Six

MILES

It was just a sunny morning when the announcement echoed throughout the school, catching the attention of every student and teacher. As the words sank in, a collective buzz of excitement filled the air. The news was indeed unusual, but it sparked a fire of curiosity amongst the students. What could they possibly do when the teachers were too occupied?

With a sense of freedom lingering in the atmosphere, the hallways quickly transformed into a hub of activity. Some students got together to form impromptu study groups, exchanging knowledge and helping each other. Others decided to explore the vast world of literature, diving into books that had long been forgotten on dusty shelves. One group of friends even took advantage of the situation to organize an interactive science fair in the school gymnasium. It seemed that education had taken on an entirely new meaning that day.

As the morning progressed, the classrooms were transformed into arenas of creativity. One classroom became an art studio, where students painted on easels, their imaginations running wild. In another, budding musicians formed bands and rehearsed for an impromptu concert. The school was alive with a different kind of energy, one that encouraged exploration and self-initiated learning.

Outside, the bright sunshine beckoned the students to venture into nature. A group of biology enthusiasts set out to study the local ecosystem, observing various species of plants and animals in their natural habitats. They avidly took notes and clicked pictures, their curiosity fueling their desire to learn more about the world around them.

Meanwhile, me and my friends decided to hang out on common ground, pretending we were in a group study when, in fact, we were just hanging out. The weather was perfect, the sun radiating warmth that made us feel invigorated. As we sat on our usual table, I couldn't help but feel a knot of unease in my stomach. I frowned as I faced my friends, who were giving me annoyed looks after I told them about my encounter with Tyler.

"You're the dumbest person I've ever known my entire life, Miles" Charles said crossing his arms with the most annoyed tone on his voice.

"Seriously, Miles? You literally just told your longtime crush to stay away from you? Are you freaking kidding me?" Erin asked me, annoyed as she rolled her eyes.

"I know, and I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that." I sadly said to them, my voice trembling with regret and sorrow, honestly, after my encounter with Tyler, I realized that what I said and did was a total mistake, and I deeply regret that. I've been following him-more like stalking him-for years because, well, I have a crush on him. I always wished that he would notice me; that's all I ever wished for. But because I foolishly told him to stay away from me, my whole dream just collapsed.

"Let me remind you, Miles. You've been following him for years, and you've also been trying to get his attention by liking his I*******m posts. And now that you've finally gotten what you wanted, you're just going to disregard it all just like that?" Charles told me calmly, and I can see in his eyes how disappointed he is. I took a deep breath before I spoke again. I need to make them understand.

"Maybe it was because I was worried about what other people would think of me and Tyler. Tyler was the epitome of popularity - attractive, athletic, and undeniably smart. People looked up to him and admired him for who he was. As for me, I am just an average student, blending into the background, unnoticed by most. Deep down, I knew that if Tyler noticed me, it would be a disaster. The jealousy and hatred from others would be unbearable. I didn't want to be known as the boy who somehow caught Tyler's attention. I just wanted to be me - the boy who lov-you know what? Just forget what I said." When I cut off my speech, I saw them roll their eyes together and sigh out of frustration. I smiled inwardly, finding amusement in the frustrated sighs and eye-rolls of my classmates. Their expectations and judgment no longer mattered to me. I opened my bag and looked for the piano sheet, but I couldn't find it.

Frustration began to bubble inside me as I rummaged through the contents of my bag once again. My heart sank as I realized that my precious piano sheet was nowhere to be found. I had spent countless hours meticulously practicing and perfecting the piece, and now it seemed to have vanished without a trace.

"Guys, have you seen my piano sheet?" I asked them, my voice filled with desperation. Charles casually turned his head towards me, not fully registering the gravity of my question. "Which one?" he inquired, a nonchalant tone in his voice. My eyebrows shot up, and I stared at him incredulously, silently asking, "Are you serious?"

"You have received quite a lot of piano sheets lately, Miles; how do we know which one you're looking for?" Erin said as she was obviously defending Charles while helping me rummage through my bag. Well, Erin is right.

"Yeah, right, sorry," I laughed and told them.

"I'm looking for the new one; the title is dandelions?" I added.

I was just focusing on rummaging my bag, searching for my piano sheet, when suddenly I felt a gentle kick on my foot. "Charles, stop it; I'm busy; can't you see?" I said to Charles without looking at him because I was occupied with what I was doing.

