After that almost-kiss, the air between Anthony and Kenny shifted palpably, charged with unspoken words and unresolved tension. Anthony could feel it, heavy in the atmosphere, weighing down his chest like a leaden cloak. Every time he caught a glimpse of Kenny, a rush of confusion spiralled within him—what did that moment mean? Yet for Kenny, it seemed to signify an entirely different narrative, one that Anthony couldn’t comprehend.

The days following their encounter unfolded in a bewildering manner. Kenny began avoiding Anthony with a deftness that left him bewildered. In the hallways, during lunch, even after school, Kenny would barely glance in his direction. It was as though their connection had been severed, replaced by an awkward chasm that Anthony found himself desperately trying to bridge. Whenever Anthony spotted Kenny, he was usually surrounded by his friend group, or—much to Anthony’s chagrin—cuddled up with his girlfriend, Carissa. Seeing them together, laughing easily, made something twist painfully in Anthony’s chest, a knot of jealousy and confusion coiling tightly around his heart.

“Maybe it was just a heat-of-the-moment thing,” Anthony told himself repeatedly, as if uttering the words could convince him of their validity. But each time he tried to quell the burgeoning disappointment, it only intensified, a weight pressing down on him. He felt lost in an emotional labyrinth, with no clear path to follow.

Devon, his best friend, noticed the shift in him almost immediately. It was like a spotlight had been turned on, illuminating the corners of Anthony’s despair that he had tried so hard to conceal. They sat in the cafeteria one lunch period, the noise of their peers buzzing around them, while Devon did her best to lift his spirits. Anthony pushed his food around on his tray, mind elsewhere, as the weight of his thoughts threatened to crush him.

“Come on, you look like someone ran over your dog or something,” Devon said, nudging him gently, concern etched on her features.

Anthony managed a half-hearted smile, though it felt foreign on his face. “It’s nothing,” he muttered, wishing he could believe the words he was saying.

Devon rolled her eyes, refusing to let the matter go. “You know, I know that face, Anthony. Spill it. Is it… the project?”

Anthony shrugged, unsure of how much to divulge. “It’s… complicated.” He yearned to share everything—the almost-kiss, the confusion swirling in his mind, the ache of Kenny’s avoidance—but every time he attempted to articulate it, he found himself getting more tangled up, trapped in a web of unexpressed feelings.

Devon continued to look at him expectantly, her eyes softening with empathy. After a moment, he sighed, relenting. “Alright, it’s kind of about the project. Let’s just say… things got a little weird, and now it’s like he’s avoiding me.”

Her eyebrows rose, surprise flickering in her eyes. “He? As in, Kenny?”

Anthony just nodded, feeling the heat rush to his cheeks. To her credit, Devon didn’t pry further but nodded sympathetically. “Well, I don’t know what happened, but sounds like you two need to talk it out. If he’s avoiding you, though… that’s a bit trickier.”

Anthony knew she was right. A part of him longed to confront Kenny, to get some semblance of an explanation, but every time he thought about it, he was struck with an overwhelming wave of anxiety. What if what had almost transpired between them meant nothing to Kenny? Or worse, what if it was just a mistake? The very thought made his stomach churn.

In the end, Devon’s attempts to cheer him up fell short, leaving Anthony feeling even more isolated. He spent the rest of the day in a haze, thoughts looping back to that singular moment—Kenny’s eyes, the closeness, the spark of something electrifying yet frightening. By the time he returned home, he felt like he’d been on an emotional rollercoaster, his parents’ concerned inquiries about his well-being echoing hollowly in his ears. He barely had the energy to reassure them, caught in a whirlwind of confusion and heartache.

Later that night, Anthony found himself pacing in his room, unable to escape the thoughts that swirled relentlessly in his mind. How close they had been, the way Kenny’s voice had dipped to a whisper, the spark of connection that had ignited between them—it all felt so real. Yet now, it was as if a fog had rolled in, obscuring his clarity and leaving only questions behind.

He needed to talk to someone, to seek guidance from a trusted friend. But who could he confide in about such complex emotions? Not his parents; they would never understand. Then, like a lightbulb flicking on in the dimness, a thought crossed his mind.

Samantha.

