Less Than One | BxB

8.

~The next day

It's a little better today.

The stares aren't less, but I choose to ignore them. I haven't seen Dallas' friends today, which is a relief too.

I walk down the hallway, once again horribly late with getting my lunch. Scarlett's probably waiting... I inspect my tray. Nothing too gross, thank God.

The hallways are pretty empty, everyone's having lunch. But not completely. I look down when I pass a group of people that's talking at their lockers, but look at me when I pass by. "Dylan!"

My eyes widen at my tray. They know my name? I still and turn around, but don't walk towards them. A smile is shot to me. "Just want to say that you look really cute with Dallas."

I blush and give a little shrug. "Thank you," I whisper. I frown and cough. "Thank you," I repeat, but this time they hear it. I turn around, feeling good about this.

The anxiety was building since this morning again, but this mutes that a little. I walk further down the hallway, smiling like the town's idiot.

I shriek when I'm pulled in the janitor's closet. I grip my tray slightly, and as a wonder nothing spills. The light switches on and my eyes widen at the sight I get.

Dallas is sitting on the floor with a tray and smiles up at me. I haven't seen him yet today, because we agreed to go slow. But here he is, pulling me in a closet.

I join him on the floor. "What are you doing here? Did you take the wrong door or something?" I ask him. He grins and shakes his head. "Nope. Just wanted to say hi."

I stare at him blankly. Say hi? 

He sighs. "Okay, maybe a little more. I saw you in class this morning and noticed how uncomfortable you looked. So I figured, sitting in a full cafetaria won't help either, so why don't I take him to a quiet place and let him tell about his day?"

That's easily the sweetest thing a person has done for me.

I keep staring at him, but tears form in my eyes. "Thank you. I needed that," I sniffle happily and move to his side. He lazily sways an arm around my shoulders. "So, spill."

We both start eating while I tell him about what happened today and why I was so uncomfortable. "So yeah, like, first class was math and I was still sleepy and I didn't know the answer so the teacher rolled his eyes. I almost cried."

I look up to watch his face and search for any sighs of humor, but he's just listening and nodding. I go on, feeling encouraged. 

"And in English, my partner was absent without letting me know anything, so I had to do everything. Even the parts I hadn't practiced. So I was very nervous and stuttered and everyone was laughing at me." I bite my lip. That was exactly what I was afraid of.

He kisses my temple. "That's okay. I was in the back of the class, I didn't laugh at you. You did very good, to be honest. I'm sure you got an A, the teacher will note that your partner wasn't there." 

I nod. He's probably right. "It's just that I publicly embarrassed me once again." He frowns. "It wasn't that bad, baby. But next time we have a presentation, we'll do it together, alright? I promise you I'll be there."

I smile and nod. "I'd love that." He smiles back at me. "Me too, love." We eat a little more like that, until he frowns. "Wait. Who was your partner?" He doesn't sound very happy.

I frown, too. "Marcus? I don't know if you know him, but he has black hair and—" "Oh, I know him." He sounds mad now. I swallow. "Dallas? What's wrong?"

He lets out a huff and stares in my eyes. "What's wrong? My fucking friends, that's wrong. I'm sorry, Dylan. If I'd known he was your partner I'd have stopped them."

I frown, not understanding. "Huh?" He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "My fucking friends stopped Marcus from coming to class. It's not his fault."

I shut my eyes. Of course. "I don't understand why they don't like me?" He sighs and hugs me, burying his face in my neck. "I don't either, love. I really, really don't."

I hide my face in his neck and sigh. "At least we've got each other."

He smiles. "Yeah. You don't deserve this, though. I don't get why they're fine with me being gay but not with you."

I give a little shrug. It hurts me, but it's not like it's ever been different.

"They'll get over it," I tell him. He seems highly unconvinced by that but proceeds to let me keep my hope.

He plays with my hand a bit, suddebly chuckling. "What?" I ask, letting out a nervous laugh.

"It's just that your hands are so small. Look at these little guys," he teases in a baby voice. I flush.

"Compared to yours, yeah. Have you seen those monsters?"

He grins. "You know what they say about men with big hands, right?" He winks.

I arch an eyebrow. "What?" Oh God, if he makes a dirty joke I will choke on my water.

"Big hands, big dick."

Yep. I cough on my water. "They say that? Who says that?"

His face falls. "People..." I stare at him. Stare a little more.

"Fine," he grumbles, narrowing his eyes at me. "Me. I say that."

"Why am I not surprised," I grin happily. He rolls his eyes and hands me his apple.

I frown. "Why are you giving this to me? It's yours," I protest and put it back on his plate. He gives it to me again.

"You should eat more than just a sandwich, love. I don't like that you don't eat," he whispers.

I shut up and slowly start eating my apple. I stay silent, not knowing what to say at that.

He hums in satisfaction when he sees I really am eating the apple and reaches for his backpack. "I got you a little something."

I swallow fown a piece. "Why are you getting me so much?"

It's not like I'm worth them. If any, I should be the one giving him presents because he's willing to take me. But I'm too anxious to do that.

He shrugs. "I like seeing your face when you get excited. It's cute."

He hands me a present. It really is packed in flowery paper. "Flowers?" I laugh.

He gives me a sheepish smile. "It's all I've got. And don't pretend you don't like it," he teases.

He's absolutely right. I love that he's not awkward with giving me presents with flower paper. I love that we're in this sweet state of dating. Not quite dating, but not just friends either.

I unpack his gift and grin when I see it's a picture of him. Of course it's put in a frame with lots of little hearts on them.

And they say I'm the soft one.

I laugh at it. It's a beautiful picture, one I haven't seen yet. He's giving me a boyish grin. Playful.

"I love it. Thank you."