"What is it, Charles? Owwwwww!" I screamed when Charles kicked me in the foot again, so I glared at him. "What is that kick for, Charles?!" I yelled at Charles in disgust, but he ignored me. I looked at him only to see his and Erin's eyes were looking up behind me.

Curiosity got the better of me, I turned around to see what had caught Erin and Charles' attention. My heart skipped a beat as I locked eyes with Tyler. The shock of seeing him standing there, right behind me, rendered me speechless. His face wore a mischievous smile, his eyes sparkling with a mixture of familiarity and excitement.

"Is this what you were looking for?" Tyler asked as he stood there before me, holding the piano sheet I had been searching for, making me speechless. He looked more beautiful than ever.

"Am I dead?" I suddenly asked myself and I heard my two friends chuckled. I stood frozen in front of him as he handed me the piano sheet. His almond-shaped eyes sparkled with kindness, and a warm smile stretched across his face. Confusion washed over me as I tried to process his words.

"You dropped this outside the music room yesterday," he said, his voice gentle yet filled with urgency. "You must be looking for it, so I came here to personally give it back to you." I don't know why, but every word he spoke felt like delicate notes, resonating deep within me, pulling me closer to an unknown melody. I felt an inexplicable connection to him, as if fate had orchestrated our meeting for a greater purpose.

I glanced down at the sheet in his hands. It was indeed the piano sheet I was looking for. As I took the piano sheet from his outstretched hand, our fingers brushed briefly, sending a shiver down my spine. The air in the ground suddenly felt charged with electricity, as if an invisible force were pulling us closer.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible but he still heard it.

"A-ahh s-sorry! I didn't mean to!" I nervously stammered, my cheeks flushing crimson. My heart raced, and I feared his reaction, expecting anger or irritation. But to my surprise, he smiled warmly at me and gently held back my hand while saying, "It's okay Miles."

Silence enveloped the tension between Tyler and me as we stood there, locked in a gaze. It was a familiar feeling of awkwardness, yet there was something comforting about acknowledging the unspoken connection between us. A smile slowly formed on Tyler's lips, mirroring my own, and for a moment, the weight of the world lifted.

After what seemed like an eternity, we both simultaneously released each other from our intense gaze. The warmth of our smiles faded, replaced by a slight sheepishness that washed over us. It was as if we had just stumbled upon something secret, something we weren't quite ready to admit.

Tyler's cheeks flushed, and he nervously ran a hand through his hair. "Um, sorry, I didn't mean to stare," he finally muttered, breaking the silence with a hint of embarrassment in his voice.

I laughed softly, trying to diffuse the tension that had settled between us. "No need to apologize," I reassured him, willing my own embarrassment away. "I was definitely staring too."

A flicker of relief flashed across Tyler's face as he let out a small chuckle. "Well, I guess we're in the same boat then," he said, his eyes glancing down momentarily before daring to meet mine again.

"Oh my God, I feel hungry," Erin exclaimed, rubbing her stomach. "Charles, would you mind joining me at the cafeteria? Let's get something to eat."

Charles took a minute to answer since he was still processing what was happening before it finally dawned on him. Charles remarked, as Erin drew him away from us with a silly grin on both of their faces, "Yeah, sure, I'm quite hungry too, Miles; I'll just accompany Erin to the cafeteria and we'll be right back," leaving me alone with Tyler.

I stroked my face and thought to myself, "Those idiots." Tyler was still grinning and staring back at me as I turned to face him. I sat down once again after realizing that perhaps I shouldn't have said anything to Tyler during our encounter there in the music room, and to my surprise, Tyler sat on the other seat across from me.

Tyler began to say, "Hey, About what you said yesterday," but I interrupted him before he could finish. I'll be honest: I genuinely regret what I said to him at the time.

"About that, I'm really sorry for what I said; I really didn't mean it like that," I said to him, which surprised him a little.

"And also, I'm sorry for the way I acted yesterday; it was unpleasant and childish; it's just that." I continued, but before I could finish what I was about to say, he cut me off.

"You don't need to explain yourself to me, Miles; it's fine, really, but if I may ask, would you mind if we see each other again?" He asked with a grinning face. I couldn't help but let out a gentle smile on my face before nodding my head in response. We both went silent, and an awkward feeling started to cover our atmosphere. Suddenly, I heard him fake a cough.

"I see you have troubles with calculus. May I?" He asked as he reached for my math book.

"Yeah, sure, go ahead," I replied, handing him my book.

"I'm not really academically inclined, and I'm really bad at math," I said, chuckling, and I caught Tyler stealing glances at me.

