14 | Charles

A week went by. And now, Sam and Charles sat together during math - which they both have everyday first thing in the morning after homeroom. Sam felt bad because of how Charles left Simon, but he said it was no problem, Simon would manage. And, frankly speaking, Samuel was happy to hear that he could sit next to someone who he could call a friend as he used to be the one that was either always left out, or always made to sit with a random person who wanted to sit with him just as much as he did. Besides, he had come to enjoy and be himself around Charles. That was the thing with him - he took no time to warm up to people, but the problem was with him stepping out of it, out of his own little bubble, and talk to people. He was too scared to do that, and hence missed on various opportunities of exploring and finding new people. Another fear he had was how he'd get distant with June if he ever found new friends; but now that he thought about it, it didn't seem that way. You could have hundreds of friends and still be as close as ever with your best friend.

"Good morning, ma'am," the class sung when the teacher entered. Yeah, they literally sung. It sounded so annoying to even him, he could only imagine how the teacher felt.

"Good morning," she responded with a smile that brightened her face. Their math teacher was one of the best teacher's he'd ever had; she was so patient and always kept her word of clearing the hundreds of doubts people would have, unlike others who just say it and call you stupid when you do ask a doubt. One more thing Sam loved about this teacher was that she was so human - she made mistakes, she understood most of their problems and so many students even go to her for just venting out their frustrations. She was open-minded, she wasn't homophobic (they had an expert-talk about the lgbtq+ community and guess who delivered the speech?), and overall, she was just another human who filled up another empty space in the universe, someone who wanted to help students do well in math. Math. She was so passionate about her subject and her teaching, Sam doubted if her kind really existed.

"So..." she started off, flipping through the pages of her book. "Since your new semester started just a few days back, we did all the easy stuff. Now, we'll be starting off with more of the serious ones - they're easy too, don't worry - that need your complete attention. Keep all of your 'I'm not even gonna study math in the future, why should I learn this' with you, we need to do it as it's equally as important as every other thing we learn. So, we'll get started now..."

Sam was ready with a book and a pen in his hand - he was determined to pay keen attention and score well this time. In no time, their other set of exams would begin, and Sam would start questioning his whole existence when he'd go through the things he had to study, because when did we even learn about all this? So, at least in math, the subject he loved but couldn't score well in, he wanted his scores to shine. Beside him, Charles was fully concentrated on the things their teacher was saying. He's so admirable... I wish I could be more like him and do th- No, shut up and concentrate, you brat!

"-so you take the cos of that, which will be 1/2 and you get your final answer as 5 meters. This is by far the easiest sum I've ever seen. However, please don't hesitate to ask any doubts, this is important and plays a very important role-"

Sam quickly tuned her voice out and concentrated on the board. With the help of the given information, find the base. Angle is 30... cos 30 is 1/2... and cross-multiply this... and then divide... and- done!

"I got the right answer on my own!" Sam whisper-yelled to Charles. A second later, he was embarrassed because Charles had already moved on to the fourth problem, and here he was, just having finished the first.

"Oh, nice! See, didn't I tell you before? Math is easy, you just have to use the right formulas at the right time." Charles was someone who always replied to him with the same, genuine enthusiasm as always. He never made Sam feel stupid about doing anything, and made him feel like he was actually capable of what he did and more. And for that, he was grateful. Only June was capable of doing that, but sometimes, he would be way too truthful and that would hurt Sam. For instance, there was a time when Sam made this card for his cousin, wishing him the best of luck for a competitive exam he was going to write (was it something called the SAT? He wasn't quite sure) and was so proud of it. Not able to contain his excitement, he texted June about it and sent him a picture, but all he did was fix the grammatical errors and say, "Yea it's fine," which made Sam feel dejected. And after that, he was not so proud of it anymore, but sent it to his cousin anyway.

Sam nodded and got back to work, humming a small tune to himself. He was satisfied with what he'd done, for once. He felt hopeful - hopeful that the rest of the year would turn out similarly and he would pass with flying colors.

Soon, class was over, and he was walking out of the classroom with Charles beside him and the whole lot of others around. Clutching his books close to his chest, he tried to remember what his next period was when he heard Charles interrupt.

"Sam...uel," he said, "do you-"

"You can call me Sam," he said, laughing. It struck him as something incredibly funny yet respectful how Charles always called him "Samuel" even though literally everyone, including the teachers, called him just "Sam."

"Okay, then. Sam," he started off with a smile, "do you sing? I kinda heard you- s-sorry if I wasn't supposed to! But um... I heard-"

"Yeah, he does, hasn't he told you?" June came out of thin air and was now walking beside them.

"N-no! Who told you that? I-I don't know how to sing."

"Why must you lie all the time..."

"Yeah, actually. You sound great, Sam, I'd love to hear you, like, actually sing."

"I sound like a dying rat and everyone knows it, don't- don't lie to me!"

"Why is he so on edge, June?"

"I don't know, man, ask him. Why do you insist that you're bad at it when you're actually not, hm? Sammy?"

"Don't call me that in school... Argh, this is so embarrassing, bye."

"S-Sammy? That's cute..." he heard Charles say.

Cute? WHAT?

"No it isn't cute and you both need to stop!! First I'm unintentionally heard while singing and then- that guy comes out of... nowhere and calls me weird names, I can't take this anymore..."

