~Andrew~ 

The next day, Jamie didn't come to school. I had to spend lunch sitting alone with assholes behind me throwing shit at me while their whole posse snickered about who could make the most irrelevant insult. It made me wonder what life at school was like for Jamie before I arrived here. 

He spoke about some kids he didn't like because of bullying, but nothing as extreme as what happened in the locker room. I shook the thought away, looking outside to the window at the empty courtyard calling my name. Keaton has the same lunch as me but I never bothered to sit with him since Jamie would rather stay away from that crowd, which is understandable.

Keaton is a great person but around his friends, he could become loud and rowdy, maybe not as bad as the other guys but loud nonetheless. Looking down at my pitiful lunch tray, I fooled with the green beans, watching the fork push them this way and that. My stomach churned and grumbled but after yesterday I couldn't put anything down.

Mrs.Jones made the most delicious smelling pizza for dinner and after one bite I threw up, the sauce looking a little too much like Jamie's blood on the locker room floor. I threw my fork down onto my plate before standing up and deciding to walk to the library. As I walked out I felt another piece of food hit my back but paid no mind, instead, exiting with a shaky breath. 

The library was my heaven, and if God was real he'd make it look just like this. My eyes came into contact with the lady behind the counter, her smile sweet as always before I continued making my way to my favorite bean pillow in the corner behind the shelves of my favorite genre. Romance. 

I snatched a random book today, the book sliding off the shelf labeled, 'S', referring to the first initial of the author's last name. Plopping down onto the bean pillow, I flipped the book over to take a good look at the cover. 'The Gravity of Us' Phil Stamper,  highlighted the front of the book which floated above the heads of two boys. 

Two boys?

I flipped back to read the description. 

'-Teen boys find love-'

'-Cal meets sensitive and mysterious Leon-'

'-falling head over heels--fast-'

My face grew hot, the sudden feeling of violation of privacy becoming overwhelming. I slammed the book, front cover first into the bean pillow, looking all around the library to make sure no one saw me. Kids quietly sat at computers and other teenagers whispered gossip to pass the time in a peaceful environment. Not a single person was watching me. 

I took deep breaths, closing my eyes before I felt a jerk at my shoulder. 

"Ah-" A hand covered my mouth. My eyes flew open to burn with fresh tears and the sight of a terrified Keaton looking back. 

"Shh shhh shh it's okay I'm not a serial killer just please don't scream I'm already on a thin line with the librarian," Keaton hastily whispered with a finger to his lip. My heart rate relaxed momentarily before remembering the book that lay at my side, my body heating up in embarrassment. 

"Mph!" I grabbed the book swiftly, moving my butt to sit on it and cover the evidence. Evidence of what I have no idea but the last thing I needed was Keaton making fun of me and getting the wrong idea. He slowly peeled his hand off my mouth, my tongue instinctively coming out to moisten my lips. His eyes followed my movement before curiosity bloomed and he scrutinized me in the eye with perplexity.

"What did you just hide?"

"Why would I hide anything moron we're in a library and you're the one handing out heart attacks like homework." I hissed, my face becoming hotter than I demanded. Keaton's green orbs flickered over my features, watching as my blush became more and more evident. 

"Are you sick?" He asked, his head cocking to the side like a dog.

"Why would I be sick?" 

"You look really red. Are you running a fever?"

"Ok come on you just sound like your mom at this point." I chuckled awkwardly, Keaton's face contorting into confusion.

"Um, anyways I was just passing through here and I saw you from the hall so I thought I'd say hi." He whispered, his smile not helping my feverish symptoms. 

"O- oh oh right well hi to you too." I smiled, my lips feeling a little tighter than intended but a smile nonetheless. 

"Oookay, well, Tiger I'm leaving now so," His eyes glanced around, "don't do anything too crazy while I'm gone." I nodded, the heat in my face going away and a genuine smile replacing my tight-lipped one from moments before. His body started to walk away from my figure on the floor before he loudly added, "and don't miss me too much!" 

The lady behind the desk rose, hearing Keaton hollering inside of her library angering her. Keaton started to run but not before sending me a quick wink as he turned the corner, out of sight from the library window. 

