"Would you want to go out some time?" I blurted out while we were meant to be discussing some poem I didn't have the energy to read.

        Grace's eyes widened, but so did her smile. "Yeah, for sure."

        I nodded, letting go of a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Right. So... poetry."

        She giggled and turned back to the paper in front of us. "Yep. Poetry."

<><><>

        "Congratulations on getting the new girl, by the way," Marcus said at lunch a day after I'd asked her out. "Blake told me."

        I gave him a tight lipped smile. "Thank you."

        They hadn't really acknowledged my existence for a few days, so I didn't expect anyone to say anything. But suddenly, all eyes were on me.

        "We didn't know you had it in you, squirt," Oliver laughed. I really didn't like that guy.

        "Don't give him a hard time," Blake jumped in.

        He rolled his eyes. "Relax, Montgomery. Can't we just give him a few tips?"

        "I've got one! Don't use too much tongue, girls hate that," Alex said in between bites of his sandwich.

        "Um... alright."

        "Slow it down, lads. First he has to work up to courage to hold her hand," Oliver joked, snickering obnoxiously at his own dig.

        "I may be shy, but that doesn't mean I haven't kissed a girl," I told him defensively.

        "Mate, you're the only person in 6th form who I wouldn't believe if you said you've snogged a girl."

        "Well I have."

        "No you haven't," Blake spoke up, looking at me like I was dumb enough to forget that I hadn't gotten to do what all teenage boys dream of.

        I shot him a 'please-go-along-with-it-so-I-don't-get-my-ass-kicked' look, but he didn't say anything else. He brushed it off and took a bite of his salad.

        Next to me, Oliver winced. "That was hard to watch. You'll get there, Elijah. It may take a few years, but I'm sure your time will come," he told me before ruffling my hair with a sickly-sweet smile.

        "Whatever," I mumbled as I grabbed my bag and decided I'd start walking to my next class a bit earlier than normal.

<><><>

lil chapter for y'all. I cringed writing this because Oliver is an absolute prick. And also, what the fuck Blake? Why you gotta throw ya boi under the bus like that? I'm literally yelling at my own characters oi.

Anyway, how are you liking the story so far? If you have any suggestions or theories, don't hesitate to comment them. I love getting comments and I always try to respond ASAP.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. Make sure to comment and favourite and add to your library so you can see when I update. Adios for now!

~Teddy