Chris woke up to the smell of something REALLY good.

For a second, he forgot where he was, his brain still half asleep. The ceiling wasn’t his, the sheets smelled different, and- Oh. Right. Nick’s house.

He groaned, rolling onto his side. Nick was still knocked out, sprawled across his bed like he’d fought a war in his sleep. Chris grabbed a pillow and chucked it at him.

“Wake up, dumbass.”

Nick grumbled something unintelligible, barely moving.

Chris smirked and got up, stretching as he sniffed the air again. PANCAKES. And something else-maybe eggs? Either way, he was definitely getting up for this.

He wandered into the hallway, following the scent toward the kitchen, where Susan was at the stove, flipping pancakes. She glanced up when she saw him.

“Well, look who’s alive.”

Chris chuckled, rubbing his eyes. “Morning, Miss Susan.”

“Morning, sweetheart. Hope you’re hungry.”

Chris grinned. “Always.”

She nodded approvingly, then called towards the stairs, “NICK! IF YOU

DON’T GET DOWN HERE IN FIVE MINUTES, I’M EATING YOUR PLATE!” There was a thud from upstairs, followed by grumbling footsteps.

Chris shook his head, grabbing a plate and piling on food. He sat at the table, halfway through a bite when a movement outside caught his eye.

Through the kitchen window, he could see the house next door-the neighbors’ house.

The front door swung open, and Ash stepped out.

Chris froze mid-bite.

Ash looked like he had just rolled out of bed, wearing a plain white        T-shirt and sweatpants, his hair even messier than last night. He stretched, his back arching slightly through his hair. Then, before he ran a hand through his hair. Then, with zero urgency, he sat on the porch steps, scrolling through his phone.

Chris quickly looked away, chewing his food like it suddenly required all of his focus.

Susan glanced over. “Oh, that’s the new neighbor boy, right?”

Chris shrugged. “Uh. Yeah. I guess.”

Nick finally stumbled in, yawning as he sat across from Chris. He grabbed a pancake off Chris’s plate like it was his own.

Chris smacked his hand away. “Dude, get your own.”

Nick smirked. “What, you mad cause I interrupted your staring?”

Chris almost choked. “I wasn’t-” He grabbed his drink, taking a long sip to shut himself.

Nick just smirked wider but said nothing.

Chris hated how observant he was sometimes.

Chris leaned against Nick’s dresser, scrolling through his phone while Nick dug through a messy pile of clothes.

“Bro how do you live like this?” Chris muttered, kicking aside a hoodie on the floor.

Nick side-eyed him. “Man, I know where everything is. That’s all that matters.”

Chris wasn’t convinced.

Nick finally yanked a T-shirt from the pile and pulled it over his head. “You ready?”

Chris patted his pocket. “Yeah. Just need to text my mom.”

Chris: Morning. Heading to school now.

Mom: Did you actually sleep or were you and nick up all night?

Chris: … Yes.

She sent a side-eye emoji.

Chris smirked, sliding his phone into his pocket.

They headed downstairs, where Susan was washing dishes and already on the phone with somebody, moving around the kitchen like she ran a business from there.

“I know you didn’t just tell me you gon’ bring your cousin and her kids over here today-” She turned to the boys as they grabbed their bags. “Y’all leaving?”

“Yeah,” Nick said, grabbing an apple from the counter.

“Alright. Be safe. And don’t let anybody stress you out first thing in the morning.”

Nick snorted. “No promises.”

Chris chuckled as they stepped outside, the crisp morning air hitting them. The street was still waking up-cars pulling out of driveways, kids heading to school, the occasional dog barking in the distance.

And then-

The door to Ash’s house opened.

Chris wasn’t expecting to see him again so soon, but there he was freshly showered, black T-shirt, sweatpants, keys in hand, hair still slightly damp.

Nick noticed and smirked. “Mmm.” Chris ignored him.

Sienna followed Ash out the door, adjusting her jacket. She noticed Nick and waved. “Morning, Nick!”

Nick grinned. “Yo morning! You heading out?”

“Yeah, Ash is dropping me off,” she said, motioning toward her brother.

Chris blinked. Oh. He’s not in high school.

Ash unlocked his car, a sleek black sedan that looked like it had been cleaned recently.

Nick tilted his head. “You’re driving?”    

Ash raised a brow. “That’s what she just said.” Nick grinned. “Bet. You got space for two more?” Chris’s stomach flipped.

Ash glanced at him briefly before shrugging. “Sure. Get in.” Chris did not expect that answer.

