Might as well get this out of the way. Knocking on Leo's door, I wait patiently for one of the Halton's to answer. It's his dad that answers, greeting me with a smile. That's it; the smiling is hereditary.

"Micah, hey bud, what's up?"

"Is Leo home?" I ask although I saw him return home about twenty minutes earlier. I've just been avoiding this until my mom asked if I have talked with him yet. I tried asking why I need to tell him which game I'm going to but then she gave me the look. I rather not risk a lecturing so here I am.

"Yeah, he's in his room, come on in."

Mr. Halton steps aside, gesturing happily for me to come in. Nodding, I do as I'm told and kick off my shoes before heading up the steps to Leo's room. His dad calls up, announcing my arrival before I even make it to his door, which flings open so fast and without warning that it nearly whacks me in the face.

"Micah!" Leo stares down at me with wide eyes, standing in his doorway with nothing but a pair of sweats on. I appreciate the eye candy for a moment before giving him a wave, which seems to bother him, I think, judging by the way he's trying to close his door like he's shielding himself. "Uh, what are you doing here?"

"The match." I hold up the paper he gave me. "I was told to let you know I can make it to the one on Friday."

I don't have his number so talking to him is the only option. While he probably has every social media ever, I do not. I might have a twitter but Beckett is probably the only one that knows what it is since he made it. I'm not social in real life, why would I be social online? The most I do is get a little sassy during video games.

Leo's eyes brighten considerably at the mention of the match, while he doesn't open his door, he does lean against it while smiling. "You'll come on Friday?"

"Yeah, that's...what I said."

However, suddenly, Leo starts to frown. The smile disappears to be replaced with a solemn expression that puts me on edge. Running his hand through his short blonde hair, Leo shyly looks away then backs to me then away again. This repeats for maybe another thirty seconds until he says, "Um...you know, if you really don't want to go you don't have to. I...I'm sorry if, if you feel obligated to go. I didn't mean to do that."

Well, technically, it's my mom that's forcing me to go so it's not like he made me feel obligated, it's my mom that is. I am about to voice this until I see Leo staring at the floor like he's just been sucker punched in the gut. His teeth are out to bite at his bottom lip while his fingers are tapping impatiently against his door. It's an odd look for him, one that makes me feel like an ass.

He asked me to come to the match for a reason. I don't know what that reason is but...it must mean something to him if he asked.

"Don't worry about it," I blurt out, shrugging my shoulders as I do. "I don't mind going, it'll be...fun."

I'm not so sure about that but when Leo's cheeks start to take on a light shade of pink I am suddenly excited about the idea of the game. I start to ask myself if perhaps I'm hallucinating, he's not actually blushing, right? I glance around the hall for some sign that he isn't. I don't know what that sign would be but I don't get it because when I look back at him it's still there.

He's definitely blushing...because I'm going to his match? Beckett would say it's because he fancies me. Part of me is thinking that way as well because I sure as hell don't blush at the idea of a guy hanging out with me unless I'm interested. Except Leo is straight, at least, I think he is.

"Cool, uh, do you want to come in for a bit?" Leo asks, gesturing behind him. I'd say no but mom might kill me if she finds out all I did was inform Leo of my attendance. Besides, his behavior makes me curious.

Nodding, I follow Leo into his room, which is far different than my own. While mine is filled with games and covered with posters of my favorite movies or games, Leo's is exactly what you'd expect. Sports, sports and more sports, action shots of snowboarders or surfers accompanied by pictures of him with friends all around his desk. I do see some video games by his TV but not as many as my own.

Leo grabs a shirt, quickly throwing it on before taking a seat on his bed. His cheeks are still colored pink, fainter than before but definitely there. He can't seem to look at me either, which has me asking myself why. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we aren't that close so it's hard to believe that, if he is at least bisexual, why would he crush on me? He's got to just be nervous or something.

"I don't have as many game options as you. I've got a few others downloaded," Leo says, gesturing to the games I was eyeing earlier. "Probably not a lot that are your taste either."

