Shae threw the school's door open and pranced outside. He squinted at the blinding light.

It's hot, Shae thought, fanning himself with his shirt. His hand shielded his burning eyes as he searched the courtyard. Where could he be?

"Hey," Shae heard from his side. Kylian sat on the same ledge from yesterday, the corners of his lips facing the sky. His eyes had locked onto the door ages ago. Shae walked over to him, painfully more aware of each movement his body made.

As Shae stood before him, Kylian hopped off the ledge. He flung his bag over his shoulder.

"Thanks for coming," Kylian told Shae, "Where would you like to go?"

"Hmm, anywhere you want to take me." Kylian nodded in thought.

As a light-bulb went off, Kylian grabbed Shae's hand, pulling him towards the parking lot.

His hand is warm. Much bigger than mine, too. Shae blushed at the touch. It's rough, but I don't hate it.

Kylian glanced over his shoulder at Shae, asking, "Do you have any allergies?"

"I don't think so. My doctor never tested me."

"Hmm, okay."

Kylian opened his back door and threw his bag inside his car. He reached for Shae's. Shae averted his gaze as Kylian's fingers slid over his shoulder, pulling the strap down. It slipped off him. Kylian moved to do the other side, but before he could, Shae ripped his bag off his body.

I feel lightheaded, Shae thought, watching Kylian place his bag down on the seat. The motion was gentler, much gentler, than when he did his own bag.

Kylian shut the door and walked past Shae, his shoulder grazing him. Shae touched the spot, the soft touch throbbing still.

Kylian opened the passenger door and waited, waited for Shae to get out of his head and notice Kylian's intentions.

"Oh!" Shae gasped. He slid in the seat, stealing a glance at Kylian. He's tall, several inches taller than me. "Thank you," Shae whispered. The door shut with a small thud.

As Shae pulled on his seat belt, the driver door opened and shut. The engine roared to a start.

~

They really like him, Shae thought as a crowd of drooling puppies swarmed Kylian. They pooled their efforts and pushed him down. The room shook with laughter. Each puppy took turns licking Kylian's cheeks, climbing his body when their turn ended.

A small chuckle left Shae's lips as he petted the single puppy laying in his lap. Kylian looked like a child on Christmas day.

"Do you come here often?" Shae asked, speaking up. Kylian looked at him from the small gap between the two puppies blocking his view.

"You could say that. I work here." Kylian grabbed the puppy walking over his face and sat up. He scratched its ears. "We wouldn't be able to have so many puppies in here if I didn't work here. The boss is afraid of what will happen."

"How many puppies are you allowed to have?" Shae asked, his curiosity peaked. Kylian stroked another puppy as it bit his shoelaces.

"One, maybe two depending on who's working at the time." Shae's eyes bulged at Kylian's answer. He looked around the playpen.

"There are nine here!" Shae cried in shock.

Kylian chuckled, "Yeah, it helps to be manager."

Picking up the puppy that wandered over to him, Shae mumbled, "I just hope you're not abusing your influence like a dictator." Kylian shook his head, his eyes wide.

"No, of course, not! I let anyone who works here do the same."

"Mhmm," Shae sounded, his attention taken by the puppy licking his palm. He doubled over as her rough tongue licked his fingers. "Hey, stop that!" The corners of Kylian's eyes crinkled at the sparkle in Shae's eyes.

"I'm glad I brought you here." Shae looked up at the tenderness of Kylian's voice. His cheeks flushed.

"Me, too," Shae replied, unable to meet the alluring green, "I got to see a new side of you." Kylian placed the puppy in his arms down and inched closer. His thumb found Shae's hand.

"Come see me anytime."

Shae ignored the pounding in his chest and looked at the collar of Kylian's plaid shirt. A single button was undone, as if pointing to the skin underneath. Shae wanted to look, to see what lie below as he heard its song.

Fighting the urge, Shae's gaze climbed up, halting on a bulge. Kylian's Adam's apple protruded from his skin. Is it bigger than mine? Shae asked himself, entranced by the shape.

Rememering the person the Adam's apple belonged to, Shae climbed further, stopping to rest in some grass. "But, won't I bother you?" he asked.

Kylian glanced at the puppy sleeping in Shae's lap before looking back at Shae. He pulled out a strand of fur hiding within Shae's hair and said, "If it were you, I could never be bothered." Shae wished to hide, to flee from the smooth song calling out to him. He refused to be captured.

"I--I'll see what I can do," Shae stammered.

"I'm here every week day."