1 The First Day

My eyes felt heavy as soon as my alarm told me it was 5 a.m. Today was a day I had dreaded all summer. It was senior year now, which meant I was going to have to prepare for college applications. I wasn't worried about failing, it was just the stress.

I had set my alarm an hour early so I could do the bare necessities, as well as cook up some breakfast. I know that Ms. Fernsby appreciates it when I make breakfast for her and Taylor, despite him barely showing any gratitude. I don't know why he hates me. Ever since I moved in, he had been acting cold and distant lately. Before I moved in, we were always so happy together. I still remember what he said the first day I had moved in. 

10 YEARS AGO

I was playing with some toys in my new room when I suddenly heard screaming from the other room. I went out to check what was going on and found Taylor fighting with his mother. That's when I heard the words that changed everything between us. 

"I don't want to be his brother!" 

Tears formed in my eyes as I heard him yell those words out loud. I ran back into my room and cried for a long time. Then I heard a knock at my door. I opened it and found a new toy car on the floor. It was probably from Ms. Fernsby as a welcoming present to her home and maybe also sort of an apology for her son's actions. Whatever it was, I was grateful for the gift. 

I'm still holding out hope that someday we'll talk and rekindle our friendship, but for now, it's like we're strangers to each other. 

I got up from bed and saw my ragged black hair in my reflection. It was covering half of my face, I could barely see my blue eyes. I took a shower then got dressed and brushed my teeth. Then I headed over to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the Fernsby family. I still question the whereabouts of Mr. Fernsby to this day. I was never told what happened to him, but then again, it's not like it's really any of my business. 

As soon as I was done preparing breakfast, Ms. Fernsby was the first to wake up and greet me with her usual friendly self. 

"Good morning Haden! I see you've prepared breakfast this morning. You know you really didn't have to do that." she said with a beaming smile. 

"No Ms. I insist, I know it's been 10 years but I'm still very grateful that you offered to let me stay at your home after what happened to my mother." 

"Well she was my best friend and I couldn't let them put you up for adoption. It was better if you stayed with someone you knew. I still can't believe you're doing so much for the family after so long. Gosh, I wish Taylor was more like you. Speaking of which, where is he?"

"I believe he's still sleeping in his room. I should probably wake him up or he'll be late for school." 

"Okay, you go do that." Ms. Fernsby said as she kissed my cheek.

She was a wonderful mother figure to me for the past 10 years, I'm grateful for my childhood here despite Taylor not playing with me. However, I would still get many gifts from time to time during my stay here. Cooking for them was the only way I could think of to repay my debt to them. They still deserve so much more though.

I walked to Taylor's room and knocked before entering. There was no answer but I assumed he was still asleep. I opened the door and found him lying on his bed. The room gave off such a gloomy aura. I opened the curtains in hopes that the sunlight might wake him up. Instead all I heard was grumbling as he turned away from the light. I really didn't want to bother him as it might end up making him hate me more, but I had to do what I had to do.

"Taylor, wake up. You're gonna be late for school." 

All I got was more grumbling in his sleep in response, however he turned my way and now our faces were a few inches apart. I never noticed how much his face had changed since we last hung out. His brown hair looked so messy and he had a pretty strong jawline. His skin was a bit darker than mine but his caramel skin surprisingly defined his features much more. He looked quite attractive now. I wonder if his green eyes had matured too. Oh god, what am I thinking? I pulled away quickly as I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. 

I then turned back around and found him wide awake. I felt like a deer in headlights and without thinking, I said "Get up idiot" and ran out of his room filled with embarrassment. If he didn't hate me before, he sure did now.

I waited for him to get ready and eat his breakfast so we could walk to school together. Ms. Fernsby had always preferred that we went to school together in hopes that someday we'll finally talk. However that didn't work for the past 5 years.

A couple minutes later, we were out of the house and walking awkwardly next to each other. Taylor had his earphones in so I doubt he would hear me if I tried starting a conversation. What happened to the Taylor I knew before?

