Today really seemed like it would be great from the moment I opened my eyes. You know that feeling when you feel something great is about to happen but you don’t just know what?

If only I knew. But even if I did know what was going to happen at school today....

would that have changed anything?

I first noticed that there was extra chattiness in the air today when I reached school.

I saw students staring at their phones and seeming to group chatter about the same thing.

I pay no ear attention to the whispered grapevine discussion even though I was curious to know. The other strange thing was Maverick. He is wierdly quiet and withdrawn today. He did not respond when I tried to strike up a conversation in two of the classes we had together. His mood was also gloomy. I concluded it must be a problem at home. Then came lunch break. I find him in the halls and hold his hand, trying to cheer him up myself by making up a fake narrative about some spicy new BL novel I bought as we walk to the cafeteria. The truth is, I haven’t gotten a new one since "Burn For You"

I just know that it should work in getting his interest. And lifting his mood. When we get to the cafeteria, he tells me to get his tray. I asked him what food he wanted and he just tells me to order whatever and runs to seat at our usual table. I had an awkward situation on that task as the person serving behind the counter was staring at me suspiciously when I told him I needed two lunch sets. I inwardly cussed Maverick for putting me in this situation and making me seem like a glutton. "Is he your friend?" The man serving the food suddenly asks. It takes me a few seconds to grasp what he meant. I respond, "Yes."

"You will have to abandon him sooner or later. You can’t be friends now. The only reason I will be serving him is because you asked." That was what he said before serving the additional set. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

That sounded very weird. I carried the two lunch trays to our table and put one in front of Maverick before putting mine down and sitting in front of him, asking in a tone that sounded gangster to me. "What is going on with you bro? You look like shit." Okay, the hilarious approach ain’t working. I should try serious now. "What is wrong with you? Why have you been ignoring me in classes?" I demanded to know. But all I got is him staring dead at his food without touching it. I fold my arms on top the table. "Look, this isn’t funny." I say in a serious tone. My brain flashes to something just then. I sit up, holding up a finger when the realization fully hits. "Or wait..... are you mad because I did not accompany you to the after-party last night?"

"Yeah." My eyes widens. Not because he admitted. But because that is the first word he had spoken to me today. "I should have listened to—" He suddenly stops short on his words. The chair besides me was drawn back and sat on. I look to see who had taken the seat, and I went into instantaneous freezing shock. The type where your brain feels like it has shut down. And then it restarts.

Fucking Calyx! I blinked to be sure I wasn’t seeing things. He is sitting comfortably with that entitled vibe and aura like the rest of us whole him our lives and the air we breathe. What is he doing at our table? His presence here usually spells one thing. Trouble. The way almost everyone is looking at our table makes me feel like an object that has been laid out for display. I feel their eyes getting through my clothes and giving me goosebumps on my bare skin. I trace Calyx’s gaze to see that his eyes is trained on Maverick. His hands are on the table. Leaning forward with a trouble smirk. "Here you are. I thought you would go into hiding like a rat and make me come hunt you again."

"I... I’m sorry. I’m sorry Calyx. I’m very sorry." Maverick apologizes in a trembling voice. From that and his demeanor, one could tell that he is really scared. Makes me wonder if this was the reason for his mood all this while. It must be. Many questions were running through my mind. That apology logically means he has done something. But did he really?

"Let’s go have our discussion somewhere else. This place is too shabby. Don’t you think?" He goes over to Maverick side and drags him up to his feet. Put his arm over his shoulder. Something snaps in me as I watch him lead Maverick towards the exit. I run to stand in their way. Holding my arms out like that would really stop him. "Leave him alone." I say. Calyx pins a sharp, predator-like gaze on me. "What did you just say?" He asks. Even I almost did not hear my voice because of how low it sounded. My heart is hammering against my ribcage. My blood feels like it is slowly cooling to a freeze, warning me that I shouldn’t be doing this. Maverick is mouthing my name and telling me to back off.

Every organ in my body is telling me to do so too. But there is also the part of me that does not want him to bully my friend. Nothing good would come from him taking him out of here. What if Maverick ends up like Ted Huntington? Or the two others that Calyx bullied in the same fashion after? Then I’d lose the only friend that I have ever had in this school and at home. Why am I suddenly being like this? This is plain danger. Something I have a natural instinct to run from. But here I am not minding it.

I swallow down the lump of nothing in my throat before speaking firmly, "I said leave him alone!"