1 ● Xavier

"Okay, that's all for today's class." Mrs. Kate, the science teacher said. "The class rep should bring the assignments to my office, I will grade it and return before my class tomorrow." She added before picking up her books walking out of the class.

The class turns rowdy almost the same time she stepped out of the class. I closed my book with a low sigh shoving them into my locker before I stood up walking out of the class.

The class for the day is over but I wasn't in a rush to leave school like I used to since I still have a place for me to be before I can finally get back to the comfort of my home.

I was never that type of boy who wanted to be known or drooled over by crush or just anyone in general. My life had always been an asocial one, and I had accepted it as such. Despite the glance and coos I do gets from students in the school hallway or the series of love letters been slipped into my locker.

I wasn't fazed by any of it.

It wasn't that I didn't like people; I just didn't feel comfortable around them. And I believes the two close friends I have are more than enough to stress out my life.

Despite my asocial tendencies, I managed to do well in school. I was a straight-A student, always sitting in the back row of the classroom, keeping my head down and staying out of everyone's way.

For me, staying invisible was the key to success.

No stress, no drama.

I had been forced to work as the basketball team assistant manager when the school had resumed for the new term. My homeroom teacher, Mr. Lance had suggested me to join one of the school club as it will help with my social skills after realising I only have two friends throughout my almost six years in the school.

Knowing there is no way I could refused that offer, I had reluctantly agreed to it so as not to be reported to my mom. She is the last person I want someone to complain about me to.

I had decided to work as the assistant manager instead of an actual player like it was initially suggested by the coach. He said I have the height and looks for being a basketball player, if that even makes sense.

I had stick to just being an assistant manager though has it saves me the stress of wanting to know all the players, getting along with then or interacting with anyone of them in general.

My job as an assistant manager required me to set up the court, keep the equipment in good condition, and assist the coaches during their sessions. The latter which I never do and I was always grateful the coach never for once force me to join them.

I kind of enjoyed my work, but I always kept to myself. I was just there to do my job and nothing more. And my friends to join me sometimes.

Being someone who doesn't want to be part of any social activities, working as an assistant manager to the basketball team doesn't help at all. Having to see lots of people from the team and trying my best to make small conversations with them when necessary every single day in school just wasn't my thing at all.

Reason I do came quite early to the court and finish my work before the team will be here for the practice. This is the only way I knows to save myself from having to start conversation with anyone of them before the practice session starts.

As I arrived at the basketball court, I could feel the familiar sense of peace wash over me. It was just me, the ball, and the hoop. I loved the sound of the ball bouncing on the court, the squeaking of sneakers on the polished floor, and the thudding of the ball as it hit the backboard.

I love basketball.

Technically, I loves watching basketball, I wouldn't mind playing one day, that's, if there is no one else but me and the ball or maybe my two friends.

I quickly gets to work in no time as I opens the court store room pushing out the ball racks into the court before removing any object that might seem like a threat for the players during practice.

I was done in no time, feeling hot and sweaty from walking all over the basketball court cleaning. I checked the time on my phone to see it's about time before the players starts arriving for the practice. I decided to take a quick shower to wash away the sweat on my body knowing I was still going to sweat more later when the practice begins.

Walking into the team locker room, I made to pull off my clothes and enter the shower when I stopped realising I wasn't the only one in the room judging from the soft whispers I could hear.

"..."

Putting back on my school uniform, I walked slowly towards the sound which is at the other side of the locker room. I frown on realising the source of the sound.

Two guys glued to eachother sucking on eachother's face as they have Sêx. The one at the receiving end, a slim blond boy sitting nakëd on the sink with his back against the bathroom mirror being sloppily kissed on the neck by the guy who was thrusting into him both trying their best not to make noise not even aware of the fact that someone is watching them.

I couldn't see the other boy's face because he had his back against me but I didn't need to guess much before I knew who the person was.

Feeling disgusted by the sight, not at the fact that they are having Sêx but the fact that they had decided to do that in an open place, not even bothering to lock the door knowing anyone could walk in at any time.

Not wanting to stay any longer than necessary in there with them, I turned away walking out of the locker room banging the door loud enough for them to hear so they could realised they had been caught having Sêx in a public place.

So annoying. How could they have Sêx in an open place like that? I fumed.

I walked out to see some players already at the court warming up. I kind of felt a bit thankful to the idiots inside they prevented me from taking my bath.

"Hey, is anyone in there?" One of the players on the court called at me as I looked up at him.

"..."

The player walks a bit closer, "you are coming from the locker room right? Is someone else in there? I was looking for my friend so I was wondering if he is in there."

