Decisions, decisions

I'm playing with your heart

I'm sorry, I'm sorry

He also played with mine

• RJMidnight 

Special Chapter Two: 7 years ago

It took Nine a month before he mustered up the confidence to walk towards the student council room. Nine is a confident person, but when it comes to his crush, he gets nervous. 

He took a deep breath before peeking into the student council room. It was empty since it was late after school, except for the senior sitting at the desk, looking through some documents. 

Nine watched him for a few more minutes before closing his eyes and counting in his head. He took one more deep breath, stepping into the room. He silently walked, not wanting to disturb the senior too much. Once he was in front of the desk, he silently cleared his throat. 

"Hi." 

The senior paused, looking at Nine with a questioning expression, "Hi, can I help you?" 

"Uh," Nine started playing with his fingers, fidgeting from his crush's gaze, "I would like to join the student council. Are there any spots available?" 

The senior shook his head, "We filled in the remaining spots two weeks ago." 

Nine screamed in his head. Ah! Nine, why did it take you so long to come here? Now, you don't have any excuse to see your crush. 

"Oh," Nine tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice but failed terribly, "do you think there will be any opening spots soon?" 

He felt his question was stupid, but his brain was a second away from closing down. 

"I don't know. Technically, we have the vice president position open since the old one left for a new school, but that position is only available to seniors, and you are a freshman, correct?" Truthfully, Quin left the VP position open because he did not want anyone to take Theo's spot. 

Theo may have left, but Quin stuck to the memories like a starving man. 

"Yes, I am." Nine nodded. He bit his lip, thinking about his next move. If he could not join the club, what else could he do to get to know the senior more? 

It did not take long for him to think of a solution. 

"Does anyone stay with you late after school?" 

"Not all the time. Most of the members are busy, especially the seniors. But since I am the president, I stay behind." 

"Then, can I stay with you and help out? I swear not to get in your way. And when there are open positions, I will already have some experience." Nine tried persuading.

Quin tapped his pencil on the desk, thinking about Nine's proposition to help him with work. He did not need much help, but he was bored. Theo used to stay with him, but now that he left the school, Quin has been alone. 

And he needed something to distract himself from his building annoyance with Theo not texting him every day like Quin tries to do. 

"Okay, that is fine." Quin agreed. 

Nine mentally cheered, smiling wide as he reached out his hand. "I am Nine." 

Quin grabbed his hand, "Quin." 

Quin. I finally know his name! Nine was dying on the inside with excitement. I am getting closer to my crush!

"Are you dating Quin?" Someone asked, causing Nine to pause at the printer. 

Nine was in the teacher's lounge, using the printer to make copies of the festival posters. He had a senior, a student council member, follow him to the printer.  

Freshmen couldn’t use the printer in the teacher's lounge without a teacher's permission or a senior accompanying them. 

"W-What?" Nine stuttered, turning red. 

The senior did not see a problem with his question and leaned against the counter. "You two have been attached at the hip for the past two months. Everyone believes you two are dating." 

"Really?" Nine goofily smiled before shaking his head and clearing his throat. He forgot where he was for a second. Nine couldn't stop his heart from beating crazily from the senior's words. Do people really think me and him are together?

"I mean, we are not together." Nine tried covering. 

"I think that is good." The senior responded, picking up the copies before pushing a button on the printer to make more. 

"What, why," Nine asked, feeling slightly offended, "am I not good enough for him, or is it because of my age?" 

"None of that. Quin just broke up with his ex he was obsessed with and decided to attach to you out of nowhere? I believe you are nothing but a rebound. It is not good to go out with someone thinking of you like that." 

Nine has heard about Quin's ex before. The seniors and juniors would say small comments about him, which he noticed that Quin did not like. He does not know the ex's name or how he looks, but he knows all the things he has done. 

But, Nine did not feel like Quin was using him as some rebound. Quin was sweet to him, and Nine was the one attaching himself to Quin, not the other way around or equal. 

"I don't believe that." Nine confidently responded. 

The senior looked at him with pity, shaking his head before patting his shoulder. "Well, I gave my warning. Good luck if you two get together." 

Nine clenched his fist, wanting to say more in anger, but stopped himself. It is not good to fight with a senior. And it is someone else's opinion who only knew the surface picture. 

He did not see how they were alone or how they acted every day. So, the senior knows nothing. Quin wouldn't do something like that. He is a nice person. 

Maybe, at 15, Nine did not notice how naive he could be. 

Nine and Quin were walking to the school's parking lot. Quin told Nine that he would drive him home. Nine quietly walked alongside Quin, still thinking about what the senior told him in the printer room. 

He gave himself confidence, but Nine couldn't help the words sticking to him—especially when he started to notice the whisper of the other members about him and Quin. 

Is it weird for them to be together? 

Quin stopped walking, causing Nine to crash into him. Quin grabbed Nine's waist, holding him up. "Are you okay?" 

Nine blushed, stepping away, "Yeah, thank you." 

"No problem." 

Nine noticed that they stopped in front of Quin's car. Once Quin unlocked the doors, they went inside. As Nine buckled himself, Quin watched him instead of driving off. 

"Is something wrong? You seemed quiet ever since you can back from printing posters." Quin asked. 

Nine tapped along his thigh, thinking what to say before blurting out, "Did you know that everyone thinks we are together?" 

"I heard. Does that bother you? I can tell them to stop." 

"No," Nine quickly shook his head, "does it bother you?" 

"It doesn't," Quin responded. 

Nine bit his lip, silently scratching his pants, trying to muster up some courage. "Then, what if we make it true?" 

Quin raised his eyebrow, "Are you asking me out?" 

Instead of responding verbally, Nine nodded. His face was completely red. 

"I-" 

Ding!

Pausing with his words, Quin pulled out his phone, seeing that he had a message from Theo.