Max practically vibrated there excited that Sam was such an epic friend. Just the greatest guy, he may annoy sometimes, but then he would step up occasionally and do things like this. Like saving his ass from whatever fire, he had accidentally started and went to talk to Leo for him. But Sam didn’t move.

He frowned at Sam as he shoved another spoonful in his face. Then he raised an eyebrow.

Sam stopped a spoonful halfway to his mouth and gulped. Max was staring at him. He shifted in his seat and pouted.

“Right now?...?”

“Does it have to be right now?” he asked grumbling, looking over at his friend then down at his food pitifully.

Max raised an eyebrow.

“Why do I like you...” Sam grumbled unhappily, then shoved a few more spoonfuls of food in his mouth with some meat, grabbed a bun and got up. He chewed pitifully looking back at Max as if Max were some slave driver.

Max smiled. “Thanks, you are the best.” He said cheekily.

Sam stuck out his tongue, some food fell out of his mouth and he chewed fast and swallowed, he glared one last time at Max then walked away.

“Im’ma trade you into my dad to get a car.” He grumbled too far away from Max for him to hear. “He likes you more than I do, anyway.” He slumped over annoyed and ripped at the bun, angrily stuffing pieces of it into his mouth.

“Thank you!” Max called after him happily.

Sam just stormed off holding his bun and muttering.

✥✥✥

Sam stood in the hall, watching as Leo finished up in his class. The long white hall had a few people leaving the classroom slowly while others passed on their way to other classes.

This building was one of the larger buildings that had a bit less traffic at around this time in the afternoon as most of the classes were out for the day here and they could find most students in one of the three campus libraries.

Which is where Leo would probably head and where Sam wanted to intercept him before he got there.

He watched as Leo got up and waved goodbye to a few classmates then walked out of his classroom and headed down the hall completely missing he was standing there at all. He started towards him.

“Heya, cutie!” Sam said while jumping beside Leo quickly.

Leo jumped back and blinked, startled. He moved a step back and stared at him.

“Sam, Max’s best friend. My name’s Sam, you don’t remember me?” He asked. Leo looked unimpressed, then started walking down the hall again. Sam walked backward slightly to the side but just in front of Leo.

Leo readjusted the bag on his shoulders and licked his lips. Sam waited for him to say something... anything.

“Yeah, I know who you are.” he responded curtly. Sam didn’t like the way this was going. He felt like he had done something wrong and he had just met the guy.

“We met before,” Sam said politely.

“Yeah, I know...” Leo mumbled, staring at the floor. Sam tried to meet his gaze, but he kept deflecting from Sam’s eyes.

Sam stopped walking and stepped in front of Leo, who walked into him because he still hadn’t looked back up from the ground.

Leo finally looked back up, his eyes flashed with annoyance.

“Wait, do you not like me?...” Sam asked, taken aback by shock.

Leo blinked, guilty, surprise spreading across his face.

Sam felt aghast. ‘He hadn’t expected Leo to go that direction. What could he have even done to this adorable kid when he had just met him face to face alone? And just talked to him for over five seconds for the first time, just then?’

✥✥✥

Leo watched Sam’s face turn into a ball of worry and hurt.

And for a second he felt terrible.

‘Wait, none of this is actually my fault. They are the ones who came into my life out of nowhere and tried to up heave it...’ He thought angrily.

‘Was he supposed to be sorry he didn’t feel like playing along with whatever game they were messing around in? Sure, it was rude to dislike someone you had never even had time to get to know but was it so bad? No, so why deny it?’

‘I mean it’s not entirely wrong... No... Really, it is wrong. I just feel embarrassed and inadequate. Maybe a little jealous too. He couldn’t really say that aloud to this stranger though.’

“What! How did this happen?” Sam asked.

“Everyone likes me... I’m... Well me!” Sam said.

“How did that even happen?” He repeated in shock.

Leo watched as his brain worked. Then Sam stared at Leo, who was staring at him and just shrugged and smiled again.

Leo watched him awkwardly.

“How can I get you to like me? I feel like all weird and stuff.” Sam asked, playfully reaching out to grab both of Leo’s shoulders.

Leo wanted to ask him to let go. But then Sam started shaking him gently with a goofy grin on his face.

Leo opened his mouth, unsure of what to do.