“And you wouldn’t sleep for one night without sneaking out,” Danny replied, coming closer to him.

“Who, me? Silly Danny. I thought you knew me better than that,” Alex replied.

“Well, I surely do, since this is your second time sneaking out of the room to go smoking,”

“Are you spying on me, Harding?” Alex asked jokingly.

“You may be little, but your footsteps are like elephants,” Danny said. Alex smiled at this comment. Of course, he hadn’t realized that someone could hear him even though he tried to be as quiet as possible. As Danny approached Alex, a small smile played on his lips, but concern weighed heavily in his heart. Sensing something amiss, he felt a need to reach out to his friend. The crack of the door had woken him up; he instantly knew who had gone out and that this time he wouldn’t do nothing about it.

“Is everything alright?” Danny inquired softly, studying Alex’s expression for any signs of distress. Despite Alex’s attempts to brush off the concern with a forced smile and reassurance, Danny knew all too well that beneath the surface, something worried Alex deeply.

“Yeah, everything is just fine. Why wouldn’t it be?” Alex said. He finished his cigarette and threw it on the floor. He looked at Danny, who had an expression like he wasn’t satisfied with his answer.

“What now?” Alex asked.

“You won’t quit smoking, even during an apocalypse,” Danny asked.

“Oh, come on. I need them for my mental health,” Alex replied.

“Yeah, to kill the only immunity that keeps you alive,” Danny said, giving Alex’s head a weak flick with his finger. But they were both used to it back in their teenage years; a lot of physical touches, mostly small kicks, were their thing. Silence settled between them for a while. Danny gazed up at the dark sky, his eyes sparkling as he looked up at the stars. He took small steps closer to Alex while still looking up, hands in pockets, and head tilted back, admiring the stars as he whispered.

“The stars are beautiful, aren’t they?” he said, slowly looking down at his short friend. Both of them had a peeking smile on their faces. At that moment, Alex also looked up and admired the delightful view the night had prepared for them.

“Yes, they really are,” Alex said.

“You remember every detail. Even after all these years?” Danny commented, his voice quiet but sharp. There was a pause, and then he spoke again, as if something inside him was forcing the words out. “I feel terrible now, but... I wished you were dead.”

Flashback of:

October 11th, 2021.

High School of Sarbvurg City

09:17AM

It was a typical autumn day, the kind where the cold wind bites at your skin and the rain seems to come and go without warning. The streets were almost empty despite the weather. School had already started, and most students were inside, except for the few who snuck out to smoke under the trees, using them as shelter.

“Why are we always the idiots who pick the worst weather to go smoke?” Alex grumbled, dripping wet. He was soaked because Vanessa, shorter than him, was holding the umbrella at an awkward height, causing it to repeatedly bump against his head. He eventually gave up and let the rain shower him.

“As if you expected anything different from us,” Vanessa replied, throwing the end of her cigarette into a nearby puddle and folding up her umbrella as they neared the school entrance.

“What’s next subject?”

“Math,” Alex answered while shaking out his damp hair, trying to get rid of some of the water.

“Ugh, hit me now. I can’t handle two hours of math with that woman. She fries my brain, and now I have to sit in the front row because of you, you overachiever.” Vanessa groaned dramatically, but Alex just shrugged, wiping his glasses.

As they made their way to the classroom at the end of the hallway, Alex reached out to open the door, but it suddenly swung open with force, smacking him right in the head. He staggered backward, clutching his forehead, but the moment he looked up, his annoyance vanished.

In front of him stood a tall figure, brightened by the light coming from the classroom behind. All Alex could see was the figure’s long, golden hair, shining in the light. Then, the figure bent down, and Alex got a clearer look—a boy, his face filled with concern as he realized what had happened.

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, YOU IMBECILE” Vanessa shouted, her protective instincts kicking in immediately, even though she knew it was an accident. She stepped in front of Alex, ready to defend her friend from the “random guy” who had just hit him with the door.

“Relax, princess, it happens to everyone,” It came from behind the tall figure. Of course, Owen, always the smart aleck, had to throw in a comment.

“Are you okay? I didn’t expect anyone to be right behind the door,” Danny, the boy with the golden hair, asked as he knelt beside Alex, offering his hand to help him up.

Alex chuckled despite the situation. “No worries, you couldn’t have seen me.” He took Danny’s hand, still slightly dazed but smiling. This was the first time he’d seen this guy up close, despite being in the same school for over a month. There was no way he could be mad at him. Meanwhile, on the other side, Owen and Vanessa were already engaged in a war.

“I swear, if you don’t shut up, you’ll be the next one banging your head against a door!” Vanessa threatened, but Owen just laughed it off.

The bell rang, breaking the tension. Danny grabbed Owen by the sleeve and waved at Alex. As they walked away, Alex heard Danny mutter, “If we’re late to Chemistry, we’re dead, you jinx.” Alex watched them leave, rubbing the bump on his head. Vanessa seized the moment.

“I didn’t know you had a thing for blondes,” she teased, noticing the red creeping up Alex’s cheeks.

“What? No! You’ve got it all wrong.”

“Mhm, sure. Then why are you the one blushing?” she smirked, before pointing to something on the floor. “By the way, looks like your Romeo dropped something.”

Alex bent down and picked up a school ID card. It was Danny Harding’s. Without this card, you couldn’t do much in the school. He would’ve missed it if Vanessa hadn’t pointed it out. He picked the card just as their math teacher called them into the classroom.

