Kane steps out of their car & walks through the double doors leading into the school. They make a left down the hallway to the stairs & suddenly, someone covers his eyes. From behind him, someone said, “Guess who.”

Kane rolls their blanketed eyes & says, “I know it’s you, Clark. You’re the only person who has ever done that to me.”

Clark takes his hands off Kane’s eyes &, “You’re no fun.” Clark throws his arms around them, “I missed you. How ya doin?”

“Um...” Kane looks at the ground & swallows.

“Do you want to talk about it somewhere more private?”

“Uh, no. I’ve got a test in first period...but we’ll talk later. I promise.”

Clark kisses them on the forehead, “Alright. Good lucK!”

He jogs away & Kane says, “Yeah...uh, thanks!” They lick their lips & look around when the bell rings. “Oh my god, I’m late!”

They bolt down up the stairs to their biology class. They open the door & run to the nearest empty seat. Mr. Lok looks up from his computer & says, “Ah, Kane. Just in time. I was just gonna mark you absent.”

Kane pants & says, “Glad I made it here when I did then.”

Mr. Lok stands up, “As am I. Now, under your desk is a test booklet. I need you to grab that and start taking your test alright.”

Kane sets out the booklet out on top of their desk & starts writing.

*****

Kane walks into the lunchroom & gives Clarks a hug. “Hey, hun.”

Clark smiles. “Hey, Kane. How was your test today?”

Kane pulls out of the hug & steps back for a bit. “It was a bit, uh, stressful, but I think I did alright. Maybe B+ quality.”

“I’m glad!” Clark resumes chatting with Eryn & Masie. Kane looks around & starts to lose control over their breath.

After 10 seconds, they put their hand on his shoulder & say, “Uh, hey can we...maybe go s-somewhere more private?”

“Hmm,” Mazie said in a cartoonishly over the top voice, “and what could they need privacy for Eryn!?”

“I don’t know Maz,” she said in her pitched up, unenthusiastic voice, “what could they need privacy for?”

“Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,” they both said in unison.

“Ha. Ha. Very funny,” Clark says while rolling his eyes.

“Like, I’m just saying, you guys can kiss in here,” Masie almost slaps Eryn with her hand gestures.

“Yeah, lots of people do already.” Eryn gestures toward Geraldine & Alex kissing. “Or maybe they’re doing more than kissing.”

“On school property. How scandalous!” Both of them double over in laughter.

Clark stood & grabbed Kane’s hand. He gripped it like a scared child. Staring at the ground, he stomped off, pulling Kane after him. Masie & Eryn stop laughing & look at each other. They stand up & Eryn says, “Hey, we didn’t mean it like that. We were just-”

Clark cut them off with a sharp, “Can it.” Masie & Eryn sit back down, murmuring to each other.

They march outside & around the back of the school. They sat on the bleachers facing each other, with Kane on the lower step. Kane looks up and says, “Clark, don’t worry about them. You’re good.”

Clark runs his hand through his hair. “I just-I love them, but sometimes they’re just so frustrating.”

Kane moves next to Clark. They put one hand around his shoulders & one hand on his chest, pressing up against his binder. “You’ve just got to tell them jokes like that aren’t okay. You know. Like putting up some boundaries.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Clark turns & looks into Kane’s eyes & smiles. They’re coffee-colored eyes make Clark feel better. “So what’s up with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“What did you want to talk about earlier?”

“Oh!” Kane swallows & rubs their neck. “Oh. Well. Um...my mom an ass.”

Clark chuckles, “No news there.”

“I just. I just can’t with her anymore. She is always on my case about something. And normally I just chalk it up to normal nagging mother stuff, but she’s literally been scolding me for doing my studying & doing my homework. Sure, I was up until 3 in the morning for 4 days in a row. I don’t choose to have that much homework. If she wanted me to go to sleep earlier maybe she should yell at my teacher instead of giving me shit every day! And she refuses to call me Kane! Like how many times do I have to tell her that my name is Kane! I’m so-”

Kane puts their legs up to their chest & sobs into their knees. Clark wraps his arms around Kane. “Hey, why don’t you come to my place today. You can just get a little time away from her. How’s that sound?”

Kane sniffles & mumbles, “I don’t know how she’d feel about that.”

“Kane,” Clark grips their chin & makes them look him in the face. “I don’t care what she thinks. What do you think about it?”

Kane wipes the tears from their face. “That sounds great.”

They grip hands. “C’mon. Let’s get to class.”