~Above is Lenny~ A/N: Sorry if it's not how you imagined him. I made a few of the character videos and some people have said that's not how they would've pictured the characters to look like.

Imagine them however you like you don't have to go off the videos I made, that's just how I see them in certain aspects.

I'm curious though. Who did you imagine them looking like ?

~

Twenty-One: A Bad Day

[AUSTIN]

It was the middle of the day and Austin was tired and had a head ache that made his entire body throb, could feel it behind his eyes and in his fingers. It was always the same, a ache on one side of his head that came and went in a pattern. It made him want to pass out and stay there for the rest of the day, but lunch was next and he would have time to finally relax. One eye would water on the painful side and his nose would run. He hated it. It was the same as his Dad, he used to get them also when he'd be stressed about work. Austin on the other hand couldn't figure out what he was stressed about.. Backnott? Since the game was coming up it could be possible..

Tess? He'd been worried about people finding out about her, Jace making it worst by bringing her around to practice with all the guys on his team to see. Not to mention Katy too, his eyes turning on instinct to see that the girl was seated to his right as per usual. She was dressed in a flowy red skirt that reached her knees and tight white top. She must of had a wig on since her head wasn't bald, instead she had long black locks, so curly it looked more like ringlets and being tied into a loose ponytail behind her head. He noticed a red scrunchy in her hair, matching her rosy lips, they were so plump...

Looking away quickly realising he was staring, he lets out a groan and presses his head to the desk trying to ignore the teacher that stood out the front of the classroom, finding the desk cool against his temple that still hurt. He was in biology and couldn't think of anything that could be worst then this class. It was boring and hard, he didn't know why he chose it. His dad has always wanted him to get a good job, go to college and have a real job.

He couldn't wait to hear that bell to go in last period so he could get Tess and go home. He'd been getting headaches for a few days now, it shrouded him like a dark cloud that wouldn't go away and put him in a bad mood which he couldn't help but project onto his friends around him. He didn't want to talk or was generally in a mood. He felt bad for Tess since she was towing most the load, she probably just thought he was a dick.

Finally, the bell rung to announce lunch and everyone climbed out of their seats to escape the classroom, Austin hurrying to get out with his head hung and clutching at his bag straps. He was the first out, stepping into a swarm of teenage headed alone to the cafeteria. The cafeteria was always a choir of loud chatter, each table full of groups of students, everyone always seeming to be raising their voices to be heard over each other . He casts his eyes about him, beginning to daydream as he walked down the hall. The halls were dreary and boring, a few posters hung up trying to lighten the mood but most were torn off by the students. He didn't care what the posters did or didn't say, he was just thinking about what he'd eat when he got inside the cafeteria.

The school hallway had the odour of mould and bleach in certain areas, depressingly mixed with deodorant and body odour in equal measures with the amount of teenagers that swarmed the building every day. Austin kept his head down and pushed his way through the sea bodies.

~

He could hear it, way before he could see it. A big angry voice, harsh and forced, turning to a loud shout from within the cafeteria. It was an instant reaction around him, everyone beginning to rush forward to see the commotion, bodies pushing past trying to see. Austin was as interested as everyone else but didn't rush, his head too sore to care. He looked up from the ground to follow with the curious flow of the crowd.

When entering, the entire cafeteria was wild with excitement, an uproar of cheers and shouting. Kids were banging on the tables, some even standing trying to look over the huddle of students. Austin easily pushed deeper, pressing through bodies to see what the commotion was about. He wasn't surprised to see the white hair, Lenny yelling at someone.. he didn't expect that someone to be Jace. Lennys hands were on Jace's collar and pulling on him like a rag doll about the cafeteria as if he was gonna rip the shirt off his body.

"Fight fight fight"

Austins eyes widened as Jace was thrown to the ground, not even fighting back as he was so easily pushed around by Lenny. Hitting the ground hard, the sound of Jace's head smacking the cafeteria ground made him wince. As he fell it made everyone also gasp around him. Austin wasn't about to just jump in, when Lenny was mad it was like holding up a red flag to a bull and letting it run at you. It was then that he saw a large orange stain running down the front of Lenny's once white shirt, a drink having been poured over him.. an obvious spill he could only guess was caused by Jace.

