The next morning, Leo woke up with a strange mix of excitement and dread. The previous night's events had left him reeling, unsure of where things stood with Adrian. He tried to focus on schoolwork, but his mind kept wandering back to Adrian's lingering gaze and the unspoken tension between them.
As if on cue, Ethan texted him, asking to meet after school. Leo sighed, knowing that avoiding the issue wouldn't make it go away. He agreed to meet Ethan at their usual spot, a small coffee shop near the school.
When Leo arrived, Ethan was already there, nursing a cup of coffee. He looked troubled, his usually carefree expression replaced by a frown.
"Hey, man," Ethan said, pushing a cup of coffee towards Leo. "Thanks for meeting me."
"No problem," Leo replied, taking a sip of coffee. "What's up?"
Ethan hesitated, then launched into a long, rambling explanation about his feelings for a girl named Olivia. He'd been seeing her for a few months, but things had started to feel complicated. He wasn't sure if he was ready for a serious relationship, but he didn't want to hurt Olivia either.
Leo listened patiently, offering words of encouragement and advice. He knew how it felt to be caught in a love triangle, and he wanted to help Ethan navigate the situation.
As they talked, Leo couldn't help but think about his own complicated feelings for Adrian. He wondered if Ethan could understand, if he could offer any advice in return. But he decided against it. It was too personal, too risky.
After their conversation, Leo left the coffee shop feeling a bit more at ease. Ethan seemed to have found some clarity, and Leo was glad he could be there for his friend. But as he walked home, his mind drifted back to Adrian.
He thought about their recent interactions, the stolen glances, the unspoken words. He couldn't deny the growing attraction he felt for Adrian, but he was also afraid of what it might mean.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he was falling for Adrian, hard. And it was terrifying.
The next day at school, Leo tried to avoid Adrian, but it was difficult. Adrian seemed determined to catch his attention, teasing him, flirting with him, and leaving Leo flustered and confused.
During lunch, Adrian sat down across from Leo, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "So, I heard you had a deep and meaningful conversation with Ethan yesterday," he said.
Leo rolled his eyes. "It wasn't that deep."
"Sure," Adrian said, smirking. "Whatever you say."
He paused, then leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Listen, Leo, I just want to say that I'm... I'm glad you're here."
Leo's heart pounded. He wasn't sure what to say, so he just nodded.
Adrian smiled, then stood up. "I'll see you later."
As Adrian walked away, Leo was left to ponder his words. What did he mean by that? Was he admitting his feelings? Or was it just a friendly gesture?
Leo sighed. He knew he needed to figure things out soon. The longer he waited, the more complicated it would become.