The bell rang four times, as per usual. This recognizable sound was a cause and effect, ushering out all the students, many by many pouring out like an evacuation. On this fine day, after the fear-evoking conversation with Coach Halfaday about homosexuality, the two boys capered out of the cafeteria arm in arm.
    "Can we stay under cover?" Titus questioned, "you might get sick, and it looks like it's about to rain."
    "Do we have to? The door hasn't even been opened yet. I want to stand out there, I like the cold." Braydin complained. He grabbed both of his hands and dragged him out into the open, chortling.
    As Titus had feared, he felt a small drop of rain on his cheek. This small drop went to two, to maybe a billion in a moment. "Come on, get back under the cover. Dude, it's pouring!"
    "Nuh uh." The smaller simpered at Titus, shaking his head, and then they started spinning in circles.
    Meanwhile, a couple feet away, there was a long-haired, disgusted looking girl. She held Bath and Body Works perfume, 'Japanese Cherry Blossom.' Her eyes dragged up and down the two jolly boys, and she turned to her friend Annie.
    "Eugh, what do those clowns think they're doing?" She spat, spraying her perfume all over herself.
    Annie cocked an eyebrow. "Don't you... y'know, like Braydin?"
    "Shut up." The girl squinted menacingly, dragging her messily-painted acrylic nails through her hair with one hand and continuing to douse herself with the other.
    Annie sighed. "They're just being boys, Brooklyn. Would you want to be in Titus's shoes right now?"
    Brooklyn sniffed before finally capping the spray bottle. "Um, duh. You know if I was in his shoes I'd be doing much more. Anyway... you think he'll like my new perfume?"
    Fischlin opened the door as Annie responded, "Well... sure."

Braydin grinned at Titus as they slowed down and nearly collapsed in each other's arms from all the spinning. He pushed his head underneath Titus's chin and then he pulled back, looking up. He couldn't stop giggling.
"Titus," Braydin effused, barely able to get out, "can I do something?"
Titus, holding the smaller close to him, paused and then nodded. "Uh... okay."
As soon as he spoke, Braydin looked around quickly, turned the two away from the crowd, and pecked him on the lips.

Titus couldn't even react. He felt himself flush, his body burning hot no matter how cold it was outside. Before he could even get a word out, Braydin snuck another kiss in and then took him by the hand. "Fischlin's out!"
Braydin let go of his hand before walking through the doorway. He breathed, exhausted, and then let out an absolutely repulsive cough.
"What the hell–" Braydin bleated between hacks, "Who's perfume is that?!"
"Mine." Brooklyn chirped, batting her eyelashes and crossing her feet.
Braydin shrieked, "Did you take a bath in it?! Jesus Christ, I can barely breathe!-"
Titus pushed him through the door and interrupted him by cooing, "Come on, Braydin. Let's go."

The door opened and Braydin was about to saunter out when Mel rushed past him, nearly knocking him over. Braydin was about to yell out angrily, but Titus spoke a single word; "Don't."
The two continued out the door, Braydin strutting out across the gym floor and Titus following suit close behind him.
As they settled down, the girls' locker room door opened wide. Dahlia, Cassidy, and Carter all walked out, chatting about something small before the shortest of the group departed and made their way toward the far left side of the gym. Before Mel spat out a tease at Carter, they shyly snickered and waved at Jack.
Taryn, Bella, Emma, and Heshw walked out together. The black haired one, first mentioned, let out a loud laugh and shook her companion, while Emma and Heshw just watched before they all took their respective seats.
As the locker rooms emptied, among the last of them was Brooklyn, yanking her flannel pajamas up aggressively. She somehow smelt even stronger of Japanese Cherry Blossom, and Braydin was hit head-on with a sense of dread and a migraine from the strong aroma.
"Hello, Mr. Fischlin!" The girl hollered so loudly it echoed. Braydin shot a glance at his partner and mouthed, help me, my ears are ringing.
She sat down quite aggressively, looking back at Braydin and smiling. "Hey, Braydin. You like what you see?"
Braydin looked at her, stonefaced and unnerved. "No."
"Oh, stop playing with me! I know you're not too hard to get, stop messing around!" She whined, faking a giggle to sound admirable. Braydin just rolled his eyes and then turned toward Dezzy to listen in on the conversation she was having with Jack.
"No, seriously!" Dezzy reasoned, "You look like you listen to Kanye. Like, actually."