"We don't have to play a game."

"Then what do you want to do? Shoot some hoops?"

I roll my eyes. "Definitely not."

"What else do you like to do then, other than play games?"

"Watch movies, read, eat."

Leo laughs, nodding his head after the last one. "That's a great hobby."

"And you? Other than torturing yourself, what do you like?" I take a seat in his desk chair, pushing myself back and forth.

"I guess I just like torturing myself," Leo replies while crossing his arms. "Soccer, rock climbing, swimming, running, anything like that I'm down. You don't like any of it, not even for fun?"

"I don't mind exercise, sports itself are what's not really my thing. Once people get overly competitive, it just kills the game. Swimming is fun, I'd like to try bungee jumping, skydiving maybe."

"That would be awesome!" Leo announces, squirming a bit in his seat at the mention of it. "I've always wanted to go bungee jumping, oh, and scuba diving!"

"I'd just like to see a beach."

"You've never been?" Leo asks sounding surprised. I know he and his parents have gone on vacation before. I think mom mentioned once that they went to the beach one summer. Mom and I have gone to an amusement park or a nice hotel but that's it.

I shake my head. "Nope."

"We're going this summer, maybe you can tag along?" Leo suggests and, honestly, I wanna say yes. I've never been to the beach. I want to at least know the annoying feeling of finding sand on me for days. I'm naturally frustrated so the feeling is normal, it'll be fine.

However, I'm once again reminded of this peculiar situation. Leo suddenly wanting to spend more time together, what's up with that? There's the fact that we're seniors, we'll be graduating at the end of the year but even that seems odd. Why try to get closer now? Last I heard he's going to college nearby and doesn't plan to move into the dorms. I should ask but that seems equally as weird.

Instead, I shrug and give him a "maybe" that seems to end our conversation, something I excel at. So, rather than sitting here awkwardly, I announce that I'll be at his game Friday and head home after he gives me a smile and quick wave goodbye. He looks disappointed to see me go and I feel like a bit of a jerk for it. He invited me to come in and I stayed for, what, five minutes? If that?

"How'd it go?" Mom asks when I walk in the door. She looks excited, like she expects to hear some grand news. I easily disappoint her.

"Fine."

"Just fine?" Mom scowls. "You're so socially inept."

"I could be a playboy that goes around fuckin' bitches and doin' drugs," I say in my poor attempt of a dumb playboy accent. I don't even know what it is meant to sound like but it's bad enough that mom grimaces.

"Yeah, I suppose you could be worse."

"Love you too."

With that, I am left to my own devices. Beckett wishes to know about my plans Friday, apparently, he wants to tag along. I'm all for that because, if he doesn't go, I'll be hella bored. Well, even if he goes I'll be bored but sometimes his stupidity can be amusing.

Beckett tries to get more information out of me, like asking if Leo and I talked more. I lie and exclude what happened afterwards, making Beckett believe that I went over and left immediately afterwards. Technically, it's not a total lie since I didn't spend a lot of time there but I have no desire to explain Leo's odd behavior.

I already know what Beckett is going to say. He's going to go with the crazy theory that Leo is crushing on me, the neighbor that he barely knows. Sure, people can get infatuated or interested with someone just by looking at them but Leo is Mr. Popular. He can get whoever he wants, even if he's not straight, he can definitely get someone better than me.

Not to say I'm a bad catch but I'm no fuckable hunk like Leo. He has way more options, options that he has more contact with so there's obviously something else behind it. Maybe his parents are like my own mom, secretly forcing him behind closed doors to spend more time with me. I don't know why but it makes more sense than the crush theory. Beckett would argue against that but Beckett is an idiot.

Whatever, it's not all that important.

My week goes by relatively quickly thanks to the abundance of assholes I meet after school. Perhaps I'm some sort of adrenaline junky that enjoys the idea of being a vigilante, I don't really know. However, nothing beats the look on someone's face when the purse in their hand is suddenly ripped away or they "trip over thin air." There's always confusion followed by panic then pure fear after I give them a quick kick or punch and that's the end of that.

