11.

School has never been easy on me. My work in class is fine, I get good- if not- the best grades, despite slacking off and skipping classes when I know the work already, but I always find myself in the worse moments of my life at school. Example, that one time in the 7th grade I bent down the in front of the class and my pants ripped as loudly as possible, screaming and crying because a rat and ran across the room, those weren't even the worst moments.

Even after all these events, I somehow always find a way to push back on it, and fortunately for me, most of the time something good comes from it. The only thing now is, i'm finding it hard to see how hiding my relationship with the most beautiful and prized man at our school, could do me any good if anyone found out.

My school isn't homophobic really, but it's more that the majority of the students were. Not only will I be effected, but so would Aether, and I think it'd be worse for Aether then me. You could tell how happy I was when he agreed, but everything was terribly off when we went to school. Everyday I was dreaming about meeting up briefly before and after classes, but instead, I was completely ignored. This was worse then before I had spoken anything to him. I was a ghost to him, and he used everyone around him to make sure I couldn't even be able to breathe the same air as him. I walk too close for his liking, he commands everyone to walk the other way. At first I tried not to care, but the longer it went on, the more agitated I got.

Of course, after 3 whole weeks of him doing this to me, I took matters into my own hands. I waited outside his classroom where I new the least amount of people would be around, and as soon as I saw his blonde hair, perfect and in place as always, I grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to a place far enough to talk privately.

Aether looked slightly disheveled at my kidnapping, but he relaxed a little to see it was me. He was still annoyed though, which annoyed me.

"Hey! Why'd you do that? I need to go back to-"

"What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Okay, harsh start, not exactly what I was going for.

"What's wrong with me? You were the one who dragged me here!"

Great, I made him mad. Not the mature talk I was hoping for.

"Sorry sorry, It's just... These weeks you've been really distant. Did I do something wrong?"

Aether looked at me, and I could tell he was sorry, but he wouldn't show it on his face. I felt free with him everywhere, but apparently he didn't feel the same way as he built a looming wall between us at school. What made it feel worse was that I didn't know why, making me start to blame myself.

"I can be around other people can't? I don't need to be with you every second of my life."

"But I don't want you to be with me all the time here! Even if it's a few seconds, a greeting or if you just looked at me."

He looked at me, unsure of his decision. I could feel my face heating, anger bubbling. Not only was I angry, but I was so upset too. I thought we were processing smoothly together, but Aether seemed too cooped up in his popularity, he was fine with ignoring me if it meant to keep it. Tears were descending down my face, making me bow my head. Aether had only became conscious of his actions after I called it out, and he looked guilty, rightfully so. But he was also scared, like he didn't mean for it to happen. I would have forgiven him if it hadn't of taken 3 weeks, or even better, he actually realised for himself that he was acting like I didn't exist.

All of my worse fears and emotions were brewing, ready to explode inside me, so I did what i've been doing my whole life.

I ran.

I pushed passed Aether and practically manhandled the door open, and swung my legs out of the school as fast as I could. There was always so much going on at school, and this time, I don't think I can get over it as easy.

I haven't gone to school in 3 days. This is more days i've missed at school for a while. I usually skip classes or half a day, so this was a bit different from normal, but not like I cared, I knew what I was doing anyway. I only did this when too many bad things happened at the same time. All of my feelings and thoughts from previous encounters just stack until it topples down, bringing me down too.  I just laid on my couch or bed, not bothering to check my phone for the passed days, and just mindlessly watching whatever comes on my laptop screen, sometimes even being 10 hours of static.

Friday night, I laid flat on my back, neck turned uncomfortably on my small couch, with Chubs perched on my stomach, peaceful napping. Everything was great, I was so very focused on the 1 hour of hypnotising spiral when there was a knock. I ignored it, hoping it was additional free food from my delivery 5 hours ago, but the knocks continued, getting louder and louder until I couldn't take it anymore.

I slammed my laptop down, then thinking I broke it and spinning back to check if there was any damage (there wasn't) then picking up Chubs carefully, I place him onto the couch, and inched towards my door. Undoing all the locks, I cautiously creaked open my door. Of course, it was the person I was most expecting, as well as not expecting at all.

My heart jumped at the sight of Aether, standing looking like he submersed himself in water prior to his surprise visit. Leaning against my door frame, his white shirt was stuck into his skin, transparent from the water, giving me a gold class ticket to his abs.

It had been thundering the pass few days, but I was too busy sulking to care so I tuned it out. Now that I look at it, It was pretty bad out there.

"Hey, sorry for coming without getting an answer... Not like you would have answered this one out of the 100 others I sent before, but we need to talk."

I wanted to answer, but I was very very distracted. I've never seen a more perfect body then this one, no movie star actor could compare. He must have took my silence as a no to talking, so he turned to walk away. Before I could think, I grabbed his arm and stupidly blurted out,

"You're uh, pretty wet. do you want to come in? I can help warm you up?" He looked at me, eyes darkening at the unintentional suggestive comment, a sly smirk forming on his lips and he leads forwards.

"Oh? Is that what it is now?"

Alexander Halifax, you are so fucked.