I shut the door carefully behind me, creeping up to the fridge. Inside, I found a banana and a small packet of peanut butter. Taking them out, I closed the door to the fridge, making my way up the stairs before my parents discovered I was in the middle of a midnight raid... again.

The first four times they accidentally found me had not been pleasurable, especially when I "ruined their sleep and entire night" because they meant to pee and go back to bed. Apparently, they were still asleep during their venture to the bathroom, and my rummaging "woke" them.

I was halfway up the stairs when I heard a distinct buzzing sound, right before the middle of the kitchen was illuminated by a dull light. Shit. I froze, my heaving chest and shallow breaths the only things that disturbed the stillness in the house---which was weird.

Normally, my mother would be already yelling my name, warning me that the next time she finds my head in the fridge would be the last time I ever have a head. Or there'd be footsteps, some kind of scurrying at least. But the kitchen remained dead quiet and asleep, except for the light.

With one hand feeling the wall and the other hiding the banana behind my back, I move downstairs once more.

All my worry and fear flew out of my body in the next breath I puffed out upon seeing the source of the dull glow. My phone. I forgot it was clutched in my hand when I left my room; I must have dropped it on the dining table.

The screen and buzzing had come as a result of a new notification, which I checked out once I had eaten my fix and was in the safety of my room.

Staring at the screen in the darkness made my eyes water, but once the initial stun wore off, I lowered the brightness and looked at the reason behind my almost-heart-attack.

What I saw had every right to make my heart cease beating, and even if the message hadn't come the way it had, I would still be clutching my heart and willing my breathing to steady.

Parks: are you awake?
you probably aren't, that was stupid of me to ask especially after i got shit-faced and never got to meet you.

Me: Hey, I'm up.

A reply came immediately.

Parks: omg was it my fault?? I'm so sorry.

Me: Not at all! I was having a snack. And you got to meet me, we talked, you asked me if I wanted a drink too... then if I wanted a kiss.

Parks: wait really???? How do i not remember ANY of that?

At that point, I didn't know whether or not to be glad that Parker forgot all about our pact. I mean it was great, I wouldn't have to disgrace myself publicly from the rejection I would no doubt get when I kissed him out of the blue. Still, it would have been actually nice to feel Parker's lips on mine instead of just dreaming up the details.

Me: I don't know, probably because you were drunk when all of that happened?

Parks: im so so sorry, Mystery. it was my first time and i really had no idea how much alcohol i could hold. imagine how much I freaked out when i woke up on the living room floor in my house after I blinked just ONCE.

Me: I imagine it was a lot.

Parks: my dad found me, wasn't exactly happy with the state I was in. and my sibs didnt help with the situation lol

I was an only child, and so I didn't know what it was like to share parents and have someone in my business all the time. But I had cousins, lots of them, and they were enough to put me off wishing for siblings. Don't get me wrong, they were great--- for the first few hours. Being around them too long turned pretty ugly pretty fast.

Parks: oh and there's something i wanted to ask you. i have no idea what you look like and i couldn't even describe you to a friend i asked to help me look out

Me: I really don't like taking photos, Parker. Of myself, I mean.

Parks: ok i'm not gonna pressure you to show me your face but can i at least know what you look like? one detail. just one

Just one. That wasn't going to be a problem.

Me: Alright. I have dark hair.

Parks: bet it's super soft

Me: It's soft on most days. And curly.

Parks: what else?

Me: You said one detail. You've reached your limit😂

Parks: if I tell you something about me, will you give me another?

Me: That's fair.

Parker: i have a tattoo

Me: You do? I don't think I've ever seen it.
Where'd you get it? What does it say?

Parker: it talks about you and me

This I found hard to believe. So much that I had to roll off my back and lay on my stomach in order to type faster.

Me: Really?

Parks: yeah. and its on my butt😉 wanna see?

Parks sent a photo

I didn't know what I was hoping for, or what I expected to see while the image loaded. On one hand, I was very curious what the tattoo looked like---because he said it was about us, and not at all to see Parker's naked butt. I mean, not fully. On the other, I wasn't sure Parker was completely sober if he got a tattoo on his rear, took a picture, and sent it to me---who was still somewhat a stranger.

I was about to close the chat when the gray background gave way to a coloured photo. It wasn't of Parker's ass... not that I wished he sent that or anything.

Instead, it was a photo of his arm, revealing dark ink drawn into his skin. And when I saw drawn, I mean drawn. Like with a Crayola marker.

