Albion closed the door, feeling ecstatic. They’d kissed. Fenner initiated it, so he must have feelings for me, right? He thought, flopping down on his bed. What were they now though? The front door closed, causing Albion to jump up and run downstairs. “Mum I need advice!” He exclaimed, hugging his mother tightly.

“Alright sweetie, let me get in the door first,” she chuckled, moving in to the kitchen to put on the kettle. “So, what’s up?” Albion slumped down in a chair. “Fen and I kissed so he must like me right? Am I supposed to ask him out?” His mother squealed and ran over to hug him.

“Really?! Well, did he kiss you or the other way round?” Albion grinned. “Both.” She gasped, slapping his arm playfully. “Well look at you! I’d say he likes you then, from what you’ve told me he’s cold to everyone usually, so I doubt he’d be like how he is with you if he didn’t have feelings for you.”

Albion nodded, contemplating this. “What if I tell him how I feel and it makes things worse? What if he’s disgusted, or tells other people or…” the boy’s hand reflexively went to his left eye. His mother grabbed his hand. “Sweetie, I understand why you’re worried, but if he kissed you, he’s not going to be disgusted or anything. And, if he is,” she took a deep breath. “I’ll beat the shit out of him myself.”

Albion giggled. “Mum, language!” She kissed the top of his head, then went to finish making her tea. “Do it sooner rather than later though, sweetie. If you let things stew like this, it’ll just cause you unnecessary anxiety.”

“I’ll go to his tomorrow and grab him for a chat.” She chuckled, sipping her tea. “Alright sweetie, come straight home if something doesn’t go to plan, ok?” Albion smiled, turning to go. “Yep, I will.”

—————

“Fenny, your friend is here!” Fenner sat up suddenly. “What?” His mother called up the stairs again, “Albie’s here!” Fenner hurtled down the stairs, almost running Albion over in the process. “Um, hi. Can we chat?” He nodded quickly, grabbing the boy’s hand before taking him upstairs.

Fenner sat down on his bed, Albion joining him. They sat side by side in silence for a couple of minutes. Fenner was beginning to panic. Does he regret the kiss? Does he not actually like me? Negative thoughts kept spiralling around his head until Albion spoke up.

“Fen, I really like you. Will you be my boyfriend?” Fenner’s mind went blank. “Uhh what?” Albion’s face fell, as he thought he’d misread the situation terribly. “You..don’t want to?” Fenner grabbed the boy’s hand. “No! I do. I like you too. I want to be your boyfriend but I can’t.” A massive grin had appeared on Albion’s face, only to fall again.

“Wait, why not?” Fenner closed his eyes briefly. “I don’t have long left,” he started. “YOU’RE DYING??!” Albion’s eyes widened in fear. “What, no, calm down.”Albion let out a breath, relieved. “Sorry, I’ll let you finish.”

Fenner gripped Albion’s hand. “You’re going to forget me. Everyone does. I can’t explain it, and you’ll probably never believe me, but it’s going to happen soon, and I can’t…I can’t lose you if I never technically had you.” Albion stared at him, confusion clouding his eyes.

“I’m not going to forget you, don’t worry. And besides, we both like each other, how is having the label any different?” Fenner let go of his hand. “You don’t get it. You can’t control the forgetting, even my own dad can’t remember me.” Albion grabbed his hand again.

“What? That’s- I promise I’ll never forget you, Fenner. I won’t. I know I won’t. You don’t realise how big a part of my life you are. I could never forget you.” Fenner smiled at his words, but tears began to pool in his eyes.

“Albie, don’t promise something you can’t keep. My mum is the only person who can remember me, and that’s because she’s the same as me. Our family was cursed.” Albion continues to look at him with confusion. “You’re cursed? But I remember you, I don’t get it.”

Fenner took a deep breath. “Please listen and try to believe me, ok?” The other boy nodded. “My mum’s side of the family has the power to turn invisible. But we got cursed, so that we can’t control it, and when we do go invisible, everyone forgets us. When we see people again, they think they’re meeting us for the first time.”

Albion nodded in understanding. “That’s what happened the first day, in French, right? You were in that guy’s class for 5 years but he didn’t remember you.” Fenner nodded seriously. “Yeah. It’s been 4 weeks since I last went invisible, and it happens roughly every month.”

“It’s about to happen again then.” Albion covered his mouth, tears spilling from his eyes. “Is there really no way…for me to remember you?” Fenner bit his lip. He didn’t want to get Albion’s hopes up, but…there was a chance.

“There is an exception.” Albion’s eyes lit up. “What is it?”

“Soulmates. My dad never forgot my mum, because he’s her soulmate.” Albion nodded again. “Let’s just hope I’m your soulmate then, ok?” Fenner rested his shoulder on the boy’s shoulder. “You believe me?” Albion giggled, “I doubt you’d make up such an elaborate lie if you really just didn’t want to date me.”

“Can I still be your boyfriend then?” Albion lifts Fenner’s chin, looking him in the eyes. “Of course.” Fenner smiled brightly, leaning in and kissing his boyfriend.