Connection

Days passed in a blur. Saturday came and went. Sunday faded into the quiet of the week. By Monday, the weight of silence between Logan and Tyler became unbearable. Tuesday dragged on, and by Wednesday, Logan felt like he was drowning in his own thoughts. He couldn't escape the memory of that kiss, of how Tyler's lips had felt against his, how Tyler's hands had cupped his face so gently.

Every time he thought about it, his heart raced. He wanted to text Tyler, wanted to say something - anything - to make things right, to admit that he felt the same way. But fear gnawed at him. What if Tyler didn't feel the same? What if he regretted it? What if Logan was just another passing thought in Tyler's chaotic world? The more Logan thought, the more the thought of texting Tyler made him sick with anxiety. He stayed silent, his phone gathering dust on his desk.

-

Logan sat at his desk in class on Wednesday, staring out the window, his mind miles away. The teacher's voice faded into the background as his thoughts once again drifted back to the kiss.

Had it meant something? Was it just a mistake to Tyler? What did it mean for him?

He hadn't spoken to Tyler since then. The silence was unbearable. What was Tyler thinking? What if he was just being nice? Maybe it meant nothing to Tyler. Maybe it wasn't special. Logan couldn't bear the thought. His stomach twisted with a mix of longing and dread.

The sudden call of his name snapped Logan out of his thoughts. "Logan," the teacher called sharply, her voice cutting through the silence of the room.

"Uh, yeah?" Logan stammered, his heart racing as the class turned to look at him. His face flushed red with embarrassment. He hadn't even realized the teacher had been asking him a question. The class snickered, a few snide remarks exchanged, and Logan shrank in his seat, wishing he could disappear.

Ashlyn, sitting a few desks away, rolled her eyes, shaking her head. She could tell something was off with Logan. His usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by an anxious energy. What's going on with him? she thought, her gaze lingering on him.

She had noticed how withdrawn he'd been lately, how he seemed distant, almost .. distracted.

But before she could dwell on it, the bell rang, and the class dispersed for the day. Logan barely noticed, gathering his things with mechanical precision, too lost in his mind to notice Ashlyn's concerned look.

-

Tyler's days hadn't been any easier. Each one dragged by, suffocating him with the weight of his thoughts. After the kiss, all he could do was replay it over and over in his mind. What did it mean? Did Logan feel the same? He couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed, but he had no way of knowing for sure.

He spent his suspension days cleaning the house, helping his mom around the house like he always did, but his mind never strayed far from Logan.

"Tyler, limpia el baño!" His mom called from the kitchen, her voice loud and demanding.

Tyler grimaced at the thought. Cleaning the toilet .. great. He groaned, pushing himself off the couch and heading toward the bathroom, his mind still half on Logan, half on the task in front of him. He scrubbed, wiped, and sanitized, but none of it mattered.

When he was done, he flopped back down on the couch, staring at his phone. He hadn't heard from Logan in days. It hurt, but he tried not to let it show. He knew Logan was probably just as conflicted as he was. Tyler didn't blame him; he was a mess too. He just wanted to know.

Tomorrow was Thursday. He would be back at school, back in the same halls as Logan. It felt like the longest week of his life. He just hoped that when he saw Logan, things would finally make sense.

-
Logan entered his home, his shoes tapping quietly against the hardwood floor. The house felt still, almost suffocating in its silence. His grandparents weren't home, off on a trip. It left the house feeling emptier than usual, like he was alone in the world.

He let out a heavy sigh as he walked through the front hall, dragging his feet toward his room. The weight of the day pressed on him-of seeing Tyler again, of the lingering tension between them. He dropped his bag by his desk without even looking at it and walked to his bathroom.

The bathroom light flickered briefly before he stepped inside. He closed the door behind him and turned on the shower, the water coming out in a low hiss. Steam quickly filled the room, fogging up the mirror and softening the harsh edges of his thoughts. He stood under the hot spray, letting the warmth seep into his muscles and calm his tense body. He washed his hair, fingers working through the wet strands, and scrubbed his skin as if trying to wash away the uncertainty sitting heavy in his chest.

The water hit his back, the heat helping to ground him, but his thoughts continued to swirl. Would things go back to normal with Tyler? Could they?

After a long while, Logan finally turned the water off, the sudden quiet making his ears ring. He stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist and running another through his damp hair to dry it. His reflection in the mirror was pale and tired, eyes a little too wide, like he was still trapped in the haze of his thoughts. He wiped the fog off the mirror, looking at himself, searching for something.

After changing into comfortable pajamas-an old T-shirt and sweatpants-Logan collapsed onto his bed. The sheets felt soft beneath him, but it didn't ease the tightness in his chest. His stomach growled, but he barely noticed. The thought of food seemed distant, irrelevant.

Instead, he reached for his phone.

His fingers hovered over the screen before he finally sighed and typed:

You:
We need to finish the science project.

He stared at the message for a few seconds before hitting send.

It was practical. It wasn't awkward or too personal.
It was just about school. Nothing else.

But still, he couldn't stop the way his heartbeat picked up, waiting for Tyler to respond.