Episode 13
1108 Words
Drake didn’t know how he was going to face Tristan at school today after what he did last night. The memory of his impulsive action—pressing a quick peck to Tristan’s cheek before running off like some shy teenager—kept replaying in his mind.
“Ugh,” Drake groaned, burying his face into his pillow. “What the hell was I thinking?”
For a split second last night, when Tristan had smiled at him, his heart had pounded so hard that he had acted before thinking. Now, he regretted it. What if Tristan thought he was being childish? What if Tristan was uncomfortable around him now? He had considered skipping school entirely, but with an important basketball practice scheduled for today, that wasn’t an option. He had no choice but to face the music.
With a deep breath, Drake pulled himself together and headed to school. The plan? Avoid Tristan at all costs.
But fate had other plans.
As he approached his locker, he went through the motions of grabbing his books, keeping his head low. Maybe if he acted casual, he could slip into class unnoticed. However, as soon as he opened the classroom door, his gaze locked onto Tristan’s. The other boy was already seated, his elbow resting on the desk, looking relaxed and confident.
Drake’s heart rate spiked. ‘Damn it,’ he thought. He had hoped Tristan would be preoccupied, but no, the guy was staring right at him. He could turn back around. Pretend he had forgotten something.
No. That would look suspicious.
He swallowed hard, straightened his shoulders, and forced himself to walk towards his seat. Each step felt heavy. When he finally sat down beside Tristan, he could feel his presence, warm and solid, right next to him.
“Hey, Tris,” Drake greeted, but the awkwardness in his tone was obvious.
Tristan smirked. “Slept well, Drake?”
Drake’s face flushed. ‘Oh god, he remembers. He’s teasing me.’
“Yes, I did,” Drake stuttered, avoiding eye contact. “Hope you did too?”
Tristan leaned in slightly, his smirk growing into a full grin. “I had a wonderful night. You?”
Drake nearly choked on air. Was Tristan playing with him? Teasing him about the kiss? Was this his way of saying he thought it was ridiculous?
Before Drake could respond, the teacher walked in, signaling the start of lessons. He let out a relieved breath and focused on his books, but he could still feel Tristan’s amused gaze lingering on him.
---
Nathan, from across the room, had been watching the exchange with narrowed eyes. His fingers drummed against his desk as he tried to make sense of the change in Tristan’s behavior.
There was a time when Tristan only acted like that with him. A time when Tristan's teasing, his playful smirks, his effortless charm—everything—had been reserved for him. But now? Now it was all directed at Drake.
Nathan clenched his jaw. Was Tristan replacing him?
He didn’t like it. Not one bit.
---
When lunch break rolled around, Drake hesitated before turning to Tristan. “Hey, Tris. I won’t be able to join you guys for lunch today. I’ve got some stuff to finish up.”
Tristan merely nodded. “Alright. I’ll see you later then.”
Drake left quickly, relieved that Tristan hadn’t questioned him further. He needed some space to breathe and figure things out.
Tristan, however, had other plans. After grabbing his usual lunch, he stopped by the counter and picked up something extra—a smoothie, a burger, and fries. He knew Drake’s favorites well.
When he walked past his teammates, they immediately took notice.
“Yo, where’s he going?” Andrew asked, watching Tristan walk away from their usual table.
Dylan smirked knowingly. “Where do you think?”
Andrew frowned. “Wait. Is Tristan making a move on Drake?”
Kane chuckled, shaking his head. “You mean Drake making a move on Tristan?”
Andrew raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Guys, come on,” Kane said, exasperated. “You seriously haven’t noticed? The way Drake looks at Tristan? The way he always tries to be near him? The guy is crushing hard.”
Realization dawned on the team. “Damn,” Andrew muttered. “I thought they were just close friends.”
Dylan snorted. “Sure, if by close friends you mean ‘Drake is hopelessly into him but too scared to admit it.’”
The team chuckled, watching as Tristan disappeared down the hall.
---
Drake was focused on his thesis when he noticed a shadow fall over his desk. He looked up—and there was Tristan, holding out a smoothie and a paper bag.
“What are you doing here?” Drake asked, surprised.
“I brought us lunch,” Tristan said casually, setting the food down in front of him. He was smiling, and Drake’s stomach did a strange flip.
Drake blinked. He opened the bag and stared. It was exactly what he would have ordered for himself. “How did you—?”
Tristan shrugged. “Lucky guess.”
Drake highly doubted that, but he let it slide. He muttered a thanks and took a sip of his smoothie, while Tristan unwrapped his own burger.
They ate together, chatting about small things—basketball, upcoming exams, random funny moments in class. Tristan found himself watching Drake closely. The way he got excited over little things, the way his nose scrunched up when he was thinking—it was…cute.
Tristan shook his head slightly. ‘Cute?’
When they finished eating, Tristan leaned over, glancing at Drake’s thesis. “Need help?”
Drake hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. That would be great.”
So they worked together, their heads close as Tristan explained things Drake hadn’t understood before. There was a moment when Drake looked up and their faces were only inches apart.
Drake’s breath hitched, but Tristan didn’t move away. His gaze flickered down to Drake’s lips for just a second before he leaned back, breaking the moment.
Drake swallowed hard. His heart was racing.
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.
“I should get to class,” Drake said quickly, gathering his things. “Thanks for lunch, Tris.”
Tristan smirked. “Anytime.”
Drake hurried off before his face could betray him.
Tristan watched him go, still smirking.
Nathan, who had been standing by the doorway unnoticed, clenched his fists. He had messed up. He had pushed Tristan away.
And now, someone else was taking his place.
- Writer
