~~~~~~~~~Aiden's POV~~~~~~~~~

"So?! Are you okay?!" Sage asked as she inspected my face, tilting my head down so she could look at my black eye better.

I soon pulled away, feeling a little claustrophobic with the way she held my head. "Y-yeah, I'm alright, it doesn't even hurt.."

"Who did that to you?!"

"Ah, well, you know, j-just your usual gang of bullies.." I forced out a chuckle, trying to sound convincing, though I think it only made me believe me less.

Still, she let out a sigh to relax a little. "Well, at least it wasn't that bad.."

After that, she looked at the door to the room, then raised an eyebrow at me. "What were you and Noah talking about, by the way? It seemed serious."

My face heated up at the question, looking away. "I-it was nothing important, it was- w-we were just-"

"Your face is red.." She squinted her eyes at me, and after a few seconds of staring, she took in a loud, dramatic gasp. "Faces close, bright red, rapid separation, you guys were about to kiss!!"

"W-what?!"

"You totally were!! And I fucked it up, dammit!!" She stomped her foot on the ground in anger, cheeks puffed before she grabbed my arm and forced me up on my feet. "We need to find him!!"

"Wait-!"

Without hesitation, Sage began to lead me all over the school, and although I tried to protest and said nothing happened between Noah and I, she still continued her search for her brother.

In the end, we couldn't find him, so when the school bell rang, Sage turned to me with a huff. "Okay, I can't miss another class or else my parents will kill me. Once school's over, come to my house so you can talk to Noah."

"Sage, nothing-!"

"Don't say nothing happened, something clearly did happen, or was about to happen! That's why he left, right?"

"Well.. th-that's.."

When I realized I had no argument, I let out a sigh. "Okay, yeah, we were about to kiss... At least, I think that was it... But what am I suppose to say..?"

"You'll figure it out when you talk to him. You're now friends, right? Just have a normal conversation."

"... right... yeah.."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once again, I was at the Cipher mansion. Right now, I followed Sage to her bedroom like usual since we'd usually hang out there.

This time, we both stopped when we saw Noah walking in our direction, who also stopped at the sight of me..

Oh boy..

"Well, good luck to you." Sage said as she patted my shoulder, then walked away, leaving Noah and I alone in the hallway.

For a while, we were both silent, unsure of what to say or do, until he nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, I.. a-about earlier, I'm sorry if I made things awkward.."

"No, no, i-it's okay, it was technically my fault too since I also leaned in.."

"Leaned in..?" He repeated, a pink spreading across his cheeks.

My face heated up even more as I realized what I said. "No- wait- I-I didn't do anything cuz it'd be weird! Not that kissing you would be weird, but it'd be weird between us! N-not that I want to kiss you- but, crap, that sounds rude, I don't not want to kiss you, but I- I mean- things are-!!"

I really am a mess.

Quickly burying my face in my hoodie, I let my back press against the wall, letting myself slide down until I sat on the ground. My face felt so hot from the embarrassment of my words, so much that I didn't even want to look at him in fear that he would be upset in any way..

Instead though, I heard something beside me, followed by Noah's voice. "I'll give you time to actually form sentences that I understand.."

"H-heh..." I thought for a little, clearing my throat before raising my head to look at him. "I'm sorry, I've just.. ... I-I think I like you..?"

He grew darker at that, but didn't reply, so I continued.

"I've never focused on having friends, even less boyfriends, and I still have a heard time admitting I like men.. I've had crushes here and there, but I never give that any sort of attention, so they simply fade away overtime.. When I first met you, it was the same process.. I thought you were cute, but I didn't think too much of it until Sage and I started meeting up every day.."

"And.. that's when I started being mean to you.."

"I will admit it did bring my feelings down, but it never truly left.. And when you started actually being nice to me, and talking to me normally, becoming friends, I.. I felt those feelings grow more than what they were before.. Now you're being far too nice to me, and I feel like I don't deserve it.."

"You do deserve it.. Look, I don't know the things your uncle says to you and your sisters, but from what I've seen, I think you're a great guy.."

He smiled as he said that, and I felt my face growing darker. Still, I smiled back. "Thank you, Noah..."

"Don't mention it.. And besides, I.." He faces away from me, cheeks burning red. "I think I like you too.."

"Both unsure, huh..?"

"Well, we haven't been friends for that long, but.. I do feel something between us, you know..?"

"Yeah, I feel something too.."

Staring at each other for a little while, I felt a nervous pit in my chest as an idea came to mind. "W-what if... what if we try to be something...?"

"Huh..?"

"I know you're still a bit sour over your last relationship, s-so... maybe I could help you move on, as well as see if we work well together.."

"You sure you're okay with that..? I know you've never been in a relationship before.."

"I'd like to try it.."

He never looked away from me as he spoke, and to my surprise, he then gently lifted my head a little, leaning much closer to me. "Then.. what if we continued what was happening earlier..? Maybe that'll help us understand a little..?"

I grew red at his question, but I gave a nod. "Okay.."

He hesitated a little, he was probably just nervous. I was too.

And yet, whatever fear I felt before had vanished once his lips pressed against mine..

Thanks for reading!!! 'Till next time!!!

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