Nathan and YN walked down the hallway together, their fingers intertwined, the noise of the lunchroom and the chatter of students now a distant memory. The halls were quieter now, and it was just the two of them, walking in sync. Nathan's hand was warm in hers, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for him.

They reached the entrance to YN's class, and Nathan stopped in front of the door. YN smiled up at him, her eyes soft with appreciation. "Thanks for walking me," she said, her voice low but full of warmth.

Nathan smiled back at her, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face. "Anytime," he replied. He had been walking her to class like this since they started dating. It wasn't just because it was a sweet gesture, but because he loved the time they spent together, even if it was just a few minutes between classes.

YN grinned, her eyes twinkling. "Movie night tonight?" she asked, making sure he didn't forget. She loved how they always had their little traditions—movie nights and midnight walks. It was their way of escaping the world and just being together.

"Of course," Nathan said, his voice steady and warm. "I'll be there, don't worry."

YN smiled, a soft blush creeping up her cheeks. She leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before pulling back, her eyes filled with affection. "See you later, Nathan."

Nathan's smile never wavered, and before YN could turn to enter the classroom, he reached out, gently pulling her back. "Hold on," he said quietly. He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers in a quick, tender kiss.

YN's heart skipped a beat as she pulled back, looking up at him, her cheeks pink. "See you later," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

"Yeah, see you later, love," Nathan replied, his words wrapped in affection. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before stepping back, watching her head into the classroom. She paused at the door, turning to glance back at him one last time before disappearing inside.

Nathan stood there for a moment, just taking it all in. YN was his, and he wasn't going to let anyone try to mess with that. As he turned to walk back down the hall, he noticed a couple of the cheerleaders from earlier standing nearby. Their eyes were still on him, but this time, Nathan couldn't be bothered.

They watched him with raised eyebrows, a smirk playing on one of their faces. One of them leaned toward the other and whispered, though Nathan could hear every word. "Must be nice to have a guy who's wrapped around your finger."

Nathan kept walking, his pace steady. He ignored them, knowing exactly what they were doing. The teasing, the whispering—it didn't matter. They could think whatever they wanted.

He had YN. And that was enough.

He could hear one of the girls say something else, but he didn't stop. He didn't even glance their way. It was a tactic they'd been using all year—trying to get a reaction, trying to make him feel insecure, but Nathan wasn't buying into it.

As he walked further down the hall, he could hear the faint sound of their giggles behind him, but it barely registered. He was too focused on the warmth in his chest, the memory of YN's soft lips against his. That was what mattered.

When Nathan got to his locker, he paused for a moment, leaning against the cool metal as he took a deep breath. He wasn't some naive teenager. He knew what people said when they thought no one was listening. But it didn't matter. He knew what he had with YN, and it was real.

The triplets were right about one thing—Nathan was a softie. But that softness was only reserved for one person. And no one, not even those girls, could take that away from him.

A few minutes later, Chris came over to him, grinning like the cat that got the cream. "So, how'd the walk go?" he asked, his voice teasing but with a hint of curiosity.

Nathan just gave him a half-smile, shaking his head. "She's perfect," he said simply.

Chris raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "You're whipped, man. I thought you'd be all tough guy about it."

"I am," Nathan said, straightening up. "But there's nothing wrong with caring about someone, you know? YN's not just some girl. She's the one for me."

Chris let out a low whistle, clearly taking in the seriousness in Nathan's tone. "Alright, alright. I get it. You're whipped, but you've got a point. You're not just playing around like some of us," he said with a grin. "But seriously, if anyone messes with her, they'll have to deal with me first."

Nathan's eyes flicked over to where the cheerleaders had been standing earlier, but they were gone now. He shook his head with a small grin. "Nah, they can talk all they want. They won't change anything."

"You know," Chris said, his tone a little more serious now, "I've never seen you like this before. I mean, I get it, she's your girl and all, but you really don't care what people say, do you?"

