If you asked Logan if he felt emotion, he'd lie to you. The senior in high school had a reputation for being stoic and emotionless, up for valedictorian and countless full academic scholarships. Naturally, if someone asked him if he ever felt things, he'd respond with a simple no.

That was a lie.

Logan was painfully reminded of that fact when his best friend came bounding up to him gushing about asking out his crush. "I really really like him, you know?! He's so smart, and handsome, and god, I just get so many butterflies in my stomach!" he giggled.

"You might want to see a doctor then," the necktie wearing teenager replied with a monotone voice.

Patton just giggled, taking his sarcastic response as a joke. He found almost everything he did funny, and it figuratively killed Logan because of how adorable he was when he laughed. His best friend was the school's ray of positivity and sunshine, bringing massive batches of themes cookies to school during holiday seasons, planning school events, and supporting literally every department and club the school offered equally. Everyone loved him, or at least those that didn't kept their opinions to themselves.

"Should... should I try asking him out?" he asked quietly, looking nervous as he bit his lip. "I really want to, but I'm not sure if I should."

This is when Logan hated his internal thoughts. One part of his brain was telling him to support his best friend, even if it hurt to see him falling for someone else. The other part was telling him to be selfish, to talk Patton out of it and convince him not to pursue this crush of his. He hated it. The fact that his logical thinking still had the capability of being coerced by temptation.

"I would not let an opportunity to find a significant other pass by," he said slowly, keeping the regret out of his voice. When Patton looked confused, he sighed. "I'm suggesting it would be a good idea to ask him out."

His best friend's face lit up. "Really?! You think?!" he gasped, eyes widening. Logan nodded, adjusting his tie. "Will you come with me for moral support? I'm really scared!"

Though not wanting to, he agreed and at lunch that day, he walked with him to his crush's table. Patton was a fidgeting, nervous wreck as he spoke up. "Uh, hi, Noah!"

Noah and his friends turned to look at him. "Hi?" he replied, raising an eyebrow.

"I was wondering- um, actually I wanted to ask- uh-" the nervous boy tried, face flushing as he and his friends laughed at his stammering. "I wanted to ask if you wanted to go out with me sometime."

This made them laugh more, causing other students to look their way. Logan felt anger rising steadily upon seeing their reaction. "What's one good reason I should?" Noah questioned, biting into a French fry.

"W-What?" Patton asked as his face fell. Logan felt anger festering in his stomach, glaring at the boy who'd been lucky enough to have his best friend fall for him.

He stood up to stand in front of him. "What's one good reason I should go out with someone like you?" Noah sneered, earning snickers from his friends. "You're not cool, or smart, or talented, and I don't owe you anything."

Patton had nothing to say as tears pricked his eyes. He backed away a step, feeling the gaze of the kids around them staring at him. Why had he decided to do this? He had points. Why had he assumed he'd say yes? He let his head hang as he avoided eye contact with everyone, hoping no one would notice the tears. "I-I don't h-have a reason for y-you, sorry to be a bother," he managed.

It didn't stop there, with Noah and his friends laughing at the shaking in his voice and the fact that he was about to cry.

"Alright, that's enough," Logan snarled, stepping between his best friend and the boy currently making fun of him. People watching looked on with shock on their faces at the ferocity he displayed with one simple phrase. "You've absolutely no right to speak to him that way."

Noah looked amused as he raised an eyebrow. "And why not? This school is for scholars and everyone knows he's no scholar," he replied, making his blood boil.

"Insult him again and I'll give a very throughout and clear demonstration of the most painful places you can hit a human being," he seethed. He gestured behind him at the awestruck and tearful Patton. "You are lucky that he fell for you. That boy deserves literally all the love and appreciation in this world."

