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The first thing I did upon waking was groan. Just by getting up I was agreeing to

suffer through another day of school. I sighed and got up anyway. At least it's Friday I

thought.

   I pushed myself off the camo comforter and dragged my lazy blue tail to the

shower. After quietly soaking in the stream of hot water I got out and dried myself in

front of the bathroom mirror. I let the mirror de-fog a bit until I could inspect myself.

Every morning I examined my face to make sure some unfortunate acne had sprung up

during the night, but I took in other aspects too. I was glad I didn't have to worry about

hair like most of my lupine, feline, or otherwise furry schoolmates did. I heard feathers

were a pain in the ass. But my moon white, hairless skin shone in excellent contrast with

the blue that covered most of my body. I never really told anyone, but I was secretly

proud of the shade of deep blue that most Flamedramon weren't lucky enough to be born

with. Once in a while I would see a Flamey with an attractive red or serious black, but no

one in the whole school had matched my tint of royal blue. I sighed; except for one very

particular classmate.

   After I was satisfied that I wouldn't have to undergo high school with acne, I

picked some clothes out and got dressed. Thinking of my crush, I tried to pick out what

would appeal the best, so I chose some dark jeans, white shirt and blue jacket. I reached

for the deodorant to put in my backpack, and then remembered the swim season was over.

I knew I wouldn't miss the after-school training sessions that had taken place every day,

but I was grateful it got me in shape and gave me some muscle to work with.

      After shoving a few textbooks in my backpack I strolled downstairs and snagged

a bowl of cheerios. I was lucky enough to be an only child and my parents left for work a

few hours before I had to get up, so it was nice to have a quiet house.

   I finished breakfast then headed for the bus.

   When I got to school, I instantly sought out my best friend Chris. I saw his furry

hair over the crowd of the cafeteria. When I was finally able to get to him through the

crowd, I saw he was texting. Not much surprise there. Even being skinny, his Byakko

good looks kept him constantly busy texting one girl or another.

   He raised his head when he saw me.

   "Hey Nate, what's up?"

   "Not much," I replied.

   "Kewl," he nodded then asked, "What's today's schedule again?"

   I sifted through what I could remember of the finals week schedules they had

posted. "Um it's periods 2, 3, 4, 5," then winced as I remembered I would have to face

him the first period of the day.

   My reaction didn't go without notice.

   "Still haven't talked to him huh?" Chris asked with a smirk. He was the only one

who knew about my crush. He's really the only one I can trust with this secret, I thought

with dry humor to myself. I was really surprised that such a womanizer didn't have a

problem when he found out his best friend was bi.

   "Nah," I said lowering my head, embarrassed. "We really haven't talked since the

library." I sighed again. "I don't know why I do this to myself. It's such an insane

longshot. I should just move on already."

   Chris laughed (not exactly a reaction I was expecting) and shoved his cell in his

pocket. "Why don't you ask him if he wants to go to the movies with us tonight?"

   I snorted as the bell rung. "Yeah, that wouldn't be obvious," I said as we started

heading to class.

   "What?! Nah! Just be like 'Yo, Brandon, do ya wanna chill with me and some

homies at the theater tonight?'"

   I laughed. "Only you talk like that, dude. And we seriously haven't talked enough

for it not to be awkward."

   He shook his head, his pale blue and black mane flying "Awww dude, _you are

such a pansy._

Maybe you should give up. I've been counting and at least 5 girls have

checked us out since we started for class," he sniffed and casually flicked up the collar of

his button down shirt, "of course, probably three of them were for me, but hey that means

about two were checking you out. You got options man."

   I laughed again, this time at myself. "I know...It's just that it's only Brandon I

want."

   Chris shook his head in mock despair. "Your choice bro. See ya at lunch," he said

and turned down the hallway to the left.

   I continued along the crowded halls until I reached my classroom door on the

right. I opened it and immediately looked towards Brandon's spot near the front of the

class. It was empty. I frowned slightly to myself in the doorway, and then I heard

footsteps behind me and held the door open for the person...

   ...and found myself looking into the deep eyes of the most amazing Windragon in

the whole school. Brandon was a little short for being a Windragon, but I was pretty tall

for a Flamedramon, so he was looking me right in the eyes as I felt heat rush to my face.

   He grinned his small, magnificent grin.

   "Thanks," he said and held the door so I could get into the classroom and unblock

the doorway.

   I glanced down; I could never concentrate if I looked straight into his sky blue

eyes, and somehow managed to breathe, "No prob," and kept any quivering out of my

voice.

   As he walked past I was finally able to take more of him in than just his face. But

now I got to respect his other features like his perfectly groomed, white wings, his shock

of blond hair and the streak of blue that colored the strip down his back, starting from an

arrow on his face all the way to the tip of his tail. Having compared it many times, I knew

that we were almost the exact shade of deep blue on white. He was slender, but also had

the definition of lean muscle.

