The double arrangement

9

The locker room smelled. It had that explosive type of odor that was all too familiar. Of course, with it being ruled by boys, that could be part of the reason. I kept an eye on the door, making sure no one was watching or decided to come in. What the hell was I doing? That was a question I often asked myself, no matter how hard I tried not to.

Earlier, during gym class, Coach Madison had us running for miles. It didn't help that I was physically unable to run. On top of that, I didn’t shower when I was supposed to. There was just no way I was going to shower with all those jocks around.

The locker room was really uncomfortable. Jocks seemed to crowd every corner, leaving little room for anyone else. Things had changed since I returned to school; now I got stares wherever I went. Some were more disturbing than others. I couldn't tell if it was because of my sexuality or the rumors about me. Either way, I hated the stares. Each one felt like a target, marking me for the world of teens to see. But right now, the locker room was empty, with only the gentle sound of the air conditioning and the occasional murmur of voices from outside. No one was here, which meant the perfect opportunity to shower.

I grabbed a towel from my bag, shuddering at the state of the white towels they made us use. At least some were still white; the others had faded to a dull color, and I didn’t want to think about the reasons for that. I tossed my towel on the bench while I grabbed my things, hoping no one would walk in and make things really awkward. Explaining the situation while practically half-naked would be quite the embarrassing story—one I hoped to avoid. Fortunately, the halls were quiet now, signaling that the next class had passed.

I headed over to the showers, towel in hand, and I whistled softly to myself. I liked how my voice echoed through the bathroom. As I walked through the stalls, I considered which one looked the cleanest. Just as I was about to decide where to shower, I heard a different sound. It was the sound of a door trying to be opened. At first, I thought it was coming from outside the bathroom, but then it grew louder. Someone was in here with me, and by the sound of it, they seemed to be stuck. I took a deep breath as I considered my next move.

As I approached, I could almost hear the voice, though it still was just out of reach. I made my way to the sound of the stall door being struck. Taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I prepared to shout above the noise.

•Jonahs PoV*

What was happening? Oh right, I was insane. Actually, I still am. That’s the only reasonable and logical conclusion I can draw from my actions. It’s not as if I wanted to get stuck in this bathroom stall. I could have simply looked the other way and gone back to my class. Biology with Miss Cooper may not be the most exciting subject, but I would take hours of that over being stuck in here any day. Yet here I was, the place that I should be, all because of my stupid hormone-infested teenage brain.

I arrived at school right on time, making my way through the bustling hallway of students toward a group of students that I reluctantly referred to as my friends. In reality, they were more like the friends my older brother used to spend time with before he left. It was just a constant reminder of how much I longed for my own identity and my own circle of friends.

Watching them laugh and bond over inside jokes felt like a reminder of my brother's control over my life. I had always dreamed of creating and forging my own path, developing unique connections, and stepping out of his damn shadow. Yet, here I was, still navigating the social expectations of high school with the lingering pressures that came from being known as his youngest brother. It was a frustrating situation that left me yearning for independence and a sense of belonging that was truly my own and not his.

While everyone else was droning on about parties and girls, my attention was elsewhere. My focus was on him—Leo. He exuded a confidence and swagger that most people only dream of. I watched as he walked past us without giving me a glance. Although I knew I wasn’t supposed to care, it tugged at my heartstrings. Had I done something wrong? Had I upset him in some way?

I felt I had no choice but to do what had brought me here. I decided to follow him to the bathroom, wanting nothing more than to talk.

I braced myself as I approached the door, ready to kick it open. I ran forward, anticipating the impact, but to my surprise, the door swung open and there stood Leo. He caught me before I could crash to the floor. It was a strange feeling, almost like he had anticipated that I would fall. He helped me stand up right before I could totally lose balance... I tried not to focus on the way his arms felt around me or the fluttering in my chest when he had his attention solely on me. Of course, I had failed at that as well.

"Jonah? Are you okay? They really need to fix that door; it’s been broken for years.

I blush in embarrassment. In my haste, I went into the one stall with a broken lock. Now he’s looking at me like I’m a total i***t, and to be honest, I can’t disagree. I look away to hide my burning cheeks, my gaze drifting to his towel and the way the strap hangs over his shoulder—anything to distract myself from my awkward situation.

“I… well, I saw you walk by, and then I saw you come in here. I wanted to talk, but then I realized my plan was insane. And then I heard you approaching.”

My voice trails off as I realize how foolish my plan sounds. He’s probably thinking I’m crazy—I would definitely think that of myself. I looked at his face, trying to read his expression. Instead of seeing anger or frustration, he was smiling.

“It’s good to see you, Jonah. I’m sorry I haven’t talked to you. I wanted to, but you know how school is—”

I smile, sensing his sincerity, which fills my chest with fluttering happiness. I laugh at his explanation.

“Thank you for helping me the other day. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t stepped in... I mean... I was so freaked out.”

Leo smiles, gently placing his hand on my shoulder. I don’t push it away; instead, I welcome his touch. The point of contact feels electric as if nothing else matters except where he’s touching me. It makes me wish time could stand still to preserve this singular moment.

“No big deal. Besides, it was nice to see you again. Maybe we could hang out sometime without you being freaked out, yeah?”

I smiled at his suggestion, feeling a spark of hope. He wanted to hang out with me outside of school? This was definitely new, but I welcomed the idea. Spending time with Leo meant getting closer to him, at least to the extent he was comfortable with. It was certainly better than being here.

“Are you suggesting... is this a date?”

Leo grins with that sheepish, adorable smile that makes my heart race a million beats per second. I can feel my cheeks heating up, and this time, I can’t look away. Instead, I find myself gazing into his eyes. Those beautiful emerald green eyes always manage to catch me off guard. It's as if he's doing it on purpose.

"That depends on your answer... If it happens to be yes, then I would gladly take you out..."