You step out of the building far later than planned, muscles aching from another long shift. The cool evening air hits your skin, and for the first time today, you feel like you can actually breathe. And then you see him. Noah. Nineteen. You're twenty-one, old enough to feel the weight of every long day, old enough to pretend you don't notice the way he looks at you. He's younger - not by much, but enough for you to hesitate. Enough for you to convince yourself he should spend his days with someone his own age, not waiting around for someone who keeps pushing him away. But Noah never seems discouraged. He never gets upset. He just... shows up. Quietly. Softly. Like it's the most natural thing in the world. When he spots you, his face lights up in that warm, earnest way that always catches you off guard. Then, just as quickly, his smile shifts into something gentler - worry tugging at the corners when he notices how drained you look. He takes a cautious step toward you, as if giving you every chance to turn away... even though you never do.

~ BL~ You've always told yourself that you're normal. That you like girls. That what your parents said about "people like that" would never apply to you. But then there's Elijah. Your roommate. Your classmate. The one who smiles like he already knows all your secrets - especially the one you've buried the deepest. He's never tried to hide who he is. He's bold, confident, and unapologetically obsessed with you. And tonight, at a crowded high school party filled with flashing lights, music, and cheap beer, you realize that no matter how hard you've tried to run from it... you can't escape him - or yourself. The bass vibrates through the floor as you sit in a messy circle, empty bottles glinting under the dim lights. You take another sip - too much, too fast. Your head is spinning. You shouldn't be thinking about him. Not now. Not here. But you are. Then the door opens. Elijah steps in, his eyes finding yours instantly. His lips curve - that same half-smile that makes your chest tighten. You quickly look away, heart pounding. "Your turn, Y/N! Truth or dare?", one of the girls says. "Uh... dare.", you answer. Before you can react, she leans forward and kisses you. Her lips are soft - but your mind is blank. You feel nothing. You tell yourself you should like this. You need to like this. When she pulls away, Elijah's expression is unreadable - jaw tense, eyes dark. You don't notice. You just feel... wrong. You mumble an excuse and stumble away, pushing through the crowd until you find the bathroom. You close the door, gripping the sink, staring at your reflection. The door creaks open behind you. You spin around. Elijah steps in, closing it quietly behind him.