He dropped the phone onto the bed beside him, face down, and stared at it.

God, what am I doing? Why am I such an asshole? Why was I thinking when I attacked him? That nervous wide eyes stare as he tried to be brave but those pouty lips quivering popped into his head, Max dropped the ball down it bounced of the bed and onto the floor. He threw his arm across his eyes. He… he was so nervous, so scared of me. No, not scared. Uncomfortable. And something else. I knew it and yet. I… I wanted to tease him. Why do I want to tease him?

The way his lips pout… the way he looks when he’s uncertain… so pretty. He sat up and smirked. Wait what? What is wrong with me? Torturing him… just a little to see that pout again. I couldn’t be that mean. I want to, though.

He thought about the key, about losing it, about how Leo was probably the only person who could have, he shook his head, trying to distract himself. But the thought came back: He’s not Caspian. He’s not his brother. This isn’t the same thing. And I… I accused him of being that, doesn’t matter how cute that pout is, he probably isn’t gonna let me within a ten mile radius of him at this point. Ugh… oh God, I’m an idiot.

Max leaned over the edge of the bed and grabbed the stress ball from the floor, his long legs hooking into the bed so he could pull his upper body back up using just he power of his abs.

Thank you, crunches.

He rolled back over and went back to throwing the ball. The red stress ball bounced again. Up. Down. Up. Down. He wanted to throw it across the room, smash it, anything to get the thought of those pretty little lips, and that bright pink blush to Leo’s ears out of his head.

But they didn’t leave him, they taunted him.

A knock broke his cycle.

The door creaked open a second later and Sam bounded in, mischief plastered across his face. Max groaned, flopping onto his back again.

Max didn’t even have to guess who Sam’s next victim was about to be.

“Hey, Sam.”

“Hey, have you found it yet?”

“No.” Max groaned, deflated.

“How will we throw that sick party at your house next weekend if you don’t have the key to get inside? We need to celebrate the end of the freshman games.” He chirped.

“I’ll find it.” Max sighed.

“Sure… So we are planning an outdoor barbecue, then, instead? Because, you, and, you know, your track record and all, we might have to plan an outdoor event until your parents get back, cause when you lose stuff you find it again like a year later.” He gestured at Max and snickered.

Max scoffed at Sam’s enthusiasm for teasing him.

“What are you doing here, Sam? Did you stop by just to make fun of me for losing my special house keys?”

“No, of course not. That would be terrible of me. I’m your best friend.” Max glared at him.

“Your track record says your asshole meter has not been fulfilled for the day., best friend my ass. What do you want?”

“I came to see how your lips were doing.”

Max let out a huff, grabbed his pillow and launched it at Sam’s head.

Sam snorted so hard until laughter rolled out of him.

Max had the decency to blush before he turned away from him annoyed.

“Get out! you’re such a pig.” He snapped and threw the ball at Sam’s head. Sam ran across the room, laughing. He tripped on Max’s bag on the floor, and the bag fell open, spilling its contents. He stood back up easily.

Sam bent down and started shoving the stuff back into the bag when he grabbed the notebook right as Max realized it. Sam held it up, and oo’d at him.

He raised an eyebrow.

“What’s this?”

Max’s eyes widened. “Nothing…”

“You mean when he ran away from you after you stole his innocence?” Sam said, snickering.

Max glared at him.

“Soo, Leo, huh? You have his notebook. Whose the thief now? Give me the details, did he drop it after he ran away from you like Cinderella?”

Max stood up grabbed the notebook and ripped it from Sam’s hands.

“No, he left it behind. I’ll return it to him. Soon.” He said shyly and shoved it back in his bag ten zipped it up. Sam nodded.

“Sure. Well it sounds like it was such a good time.”

Max glared at him.

“I am so sad I missed it.” Sam said moving to the other side of the room into the safe zone.

Max groaned. “Didn’t the guys already tell you all about it?” Max commented, frustrated.

“Are you kidding? Of course, they did. Like several times! And each time, it was more exaggerated than the last. But I wish I had caught the whole thing, with my own eyes. or better yet, my phone.”

“If anyone recorded it they are dead meat.”

“if there are recordings I’ll make sure to send them to you later.”

“Please don’t.”

“I’ll make a folder.”

“I hate you.”

“It would be nice if I heard the story from my bro; first-hand juicy details are always better; just how juicy was it, the kiss I mean? Was it good for a first kiss? All you expected? You saved that thing for so long, man. I hope it was good.” Sam wiggled his eyebrows.

He reached down and grabbed the red ball, and threw it at Sam.

Sam squealed and ran out of the room as the ball smacked against the wall and bounced off harmlessly while the door swung closed on Sam’s laughter.

Max sighed and fell back on the bed.

It was just Sam and how he was, he didn’t take anyone feelings’ seriously.

He was pretty sure Sam was hard-wired to tease everyone.

And the kiss wasn’t really a secret.

It happened in front of the entire cafeteria.

But that had been one hell of a moment.

His first kiss… And with a guy too.