"But you're good at music, though, playing the piano, I must say," Tyler enthusiastically and proudly said. I couldn't help but smile.

"Yeah, music is the only thing I'm good at." It took him a moment before he could speak again.

"Miles? I would like to help you with your academics, If only you'll let me. I was surprised by Tyler's sudden offer; it caught me off guard.

"Do you want to be my tutor? Is that what you're saying?" Tyler shrugged his shoulders with a smile.

"I mean, you could say that." It took me a couple of moments to process everything in my mind. Does this mean we could spend time together alone?

"Yeah, sure, I'll really appreciate your help," I enthusiastically said to him.

CHARLES

"Erin, I don't think it's a good idea to leave Miles alone with Tyler. I don't feel good about this," I told Erin in my most worried voice, causing her to glance at me and raise an eyebrow.

"Charles, chill, it's Tyler; it's not likely for him to hurt anyone, or worse, eat Miles alive, she said while she let the lady put some food on her tray. I nodded my head in response. Well, she's right though. Tyler isn't a bad guy or a bully, but still, I'm still worried about what might happen to Miles when everyone sees him with Tyler.

"Unless they want to have some fun and decide to eat each other," Erin added, and I almost burst out into laughter.

"You dirty, wh-" Before I could even finish what I was about to say, she cut me off.

"Uhh uhh, not that word!" She whispered.

"I mean, You dirty bitch" I jokingly told her, so we laughed again.

"Here you go that's what I'm talking about!" As we made our way back to our table, the familiar sound of laughter filled the air. My friend, Erin, and I were notorious for our playful banter and sarcastic remarks. Our friendship flourished on the foundation of witty comebacks and endless laughter. We didn't hold back when it came to teasing each other, using outrageous words and nicknames that were more words of endearment than insults. Suddenly, I stopped walking as I felt my phone vibrating inside my pocket.

"Something's wrong?" Erin asked me as I fumbled in my pocket for my phone. I shook my head as an answer while looking at my phone screen. The familiar swipe of my fingertip on the glass display did nothing to alleviate the anxious feeling building inside me.

As I looked at the screen of my phone, a wave of both excitement and nervousness washed over me. The message from Klaus read, "Meet me, same place now." It was a simple message, yet its significance reverberated through every fiber of my being. Klaus and I had been in a secret relationship for a few months now, harboring our love behind closed doors. It wasn't an ideal situation, but we had decided to keep it hidden to respect Klaus's need for time and privacy before coming out.

"Erin, I think you should go ahead first; there's something I forgot to do." I told Erin, but she just gave me a look of disbelief.

"You remember Trisha, right? She and I did a project together, and we need to finish it right now. Don't worry, I'll catch up as soon as we're finished." I explained to her, and she nodded her head in response.

"Okay, just make sure you'll catch up with us," Erin replied as she took away the food tray from me before making her way back to the table.

I hurriedly made my way towards the meeting place that Klaus talked about, the school's old bathroom.

As I stood in front of the metal door of the school's abandoned bathroom, I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. It had been years since anyone had used this place, its once vibrant blue paint now faded and peeling. The rumors of haunting whispers and strange apparitions that surrounded it only added to the allure of our secret meeting spot.

For a brief moment, doubt clouded my mind. Why had Klaus chosen such a peculiar location? What secrets did he want to share? But curiosity got the better of me, and with a resolve hardening inside me, I turned the rusted handle, pushing the door open slowly.

As the creaking hinges echoed through the empty hallway, I peered cautiously inside. The room was dimly lit, the only source of illumination being streaks of sunlight that filtered through the cracked windows. Dust particles danced lazily in the air, giving the room an ethereal glow.

My eyes scanned the bathroom, hoping to catch a glimpse of Klaus amongst the shadows. Old urinals and broken stalls stood as silent witnesses, testament to the countless memories shared within these walls. I moved silently, checking each shower cubicle one by one. Empty. My anxiety grew with every unoccupied space. The room seemed deserted, void of any life.

Suddenly, a strong hand covered my mouth, stealing my breath away. I was pulled forcefully into one of the cubicles, my back pressed against the cold, tiled wall. Panic surged through me as I tried to scream, but the hand held me in a firm grip, muffling any sound that tried to escape.

Before I could gather my thoughts, lips descended upon mine. Soft at first, then demanding, the kiss ignited a familiar fire within me. It was a kiss I knew well, one I had missed for what felt like an eternity.

