarrassment, right?