Before he could even process it, Nick already pulling him toward the car. “C’mon, bro. Bus who?” Chris hesitated.

Getting a ride to school wasn’t a big deal. Except it was. 

Because now, he had to sit in Ash’s car.

Next to Ash.

For the next ten minutes.

Chris swallowed and climbed in.

And as Ash started the engine, Chris couldn’t help but wonder if the temperature inside the car was always this high-or if it was just him.

 Chris did not know what to do with his hands.

Or his legs.

Or the fact that he could smell Ash’s cologne from this close.

Nick and Sienna were in the back, casually talking about some school event, but Chris? Chris was hyperaware of the fact that his knee was this close to brushing against Ash’s.

And the worst part? Ash looked so unbothered.

One and on the wheel, eyes on the road, completely relaxed. Like Chris wasn’t internally spiraling in the passenger seat.

Nick suddenly leaned forward. “Yo, Ash. You ever get road rage?”

Ash scoffed. “No.”

Nick smirked. “Liar. I saw you glare at that guy who cut you off earlier.” Ash didn’t deny it. “That wasn’t road rage. That was judgement.” Chris huffed a small laugh before he could stop himself.

Unfortunately, Ash noticed.

Chris felt Ash’s eyes flick towards him for half a second-just long enough to make his face heat up.

He looked out the window immediately.

Nick caught the whole thing. And grinned.

He nudged Chris’s seat with his knee. “You good, bro?”

Chris gritted his teeth, “I will throw you out of this car.” Nick laughed. “Chill! You look like you’re about to pass out.” Chris muttered under his breath and sank further into the seat.

But that didn’t stop him from catching Ash’s smirk.

And, God help him, it was a really nice smirk.

The car rolled to a stop in the school parking lot, and Chris could not get out fast enough.

Nick, of course, took his time stretching. “Man, I could get used to this. Bus who?”

Sienna laughed, grabbing her bag. “You’re so dramatic.”

Ash stayed in driver’s seat, one hand still lazily resting on the wheel. “Y’all getting out, or should I start charging for gas?”

Chris was already out of the car, slinging his bag over his shoulder like his life depended on it.

Nick hopped out and leaned back through the open window. “Yo, pickin’ Sienna up after school too?” Ash nodded.

Chris did not need Nick’s next words.

“Ayy, Chris, you tryna ride home with us too?”

Chris froze. Nick was the worst human being on the planet.

Ash looked at him expectantly, waiting for an answer.

Chris was about to say no-he was. But then he caught the bus pulling into the parking lot, already packed with kids.

He exhaled. “…Yeah. Sure.”

Nick’s grin was unforgiveable.

Sienna waved. “Alright, see you guys later.” Ash gave a small nod before driving off.

Chris refused to look at Nick.

Nick bumped his shoulder. “You good, man?”

Chris grumbled. “I hate you.” Nick cackled. “Nah, you love me.” Chris did not respond.

Because the second they walked through the school doors, he saw Laurel.

Walking with her new boyfriend.

Chris tensed.

Nick followed his line of sight and sighed. “…Man.”

Laurel looked up, right at Chris.

For a second, he thought she was going to say something.

Instead, she just walked right past him.

Like he wasn’t even there.

A few people nearby definitely noticed.

Nick clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Forget her, bro. let’s go.”

Chris swallowed, nodded, and followed.

But somehow, the silence from Laurel hurt more than if she had said something.

Chris walked into his first-period class feeling like absolute garbage.

He barely heard whatever Nick was saying as they made their way to their seats. His mind kept replaying the moment-Laurel’s eyes meeting his, the way she just walked past him like he was nothing. 

Three and a half years together. Gone. Just like that.

He slumped into his chair, staring at his desk.

Nick, sitting next to him, tapped his pen against his notebook. “Yo.” Chris didn’t respond.

“Yo.”

Still nothing.

Nick sighed. “If you keep sulking like this, people are gonna think you’re writing poetry.”

Chris blinked, snapping out of it. “What?”

Nick smirked. “You got the heartbreak poet look right now. Real ‘roses are red, violets are blue, I hate my life, how ‘bout you?’ vibes.”

Chris groaned, “Nick, I swear-”

“Just saying.”

Before Chris could respond, the teacher walked in, immediately pulling up a boring PowerPoint.

Chris leaned back in his chair, not in the mood for this.

The minutes dragged.

His mind wandered.

Then, for some stupid reason, it wandered back to Ash.

Chris frowned. Why am I even thinking about him?

Maybe because Nick wouldn’t shut up about him?

Maybe because Ash barely looked at him but still somehow made him feel weird.

