Summary: Joe and Caspar share the same interests in books at school.
WARNINGS: Swearing.

Joe sat under the maple tree in silence as he read his book, and sometimes lifted his eyes to watch everybody run around with their friends. Joe did have friends at school at one point, but suddenly Joe wasn't wanted anymore, suddenly Joe was pushed out of their friendship group.

At first he was sad about the loneliness that consumed him, but he slowly got used to it. And now, he'd rather be alone, he has no trust left and sadness is his only friend.
As Joe looked down back to his book, he wasn't suprised to see tears sitting freshly on the pages. Even though he could just make new friends, he didn't want to, so everyday he sat at the old maple tree reading a book.

It never changed.
Until one day.

Joe flopped down onto the grass under the tree, and rummaged around in his bag for his book. He groaned as he realised that he must of left it on his desk at home, as he was reading it there as well. After a while of sitting, he decided to travel over to the school library to find his book, he had seen it in the library a couple of days ago, so it should still be there.

He walked into the school library with a smile, of course the smile was fake, but he wanted to be polite to the librarian as she was lovely.

"Hello, I'm looking for a certain book." Joe started speaking to the libarian and she nodded.

"What's the book called, love?" She asked, fixing her glasses and typing in something on her computer.

"The Folk of the Faraway Tree." Joe mumbled, and she grinned and nodded enthusiastically.

"By Enid Blyton right? I love that book," She said, and then she pointed to the end of the library. "It should be right at the back, next to the Ts."

He chucked and thanked her and made his way to the back. There was nobody at the back of the library, which was strange because the front was packed with people. There was only one person, but their body and head were covered with a hoodie and they were reading their book like the world didn't exist.

Joe scanned the "T" section for ten minutes, but couldn't find it; until the person spoke up. As it turns out it was a boy.

A very beautiful boy.

"Are you okay? You've been here for ten minutes." He asked, and Joe looked at his face in more detail and Joe saw that he had the most beautiful eyes.

He wanted to look into those eyes forever.

"Um, yes I'm fine," Joe said, scratching the back of his neck. "I'm looking for The Folk of the Faraway Tree."

The boys expression went from confused to amused, and his face broke out into a grin.
And Joe got lost so much in his smile so much that he didn't realise that Caspar was holding up the book Joe wanted.

"Before you say anything, my name is Caspar." Caspar said proudly, feeling the need to introduce himself.

"My name is Joe, as is that-" Joe got cut off by Caspar.

"Yes it is. I've read it three times already." Caspar said with pride. Joe smirked, and he sat down next to Caspar on a beanbag.

"Well, I've read it four times."

Caspar put the book down and they both started to chat about the book. Out of nowhere, the librarian came up to them and told them to leave as they were being disruptive. Which was strange, because they were whispering.

They walked out of the library, and Caspar was expecting Joe to follow him but he turned the the other way.

"Hey Joe," Caspar called out in the corridor. "Do you have anywhere to be?" Caspar asked, and Joe shook his head as a no.

"I'm going down to the tree, where I usually am." Joe replied, feeling embarssed.

Caspar smiled. "Can I come with you? I actually only moved here a week ago, and I don't have any friends yet." Caspar trailed off, expecting Joe to reject him.

Joe thought he would reject him too, but somehow he found himself saying yes.
And when Caspar ran up to him exicted, Joe didn't find himself regretting his decision.

Joe also noticed that his heart was beating faster, and his palms were sweating, but he chose to ignore it.

They got to the maple tree, after a while of small simple talk and Joe was starting to wonder if Caspar would ask where his friends are.

And he did.

But Caspar asked in a very strange way which made Joe get butterflies in his tummy, and again Joe chose to ignore it.

"So Joe, is the reason nobody is here because you're so beautiful that everybody can't take it?" Caspar said lamely, winking.

Joe blushed and laughed, and they started to chat.
----

So everyday, they would meet at the tree. It had been a year now, and they both became the best of friends. They both now refered the old maple tree as the Faraway Tree, as that was what made them meet.

To add to all of this, they had both had developed the biggest crushes on each other.
But they both thought the other person didn't like them in that way, so they kept it to themselves.

One Friday lunchtime, Joe came to the tree upset, with tears streaming down his face.

"Joe, what's wrong?" Caspar said worriedly, jumping up and wrapping his arms around Joe.

Joe was shaking, and tears were streaming down his face. A boy in his maths class had told him that his crush on Caspar was pathetic, and Caspar would never love him back. Of course Joe believed this and started to get upset. And then everybody else joined in, but they were right. And God, now Joe did feel aboustly pathetic.

"Nothing." Joe muttered, looking down at his shoes and wiping his tears.

"If it was enough to make you upset and cry, then it was something. No matter how big or small the problem is." Caspar remarked, looking Joe in the eyes. And Joe lifted his gaze from the floor, and his years were replaced with anger.

"You know what Caspar? I love you. I freaking said it. I love you so so much. But I feel like utter shit, because you'll never love me back. And everybody else can see it, and you'll never, ever-" Joe was cut off by Caspar's lips placed on his, and almost in an instant Joe kissed back.

They stood there kissing for a few moments, Joe arms were around Caspars neck, and Caspars arms were around Joes waist. And almost as it was timed, leaves from the tree started to fall down on them. It was perfect, and all their love for each other was put in the kiss.

"I do love you back silly." Caspar said, after they had pulled away and their foreheads were resting together.

"You know Joe." Caspar broke the silence, and Joe locked eyes with him. "There is a boy in the Folk of the Faraway Tree called Joe, he's one of the main characters." Caspar said and Joe laughed.

And nothing more was said other than sweet 'I love yous.'
And they stood there, under their Faraway Tree.

They actually got married under a tree too.
No it wasn't the same tree, but it was under a beautiful maple tree.
And in their vows, they talked about the Faraway Tree.

And nobody knew why.

Apart from them.

And apart from you.

Because you read why.

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