Logan left without a word. The shining was gone, but a sensation remained, and I suspect that it has not gone completely, but only lurked until the next meeting with Logan.

I walked home with mild anxiety but got there safely.

At home, I start reading articles on the Internet about shining again. I can't discuss this with my parents. Their hearts don't shine. And I don't think they will understand.

And I... well... I still hope that it was... um... something like an outburst... like teenagers' wet dreams. Maybe a surge of hormones? In short, I absolutely do not believe that Logan is my other half! And what the hell?! I'm a guy, he is too. I thought shining wasn't working like that...

Well, yes, I was never really into girls, but not into boys either! Logan, on the other side, is constantly flirting with girls.

The next day, I put on a pair of t-shirts and a thick zipped jacket.

At school, I as usual look for Logan and go into the classroom. My desk is in place. Logan sits at the other end of the class and talks about something with guys. At my appearance, he tenses a little and throws a cautious glance in my direction, and then, as if instinctively, he crosses his arms, looking down. He's wearing a thick jacket today too.

I sit down. Am I free?..

I'm afraid to smile, but... what if Logan now keeps as far away from me as possible? Is my nightmare over?!

I would never have thought that shining could have had such a pleasant "side" effect. In my case, it did not attract anyone, but, on the contrary, scared them away. Well, that's not bad either...

Classes go one after another, and Logan doesn't even look in my direction. Part of me is rejoicing, but part of me thinks that there's definitely a catch.

For the entire week, Logan didn't even lay his finger on me, didn't even come close. He ignored me. And I finally breathed freely.

I didn't go to PE. I have to persuade my parents somehow to give me more pocket money and buy a t-shirt that can hide shining.

Usually, my heart does not shine too bright (probably, this is due to the fact that it has just "woken up"). It is easy to hide it under ordinary clothes, but next to Logan, my heart shines brighter and brighter. In PE, it will be noticeable to everyone.

But what worries me more is whether can shining be "wrong"?

After all, it's quite clear to me that Logan and I are not a happy couple, but my heart is shining persistently as if trying to convince me otherwise. Should I follow it?

What if it is really meant for only one person?

I spend the whole evening reading any information about shining. But, as always, people speculate. And the phenomenon itself is still under study, and no one gives any unambiguous conclusions. However, I have read many examples of how people whose hearts shine for each other are happy together. And among them, there were also those who at first disliked each other.

Disliked, but didn't hate!

In general, I still have tons of questions!

This week we are going on an excursion. I completely forgot about it, set the alarm clock at the incorrect time. I ran to school as fast as I could. And it turned out that I'm not the only one so forgetful. To my right stands breathless Logan. It looks like he just jumped out of bed. We are seated next to each other at the very end of the bus as it pulls away from the school. Logan and I are closed up to our throats again, we don't look at each other.

I'm sure no one can see our shining, but I can feel it. Warmth spreads from my chest and throughout my body. I feel light, joyful... happy. Just sitting next to the one who constantly beat me. It sounds so wrong...

But does it mean Logan feels the same way?

We sit, facing away from each other, but I want to put my head on his shoulder, to touch him. I can't explain this feeling.

I will never do that.

If this is all that shining does - I enjoy being around Logan and need to wear a sweater - I can put up with it. In a year, I will finish school and forget about him.

I'm not going to do anything.

I think shining... It's just a reaction. I don't feel anything else, so...

Suddenly I feel a weight on my shoulder.

Logan dropped his head on it and... what?! He's dozed off.

I feel that no jacket will save me now. Also, my heart is hammering like crazy.

Should I throw him off? Push him away? What am I supposed to do?!

Calm down... just calm down...

Why the hell did he fall on me?!

Everybody is busy with themselves, and no one pays attention to us. And let's be honest, Logan's reputation is at stake, not mine. But I still don't want to be a part of it.

I try to move closer to the window, but Logan just falls on me even more. I grit my teeth and try not to breathe until the very end of the trip. As soon as the bus stops, I glance at Logan and try to get up. He opens his eyes and tries to figure out what happened. He sees me and gets up abruptly. We make our way to the exit. And finally, I exhale with relief.

During the excursion, I see and hear practically nothing. I try to keep my distance from Logan. However, this is hard to do when closeness to him makes me feel so good... Closeness to someone who was my nightmare recently. It's crazy as it sounds.

Having come back to the bus, I prudently sit further away from Logan. And all the way back, I think about the nature of shining. It seems to force me to think about Logan.

From the articles I've learned that shining can happen to any person, and so what? Now, I must consider him as the love of my life?! But I don't have such feelings for Logan, and all my bruises tell me that Logan doesn't have them either. And now, because of shining, I should be with him and forget about all the pain? About fear? About how he made me feel? About what a fucking jerk he was?

Ah! Damn, it hurts!

I almost let out a scream.

The warmth on my chest became hot, burning from within, searing. I want to unbutton my jacket and lean out the window. But I endure until the end of the trip, jump out of the bus first, and run home.

At home, I look at myself in the mirror. The skin on my chest looks normal, but shining has a reddish hue, and the burning sensation is echoing inside. Now I can't even think badly about Logan?!