Caught in the midst of confusion and desire, I reciprocated the kiss, losing myself in the sensation. The lips I kissed were as warm and inviting as I remembered, melting away any doubts that lingered in my mind. The person who held me in their grasp was someone I couldn't resist, even after all this time.

Blissfully, the kiss came to an end, and we both took a moment to catch our breath. We gazed into each other's eyes, lost in a sea of emotions that only intensified our connection. It was a familiar gaze-a gaze that held secrets, love, and an untold story.

His deep blue eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and something else I couldn't quite decipher behind his glasses. He had a mischievous smile on his face, as if we were about to embark on an adventure.

"What's all this about, Klaus?" I managed to whisper, my heart pounding against my chest.

He chuckled softly, his warm breath tickling my ear. "I wanted to surprise you," he responded, his voice filled with playfulness. "I know this place may not seem romantic, but it holds countless memories of our shared secret meetings."

My mind raced back to the countless afternoons we had spent here, escaping the prying eyes of our classmates. It was our little sanctuary, a place where we could be ourselves without judgment.

"I missed you," he said, his voice filled with a mixture of longing and relief. I couldn't help but chuckle, feeling a surge of happiness wash over me as I took off his glasses. As they gently slid off his face, I found myself witnessing a sight that never failed to make my heart skip a beat.

His warm, square-shaped face came into focus, framed by a stylish mop of dark hair. Symmetrical thick eyebrows perfectly arched over deep blue eyes that held a spark of mischief, and his fresh, pale skin contrasted.

In that moment, he resembled Connor Kent, the superhero from the popular TV series Titans, portrayed by the talented Joshua Orpin. Something about the way he wore his glasses, perched on the bridge of his nose, transformed him into a perfect likeness of the character. Honestly every time I see him with his twin brother, It was as if I was staring at two different versions of Connor Kent within the same frame.

Being a fan of the show, this resemblance never failed to amuse me. It added an extra layer of fandom to our relationship, making each moment together feel like a scene stolen straight from my favorite TV series.

"But we just slept together last night, and not to mention we had a great time," I teased, a mischievous twinkle in my eyes. My fingers traced circles on his chest.

He chuckled, "Well, it seems I can't get enough of you," he replied, his smile contagious. He pulled me closer, wrapping his strong arms around my waist.

"I missed you too," I murmured softly.

"Can I come over to your place tonight?" He asked and I nodded in response as we both stared at each other's lips. He then pressed his lips against mine.

ERIN

I was walking alone back to the table where my friends usually hung out when I saw Tyler stand up from sitting with Miles at a distance. They both smiled as they said goodbye to each other, and something about that moment caught my attention.

From the smiles on their faces and the way they looked at each other, it seemed like they had found each other like soulmates. It was as if an invisible connection had formed between them, transcending the ordinary boundaries of friendship.

As I approached, I couldn't help but notice the way their eyes lingered on one another, holding a deeper meaning than mere friendship could describe. It was a connection that felt undeniable, as if their souls recognized each other in an instant.

Well, it's so unusual for me to think of that because, honestly speaking, I don't believe in such things. It's just so cringe-worthy. As I was getting closer to them, Tyler finally made his way off, and while Tyler was getting away from Miles, he never failed to look back a few times at Miles.

Maybe Tyler likes Miles in some way.

"So, is there anything I should know?" I said to Miles as I approached him and sat next to him. He looked at me with a very happy expression on his face. He looks so adorable.

"Well, don't tell anyone about this; promise me," He said, and I chuckled.

"Gladly, so spill the tea, my friend, I said, and he smiled again and sighed.

"I took back what I said to him yesterday; I also apologized to him. But it's still embarrassing!" Miles said it shyly. I bet he overshared something with Tyler.

"What are you shy about, Miles?" I tease, pretending I don't know what he's saying.

"It's because he knows I'm not good at Math! He just saw my score, Erin!" he said shyly.

"I don't think that's what happened; he found out you were struggling with calculus, and I bet you told him you're bad at Math, am I right?" I asked confidently, and he looked at me.

"Am I that obvious?" He asked.

"Nope, but I know you, Miles, more than you know, so is there anything else I should know?" I asked while handing the burger.

"He wants to be my tutor," he said, so I stopped taking a bite of my fries and looked at him with a surprised expression.

"Tell me that you accepted his offer to you, Miles; tell me!" I said, and he nodded several times, so I jumped out of my seat and hugged him enthusiastically. Miles has finally achieved what he has been dreaming of for a long time!