"Come on! Get up!" Lenny shouted, an uninviting glare growing across his face down at Jace on the ground. Austin could feel the tension and hear the intensity in his tone. There's no emotion behind the words, he is speaking only with pure, hot rage.

"What the hell!" Jace cried out, "it was an accident" He calls back at the blonde as he tries to regain his balance upon his feet to face Lenny, but was instead shoved back onto the ground by Lenny who stood over him, sending an "ooooo" across the crowd of students. Jace didn't make a move again to get back up, knowing better to try again.. instead remaining on the ground with his hands up in surrender to let Lenny shout at him. It wasn't like he could escape anyways with the crowd of students watching eagerly in a circle around them. Everyone knew Lenny was like a ticking time bomb.

It was then that Jace's eyes began searching the crowd, looking for someone, anyone that would back him. He kept looking til his eyes met Austin, a pleading look coming over his face and eyes, knowing he was about to get hell from Lenny. Austins brows furrowed, he felt as if his head was being stabbed by a bunch of little knives on one side of his skull. He wasn't in the mood to help Jace. He would gladly just stand and watch and be done with it, but he knew he'd get an earful later if he didn't. Looking around him at the crowd, eager faces waited for a fight, phones drawn ready to capture what would happen next.

Pathetic.

He sighed finally, shaking his head and stepping forward out of the crowd to come and stand between the two boys, ruining everyone's fun by holding up a hand to rests on Lennys chest to push him back, delicately as to not piss him off anymore then he already was. He was only doing this since no one else was going to help the damsel in distress

"Just, calm down okay?" Austin kept his hand lightly resting on Lenny trying to hold him back, hoping Lenny wouldn't yell at him or even break his arm. His head felt as if it was already about to split open, he couldn't handle yelling or being shoved. It was like stepping on thin ice around Lenny, one wrong move. One wrong word, could set him off and Austin could be his next victim.

"Get out of my way. The fucking idiot spilt his drink all over me!" Lenny shouted, pushing Austin away from him so he could get to Jace, his eyes dark with anger, "what am I meant to do now, my shirts soaking! I have to wear a wet shirt all day now!" He hissed at Jace

Austin winced at his volume, half closing his eyes as his ear rung painfully. He stood still for a while, trying to think what he should say, what to do.. he really wished Darrick was here to break this up, Lenny always listened to Darrick. Darrick was the peacemaker, while also being too tall for Lenny to pick a fight with. Slowly turning to look back towards Jace his eyes narrowed, reaching forward to block Lenny again. The idiot, being clumsy around Lenny got you bruises.

"Look he didn't mean it, remember who your dealing with. it's Jace. There's no need to make a scene because of some soda you can just wash out ," Austin raises his brows as he turns back to Lenny, trying to calm him down by holding his shoulder and giving it a kind squeeze, lightly trying to guide him away from Jace who still stayed hesitant on the ground.

Get up! why wouldn't he move!

Instead of listening his hand was swatted away, Lenny glaring up at him with a look that made even him feel uneasy.

"Lenny~" Austin repeated, lower so that no one could hear "you don't want to be kicked off the team because of something as stupid as this~remember what coach said.. one more incident and your off for the rest of the season" his brows furrowed into a hard line at his friend, looking to him hoping he had gotten through his thick skull. Other than girls, Backnott was the key to the blondes heart and everyone knew if he lost Backnott Lenny would become a raging ball of fire without a way to let off steam. He was already failing in school, if he got in another fight he knew Lenny would be out.

Every time he opened his mouth Lenny seemed to just get angrier, Jace not making it any better by still sitting there gawking like a loon. Along with the crowd, it only made things worst as Lenny always craved attention.

Somehow, Austin saw the inner workings of Lenny's brain behind his eyes.. actually considering this. Austin looked down to see his knuckles, which had turned white from clenching his fist too hard. Lenny's teeth gritted and jaw tight in an effort to contain himself. He gave a slow nod finally, sending a wave of relief across his body. Even if Lenny's face had turned a shade of red from suppressing his rage, he seemed to understand.