I watched a moment longer, the silence of his presence weighing me down as I stood from the bean pillow and picked up the book that could have questionably ruined my day. My lungs released a breath I didn't know it was holding as I took in the details of the cover. 

Two boys sat on the ground, both hand in hand with the sunset in their horizon, a place I could only ever dream to be. The boy on the right has a black watch, his fingers intertwined in a knit fit with the other boy's hand. 

I could feel the sudden heat of a blush creeping up on me and shook my head, releasing another deep breath and walking over to the shelf to push the book back into place where it belonged. For some reason, it felt wrong, but looking at the book, and those boys' hands intertwined I could only think of one thing. 

Keaton winked at me.

~~~

The bell for the last block of the day rang before I knew it. Keaton seemed to suddenly be all over after lunch and our run-in at the library. Even though he was with his friends I didn't mind all that much since despite their loud rowdiness they were kind people. Keaton smacked one of them on the head for making a comment about Jamie's whereabouts but otherwise, they didn't bother. 

"Man bro, you should totally come to the party!" One of his friends exclaimed, his elbow finding its way into Keaton's side. Keaton chuckled shaking his head.

"Yeah, you've been staying at the house a lot lately." A chorus of 'mhms' followed at that observation. 

"Speaking of, why haven't we seen ya around like usual?" One of them questioned.

"You're always the life of the party man!"

"I'm sorry boys but it's not always about you," Keaton laughed out, all of them laughing in unison. I watched the circle interact with one another closely. Everyone seemed to follow whatever Keaton went with. If Keaton said no, it was no. If Keaton said yes, everyone threw in new shit to add to whatever he was saying yes to. 

Yet it seemed like Keaton couldn't tell he was the head honcho of his group. He acted and treated everyone the same. And unfortunately, he applied that mentality to me as well. I was what you could momentarily call, 'one of the boys'. 

"Why don't we get Andy to come?" One of them asked, another unison of 'mhms' floating around the circle. 

"Yeah right, no way is he the type. Just look at him." He deadpanned jutting his head at me. Suddenly everyone's eyes were on me, looking me up and down in judgmental silence. 

My teeth grabbed the skin in my cheek and my body grew hot with embarrassment, not for myself but for Keaton. I could feel their thoughts from where I sat, my fingers picking at the cuticles to reveal fresh blood. 

"Hey don't do that." A hand came to pull my hand away from the other, my arm flinching at the touch. My eyes went wide realizing it wasn't Keaton's hand pulling me away, but one of his friends. I shivered, my body slowly going into a cold sweat. 

"Levi don't touch him, dude." Keaton smiled, a tinge of concern layered under his friendly command. 

"I'm just helping Ice, chill out." Levi grabbed my hand harder to hold it up in the air in front of me, my eyes filling up with the burning tears I desperately pleaded not to fall. My lower lip trembled but I caught it with my teeth, neutralizing the problem. My legs crossed together as I tried to softly pull away, my heart rate feeling sickening. 

"No Levi just put his arm down what the hell are you doing?" Keaton asked, this time sounding a little angrier. Everyone in the circle shuffled, some of the boys backing away from Levi. 

"Stop being such a pussy, he's totally fine." He drawled out, his other arm reaching for my other hand. I pulled away, flinching at the contact as the room felt like it was starting to grow darker in the empty classroom. 

"Levi I'm not asking." He growled, pressing at my anxiety even more to the familiar feeling of oncoming danger.

"Dude, chill the fuck out he's just a little twink." Levi laughed out, looking me up and down. Levi stood to his full height, shorter than Keaton but taller than me. I hiccuped, a weak yelp falling from my lips as my knees instinctively came up to my chest to cover me. 

"Levi,"

A tear fell from my eye as a whimper slipped out, "Why the fuck are you-"

WHAM

Levi's face was suddenly out of my vision along with my wrist undone from his hand. It felt like slow motion. Keaton's fist, Levi's face, and a collective 'Oos' rang in the chaotic nature of something I'd never thought I'd see Keaton participate in. 

Violence.