"Our school could have a gay-straight alliance." Jace chirped in while we were fake listening to our English teacher. He was fiddling with his pencil and I could tell his palms were sweaty because it left wet marks on his paper, the pencil and the desk.

"Maybe." I shrugged. "I don't think anybody would join it though."

"Maybe if you did then..." He glanced my way, a cheeky grin playing on his lips.

"Woah woah, that's a conversation for another time."

I fiddled with my bracelet, loosening it then tightening it and repeating. I so badly just wanted to reach over and put it on for him but I couldn't and I felt like am absolute coward.

"By the way, I wanted to tell you something." he said and played with his hair. I just nodded, urging him on while my mind skimmed over to what he could potentially say.

Zach, I think I love you.

Do you want to come over after school? we could play video games.

I liked the latter one because he and I both knew that we weren't actually going to play video games. No, we were going to do other stuff. I liked the former too because It meant my feelings weren't unrequited.

"We need to spend some time apart." That was not what I was expecting. Is this his way of saying he didn't like my company or that he's found somebody else he could spend time with?

I was so excited this week because my punishment would be over tomorrow and now he's saying he wants to spend time apart? The bell went and I still hadn't fathomed why he wouldn't want to spend time with me? I thought he liked my company!

We both shuffled out of the classroom together and made our way to the science block where Jace had his lesson next and I had another lesson not too far from there, just like every Friday.

"I don't understand why?" I sighed as we both leaned out backs against the wall near his classroom and we waited for the next class to get out. Mr Donovan was always keen to get all of the powerpoint done, even if that mean letting the class out ten minutes late.

The door opened and a bunch of year eights shuffled out, talking to their friends and causing havoc by blocking up the coridoor. A girl with long brown hair put in to a messy plait stood infront of us and made a heart shape with fingers motioned it towards Jace and I, grinned and then she stamped on Jace's foot.

Yes, you heard it right.

"Ow! What the fuck!" He yelled for everyone in the coridoor to hear.

Cam came out of the classroom also, swinging her satchel on and caught Jace's eyes and then mine. She glared at the girl who hurt Jace. "Jessica, that's my brother!"

"Oh shut up you priss." she gave all three of us a glare and caught up to her friends. Cammie caught Jace trying to recover from the pain, it wasn't that hard, he was jumping around like a lunatic. I was just stood still, frozen in my place, with no idea what to do or say.

"Um, wow?" I tried.

"We'll explain later, right now, I have class." Jace sighed and relaxed into Cammie's hug.

Jace turned to me and placed a hand on my shoulder and looked me dead in the eye with a pained expression from the whole foot thing. I frowned, I seriously wanted to go find that girl and pull her stupid plait right out of her hair. "Let's meet at lunchtime okay?"

I just nodded and made my way to my next lesson. I couldn't concentrate in it, it was difficult to even write today's date in my notebook because I couldn't even remember it with so many thoughts running around in my mind. I tried to piece everything together but I just couldn't. Who the hell did that girl think she was stamping on Jace's foot and calling Camellia a priss, huh?

"Zach, the bell went like, 5 minutes ago." some dude informed me and I packed away everything in to my rucksack and bolted it to Jace's room.

When the entire class came outside except Jace, I walked into the room and saw him talking to Mr Donovan. Jace saw me and ushered me over and put an arm around my shoulders.

"Zach was a witness." Jace told the teacher who was writing away at a notepad. "So can you seperate my sister from Jessica, it would be so helpful and if you could also get Jessica's parents in, that would be great."

"This is a serious issue and I'll be taking this up with the safeguarding team at the school. I'll seperate the two and keep a close eye out aswell as warn the other teachers of the classes they have together but it's up to the safe guarding team to get things like suspension involved." Mr Donovan explained with his hoarse voice.

"Okay, thanks." Jace muttered and scurried out the room. I followed.

"So... explain, please?" I asked him. The coridoors were relatively empty because It was lunchtime and everyone would either be in the cafeteria or the quad so It was okay to discuss it here.

"Well, Camellia's getting bullied by the girl who stomped on my foot. They used to be best friends."

"Why?" I cocked a brow and took all the information in.

"I guess it's because Camellia is too... pure? Too kind? I don't know the right word." Jace scratched the back of his neck. "That's why Jessica called her a priss."

"Oh right."

"Please don't tell anyone. I don't want to add fuel to the fire." Jace said.

I contemplated it. If there's one person that could be a living nightmare, it was Molly and it too tempting to tell Molly so Jessica would never bother Cam or Jace ever again. I had to make my decision fast because Molly was leaving Monday night.

When I didn't answer, Jace sighed.

"Why did you want us to spend time apart?" I felt like my heart was ripping in two and I also felt a little dizzy.

"Oh right.. Jessica knows about when Cam saw us in my room." His cheeks flushed and he fiddled with his fingers. "And she might tell everyone, even though we're not together."

"Whatever happens, if the school finds out, we're in this together." I gave him a reassuring smile and grabbed his arm, pulling him to the far back corner of the school's field. It was windy and cold and it was deserted except for the other corner of the field where the smokers hid. You could literally see smoke coming from behind the trees but the teachers never actually tell them off because they never listen.

"I know but still, we'd be forced out of the closet and you have your reputation and Liam's and-"

"Jace, just shut up." I snickered and pulled him into a hug. "It'll all be okay." A familliar warmth fillled my chest and I hugged him tighter.

"I hope so." he sighed. "I hope Jessica stops hurting Cammie too."

"Me too."

-

"You wanker!" Flynn roared.

"Stop getting mad!" I yelled.