   Then I realized that I was still standing at the door. Glad that we were the first

there and no one had noticed my session of staring, I quickly walked over to my seat. Just

as I sat down, careful to put my tail through the hole in the base of the seat of the chairs, I

panicked. How long had he been behind me? I wondered fervently. _Did he hear me and

Chris talking?_

I risked a peek over at him just as he seemed to look at me. I quickly

lowered my head again.

   Before I could panic some more, other classmates started filing in, along with our

Taomon language teacher. As she started the lecture on symbolism, I started pondering if

maybe I had talked to him enough for it to be ok for me to invite him. I quickly reviewed

our encounters. The very first had been in the computer room the class had borrowed for

the week of researching an essay. He had sat to my left and, back then I had been

completely straight. But all it took was that one day next to each other for me to notice

him. For a couple of days I wondered why I was feeling so weird around him. I had never

had a reaction for a guy like that before. Confusion turned into denial, then, finally, I

accepted that I had actually fallen for a guy. From that day, there hasn't been one that's

gone by without me daydreaming of him.

   But, in my defense, he's really hot.

   After that we had talked in the library when our class went down there to choose a

book to do a report on. It wasn't much of a conversation, just recommending each other

books that we though might not be entirely boring. Then again in the career center, he

asked me what I was thinking about for a career.

   Looking back on it now, it had always been Brandon that had initiated every

conversation. And he was such a shy, quiet guy (that was another thing that made him so

irresistible; I was pretty much the same). He didn't talk much to other classmates, I

started to notice as the months went on. Maybe he did have an interest in me.

   I looked at the calendar with depression as Taomon continued to give example

about some green light in the book The Great Gatsby. I noticed that we only had a few

weeks left of school. And I hadn't really talked to Brandon once. Like, really talked.

   Maybe I will invite him to the movies, I thought as I pulled out a notebook to start

some notes. At least I will have tried something. Now I was convinced that I would ask

him.

   I switched between staring at the clock and stealing glimpses of the guy I had so

mysteriously fallen for. I was both dreading and anticipating when the class ended, which

was when I planned to make my move.Â

   I jumped slightly when the bell actually did ring. Slowly I rose from my chair and

shouldered my already-packed bag. As I walked over to his desk I felt blood start to rise

to my face again. He was still packing when I spoke.

   "Hey Brandon," I started and he looked up with those damn beautiful eyes. Shit

 I lowered my gaze and continued in a forced strong voice "Um, me and some

friends were gonna go see Hangover tonight at about 7:30. Did ya want to come with?"

Shit shit shit, why can't I look him in the eyes! I screamed silently at myself.

   I heard his quiet voice reply, "Uh where?" Damn it, he even had to smell sexy. As

if he needed it.

   "The Longston Place theater," I answered and forced myself to look at him as we

walked to the door.

   He nodded. "I'll have to see if I can go, but maybe," he finished.

   "Ok," I said, but inside I was crestfallen. 'Maybe' wasn't a very encouraging

response. "Well I'll see you there if you can make it." I said before the crowd separated

us as we turned to go to our respective next periods.

   I groaned as soon as he was clear. That was horrible I thought miserably.

  Â

   "He could still show," Chris said as he paid for the popcorn. He and I were at the

concessions stand at the theater lobby.

   I grimaced. "Nah dude, you should have seen it. There's no way he's coming."

   "Why not?" he questioned.

   I sighed as he handed me my tub of popcorn. "It was terrible. I couldn't look him

in the eyes, I was muttering... It was too obvious. There's no way he doesn't think I'm a

fruit." I shook my head, trying to clear it of that embarrassing memory.

   Chris chuckled as we strolled over to stand by the front door. Some of his friends

were supposed to meet us here. "Maybe you'll just have to live with the fact that he

doesn't like you like that."

   I shook my head again. "No, that I would totally understand. Really it would be

kewl just to be friends with him." I knew Chris was still new to the whole concept of me

liking guys, so I held back the part where I would be incredibly happy just to have

Brandon in my life at all.

   Although I was certain he wouldn't come, for the next 5 min while we waited for

the other friends, I scanned the parking lot for that blast of white feathers and shock of

blond hair. But to no avail. Pretty soon we saw the group of anthros getting out of a truck

and Chris raised his hand in greeting. Then he turned to me as he saw my face fall. He

punched me in the arm playfully.

   "Don't worry about it bro. He probably just got tied up."

   I painted a smile on my face, for his benefit. "Yeah." No need for me to ruin his

night because of my hopeless obsession.

   Chris met his friends at the door and walked to the concessions stand while I

leaned against the pillar by the door. I watched them mess around for a bit before I

looked at the clock above the ticket booth. 7:22. The previews will start soon, I thought

absentmindedly.

   Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I wondered if one of Chris' friends had shown

up a little late as I turned around.

   Then my heart stopped as I looked straight into sky blue eyes for the second time

today.