"Fine~" he hisses up at Austin, knowing he was right but didn't want to admit it. Lenny gave a low growl beneath his breath, his teeth grinding together like a crazed animal before turning his attention back to Jace "Your buying me a new shirt" Lenny snapped, scowling while pointing at Jace from around Austin. A vein burst from his forehead as he looked up at Austin and grunts, turning to leave and carelessly shoving people out of his way. He could hear the disappointment of the crowd, a low "awww" coming from everyone's mouths before they began to disappear. Uninterested now that Lenny was done.

Austin sighed in relief watching Lenny leave, bringing his hand to rest against his head that still had a constant ache to it. He had the urge to just go to sick bay, he could finally get some peace. Have a nap even and feel brand new. But instead he dropped his hand and turned to face Jace, he wanted to punch the boy himself. But he froze, his eyes going wide and heart skipping a beat when he saw black curls, dark skin like chocolate and red scrunchy.

Katy? She was crouched down beside Jace, holding onto his arm to help him back onto his feet. Austin didn't know how to react at first. He never knew how to act around Katy, he usually knew what to say to girls but he didn't around her. She didn't like him is what he could tell, if not he hadn't the slightest clue and it was odd to have a girl act this way around him. She didn't care about him, he'd come so use to girls trying to get his attention he'd come numb to it. Only to have Katy show not a single drop of interest and sparking this awkward Austin could shake since he wasn't use to. He didn't know how to act, didn't know what to say, couldn't even look her in those brown eyes without feeling his stomach knot. The authentic Austin everyone knew would stroll up to her and say some cheeky remark, instead his heart pounded and his mouth went dry.

A heavy silence settled over him, thicker then the tension Lenny had when shoving Jace. Instead he felt a sudden warmth in the atmosphere around him, his hands became clammy like they had the last time he'd spoken to her and he had to wipe them on his jeans. He tried to avoid catching her eyes as he walked over, looking to Jace and gently shoving his arm.

"Your an idiot" Austin croaked, his eyes widening in surprise not expecting his voice to sound like that. Jace didn't notice and instead frowned, pulling down his shirt that had wrinkled and the material stretched around the neckline from being pulled on.

"It wasn't my fault, I got shoved by Finnick and it fell out of my hand.." he murmurs under his breath, rubbing awkwardly at the back of his neck he gives a soft smile to Katy as she helped fixing his collar "thanks"

"It's okay. You shouldn't let him push you around like that. What happens when Austin isn't here to help.. someone needs to stand up to him. He doesn't own the school, he can't do whatever he wants to you or anyone" Katy pursed her lips and crossed her arms, turning her eyes to Austin and her brow raised while eyeing him. He swallowed tightly and looks away.

"Im sure as hell not about to do anything, I don't know about you but he scares the shit out of me" Jace sighs and his head falls a little, looking embarrassed to have to say that he was frightened of Lenny. "I'm use to it anyways.." Austin couldn't say anything, he wouldn't want to get on Lennys bad side like Jace, who knew what the boy was capable of. Jace just so happened to be the one person that seemed to piss Lenny off.

"Just stay out of his way and he'll stay out of yours" Austin says beneath his breath, unable to look at Katy, but still saw her as she rolled her eyes out the corner of his eye.

"That's so dumb.. he'll get his karma one day and no ones going to help him" she spoke lowly, pulling away from Jace to then look at the two boys, pushing back a black curl that had come loose behind her ear "is anyone meeting up with Tess today?" She asked then, changing the topic while looking between the two, her eyes pausing over Austin who immediately tensed at the name and looked about him as if looking in case someone had heard.

"No, I think she's having lunch with her human friends. Hey~Did she mention the trip to you, are you coming?" Jace asked with a large hopeful smile, making Austin internally groan.