Or maybe because he was literally stuck riding home with him later.

Chris sighed. What the hell is happening to me?

His thoughts were interrupted by the bell ringing.

Nick stretched. “One class down, a million to go.”

Chris barely responded as they packed up their things.

He just hoped the rest of the day didn’t feel this long.

By the time lunch rolled around, Chris was starving-but mostly just mentally exhausted.

He grabbed his tray, scanning the cafeteria for Nick.

He spotted him at their usual table, already talking to Jin, who had his arms crossed and an unimpressed look on his face.

Chris sat down with a sigh. “What’s this about?”

Nick grinned. “Jin’s mad at me.”

Jin shot him a look. “Because you lied.”

Chris raised a brow. “About.”

Jin turned to him. “This guy told me we were hanging out at his place yesterday, and then last minute, he just-” Jin made a dramatic sweeping gesture “-ditches me for a casserole night.”

Chris snorted. “Casserole night?”

Nick shrugged. “It was a whole thing. Raisins were involved. I almost died.”

Jin gave him a blank stare. “I hope you did.”

Chris actually laughed, but then Jin’s eyes landed on him. “Wait, weren’t you there?” Jin asked. “Didn’t you sleep over?” Chris froze.

Nick smirked.

Jin narrowed his eyes. “Since when do you sleep over at Nick’s on a school night?”

Chris hesitated. “I just… didn’t feel like going home.”

Jin squinted. “Why?”

Chris really didn’t feel like unpacking all that. “No reason.”

Nick? The absolute worst person to have here?

“Oh, you know,” Nick said casually, “just heartbreak, avoiding his feelings, and”-he leaned forward-“maybe a little bit of distraction.” Chris felt his stomach drop. Oh God.

Jin raised a brow. “Distraction?”

Chris kicked Nick under the table.

Nick winced but didn’t stop grinning. “Y’all should’ve seen him this morning. Man was acting different in the car.”

Chris clenched his jaw. “Nick.”

Jin perked up. “Wait. What car?”

Nick’s grin grew wider. “Ash drove us.” Chris immediately stuffed food into his mouth.

Jin stared at him. “Ash? As in the neighbor Ash?

Nick nodded.

Jin slowly turned back to chris. “And you were acting different?”

Chris swallowed. “No.”  

Nick hummed. “You sure? ‘Cause you were all quiet. And awkward. And-” 

Then Nick’s eyes lit up.

“Oh. Oh.”

Chris blinked. “…What?”

Nick’s grin stretched dangerously wide.

Chris suddenly felt fear.

“Ohhh, I get it now,” Nick said, pointing at him. “You like Sienna.” Chris choked on his drink.

Jin whipped his head toward him. “Huh?!”

Chris coughed violently, pounding his chest. “WHAT? No!”

Nick looked way too satisfied. “That’s why you were all weird this morning! And why you stayed over! And why you kept looking out the window last night-”

Chris groaned, slamming his forehead onto the table.

“Damn, bro, Nick said, shaking his head. “Didn’t take you for a lovestruck idiot.”

Jin was still processing. “Wait. So Laurel dumped you, and now you’re into Nick’s neighbor?”

Chris lifted his head just to glare. “I’m NOT into Sienna.”

Nick wiggled his eyebrows. “Mmmhmm.”  Chris wanted to disappear.

Jin smirked. “Damn, man. Didn’t think you’d move on this fast.”

Chris groaned. “I didn’t move on!”

Nick grinned. “Tell that to your brain, dude.”

Chris shoved a handful of fries into his mouth just to avoid speaking.

Jin smirked at Nick. “This is gonna be fun.”

Nick nodded. “Oh, absolutely.” Chris just suffered.

The car was quiet, except for the low hum of the engine and the faint music playing through the speakers.

Chris stared out the window, arms crossed, jaw tight. He could still feel the weight of Ash’s presence in the driver’s seat.

Nick, completely relaxed, stretched. “Damn, today was fun.”

Chris scoffed. “Yeah. Hilarious.”

Sienna smirked. “Still mad?” Chris didn’t answer.

Ash’s voice cut through the silence. “So… what did he do?”

Chris glanced at the rearview mirror-Ash was looking at him. 

 Nick answered before he could. “Oh, just assumed Chris has a thing for sienna.” Silence.

Chris felt Ash’s gaze linger for a second too long before turning back to the road.

Sienna laughed. “That’s a new one.” Chris exhaled sharply. “Yeah. A wrong one.” Ash didn’t say anything.

Chris shouldn’t have cared about that.

But for some reason, he did.