Alex:
I decided to wake up early today—7 a.m., which is early by my standards! It's been far too long since I last hit the gym, and today felt like the perfect day to get back into the routine.
I started by prepping my gym bag with all the essentials: pre-workout, towel, and, of course, my headphones—because there's no way I'm working out without my music.
For my outfit, I kept it simple with a pair of grey track pants and a black compression top. If you've seen JJK, you'll know exactly what I'm channelling.
Once I felt somewhat presentable, I headed out the door for my 20-minute walk to the gym. I'm lucky to live close to almost everything, so it's a quick and convenient walk.
By the time I was nearing the gym, it was about 7:30 am., so I didn't have much time left before Evie came to pick me up.
Class started at 9 this morning to I had to get a move on.
...
After an intense chest and back workout, I decided it was time to head home. By now, it was around 8:45 am., and Evie was probably going to arrive at my place any minute.
Rather than taking a leisurely walk back, I put on my headphones and decided to run the entire way home I put on Like a prayer by Madonna. Thankfully, the route is mostly flat, so it wasn't too crazy of a sprint.
When I finally got home, I noticed that Evie hadn't arrived yet. I took advantage of the extra time and quickly went inside to change into something more comfortable. I opted for a pair of loose-fitting cargo pants and a sage-green flannel—keeping it casual because I wasn't in the mood to put much effort into my outfit.
As I was finishing up by putting on my cologne, I heard a knock at the door. I hurried downstairs to answer it and was greeted by a bright and cheery Evie standing on the other side. "Morning, baby girlllll!" she sang out in her signature high-pitched voice, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
It was almost like she knew how much that tone annoyed me. "Morning," I grumbled back, barely managing any enthusiasm.
"Hurry up and get your stuff; we're gonna be late," she said, her tone suddenly shifting into something almost motherly. Not wanting to test her patience, I quickly grabbed my things for class and followed her out the door.
The walk to the car was quiet, but it wasn't the kind of silence that felt awkward. Still, it struck me as odd because Evie is usually the type to talk my ear off, even if it's early in the morning. Curious, I glanced over at her. She had a puzzled look on her face, almost as if something was bothering her. Her expression seemed distant, and that didn't sit well with me.
"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, trying to sound as kind and concerned as possible.
"Who, me? Oh, I'm fine," she responded, quickly plastering on a happy smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Something was definitely off, but she clearly wasn't ready to talk about it.
Not wanting to pry any further, I decided to let it go for now. I simply waited as she unlocked the car, hoping that if something was really bothering her, she'd eventually open up to me.
When we arrived at campus, we quickly got out of the car and made our way to class with only a few minutes to spare. Evie seemed to be back in her usual chipper mood, a stark contrast to the quiet concern I'd seen earlier.
She linked her arm with mine, practically skipping as we walked together. It was like she was trying to shake off whatever had been bothering her earlier, and for a moment, it almost worked.
As we approached the classroom, I felt her grip tighten around my arm, almost to the point of being painful. It was unusual, and I couldn't help but glance over at her to see if something was wrong. But when I looked, she had that same cheerful expression plastered on her face, giving no hint that anything was amiss.
Not wanting to overthink it, I let it slide as we entered the classroom. We probably looked like an overly affectionate couple to anyone watching, which couldn't have been further from the truth.
The irony wasn't lost on me, especially considering the fact that I'm very gay. But with Evie, appearances can be deceiving, and that's just part of the strange, wonderful dynamic we have.
To my surprise, when we walked into the classroom, everyone was already there, and they were all giving Evie and me shocked looks. I couldn't figure out what their problem was. What's with them? I thought, feeling a bit confused and self-conscious.
Curious, I glanced over at Evie to see if she had noticed the awkward tension in the room. To my surprise, she wasn't just aware of it—she was smirking. That mischievous, knowing smile was plastered across her face, and I instantly knew she was up to something.
What the hell is this girl up to? I wondered, feeling both intrigued and slightly nervous. Whatever it was, it felt like I was about to find out whether I wanted to or not.
Before I had a chance to react, Evie leaned in and gave me a quick peck on the cheek, catching me completely off guard. Before I could even process what had just happened, she slipped out of my arms and walked away without saying a word, leaving me standing there, utterly speechless.
What the hell was that? I thought, my mind racing. That was not something I saw coming, not from Evie, and definitely not in front of the entire class.
I stood there for a moment, trying to wrap my head around her sudden and unexpected move. It was a strange mix of confusion and disbelief, and I could feel the eyes of our classmates still on me.
I'll definitely have to remind her that I'm gay after this short lesson because seriously, what the hell was that about? This was one of those moments where I had no idea what was going through her mind, but knowing Evie, there was probably more to it than met the eye.
Mr. Graham was droning on about yet another art history topic, one that he's already covered at least a hundred times.
It felt like déjà vu, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was dealing with some serious memory issues because I swear, I've sat through this exact lesson far too many times.
As he finally wrapped up his monotonous lecture, he scribbled our next assignment on the board. Just great, another damn assignment to pile onto the never-ending stack.
As I reached into my bag to grab my notebook and started writing down the instructions, an unsettling feeling crept over me.
It was as if someone was watching me, and I couldn't shake the unease. I glanced to my right, and my heart nearly stopped when I saw Zack glaring at me with an intensity that made my blood run cold. He looked furious, his eyes practically burning a hole through me.
Why the hell is he looking at me like that? I thought, my stomach knotting up in fear. Zack is already intimidating on a good day, but with that murderous glare, he was downright terrifying.
