No ones POV:

The bell for second period finally rang, students in the halls now hurrying to get to their class. Three including Ross, Roy, and Robert. They were hanging in front of the vending machine at the cafeteria just chatting and losing track of the time. Though this was the usual for them, it was like a routine. Meet at the vending machine when class ends, talk during passing time, start walking to class a minute or two after the bell rings, and make a bullshit excuse for being late. Usually they get away with it but with certain teachers they have to think long and good for the excuse they’ll use because these teachers will go out of their way to prove them wrong and write them up for a detention. 

The three began walking to Roy’s class, since his is the closest to the vending machine. After Ross and Robert see Roy off they begin to walk to their class, chemistry. This is one of the only two classes they have together, the other being math which Roy is also in. As the two got more close to the science room they started to prepare today’s daily excuse.

“I could say that I took you to the nurse?” Robert suggests.

“Didn’t we use that excuse yesterday?” Ross questions.

“Oh right, uhh..” 

Ross sighs. “I think we’re just gonna have to go with the old bathroom excuse.” he says.

Robert agrees with a sigh and they both continue walking to class. 

Ross’ POV:

We finally reach our chemistry class, and it was locked as usual. I reach my hand out to knock but Robert grabs it to stop me. I look up at him in confusion.

“I think I got a better excuse, we could say we were at counseling.” he suggests.

I think about it for a minute, that is a good excuse. I was about to agree with him until we both felt a hand grab our shoulders, making us jump. We both reluctantly look up and were met with the eyes of our chemistry teacher, Mr. Shabs.

“That would be a good excuse, wouldn’t it?” he asks.

We both start to ramble a bunch of nonsense.

“Well Mr. Shabs, you see- um- we..” I stutter.

“We were-!” 

“Get inside.” Mr. Shabs says sternly, cutting Robert off and opening the door.

Me and Robert quickly walk inside to our seats. Mr. Shabs walks to the front of the class while staring us down.

“I’m back from the bathroom,” Mr. Shabs says, still staring at me and Robert. “Now for class today, we’re going to do that lab we’ve been preparing for. Everyone pick a partner and grab a pair of goggles, I'll pass out baskets of the stuff you'll need."

Me and Robert immediately turn to each other.

"I'll grab the goggles!" Robert says with his usual big smile.

I give him a thumbs up and he proceeds to grab the goggles. There was a crowd of students huddled around the goggle cabinet so he had to wait his turn. 

As we both waited for some reason I ended up subtly looking at Robert. Maybe cause I'm bored or something. I admired the way his fluffy blonde hair bounces every time he takes a step, his eyes, and the mole between his right eye and mouth. …Why am I thinking of him like this? Wasn’t I thinking about him yesterday too? God, I need to stop doing this.

I noticed Robert turn his attention to me so I quickly look away. Crap, did he notice? I don't think he did… I hope.

Robert finally reaches the goggle cabinet and grabs two pairs along with some disinfectant wipes. He walks back to his seat and hands me my goggles with a wipe. As we wiped our goggles down Mr. Shabs handed us a packet along with a basket that had tools, powders, and liquids inside. He walks back to the front of the classroom and says the steps are in the packet and for us to begin.

Me and Robert put our goggles on and read the steps.

"We should set everything up before the steps." Robert says excitedly. 

I smiled to myself at how excited he sounds. He always loves doing labs. I give him a thumbs up and we begin to take everything out of the basket.

Robert's POV:

"Alright, step one! Place four test tubes inside the test tube rack." I read from the packet as I took a container of glitter out from the basket.

I reached to grab a test tube but coincidentally Ross reached to grab the same one. Our hands ended up touching and we both quickly pulled away with flustered faces.

"Sorry, you take that one." Ross insists.

I nod my head in agreement and hesitantly grab the tube. Why does this feel so awkward? We always accidentally do weird things but one of us always brushes it off as a joke. But yesterday in the tub and today with the napkin its just been awkward. Ross has been acting weird too, yesterday when we were playing truth or dare, the tub again, the random call, and today he was staring at me! 

“Rob, the tube?” Ross questions.

“Oh right! Sorry.” I quickly say, putting the test tube in the rack. 

Ross takes the rest and puts them in. 

“Okay, step two. Fill one with twenty milliliters of water and one with twenty milliliters of acetone using the graduated cylinder.” I read from the packet.