"No! I really liked you, Zach."

"We can't be together!"

"But I really like you." he whined and almost resembled a cute puppy.

"No, you don't, we only lusted after each other and you know that," I rolled my eyes. "Plus, if you're going round having sex with everyone then we can't be together because it's noncommittal."

"But Zach..."

"You're already in a relationship, Flynn." I told him. "You can't even properly keep that one, I'm sorry but it's true." He looked down at the floor and sighed, a drop of water fell to the ground and I pulled him into a hug. "You'll always be my best friend, but that's it."

He sniffled, "Fine. Who's the lucky person then?"

A small smile placed itself on my lips, "Just, someone."

"Come on, give me a name." he urged me.

"Jace Chapman."

"Never heard of him."

"Not many people do." I said. "Thank you for understanding."

"That's what best friends do." he sighed.

We separated and he walked to his dresser, changing from a dress shirt, sweater and cargo pants to a comfy pair of grey sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt. It was weird seeing him so casually dressed when he's always wearing smart clothes.

"You wanna play PlayStation then?" he cocked a brow and I smiled and nodded. It was just like old times. "Don't cry when I win."

"That happened once, when we were like eight! It's not going to ever happen again anyway because I'm going to win." I flashed a cocky smirk.

"That was funny. You couldn't stop crying even when your mum came to pick you up and you ignored me the day after that."

"It's in the past, okay?" I sighed and sat cross legged in front of the TV while he changed the CD in the PlayStation. He handed me a controller and then we quickly became completely immersed into the game.

"I win! In your face!" I stuck my tongue out at him and he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Whatever, I let you win."

"Right, uh huh." I snickered and got up and went to his kitchen.

I was in the middle of pouring some pepsi into two glasses when Flynn joined me and leaned his head against his hand that was propped up on the table by his elbows. He looked unhappy and I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, Flynn, I am sure of my feelings."

"But come on... I could be a way better boyfriend."

"No because you're what we called a prostitute."

"Ouch." He mimicked hurt. "I perfer the term 'bum boy',"

"How is that any better?" I snickered.

"It's not." he laughed. "I don't know about it though, Marcie wants us to have a proper relationship."

"Really? That's great."

"No it's not." He sighed, "I love sex too much."

"Wow." I took a sip of my drink and he copied. "I think it would be good for you."

"Yeah but, I don't want to." He shrugged.

"You know Calvin gave me permission to give my bracelet to a best friend." I said, "I want to give it to Jace but not because he's my best friend."

"You know, talking about Jace with me isn't a great idea."

"I'm just saying, you can get a committed boyfriend if you want and give your bracelet to him and the school won't care because they think it's a best friend exchange."

"Yeah, but, I don't know. I'm not into relationships like that, I just like sex."

"You'll grow out of it, I'm sure." I poured more soda in both our glasses and took a sip.

He sighed and we sat in silence for a few moments but then he stood up and went to the drinks cabinet, taking out a bottle of Jack Daniels. He mixed some in with his Pepsi and offered me some but I decided to pour it in myself and only put a tiny bit in.

"Zach Man, you gotta tell that boyfriend of yours about us. He'd be absolutely devastated if you kept it in." Flynn slurred a few drinks later.

And that was when I realised Flynn has morals.

"I know but he's caught up with some shit at school so I don't think now is a good idea." I sat on the bar stool next to him and he poked my arm in an attempt to grab my attention as if he didn't have it already.

"Bro, you gotta tell him before you're both official." Talking to drink Flynn was weird, he was actually making sense and he wasn't trying to make moves either. "I really like you man and as happy I'd be if you two didn't get together, I'd feel horrible too. I want you to be happy."

"I am happy. Jace is very understanding." I rubbed at my eyes, beginning to feel tired. "I'm gonna go home."

"Why don't you stay? We'll have separate beds if you want."

He is so understanding, Drunk Flynn is weird. The last time we had separate beds was at our first sleepover, when I felt hesitant to share my first night with someone else outside my family. After that, instead of taking out the extra bed from underneath his, we slept top and tail because if I felt his breathing on my face, I'd flip. Flynn breathes like a damn horse.

"Fine." I nodded and put the drinks away in the cabinet. "Thank you."

"Why?" He shot me a goofy smile.

"Just.. thanks. You're my best best best friend in the world and that'll never change."

"Yup." He popped the p as he handed me a change of clothes.

I got dressed and helped him take out the extra bed from underneath his and have it stand up on its fold up legs and then helped him lay down the mattress cover and duvet. I sent a quick text to my mum who'd worry if she didn't know my whereabouts and probably punish me again before wrapping myself up into a burrito with the duvet and falling asleep.

The morning after, I felt a headache coming along and I shakily walked in to the bathroom and grabbed a new toothbrush from a cupboard because a Flynn has an infinite supply of toothbrushes.

He joined me a little while after and unzipped his pants, relieving himself before zipping up again. "What's the time?"

I mumbled something incoherent, it was kind of hard to form a normal sentence with toothpaste in your mouth. Even I didn't know what I was trying to say. Flynn looked at me from the mirror that covered the whole wall infront of the sink and I saw tears well up in his eyes.

I spat the toothpaste out and rinsed my mouth before walking over to where he stood and swiped my thumb across his cheek, getting rid of a tear that slipped.

"I just.. I like you so much." he sighed. "But I literally can't be commited."

"You'll grow out of it," I repeated what I told him last night. "You'll find your prince. I'm sure he'd come around and sweep you off your feet."

"Or princess." he chuckled and rubbed at his eyes.

"Or princess." I smiled.