It was Saturday. The sun was out and bright, but Axel felt like the world had gone a bit gray. The family dinner argument was a day ago, but it lingered in his chest like smoke. Even at school yesterday, during the project presentation, he'd been quiet. His teachers praised them, his friends teased him lightly, but inside he felt off. Now it was the weekend, and there was no school to distract him. He sat on his bed scrolling through his phone, heavy-eyed and restless. His phone buzzed with a message from Amy.
Hey! Remember about going out with me and my cousin today? :)
Axel stared at it for a second. He hadn't exactly said yes before. He'd just mumbled that he'd "think about it." But he didn't want to fight her on it.
Fine.
He tossed the phone aside and rubbed his eyes. Not even five minutes later, his phone vibrated again. It was Javier.
Yo. What you doing today?
Axel typed back lazily.
Amy wants me to go out with her cousin or whatever.
Javier's reply was instant.
Bro. That's literally a date.
Axel rolled his eyes.
It's not a date.
Javier sent three laughing emojis.
Sure it isn't.
He didn't even bother arguing more. Jasmine joined in next, her texts popping up like she was watching everything.
So you're going on a date? 👀
It's NOT a date.
LOL. Okay, lover boy.
Axel groaned. He tossed the phone on the bed again and got up to change. He pulled on a black tank that clung just enough to show his shape without showing skin. Leather pants with chains. Black boots. Dark eyeliner smudged. Emo and sharp. He checked himself in the mirror, annoyed that he looked good despite feeling like shit. His phone dinged again, but he ignored it. He grabbed his wallet and stomped out the door. Meanwhile, Jasmine was being messy as hell. She had Noah's number. It wasn't gossip; she'd gotten it from some school event contacts, nothing shady. She smiled as she typed.
Guess what your boyfriend's doing today...
Noah replied quickly.
He's not my boyfriend.
Didn't say who. 🤭
Noah paused before sending:
Time and place.
Jasmine gave it to him without a second thought.
Have fun 😇
They all ended up meeting in the middle of town at a popular shopping plaza. Food stalls, stores, open-air seating. A decent crowd. Axel spotted Amy first. She was in a cute, colorful two-piece set with little flowers on it, her hair in two playful buns. She lit up when she saw him.
"Axel! You came!"
He shrugged.
"Yeah."
Amy looked around and blinked.
"Oh—uh... guys?"
Javier and Jasmine appeared next, waving. Jasmine was flawless in a sleek jumpsuit with a cinched waist and statement earrings. Javier was in a relaxed white tee with a silver chain and black jeans, looking cool and taller than Axel.
"Hey, squad," Jasmine said, grinning.
Amy was a little surprised.
"I... didn't know you all were coming."
Jasmine looped her arm through Amy's.
"More the merrier, right?"
Axel sighed. Amy turned and gestured to a guy standing next to her.
"Everyone, this is my cousin!"
He gave a shy but cheeky smile, waving. He wore a cropped pastel top with high-waisted shorts and bright sneakers. Earrings, nails painted. Confident.
"Hi," he said brightly.
Javier raised an eyebrow but nodded.
"Hey."
They shook hands, and the cousin held on a little longer than normal. Javier didn't pull away, just watched him. Amy beamed at everyone.
"Let's go look around!"
They wandered the plaza. Amy stuck close to Axel, looping her arm through his. She chatted nonstop about the shops, the food, the crowd. Axel let her drag him around, nodding, responding with single words. But his eyes kept darting. Because Noah had shown up. Quiet, classic. A dark button-down over black jeans. No flash, but he looked good in the simplest way. He walked with the group, pretending to ignore Axel but never drifting too far. Jasmine kept glancing between them and smirking.
"Your boyfriend's quiet today," she teased.
Noah shot her a glare.
"He's not my boyfriend."
Jasmine winked.
"Didn't say who."
Axel flushed.
"Can you stop?"
Javier snorted.
"Messy as hell."
Amy, oblivious to the tension, dragged Axel to a street vendor. He paid for her drink. She beamed. Noah watched from a distance, jaw tight. At one point, the cousin got Javier alone by the fountain. They sat, leaning in close, talking and laughing. Javier's posture relaxed, his usual wall down a little. Meanwhile, Jasmine pulled Amy aside to look at hair accessories. Amy squealed at a cute headband. Jasmine teased her about it, but held it up to her hair to see how it looked, fingers brushing Amy's cheek. They both giggled, eyes lingering. But Axel wasn't watching them. He was watching Noah. Because some girl had come up to Noah to flirt. He saw Noah smile a little—polite but distant—and she twirled her hair, leaning in. Axel's fingers clenched around his cup. He didn't say a word. Didn't react. Just kept watching. Nobody noticed. Not Amy, not Jasmine. Eventually, the group broke off again. Amy's cousin and Javier were still sitting together, now looking at each other's phones and laughing. Jasmine and Amy wandered to a store together, Jasmine's hand lightly on Amy's back. Axel tried to follow, but Noah stepped right in front of him.
"Can we talk?"
Axel exhaled hard.
"Now?"
"Yeah. Now."
Amy glanced over and smiled.
"We'll be back!" She blew Axel a kiss and went off with Jasmine.
Axel and Noah ended up near the edge of the plaza, under a little awning. They faced each other.
"What?" Axel asked.
Noah's eyes were dark.
"Having fun playing the boyfriend?"
"It's not like that."
Noah snorted.
"Could've fooled me."
Axel glared.
"Why do you even care?"
Noah stepped closer.
"You know why."
Axel felt heat rise in his face.
"Don't do that here."
"Why? You can make out with her in public but not me?"
Axel shoved him lightly.
"I said it's not like that!"
Noah grabbed his wrist. They were close now. Breathing heavy.
"Then what is it?" Noah demanded.
Axel didn't answer. His eyes flicked to Noah's mouth. For one second it felt like the world went quiet. He leaned in.
Noah's breath hitched.
But a shout cut through the air.
"AXEL! NOAH!"
They both jumped.
Amy was waving, Jasmine beside her smirking.
"We're getting food! Come on!"
Axel yanked his wrist free.
"Go," he muttered.
Noah didn't move right away. He looked at Axel's face, searching for something. Axel turned and walked toward the others without waiting. His chest felt tight. He heard Noah follow a second later. They rejoined the group in tense silence. Nobody said anything about what had just happened. But everyone felt it.