The two boys needed to look down a tad at Katy when they stood before her, Austin noticing that she was only a a bit shorter then Jace and up to Austin's shoulders. She was a nice size, Austin thought. She'd fit perfectly in his arms if he were to hug her, her head would rest just below his chin. She was small compared to him, small shoulders that he could easily fit both arms around.

Catching his thoughts, he swallows tightly trying to block out the thoughts that snaked into head. This is why he didn't want Katy coming, she made him feel all weird and clammy. Something he wasn't use to and sure as hell he didn't understand or want to feel for their entire trip.

"Oh yes, she did. Only if it's okay with you guys, I'll come.. maybe could I bring along a friend?" She asked hopefully, Austin huffing out a sigh and letting Jace answer. "..Is Lenny coming?" She asked quickly, her voice low as if scared he'd might hear. Not wanting to be the party pooper of their parade. He hoped Jace would say no to Katy bringing a friend, but of course he said~

"Yes of course you can! We've got plenty of room. At least Tess will have more girls to hang around." Jace smiles, looking around before saying "And no Lenny's not coming, he's been banned from the camping site...." Katy seemed to breathe a fresh breath of relief. Lenny wasn't allowed back because of an incident two years ago. He got way too drunk and long story short ended up setting a canoe on fire..

"hey! do you guys know if any of her human friends going?" Jace asked and Austin tilted his head toward the conversation. Were they? Austin didn't know since he hadn't spoken to Tess since early morning when he had to drag her out of bed.

"She told me last night on text she was asking today.. i feel sorry for her, I doubt they will" Katy says quietly, her eyes ever so slightly hovering toward Austin suggestively. His brows immediately raised toward her and a slight scowl came to his face, he knew she meant he was the reason why they wouldn't. Of course he knew that they wouldn't come, as soon as Jace had mentioned it in the diner he knew, why would those humans come to a camp getaway with the very giants they were afraid of!

"Personally I hope they don't. Just means one less human to get in my way" Austin huffs and quickly turns to go get food without waiting for a reply, he was sick of it. He ignored their shocked expressions and Jace yelling something after him. Everyone was getting on his nerves today, he was just about on his last straw to exploding. He hated Katy's suggestive motions, knew what she was thinking by just looking at her, she was judging him.

Says the girl with no hair, she had no right.

Kneading the sides of his temple, he grabbed a tray to get his food, pushing into line too annoyed to care if anyone protests. His stomach was already growling eager to be filled.

Jace wasn't any better, he always needed help when it came to Lenny. He needed to learn to stand up for himself, it was annoying he had to rely on everyone else.

He couldn't look at both Jace and Katy while he waited, instead keeping his head down as he collected his food, which was a slice of pizza, chocolate milk box and a side of some weird vegetables that looked mushy and cold. He headed to his table, head down, not making eye contact with a single person he walked by. Darrick nor Cole were at the table, which sucked. Only Lenny was sat with his wet shirt and his boys, which consisted of three other guys.. Finnick, Bailey and Josh. Austin wasn't really friends with them and couldn't be bothered trying to talk to them as they were thick headed sheep that followed Lenny around everywhere.

Lenny looked like he was about to flip a table as he gazed through the crowd at Jace, his brows drawn together and hands clasped tightly before him. He was ignoring his friend Finnick, who was talking about something Austin could only guess was mind numbing in the other boys ear. Austin didn't acknowledge anyone, instead dropping into his seat, dumping his bag beside him and blocking out the world by going on his phone to play a game while eating quietly, hoping food would cure his bad mood.

Wanting to just go home

~

[TESS]

School had ended and like every day, giants flooded to escape while Tess stood quietly waiting for one of those giants, either Jace or Austin to collect her. She knew Austin wouldn't, he never did. She knew he was embarrassed to be seen with her, but she didn't take it to heart. She knew how humans were seen by some.. looking up, she watched all the different groups of giants leaving, everyone so different but all having one thing in common with each other. They were giants

Today, her heart seemed to have sunk in her stomach. She kicked lightly at the ground with the toe of her shoe, letting out a soft sigh she couldn't help but feel a unshakeable sadness. She'd asked her friends, human friends, Cherry, Henryk, Jules and Oreo, if they wanted to come along on the upcoming trip with her giant friends.

