James walked along the school hallways, holding tightly onto his bag as he listened to the loud chime of phones constantly going off.

He could feel his going off, but he ignored it not really invested in the sudden loudness of it. He pushed his locker open setting his belongings in before reaching into his bag for something.

He smiled brightly at the sight of Eric walking down the hall, Otis beside him. James walked toward the duo "E-Man! Happy birthday!".

James handed the box to Eric patting his shoulder "did you think I forgot about our traditional gift, I picked those up last night".

Eric smiled as he grabbed the sunglasses out of the box "another set for the epic collection, I even got a pair to match for your show tonight with Otis".

While Otis and Eric normally had a tradition each year, James sat out and took the course of getting Eric sunglasses every single year.

He knew Eric would always wear them for the day. "Thanks J-Man! I absolutely love em" James smiled hugging Eric tightly.

"I'm glad you like them, I was struggling for a moment to get the perfect pair". Eric moved back "how have you been? Doing any better?".

James blinked his eyes locking with Ruby's for a moment as she walked down the hallway. "Yeah I'm doing good, was just sick for a bit, figured you wouldn't wanna get sick as well".

The loudness of Ruby's high hells going down the hallway made him tense up as he smiled at Eric and Otis. It was his way of showing he was fine.

But deep down he felt like shit, he was falling so fucking fast for Ruby and he knew the second he hit the floor. Everything would fall apart rapidly.

"I'm gonna catch a smoke before first class" he walked past them walking outside in a fast manner. He walked into the small building pulling his cigarette out of his pocket.

He paused at the sight of Maeve and Ruby, the duo pausing at the sight of him. "I feel like I've walked into something I shouldn't have".

He laughed awkwardly "it's alright, uh you can still smoke if you'd like" he smiled at Maeve "I can leave if you'd like, this seems rather private".

Maeve pushed her hair behind her ear "uh just clinic stuff, nothing too intense". His eyes locked with Ruby's for a moment, she smiled awkwardly.

"Clinic stuff, uh that's..." he rubbed the back of his neck "just about that photo that's been sent out this morning, do you wanna help?".

He frowned deeply "is that what the ruckus was about in the hallway". Maeve nodded briefly "so do you wanna help figure out who sent it?".

"Surely Otis can help you, I mean I'd get in the way" Maeve walked towards the door "well if you change your mind let me know".

The second she was gone Ruby let out a weak breath "you weren't suppose to come in here, normally you don't until lunch".

He moved toward her "I just needed a minute before class started, I honestly didn't know anyone was in here.. are you alright?".

She didn't say anything for a moment "no I'm not alright, surely you've seen the photo that's gonna ruin my life, you probably found it funny".

"Ruby I haven't seen it" she looked at him shocked "you haven't? by now the entire schools seen it". He saw the distress in her eyes "was it bad?".

She nodded as she grabbed hold of her phone he grabbed hold of her wrist gently "I don't need to see it Ruby, whatever it is, I'll help you".

She looked at him "you won't help me once you find out what it is, you'll hate me". He gripped her face gently "you know I'll never hate you".

"I wish that was true" she moved back slowly pushing her purse over her shoulder. He didn't say anything for a moment "I don't care that you've sent it to someone Ruby, we're not together, so you can do whatever you want, with whoever you want".

He walked past her leaving her behind.

—

James normally didn't drink, he knew the second he overcame his limit. He'd become a wreak and latch out at anything that made him feel like shit.

He groaned as he walked along the sidewalk, his feet aching as he approached the doorway. He knocked the door opening shortly after.

"Oh James, what are you doing here?" he smiled weakly "is Otis here by any chance?". She nodded moving back slightly "he's in there with Maeve".

He walked inside pushing the door open Otis and Maeve stopped talking looking at him. "James, what are you doing here?".

He laughed weakly leaning into the wall "came to see if you needed help, how's it going?".

"Well we were just questioning Kyle here" James looked at the boy for a moment. Something inside him felt like it was on the verge of snapping.

"He hasn't said anything yet" James moved toward Kyle fast grabbing hold of his shirt roughly. He just dragged him out of the room, the loudness of Otis and Maeve shouting behind him.

