Boys Don't Cry [🌻]

ii.

I tried to laugh about it
Cover it all up with lies
I tried to laugh about it
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'Cause boys don't cry

•

Basil had always liked to be creative and express himself in many ways. Mostly this was through gardening, reading and writing, but since there weren't exactly many classes for those, art was as close as he could get.

Even though he'd chosen his subjects, he wasn't particularly social, so aside from shared classes with Aubrey, Basil was mostly alone at school.

Since meeting Sunny a few days ago, well, nothing had changed in that regard. After school Basil had left as usual, feeling no difference.

However, he was interrupted on his walk home as he realised a certain black haired boy was walking alongside him. He jumped a little, doing a double take.
"How long have you been there?"

"Few minutes," Sunny shrugged. "I met your girlfriend today."
Basil raised an eyebrow. "What are you on about?"
Sunny stopped walking, and, having no idea what else he should do, Basil found himself doing the same a few steps ahead. He turned to look at Sunny, and found that this strange boy was already watching him, puzzled.
"Aubrey. She helped me out earlier and mentioned you."
Basil felt a little uncomfortable. "What did she say?"
"Oh... I'd been drawing in my science book instead of working, and she said it reminded her of you."

Basil started to feel his face warm up. What had Sunny drawn? Regardless, he scoffed, and began to walk again.
"I see. As long as that's all she said."
Sunny nodded, keeping up as Basil walked. "Mhm. She said you were her boyfriend and that you're really good at gardening."
Gardening, really? Come on, Aubrey. I have a reputation.
"Oh, uh, yeah I guess... I'm not really that into it, I only help out with it at home sometimes."
Sunny seemed to frown at that, but continued to walk on, overtaking Basil before turning to face him from in front of him.
"This is my street, see you next time." Before Basil could reply, Sunny gave a slight wave, before turning and leaving. The blonde stopped, left to wonder about this 'next time'.

It turned out, now that a few days had passed since their meeting, 'next time' was today, in the art class Basil hadn't known they shared until Sunny brought it up. He saw Sunny approaching him, walking towards where he sat in a corner of the room furthest from everyone else.

"Hey," Sunny said. "Can I sit with you?"
Basil shrugged, confused. "I guess so? Is there a problem?"
Sunny shook his head. "Figured it would be quieter over here." The black haired boy put his books down on the table before sliding into the chair next to Basil.

Basil watched him for a little, as he settled and reopened his book, finding his page. The blue eyed boy eyed the other's sketches as he flipped through them.
"Uh, Sunny, right?" he asked, feeling like he had to act like he didn't know. Nobody really talked to him unless they were trying to pick a fight, so interaction was unusual when it wasn't with Aubrey or his grandmother.
Sunny met his eyes, giving the smallest nod.
"Right... Um, I just..." Basil fumbled over his wording. "I guess I was wondering why you're trying to be my friend."

Sunny paused, as if mulling it over before he could respond. After a few heartbeats, he replied, "I don't really know yet. You're the only one who hasn't tried to pick a fight with me since I moved here."

Basil hadn't really considered that Sunny could be new. He hardly paid any attention to anyone who wasn't in his face, so had just assumed Sunny was always there in the background.
"You're new here?"

"Yeah, my sister and I only started here a week ago." Sunny confirmed, looking back down to his paper and fixing his grip on his pencil until it was more comfortable to draw with. Basil looked at his own page and found that all he'd done this lesson was scribble and doodle around the corners of his page. A thought occurred to him.