The idea brought a flicker of relief. His older sister wasn’t always the easiest person to talk to—she could be blunt and a bit overbearing—but she had been through her fair share of relationship drama. If anyone could help him navigate the treacherous waters of teenage angst, it was her.

He took a deep breath and walked to her room, knocking lightly on the door.

“Come in!” Samantha called, her voice light and welcoming. Anthony stepped inside, rubbing the back of his neck nervously, the familiar pang of apprehension coursing through him.

“Hey, um… can I ask you something?” he began, taking a seat on the edge of her bed, which was strewn with textbooks and clothes.

Samantha looked at him curiously, raising an eyebrow. “Sure. What’s up?”

Anthony hesitated, trying to choose his words carefully. “So… let’s say you like someone, but you don’t know if they like you back. And, like, you thought maybe there was something there, but now they’re… kind of avoiding you.”

A small smirk appeared on Samantha’s lips as she studied him. “Is this about a girl?”

Anthony winced internally but managed a quick nod, not bothering to correct her. It was close enough to the truth. “Yeah, something like that.”

“Well, if they’re avoiding you, there’s a good chance they’re feeling awkward, too,” she replied, leaning back thoughtfully, arms crossed. “Or maybe they don’t know how to handle it. People are weird when it comes to feelings, you know? Sometimes they just don’t know how to act, especially if they weren’t expecting it.”

Anthony felt a flicker of comfort in her words, a small flame of hope igniting within him. “So… what do I do?”

“Give it some space,” Samantha advised, her tone softening. “Don’t chase after them too much. If they’re interested, they’ll come around. If not… well, then it wasn’t meant to be, right?”

He tried to absorb her advice, though it did little to alleviate his frustration. He wanted answers, closure. But Samantha’s vague reassurances were probably the best he was going to get.

“Thanks, Sam,” he said, forcing a small smile despite the heaviness still weighing on him.

“No problem,” she replied, grinning. “And hey, don’t be such a stranger. You can talk to me about this stuff, alright?”

He nodded, retreating to his room with a slightly lighter heart, though the gnawing feeling in his chest persisted. The week dragged by, each day feeling longer than the last. With every passing moment, he found himself watching Kenny from a distance, a silent observer in a tragic play. Kenny didn’t even look at him anymore, as if the near-kiss had wiped clean any trace of their newfound friendship. Anthony thought about trying to talk to him, but every time he approached, he lost his nerve. He didn’t want to appear desperate, or worse, risk embarrassing himself if Kenny had no intention of revisiting what had happened between them.

Then, one day after school, while lingering near the lockers, Anthony overheard a few of Kenny’s friends chatting animatedly about the party happening over the weekend. Suddenly, a plan began to form in Anthony’s mind. If Kenny wasn’t going to talk to him at school, perhaps he could seize an opportunity at the party—a chance to confront him, to understand the turmoil that was brewing between them.

That evening at dinner, Anthony worked up the courage to ask his parents for permission to attend the gathering. His heart raced as he attempted to sound casual.

“Hey, there’s a… party this Saturday at one of my friend’s places,” he said, forcing nonchalance into his tone. “Could I… go?”

Johnny glanced at Daniel, raising an eyebrow as they exchanged a look that made Anthony’s stomach flutter with uncertainty. “A party, huh?” Johnny asked, a half-amused smirk on his face.

“Yeah, you know, just… a school thing,” Anthony replied, desperate to convince them it was harmless.

Daniel narrowed his eyes, clearly not entirely convinced. “Who’s going to be there?”

Anthony hesitated, scanning his memory for a list of names that wouldn’t raise suspicions. “Uh, you know… people from school. Devon will be there.”

Johnny nodded slowly, but his expression remained sceptical. “Alright, but only if you promise to be home before curfew. And if there’s any trouble, you call us, got it?”

“Got it,” Anthony replied, relief flooding through him. A flicker of excitement ignited within him, mingling with nerves. This could be his one chance to confront Kenny, to get clarity on the whirlwind of feelings that had ensnared him.

He pushed his food around his plate, feeling a bit more hopeful than he had all week. Maybe, just maybe, things would make sense after Saturday. With each tick of the clock leading up to the weekend, Anthony's heart raced with anticipation, uncertainty, and the desperate hope that he could finally unravel the tangled emotions swirling between him and Kenny.