The 'tattoo' featured a very misshapen circle, under which was written in lopsided letters: art. I really didn't see any reason for Parker to use his skin as a canvas until it clicked a moment later. My kiss.

The circle bounded the spot where I had kissed Parker, and him putting effort to try and remember by marking it, and still managing to forget had me smiling.

Me: it looks really nice. i like it.

Parks: thanks! i dunno when i wrote it or why it's on my arm but i like it too. Might get it tatted, you know, without the wobbly writing. i feel like its important

Me: If you ever get it done, I wanna see.

Parks: sure. now my detail?

Me: My eyes are brown.

Parks: my turn. I wear glasses.

Me: I've never seen you with glasses on.

Parks: now theres two things youre learning about me lol, my vision is shit. well I dont really have a tattoo but still.
Also, it's cos i never wear them at school. a moment.

Parks sent a photo

In the photo, Parker's beaming face was imfinitely captured with a bright smile, large glasses framing his face. A hand held his cheek in the cutest pose. Our art was covered by the sleeve of his hoodie and wasn't visible in the picture.

Parker not recognizing me in the car made sense after this detail he shared. Poor eyesight paired with a drunken state? Yeah, there was enough room for him to lose my face in the middle of all that.

Me: Everything looks great on you, Parker.

Parks: youre just saying that to be nice. it makes me feel like a dork.

Me: No, I mean it. And for what it's worth, I think it makes you adorkable.
Geez, that was so lame.

Parks: lame? nah. it was adorkable lol
Detail???

Me: Both my ears are pierced.

Parks: dark hair, brown eyes, pierced ears. since i ruined my chances of seeing you because of booze, I'll be looking for you at school.

Me: And I'll be looking at you while you look for me.

Parks: i don't think youll just be looking with what i have planned

Me: Wait, what does that mean?

Parks: it means we'll hang out on monday if i have my way

Me: WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

Parks: tell you to go to bed cos its 3am. sweet dreams xx

Parker's active status went off and the green dot disappeared. It was 3am, the witching hour. And Parker had just bewitched me and left me in a state where I could think of nothing, except what he was hiding.

Even two days after Parker's ominous text, I was still bewitched. My eyes forever scanned the hallway on my way to homeroom, immersed in finding Parker's features in the blend of multiple faces. I didn't even realize Laura was looking for me in the same way until her voice broke through the spell I was under.

"Adrian!" She caught up to me, staring at me as if I had sprouted another face on my face. "Did you turn deaf during the weekend? I've been yelling your name for God knows how long."

I laughed. "No, I'm just searching for Parker." Admitting to Laura that I was indeed invested in Parker the way she thought made my face fill with heat. I changed the topic as soon as a grin spread across her face. "How did Saturday night go for you?"

"Pretty great! Well, she didn't give me the ride; I joined the guys instead." A shrug. "But we made out a little when I was helping clean up." The grin was wider as she tucked her bottom lip in between her teeth, tilting her head slightly to the side.

"You made out... a little?"

"Okay, a lot. Shut up." Now it was her turn to change the topic. "How were things with Parker?"

I took a deep breath. "We kissed each other... "

"Oh my God, that's---"

"On our arms and like, wrists?"

"---not so amazing."

"But it's cool," I assured, tugging on the straps of my backpack. "Only, he doesn't exactly remember it ever happened."

Laura's eyebrows rose an inch above their normal position. "Oh?"

"Yeah. He was---"

My words stopped flowing when I heard someone ask, "Is that Parker?"

I turned, and sure enough, he was there. At the end of the hall. "Yeah," I mumbled, not knowing why I was smiling, yet not bothering to suppress my delight.

The next voice was more pronounced and more than familiar. Micky. "What the fuck are they doing up there?"

Right, I forgot to add the part where Parker was standing on one of the crates the theatre kids used as a prop.

"Why don't we go find out?" A smile also played at Laura's lips as she took my hand and led me in the direction other curious students were headed. To Micky, she questioned, "You know Parker still goes by 'he' right?"

"I know that. But Parker's nonbinary and nonbinary people use 'they' or 'them.' I'm just trying to respect him here." He joined us, pushing a lanky boy, so he could walk at the same level we were.

"Didn't you just refer to Parker as--- " Laura started, staring a hole through Micky's head. His uninterested expression put her off. "---ugh, why do I bother?"

"Because you're in love with me, Laura. I don't blame you though. Who can resist the appeal?" He passed Laura a smug smile which she shook her head at.

