"If you're going to scope out guys, you should be more discrete."

"…Excuse me?"

"You've been staring at my friend every day. You pass by us in the halls at least twice a day, right? Every time we pass by I catch you staring at him. If you like him you should just talk to him, ya know?"

"…"

"I'm Roy. Roy Duval. And you are?"

"Brian. Gonzalez."

"I thought you looked familiar. You're on the swim team. I'm on the baseball team. Nice to meet you."

"You're not going to tell him?"

"Me? Why? It's not really my business. Plus he's kind of dense so he's not going to notice unless you actually talk to him. Sorry, Bri. He doesn't really notice things."

"I wasn't going to talk to him."

"Why not?"

"Being rejected would just hurt too much."

"So you're just going to do nothing?"

"…I guess."

"Dude, that's kind of… sad. You want me to talk to him for you?"

"No! That's… no. Can you tell me about him? You know, what he likes and things like that?"

"I guess. What do you want to know?"

Roy and Brian spent the next few weeks talking to each other about him. Never for very long. Sometimes at lunch or after school. And if there was time, they would go to a restaurant or the movies.

"How did you meet him?" Brian asked, sipping a soda.

"We beat each other up in elementary school."

"…What?"

"Oh, yeah it's true. We were playing in the sandbox. And he steals my toy truck. And I tell him I want it and then he kicks sand in my eyes."

"…So what did you do?"

"I smacked him upside the head with a pink bucket and took it back."

"And… now you're friends?"

"Sure. Don't you know? Guys are weird. We can punch each other one day and be friends the next. It's girls that are weird. They can go years just… fighting."

"So why a bucket?"

"Because it was the only thing I had on hand. I mean, dad probably would have used one of his knives but who gives a kid a knife before they're ten…"

"…"

"Sorry. My dad's got… uh… well, let's just say they aren't always the good guys and leave it at that."

"Let me guess. If you tell me, you'll have to kill me."

"No. Of course not. Someone might break your kneecaps though to keep you from talking." Roy smirked lightly. Brian furrowed his eyebrows. "…I wasn't joking. Okay. A little bit."

"…You're really weird."

The next few weeks followed the same pattern for all intents and purposes. Until…

"You're gonna miss your chance."

"What do you mean?"

"He's transferring schools. His parents are moving so… if you're going to do some big grand gesture, you might want to do it soon."

"…"

"You're not gonna do anything?"

"I told you, I'm afraid of rejection…"

"It's not about that. It's about… well, he's going. You'll miss your only chance. Doesn't that scare you?"

"…It should but… no."

"Well, just think about it."

"I've just… I've never dated anyone or really liked anyone so…"

"So?"

"So what if I get it wrong?"

"I… don't know."

Towards the end of the school year, things were rather… urgent. Brian spent his time trying to work up the courage while Roy tried to cheer him on though he knew he was failing at it miserably. More and more, Brian seemed reluctant to do it. And finally it was the last day of classes and summer vacation would start the next day.
The hallways were all but empty now as Brian sat on the staircase.

"You're not going?" Roy asked walking down before sitting next to him.

"I think… he probably went already."

"You could still catch up to him."

"I don't think it'd be good…"

"Brian…"

"Why do you keep insisting that I go and talk to him?" Brian stood up with a sudden start. He was nearly yelling.

"Because I don't want to see you waste your chance." Roy stood up, raising his voice somewhat as well.

"What do you care? And what do you know about missing your chance?"

"Are you serious? You think I haven't had crushes on people before? That I haven't messed up?"

"Roy, forget it. I don't want to have this discussion with you."

"You think I don't get that you're afraid of being rejected?"

"Well, based on the fact that you're still single, I'm going to guess that confessing hasn't gone well for you."

"You really are such an idiot."

Roy grumbled before grabbing Brian by the front of his shirt and pulling him forward. Though it seemed like Roy was about to punch him, instead, the Haitian pressed his lips against Brian's quickly before pushing him back against the banister. Within a second, Roy withdrew.

"…"

"…Honestly, how am I supposed to confess to a guy I like when he likes someone else."

"Didn't you just do it?"

"…Brian, if you're trying to mess with me… well… stop it."

"I'm not I just… don't get it."

"It's… I figured I'd wait until he was gone to say something. You know. I didn't want to make it weird since you still liked him and I figured you'd be getting over him if you didn't go for him."

"Then why were you encouraging me to go for him?"

"Because you deserve to be happy, you idiot. Even if you're not with me I want you to be happy. Stupid."

"Stop calling me stupid!"

"Well, stop being stupid!"

"How am I stupid?"

"I've… I've liked you since forever! How… How else would I have known that you were staring at him? I only noticed because I was looking at you!"

"…"

Brian sighed before pausing a moment. At the end of it, he moved forward and placed his lips against Roy's.

"…Why did you do that? Now I don't even know what you want."

"Well, if you'd stop making everything weird, I'd tell you."

"Me? You're the one who made this weird. It's your fault. You know what? This isn't weird. You're weird."

"I'm not going to kiss you again if you don't stop acting like a five-year-old."

"I'm not a five-year-old, you're a five-year-old. So there."