<Liam's POV>

"God, I'm gay." I sighed, looking at my closet. Every other garment of clothing had some sort of LGBTQ+ reference. I had to start this year off subtle, because we don't another Western High.

I flipped through the rainbow hoodies, the cute crop tops, and finally find a faded P!ATD shirt from two years ago. I couldn't resist fraying the ends and making it a bit of a crop top, don't @ me. I choose some ripped skinny jeans that showed off my curves and some checkered vans. I slung my pastel space backpack (which has so many pins in it, it's a problem) over my shoulder and went to the bathroom. I fluffed my "brunette caramel butterscotch ombré fluffer-puffer", as Jen calls it. (My hair.) I smoothed down the shaved sides, and grabbed my makeup bag. I put on some basic concealer and mascara. I did my brows and put on some light pink glittery see-through lip gloss. Threw some highlight on and poof! I was done. I skipped out of my room and hopped down the stairs.

I wolfed down my cereal, hugged my mom goodbye, and raced out the door.

I can't wait to start my first day at my new high school!

<Jason's POV>

"How are guys even gay??? Girls are so hot it's insane. I can understand lesbians because, well, girls are hot. But gay guys? How? How is it possible to not like a female? They're so cute!" The YouTuber said. I rolled my eyes. I was probably the straightest guy ever, and even I admit that's a little too far. I squeezed Ariel's hand tighter, and she smiled back at me. I pulled my earbuds out at the sight of a new kid at the front of the classroom.

He had brownish butterscotch hair, a P!ATD shirt, jeans, and was that- makeup??? Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just that... it's different seeing a guy use makeup in person. On the first day of school. "Mr. Jackson, introduce your self and tell us something about you." Ms. Remnant, our teacher, said.

"Hey guys!" He smiled at us, and... wow. What a smile. "My name's Liam! I'm a senior here, and uh... something about me...." He thought about it for a second, before his thoughts were interrupted when the kid sitting next to me named Ryann yelled "You're gay!", as if to finish his sentence. Liam blushed and his eyes widened. The class started to laugh at the bee kid. In disgust, I shoved Ryann, and glanced at the new boy to see if he was okay, but he had burst into a laugh. He walked over to the empty desk in front of me and sat down, clutching his side from laughing so hard.

"It's funny 'cause it's true!" He giggled, everyone getting a bit quieter when he said that. He turned to Ryann. "Also, I have a question for you." Ryann now getting a bit red, said "W-What is it?" "Okay. Kiss me if I'm wrong, but dinosaurs still exist right?" The new kid smiled and batted his eyes. Ryann blushed and stammered a bit before Ms. Remnant interrupted them.

"Enough making fun, boys. Today we will take it easy. There's a passage to read, read it, answer the questions, write the essay, and I don't care how you do it, as long as it's legal." Man, she was giving us some leeway today! More time to cuddle with Ariel-

"Hey. What's your name?

I looked in front of me, and the new kid smiled at me. I looked in his eyes, and they seemed to be a dark blue. "J-Jason." Why did I stutter? "Awe, it's okay. Never talked to a cute guy before?" He winked at me, causing me to redden. Who does this guy think he is?

"Whatever, Butterscotch Boy." We both blushed at the nickname. What are you even doing, brain?! "Butterscotch Boy?" He smiled at me, looking a bit goofy. "Y-Your hair." He looked up at it, and giggled. "Yeah, a lot of people say that. But still," he turned his attention toward me. "Butterscotch Boy?" I blushed again. What is with me today? "Just because I don't know your name." He blinked at me, his face somewhere between a blank stare and a confused smile. "I literally just told the whole class my name five minutes ago." My eyes widened in realization. "Uh.. right! You're a... uhm.. Llllllll...." He watched me struggle. There was a playful glint in his eyes, and a goofy smile slowly spreading as I tried different names that started with "L". "Lucas.....?" He shook his head at the eighth name I had given him. "Lily?" "I'm a girl?" he chuckled. "I don't know, man. I'm desperate!" "Try again." I fumbled for an answer, finally giving up and making a joke. "Lucifer?" That one made him roar with laugher, resulting in him almost falling out of his desk. Man, I wanted to hear that laugh all day. Something about him just made me so compelled to talk to him. It was probably his outgoing personality. "So, will you tell me your name as a reward for my hard work?" I smiled, anticipating his answer.

