Connection

Risk it, Logan ended up agreeing.

Logan wasn't sure what he expected when he walked into the cafeteria with Taylor. The weight of every set of eyes that turned to them felt heavier than he'd anticipated. It wasn't that he was shy—he'd gotten used to the stares, especially when he'd first transferred to this school. But today, the pressure was different. Taylor had promised him it'd be easy. Just a casual meeting. A simple introduction to her friends. But somehow, it felt like more than that. It felt like this was the moment he'd be judged, not just for being the new guy, but for being him.

"Relax," Taylor whispered, noticing Logan's hesitation. She gave him a quick, reassuring smile. "You're gonna be fine. They're not as scary as they look."

Logan nodded, but his stomach still twisted into knots. He wasn't sure how well he could fake confidence today. Not when the group sitting at their usual table looked like a mix of wild personalities. Taylor's friends were a force to be reckoned with, and he wasn't sure where he fit in yet.

They approached the table, and the conversation came to an abrupt halt as Taylor waved a hand in the air. "Hey, guys!" she called out, grinning. "Here's the boy I was telling you all about."

Ashlyn, who had been silently observing them from across the table, gave Logan a polite nod and smile. Her headphones rested around her neck, the wires dangling slightly. She seemed like a quiet person, just like Logan — he respected her for it, and somehow, her calmness put him at ease.

Ben, on the other hand, was watching him carefully, as if assessing every movement. His eyes softened when they met Logan's, offering a warm smile that made the tension in Logan's chest ease a little. Ben didn't say much, but his kindness spoke volumes.

Aiden looked up, a mischievous grin forming instantly as he leaned back in his chair. "Oh, so this is the guy Taylor's been raving about?" he said with a laugh, clearly enjoying the moment. "I've gotta say, you look way less boring than I expected."

Logan's eyes flicked to Aiden, trying to figure out whether that was an insult or a compliment. Aiden seemed like the chaotic one with crazy energy, a stark contrast to the calmness of Ashlynn and Ben. He was loud and unapologetically himself, which was both intimidating and oddly amusing.

Then there was Tyler. Logan's stomach did a little flip when he met Tyler's gaze. It was something he hadn't felt before, and it shocked him.

Tyler's eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward slightly, his arms crossed tightly. His features looked so much like Taylor's that Logan couldn't help but wonder if they were related. Siblings, maybe?

"Taylor, you sure about this?" Tyler asked, his voice dripping with skepticism. He didn't even try to hide the edge in his tone. "What's this guy really like? You're not bringing in some weird loner to mess up our vibe, right?"

Taylor rolled her eyes, her patience clearly wearing thin. "Tyler, seriously. He's not some weirdo, okay? Relax." She shot Logan a quick look, a small hint of warning in her eyes. "Logan's cool. You'll see."

Logan cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice steady as he met Tyler's gaze. "I'm just here to meet you guys," he said, his tone firm. "No weirdness, promise."

Tyler didn't respond immediately, his gaze still sharp and calculating. After a moment, he gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, as if deciding Logan wasn't a threat. But his expression remained guarded, distant.

Aiden, sensing the tension, clapped his hands together. "Alright, enough of the standoff. Let's just hang out. No need to be all serious. Come on, Logan, sit down. You'll find out pretty quick we're a lot more fun than Tyler's scowl."

Logan managed a smile, relieved by Aiden's attempt to lighten the mood. As he sat down next to Taylor, the group's energy shifted a little, and the conversation flowed more freely. Ashlynn chimed in softly, offering him a faint smile, enjoying the conversation. Ben gave him a small nod of approval, while Aiden launched into some ridiculous story about his latest encounter with a "Karen," complete with dramatic gestures that made everyone laugh.

__
As the days passed at Logans new school, Logan started feeling more comfortable. The initial weight of being the new kid had started to lift, and he found himself actually looking forward to coming to school each day, which was strange.
Because the old him always faked being ill or sick only to get the change to miss school. But now, he would wake up every day on time, and show up to school on time.

He had grown closest to Ashlynn. There was something about her quiet, introverted nature that resonated with him. They didn't say much to enjoy each other's company. Most days, they sat in silence, and that was enough. It was a strange but comforting bond. She always had her headphones with her, and Logan often studied or read multiple astronomy and astrophysics books.

Then there was Ben. Although being mute, he had a gentle soul, and Logan found that kindness contagious. Ben didn't need to say much to make someone feel at ease. The way he looked out for people without saying a word made Logan feel like he had someone in his corner, and it was the same feeling for Taylor.

But Tyler? Tyler was a mystery. Despite being part of the group, he kept his distance from Logan. Whenever Logan would try to make conversation, Tyler would either give a short reply or, more often than not, avoid him altogether. Logan didn't really mind, though. There was no rush to get close to him. After all, he had already found a sense of belonging with Ashlynn, Taylor, Aiden and Ben. Tyler could do whatever he wanted.

Still, Logan couldn't help but feel the occasional sting when he was completely ignored. But he let it go. They weren't all going to be best friends, and that was fine with him.
At least he had the others, that was enough for him.