ELIAS

HAVE YOU EVER felt like a third wheel to any sort of conversation before? You know, the feeling where you felt left out and irrelevant to anything and everything? That's how I feel right now, but in this case, I don't mind. 

Cannon, Axel, and I were walking to our last class of the day — art. Cannon and Axel were deep in conversation about their families. They insist that they have grown to be sort of close over the years, considering they live in the same area. You know, ridiculously huge mansions with tons of land surrounding them. 

I couldn't help but notice that the two have become closer than ever over the past few weeks. I don't want to be the one to assume, but was it possible that they were becoming attracted to each other romantically? It could be possible, but there was only one way to find out. 

Once we got into class, Axel and Cannon separated so Axel could go chat with a friend for a bit, and Cannon and I sauntered to our usual table. Class hadn't started yet, so I said, "Are you and Axel? You know . . ." I questioned as I began to make hand signals. 

"No, no, it's not like that, Eli," Cannon shook his head as he slouched down onto the table. "I don't even think he's my type and all, but he's still cool." 

"Well, okay. I was just curious," I shrugged. "I know that he did say something about his parents being super conservative. Has he . . . come out to his parents yet?"

I know I was being very nosy, but at the end of the day, I just wanted to know. "He hasn't, but I'm trying to convince him to whenever he feels ready," he answered. 

My eyes lit up, feeling a sensation of hope. I didn't know Axel's parents at all, but I'm hoping that everything goes fine when he comes out to them. 

But concerning Axel and Cannon, no matter if they were just friends or something a little more, I will support them no matter what. If Cannon could finally find someone that he loves just as much as they love him, it would put a smile on my face. I've known for a long time that he's always wanted to find love. A lot of us do at some point. It's an amazing feeling, a feeling that isn't like any other. 

Speaking of love, I saw Rylie walk into class, an opened book in hand as she glanced at it occasionally. She trudged to our usual table, clutching her fingers on the back of my neck playfully before taking a seat beside me. 

"Hey," she chirped as she shoved her book into her backpack. I couldn't help but notice the blue cover of the book, alongside two black and white clouds at the center of it. 

"Hi," I smiled. "What book are you reading?" 

"The Fault in Our Stars by John Green," she replied briefly. "It's probably my millionth time reading it, but it's really good." 

"Oh, cool," I chirped. Reading wasn't too much of my thing, but that's when a grand idea popped up in my head. "Hey, how about if we meet up at the local Barnes and Noble after school? We can grab a cup of coffee from their Starbucks and hang out for as much there." 

"Sounds like a plan, Greene," Rylie nodded her head with approval. "I have to remember to bring some money. There's been books I've been dying to purchase." 

"Glad to hear it, Henderson," I remarked before Ms. Edwards cleared her throat to get everyone's attention. This is my last class of the day, so I was looking forward to any art assignment thrown at me. Ms. Edwards explained that we would be making a series of complex patterns on a blank sheet of paper. It's a simple assignment, but she strictly instructed for us to not create everyday patterns, such as checkerboard squares, stripes, or polka dots. 

Our patterns would have to be drawn out first, then colored with chalk. Yes, chalk. Not the kind that young children would use for hopscotch boards, but general chalk. The assignment will be due by the end of this week, so I would have to hustle to get this done. I ripped out a sheet of paper from my sketchbook specifically for this class, wrote my name on the bottom corner, then started to brainstorm ideas. 

"What are you going to do?" Rylie questioned as she glanced at my blank paper. 

"Hmm . . ." I hummed. That's when an idea hit me. "I think I'm going to do a bunch of shapes and color them sunset colors with a cool golden yellow outline around each shape. I hope it turns out well." 

"That sounds so much better than what I'm going to do, for sure," Rylie stated without hesitation. "I'm going to do a weird circle pattern. You know, one that loops over and over again." 

"That's still cool, Rylie. I'm sure it'll turn out great," I reassured her, cupping my hand over hers on the table slightly. 

"You're just saying that because I'm your girlfriend," she teased with a chuckle. 

"It's more than just that. I think that it has great potential," I nodded my head. 

"Aww, look at the two lovebirds," Cannon recited in a mushy, high-pitched voice. 

"So adorable," Axel added as he clasped his hands together. 

"Shut up, you two," I remarked playfully with a laugh. I wanted to reach across the table to nudge their shoulders, but that would be too much work. Plus, I have work to do. It was Tuesday, meaning that we'd have the rest of class today, Wednesday, Thursday, and the beginning of Friday to finish up. 

This assignment is an assignment that I'm looking forward too. I won't have to do any tedious research through textbooks or any math formulas to observe. All the assignment calls for is creativity, which weirdly interests me. That's just what art is. 