Despite the fear gnawing at me, I didn't want to come across as a coward, so I held his gaze, waiting for him to be the one to look away. But he didn't. His expression remained fixed, his anger unyielding, and the tension in the air was suffocating.
Okay, this is officially getting weird, I thought, feeling more uncomfortable by the second. Just when I was about to give up and break eye contact, Zack started shaking his head at me, slowly and deliberately, like a disappointed parent scolding a child. What the actual fuck is going on? I wondered, completely baffled by his behaviour.
Not wanting to endure his intense scrutiny any longer, I forced myself to look away and focus on the task at hand. I opened my notebook and started taking notes, trying to block out the lingering sense of dread that Zack's glare had left behind.
...
The lesson dragged on endlessly, especially after that bizarre encounter with Zack. My mind kept replaying his unnerving glare, making it hard to focus on anything else.
Finally, Mr. Graham assigned some homework, and everyone began packing up their backpacks, eager to escape the classroom. I was still lost in thought, so much so that I didn't even notice Evie approaching me until she was right beside me.
"You ready to go home, babbbby?" she cooed in a tone that was almost playful, but with an edge that made it hard to tell if she was still joking or if something else was going on.
This had become a pattern lately, and I couldn't quite figure out what was up with her.
"Yeah, just give me a sec," I replied quickly, trying to shake off the lingering weirdness from earlier. I hurriedly gathered my stuff, which was scattered all over the desk.
As I stood up, Evie, true to form, linked her arm with mine again, and we strolled out of the classroom together.
Once we reached a more private area where no one could overhear us, I couldn't hold back any longer. "Hey, what's with all this?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light. "You know I'm gay, right?"
Without warning, Evie burst into a loud, unrestrained laugh, almost doubling over as she wheezed with amusement. "Yessss, Alex, I know you're gay! Oh my god, you're so funny," she managed to choke out between breaths.
I couldn't help but smile a little at her reaction, but I was still confused. "Then why are you being so touchy-feely lately?" I asked, a shy grin tugging at the corners of my mouth.
Evie suddenly went quiet, her laughter dying down as she cleared her throat. The playful tone vanished, replaced with something more serious. "Okay, fine, but if I tell you, you can't laugh at me," she said, her voice a bit hesitant.
I looked her straight in the eyes, making sure she knew I was sincere. "What? Of course, I won't laugh at you," I assured her.
She took a deep breath before speaking, her eyes darting around as if to make sure no one was listening. "Okay, so look," she began, her voice softer now. "I have this massive crush on a guy named Zack... you might know him?"
My eyes widened slightly in surprise, but I stayed quiet, letting her continue.
"And he seems to get really mad when the two of us are together. I'm surprised you haven't noticed," she said, a hint of frustration in her voice. "I just wanted to make him jealous..."
It all started to make sense—the strange looks, the sudden affection, the way Zack had been staring at me with that intense anger. Evie had been using our friendship to provoke a reaction out of Zack, and I hadn't even realized it until now.
I wasn't quite sure how to feel about Evie's confession. It made sense, in a way. Zack had definitely seemed angry earlier, but the whole situation left me feeling uneasy. I tried to lighten the mood with a smile, saying, "That makes sense. He sure did seem pissed at me," but the words felt hollow, and I wasn't really feeling it.
I decided not to mention how rude Zack had been to me. I didn't want to ruin Evie's crush or make things more awkward than they already were.
When we got into her car and she started typing my address into Google Maps, I saw the perfect opportunity to bring it up. "I don't remember telling you my address," I said, trying to keep my tone light and joking. But as soon as the words left my mouth, I noticed something off about her reaction.
Instead of the usual quick-witted response or a playful comeback, Evie froze. She didn't say a word, her hands gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly. The atmosphere in the car shifted, and I could feel the tension rising.
"Evie, you okay?" I asked, trying to sound casual, but my concern was evident.
"Oh yeah, don't worry about me," she replied, but her voice was strained, and she still looked shaken.
I wasn't satisfied with her vague response, so I pressed further. "Sooo... are you going to answer the question?" I asked, my curiosity and unease growing by the second.
Her usual mischievous expression reappeared for a brief moment as she tried to brush it off. "Does it matter? I picked you up on time, didn't I?" she replied, but there was an edge to her voice that I hadn't heard before.
"Yeah, but that's not the point. I never told you where I live," I said, my tone a bit firmer now. The fact that she was avoiding the question was starting to annoy me.
Evie's demeanor changed in an instant. Her expression hardened, and she snapped, "Do you want me to drop you home or not?"
Taken aback by her sudden hostility, I replied, "I'd like you to answer the question, actually". This whole situation is becoming really weird.
Her response was immediate and intense. "WELL, I CAN'T!" she practically yelled, her voice breaking with frustration. I could see her eyes starting to water, and for a moment, I regretted pushing her so hard.
"Okay... Sorry I asked. Fuck, dude," I muttered, not knowing what else to say. The sight of her near tears left me feeling guilty and confused. What the hell was going on?
The tension in the car was thick, and the silence that followed was suffocating. I didn't understand why she was acting this way, but I knew I had to back off for now. "Could you just take me home, please? I didn't mean to upset you," I asked softly.
"Yeah, okay," she replied, her voice subdued and distant.
The drive home was painfully awkward. The silence between us was heavy, and I could feel the weight of everything left unsaid pressing down on me.
I didn't like the way things had turned out, but I was too tired to walk, so I endured the uncomfortable ride. It was clear that something had changed between us, and I wasn't sure if things would ever go back to the way they were.
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