Title: Best Man
Fandom: The Faculty (AU)
Characters: Stokely Mitchell, Zeke Tyler
Rating: PG13
Length: 923 words
Author's note: takes place some years after the movie
Written for Challenge 199 = best
also fills the genprompt_bingo prompt: friendship (round 12)
Summary: Casey plans to marry, doesn't he?



Stokely eyed her best friend and smirked.
„So, you called me because you need some company to get drunk?“

Zeke put the Jim Beam down and frowned.
„What are you talking about?“

„Your call this afternoon sounded like an emergency. Like, Stokes, I'm bankrupt. What I can't believe because The Coyote is very popular. So, Angie, she's pregnant?“

Zeke coughed.
„What? No, of course not. At least I'm not the father; I don't see her anymore.“

„Oh. Understand. Well, I guess almost four weeks were a record for you.“

„Stokes, get off my back. What do you want?“

„That's what I'm asking you.“
She fixed her gaze on her friend.
„Since when you are your best guest when the bar isn't even open? Spit it, Zeke, you know, I will find out anyway.“

He sighed deeply and finally gave in.
„Casey,“ he murmured.

„Oh, you did hear from him? He seems to be pretty busy with College; I haven't talked to him for ages.“

„I guess he plans to marry.“

„Woah.“

The were news, indeed. The last she would have expected. And kinda strange; she had never pictured him as a married guy, with a wife at his side. Children maybe. Though, and she was sure of that, Casey would be a great father.

„I didn't know that she has a girlfriend. How long does he know her already?“

Zeke shrugged.
„Since the beginning of College, I guess. He often talks about her. Anna Marie is her name.“

„Anna Marie?“
Stokely stared at Zeke full of disbelieve.
„I can't believe that. They are friends, yes. She even shared an apartment for a while. But there was never more between them.

He would have told me!"

„They have a lot in common. Like classic music and photography. They learn together for College. Obviously, Casey thinks this is enough.“

Stokely smirked.
„That's ridiculous, Zeke. Casey would never marry her because he doesn't love her. What the heck makes you think that?“

„I could always read him like an open book; never someone was so close to me than him. It's the way he talks about her. And he asked me to come down to San Francisco during summer break. Says, that it's about time that we come together again. That he can't wait to show me the town. And that he has a surprise for me he doesn't want to talk about over the phone.“

Zeke grabbed his glass with Whiskey again but didn't drink.

„I guess, he wants to tell me face to face, and he will ask me to be his best man. But I don't think that I can do this. The moment I meet this bitch, I will try to kill her. She doesn't deserve him.“

Stokely brushed some strands of hair out of her face and rolled her eyes.
„God, Zeke, you are such an idiot.“

„That's not very helpful, you know.“

„Hm. You sure you are ready to hear what I would like to say you?“

Zeke blinked, for a moment he looked double-minded, but finally he nodded.
„Spit it.“

„It's about time to get over this stupid 'oh no this can't be; I'm the cool Zeke Tyler who can get every girl he wants' shit. You are not interested in any girl for longer, Zeke, because they can give you what you want.

You want him! You always wanted him, already at school. And you are jealous of his friendship with Anna Marie. But I think you read too much into it.“

Zeke paled visibly; his hands started to tremble.
„I'm not gay, Stokes,“ he protested.

She shrugged.
„Maybe not. Maybe you are bi. Doesn't change anything, right? Because you love Casey. He's more than just a friend, more than a soulmate. I doubt that you've ever felt for someone else what you feel for him.“

Zeke kept quiet for quite a while. Finally, he slowly shook his head.
„It's wrong, Stokes. I shouldn't feel like that.“

She put her hand on his arm and smiled.
„You can't control your feelings, Zeke.

And I know you would never do the wrong thing. You would never try to force him to anything. You were there for him all the time at Highschool, you did listen to him, encouraged him. You have told him to go to San Francisco, to art school, to live his dream, though it was so hard for you to let him go.

If he truly would like to marry Anna Marie and he would ask you to be his best man, then you would do so. You would make the day perfect for him. Because you love him and you want him to be happy.“

„He deserves to be happy,“ Zeke murmured.

„He does,“ Stokely agreed.
„And I'm sure it means a lot to him that you come to visit him. You should go, spent some time in San Francisco. And, who knows, maybe you will find a good moment to tell him the truth about your feelings.“

„He would only hate me.“

„Casey?“
Stokely laughed.
„Oh, c'mon, Casey doesn't even know the meaning of the word 'hate.' And he never looked at someone else like he looked at you."

"He looked at me?"

"Well, he did this a bit more unobtrusive than you, but yes. I always thought that you two are made to be together.

But someone needs to make the first step, Zeke. It might be a good idea to do it now. Or ...“

She pointed at the Jim Beam on the counter in front of them.
„You just stay here and continue to drown into self-pity.“