Ethan sat still on his desk, unable to listen to anything the teacher had to say. He was thinking, thinking about last night…about Damian.
He hadn't expected to care this much. Not after one day. Not after barely knowing the guy. He glanced sideways to where Damian sat, his desk was empty. He remembered the boy saying he was off to the library. Did he often visit the library? Ethan wondered as he drew his gaze back onto his desk.
Damian was different, even though Ethan couldn't really tell how. Maybe it was because he related a bit to how the boy felt, or maybe it was something different altogether. He didn't know Damian's whole story. Not yet. But he knew enough; he knew he'd almost killed himself, people wouldn't stop whispering about it. He knew the boy had been bullied relentlessly, probably the reason he was pushed to almost killing himself.
He wasn't used to this—wanting to protect someone he'd just met. Back at his old school, he'd kept things light. Stayed away from trouble, and did his best to not get involved with things that might put him in the spotlight. But things were different here, he was already in the spotlight before he could properly settle in. Yet he didn't hate it, he didn't deny the rumors. There was no need to, kissing Damian didn't feel like something to be ashamed of….
"Get yourself together!"
He'd said that out loud, and now everyone in the classroom was staring at him.
"Is something the matter, Mr Brown?" The teacher asked with a raised brow.
Ethan cleared his throat, heat creeping up the back of his neck. "I'm fine, sir. Just… felt a little off for a second. Can I step out for some air?"
The teacher studied him for a beat, then nodded. "Go ahead. Take your time."
Ethan grabbed his bag and slipped out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him with a soft finality. The hallway was mostly empty, classes were in session, so he walked quickly until he reached the quiet alcove near the old stairwell, the one nobody used because the vending machine there had been broken since last year. He leaned against the cool brick wall, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath.
He'd never thought of kissing a boy before.
Not seriously. Not in the way that made his pulse kick up just thinking about it. He wasn't against the idea. He'd never been the type to care who someone loved. But it had never crossed his mind as something he might want. Until now. Until the photoshopped picture had flashed across his screen this morning and, instead of recoiling, he'd stared at the fake image of their and felt… something. Curiosity. How did his lips taste? How did it feel—
"Ethan?"
He opened his eyes to see Amanda standing at the entrance to the alcove, arms crossed, concern written all over her face. She was Damian's friend, and although they hadn't interacted much, he felt like they were already friends just from having Damian as a mutual friend.
"Hey," he said, managing a small smile. "Didn't expect company."
She stepped closer, tilting her head. "You okay? You looked like you were about to bolt out of class."
"I'm just tired," he lied, rubbing the back of his neck. "Long night. New school jitters, you know?"
Amanda didn't buy it. She leaned against the opposite wall, mirroring his posture. "Is it the rumors? The photo thing? Because if it is, I promise most people will forget by tomorrow. Redwood's attention span is tragic."
Ethan shook his head. "Nah, it's not that." He hesitated, then asked the question that had been circling his mind since he'd left class. "How long have you known Damian?"
Amanda's expression softened instantly. "Since middle school. We met in art club—he used to draw these incredible sketches. We've been glued together ever since."
Ethan nodded slowly. "How does he… deal with all of this? The whispers, the stares, the bullshit people throw at him. How does he not lose it completely?"
Amanda looked down at her shoes for a second, then met his eyes again. "He's probably the strongest person I know. Seriously. Most people would've broken a long time ago. Damian just… keeps showing up. I know for sure that I would have changed schools a long time ago, probably cities even."
She swallowed, voice quieter now. "I wish one day he'd find someone he can really trust. Someone who'd love him for real. He deserves that, he deserves the very best."
Ethan sat still, his focus completely enraptured by Amanda's words.
"I've tried," Amanda continued, almost whispering. "I've tried to be that person for him. But I can only do so much. I'm his best friend, not… you know. Maybe what he really needs is a partner. Someone who sees all the broken parts and still chooses to stay."