Nathan shrugged. "I don't. She's not just some bet, Chris. She's my girlfriend, and that's all that matters. People can think what they want, but I know where my heart is."

Chris studied him for a moment before chuckling. "Man, you really are whipped. But I respect it. That's the kind of guy you should be."

Nathan didn't answer. He just nodded, already thinking ahead to the night with YN. Movie night. Midnight walk. It was their thing. And nothing, not even a few cheerleaders, could mess with that.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the break, Nathan closed his locker and walked out of the hall, a small smile playing on his lips. Tonight, he'd be with YN. No one could take that away. Not the girls, not the whispers, not anyone. They had their own thing going, and that was more than enough for him.

When the final bell rang at the end of the day, Nathan couldn't get to YN fast enough. He couldn't wait for movie night, couldn't wait for that midnight walk. As he reached the door to the school and saw YN waiting outside, he couldn't help but grin.

She smiled at him, her eyes lighting up. "Ready for tonight?" she asked, her voice sweet and excited.

"Always," Nathan said, taking her hand and leading her to the car. He wasn't worried about anything else. They were together, and that was all that mattered.

As they drove off into the night, the world felt quiet. Peaceful. They had each other, and in that moment, nothing else could touch them. The rest of the world could talk, laugh, or judge. Nathan didn't care. He had the only thing that truly mattered—YN. And he'd protect that, no matter what.

The school bell rang, signaling the end of lunch and the beginning of the second half of the day. YN walked into her class with a smile on her face, still feeling the warmth of Nathan's kiss on her lips and the comfort of his hand in hers. They'd shared a quick, sweet moment before parting, but the excitement for movie night and their midnight walk lingered in her chest, making her feel light and happy.

As she entered the classroom, she heard her friends before she even saw them. They were already sitting at their desks, talking loudly, as usual. The chatter grew louder as YN walked to her seat, and her friend Maddie—one of her closest friends—looked up at her with a mischievous grin.

"Oh look, it's Ms. Lovebird herself," Maddie teased, winking at YN. "I hope you and Nathan didn't have too much fun during lunch. You two are like... the definition of 'sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.'"

The rest of YN's friends, all girls from her class, giggled along with Maddie, their voices dripping with playful teasing. YN could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as the teasing intensified. It wasn't the first time they'd joked around about her and Nathan. In fact, it had become a kind of running joke for them ever since she and Nathan had started dating. But today, it felt... different.

She rolled her eyes, trying to hide the blush that was creeping up her neck. "Shut up, Maddie," she said, her tone playful but firm, trying to brush off the teasing. She wasn't embarrassed—she just didn't want to deal with it right now.

Maddie didn't let up. "Oh, come on, YN," she said, leaning forward on her desk. "You and Nathan are, like, the cutest thing ever. Seriously, I see you two, and it's like you're living out one of those high school rom-coms."

"Yeah, but does he always act so... soft?" another friend, Lily, chimed in, clearly curious. "Like, does he really treat you like a queen?"

YN's cheeks burned a little more at the question, but she shrugged nonchalantly. "He's just being Nathan," she said, her voice steady but with a small smile playing on her lips. "He's always like that. I don't mind."

Maddie and the others exchanged glances, clearly not convinced. "Yeah, but we're just saying, it's kind of funny how into you he is," Maddie said with a grin. "You can totally tell he's wrapped around your finger."

"Okay, okay," YN said, her voice rising a little in mock frustration. "Enough with the 'Nathan and YN sitting in a tree' song already. Seriously."

Her friends burst into laughter, their teasing just getting louder, but YN wasn't fazed. Deep down, she was proud of what she had with Nathan. It wasn't about playing into some stereotype or looking a certain way to other people. What mattered was how they treated each other—and Nathan treated her with more respect, care, and love than she could ever ask for.

"Alright, alright," Maddie said, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "We'll stop, we'll stop. But you gotta admit, you two are adorable together."

"Yeah, yeah," YN said, rolling her eyes but smiling. "Whatever. Just stop before the whole class starts singing that stupid song."

