"Ethan, that party we went to yesterday, after you left at least ten girls asked me about you. Man, I got three girls' phone numbers myself. I told you looked good, why didn't you stay till the end?" David asked his seatmate, who was immersed in the new book he got from the library on tennis.

"How long are you gonna ignore me, Ethan? We have been friends for five years and still, I can never understand you. First, you ignored all the girls dying to get your number, and now you are ignoring me too." David whined shaking Ethan to get his attention.

"I told you Davis parties are not my scene, I don't like rubbing on sweaty people who are drunk and stink of bodily fluids. I'd rather read, which you know I don't like much either." Ethan answered huffing, closing his half-finished book.

"Then why are you reading? And what would you even do by reading about tennis, you don't even play tennis." 

"I am planning to," Ethan answered curtly, going back to reading.

His friend just rolled his eyes and got busy with his work. 

It's not that Ethan Davis did not know he was handsome, being 5'8 in high school, with clearer skin than his own future does come with a ton of popularity. However, his unique interest in liking people of his own gender is not something he wants people to know. 

Naturally, his aversion to dating gave him a little cold reputation, but his close friends know he is as far from the cold as one can be, which raises doubts in their minds about why Ethan Davis does not want to date. 

The only solution Ethan could think of for this problem was to stop mingling with people and not go to any parties, but now that is also creating problems for him. 

He broke away from his thoughts by someone calling his name. He looked at the entrance of the classroom to see his sister standing at the door, well half-sister to be precise.

"What do you want?" he asked, going up to her.

"I accidentally got your book, check your bag, I think you have mine," she said annoyed, slapping his book on his face.

Ethan checked his bag and sure enough found Alice's book, he chucked it on her face for an act of good revenge. 

Life was finally settling down for Ethan, now that his sister Alice Wilson was in the same school as him, they were finally getting close. His new dad was also more at home, and now that he started reading and taking an interest in English Literature, he has been talking and taking care of him more and more. Finally, the perfect family he longed for looked similar to his own. 

They don't know about his sexual orientation, but it's fine, it's not like he has a boyfriend or anything, he does not even have a crush. 

Or Maybe he said that too soon.

He was taking a walk in the gym during his free period, trying to see the badminton practice, when his eye caught someone.

He does not remember the guy who was currently dribbling the ball, dodging people left and right, running up to the basket, and shooting the ball right into it. The guy looked even taller than Ethan, with tanned skin and amazing basketball skills. 

He looked around Ethan's age but he wasn't in his class. Maybe he was in another section, Ethan does remember a transfer student who recently joined the class next to his.

Ethan followed the guy with his eyes, he was drenched in sweat from head to toe, his gym uniform clinging to him. He looked exhausted but happy dumping yet another ball in the basket and jogged up to the nearest bench, gulping water down from a plastic bottle. 

Suddenly, as though the guy sensed Ethan's gaze on him, he looked dead in his eyes, making Ethan jump and run away from the gym. He might be thinking that Ethan was some sort of creep. But Ethan did not dare to stop running until he was safely seated in his seat, his heart racing wildly.

Maybe he needs to run more, his heart should not beat this much in such a short distance, yeah he will run starting today, Ethan thought. 

"Dude, why are you so red?" David asked beside him.

"Running, I was running." Ethan answered more to himself, excusing his beating heart and rising heat with running, and not because he had been caught staring at a really handsome guy moments ago.

He should really run more, maybe in the gym room, near the basketball court. Maybe, when certain someone is playing? No, he should stop thinking about it and never go to the gym again. Yes, maybe he will do that, maybe.

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