(Set in the past)

Sullivan's POV

Dear Diary,

Today is my first day of Grade 6. To say I'm not nervous, even though I know who is joining me, that would be a lie. I wonder if I'll make a friend this year, though I wouldn't be bothered if I don't. I've always never had a friend, per se, before. More like many acquaintances. I wonder if there will be any new kids this year though, since some kids left last year? But anyway, I should get going.

I closed the diary and placed it back in its box. It was a plain blue. Girls would probably have a more 'exciting' cover like with flowers and stuff. Do boys even keep diaries? I'm probably only the boy who does. I gazed into the box and my eyes landed on a drawing. I flinched. I'd rather not think about what happened six years ago. I closed the box and walked over to my bed. I stroked Creek. Creek was a fox plushie I'd had since I was three. Once calmer I heard my mother's voice. "Sullivan! Time to go!"

"Coming!" I called back, placing Creek back down and walking into the kitchen where Mom was.

"I know you're probably feeling nervous," she said, placing my backpack on my back.

"Mom, I can put my backpack on myself," I protested. She merely laughed.

"I know," she said. "After you." She opened the front door and I walked out. I heard her lock the front door and she walked over to me. I placed my backpack in the boot and she got into the front. I joined her in the passenger seat. I was an only child, with a single mother. My mother started humming a tune to herself as we drove toward the school.

Soon, the all to familiar walls appeared into view and my mother parked. I got out of the car and retrieved my bag. "Another year of school to look forward to," I murmured under my breath. Why was I fearing hearing that word when I was going to Grade 6? That word would be heard more when in Grade 12. That word... that word... I hadn't told my mother what that word did to me. No one knew. Sighing, I started forward. "Olivia! It's good to see you!" My mother's head turned at the voice.

"You too, Sarah!" She replied waving at the woman. "How has Damien been?" Damien was one of the more popular kids. Word on the street was he was kind of a player, well, as much of a player a 12 year old could be. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little blonde haired boy, he was my age, just short, with really nice looking blue eyes. He was cowering and looked utterly terrified. I made a mental note to talk to him if I saw him again. I didn't recognize him, so he must've been new.

"Damien?" Sarah asked. "Oh yeah, he's fine. Don't know where he's gone." She left to look for her son.

~~~

Once finally in the building I looked around at the students. They were all in their 'packs'. Once again, unsurprisingly, I was a 'lone wolf', not that I minded. Sullivan Sense, the boy with many acquaintances but no true friends. That was until... I was looking around when my eyes landed on a boy standing off to the side, looking shy, with his eyes on the floor. It was the boy. I started to approach him. He looked up and made eye contact with me. The really nice blue eyes staring into mine. "Hello," I said, softly, to not scare him.

"....hi...." he replied eventually. He seemed a bit more comfortable. I flashed him a smile to try and show I meant no harm.

"My name is Sullivan Sense," I said, introducing myself. His eyes brightened slightly. "You're one of the new kids, aren't you?"

The boy blushed slightly, smiling and his eyes were on the floor, hand rubbing his neck. "Um... I-I'm Alder.... Alder Foley."

"Cool!" I held out my hand. He shook it, already looking more confident. "I'm sorry.... but I must make this reference, pardon me are you Alder Foley, Sir?" Alder's entire face brightened.

"You know Hamilton?" He asked. I looked at him.

"That song came up when I was binging Dear Evan Hansen songs on YouTube..."

"Oh cool! You should listen to more! The soundtrack is great." I laughed.

"Might take you up on that offer," I said. Alder was grinning, completely different from a few minutes ago.

~~~~

From that day forward we were fast friends, Alder was really great once you got to know him but there was one thing he even kept secret from me and he decided to reveal it one day...

We were sitting at lunch, us at our own table. Alder had been acting... strange? I didn't know how to describe it. He was wearing a rainbow sweater that he was probably dying of heat in and he had climbed onto our table. I was confused. His gaze swept across the lunchroom at the confused looks he was getting from the students. Then he shouted out the words, "I'm gay and I'm proud of it!" To say I wasn't impressed at his bravery, that would be a lie. That could've not been easy. If I had been in Alder's position I probably wouldn't have even done that, or come out like that. It did make me wonder what made him realize he was gay or if he knew all along.

"Alder, that was really brave!" I saw his cheeks turn red before he tried to block them with the sleeves.

"Please don't e-embarrass me," he said through the sleeves. "My pulse is racing enough already."

"It was! Now take that off so you don't burn to death." Alder's blush only darkened. Eventually he took the sweater off, and he breathed a sigh of relief. "But really, I'd be too scared to do something like that, if I were gay I mean."

"I was scared too but I thought, 'just do it'."

"Cool."

~~~

2 years later

Me and Alder have been friends for so long now... yet, I feel strange... my pulse races, I blush. It's almost like what happens with Savanna... but, that's impossible, right?

Because I'm straight, right?

wolfmonkey822