The girls giggled and eventually got distracted by something else, but YN couldn't shake the feeling that everyone had their eyes on her and Nathan. She knew they had their own special thing, but sometimes, she felt like people didn't take it seriously. The teasing always came from a place of fun, but it also carried a little hint of judgment, as though they couldn't understand how Nathan—who was always so chill and laid-back—could be so... soft around her.

YN wasn't about to let the teasing get to her, though. She knew what she had, and she was proud of it. Nathan was sweet, caring, and, yes, a little soft when it came to her—but that didn't make their relationship any less real or meaningful. In fact, it made it even more special.

As the class continued, YN found herself distracted by thoughts of Nathan. She was already counting down the minutes until they could hang out again. She knew that tonight, when they had their movie night and midnight walk, things would be just as perfect as always. She wouldn't let anyone ruin that, especially not a few jokes from her friends.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. YN quickly gathered her things and stood up, ready to head to her next class. But as she walked out of the room, she saw Nathan waiting for her just down the hall, leaning casually against the lockers. His eyes lit up when he saw her, and a wide smile spread across his face.

"Hey, you," he said, his voice warm and affectionate. "How's your day been so far?"

YN couldn't help but smile back. "It's been fine. Just, you know, dealing with the usual." She rolled her eyes dramatically, knowing Nathan would get what she meant.

"Ah," he said, his smile turning into a playful grin. "The 'sitting in a tree' song, huh?"

YN groaned. "Don't remind me."

Nathan chuckled, stepping closer to her. "I don't know. I think it's kind of cute. At least we've got something to make people talk."

YN shook her head but smiled nonetheless. "You know, you're a real softie."

"And you love me for it," Nathan replied, his grin widening. He leaned in, brushing his lips against hers in a quick but sweet kiss. "I'll see you later, love."

YN felt a wave of warmth flood over her, a soft smile curving on her lips as she pulled back slightly. "See you later, Nathan."

As he turned to walk away, YN watched him for a moment, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. No matter how many jokes her friends made or how much teasing she had to deal with, nothing could touch what she and Nathan shared. They were comfortable, they were happy, and they were a team. No one could take that away from them.

Her friends might joke about the "sitting in a tree" song, but deep down, YN knew the truth. She and Nathan weren't just playing a game—they were building something real, something lasting. And that was far more important than any silly song or joke that anyone could throw their way.

As she made her way to her next class, a small smile still tugged at her lips. Tonight was movie night. Midnight walk. And that was all she needed. 

YN walked into her art class with a sigh, mentally preparing herself for another hour of dealing with the usual high school chaos. Art was usually her escape—her favorite subject—but today, she wasn't sure she could focus on her sketching with everything that had happened earlier.

As she entered the classroom, she spotted her brother Nick sitting at their usual table near the back. She waved at him, grateful for the familiar face, and walked over to sit beside him. It wasn't often that she and Nick shared a class, especially since freshmen and sophomores were usually split, but today, she was glad for it. Having her older brother around was a small comfort in the sea of gossip and rumors that always seemed to follow her.

"Hey, Nick," YN said quietly as she slid into the seat next to him. Nick gave her a quick glance and a subtle nod before turning his attention back to his sketchpad.

"Hey, you," he replied, his voice low, as if he could sense the tension in the air. He knew what had been happening at lunch, and even though he didn't always show it, he hated the teasing and comments YN had to endure.

As YN settled in, the door to the class opened, and in walked a few of the cheerleaders. Among them was the one girl who had been giving YN a hard time at lunch. The cheerleader, Olivia, was all smiles as she slid into a seat at the table across from YN. YN could feel her presence almost immediately, and she could already tell that Olivia had something to say.

Nick, sitting next to YN, stiffened as he noticed who had entered the room. He shot a quick glance at YN, who gave him a small, reassuring smile. She wasn't going to let anything bother her. Not now. She had bigger things to think about.

