Midnight Pretenders (BL)

Chapter 10

"Hey, have you heard the rumors?"

It was quite a Monday morning, filled with the usual chatterings and conversations of high school students. The opening hour before the first class was the busiest as the people scurry around, trying to move past the crowd. Among them, in the middle of this chaos, was Serena who was just casually walking down the hallways, taking her time as she smiled and gossiped with her friends, Dawn, Francis, and Shiela, as soon as they all met in front of the school that early morning.

They were in no hurry. And it seemed like the day was already beginning with the wake of another rumor circling around at an early start. It was another weekday of entertainment for most of the students, as it somehow elevated the spirits of those who liked something juicy to talk about.

"It turns out that Dylan and Sarah really liked each other after they kissed during that game last Friday," Shiela was saying as they stopped at their lockers, wearing an amused grin as she went on, "They've started dating now. Someone saw them at a diner yesterday, looking really cozy, and Dylan is already following Sarah on i********:. It's legit."

This was big news, apparently, not just to Shiela but to everyone else in school, whether or not they were close to either Dylan or Sarah. And it will most likely become another interesting topic to fill in the hell week before exams. But it still didn't mean it would be convenient for the two people who were involved. Too bad. They have to deal with the attention now since they would definitely get teased a lot after this.

"Well, that's young love for you," Dawn commented over this as she let out a yawn, looking unbothered and bored after hearing another gossip. That was very typical to happen in West Shore High. There's really nothing else to do here than to gossip just about anything else that someone would find intriguing. And closing her locker door as she leaned her back on it, Dawn simply added, "It's pretty obvious they were so into each other. But who cares? It's not seeing them date would change anything about the exams."

Sheila rolled her eyes at Dawn's monotone sarcasm, refuting, "Please don't bring that up. I hate hearing that last word."

"Exams," Dawn still mockingly repeated with a sly grin, and Shiela gave her a stink eye, grunting in response.

"You're so annoying," Shiela just sneered. Dawn let out a soft chuckle and turned to grin at Serena, who just shook her head at her, though smiling as well. While Francis, from afar, was still too busy pulling some books from his own locker, not bothering to say anything with his back turned on them.

Then, suddenly, Shiela jolted, looking as if she just thought of something and she looked at Dawn with a teasing smirk on her lips as she told her, "Speaking of which, Dawney... Don't you have something to share with us too? Didn't you also kiss... 'the love of your life' last Friday?"

Upon the mention of this, Shiela let out a squeal as she clasped her hands together and shared a laugh with Serena who also became excited to hear what Dawn would say about it. Dawn froze on her spot, unsure of what to tell them yet. After all, she didn't see the conversation turning around against her this time.

"So?" Shiela continued as she blinked her eyes expectantly at Dawn, "What happened after the kiss? Did you talk?"

Dawn resisted the urge to let out a sigh as she paused and stared at a distance, trying not to show any kind of expression on her face. She didn't really like bringing that up anymore because it had been terrible for her the whole weekend, trying not to think about it again. However, she knew she still had to face her friends' curiosity since she didn't really say anything much after that game last Friday.

She knew Shiela would definitely be dying to know what happened after that. She always wanted to know everything, she's a natural-born snooper.

"We didn't talk," Dawn told her eventually, letting her words reach Serena too. And Shiela, who had been wearing a grin, suddenly dropped her smile upon hearing Dawn's words.

And then she looked at Dawn with a frown on her face, saying "What? Why? I thought you both had something going on. Nothing happened?"

"Theo and I are strictly friends. And it's just a kiss," Dawn sternly insisted with a brush of her hand but it sounded more like she was regretting to admit it. And as she turned to give Shiela a withering look, Dawn caught Serena looking at her as well with that concerned expression flashing on her pale-white face. She had probably read through Dawn's words and Dawn immediately felt her heart lurched.

She quickly remembered what she saw on Theo's face while he had been staring at Serena and Francis that Friday night. And the memory replayed in her mind once more, clearer than ever as it struck her heart with the sharp reality, making her feel even more distressed and burdened.

"Anyway," Dawn briefly shook her head as she exhaled out loud, forcing herself to smile again. She quickly faked enthusiasm in front of her friends, looking straight at them with a nonchalant voice, saying, "It's totally no big deal. We're both matured and it's not like things will quickly change overnight between us. It's Theo, after all."

"Booooo," Shiela reacted with a sour face as she scowled at Dawn, stating, "That's why I told you, you should tell him directly what you felt. Theo's just too dense that it's pretty annoying, I'm telling you. I get it, he's so dreamy and too good-looking but he's just too cold!" Shiela ranted on, and both Serena and Dawn just laughed at the way she dramatically expressed her frustration.

Then Shiela turned to give Serena a stern face as she told her, "You should totally smack Theo on the head. I swear, that would finally bring some sense in him. I dare you, girl. Smack him! Do it! Or I'll do it!"

Serena laughed even more at Shiela's command, and Dawn eventually found relief at the sudden comical change of their conversation. Shiela could really be a little naggy sometimes but she always knew when would be the right time to draw off the awkwardness in the air. And as they let the laughter die down, Francis chose that moment to finally join back with them. He stopped and stared at the three of them with a confused expression, unaware of what brought them all in such a fun mood.

"What did I miss?" he asked them, looking completely oblivious. And Shiela, who always found him adorable, just slung an arm over Francis's shoulder as she dragged him with her and started walking their way to their first class. She leaned towards him and said, "You're the most ideal guy out here, Frannie. I'm so glad you're you. Don't ever change, okay?"

Francis frowned deeper. He didn't really understand what's the point of telling him this now but he still reluctantly nodded as he answered, "Sure. But I still don't know why I have to."

"Haha! No big deal," Shiela shrugged it away, and then she looked over her shoulder, giving both Dawn and Serena a knowing grin behind her as she added, "Sometimes it's just better to not know anything. Right, girls?"

Dawn and Serena expressed affirmation with a short, "Yeah" in unison. Well, she had a point too. And Dawn smirked at that.

When they finally entered the room for their first class, Dawn found herself thinking back to what had happened last Friday. The kiss, the strange look on Theo's face, and the weird thing between Serena and Francis... They might not notice it all yet, but things were definitely starting to change. Yet, Dawn felt no need to burden herself more in thinking about it. She would just go with the flow.

Since that's how you should just deal with life and growing up... Eventually, everything will just fall into place.