She received a very big NO. No way. Not in a million years, burning red hot, NO.

Oreo had given her a look like she'd summon a demon before them, his face went pale, colour draining from his cheeks, becoming as white as a slice of bread. His body had gone rigid and she could've sworn he leaned away from her as if she held a knife to his neck. It shocked her and confused her at the same time, his reaction not being what she'd imagined at all. He was so quiet how was she meant to know.

Jules was a definite no as well. To be exact she said "Are you psycho! Do you have a death wish!" Which shocked her, being yelled at for such an innocent question. Jace wouldn't hurt a fly, Darrick was the kindest person she'd ever met and Cole was just a breath of sunshine.. Austin had his days. She couldn't wrap her head around what she was missing, it was like she hadn't been told something. Was left in the dark for something that seemed so obvious to everyone else but herself.

Cherry and Henryk were kinder when declining, looking to each other before simply apologising. "I'm sorry we couldn't possibly go~ " was there reply, leaving her to sit in an awkward silence, nodding but not understanding. Even when she asked why, she got no response a simple we can't and we'll explain it to you another day..

So now, she stood alone, as alone as she felt at lunch when everyone had denied her offer with no explanation. Sighing, she found herself kicking around a small pebble with the edge of her shoe, holding the straps of her back pack and letting her hair fall around her face like a curtain. She wanted to ask, scream WHY! She understand the fear, she understood completely but when it came to the guys she didn't.. they hadn't done a single thing wrong by her.

She sighed through her nose, looking down the lengths of both her legs as she kicked the pebble finding it to be the most interesting object in that moment. She only looked up when a large shadow fell over her, blocking out the suns raise with a giant body. Sshe just wanted to go home, not in the mood for talking.. raising her head to give a small smile at the giant, expecting to see Jace grinning back, Austin even to be looming over her.

Her eyes widen when she sees messy black hair framing hazel eyes that looked down upon her. His strong gaze held hers as he looked down on her. She couldn't help but blush. His smile etched its way back into his face. His body was large and toned as he stood there, so large her head had to tilt back completely.

"Hey~" his voice was deep, rich as it left Darricks lips. She felt her heart begin hammering, her cheeks warm and stomach twisting at the very sight of him. Just seeing him brought flashback of last night, her dream flooding back to her like a heavy stream, as vivid as cartoons on a TV. It made her shift, it was like her dirty little secret that only she knew.

"Hey~ are you.. picking me up?" She blushed and pushed back her hair shyly, hooking it behind her ears feeling her face begin to over heat. She could picture her dreams as if it were a real memory, the touch of his lips against her stomach.. his breath on her skin. She could almost feel the sensation lingering, a faint memory in the back of her mind. So real but not at all.

He gave a small chuckle and gave a nod of his head, "I am~ Austin sent me. I hope I didn't keep you waiting. I'm a bit nervous if you couldn't tell" he jokes but rubs at the back of his neck while crouching, seeming to actually be nervous to have to pick her up even if he was trying to make a joke of this. It was evident in his eyes and the way he hesitated to crouch. Leaning down to get closer to her level, he didn't yet reach for her, instead crouching as if waiting for her to say what to do next

She laughed lightly in return and eyed him as he leant down, his shoe was as big as a human bus.. so easily he could step forward and she could be trapped beneath it or crushed. She tried not thinking about it, she had to force her mind to not fall into the darkness of her deep thoughts

"I wouldn't expect anything less, it's a very important job collecting me. Only a few may touch" she gave a soft laugh but blushed instantly at her words, seeing his large smile only making it worst.

Why did i say that!

She couldn't handle this, why was this so difficult for her to maintain self control. He gives a soft laugh, shaking his head lightly with amusement and causing his dark hair to fall into his face. Finally lowering his hand from his neck, he lets it rest on his knee.

