February 11, 2017

     The relationship between Julian and I had changed after our conversation on that fateful night. It was not necessarily a bad change. It was just a change.

     I wanted to support Julian and be there for him. I constantly wanted to be around him. I had experienced this feeling before, but just to be a good friend, and never to the extent which it was at.

     Julian and I were much closer, as well. We talked more, but there was no fill-in conversation. Everything we spoke about was meaningful.

     We also were physically closer, though I would not notice this until I looked back. Before, Julian and I left each other at least two inches of personal space, but, now, we were always so close that it seemed like we were magnets. If we weren't sitting directly next to each other, our ligaments found each other.

     "Sam!" Julian shouted from behind me in the hall, "Wait up."

     I halted, turning around on my heels. I almost fell over in the process due to the large pile of books and papers in my arms, as well as my backpack. I had two tests the next day, and six tests the day after that. I was also given an extra credit opportunity in chemistry, which I really needed, but which included borrowing some of Mrs. Callista's books. I did not fall over, but a large amount of papers fell off of my pile.

     "Shit," I muttered.

     "Oh, gosh," Julian said. He leaned down to pick the papers up for me, and asked, as he handed them to me, "Why do you have all this stuff?"

     I sighed, attempting, and failing, to flip my hair out of my face. "Tests and extra credit."

     Julian looked at me, with what I assumed was pity. "All of that combined probably weighs more than you."

     "Don't be dramatic," I commanded, out of breath.

     "Let me help you," Julian fired back. He, then, proceeded to take the large pile out of my hands.

     "Julian!" I protested, though, in all honesty, I was relieved to not be carrying that vast amount of academic torture.

     "You're going to English, right?" Julian asked.

     I knew, fully well, that Julian knew what class I was going to; he had asked me to tell me that he was carrying my books to class.

     I briefly and halfheartedly protested, but I knew that Julian would not give in.

    "Julian," I said, once we got to my English class, "you're going to be late."

    "I don't care," Julian stated. "Besides, my class is literally right across the hall." 

     I set my books on the ground, causing my bangs to fall into my face, again. "Fine."

     When I stood up, I realized that I was a lot closer to Julian than I had thought. 

     Julian looked into my green eyes with his gold ones. He reached up, gently moving my messy bangs from my face. We never broke eye contact.

     My heart was beating at an abnormally fast rate. My blood pressure must have been off the charts. Without thinking, I brought my hand up to cup his cheek.

     Julian looked confused, and I was sharing his confusion.

     What was happening?

     Julian's eyes widened, and, suddenly, he stepped back. "I should probably get to class," he said. "See you in a few." He left, smiling.

     What had just happened?