CHAD – London, 11th March 2020

I walked up the corridors, feeling my hands shake nervously. What had I done? What had I just done? I felt like the world was collapsing beneath my feet, the sweat on my forehead becoming gleaming beads rolling down my side as I anxiously twiddled my fingers. Brad will never forgive me once he finds out. But does he need to find out? Ah, who am I kidding? That old fart has known me since we were in Year Seven, and we've stalked each other ever since. I think he can tell when I've done something terrible. Except this is a different kind of terrible...

I stood outside the boys' toilets, gritting my teeth in despair. "I can't believe this is happening right now."

"What is?" a voice asked.

I turned to see Sickly Susan staring at me, dull eyes wide in curiosity. "Nobody asked you, Sickly Susie!" I snapped at her.

She frowned but still persisted, "Bradley's usually the bad boy from the pair of you. So tell me. Chad. What did you do?"

I thinned my lips, speaking slowly but loudly, as if she's an idiot. Which she is, just to make it clear. "I kissed her,"

She raised an eyebrow, "Who?"

"Cadence."

"So? Just a little snog, and you're ready to cry yourself to death in the boys' loo?" she went on, her nosiness practically shining in her stupid dull green eyes.

"You don't understand. If Brad finds out..."

"...He'll be mad?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Cadence is his sister, remember? And I'm supposed to be his best friend,"

Sickly Susan shrugged, "I, personally, would not be affected,"

"Hey, you know what?" I grinned suddenly, a little too brightly.

She raised an eyebrow, "W-What?"

"I looked everywhere," I sigh, "In my closet, under my bed, outside, inside, upside down, everywhere... And yet I still couldn't find where I asked for your opinion."

***

I walked, once again, along the corridors. As most would do in a high school.

But this time, my hands weren't shaking with nerves.

No, instead, they were quaking.

Brad's going to skin me alive and mount my head on a wall, I thought. But then I shook my soon-to-be-mounted head, trying to reassure myself. I mean, come on, this is Brad I'm talking about! Sweet, cutie-pa-tootie little Bradley. The guy who wouldn't hurt a fly. The guy who would rather have his Xbox controller be eaten by wasps than let any harm come to me.

And might I just say, that represents quite the level of spiritual connection Brad and I share.

We really are like two peas in a pod. Different sides of the same coin. We get along like a house on fire. We're like two synchronised swimmers, timed to perfection. It's like we're part of each other, like our souls are intertwined and not even Death can wedge itself between us, no matter how hard it tries, and–

Alright this is getting pretty gay, so I'll stop now. And no matter what my gay cousin says on the topic, I shall never be the type of beta male to smooch a meat clacker.

My gay cousin, on the other hand? He can do whatever the hell he wants, I couldn't care less about freaking Kennedy.

Anyway, that's besides the point.

The point is; Brad is rad.

And I know that epicness of his will shine through both sun and storms, because, as I said before, we are spiritually connected in a way lowly mortals aren't–

"Chad?"

My gaze shifts before landing on Brad's, and it's then I notice the concern on his face. See? Two peas in a pod.

"Yes, Brad," I smile at him, "I have something to tell you,"

Different sides of the same coin.

"Uh-huh."

"Well, you see, the thing is buddy boy..."

Get along like a house on fire.

"Don't call me that,"

"Right, yeah, obviously. Dudey dudester, then?"

Two synchronised swimmers, timed to perfection.

"You realise I have a name?"

I laugh, a little too loudly, "Aw dudey dudester, you seriously crack the best jokes!"

Part of each other.

"Chad, are you feeling 'aight?"

"Of course! But I do have something to tell you. Something quite large..."

"And that is...?"

Souls intertwined. Not even Death can wedge itself in between.

"Well..." I take a deep breath.

No matter how hard it tries, and–

"I kissed your sister."

I'm not sure where in that sentence I also said, Oh and by the way I'd absolutely love it if you could, like, punch me somewhat? but apparently that's what Brad heard.

And, because he's such a doting best friend who's always giving, he follows through with that not-at-all made-up request.

Which may or may not result in a few bruises. And perhaps a broken nose.

Remind me to never kiss Cadence again.