***

About an hour after school, Rylie and I were walking through the tall doors of Barnes and Noble. The thick, awakening aroma of coffee hit my nose the moment we got into the establishment. We sauntered towards the built-in Starbucks. I ordered a Frappuccino, while Rylie ordered a cup of coffee. Once we paid and received our orders, I let Rylie led the way to the Young Adult section, where she carefully caressed every book, she touched as if she were holding on to a newborn baby's hands. 

"You must really like books," I mentioned before taking a sip of my Frappuccino, the sweet caramel taste watering my mouth. 

"I really do. Reading is like . . . my getaway from everything else, you know?" she sighed dreamily as she skimmed the back cover of a novel. 

"I know how that feels. I feel the exact same way with art. It's one thing I could spend forever and ever doing," I said as I leaned on a bookshelf slightly. 

"Yes! You actually get it!" Rylie cheered as she hugged a book to her chest. "I'm getting this. I hear that it's okay." 

I skimmed the cover. The book was called The Girl Who Fell from the Sky. I don't think I've ever heard of this novel, but it seems interesting, judging the title. 

"Do you want to sit down at the Starbucks to start reading it a little bit?" I offered as I pointed to the built-in Starbucks, not too far away from where we were. 

"I'll sit down, but I think I'll start reading when I get home. When I start reading a book, I usually can't let go of it," Rylie chuckled as she motioned me to the coffee shop. We took a seat at a round table near the back of the Starbucks. At that moment, something hit me. 

"You know, you've come a long way. You've definitely opened up, at least from when I first met you, Rylie," I proposed. 

"I guess I can say that I've grown really comfortable with you, Elias. I feel like I could talk to you about anything and everything," Rylie mustered a smile before taking a sip of her coffee, pushing her book to the rim of the table so coffee wouldn't somehow accidentally spill over it. 

"I'm glad that you feel that way. If there's anything you want to talk about ever, I'm here for you," I offered as I glimpsed at her luscious, red-ish brown-ish lips. I have to say this, she's really good at kissing, but I'm going a little of the rails right now. This is more of a serious conversation. 

"Thanks for letting me know," she acknowledged. Without hesitation or doubt, I leaned in, her lush lips connecting to mine. I brushed her cheek with my hand before letting go of the kiss, remembering that we were in public. As much as I wanted to continue, I didn't want to create too much of a scene, considering that a middle-aged barista was staring at us from the counter. It was an uncomfortable feeling that honestly made me itch on the inside. 

So instead, I brought up a topic. You know, to flirt and stuff. 

"Honestly, back when school first started, I didn't think that things would turn out like this," I reflected as I felt my fingers grasping onto to my Frappuccino's plastic cup. "You know, getting to date such a cute girl — you — and just, getting to know you. It's a nice experience." 

She giggled. "Oh my God, why does everything you say have to be so mushy and adorable, Elias? Care to explain?" 

She was definitely flirting back. 

"I just love you a lot, Rylie. I don't know how else to say it," I remarked. 

"And I love you too," she replied as she motioned me to put my hands flat on the table. I did as instructed before she blanketed her hands on top of mine. Her hands felt like clouds. I didn't know for sure what clouds felt like, but I imagine them being the softest things ever. I know that they don't feel like anything, scientifically speaking, but getting back to the topic, her hands were warm, compared to my slightly rough hands. Rylie's hands were perfect to just hold out of comfort. That's how soft her hands actually were. 

The vibration of my phone through my back pocket sounded, loud enough for us both to hear. I hesitated to see what the notification was, but instead, I let the phone vibrate and continued to stare at her. I stared at her nicely arched eyebrows, her tight curls, and her caramel skin, a few blemishes here and there. Nothing too visible. Honestly, she is still beautiful, regardless of anything considered an "imperfection." 

To my surprise, my phone continued to buzz like crazy, making the annoying default Apple notification noise. Rylie nudged to me that it was okay to check it, so I did. The first thing that popped up on my notifications were recent text messages from Cannon. 

Cannon, 3:49 PM:
OMG!! 

Axel just texted me and said that he was going to come out to his parents over dinner sometime this week. He finally said that he was ready!!

I texted back within an instant. This was huge news. 

Me, 3:50 PM:
That's great. Tell me how it goes tomorrow at school. 

"You seem happy. What happened?" Rylie asked out of curiosity.

"Cannon just told me that Axel is going to come out to his parents," I explained briefly. "I'm actually excited for him." 

"That's great. Hopefully it all turns out well," Rylie assured. 

"Hopefully," I echoed. 

At the beginning of the school year — or ever, really — Axel and I weren't on the best of terms. We were practically enemies, but now, I'm not really sure what we are. We've come to understand more and more about each other. Sure, we can be a little competitive with each other, but now, it's not that big of a deal. Either way, I'm just hoping that everything goes okay when he comes out to his parents. 

I'll find out soon.