"Guess I'm one of the lucky few huh" he hummed, his hazel eyes travelling along her small body, seeming to take in every inch before he brought his hand out, finally, a little hesitant at first to be reaching out to her. His fingers unfold and stretch out, his hand coming to rest on the ground before her "your ride" he smiles lightly, looking at her patiently to climb on.

She smiles back, finding her dark mood waning away behind her like a shadow of the past as she climbed upon the large hand with a thank you, finding a seat in the middle of his palm with a new warm glow on her face. The thoughts fell away, instead replaced with only Darrick. He was warm, instantly her body relaxing in his touch as she was raised up away from the cold ground and brought close against Darricks torso for precautionary reasons.

He began to walk, taking the usual route she was so familiar with since Jace would walk this way too toward the car park where Austin's car sat. She found herself noticing how Jace usually would hurry across this field, while Darrick, he calmly strolled as if he had all the time in the world.

"Hey so.." Darrick started as she was in the middle of day dreaming, startling her a bit as she was half staring at him wandering what he was thinking only to have him speak.. He bit his lip before he spoke again while glancing down at her, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallows seeming anxious again.

"I never got the chance, but I wanted to apologise for shoving you into my pocket the other week at Coles.. I know that was probably really scary, I would never do that to a human" he spoke soft, becoming shy all of a sudden and awkward the more he speaks, his hand coming back up to rub anxiously at the back of his neck and finding anything else to look at but her within his hand.

"It's okay.." she hummed and lowers her hand rests her smells fingers in a way to comfort him atop of his palm, her heart was glowing even if he was acting so awkward and shy all fo a sudden. She didn't mind since they still weren't as close as she was with Jace, they'd only spoken a few times "it was for a good reason. I know now. Lenny doesn't sound like a very nice guy" she had heard from both Jace and Cole nasty things about Lenny, he sounded like the definition of a bully.

"He's not... trust me when I say, do not go near him" Darrick looked down again, eyes meeting as he spoke with a more serious tone "he's a psychopath. I hope you never get the chance to meet him" he says quietly, shaking his head while falling silent as they reached Austin's car. Austin was already in the car, head on the wheel while Jace was no where to he seen. Nor Cole.

"Where's Jace and Cole?" She asked as she looked into the car not seeing the duo. Austin gave a slow shrug, looking as if he were going to cry, his eyes red and face a shade of red.

"Not here, hurry up and get in" Austin groaned, starting the engine seeming raring to go. Tess couldn't help but look curiously up at Darrick, seeing he had no one to hand her to, it looked as if she'd be sitting with him for the car ride home. Climbing in, her suspicions came true as Darrick sat down in the front seat and proceeded to set her down on his large thigh while he buckled in. Leaning back into his seat, he didn't say much else having fallen back into a silence like she had come use to as Austin drove out of the school to hurry home, needing to drop Darrick off first.

Her time in the car was short lived but was mostly spent trying to not admire Darrick, wanting to get his attention but also not knowing what to say without sounding stupid. He was quiet, looking out the window as if it were the most interesting thing while Austin was ranting about his horrible day. She didn't listen to Austin, instead taking the time at looking at what Darrick was wearing while he wasn't looking.

He wore a simple black shirt which showed off his long muscular arms and hugged lightly at his firm chest and abdomen. Looking beneath her she saw he was wearing dark blue shorts, which surprised her since she didn't often see him in shorts, mostly jeans on his bold thighs and calves. Her eyes wandered up, looking along his prominent jaw which curved against his face, strong and showing the muscles of his neck, especially when turning to look out the window, showing the twining cords. His strong arm rested upon the window, his fingers lightly drumming against the side window while his other hand rested upon his opposite thigh that she wasn't upon.

She drew her eyes away, not wanting to be caught staring she found herself going on her phone to text Katy to tell her the news that it would only be them two going on the trip it seemed. Her eyes seeming to drift to watch Darricks moving fingers, she'd have to start organising her things in the next few days for the trip. She was becoming excited, even without her human friends she smiled at the idea of going with the giants.

A/N: just a quick update! The trip will be in the next chapter! Hope you liked would love to hear your feedback.

Not much happened in this chapter but it will! Soon enough be ready!