'Angel,

Thank you for letting me write to you. If there's anything you should know is that I'm very patient. But today I feel I'm reaching a breaking point with seeing all the decorations, the Valentine's sales in the main lounge, couples walking together, it makes me think: I want you to know me already. I picture how it would play out. Sometimes, I can't wait to see you. Waiting is too long, even if it could be just a few days away. But most of the time, I dread it even in my imagination. Have you thought about how that would go?

I fear what you'll think when you know it's me but I need to know. Do I stand a chance?

You asked for clues so here's your first one: I'm not a girl.

Could you be with me knowing this?'

          Locker number twenty three had been on the other side of campus. The inside had been completely empty. Nothing to give hint at what kind of person this could be. Not that he was going to rummage through their stuff, but if there was a textbook, a school ID, some homework with their name on it, something, it would've been nice.

         He couldn't loiter by his own locker or make more visits either, both out of time's sake and in case he came across the admirer while they were delivering their letter. He wasn't ready to know. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know at all. How would he turn him down if it came to it? What if he led him on by writing back? Whoever was writing these definitely had an audacity he didn't. What if this guy wasn't out either? Who could be bold enough to write how they felt and give it to someone else? He didn't think anyone did love letters these days anyway.

         Today, Angel had to help the student government body for the charity race. Since he didn't take showers in the locker room, but in his dorm, he had to hurry and throw on the closest clothing items. Practice, a trip to his locker, back to his room, and then a shower...he was coming up thirty minutes late. He settled for a drop armhole tank and running shorts.

          Angel bolted to the football field. There were hearts, paper flowers, signs and streamers on the way. The actual race wasn't going to stay within the track oval but begin there, move along the University's city grounds and then end where they started. Hence, a need for lots of decorations.

          "Yo, sorry, I had something to do real quick. What can I help with?" He panted, wiping the drops of water that crept down his neck from the wetness of his hair.

         "Uh-oh. Hold on" Venus gestured to Carson who was standing with Jeremiah over a painted banner. They were arguing. Both too absorbed in their conversation to notice until they entered their peripheral vision.

         Carson dropped the argument, mood entirely changed, and smiled at seeing Angel, "Oh, you're here. My day is infinitely better"

         Angel returned the expression, coyly, "H-hey, Carson" He met eyes with Jeremiah who observed the odd atmosphere between the two of them. "Sup, Jeremiah"

         "What're y'all fighting about this time?" She crossed her arms like a fed-up mother.

         "We don't have a ladder to put up the banner at the entrance. The janitor isn't here. He could sit on my shoulders, stand even, and we could put it up" Jeremiah explained shaking his head like it was was too simple of a task.

          She rolled her eyes, tired, "Then why not do that? Carson quit being a pussy and stand on Jeremiah, please"

          "I'm not scared to do it, what I'm saying is, he can stand on my shoulders. I don't trust him not to drop me"

          Jeremiah gawked, "Bro, you want to carry me? You look like you can barely carry your own legs. Sirenhead lookin' ass. He wants to carry me to pin the banner on the post when his ass built like a light post. If I climb onto you, and you snap" He breaks an invisible twig with his hands, "like a toothpick. I aint bein' liable, guey"

          Carson glared at him, "I'm taller than you. It makes sense for me to carry you"

          Venus groaned, "Never seen two boys want to be bottoms so bad before"

          The other scowled, disagreeing with the SGA president was getting this nowhere. "Angel. Come here, please"

          "Huh?" Angel followed him to the bleachers where Jeremiah sat at the lowest level.

          "Climb on"

          "Dude, I weigh just as much as you do. I'm gonna kill your deltoids"

          He rhythmically beat his chest with his fist twice, "We've done this before, you know this is fine" When they would travel for state competitions, they'd do this with teammates at the hotel pools if they had one. 

          Angel regretted having worn his running shorts. They were short. His thick thighs would be around his head. His crotch closer to his face than he'd ever imagined it would ever be. 

          "Okay, I'm gonna stand now" He wrapped his large palms around his quads tightly, "You good?"

          "Yeah. I'm good I think. Walk slowly" He held the sides of his face, leaning forward for a moment to stabilize himself and causing droplets to fall onto Jeremiah's face. He apologized and cupped his features, wiping under his eyes with both his thumbs, "Sorry, I didn't towel my hair dry"

           Carson then handed Angel one end of the long banner, "Jeremiah, for the first time since knowing you, I'm jealous of your position right now"

          Jeremiah clutched Angel's muscles under his hands in a gentle grip and growled out annoyed, "Shut up, go do some useful shit"

          "I am needed, dude. Who's going to tell you if it's straight or not?"

          "Venus can do it" Jeremiah insisted.

          She frowned angrily, raising her hands up in surrender, "No. No, no, no. Sorry, Angel babe, you babysit them. I'm going as far away from those two as I can"

          The three of them managed to set up all the banners, organized all the tables, assembled the stage at the center of the field, and twisted the streamers into patterns to tape them around the gates with minimal bickering. Well, somewhat minimal bickering. Carson nitpicked to vex Jeremiah, and Jeremiah pretended to not understand instructions to exasperate Carson. It was a long back and forth, with Angel right in the middle. But he was able to get them to do their parts smoothly enough.

          "Thanks, Angel, for helping out. You didn't have to. I know you had practice in the indoor track and rushed here. I appreciate it still. We got a lot done" Carson pulled out a water bottle from his bag for him to show his gratitude.

          "I also did not have to be here. I came only because Angel asked me to" Jeremiah took it just to irritate the other, gave Angel his cold one, and drank out of Carson's.

          He caught a glance into Carson's bag, seeing a binder, a pencil case, and white envelopes. "No problem, I didn't mind. Let me know if I can help with anything else"

          "Well, can I have your social media maybe? To message you, you know, incase there's anything else you can do?" He asked hopefully.

          Jeremiah wrapped his arm around him, "He doesn't have any. Nice try" He looked at Angel, trying to cut the SGA president out of their circle, "You wanna go get dinner?"

          Angel nodded and laughed under his breath at his friend's candid dislike of the taller one, "You can get my number off of Venus. Tell her I said I let you have it"

          Jeremiah didn't let him go even as they walked towards the university's dining hall. "Can't believe you let that dumbass have it"

          Angel put his arm around his back, patting it affectionately, "He's my friend"

          He pouted, "I am too. But that's not the only thing he wants"

          Angel didn't say anything else about it. Jeremiah didn't know that Angel was actually in the same boat as Carson. Friends, but wanting much more than that.