Miguel fell back onto patterns from the past, he went to school, hung out with ‘friends’ he didn’t particularly care for, and come home. He finally replied to the letter he had gotten all those days ago, alerting him that Elm and he would finally meet in passing, whether they knew it or not.

His letter read:

‘Elm,

I can not help but look for you at each passing turn as I wander around our school. It would be oh so divine if we could meet and become friends, as friends, not pen pals. I would be more than happy to share my name with you should that be okay with you, but I do remember your reports of having burned the last letter I tried to mention my name in. >-<

Holy shit... I just read what I wrote and, damn that sounded like some poetic bullshit. Or at least to me… is that how normal people talk and I’m just to stoopid to get that? Eh whateva. ( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°)

How are you doing in school? I kind of hope you thinking about finding me just as much as I am you or else I am being pretty lame… and I’m too kool to be lame.

I really want to talk to you instead of writing this shit down in a letter. It takes days to arrive, why can’t we just ah fuck nevermind

Anyway, I should probably go do my homework instead of writing to you… I look forward to hearing from you again!

Best wishes,

‘Magnolia’

Ok seriously though, we need to stop using pens for letters, I need to erase some of this stuff, and yet again I cannot.’

**

Despite Miguel’s best efforts to drift apart from Eric, Eric did not seem to get the hint, and Miguel refused to outright ignore him. Several days after the letter was sent Miguel trudged into class, to see no Eric. As soon as class began, Miguel became ligementally worried about Eric.

30 minutes after class began Eric came in with a goofy smile, quickly handing a bright orange tardy pass to the teacher. His goofy smile remained as he walked towards the back of the class, bumping into a few desks on the way to the back. Nothing knocked the silly grin off his delighted face, even as he stumbled over his own backpack while trying to sit down in his seat.

Miguel felt his body relax, he was even more worried than he realized. As soon as the bell rang Miguel turned his head around and said, worry creeping into his voice, “Where were you? Why didn’t you text??”

Eric’s smile faltered when he first heard the tension in Miguel’s voice, but his smile was back full force when he drew a conclusion from what Miguel said, he was worried, for Eric. For some odd reason, Eric felt immense joy by that thought, even though he felt bad, taking pleasure at his friend’s worry.

“I… It’s a really long story!” Eric said, letting out a light-hearted delicate laugh..

Miguel rolled his eyes and started looking around the class yet again to find another short blond kid, hoping he could find one that he clicked with (like he did Eric) and someone who would know who Magnolia was. He jerked back to the present once he felt a warm and slightly sweaty (keep it real kids) squeeze on his hand. He refocused his eyes to see Eric waving one hand in front of his eyes and the other hand on Miguel’s own.

“You good Miguel Cotto?” Eric said with another small laugh. Miguel turned his head back and Eric got to see his caramelly blush once more.

“I’m fine… Who the fuck in Miguel Cotto?” Miguel said cocking a smirk at the unfamiliar last name.

“Um… I think my dad might have said he is a boxer? Or wrestler? I’m not exactly sure???”