Chapter 18

Special thanks to TheatreNerd465 hennessytalks   CrystalTourmaline  for being absolutely rad.

But also I love all my readers too! Stay fresh, folks❤️✨

Mae

But surprisingly, I do.

I drag myself to school with the doubt of my supposed new friends, but I brighten up when they continue talking to me at school. Phew, they’re still here. I honestly thought they were going to leave me alone after my first day.

To be honest, they’re fun to be with. Ryder’s really good with breaking the awkwardness with (sometimes weird) questions and Nathan’s funny too - without his shyness - and he also talks in references which I understand (Ryder also knows some of them). But sometimes, I think that they share one brain cell. Okay, maybe most of the time.

And - oh, heck - I can really see the love in Ryder’s eyes whenever he looks at Nathan. It’s so cute to watch and sometimes Nathan would catch his eyes and just look at him, confused, while Ryder completely flusters. Damn, I have a feeling something beautiful is about to happen.

A couple of weeks into our friendship and here we are chilling in the library during lunch. Ryder and Nathan are both sharing a Guinness Book of World Records while I sit opposite them with a Fruits Basket manga in my hand (I didn’t know this school library even has manga). I had to stop myself multiple times from openly fangirling about how cute they look together.

I lazily twirl my hair around my finger - I dyed the ends purple this time. Then, minutes later, Nathan excuses himself to go to the toilet. I wait until he’s out of earshot, then I put my manga down and lean towards Ryder.

“You like him, don’t you?” I smirk.

Ryder’s cheeks turn scarlet immediately. “Oh god, Mae. You too?”

“Yeah, me too,” I say and he rolls his eyes at me. “Have you told him?”

Ryder looks panicked. “Of course not,” he whisper-screams. “I don’t even know if he’s gay. What do I do?”

I rack my brain. Shit, I’m not good at giving advice. “Why don’t you, uh. . . tell him whenever you’re ready? It doesn’t necessarily have to be that he likes you back or. . .” I trail off, shrugging. “I don’t know, man.”

“Hmm. . .” Ryder nods, a thoughtful look on his face. “Yeah, that’s true.” And I let out a relieved sigh, glad that my advice actually sounds plausible.

“Nathan’s hella adorable.”

“I know!” He swoons. “He’s so precious.”

I take a look at his love-struck face and stifle a laugh. I can't believe this is the same hot guy who acts cool and composed most of the time.

Ryder notices me staring at him and regains his nonchalant look. "What?"

There he is. I shake my head. "Nothing! Nothing, nothing. Just that this version of you is amusing to watch."

"Fuck off, Mae," he replies, one corner of his mouth smiling.

I smirk. "Simp."

He sticks his tongue out like a child and I shake my head, smiling as I return to my book.

“What did I miss?” Nathan suddenly manifests out of thin air, taking his seat beside a flustered Ryder.

I open my mouth to throw in a lame excuse when Ryder swoops in again. “I was thinking that you both join me and the guys at the bubble tea shop after school.”

At the sound of this, my heart starts to beat faster.

“Today?” Nathan asks him and he nods.

I ask, “W-who are ‘the guys’?”

“Ryder’s other friends. Nick, Sinclair and Vahn,” Nathan explains. “They’re nice too.”

“Is that okay with you?” Ryder asks me.

I want to decline that offer. I really do! People are not my thing. Hell, I don’t think I can face a table of new faces - let alone a whole school. But I can’t just keep clinging to Ryder and Nathan because they’re the only familiar people I can be with. (And also I can't be alone on my own.)

Anyway, I’m supposed to make friends. Meet more people, yadda yadda yadda. But just thinking about it makes me sweat. If I refuse, will they ditch me? Will I be viewed as standoff-ish?

Ryder’s still looking at me, waiting for an answer. Shit. I start to throw in a lame excuse like I have something at home but I get betrayed by myself when I nod on reflex. Both Ryder and Nathan beam at my response, making me feel like shit for thinking about refusing.