“Ugh, please knock me out,” Vanessa groaned again.

“Shut up diva. I’m the one getting all your bad luck today,” Alex joked, dragging her into the classroom and closing the door behind them.

After two long, grueling hours of math, the bell rang again, signaling the end of the class. Vanessa excused herself to the bathroom to reapply her lipstick—something their strict teacher wouldn’t allow during class. Alex leaned against the wall in the hallway, waiting for her, when he noticed a familiar blonde figure down the hall.

Danny was standing by the window, rummaging through his bag, probably looking for the card he’d dropped earlier. Alex was about to go over when he heard a familiar, unpleasant voice. Kevin Maint, one of the school’s jerks, was standing beside Danny, talking to him in a harsh tone. Alex stepped back against the wall, listening in on the conversation, or rather, Kevin’s one-sided rant.

“Someone might think you’re tough, but with that hair, you look like a pathetic little girl. I still haven’t gotten my answer, Harding. Will you do it, or do I have to make you?” Kevin was clearly threatening him, but Alex couldn’t figure out why. Danny doesn’t look like a type to get involved in trouble.

“I’m talking to you, you little bitch!” Kevin kicked Danny, sending him stumbling sideways. Still, Danny didn’t react, his face calm, almost detached. That is, until Alex’s voice cut through the tension.

“Isn’t that your nickname?” Alex couldn’t just stand by and watch Kevin’s bullying him.

Kevin turned, a malicious grin spreading across his face when he saw Alex. It was a bizarre scene—Alex, shorter and known as the school’s emo kid, standing up to someone with a reputation for violence.

“Oh, look at that, the emo twink speaks. How cute. Maybe I’ll take a turn only for you.” Kevin’s words dripped with cruelty.

“How about you bash your own head into a wall and leave him alone? Or should I help you with that?” Alex’s calmness was unsettling, and Kevin’s smirk faltered slightly as his anger grew.

“Listen, twinky boy, I’ll give you 15 seconds to disappear before I hang you from the ceiling by your skinny neck and make your emo dream come true.”

“Listen, you trash heap, you’re either going to leave now or I’m going to put your head in that wall.” Alex’s voice was steady, but there was a threat in it that even Kevin couldn’t ignore.

“In you I can only put a -.” Kevin didn’t have a chance to finish his disgusting sentence, his face was pressed against the wall. The speed with which Alex punched his face and caught him in a grip while holding his head against the wall was immeasurably fast. He never attacks first, but when it comes to a bully, he justifies himself.

“I won’t say it again. Leave him alone.” Alex’s voice was low as he leaned in closer to Kevin’s ear. “Or do I need to send those photos to your buddies? You wouldn’t want that, would you?” Kevin’s body tensed. He knew Alex wasn’t bluffing. “Am I clear?” Alex asked.

“...Yes,” Kevin mumbled, humiliated. When Alex let him go, Kevin stormed off, anger burning in his eyes, but he knew better than to retaliate. Alex wasn’t so innocent, harmless kid he appeared to be.

Danny, who was still sitting on the floor, stared up at Alex, wide-eyed. ‘Did this small guy who got knocked over by a door earlier really just knock over Kevin?’ he thought. Alex extended a hand, smiling again. “Looks like you ended up on the floor this time.”

Danny blinked, still processing everything, before taking Alex’s hand and standing up. “Thanks... but you didn’t have to... Why?”

“Kevin’s a jerk. It was my pleasure to shut him up. Plus, I can’t stand bullies.” Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out Danny’s student ID card. “You dropped this earlier in front of the classroom.”

Danny took the card, looking relieved. “I thought I lost it. Thanks... uh, what’s your name?”

“Alex, from A3. You’re Danny, right? Haven’t seen you much around here.” Alex added.

“Yeah... I don’t really come out in the hallways much,” Danny admitted, still feeling awkward.

" DAN YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHO JUST GOT—Oh. Wait, you again? What is this?” Owen ran up to them, first addressing Danny but then noticing Alex and Danny talking like old friends.

“Explanation?” Owen demanded, pointing between the two of them.

“He found my card,” Danny explained simply.

“Ah, so we meet again. But who cares? You won’t believe this—someone beat the crap out of Kevin!” Owen exclaimed.

“I know,” Danny replied calmly.

“What do you mean you know? He’s still bleeding! How do you know before me?” Owen was confused.

“He did it.” Danny pointed to Alex, his expression both proud and amused.

Owen’s eyes widened as if he’d just seen a ghost. This news was too much to process. “You’re kidding me.”

“What? You don’t believe me?” Alex smiled and held up his hand, revealing faint traces of blood on his knuckles. Just then, something unexpected happened. Out of nowhere, Owen was struck hard in the head, causing him to double over in pain. It was a white bag—Vanessa’s bag.

“What the hell?” Owen groaned, clutching his head. Vanessa approached slowly from behind, her head held high.

“That’s what you get for going into the girls’ bathroom, you idiot,” she said smugly, then glanced over at the surprising scene between the blond and the emo kid. With a mischievous look, she raised an eyebrow at Alex.

“I apologized five times,” Owen muttered, still wincing.

“Not enough.” Vanessa shot back, before looking around. “And what’s this, forming a nerd club?” she teased.

“For the amount of time you spent in the bathroom, we could have formed ten clubs,” Alex added with a smirk.

And that was the official beginning. A math classroom and a hallway bore witness to the moments that marked the formation of this unlikely crew.

End of flashback