Lennox’ POV

Saturday

RAL5021: You hung out with Lohmann

YodelaNina: And then you avoided us for days

RAL5021: Storytime

CapoMio13: Details bby

YodelaNina: When’re u marrying him?

Lennox snorted as he read his friends replies to his greeting in their chat. It was true he hadn’t talked to them after hanging out with Milan on Monday, but it wasn’t because he was avoiding them because he didn’t want to talk about it. He simply hadn’t felt great since he learned that Remy wasn’t coming over that weekend, because their parents had decided to take him with them to prevent them from meeting in secret.

Only God knew how they found out about their plans, and it sucked that they did. He missed his younger brother more than he missed anyone else. They were only a year apart in age and despite the usual healthy sibling fights, they had been good friends, hanging out together a lot.

Rude-Y: Bro, talk

Noxx: There’s nothing to say

Noxx: He noticed I was feeling down and took me for ice cream and a nice talk and that’s pretty much it

And really, Lennox didn’t want to tell them about the next day, and how Milan had asked him to join him and his friends for lunch. Or how Evert had shared a few of his interests, especially in games. And how Evert had even invited him over to play games that very night.

Not because Lennox wasn’t excited that Milan turned out to be the nicest guy you could think of, and so were his friends. No, it was mainly because Lennox felt like he needed to be careful. Don’t count your blessings too soon, this could all easily still be a trick.

The pictures on Discord told him he was righteously careful. For a handful of people had spotted Ben and Milan on the mountain together, talking. And anyone who was in contact with Ben, could be a danger to him and his social status.

What if Milan was only doing this to get Ben off his back? Build him up before tearing him back down, just as before?

Lennox didn’t want to tell his online friends much, because he didn’t want them to get too excited about something that could easily mean nothing.

Besides, he had more important issues on his mind, like trying to think of a way to see Remy without his parents finding out.

CapoMio13: At least spill the inside tea about him being challenged by el douchebag

CapoMio13: Is he going to beat his ass?

Rude-y: Dudee if he is, im coming to see it for myself

Lennox sighed, smiling wearily at his screen. He loved his friends for being supportive in their own way. As soon as Lennox had told them more about his breakup with Ben, they all automatically stopped supporting him.

Though Lennox felt as if the girls had merely supported Ben because  Lennox had been dating him, while secretly cheering for Milan from the second Lennox told them everything about their rivalry, complaining that Ben sometimes seemed to have more attention towards everything Milan did, than he had for him.

CapoMio13: Well?

Noxx: We haven’t really talked about that, sorry

Noxx: But I think he isn’t competing, from what I understand.

Which was practically the truth. Milan himself hadn’t said a thing to him about Ben’s challenge or talking to him. Or about anything that involved skiing. Milan had told him not to ask anything about it. But he didn’t forget the first conversation they had, in class, right before Milan stormed off. Milan had harshly told him he couldn’t compete. But that was before he went out to the mountain to ski and talk to Ben in person.

Lennox had no idea if Milan had changed his mind. All he knew was that even Milan’s closest friends didn’t seem to know for sure what Milan was planning on doing with Ben’s challenge.

For the main part, Lennox just wanted Milan to compete, kick Ben’s ass and tone his ego down slightly. But he felt bad for wanting it, for the wrong reasons. Because if he was completely honest about it, he just wanted Ben to become less popular—or even unpopular—so that his actions and words wouldn’t affect him as much anymore.

No matter how kind Milan was, to take him to his group of friends and hang out with him in school, it wasn’t enough for the haters to leave him alone whenever he wasn’t around. No, for that, Ben had already done too much damage.

So, really, how bad would it be fish for more answers from Milan, and perhaps push him into the right direction, as long as Milan’s health would allow it? He didn’t want to harm the boy, but Lennox knew how much he used to love competing in tournaments and skiing in general.

Noxx: Would I be a bad friend to Milan if I’d push him to accept the challenge?

Carmine: Why would that make you a bad friend?

Carmine: Are you even his friend after one day?

Carmine: If yes, pass my number for me :p

YodelaNina: Also if yes, why do you want to push him?

Noxx: idk, maybe Ben will be less popular if he loses to Milan again..

Rude-y: I’m all for kicking el douchebags ass but don’t let Lohmann do the dirty work for you.

CapoMio13: Right, we don’t stoop to el douchebags level. If Milan wants to compete, he will

Lennox groaned, slamming his head on his desk in annoyance. He knew Mio and Rudy were right, it wasn’t something he would do, right? It wasn’t any of Milan’s business and competing in the tournament should be on his own terms, not because others were pushing him. In some way, Ben was pushing him with his challenge, and Lennox knew him well enough to know why Ben was so obsessed to get Milan to compete.

Ben was, and would always be, considered less than Milan if he wouldn’t at least beat him in a big tournament once.

It was evident in the way the media had picked up on the challenge, and was circling Milan for answers ever since, while Ben was still on the sideline, only mentioned as the one who challenged Milan.

Ben wanted that fame Milan had. He wanted people to wonder about his activities, about his actions, about whether he was going to compete or not. Ben wanted the spotlight that apparently was still mostly focused on Milan, and he hated everything about that.

Ben would do anything in his power to persuade Milan to do whatever he  wanted, and he wouldn’t care about Milan’s wishes. If Lennox really considered them to be friends, the least he could do was make sure Milan knew it was okay to tell Ben no, even if he would become angry about it.

And let Milan know not to believe a word of what Ben said. After all, Ben was full of lies, and fake smiles, and kind words and gestures. Lennox had seen it all up close in the weeks around their breakup.