We arrived at school and went our separate ways. I went directly to find my class schedule. It would be embarrassing heading to the wrong class on the first day. Honestly, I didn't have many friends in school. I was always studying and focusing on my own work to even think of making friends. There's also the fact that no one would want to be my friend, everyone hates me. I'm bullied like every day, but I learned to just deal with it. I don't fight back or cry about it, I just let it happen because I guess that's what I'm destined for. 

People have made rumors about me being gay and I honestly don't know if they're wrong. Along with a social life, I never took the time to get to know myself either. It was always work for me my entire life. I'm not complaining though, I kind of like being a loner. It's peaceful and quiet for me.

I found my class schedule and instantly headed to my first class and, to no surprise, my bully was there. Ivan Barclay. Good thing he didn't taunt me like he usually does, he just scowled at the sight of me. This will probably be a good year for me then. However, surprisingly, someone who came in would completely change my thoughts on that.

Taylor walked into my class and I've never been so flustered in my entire life. 

•♡•

My mother and I were in an argument about what Haden staying with us meant. She told me that he was going to be my brother in a way. However, I was too used to the idea of him being my friend. Being his brother would make our relationship go in the direction that I really didn't want it to go. Out of rage, I yelled.

"I don't want to be his brother!"

From the corner of my eye, I could see Haden standing by his room. He looked like he was crying. He ended up running into his room to cry. I felt so bad, he probably misunderstood what I meant. I don't even know what I meant by that either. What I did know was that I made Haden cry and I felt an immense guilt after that. Later that night, I left a toy car outside his door and knocked before leaving.

I hid away from his view and watched as his smile beamed when he saw the toy in his sight. His smile made me feel something and I didn't know how to describe the feeling. All I wanted to do was keep him happy so from then on, I would give him gifts whenever I could. He never knew they were from me because he probably assumed they were from my mother. It was better he thought that because he probably hates me after hearing what I said.  

I woke up to a bright light coming from my window. What the fuck is that thing called again? Oh yeah, the sun. Wait, who opened my curtain? I always have it closed. I didn't care enough to open my eyes though, I just turned to the other side.

Suddenly, I heard a voice telling me to get up. It sounded familiar but still, I was too lazy to open my eyes. However, I did turn around. I just had my eyes closed for a few more seconds and when I opened them, I saw a black haired boy standing with his back in front of me. When he turned around, my eyes widened as I realized who it was. It was Haden. 

I never really actually took a look at how he looks like now. I would block out the fact that he would walk with me to school because I just assumed he wouldn't want to see me. But seeing him now, I realize how soft his facial features are. His black hair really brings out the blue in his eyes. His skin was white yet looked soft like snow. His lips were full with a bright pink color. His face was a bit round, but it was the type of round that just made him look very adorable.

He suddenly looked very flustered and just blurted out the words "Get up idiot" before leaving my room in a rush. What the hell was that about? That was even the first words he said to me in 10 years, he must really hate me enough to call me an idiot. Well I should probably get up since that's what he woke me up for. God, senior year, this is gonna be one hell of a year.

I got ready and ate breakfast that Haden made us, which I had always appreciated because he's such a great cook. He was perfect in so many ways, it made me kind of envious. I know my mom most likely has told Haden that he's the son she never had and wished I was more like him. Sure, I can be lazy and a bit rebellious, but it's not like I don't care about anything. It's just my relationship with my mom has been kind of strained as we disagree on a lot of things, and the fact I can barely have any communication with my dad now. I never knew him, but my mom always said there was a reason she divorced him.

When I finished my breakfast, I went out and found Haden waiting for me. I'm surprised he'd still wait to walk with me when it's our last year of high school. I wonder what will happen to us after we graduate. I was hoping that someday we'll talk again, but we only have 1 year left together so I doubt it'll happen.

