It was strange how fast a school could go from chaos to routine.
By Monday, the scorched locker was gone. The halls were freshly painted. The fire alarm reset.
But the rumors?
They spread like wildfire.
"Did you hear Leo and the transfer kid beat up seven guys?"
"I heard it was a gang thing—like, real criminals."
"Are they… dating or something?"
Leo walked through it all with his usual cool, but inside, his stomach churned. Eyes were on him. Whispers trailed him. People he barely knew suddenly acted like he was someone to fear—or someone to admire.
Kieran, on the other hand, moved through the crowd like a ghost. Untouchable. Unapologetic. His bruised cheek didn't go unnoticed, but no one dared ask.
---
In class, the tension between them buzzed beneath the surface.
Leo passed him a note under the desk.
"Still breathing?"
Kieran glanced at it, then scribbled a reply.
"Barely. You?"
"Same."
Kieran's lips twitched—a half-smile that made Leo's chest tighten.
---
After school, they met behind the gym.
"I'm guessing people think we're vigilantes now," Leo said.
Kieran shrugged. "Could be worse."
Leo looked at him. "Yeah. Like 'murderers.' Or 'boyfriends.'"
Kieran raised an eyebrow. "Which one scares you more?"
Leo didn't answer right away.
"I think I'm fine with either," he said, voice low. "As long as it's with you."
That stopped Kieran cold.
For once, no sarcasm. No walls.
Just silence.
Then…
"Careful," Kieran murmured, stepping closer. "You say stuff like that, I might believe you."
Leo's smile was soft. "Then believe me."