I looked at the boy who was slightly taller than me, about four inches I guess. Most of the players were taller than him and it's kind of gets me intimidated sometimes since I was standing at 5'9 tall, pretty short to most of the guys in the basketball team.

Yes

"No" I replied, feeling bored and disinterested already. I plugged in my airpods into my ears listening to Chaotic by Tate McRae  while I walked away from him up the bleachers sitting up away from everyone.

This is where I seat, away from all of them when the practice starts and I have no plan on stopping that anytime soon.



I looked up just in time to see him walked into the basketball court.

Paxton Mckay

I did not know him but I had idea who he was. Judging from the way everyone talks about him, I already knew the type of person he was even without us saying a word to eachother before.

I watched as he walked to a fellow teammates of his who said something to him before they both looked towards my side making wondered what they were talking about that had made them looked my way.

Feeling a bit intimidated by their stares, I looked down at my hand pretending to be going through my phone whereas I was only swiping at the blank screen.

Even though I was someone who care less about interacting with people or caring to have a real conversation with them. I hates when people talks about me, or having idea people were discussing about me, it makes me nervous having to think of what they could probably be talking about regarding me.

I didn't have much time to react to them looking at me when I felt someone tapped me on my shoulder. I looked up. It was one of my bestfriend, Blake.

They smiled at me. "Hey."

"Hi" I replied them trying my best to get my mind off the two guys at the foot of the bleachers still probably talking about me.

Blake sat down beside me placing their bag down on their lap. "What's up? Something wrong?" I shaked my head. "Doesn't look like that though." Blake said.

"Are you sick or something?" Blake asked as they put their hand over my forehead. "You don't have body temperature."

I removes Blake's hand on my forehead placing it back on their lap. "I am fine Blake. Just a bit on the edge."

"If you say so." Blake nod their head as they looked away from me towards the basketball players who all seems ready to starts the practice now with the coach having some words with them.

"These guys are the collection of hot, handsome and cute altogether. Putting aside my stupid brother, I don't even know who is more goodlooking between them and the hockey team players. I literally can't choose." Blake said in a chitchat song making me to chuckles.

Blake is in the hockey team. And they are very good at it too. Them standing at 5'8 feet, they had been in the team since last year in junior high. I like them so much, it's surprising how I love their company and my second bestfriend Tobi's.

Maybe it's because bother aren't asocial like me yet they were still sticking with me till now. Sometimes I feel like I was tying them down. But they also have their ways of showing me they didn't feel the same way as me.

And the other things they didn't fail to show me is how they could both get when they talk about the school team players. Blake is someone that crushed on majorly on almost all of them at the same time. While Tobi just admire them for literally for their toned body, height and good looks.

"Now that you literally gets to meet these guys everyday, who knows, you might find someone you are interested in or someone interested in you." Blake said again turning to me after about a minutes of silence between us.

"I rather not." I said, deadpan.

I was not the relationship guy and Blake was aware of that too, that's why they tease me with it sometimes because they were worried I might end up being alone on the long run if I don't give relationship a try.

Blake Cohen is a wonderful person and an incredible friend of mine. We've been since my first year in this school. As a gender fluid person, Blake actively challenges societal norms and embraces their true self, which is incredibly admirable. Their friendship with me was firsthand and it's truly heartwarming. We've been friends for years, and Blake cares deeply about me, Tobi and everyone around them.

Blake is supportive and compassionate, always ready to lend an ear when someone needs to talk. Their kindness and empathy are truly unparalleled, and I believe that anyone who has crossed paths with Blake is lucky to have them in their lives.

But despite how much of a sweet and selfless girl they could be, they sometimes just make you feel so angry that you'd feel like knocking their head, pushing them down the drain or something along the line.

They have a way of teasing me with things I feel insecure about.

"Ugh, you are no fun, still. I really won't pity you if you ended up being a monk or something along the line" Blake said rolling their eyes at me.

I chuckles placing my head on their shoulder.  I really can't hate them though.

"I have nothing to worry about, I have you and Tobi as friends."

Blake pushed my head away from their shoulder turning to me. "We are your friends not lover Xavier. Are you really not going to date someone just because-"

"The match is beginning." I said cutting them off knowing I had to do that if I wants to stop the conversation they were about to starts.

Blake scoffs giving me a knowing look as they turned to the players on the court who started the game already.

"Watching hot guys is better than having this conversation with you anyway." Blake said giving me a side eye before turning their focus on the match going on giving it their full attention.

I smiled lowly appreciating they had decided to drop the conversation. I just wasn't ready for it yet.

Blake and Tobi, had tried coaxing me to give relationship another try but to no avail, I just wasn't ready to give love a try again knowing the type of person I was and what had happened the last time I had decided to do just that.

I just was not ready for that again.

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