I put my earphones in so it wouldn't make him uncomfortable because he'd just feel the need to talk to me and he probably doesn't want to do that. The thing I always admired between us was our height difference. It's not like his height wasn't below average, it actually coincided with his bright personality very well. It's funny because he's a few months older than me but I somehow grew up to be much taller than him. 

We arrived at school and so we went our separate ways. I walked around the campus to refresh my memory as it's been 2 months since we last came here. In the midst of this, I managed to bump into one of my friends.

"Hey Taylor! How are you bro?"

That was my friend, Rick Cochran. We've been friends since elementary and he was one of my closest friends. I was pretty popular around school but I never really cared about the popularity because it didn't mean I'd gain real friends from it. I didn't care much for the status, people just like to think I'm the cool bad boy.

"Hey Rick, I'm good. Summer was pretty boring. How about you?"

"Oh my god, I had so much fun! I did a lot of traveling and I spent a lot of time on the beach and stuff."

"That's great, I'm glad you had a good time."

"Hey, have you heard from Scarlette?"

"Scarlette? Why?"

"She said she wanted to talk to you about something."

"Where is she?"

"She said she'll be by the cafeteria."

"Okay, thanks."

Scarlette was a friend of Rick's and they used to be completely inseparable, at one point they had a falling out as soon as they met me. She ended up having a crush on me and even asked me out on a date. So she's considered my ex-girlfriend. We didn't last long because I honestly wasn't feeling it. Also, Rick had discovered that he had feelings for her after seeing her with me. I felt bad for the guy so breaking up with her was the least I could do. 

I arrived at the cafeteria and tried looking for Scarlette. She wasn't hard to find as she always stood out one way or another. She was known to wear very flashy outfits that were considered out of the ordinary for our school. Not to mention that she would dye her hair like once a month. This month was red, and it really suited her, let alone her name as well. She was surrounded by several of her girl friends. I guess she was considered the queen bee of sorts.

"Hey Scarlette."

"Oh hi Taylor, what are you doing here?"

"Rick said you wanted to talk?"

"I didn't tell him anything. Be honest, you came because you wanted to get back together, don't you?"

"Don't play games with me right now, let's talk somewhere more private."

All of the girls around us gossiped amongst themselves, but I really didn't care. I dragged Scarlette outside of the cafeteria and went to a tree out of the window view.

"What the hell is going on?" I said.

"Taylor, we were so good together. I think we should get back together."

"No way."

"What do you mean? I'm popular, you're popular. It's perfect and it's practically a high school tradition. Also prom is this year, we'd definitely win prom king and queen."

"I said no, Scarlette. I never felt the same way you did."

"Who cares? All I care about is the image."

"You're so full of shit."

"Fine, I'll give you time to think about it. You don't need to answer right away."

"Whatever, I'm leaving. I'm gonna be late for class."

"Okay bye then." she said as she kissed my cheek and headed back into the cafeteria.

I hate the shit I get dragged into just because I'm popular. I headed over to my first class of the day and it was in a hallway I've never been to before. Am I being transferred into some special class or whatever. I really don't think any of this is necessary. I don't even know if I want to go in, but the sudden bell ring practically yelled at me to go in. So I went in, and who I saw in there made my heart skip a beat.

Haden and I were in a class together now.

•♡•

For what seemed like a nightmare, it actually would be fate for the two to finally end up in a class together. Although they may not know it at first, their lives were going to be completely flipped upside down.

As the two boys saw each other from across the room, they both couldn't help but feel this warm sensation. Yet the two still believe they should remain cold to each other because of some silly misunderstanding that happened 10 years ago.

Haden was completely flustered while Taylor just felt embarrassed and shocked. He stood there paralyzed for a while before realizing the position he was in. He quickly took a random seat closest to him, which happened to be on the opposite side of the room where Haden was sitting. Leaving the poor boy to sit by himself with his closest partner being Ivan.

And so the class began.