TJ's pov

I didn't know what was wrong with Cyrus. I don't mind him being gay. How could I? I'm gay too. But he didn't need to know that. And he wasn't going to.

I saw him head into the bathroom, so I ran after him quickly, and opened the door to the boys restroom.

"Cyrus?" I called out, with a worried voice.

"L-leave me alone. I'm a nobody. I don't want you to see me like this." He said in between cries.

"I don't care. And you are not a nobody. I don't want you to think like that. Your perfect." I said softly, but loud enough for him to hear me.

"Your just saying that to make me feel better. I'm not perfect. I could never be perfect. I'm stupid. I'm weird. I'm gay. I'm a nobody. Everyone hates me, and you should too" He said so quietly, I almost couldn't hear him.

"I could never ever hate you. And anyone who hates you, and wants to say something rude to you, has to go through me first" I said trying to act tough.

I heard him chuckle softly, and I smiled. There he is.

"Where are you?" I said looking around.

"In here" He said. I couldn't see him so I didn't know where. Before I could say something else, I saw a hand stick out from under a stall, waving towards me slightly. I walked over, and told him to open it.

Once he opened it, I walked in, and saw him sitting on the floor, with tears running down his face.

I sat down next to him, and rapped him in my arms. I feel like I do this often. He's always crying about something, and this is what I always do to comfort him.

I noticed his breathing was really quick.

"Are you alright?" I said looking at him concerned.

He didn't answer me, and I looked down at him. He was breathing quick, and his eyes were wide. He was hugging his knees and rocking back and forth. His breathing soon got very quick, so I decided to say something.

"Hey it's gonna be ok" I said trying to calm him down, but failed miserably.

"Look at me" I said.

He didn't look at me and I started getting worried.

I lifted up his chin lightly, and he looked into my eyes. His breathing was getting slower, and soon he stopped rocking back and forth.

"I'm scared" he finally said.

"Don't worry. I'm here. And I'm not leaving. I don't want to anyways." I said smiling softly at him.

After a few minutes of sitting in sadness, I heard someone come into the boys bathroom.

"Hello? Guys are you ok in there?" A high, but soft voice yelled.

What is she doing in here?

"Vanessa? This is the boys bathroom, why are you in here?" I did confused, on the verge of laughing.

I could basically see her roll her eyes.

"Because that asshole, Jonah, back in the cafe, sent me here. I have no idea why he couldn't do it himself." She said annoyed, but laughing slightly at the thought.

There was a moment of silence before someone opened the stall we were in.

"How did you-" I was cut off by her rolling her eyes, and speaking.

"Because, you idiot, it wasn't even locked." She said laughing.

"Oh." I said smiling

We were all silent before, Cyrus got up.

"hey, I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to just ask like that. It wasn't my call, and I should've just waited for you to tell me yourself" Vanessa said with a sad smile.

"It's ok. I get it. Being different is hard, and when you find out someone else is just like you, it's hard to not be excited" he said smiling as usual.

When we got back to the cafeteria, everyone was engaged in their own mini conversations.

Buffy and Andi, talking about god knows what, Jonah on his phone most likely scrolling through Instagram, and it looks like amber had joined us while we were in the bathroom, as she is also on her phone.

"Hey" Cyrus said, gaining our friends attention.

Everyone was looking at Cyrus, and nobody

seemed to break the silence so I did, while sitting down with Cyrus, and Vanessa.

"So what are you guys talking about?" I asked

"Nothing much, just girl stuff" Andi said while giggling with Buffy.

"Cyrus. Are you alright? I was worried about you. What happened?" Buffy asked in her serious tone.

"Can we talk about this later?" Cyrus said clearly uncomfortable.

"uh yeah, sure. Vanessa how about you tell us a little bit about yourself." Buffy suggested, changing the subject.

"Well, there isn't much about me, so I guess I could start getting into a very important topic I wanted to talk to you guys about" Vanessa said getting excited.

Everyone looked at her and waited for what she was going to say.

"Ok so I'm not sure if any of you have heard, but you guys know that contest every year, that was going on mostly on the other side of the building?" Vanessa asked.

"Nope" we all replied.

"Well, theres this contest every year that we have. I run it. I started it in 3rd grade, so it has been going on for very long, but I have certain people, the same every year, pick two people that are destined to date" she says excitedly.

Everyone at the table seemed confused, so she went on to explain it more.

"Last year, my group of friends chose as many people as they could, that looked like they could be a couple, and told me all of the pairings. I was supposed to pick one, and make them date. Each year, the couples that I would pick, actually worked out. They haven't broken up since, which is why the principal is ok with it. He said he wouldn't want anyone getting hurt, so after the first 3 years of doing it, he made it an official contest every year" she said out of breath.

"So what your saying is...for example let's say your group of friends, picked Amber and Andi, and Buffy and Marty. And you choose Buffy and Marty, you would make them date?" Cyrus said kind of shocked by that.

"Well not exactly. Each one of the pairings have to be able to work out. So my friends would have to find out if they like each other, In order for it to be ok. So if Buffy liked someone else, but marty liked Buffy, I wouldn't be able to do it. If they both liked each other, I would be able to make it happen." She said making it clear, that it's a safe contest.

"Well what if that person starts liking someone else during the process? Wouldn't that screw the whole thing up?" I asked kind of getting it.

"Well yes, which is why after I pick the two people, I have my friends keep an eye on them to make sure they aren't seeing other people, or if the two people are arguing, or currently in a fight." She said calmly.

"That's...brilliant! Can we help you with it? Please I swear we will do a good job on it." Buffy said excitedly

"I'll...think about it. I'm kind of in between friends right now. So I could use the help. But I kinda have my eye on two people already." She said giving me a quick stare.