We took a spot behind a small group who had also gathered to hear whatever Parker Thompson had to say. He was in a baby pink t-shirt, which had a little pocket with flowers drawn on the inside. There was an inscription on the outside, but I couldn't read it from where I stood. What I could read was the fading ink, which was on full display on Parker's arm.

Butterflies and rainbows raged in my belly.

There was murmuring, and some full on conversations, but the noise fairly lessened when Parker started speaking.

"I'm trying to find this person I've been talking to," he started, rubbing at the back of his head. This is what he planned. "Actually, it's more like texting. And I guess I can find them much more easily by just asking people who the account belongs to, but I want them to let me know who they are... by themselves. So I kinda need your cooperation to make this work."

I had to hand it to him; this was quite the plan. The halls were always choked with people by this time of the morning, and it was the next best thing to try since we didn't have Biology until Thursday.

"This some kind of joke, Thompson?" someone asked.

"Not at all. And it's just gonna take a minute, I promise," Parker assured, finger moving up to his lips. "If both your ears aren't pierced, you're free to go and enjoy your day, or just move further to the back."

A good number stepped back. Who would have thought they'd actually listen to him?

He continued, flashing a grateful smile. "Thank you. Now, if your hair is any colour apart from dark brown or black, you can also go about your day."

Again, the people crowded at the front thinned---redheads, blonds, and students with hair that was dyed all sorts of colours all moved, sticking around to see where all this led. I remained where I stood.

"Okay, um, only brown-eyed people have to remain. The rest of you can leave now, thanks for the help."

The number left was even smaller, no more than ten.

I felt pressure on my shoulder as Laura squeezed it. "I'll be watching from my locker." I opened my mouth to ask why she was leaving when she widened her bright green eyes to silence me. "I dunno what Parker's up to, but I'm glad it's in your favour. This is your chance, Adrian. Don't ruin it with wrist kisses." A wink later, I could only see her retreating back.

Parker's voice brought my attention back to him. "Shi---I f-forgot there's one more thing. If you don't take Mrs. Smith's Biology class, kindly step back."

And then there were three. Me, Anisha Patel, and Isabella McCarthy. The four descriptors used were the only things we had in common.

Anisha's hair wasn't as short as mine. It swept past her shoulders and ended at her lower back. Her skin was comparatively darker next to mine, and she wore braces. Still, I knew she was out of the race because she hadn't been at Marie's birthday party. And as far as I knew, I had told Parker that we had spoken there.

Isabella, however, had been there, gleaming in all her preppy glory---just like she was now, in her baggy white jeans, cropped polo top, and the sweater tied around her shoulders. She watched Parker with what looked like interest hidden behind uncertainty.

And I was so caught up in studying her reaction that I missed the part where Parker hopped off his makeshift podium and walked up to us. His hand accidentally brushing mine, sent a jolt through me, and knocked me right back into reality.

Parker's eyes roamed each of our faces as he said, "The rest of you can leave now. Thanks for the help."

No one who had been present at the beginning of his little experiment moved a muscle.

"Told you you won't just be looking, Mystery."

Anashi's expression changed to one of confusion. "I think I'm not supposed to be here, because I have no idea what you're talking about." And then there were two.

"And then there were two," Parker repeated my thoughts. His hands went behind his back and he lifted an eyebrow. "Which one is it?"

I could read the writing on Parker's shirt now. It was in a purple font and said: Just Take My Flowers.

Just take the chance, Adrian. It was so near, just one lean, one word, and I could take Parker's hand as both Mystery and Adrian. But I couldn't move. Not my hand. Not my lips. Not with all those eyes watching.

Revealing myself meant two things; coming out to Parker as Mystery and coming out to the school as queer. And I was beginning to think I wasn't ready for either.

Same went for Isabella who stood dead silent instead of telling the truth like Anashi did.

"Neither of you is gonna say a word?" Parker asked. "Adrián? Bella?" He got no reply. "Guess I'll have to just text you then, Mystery."

I didn't even have time to think about how my phone would expose me when he did, because Isabella blurted out a response.

"It's me. I'm Mystery." She stepped forward with a huge grin, laughter ringing loudly.

I held nothing against Isabella McCarthy, nothing at all. But I knew I wouldn't help her if she spontaneously combusted and ended up on fire from how red her face got. If flames started coming out of her, and I had a glass of water, I'd drink it.

~~
Word count: 2914 words

The first half of this chapter was adorkably cute, don't you think??
And the second half---well, we don't talk about that.

Leave your thoughts here, as usual ~>

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