How We Met

Chapter 1

Joel's Perspective-

It's crazy now to think back and remember how it all happened.

He was just a kid I met on the playground and somehow, he turned into my lover.

But after we met on the playground, we didn't talk again.

Not because we didn't wanna be friends, but because that's just how it worked out. We weren't always going to be at the park the same time.

I actually forgot about Etho for a long while until I was in 3rd grade.

At that time, I didn't know how bad my family was. My dad was very strict and homophobic, and my mom actually divorced my dad when I was only three. I often spent time with my grandparents as they looked after me when my dad was at work.

I wasn't the happiest, and I definitely wasn't the fondest of my dad, and I could get angry pretty easily.

Especially when I got blamed for something that wasn't even my fault.

-

I laughed gleefully as me and my friend, Adam, ran out to the school's playground at recess. (#Adamsupremecy)

There was a court where most kids played four square, a sand pit where there were swings, monkey bars, and slides, and a field where there were many trees and some tetherball poles.

I ran and grabbed one of the six four square balls off the cart and me and Adam ran over to the court.

Some other guys met up with us and we all started playing.

Eventually, Adam got really hyped up and ended up spiking the ball, making it hit the concreate and go bouncing off towards the field.

"I'll get it!" I said, running after it.

When I grabbed it, one of the guys shouted, "Kick it!!"

I put the ball down next to my foot and aligned it with my friends before kicking it.

The ball bounced up and flew towards them when another kid came running in the ball's path, unaware that he was about to get hit.

My eyes widened and I shouted, "WATCH OUT!"

The kid turned to face me and got hit in the face with the four square ball.

I gasped and some of the other kids froze.

A teacher, who was supervising us at recess ran over and helped the kid up.

His nose was bruised, and bleeding and he looked weak.

"Come on," The teacher said soothingly, "Let's get you to the nurse's office."

She then turns to me.

"Joel, come with us, after I take him to the nurse, you're coming with me to the principal's office."

I look down and nod, following them.

I walk next to the kid who had his head tilted up so then the blood streaming from his nose wouldn't get everywhere.

The teacher led us to the nurse's office before taking me to the principal, explaining what happened.

The principal called my father and told them what happened before handing me a piece of notebook paper and a pencil.

"I want you to write an apology letter to him." She said and I took the pencil and paper, "And show it to me before you give it to him."

I grumbled, upset about how I was getting in so much trouble.

It's not my fault he didn't see the ball. He should've been looking where he was going!!!!

The principal raised an eyebrow and I sighed.

"The boy's name is Etho. I want you to apologize and explain why what you did is wrong."

I nodded and started to write a crappy letter.

The principal read it and she sighed.

"Good enough, go give it to him. He should still be in the nurse's office waiting for his mom to pick him up."

I nodded and got up, carrying my letter.

I peeked in and saw Etho sitting on the cot, a tissue stuffed up his nose to try and stop the bleeding.

We made eye contact, and I walked over to him.

"Here." I stretched my hand out, holding the letter.

Etho tilted his head.

"It's an apology letter."

"Oh..."

He took it and read it.

"Thank...you?"

"Look, it was your fault for walking into the ball's direction. You should've been looking where you were going."

Etho blinked, looking a bit shocked at how I snapped.

"You need to be more careful, alright? And now I'm getting in trouble for something that's not even my fault."

"I'm...sorry?"

I huffed and folded my arms.

"You should be." I snapped.

Etho looked down.

I started to walk out of the nurse's office, and I heard Etho sniff.

I glanced around and saw him start to cry.

I glared at him before leaving.

Hey so heads up, these first couple chapters I put all in Joel's POV bc I got it mixed up with ANOTHER story which is all in one person's POV bc they're telling their backstory and I thought in here Joel was telling his backstory when really he wasn't- point is, it's more Joel's POV than Etho's rn, but I plan on fixing that by like...chapter 4, so-

ALSO,

Go follow my good friend Ash, AshaFunnyBunny bc they are helping me quite a bit with this fic. They're really good at drawing and can get really unhinged. I've had a lot of laughs with them, go check them out.

AND GO FOLLOW MumboKJumbo707 bc they ALSO helped me out with a future chapter to this fic. They're really good at writing and have all sorts of ideas, so definitely go check them out as well.

And also yes, I am not doing chapter titles for this fic either. Why? Bc I can't come up with any and am lazy, fight me.

Let me know what else you want updated this weekend and have a good day!! :DD