📖 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒮𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃: 𝒞𝑜𝒻𝒻𝑒𝑒 𝒮𝒽𝑜𝓅 𝒞𝑜𝓃𝒻𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 ☕🍼

Lucas bounced on his heels as he waited in line at the little coffee shop near school.

It was his first time here. He usually avoided places like this—too many people, too many smells. But Amari had invited him, and saying no wasn't really an option. Not when Amari had that smile, the one that made Lucas feel all soft and fuzzy inside.

Amari stood next to him, scrolling through his phone. "What do you want?"

Lucas chewed his lip. The menu had too many words, too many choices. His stomach twisted.

"I dunno..." he mumbled, gripping the sleeves of his pastel sweater.

Amari glanced at him. "You don't like coffee, do you?"

Lucas shook his head fast. "Tastes yucky..."

Amari smirked. "Figured." He looked up at the menu, then at Lucas again. "You like chocolate, right?"

Lucas nodded, his fingers twitching.

Amari tapped on the counter. "One hot chocolate. Extra whipped cream."

Lucas's eyes widened. "F-for me...?"

Amari shrugged like it was nothing. "Duh."

Lucas's tummy did a weird flip.

He shifted on his feet as Amari paid, trying to ignore how warm his face felt.

Once they got their drinks, they sat in a booth near the window.

Lucas wrapped both hands around his hot chocolate, the warmth instantly calming him. He took a tiny sip, whipped cream smudging his lip.

Amari chuckled. "You got somethin'—"

Before Lucas could react, Amari reached over, using his thumb to wipe the whipped cream off Lucas's lip.

Lucas froze.

His heart did a weird little thump-thump-thump against his ribs.

Amari didn't seem to notice—he licked the whipped cream off his thumb and went back to sipping his drink like nothing happened.

Lucas, on the other hand, was malfunctioning.

His face burned, his fingers squeezed around his cup, and suddenly, words started tumbling out before he could stop them.

"Ilikeyou."

Amari blinked. "Huh?"

Lucas clamped his mouth shut. His entire body locked up. Oh no.

Amari set his cup down, leaning forward. "Lucas." His voice was soft, teasing. "Did you just say you like me?"

Lucas shook his head fast. "Nuh-uh."

Amari smirked. "Liar."

Lucas groaned, burying his face in his sleeves. Stupid, stupid, stupid—

Then Amari did something unexpected.

He reached over and gently tugged on Lucas's sleeve. "Hey."

Lucas peeked up at him.

Amari's expression wasn't teasing anymore. It was soft.

"...I like you too, Tiny."

Lucas stopped breathing.

His lips parted, eyes wide. "Y-you do...?"

Amari grinned, resting his chin on his hand. "Yeah. You're cute."

Lucas made a strangled noise and immediately stuffed his sleeves over his face again.

Amari laughed.

Lucas was never going to recover from this.

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