"Dude, how?" Jack questioned genuinely.
"Because you do! Stop laughing, Carter. It's true!" Dezzy continued, turning to the girl covering her face and giggling.
"Okay, I- I can't lie," Carter spoke through breaths, "You do."
Fischlin spoke, "I listen to Kanye. Anyway, let's get ready for warmups!"
    Everyone stood up individually, and Brooklyn was about to gibe some more toward Braydin for his attention but he wasn't paying attention.
    "Braydin..." she sang, kicking her leg out aggressively. She looked him up and down, back arching. However, he genuinely could not care and went over to stand alongside Titus.

"Go pick your teams!" Fischlin hollered. It was the middle of the basketball unit, and there would be four teams, two for each side (being competitive and non-competitive).
    There would be people obviously on the non-competitive side, like Zoey, Carter, and Ace, and there would be the people on the competitive side, like Titus and Braydin. The two smiled at each other and looked around to see if anyone would join their team.
    Jack approached them, and so did Mel, Dezzy, and Van. Alyanna called to Van angrily, but Van snickered and rolled his eyes in response. Braydin was about to turn to Titus and speak a sweet nothing, but—
    "Braydin!" Brooklyn shrieked, grabbing the brunette by his hand and spinning him to face her. "Be on my team, please!"
    Braydin shook his hand, wiping his hand on his leg in mock disgust. "No, dude. I wanna be with Titus."
    Brooklyn cocked an eyebrow. "What, are you guys gay??"
    Braydin's breath caught in his throat and he looked over at Titus for a response. Thankfully, Titus had one prepared.
    "No," Titus smirked, placing a hand on Braydin's waist. "But if I were, I would 100% go for him. Too bad he's on my team though, so go to Nazareth or something."
    Brooklyn rolled her eyes and scoffed, strutting away frustrated. Braydin turned to Titus and said, "Thank you. I had no response to that."

"What- dude, move." Brooklyn was bent over like she was about to play volleyball in front of Braydin, who was staring down at her with a revolted look on his face.
    "Over here! Over here!" Brooklyn trilled repetitively. Braydin shook his head vigorously to Jack, trying to tell Jack not to pass it to him. He nodded, faking the pass and then looking around to see who else was open.

    The girl did not move. Braydin was starting to get frustrated. Nazareth called from the other side of the court, "THAT'S NOT EVEN HOW YOU GUARD!"
    Suddenly, Brooklyn started backing up into Braydin's hips and out of complete instinct, he stepped over to the side and pushed her to the ground.
    "FOUL!" she howled in pain. "FOUL!" Fischlin was alerted by the yawping and jogged over to the court.
    Nazareth was already making her way across the court toward Braydin. She got up in his face, shouting, "Dude, you had no reason to do that!"
    Fischlin tried to intervene, asking what had just happened. Nazareth was relentless, though.
    "You do not put your hands on a woman, Braydin!" She screeched. Titus had circled back and tried to step in between them, but she had a harsh finger pressing repetitively against his chest as she lectured him.
    Brooklyn was ushered to the bleachers by Annie and Dezzy, and Fischlin tried to communicate to the students, pulling Nazareth back. "What happened? Jeez, I left this side for one moment."
    "Mr. Fischlin, Braydin pushed Brooklyn to the ground!" Nazareth belted at Fischlin.
    Braydin ignored the incessant 'FOUL's from Brooklyn and shouted back, "She was backing into me!"
    "That doesn't mean you SHOVE HER." Nazareth spat, and Fischlin nodded his head in hesitant agreement.
    "Braydin," he began, "go sit out on the bleachers for the rest of this round."
He sighed, frustrated. As soon as Braydin hit the bleachers, he folded over, ignoring Brooklyn.
"You know... I forgive you." She spoke, trying to get a response from him. He did not answer. She continued, but he tuned it all out. That is, until he felt someone sit down next to him.
"Hi, Braydin." Titus greeted, as per usual. He set a hand down on the shorter's knee and smiled.
"Hi, Titus. Why are you out?"
"For you."
His heart exploded. He felt himself melt, only being able to show his gratitude by holding Titus's arm and resting his chin on his boyfriend's shoulder.
Fitness sucks when there's someone who wants you, he thought, but Titus makes it better. Worth it, almost.