"James! What are you doing!" Kyle yelped when James shoved him outside the boy slamming against the sidewalk harshly.

"Did you send the photo around!" Kyle stood up quickly punching James harshly. "The fucks wrong with you man! I haven't sent anything out!".

James punched back with all his strength his entire body aching as he tackled Kyle onto the grass. "James! Stop it!" Otis ran forward Maeve beside him. The duo struggled to get James off.

"Fuck you! Fuck you!" Otis grabbed hold of James arm tugging him back. The door opened and Ruby ran outside gasping at the fight.

Kyle punched James but was stopped when Maeve pushed him back harshly. "Enough! This is ridiculous!" James he didn't send it".

James groaned as he wiped the blood off his face Otis stood in front of him. "What's going on with you James, this isn't you".

James scoffed "could say the same to you Otis, you're suppose to be with Eric right now, and you've blown him off to be with Maeve".

Otis moved away from James "just go home, we'll handle this" James looked at Ruby for a moment. "Fine, I don't even care anymore".

He walked off pushing a cigarette into his mouth harshly as he grabbed hold of his phone.

He picked it up quickly at the sight of Eric's name popping up "Eric? Is everything alright?". 

"James, something bad has happened. Can you come and pick me up?". James threw his cigarette onto the ground "I'm on my way".

—

James quickly got out of his car running towards Eric "hey, what happened?" Eric let out a deep sigh as he stood up from the bench he sat on.

"I could say the same to you, what's happened to your face" James sighed "it's nothing really, just got into a fight with Kyle".

"You got into a fight? Did something happen" James shrugged his shoulders "it's nothing, you matter far more right now Eric".

Eric shock his head "I'll be fine, you gonna tell me what's got you so upset these past few weeks?". James stayed silent "I'll drop you off home".

James turned but was stopped by Eric grabbing his arm "talk to me James, you've been distant for weeks, what's gotta you so worked up".

James eyes glossed over "I don't know what's wrong with me Eric". He looked down in defeat his arms wrapping around Eric tightly as he hugged him. "I don't wanna feel like this anymore".

He cried silently as he pushed his eyes closed the ache tugging away at his chest.

—

James rubbed at his eyes as he opened his door, he yawned as he turned the light on. "You look like shit" he looked up Ruby sitting on his couch.

He sighed deeply as he walked into his kitchen grabbing a ice pack. "What are you doing here? I thought you had plans tonight".

"I cancelled them, truth is I wanted to see if you were alright, I saw what happened". He leaned into his counter "you cancelled your plans, so you could see if I was alright".

She nodded as she stood up "you've been crying" he set the ice pack down "I haven't been crying, it's raining outside or something".

She scoffed "you're a really bad liar" he moved away from the counter. "Could say the same for you? Something tells me you aren't here because you were worried about me".

"Well I was worried, but I guess I came here hoping we could just talk". He rubbed at the back of his neck laughing weakly.

"You've come here to talk? Surely you could've called, I mean I would've picked up". She shock her head "I came here to talk in person, and I know that fight earlier was because of me. I mean it's obvious you were upset over the photo".

"I wasn't upset over the photo" she sighed "of course you are, you just don't wanna say it".

"Is that what you want me to say? That it upset me?" he sat down on his couch. "I'm not upset with you Ruby, I could never be upset with you".

He pushed his hands against his face hearing the loudness of Ruby's high heels clacking along the floor harshly. "Then why are you upset?".

"Because, I feel like shit Ruby. I can't even pretend to be normal around my friends, and they just keep asking questions. And I don't even know what we are, I mean you're throwing mixed signals my way, it's rather confusing".

Ruby sat down beside him "what do you want us to be?" he looked at her "you know I can't say it, you'll leave the second I say it".

She gripped his cheek "say it" he smiled softly, his eyes glossing over with worry as he spoke.

"I want you to be my girlfriend, and I don't wanna hide anymore, I mean who cares what people think". He let out a nervous breath "this is the part where you leave, and make me feel stupid".

She kissed him, her arms wrapping around him making him stunned as he leaned into her. He let out a breath of relief when she hugged him.

Her fingers digging into his flesh as she rested her forehead against his. "I'm not going anywhere".