Besides, there’s nothing much to do at home anyway. The twins can take care of themselves. My younger siblings - Ivy and Tristan - are probably the world’s biggest pain in the ass, but nevertheless, I love them. I’ll probably buy them both bubble tea afterwards.

*

Hell, I’ve never been surrounded with so many good-looking guys in my life.

There is Ryder and Nathan, of course. And then opposite them are two guys. The super tall one is, like, really hot. Just from his intense brown eyes and sculpted body. (Ryder told me he’s Vahn.)

The one beside Vahn is really short but still taller than me (I’m 5'2") and he looks cute with his sparkling crimson eyes and ruffled black hair. (“He’s Sinclair, or Sin for short, and no, they aren’t contacts.”)

The guy sitting beside me is fairly tall, with dark brown skin, wavy hair and bright round eyes. He introduced himself as Nick - he speaks with a slight British accent - and I have to say he’s kind of cute too.

We’re all sitting at a round table because the others are too small for the six of us. I squirm a little in my seat, but thankfully no one notices. Everyone’s talking about some biology topic but I can’t relate because I take physics. Oh yeah, Nick takes physics too. So, while the others are talking about their teacher, Nick talks to me.

“Greetings, Mae,” he says.

I wave awkwardly at him (which is a little difficult because he’s sitting right beside me). “Uh. . .hi,” I reply, not quite meeting his eyes.

“How’s the fifth wheel doing?” He smiles. It’s one of those smiles that is able to make me feel at ease (which is rare, in my case). (Connor has that smile too.)

I smile back, feeling less anxious. “The fifth wheel is doing fine. How are you, sixth wheel?”

“I’m good too.”

And then my slow-ass brain catches up to me. “Wait, what does that mean?"

“Vahn and Sin are a thing, too," he explains rather vaguely.

I look at the couple. Sinclair is wildly gesticulating while he speaks, and Vahn is looking at him fondly. When Sinclair has tired himself out, he leans against Vahn while the latter wraps an arm around him. Wow, I didn’t know.

“That’s nice,” I tell Nick.

“Yeah, sure is."

“What about you?” I ask, taking a sip of my milk tea. “Got anyone?”

Nick laughs. “Nah, I’m taking a break from relationships.”

“Me too. They’re confusing, right?” I say.

Well, not only that, but I'm also a crazed fangirl, but I don’t tell him that. Not yet. Only Connor's able to live through my rants.

“They sure are.”

We continue drinking in silence while the others talk. “How long do you think it’ll take for them to get together?” I speak in a low voice, referring to Ryder and Nathan.

Nick ponders about it. “Hmm, maybe a few weeks? Ryder’s really shy about it and Nathan? Maybe it will take a while for him to realise,” he says vaguely.

“Realise what?”

Nick shrugs. “Realise that Ryder likes him, maybe.”

I hum in response and I look at Ryder and Nathan. Ryder’s indiscreetly stealing side glances at Nathan and every time the pink never fails to show up on his cheeks. Nathan’s completely oblivious to that. Or maybe. . .he noticed it and he’s trying to hide it.

I’m guessing it’s the latter because when Ryder casually puts his hand on Nathan's shoulder, I can see a small shy smile and the teeniest red on his cheeks.

I whisper to Nick, “I think this would work out.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, look at them.” And he does.

“Woah,” he whispers back to me.

Then, I think for a while. Now that I’ve familiarised myself with him, I guess I'm somewhat okay with bringing him somewhere with me. (He seems nice enough.) An idea pops into my head, but I don’t know the purpose for it. But what the hell, anyway.

“Nick, bro, you free tomorrow?”

“Yeah, why?”

“We’re going on a field trip!”

_____________

Hello folks!

I forgot to mention this but: Mae is autistic. If I make any harmful assumptions or say anything incorrectly please let me know because I'm not an expert in this field and I'm still learning! But!! Mae is her own person, and I'm going more in depth on that in a SEPARATE book that I might write :)

Anyways stay safe, love yall❤️✨