Alan x Carl ~The Hookup~

Chapter Three: Alan

   The first couple weeks of school were uneventful. An essay here, a huge headline breakup there, and looks from Carl everywhere. I don't know if he's unaware he's doing it, or if it means something else, but I'm going with the former rather than the latter. Other than that, everything has been pretty calm around school. Elie's still with Milan and Jackson remains partnerless. Football games are starting this week and everyone I know is going. I think I might just stay home. The stands are boundto be crowded, although our team sucks ass. Most just go for the cheerleaders and our marching band. I have better things to be doing than sitting in a sea of sweaty high schoolers. Maybe I could work on my physiology slideshow that evening. It's not like I'm making any progress in class right now.
I glance at the clock by the door. It reads 1:35. Five minutes left. I zip my backpack shut and sling it over my shoulder. In the back corner of the room Carl looks up from his chrome book and gives a quick look at me before packing away his belongings as well. As he makes his way down the isle of beige science tables marked with numbers, I notice he seems nervous. "Hey, you ok?" I ask.
"Yeah, I'm good. Hey, are you going to the football game on Friday?"
"Um, I wasn't really planning on going," I say shaking my head, "because I need to work on my slides. Are you?"
"I think so. It depends on if my dad is going to be using his car or not." He says as he looks up at me. Why does he keep doing this. He keeps acting like he wants to say something and it's getting really annoying.
"Is there something you've been wanting to..." I get cut off by the bell. He looks at the door then back at me before grabbing his stuff and heading off to 7th period.
                                             ***
   7:30 AM. That's what time I have gym. How does the school expect a bunch of teens to be aware enough to have gym at 7:30? Even better, we're starting our swim unit today. "Aren't you excited for the freezing water?" Carl jokes from behind me.
"Oh yeah, it's just going to be great" Jackson pipes in.
"I don't know, it might not be that bad" I say. Jackson huffs before walking past Carl and I to the locker room door. As light bursts out the door, the smell of chlorine follows. Jackson holds the door when Carl mumbles something about the smell. The changing room is square with red lockers and a sèment bench lining three of the walls. A concrete island sits in the middle while a small bathroom and a squared shower room both connect to the main area. A layer of silence blankets everyone present. Nobody speaks, only changes at their own pace. I set my stuff in a corner as Carl finds an open space nearest to me. I turn to him. "So how's your brother doing? I heard he hurt his ankle or something last night."
"He's fine. He twisted his ankle on the trampoline but it's not bad enough to be a sprang or anything."
I nod and turn back to my bag. In the corner of my eye, I see Carl begin to change. He grabs his shirt and pulls it off to reveal a tan from over the summer. I couldn't say truthfully that Carl isn't attractive. He changes into his trunks before I can even take my clothes off. I grab my shirt and pull it off. I'm nothing compared to Carl but for some reason, Carl stares at me. He looks at my stomach, then up to my chest, then to my face sending an unknown species of chill through me. No one's ever looked at me like that. It feels...foreign. Carl seems lost in thought, almost as if he's dreaming. He darts his eyes away. Under the shadow of the locker room light, I see his face turn a light shade of pink. He looks down and shoves his clothes in his locker before he walks out of the locker room.