If mom caught me in the act of any of this she may drop dead of a heart attack. I suppose that's understandable since, a few times, I've caught glimpse of a gun beneath someone's hoodie. Those times I have backed off cause the last thing I want is someone firing off a gun in every direction. Who knows what or who they might hit so, yeah, I understand the worry. Still, it feels good to be helpful even if no one knows that it's me.

Friday gets here in the blink of an eye. The match is a home game, which is why I can make it. Beckett seems pretty excited about it, go figure. He is the type to go to games just to show some school spirit. I don't know how or why we became friends but I regret it.

Misty obviously tags along but I did warn them if they start getting all "cutesy" around me, I will barf and it will be on them. Misty's face tells me that Beckett won't get so much as a kiss. Mission successful.

None of us are surprised to see that there aren't a crazy amount of people. These are more like practice matches, at least, I think so, I'm assuming they are. Normally the soccer games are a big deal at our school since we have a popular team. The practice matches don't matter so I guess no one cares? That sounds harsh but it must be true judging by the smaller crowd than usual.

However, it makes it all the more easier for Leo to find me and, when he does, he waves enthusiastically from the field. For a second, I think I'm seeing things and he's waving at someone else so, I turn around to check. Nope, no one is acknowledging him so I turn back, point to myself in questioning and watch him nod before beckoning me to come down.

"I told you," Beckett whispers to Misty, who giggles until I give them both a glare. Beckett smiles teasingly while Misty pretends like he said nothing. I don't know what he means by "I told you" but I'm assuming he told her about how he thinks Leo "fancies" me. I'm going to punch them both.

Sighing, I get up from the bench and walk down to the field. Leo is leaning against the fence, looking rather good in the green and white uniform.

"You made it," he says when I'm in range.

"Yep."

Leo's hair is already slightly damp from sweat. His skin has a sheen to it and, somehow, he looks brighter than usual. It's almost scary. Sportsman are terrifying people, truly. I respect them but they scare me.

"Um...are you...hanging out with Beckett and Misty afterwards?" Leo asks, his voice somehow growing softer with each word until it's hard to hear him but I've put it together.

"Don't know, depends on how much they piss me off."

Leo must found my answer humorous because he laughs, shaking his head afterwards. For a second, he seems at a loss of what to do. He glances at me, towards Beckett on the bleachers then at his own feet. Said feet are starting to kick at the dirt beneath him and I'm not entirely sure what I'm meant to do, ask what he's doing, walk away, crack a joke, I don't know so...I wait.

I wait until Leo takes a deep breath and looks at me in order to ask in a shaking voice, "If you don't mind, after...after the game, could you stick around? I'll hit the showers and maybe we can grab something to eat, my treat?"

"I'd have to ask Beckett and Misty first." I gesture back to the two, which has Leo biting his lip. Again, he hesitates to speak.

"No, I mean, just the two of us."

Excuse me? Did I hear him right? I rub my right ear just in case but, nope, seems I am hearing fine, which means Leo just asked if we could "grab something to eat"...just the two of us.

Ok, I admit I can be a bit oblivious to things at times but...this, I don't think, is one of those times. Leo blushing, his voice shaking, suddenly wanting to hang out more, the two of us going out, those are clear signs of interest, right? I mean, if a guy that I knew wasn't straight was asking me all this I would immediately think he likes me. Leo is only different because I have no proof that he could be interested in guys but the face he's making right now, the one where he's staring at me nervously, his teeth coming out to bite at his bottom lip, the very light blush on his cheek...those are obvious signs and–

I don't know how I feel about it.

"Halton!"

The both of us jump, Leo glancing back to his coach that's gesturing for him to come over. The game is about to begin.

Quickly, Leo looks to me and says, "If you stick around, I'll assume that's a yes."

He runs off before I can respond, leaving me standing here very much confused. This has certainly turned out differently than I expected.