Logan took steps toward Noah, who was starting to appear scared of him. "He should never be made to feel like he's not smart enough. He should never be made to feel as though he's not 'cool' enough. He should never be made to feel like he's not talented enough," he listed with increasing volume and anger as he thought about how much he loathed the boy in front of him for making his Patton cry. "He has more talent than you could dream of. He's more than smart enough, and your social construct of 'coolness' will get you absolutely nowhere in your upcoming miserable and sad life. He figuratively has more love and kindness in one damn finger than you have in the entirety of your body. If I were you, I'd feel so lucky to have such an incredible person in love with me, and I would work my ass off every day to make sure he felt appreciated and that he knew how much I loved him."

He paused as the boy had hit the wall of the cafeteria, and he was shaking with anger. At this point, he didn't care if everyone knew he loved Patton and that he had emotions. All he cared about was making sure this asshole understood what a serious mistake he'd made.

"But I'm not you," Logan snapped at the cowering boy. "He chose you, and you don't even deserve it."

No one in the cafeteria breathed as he panted with fury. He took a deep breath, blinking slowly to try and calm down. "So if I catch you insulting him again, I promise you that demonstration will be a long one," he snarled before turning on his heel and storming out of the lunchroom.

Patton watched him go in shock, eyes wide a still slightly glossy. Noah and his friends left with lowered heads as everyone glared at them for what he'd said. Once they'd gone, all eyes landed on him. He laughed nervously, looking around at all the expectant gazes.

"W-What are you looking at?" he asked self-consciously.

"The real question is: what the hell are you waiting for?" someone called in response.

His eyes widened as he realized what they meant. "Oh- OH! Right!" Patton gasped, rushing toward the door with a bashful wave. "Uh, bye!"

They cheered for him as he went, telling him to get his man as he ran out the door. He hurried through the hallway, knowing where Logan would go if he wanted to cool off and be alone. How did I not notice he liked me? he asked himself. How long has he liked me? Why didn't he say anything until now?

He found his best friend sitting in one of the least used courtyards of the school. No one ever sat in it, so Logan would often go there for some solitude. He was taking off his glasses, pinching his eyes and the bridge of his nose. He felt strangely proud and yet sad. His secret was out. No one would ever see him as emotionless Logan anymore, and Patton knew of his feelings, but certainly didn't return them.

"Logan?"

He jumped, looking up in shock as a panting Patton appeared on the other side of the courtyard. There was a wide smile on his face and a couple tears in his eyes. "Patton, I- uh..." he started, putting on his glasses nervously. "I apologize for all the things he said-"

Logan couldn't finish his sentence because he was being hugged. "Why didn't you tell me you liked me sooner?!" his best friend exclaimed with a giggle as he squeezed him. He pulled away to look at the shocked expression on his face.

"I... I thought my romantic feelings weren't returned," he explained, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Especially once you developed an interest in Noah."

"Well he literally just rammed that ship into an iceberg and drove into the depths of the ocean cause that's not happening now," Patton said with a laugh and shrug. "I've actually always had a bit of a crush on you, but when I saw you defending me like that and confessing in the process, I think my heart just melted."

The nerd smiled as he blushed even more. "I hope you know everything he said wasn't true," he clarified.

"I think you made that pretty clear," he giggled, hugging him again. Logan smiled and hugged him back. "Thank you for that, Logan... that was really sweet and so caring of you to say all those things, and I just can't thank you enough!"

The other boy got an idea, giving him a hopeful look as they pulled away again. "Perhaps you could thank me by accompanying me for a coffee date this afternoon?" he suggested, earning a joyful grin and an enthusiastic nod from Patton. "It's a date then."

"I can't wait!" he exclaimed, a blushing and giggling ball of happiness. The bell rang and he gasped. "Oh my gosh, we'll be late to English! Come on, Logan!"

It wasn't uncommon for Patton to pull him by the hand somewhere, but this time he laced their fingers together with an affectionate smile as he let him lead the way to class, feeling okay with all the pleasant emotions he was experiencing, and looking forward to more later that afternoon when he and his possibly new boyfriend went on their first date.

For once, he couldn't wait for the school day to end.