Preston sat in the unbearably loud Physics classroom, dreading how slowly the day was going. He didn’t want to even be in school today but the need for perfect attendance outweighed how much he hated coming here. It was only the second lesson, however it was the first break next which made him look forward to finally eating something. He’d skipped breakfast that morning in a rush to get to school and only barely made it in time for the bus to pick him and the few others up.

Jason had not been on the bus today.

That was why the seat next to him was empty. It shouldn’t bother him. It didn’t bother him. It was just… odd. Uncustomary. Jason was always in school, and if he wasn’t going to be he would have texted. Called. Anything.

Mrs Rover asked the class a question, and picked someone to answer. The voice that rang through the classroom was his least favourite to hear. Cody. The class’s only openly gay boy. Cody had been outed by his ex-girlfriend Zoey when they were in 8th grade. The train of bullying was brutal and inevitable. Preston had been the very one to write the f slur in large, red letters on Cody’s bag two years ago. Of course, everything died down, but Cody still had insults coming at him from the kids in their year.

However, Cody seemed to have become confident in his sexuality a year ago, embracing that it wasn’t the most important thing about him. He saw it as something that made him even cooler. Separated him from the rest even though everyone was equal in his eyes and reality. Society was a fucked up place which tried to create even more fucked up people.

Preston loathed his very voice, his face, everything about him made him want to throw up. Preston used to be friends with Cody before everyone found out he was gay. After that, he dropped him like a fly as he couldn’t have his reputation tainted. What if people thought he was gay?

Disgusting.

He would never even think about a boy in that way.

It went against being a man. It went against Christianity. He was completely sure Cody was on the way to hell. It was disgusting, horrendous and sickening that he had once called Cody his friend. Thanks be to God that the truth had come out in the end so he would not be led astray on the same path Cody was.

He looked behind him and saw Vivian talking to Thomas. They were the class’s ‘ew we are NOT dating’ couple. “Awww,” he cooed, obnoxiously loud enough for both of them to hear. The eyeroll Vivian gave was louder than bombs. Thomas laughed awkwardly.

"What do you want, Preston?" Vivian sighed.

"You guys are sooooo in love."

“EW,” Thomas and Vivian said in sync. Vivian looked completely disgusted that he’d even brought that up, meanwhile Tom was embarrassed, slightly pink. Preston still believed there was something going on between them. Maybe they were just trying to hide it so they wouldn’t prove he was right. It was the way the only boy Vivian ever really talked to in class was Thomas, the way they looked at each other, the way they made each other laugh… it was more absurd to think they were not together if anything. Even after his comment, they went back to laughing with each other. It was adorable to say the least.

"Alright, pack up everybody."

Even more noise followed that order, with chairs scraping the ground, bags zipping up, books being returned, and cliques chattering about whatever as they were finally done with the lesson. Kevin came up to Preston.

Kevin had been his sort-of replacement for Cody, and Kevin only joined the school at the beginning of ninth grade as he moved from South Korea. Back then, he did not speak much English yet still had all the girls falling head over heels for him. Vivian was his English tutor and he frequently spent breaks and lunches in the library with her. He shipped them too, and would do more of it if they talked during classes but they never seemed to. It was hard to deny that Kevin was an insanely attractive guy. 5’11 with a gym-rat physique, black glasses, dark hair, black glasses and a baritonal voice that could make anyone swoon.

Since Kevin didn’t understand English when he first joined, he hadn’t a clue what happened to Cody. By the time he got better with it, no one really talked about the incident anymore.

“Preston, you’re playing the game in a few weeks, right? This one’s big–it’s against Northway High’s Coranders.”

"Yeah, There's practice this break, and the next free period."

"Can't make it. English with Viv."

“You guys are still doing that?” Preston knew they had started about three weeks after Kevin joined the school in year 9. It was why Kevin could pass off as somewhat fluent. He had to give it to Vivian, devoting almost every day to teaching someone a language she already knew was strenuous. Preston was sure Kevin’s natural smarts made it easier for her.

“Yeah, man. Also, how do you spell ‘correlate’? Viv will behead me if I can't–cause she taught me yesterday and I forgot.” Kevin admitted as they walked out of the class.

“C-O-R-R-E-L-A-T-E.” Preston spelled out.

“You’re a lifesaver man, thanks.” Kevin parted ways with him and walked in the direction of the library. Preston made his way to the boys’ locker room to change. It was a fairly spacious place, yet it still smelled of sweat and overwhelming deodorant which did incredibly little to mask the overpowering stench of sweat.

The gym was where they began to practice. When star player Kevin wasn’t on the court, Preston took the lead. He was Vice Captain of the team as well. They practiced shooting and sorting out positions for the next upcoming game.

Jason was still not in the fucking school. Still had not texted him. He was so occupied with his thoughts that he completely missed the shout ‘Preston, catch!’ before the ball struck his nose with agonising force. It was the perfect opportunity for the other team to swipe the ball… until Cody saved it, taking it back in the direction of the opposition’s basketball net.