  "Nope!" He giggled, and turned back around to face his desk. "But-" "Hey Jason! Wanna work together?"
I turn towards Ariel, who had finished talking to her friend. "I- Uh-" "Sorry sweetie, but Jason's already working with me. Isn't he so nice?" He turned to Ariel and put his elbow on my desk. He batted his eyelashes and plastered on a smile. She scowled, turned to me, and pouted. "Really? You don't want to work with me?" I panicked. I want to spend more time with Butterscotch Boy, but my girlfriend wanted to work with me. "Of-Well-" I felt Butterscotch Boy's gaze on me, almost daring me to work with her. I decided I could chill with Ariel later. "It's not that, I just want to welcome him, because no one else will work with him since he's new." I lied. I felt bad for lying to her, but what would she think of me if I didn't lie? "Sorry, but I just wanna hang with the new gay kid." Ariel narrowed her eyes a forged a frown. "Fine then." She faced the other way and  started working with her friend.

  I looked back to find Butterscotch Boy blushing. "...what?" He blinked. "What do you mean, 'what?'?". "You... you actually ditched your friend to work with me?" I blushed. "Y-Yeah." That was all I could come up with. He smiled widely, making me blush. Why does this guy have this affect on me? "Thanks." "N-No problem."

  "So, lets get to work!" I had completely forgotten about the passage we had to read. I realized it wasn't a passage, but a scene from a Shakespearian play. Romeo and Juliet. I started to read the first line. "But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." I felt Butterscotch Boy looking at me, but I kept my eyes on the page, afraid of what I might do if ours eyes met. "Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick, and pale with grief, that thou her maid art far more fair than she. Be not her maid, since she is envious. Her vestal livery is but sick and green, and none but fools do wear it; cast it off." I cautiously looked up and saw Butterscotch Boy smiling at me, a light blush dusting his face. I quickly looked back down, feeling a salmon pink blush wash over my face. Why is he just... staring at me?

  "Okay, class. Start packing up. You have one minute. I'm not giving you anymore class time. Turn it on on Friday." Ms. Remnant said, rolling her eyes at the amount of work we did. I heard the bell ring started to put the paper in my bag when Butterscotch Boy started to speak. "Hey, uh... do you know where Ms. Carpenter's room is?" He looked at me sheepishly. "Yeah, it's two doors down from my class. I'll show you." I slung my backpack over my shoulder. He smiled a bit and put on his backpack.

  We walked to the opposite end of the school, since that's where our rooms were. We talked a bit about the events of 5th period, him laughing about Ryann. Before I knew it, we were there. I stopped, and pointed to Ms. Carpenter's room. His eyes widened a bit, and he almost looked... disappointed?

  "Oh... thanks, Jason." He gave me a sad smile. I felt a pang in my chest. "No problem..." I said, trying to figure out a way to fix this. "...Butterscotch Boy." He giggled, messing with his hair. "Hey... don't we still have an essay to write?" His eyes lit up. "Right! The Romeo and Juliet one!" I grinned, already thinking of a spot to go to. "There's this really awesome restaurant called Cici's Pizza, have you ever been there?" "No, I haven't." "Well, I was thinking we could go there to work on the passage... essay... thingy." He giggled again, quickly pulling a scrap piece of paper out of his backpack. He scribbled something on it, and handed it to me. "Sounds great! Text me the directions. Later Jason!" He did a mini salute and entered his class room.

I looked down at the piece of notebook paper and deciphered the hurried writing. It was hug phone number. I blushed, and stuffed it in my pocket.

Just then, I heard the bell ring, and my teacher shut her door. My face fell, and walked down the hall to get a tardy pass.

<Liam's POV>

So much for subtle.

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HOLY QUIZNACK

THAT TOOK WAY LONGER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE

Just a note: this was just a really long chapter, so the next chapters might be short. I'm sorry😅

Also, the song I choose for each chapter is sometimes the tone for the chapter, sometimes the song I'm jammin' to at the beginning of the chapter, but it's usually both.

That's all!

Byyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeee!!!!!

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