I grab the water and acetone while Ross grabs the graduated cylinder.

“This smells like nail polish remover.” I say as I pour the acetone into the cylinder.

Ross laughs. “You dumbass, acetone is what makes nail polish remover."

We both laugh and continue to chat as we go on with the lab.

-

"Class dismissed!" Mr. Shabs yells, he had kept us in over the bell so we could clean up.

Me and Ross place our goggles in the cabinet and quickly leave.

"Dude, you're covered in glitter!" Ross laughs, pointing to my sweater.

I look down at my clothes and hands and see what Ross is talking about. 

"Hah, yeah I see. I'ma go to the BR to wash up." I tell Ross.

"I'll come with you." Ross says.

"No you don't have to, passing period is already almost over cause of Mr. Shabs. Go meet up with Roy." I insist.

"Alright then, I'll see you in math." Ross says as he walks off while waving.

I wave back and make my way toward the closest bathroom. Once I entered I grabbed a bunch of paper towels, wet them, and started to wipe off my sweater. As I was wiping I heard some people whispering in the stalls. I know I should mind my business but I'm a little curious. Plus, I’m not gonna be long so by the time they come out I’ll be gone. So I started to listen in, they were mostly just talking about their girlfriends and drama going on in the school. But then I hear them say my name, which makes my stomach knot.

"Dude, y'know that Robert kid? With that big ass green sweater?" one asks.

"Yeah, what about him?" the other answers.

"I heard he might have a thing for that chick in our gym class, she's in his math class I think. You know what girl I'm talking about?"

Why does everyone think I like that girl in my math class? We're friends and will never be anything more than that. Ever. I was going to speak up and tell them we're just friends but the other boy started speaking. What he says makes my stomach turn more than before.

"No, no, no, dude. You got it all wrong. There was a rumor in middle school that he's gay. And I'm pretty sure it's true. He came out to one of the teachers who was my dads friend and I heard them talking about it once!"

I froze in place, dropping the paper towels from my hands. I feel like I'm going to throw up. I thought that rumor was forgotten and left behind in middle school. 

My mind starts racing with thoughts. The rumor is true. But I never knew how the rumor started until now. The teacher that I trusted and came out too, told someone else about it. I told him not to tell anyone, that it was private. I didn't want Roy, Ross, or my family to find out. But of course word spread fast and it got to my dad. He was going to kick me out the house and disown me if it wasn't for my mom stepping in. I can't believe this. And now these boys know about it, what if they start a rumor here? What if Roy and Ross find out? I was going to tell them anyway when I was ready but I don't want them to find out like this.

I hear the stall doors click, which makes me snap out of my thoughts and run out the bathroom. I was so lost in thought I didn't even realize the bell had already rung long ago. I rush to my math class and sneakily sit in my usual seat, beside Roy. Him and Ross turn their heads to me.

"You're really late. She’s already finished going over the homework." Roy says to me.

"And you still have a bunch of glitter on your sweater, did you even go to the bathroom?" Ross chimes in concernedly.

Excuse, Excuse, Excuse, Excuse, Excuse!

I started to ramble a bunch of lies, "Uh, I went to a bathroom and started to clean the glitter off but I heard some weird noises so I left to look for another bathroom but that bathroom was shut down so I went to another bathroom but there were kids hogging the sinks so I left and now I'm here."

They both looked at me with a confused look.

Roy begins to rant, forgetting he's in class. "First of all, you should've pushed those kids out the way because what group of people needs multiple sinks. Second, you should've kicked the stall the noi-"

Ross subtly shoves him with his elbow to get his attention. Roy angrily turns his head to Ross  about to yell but then realizes the teacher is looking right at him.

"Care to walk us through how to answer this question, Roy?" she asks, catching Roy off guard.

Roy hesitantly turned his head to the board to read the question. “W-well, first you- um- foil?” he reluctantly answers, unsure of what he said.

“And what do you get when you foil it?” the teacher asks back, drawing arrows on the equation to show that she’s foiling it.

“Um, my calculator is dead so I couldn’t do that part.” he lies.

“Oh it’s okay Roy, you don’t need a calculator for this! Come on, what’s five x times six x?” she asks, knowing Roy is trying to bullshit his way out.

As Roy continues to try and answer the question, me and Ross quietly laugh at him.