The art teacher, Mr. Ramirez, began handing out assignments for the day, and the class fell into a rhythm. YN picked up her pencil and began sketching, trying to block out the noise around her. But Olivia wasn't going to let that happen. She leaned over the desk, her voice loud enough for YN to hear, even over the murmur of the rest of the class.

"So," Olivia began, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "Has Nathan ever, you know, done it with you?"

The question caught YN off guard, and she looked up at Olivia, her pencil frozen mid-air. She felt her face flush, but she wasn't about to let the cheerleader get under her skin.

Nick, sitting next to YN, immediately tensed. His fists clenched on the table, and his jaw tightened in anger. No one messed with his little sister—especially not like this. He was about to say something, but YN put a hand on his arm, stopping him before he could make a scene.

"Why do you care?" YN asked coolly, raising an eyebrow at Olivia. She wasn't going to let the question rattle her. "Is it really any of your business?"

Olivia smirked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Just wondering," she said with a shrug, but the smirk never left her face. She was clearly enjoying the discomfort she was causing.

YN wasn't about to give Olivia the satisfaction of a reaction. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "We're fine," YN said firmly, her voice steady. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm just trying to get through this class. So, leave me alone."

Nick's eyes narrowed as he glanced at Olivia, his protective instincts kicking in. He was about to snap at her when YN spoke again, her tone calm but firm.

"Seriously, Olivia, you should try focusing on your own life," YN added. "Maybe then you won't have time to bother people who are actually happy."

For a moment, there was silence. Olivia opened her mouth as if to argue but seemed to think better of it. She scowled, clearly annoyed that YN wasn't giving her the reaction she wanted, before turning her attention back to her own work.

YN let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding and looked at Nick. He was still tense, but he gave her a small nod of approval. "You good?" he asked quietly, his voice protective.

"Yeah," YN replied with a small smile. "I'm good. Thanks for being here."

Nick didn't say anything else, but his presence next to her was enough. He knew how much she hated confrontation, but he was always there when she needed him. The rest of the class passed by in relative peace, with Olivia eventually retreating to her own corner, grumbling under her breath.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, YN stood up, gathering her things. She looked over at Nick, who was still giving Olivia a hard stare from across the room.

"You're really good at being the big brother," YN said with a playful grin.

Nick rolled his eyes, standing up and slinging his backpack over his shoulder. "You don't need me to protect you," he said, though there was a hint of softness in his voice. "But I'll always have your back."

YN smiled up at him, feeling thankful for the unwavering support he always gave her. "I know. But it's nice to have you around," she said. "Even if you're super overprotective."

"I'm not overprotective," Nick said, raising an eyebrow, but the smile he gave her proved otherwise.

As they walked out of the classroom, YN couldn't shake the feeling that Olivia wouldn't be the last to question her and Nathan. High school wasn't exactly kind to relationships, especially not when people thought they had the right to judge. But YN knew that no matter what, she and Nathan were fine. They were stronger than the rumors, stronger than the teasing. They had something real, and that was more than enough.

As they walked down the hall toward their next classes, YN's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw a message from Nathan.

Nathan: Can't wait for tonight. Movie night, midnight walk, and just us. 💖

YN smiled, her heart fluttering as she typed back quickly.

YN: Same here. See you soon, love. 💕

She put her phone back in her pocket, feeling her heart settle. Tonight, everything would be perfect again. And no one, not even Olivia or the rest of the high school, could take that away from her.

The school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. YN gathered her things quickly, eager to meet up with Nathan. She could already feel the excitement buzzing in her chest. After a day filled with teasing, rumors, and her usual class chaos, she was looking forward to the quiet comfort of their movie night and midnight walk.

Nick waved goodbye as she walked past him, already heading to his own plans for the evening. YN was grateful he'd been there to help her through the awkward moments earlier. She knew she could always count on him, but tonight was all about her and Nathan.

YN quickly made her way out of the school, her eyes scanning the parking lot. There, parked near the curb, was Nathan's car. She couldn't help but smile as she