Oakley had always been proud of his sketchbook. It was a collection of his best artwork, a testament to his passion and creativity. But one day, all of that changed.
He was sitting in the library, working on a new drawing, when Billy, the school bully, walked up to him. Billy had always been a thorn in Oakley's side, mocking him for his love of drawing and making fun of his "weirdness".
But this time, Billy took things too far. He snatched Oakley's sketchbook from his hands and tore out several pages, tossing them on the ground.
"You think you're so special with your little drawings," Billy sneered. "Well, now you're nothing. And if you ever try to tell anyone what I did, I'll make sure you regret it."
Oakley felt a mix of anger and despair wash over him as he watched his artwork flutter to the ground. He wanted to lash out at Billy, to make him pay for what he had done. But he knew that it would only make things worse.
Instead, he walked away, his heart heavy with sadness and frustration. He couldn't believe that someone could be so cruel.
But as the days went by, Oakley couldn't shake the feeling that there was something deeper going on with Billy. He noticed that Billy would often stare at him in class, and he would sometimes catch him looking away quickly when their eyes met.
One day, Oakley decided to confront Billy about what had happened to his sketchbook. But before he could say anything, Billy spoke up.
"I'm sorry about your sketchbook," he said, looking down at his feet. "I don't know why I did it. I guess I was just jealous of you."
Oakley was surprised by Billy's admission. He had never thought of Billy as anything other than a bully. But as Billy continued to speak, Oakley realized that there was more to his story.
"I've been having trouble with my sexuality," Billy confessed. "I think I might be gay. And when I see you, I feel this... this something. I don't know what it is. But it makes me so angry and confused."
Oakley was taken aback by Billy's confession. He had never imagined that the bully who had tormented him for so long could be struggling with his own identity.
But as he looked at Billy, he saw something in his eyes that he recognized. It was the same sense of confusion and fear that he had felt when he first realized his own feelings for Mia.
"I understand," Oakley said softly. "I've been there too. It's hard to know who you are and what you want. But you don't have to be afraid. There's nothing wrong with being gay. And if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for you."
Billy looked up at Oakley, his eyes filled with tears. "Thank you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't think anyone would understand."
Oakley felt a sense of compassion and empathy wash over him as he looked at Billy. He realized that their shared experience had brought them closer together, in a way that he never would have imagined.
As they walked away from each other, Oakley knew that things would never be the same between them. But he also knew that their encounter had opened up a new world of understanding and acceptance for both of them. And for that, he was grateful.
While Billy walked, he felt his heart break. He stared at the school. The school he hated. And looked at the matches.