There was a small silence between them, then Amanda gave him a small, knowing smile. "You're a good guy, you're probably the first male friend he's had in a while. I know you're a good guy, so please look after him in case I'm not around."
Ethan smiled back, a smile that made Amanda's heart skip a beat. She tore her gaze away immediately, not willing to let him see how much her cheeks were burning at that moment.
"I should get back to class…" she stammered as she straightened her dress. "I'll see you during lunch?"
Ethan rose from where he sat too, not to get back to class though. "Yeah sure, I'll come find you." He replied. Amanda locked eyes with him for one last second before finally running off to class.
Ethan lingered in the alcove a moment longer after Amanda disappeared around the corner before heading off to the library. It was on the far side of the building, tucked behind the science wing.
He spotted Damian almost immediately. The boy had claimed the farthest back corner table, the one half-hidden behind a tall shelf of outdated encyclopedias. Damian sat with his hood up, shoulders hunched over an open sketchbook, pencil moving in slow, deliberate strokes.
Ethan approached without speaking, and only when he was inches away did Damian finally notice him.
"Ethan?" The name came out half whisper, "What are you doing here?"
"Needed to find you," Ethan said simply. He pulled out the chair beside him and sat, close enough that their elbows almost brushed. "Mind if I crash your hiding spot?"
Damian blinked, then a small, real smile curved his lips. "It's not really hiding if you found me in under five minutes."
"Fair." Ethan leaned forward, elbows on the table, and glanced down at the open page.
The sketch was a wolf, head tilted toward the moon. It was beautiful.
Ethan let out a low breath. "Damn. That's incredible."
Damian ducked his head, cheeks tinting pink. "It's just… practice."
"Practice?" Ethan raised a brow, teasing gently. "If that's practice, I'm expecting a full portrait of myself soon. Frame it and everything."
Damian laughed, soft, surprised, the sound catching in his throat like he hadn't expected it. "You'd regret that. I'd make your ears too big."
"I'd still hang it up."
They laughed quietly, careful to not catch the librarian's attention. The laughter soon faded slowly, and was replaced with silence.
Ethan turned his head. Damian was still looking at the sketch, pencil idle between his fingers, but Ethan could see the faint flush still lingering on his cheeks, the way his lashes cast shadows against his skin.
Then his gaze drifted lower. To Damian's lips.
The thoughts from earlier crashed back in, louder now, insistent. How would they feel? Soft? Would it taste like the faint gloss he had on?
Ethan's pulse thundered in his ears.
He'd never done this before. Never wanted to. But right now, sitting there in silence, he wanted nothing more than to quench his curiosity.
He hesitated, long enough that Damian glanced up, caught his gaze and immediately arched his brows in a confused and questioning manner.
Ethan swallowed, still scared and hesitant. But he leaned in regardless. Slowly, giving Damian every second to pull away. But he didn't.
Their lips met, it was soft, gentle, like the two of them weren't sure of what was happening. Ethan's hand came up instinctively, cupping the side of Damian's face, thumb brushing the sharp line of his cheekbone.
Damian exhaled against his mouth, a small, surprised sound, then pressed closer.
The kiss deepened, just a little. Enough to feel the warmth, the slight tremble in Damian's fingers as they curled into Ethan's sleeve.
When they finally parted, barely an inch, Ethan rested his forehead against Damian's, breathing the same unsteady air.
Neither of them spoke for a long moment.
Then Damian whispered, voice barely audible, "You… you just…"
"Yeah," Ethan murmured back, thumb still tracing slow circles on Damian's cheek. "I did."
Damian let out a shaky laugh that sounded close to tears. "I didn't think…"
"Me neither." Ethan pulled back just enough to meet his eyes, wide, stunned, shining. "But I wanted to. Still do."
Damian searched his face like he was waiting for the punchline, the take-back, the moment it turned cruel. It didn't. This was real, and wasn't some sort of prank.
Ethan smiled, a little nervous. "If that was okay?"
Damian nodded once, then again, faster. "More than okay."