12 days until the anniversary

(Y/n) was scared.

Yesterday he was able to convince his parents his sick and he has to stay home, but now he has to go to school again.

Where he has to see Kiana.

Of course he knew he had his friends and most importantly Kenma strengthen his back. They all were there for him and totally on his side, yet the boy couldn't help but feel scared as he stepped though the school gates. He didn't feel ready to see Kiana again already, he barely had enough time to process it all.

But he knew what he had to do today.

    "Hey (Y/n)! You're back to school!", Chase greeted him, Dalia right with him, as if the two would ever spend a minute more than necessary apart.

"Sadly", (Y/n) replied, grumpily. He really did not want to be here.

"Hey, I'm sure it's gonna be alright. I mean, if Kiana does anything stupid, then we'll be on your side. I hope you know that", Dalia tried her best to reassure her friend, as she walked with the two boys.

      (Y/n) tried his best not to snap at her. He wouldn't want to take his anxiety-frustration mix out on someone who only wants to help and who isn't at fault. "Yes, sure. Thanks", he gave them a weak smile.

The hours went by rather quickly, and (Y/n) tried his best to avoid his friends, including Kiana, in the breaks. Sadly, Chase forced him to sit with the rest at lunch break, saying he can't avoid it for ever and that he would have to face Kiana sooner or later.

I mean, it is the truth, but it's not like (Y/n) would like to choose the "sooner" option. But still he followed Chase's wishes and sat with the group at lunch.

     It already was an awkward silence before he got there, the only ones occasionally speaking were Aaliyah and Dalia, meanwhile Chase, Kiana and Elena quietly ate their lunch. "Hey (Y/n)!", Alliyah greeted the boy coming towards the the group, making everyone look in his direction. While everyone smiled at the boy, Kiana turned red and at least looked embarrassed and regretful.

     "Hi", (Y/n) simply greeted and sat down next to Aaliyah at the end of the table.

     It was clear Kiana wanted to say something, but Aaliyah saw and interrupted her just taking a breath. "So, as I was saying, my birthday is on Friday, so I'm having a sleepover Friday to Saturday, and yours all invited! I'll also invite some other people, but I have a really big mattress, I'm sure we all can fit on it. If not, some people can just share the bed".

     "Sounds fun, I'm coming", Dalia answered with a shrug, the rest nodded to Show they'll be there, including Kiana, which made (Y/n) think about coming.

     Maybe he'll pretend to be sick again, so he won't have to be there with Kiana? But if he comes out before that, maybe that wouldn't be necessary? Thoughts were roaming in the boys head, so that he didn't even listen to what Aaliyah said after.

He was thinking a lot about his previous coming outs. How he came out to his parents, Aaliyah, Dalia and Chase... they all were pretty similar, he just said it, no big announcement before that. He never liked making a big deal out of his sexuality. Was this appropriate for coming out to Kiana and also Elena, who was obviously also sitting at the table? Or should he do it a different way?

Why is coming out so hard and anxiety inducing?

     But then he thought about Kenma, and how for the first time he had seen him that insecure, was because of Kiana. He didn't want that, not again. He will come out to her. Everything for his boyfriend.

     "Kiana", he spoke firmly, not once even looking at the girl.

     Immediately the whole table fell silent and the awkwardness induced greatly. But (Y/n) will come out and reject Kiana once and for all.

"I feel like I should tell you this, so we won't have to go through something like... this one incident again", he started. Chase, Dalia and Aaliyah gave each other a knowing look, meanwhile Elena and Kiana both looked curious towards the boy. "I'm not interested in you. Well, I'm not interested in your gender, actually. I'm gay".

For a moment it was silent. Aaliyah, Dalia and Chase didn't say anything, since they already knew. Elena looked baffled, and Kiana's expression was unreadable. Finally, after a few seconds which felt like hours to (Y/n), Elena spoke. "Well, I know this coming out wasn't directly directed at me... but that's cool, I feel honored you felt comfortable enough to share that with me", she gave (Y/n) a heartfelt smile and reached out to his hand, giving it a light squeeze while pulling back again. It's something she always does as some sort of comfort.

Meanwhile, Kiana still just stared, her expression almost emotionless. So, (Y/n) decided to speak again. "I know this came as a shock now maybe, and I'm sorry that I went on a date with-".

"No", she interrupted him. "You aren't actually gay and that's some sort of joke, right?".

(Y/n) paused for a bit. "Well, no, it actually isn't... I mean, I even have a boyfriend, so...", he tried explaining awkwardly, with every word that fell, Kiana's expression changed more into a horrified one.

Elena, being as sweet as always and oblivious to what was going on, said: "You got a boyfriend? Oh that's so sweet actually, what's his name? How long have you guys known each other?".

(Y/n) already wanted to answer, but then Kiana suddenly stood up, knocking her water down in that action. "You actually fucked me over like that?...", she asked, sounding enraged. "You made me believe we still had a chance-".

"Stop that right now, Kiana", Chase now came to help. "Not once (Y/n) showed any interest in you, so stop acting like he did, you guys are barely even friends!".

"So you all knew?", she asked, looking at everyone, disappointed. "You let him fuck me over like this?".

"He didn't do ANYTHING", Chase now screamed, causing Aaliyah to jump and tense up, no one except for (Y/n) who was sitting right next to her noticing though. She didn't look alright at all, she actually seemed scared. Not once had (Y/n) seen her like this, even if they only knew each other for half a month. They've grown to be great friends.

"Are you ok?", (Y/n) whispered into Aaliyah's ear, so that no one else would notice, though, since Chase and Kiana were yelling, basically screaming at each other, no one would notice anyways.

Aaliyah didn't give (Y/n) an answer. It seemed like she wasn't even able to hear anything. Just when (Y/n) touched her hand, she finally reacted, jumping against if she's been woken from a really bad dream.

While half the table was yelling, Dalia now included, (Y/n) and Aaliyah comforted each other by holding hands under the table. It made the both of them feel a little less miserable.

And even if Aaliyah didn't have a father anymore, looking at (Y/n) made it feel like she at least had an older brother to protect her.

And that has to count for something, right?

••••••••••
I may be on vacation, but I will still and always be continuing to upload! Actually, vacation gave me the motivation to finish this whole chapter in one day🤭

(1286 Words)