I was confused on to why she looked at me, but decided to forget about it.

"And those people are?" I said laughing a little, waiting to hear what she would say.

She laughed at me hysterically, and looked at me like I was crazy.

"Are you kidding? You think I'm gonna tell you who I have my eyes on for this contest? Hell no. I can't tell anyone. It's a secret that will never be revealed. I've kept my mouth shut for 7 years, and I'm not gonna break my record." She said confidently, leaning back in her chair, crossing her arms.

Jonah began talking for no reason at all, so we turned our gaze to him.

"Enough about this" He said annoyed but continued his rant.

"we will talk about this some other day, ok? But anyways, I wanted to talk about this girl that I saw. I think she's really cute. You guys think I have a chance with her?" Jonah said making us all roll our eyes and groan at him.

"Is there any way to silence that voice in your head, screaming and telling you to be the center of attention?" Vanessa yelled making us all laugh at their bickering.

"Well sorry for being such a nuisance!" Jonah yelled making us laugh even more at his choice of words.

"Nuisance? oh god Jonah, what are we gonna do with you." Vanessa said, now laughing too.

Vanessa's pov

Amber, Andi, and Buffy asked if I wanted to come to a sleepover they were having. I clearly said yes. They were being so nice to me. They said Tj, And Cyrus would be there and I just had to see them both.

I hope they didn't know, but I was kind of shipping them. They all told me to notice Jonah about it so I did, but I also asked if I could invite one of my friends, kira.

I hoped they liked her.

I decided to call Kira right now, considering I had nothing to do.

I walked into my room and grabbed my phone off of my side table, and sat down on my bed, calling Kira.

"Hey Kira" I said with excitement in my voice.

"Vanessa! Hi! I'm so glad you called, we haven't talked ever since you switched classes" she said. I could almost see her frown.

"Aw I know! I'm sorry about that. I just wanted to spend some time with my brother, that's all!" I said trying to enlighten the mood.

"It's alright. I understand. I know I would do that too! But at least I'll be switching classes in a month!" She said trying to sound happy.

Kira did that a lot. She would get sad, and I would know it. But then when she knows I know she's sad, and she tries to act happy. For me.

She's really sweet, and I sort of feel bad for her. A lot of people don't like her, and I just hope my new friends try to find the best in her. It's hard for her to make friends and I just want her to be happy.

"Yeah! I can't wait! So I called to ask a question" I said trailing off into my thoughts.

"Okay.." She said pausing.

"Well my friends are having a sleepover, and I wanted you to come! You know, to make some friends?" I said hoping she would accept it.

"Yes! Of course!" She said actually happy this time.

Kira likes meeting new people. She always just wants to make friends. She loves hanging out with me, but she wants new friends too.

"Ok! Be here at 8, and my mom will drive us to my friends house" I said.

"Ok! Bye!" Kira said.

I put my phone down, and started getting my bags ready. I opened my drawers and looked at all my pajamas.

I saw my onesie in there, and an idea popped into my head.

I grabbed my phone and clicked on Kira's contact.

Hello? What's wrong lol

owo now I'm scared. You never decline an "lol" :(

A onesie? This is what you texted me for? 😂

Crap Vanessa. Your so soft oml

the typing bubble came up, so I waited for her to answer. then it went away. I was curious on what she was gonna say but I decided to ignore it

Kira's pov

Vanessa texted back, and I was wondering if I should tell her yet.

I began typing "your also the loml 🥰" but then I deleted it.

Maybe it's not the right time.

Vanessa's pov

I went to the bathroom and got my onesie on.

When I got out, I checked my phone and I had several text messages.

They were from andi, and most of them were telling me to be ready at 8. Everything I had was packed, and it was only 7:30. I decided to get some ice cream, and wait for Jonah to get downstairs.

When I got downstairs, I saw Jonah sitting in the couch watching tv. Guess i don't have to wait.

At 7:10 I heard a knock at the door. idiot. Use the doorbell.

I opened the door to see Kira.

"Hi!" I screamed engulfing her in a hug.

She had a Winnie the Pooh onesie on, and it was so adorable.

"Oh my god! YOUR STITCH!" She screamed looking at my onesie.

I laughed at her silliness, and yelled for my mom to come downstairs.

"Oh aren't you two just so cute" my mom said laughing at us.

"Let's go" I said rolling my eyes playfully.

When we got to Andi's house, i said goodbye to my mom and ran up to andi's door.

Bex opened the door and greeted us.

We walked into the house and saw decorations everywhere.

"Wow. Andi really went all out didn't she" I said to Jonah shocked.

"Hey guys you made it!" She said looking at me and Jonah.

She smiled when she saw Kira.

"Hi! I'm Andi! I think I've seen you around before." She said trying to remember.

"Oh I'm kira!" Kira exclaimed in a happy mood.

"Come with me" She said to us.

When we got to andi's very huge room, everyone was on the floor wearing onesies.

They were all in there own conversations so she had to grab their attention.

"Guys! Vanessa, Jonah, and their friend are here. say hello!" Andi shouted.

"Oh hey!" They all said.

Amber, and walker both didn't seem to care very much about the new person. But the others did.

They all looked at Kira shocked. I was so confused.

"Guys? You ok?" I said waving my hand in front of them all.

Tj got up.

"Kira? What are you doing here?" He said slightly mad.

"What are you doing here?" Kira said annoyed.

He was about to speak, but was interrupted by Cyrus pushing past them both.

Guess I can cross 'making friends' off of Kira's to-do list.

♉️