Chapter 15
Carl slipped into the classroom just before the bell, the neatly wrapped math notebook in his hand. He walked over to Theo's desk, holding it out.
"Thanks for lending me this," Carl said, his voice even but polite. "Helped a lot."
Theo looked at the notebook, then at Carl. The easy thing would be to just take it, nod, and go back to what he was doing. But instead, he let the silence stretch before finally taking it from him.
Carl hesitated, then added, "Actually… I still didn't understand a few things. Mind explaining them to me?"
Theo's first instinct was to say no. To watch Carl walk back to his perfect little circle of friends and feel that tiny sting of rejection for once. But something in his tone—genuine, maybe?—made him pause.
"See me during lunch," Theo said at last, his voice clipped.
Carl blinked, surprised. "Really?"
Theo gave a small shrug. "If you want."
Carl's lips curved into a smile before he could stop it. "Thanks." He turned and went back to his seat, but there was a lightness in his step now.
Theo opened his notebook, pretending to read, but his eyes kept drifting toward Carl. And Carl, for the rest of the lesson, found himself glancing at the clock more than the board, already counting the minutes until lunch.
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Carl pushed open the door to the upper roof, the faint creak echoing in the otherwise quiet space. Lunchtime had emptied the area—most students were in the cafeteria or lingering in the halls—but Theo had asked him to meet here.
He'd told Valerie and Gina earlier. Gina, of course, had launched into an entire "how to win him over" lecture until Valerie dragged her away.
Now, alone, Carl paused just inside, drawing in a breath before running a hand through his hair. He balanced a small bag in his other hand—snacks and drinks he'd picked up on the way.
Theo was already there, head bent over a notebook, his hair catching the midday light like a brushstroke on canvas. For a moment, Carl just stood there, taking in the sight.
Theo looked up. "Didn't think you'd actually show."
"Why wouldn't I?" Carl smiled and crossed the space between them. He set the bag on the table. "I got this for you."
Theo's gaze flicked to it, then back to Carl. "Looks expensive."
"It's not," Carl said quickly.
"I don't want it. Let's just get to why we're here." The words were flat, almost dismissive.
A flicker of embarrassment burned in Carl's chest. He pulled the bag back toward him, licking his lips. "I just wanted to… appreciate you for helping me, that's all."
Theo studied him for a beat—his expression unreadable—before stretching out his hand. Carl blinked at it, unsure, until Theo's eyes shifted meaningfully toward the bag.
"Oh." Carl hurried to hand it over. Theo took it without a word, pulling a snack free as he opened his book. "Let's start before lunch is over."
"Okay," Carl said, leaning in.
Their hands brushed more than once as Theo pointed at equations, his voice steady and precise. Carl wasn't listening as closely as he should have—he kept catching himself watching Theo instead, noticing the faint curve of his lashes, the way his brow furrowed in concentration.
The bell broke the moment, sharp and unwelcome. Theo packed his notebook and stood, the snack still in his hand.
"Maybe we can… continue tomorrow?" Carl asked, trying to sound casual.
Theo paused, glanced back at him, and gave a small nod before walking off.
Carl grinned to himself, quickly shoving his things into his bag before hurrying to catch up.
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Theo
Theo sat at the corner table on the roof, pen moving across his notebook. The rooftop was quiet—just the wind and the faint noise of students below.
He'd half-expected Carl not to show. People like him didn't climb dusty staircases to the top of the building for something as small as homework help. Carl Hale had better things to do.
The door creaked. Footsteps followed. Theo didn't look up immediately, but he felt the shift in the air. Then Carl's voice came, light and almost too friendly.
"I got this for you," Carl said, setting a bag on the table.
Theo's eyes flicked to it—drinks, neatly wrapped snacks. Not cheap ones either. Of course.
Showing off, Theo thought. Rich kids didn't know how not to. Every gesture felt like a performance. He wasn't going to be bought with fancy packaging.
"Looks expensive," he said flatly.
"It's not."
"I don't want it. Let's just get to why we're here."
For a moment, Carl's expression shifted—like he'd been caught off guard. He started to pull the bag back, muttering something about just wanting to thank him.
Theo studied him. He looked… smaller somehow. Shoulders down, eyes almost uncertain. Not the untouchable boy everyone in school seemed to watch. Against his better judgment, Theo held out his hand.
Carl just blinked at it.
Theo's gaze slid deliberately to the bag.
"Oh," Carl said quickly, pushing it toward him. Theo took it, pulled out a snack, and opened his book again.
"Let's start before lunch is over," he said, more to keep things moving than anything else.
Carl leaned in. He smelled faintly of something clean and expensive—soap that cost more than Theo made in a month. Their hands brushed now and then as Theo pointed at formulas, and each time, Carl's focus seemed to slip from the page to him.
Theo ignored it. Or tried to.
The bell rang, sharp and too soon. He closed his notebook, the snack still in his hand.
"Maybe we can continue tomorrow?" Carl asked.
Theo hesitated. He should say no. Keep this distance. But for reasons he couldn't name, he found himself nodding.
As he walked away, he didn't look back. But he knew—knew—Carl was smiling behind him.