"Dude, stop-"

"No, you stop. I'm getting late, bye!!"

With that, he sprinted down the stairs, not looking back at all as he made his way back home.

* * *

"You can... keep your bag and um... the things- the other things, I mean, if you have some- uh-" Sam was currently a ball of nerves. Why, you may ask. Long story short, after Sam practically ran away from June and Charles mere minutes ago and raced his way back home, he found both of them running behind him. They were both breathless - obviously they were - and Sam didn't know what to think, except - what? June left right after making sure Charles was at the right house, flashing Sam a cheeky smile that left him questioning again - ...what? Now, Charles was in Sam's room, because Sam didn't know where else to take him. He was yet to inform his mother that he had a friend over and was totally not ready for her to overload both of them with questions because Sam has a friend over? And it's not June? Is this even the same guy?

With a small laugh, Charles said, "Hey, it's okay, I-I know this is kinda... out of the blue."

Sam always wondered why people said the phrase, "Out of the blue." Not because he found it weird, but because - why was it blue? Don't get him wrong, he loves the color, but why was it specifically out of the blue? Why not yellow? Or black? Or-

"-am? Sammy?"

"H-huh?"

"You're so spaced out today, is there something wrong?"

"N-no, I'm just..."

Charles waited, but he got no reply. "Nervous?" he asked, because if there was one word to describe the boy standing in front of him, at any given situation, it would be nervous. It saddened him sometimes, the way Sam was always on edge, too scared to speak, too shy to express himself.

"Yeah," he said, which barely came out as a whisper.

"It's okay," Charles said with a reassuring face, "But I want you to know that I understand you way more than you know, and I can assure you that you have no reasons to be nervous around me. Literally."

"Thanks for saying that," Sam said.

You don't have to be nervous around him. It's been a whole week and yet you're acting all scared. He isn't gonna do anything. What are you even nervous about? Calm down, man.

"Okay, so... the main reason why I'm here is because- um..."

"Because..?"

"Remember that day? I asked if we could study together? Maybe I can help you with the things you don't know or aren't sure about?"

"Oh..."

"Yeah..."

Awkwardness was threatening to drape its blanket over them again. Say something, he urged himself.

"Okay, we can do that. Wait- did you inform your parents?"

"No, but I'll let them know that I'm staying over- I-I mean no, not staying over... I'll let them know that I'm at a friend's... house. And I'll be back at maybe..."

"At Eight?"

"Okay, eight," he said, a small smile making its way to his lips.

* * *

An hour or so passed by. Sam had introduced Charles to his mom and sister and though they were both surprised beyond words, they were happy. Plus, they seemed to like Charles a lot and even asked if he wanted to stay over for dinner. But Charles politely refused and said that his parents would be waiting at home and that he'd definitely join them for dinner some other day. He was happy that Charles, unlike him, was able to keep his calm and not be as awkward as Sam had thought.

They were both now seated on the floor, papers scattered all around them. Sam's study desk was too small for two people and sitting on the bed would just make them lazy, so they decided to push the bed towards the corner of the room and sit on the floor. It kept them busy and awake - something Sam very much needed.

"This stupid teacher," Charles exclaimed, "wants us all to work in pairs and explain the chapter. Isn't that her job? Her only job? And guess who my pair is? Brian."

"Wait, the guy who keeps asking everyone for stuff? The one who has no friends and calls one person his best friend one day and another person the next?"

"You know him?"

"Oh god, don't even get me started. That guy..."

And so they spent the rest of their time talking and studying, Sam thoroughly enjoying the other's company. He hoped Charles felt the same, too. It was soon time for Charles to leave, and Sam would be lying if he said he didn't felt a little bad. He was this close to asking if Charles wanted to stay over at his house, but was soon reminded of how he'd said that his parents would be waiting. So, he chose to be quiet and bid him goodbye.

He then took his phone and texted June.

Sammy

ok what the heck did you just do may I know

you just randomly came and dropped him off and went?? what was that

He waited for some time, but June didn't reply. He's probably working now, he thought as he cleaned his room and went for dinner. When he was back, he saw June had replied mere seconds ago.

May__July

had fun?

i did that cuz he said he wanted to spend more time w u

and y would i miss an opportunity for u to have more friends

Sammy

fr? he wanted to spend more time with me?

May__July

yeeeeees

so u had fun rite

he's such a nice guy

Sammy

yeah he is

I did have fun

it was weird

my mom loves him

and my sis too

I was relieved she didn't like bombard him w questions or smth because this is new to her also uk me having friends other than you XD

my mom even asked if he wanted to stay over for dinner

but he said no

. . .

:(

May__July

aaaWwwW

its ok i bet he was just nervous

like wouldn't u hav done the same if u had gone to his house

Sammy

hm yeah

but one thing still confuses me tho

why did he even

I mean

me of all people?

I'm like the most invisible person on earth how did he even find me

May__July

...dude

stop this literally

he found u and yall are friends now that's it

Sammy

I'm actually confused and surprised like why would anyone-?

May__July

u rlly don't kno

Sammy

no..?

May__July

ur one oblivious f**kin idiot and that's that

* * *

hE kNoWs

also sorry for this abrupt end like I said idk how to end chaps to save my life