The next day, Logan was forced to attend class per Dakota’s wishes. He sat through boring lectures that he’d already gone through—or had skipped. In the end, he graduated, not without scraping by, but he didn’t need much more than a GED. 

He feigned listening, but his mind was elsewhere. Not too far away. The person on his mind was only down the hall. They say that if your nose itches that means someone’s thinking about you. Did Dakota’s nose itch? Could he feel how much Logan had been thinking about him these past two days?

Logan rubbed his nose. If that were true, what did it feel like? Would Logan be able to tell the difference between that and just allergies?

The second any time the bell rang, he was out of his chair and out the door before anyone else. He didn’t bring anything with him besides the notebook and pencil Dakota had given him the day before. He sauntered through the halls, ignoring everyone else. 

This time, like any of the earlier times, he made his way to Dakota’s class to escort him to his next. He didn’t have to loiter outside the door or wait in the boys’ bathroom—though he would have preferred that rather than having to attend class. He was looking forward to meeting up with Dakota since they could have lunch together. 

Logan spotted Dakota outside the science room from down the hall. A smile stretched over his face the second he saw him. His bangs were in his face again, though they looked a little more styled than the previous day. Logan was about to call out to him when he saw Matthew and Nate coming out of the class furthest down the hall. 

“Logan!” Nate threw his hand up, obviously waving to get Logan’s attention.

Logan gave the two one look then swiveled his attention to Dakota. He’d already seen the two. He straightened, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. Matthew and Nate hadn’t noticed Dakota standing off to the side, but it would be any moment when they realized that Logan wasn’t here to see them.

He acted calm enough, hoping that he could deescalate the problem before it even started.

Matthew didn’t looked all that happy to see Logan. It definitely had to do with him shoving Matthew to the ground and running off with Dakota. Nate was dumb enough, or at least oblivious, to not figure out something was up. Matthew on the other hand…he noticed everything.

“Logan?”

He continued to walk toward the two, angling himself so that he was between them and Dakota. Behind him, Dakota was analyzing the situation. He could leave if he wanted, but for some reason he didn’t. 

Matthew’s eyes looked right past Logan and locked onto Dakota. “Hey. What the hell is this?”

Nate looked up at Matthew, wondering what he was talking about. It took him a second longer to notice Dakota hanging in the background. “Freak.”

“Fuck off.”

The harsh words weren’t anything any of them hadn’t heard a hundred dozen times before. Still, the two looked as if Logan said that he was going to shove his fist up their ass—something he had said a couple times before.

First, Matthew’s face twisted in anger. But that melted away into laughter. 

“Oh, this—you can’t be serious. Did this fag suck you off or something?”

Logan would have punched Matthew if he was still the same person he used to be. “Wow, you’re so cool throwing slurs like that.”

Matthew kept laughing. “It’s true then. The freak sucked your little ding-a-ling.”

“You’re mad because mine’s bigger,” Logan retorted. He backed up until he could grab Dakota’s arm. 

“Or maybe you were the one to suck him off. I always got the feeling you were watching me.” 

“Matt, you’re coming off a little needy.” Logan nudged Dakota to start moving. The words came flying out of his mouth and he knew it was the wrong thing to do. If there was anyone who should know how violent Matthew could get in a seconds flat, it would be him. They were two peas in a pod. 

And just like he knew, Matthew jumped at him. He pushed Dakota out of the way and took the brunt of Matthew tackle. His back slammed into the lockers, the sound loud in the clearing halls. 

A classroom door opened as Logan shoved Matthew off of him.

“What’s going on out here?”

Logan straightened up and laughed it off. “Nothing. Just hungry.”

He fled before Matthew could say something else that would derail them. As long as they stayed near teachers and staff there shouldn’t be a problem. He would just have to keep an eye out for those two and made sure they didn’t get alone with Dakota. 

“You eating?” He asked when they were near the cafeteria. 

Dakota shook his head. “Not hungry.”

“Come on. You’re not upset about what they said, right? I’ve said far worse to you.” He cringed. “Sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood.”

If Dakota was bothered by it, he didn’t say anything. Logan was derailed by his pessimistic thoughts, his steps slowing down. His hand slipped from Dakota’s arm. 

Dakota grabbed Logan’s notebook that was still tucked under his arm. As he put it in his bag, he jerked his head toward the vending machines. “I want a drink.”

Such simple words. Dakota didn’t speak very often except for when he was talking about art. Yesterday, he spoke so much that his voice had gone hoarse. Logan looked forward to their afterschool lecture. Just hearing the other boy speak was a good enough reason to spend his time there.

Hopptide High was on the small side, but it still had three decent vending machines. 

“What kind do you want?” He asked.

It took Logan a minute to realize he was asking him. He’d been too busy staring at Dakota’s face again. “Oh. I don’t have any money on me.”

“I’ll buy you one.”

Logan paused. He peered up at Dakota, feeling insecure. “I won’t be able to pay you back.”

Dakota met his eyes dead-on. “That’s not what I said.”

Logan looked away, his face hot. “The sweet tea.”

Dakota used a five dollar bill. He selected the sweet tea and waited. The machine made a buzzing noise and then the bottle of tea clunked to the bottom. He bent down and retrieved it, holding it out to Logan. 

When Logan took it, their fingers brushed. Lightning traveled through his hand. 

Dakota bought a coke and the two went to the auditorium where they wouldn’t be bothered. They sat in silence and sipped their drinks throughout the lunch period.