Dearan took a deep breath in, and unlocked the door to his classroom once more. He had dropped most thoughts of Stephan yesterday, but now he was worried that he would run into Stephan in the classroom before school again. Pulling open the door Dearan sighed with relief when he saw that the classroom was empty. To his distress, it didn’t remain that way.

When, 17 minutes before class started, the door slowly opened, and in walked the person Dearan was so scared of seeing. Stephan was quieter this time, not saying anything nor clearing his throat, yet he definitely made himself known, zipping his backpack and putting his book on the table with a gentle thump. He quietly begged for attention, while not starting the interaction, and Dearan obliged.

Back to his stereotypical shy self, he mumbled quietly and incoherently, “Iamreallysorryaboutyesterdayishouldn’thavesnappedatyouwithouthearingyoufirstiwasjustreallynervousbecauseyouknowihavemetyourfriendsandwearenotexactllyfriendssoiassumedyouwouldbethesamebutthatswrong,” as a blush began to sweep across his face.

“Sorry, could you please repeat that?” Stephan said with a kind and happy smile because have Dearan started a conversation with him.

“I am really sorry about yesterday, I had no reason to snap at you, especially without hearing what you had to say first,” Dearan forced out at a louder volume than he was used to, given that Stephan sat on the other side of the classroom. He decided to leave off the last part about why he had reacted the way he did.

Not wanting to leave Dearan in suspense, Stephan quickly replied, “It is okay, sorry if I did something to lead you to thinking I wanted something from you. I really hope I didn’t give you the impression that I would only talk to you if I wanted you to do something for me.”

“No, really, you didn’t do anything, I am just used to people at this school talking to me when they need something, I am sorry I assumed you were the same,” Dearan said with an apologetic half-smile.

Dearan heard a crunch from the other side of the room and looked up, he saw Stephan staring almost through him, and had a ½ a pencil in his hand, and another ½ on the table in front of him. “That isn’t something you should get used to! Who just takes advantage of someone like that, that’s not okay?!” Stephan forced out through clenched teeth, a dark aura emanating from him.

“Well, who wouldn’t ask the shy, small, and friendless boy for a few favors?” Dearan said really not caring about the past, and certainly not wanting to drag someone else into his issues.

“A decent person wouldn’t, that’s who,” Stephan said, his voice getting even scarier.

“Seriously it is all in the past, this is a new year, no reason to be mad about that past, for real,” Dearan said, now feeling the need to calm Stephan down, his voice and aura even scaring Dearan, who was a superhuman and super overpowered (OP).

“If someone tries to take advantage of you, please know that you can come to me, regardless of how much we speak, or how well we know each other,” Stephan said, this time his voice was soft, gentle, and caring, yet it had undertones of sorrow.

Dearan and Stephan’s conversation was silenced by the teacher’s arrival. “Good morning boys! I just wanted to let you both know that because you two both want to pursue careers focused on writing, I want to take you on a trip to San Diago, California. I know it’s a far trip, but that is the writer capital of the US, and I think it would be good for you both to attend a few forums with me, Dearan you could submit some works to publishers? And Stephan, you might as well start talking up publishing agencies and let them know you want to be a publisher, check out what credentials they like when scouting for people?”