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“Shy, huh?” Marlow rubbed his chin as he thought that one over. It did make sense, after all, and as he didn’t -want- to think that Will disliked him in any way, it was easy for him to believe, despite the fact that Will’s extracurricular activities seemed to prove otherwise. “You’re a good guy, Kevin. And I-“ Before he could finish his thought, he was interrupted by an odd little crunch as a soccer ball struck him firmly at his hip, his cell phone in his pocket cushioning the blow. “Ow!” he shouted with a start, then turned to gaze out into the field. “Hey, who kicked that?”

Kev looked up just in time to see the football sailing towards them. Fortunately, he was on the other side of Marlow and was not himself hit, although the other side of Marlow's hip did bang slightly into his own with the impact. But he could overlook that. It wasn't as if it was of any consequence, after all.

"You alright?" he asked Marlow, glancing up at the teen before his eyes slid back to the playing field and the scrawny teen running towards them. Kev cocked his head to one side as the other explained his "reason" and then shrugged once he was through.

"Mmm. Guess the whole photo shoot thing was a bit much, huh? Distracting, anyway -- or at least, I'm guessing it was supposed to be since Marlow's just trying to get attention." With the last part, he once more jabbed the bleach-haired teen in the ribs with his finger, his usual bright (and mischevious) grin in place upon his lips.

This Marlow character was much stranger than he had ever thought. He nodded slowly at the other's words, not at all sure what to say. However, he simply had to be... pleasant. He had to be. It was his reputation, after all, and he had to adhere to it. Besides that, if he wanted to be even close to "even footing" with the rich boys at the school, he had to be liked, or at least such was his thinking. A small, unsure smile had, at some point, slipped onto his lips out of pure habbit, but he couldn't quite help but bristle slightly as Marlow refered to football as not being a "real sport." Arthur loved football, even if he hadn't joined the club (the track team was quite demanding enough, thank you very much). However, he made quite the effort to settle down again, the smile returning to his lips as he murmured, "Arthur."

Arthur had been preparing to ask oh-so-politely if the other could please call him something other than "Artie" -- he hated that name -- when...

Holy f*cking s**t. He'd really done it now, hadn't he. He winced vividly at the sight of the crushed phone. He glanced from between to broken phone and then back up to Marlow and back again in a never-ending cycle (or at least, a continues round until his eyes finally settled somewhere down around his feet). Bright pink splotches of aprehension began to form on the boy's cheeks, his expression near pannick.

"I-I.... I'm s-s-so.... s-sss-sorry," he stammered nervously, breath coming quickly. This was just wonderful. Second day of the new school year and he had already managed to break the (exceedingly expensive) cellphone of a prestigious member of "popular" (for reasons unfathomable by the scrawny, ebony-haired teen).

Arthur’s stammering only made Marlow angrier, as if it proved that it was done on purpose, but when Kev piped up with his own opinion, the boy began to simmer down. Count to ten, he though to himself, play it cool. He usually did, anyway. “Yeah...” he muttered, taking the time to scratch the back of his head with the hand that wasn’t full of junk, “I guess you’re right, Kevin. No harm, no foul.” He actually smiled then, the expression directed towards Arthur, who had unwittingly just been saved from a year of torment thanks to the brief intervention. “I needed to get a new one, you know? Maybe a certain someone will come with me when I go shopping this afternoon?” His eyes darted back over to Kev, who he was sure would be able to gather his meaning.

Arthur swallowed thickly and nodded slowly, nearly sighing in relief (fortunately he caught himself before it actually happened). He shot Kev a glance that most clearly read "thank you." He would most deffinately have to find some way to repay the blonde....

It was as if Marlow's anger had simply disapeared at the boy's words... which was quite amazing. It most deffinately meant that Kev was well-liked (which was something Arthur already knew). He would... he would have to study the other's behavior so that... he could do that sort of thing - just banish others' anger with a few well chosen, joking words.

"Oh dear... is it just me or do you have a twin fettish?" he asked slyly, his grin broadening. "I'd better watch out, then, or you might start asking Will how you can get in my pants." With that, he stuck his tongue out at Marlow. Not that it was very successful, as he was still draped comfortably over the other's shoulder. "And what exactly does that last statement mean, hmmmmmm?" he asked, the corners of his mouth quirking up like a pleased cat. Obviously, Kev had no qualms whatsoever with this sort of play.