More than a Bromance: Big Nate's Awkward Affections

Chapter 17: Awkward Confessions

The next morning, the atmosphere at P.S. 38 was charged with an unusual tension. Blade, sporting dark circles under his eyes, approached Nate with a tired smile.

"Hey, Nate," Blade yawned, "didn't get much sleep last night. Had that dream again."

Nate, still grappling with the remnants of his own nightmare, furrowed his brow. "Wait, you had 'that dream' too?"

Blade nodded a slightly embarrassed expression on his face. "Yeah, the one where you were leaving town. It felt so real, man."

Nate's cheeks turned a shade of red that rivaled a ripe tomato. "Oh, uh, that dream. Yeah, I had it too."

Blade chuckled, noticing Nate's embarrassment. "You blushing, lil' bro?"

Nate, attempting to divert the attention, pulled out his sketchpad and started doodling. "Blushing? Nah, I'm just, you know, warm. It's, uh, the weather."

Blade peered over Nate's shoulder, curious about the sketch. To his surprise, Nate had drawn him as a tea kettle, complete with steam rising from the spout.

"What's this, Nate?" Blade asked, amusement evident in his voice.

Nate stammered, trying to come up with an explanation. "Oh, you know, just a doodle. Thought it'd be funny. Like, you're blowing off steam or something."

Blade burst into laughter, appreciating Nate's attempt to lighten the mood. "Blowing off steam, huh? I like it, lil' bro."

As the day progressed, the awkwardness lingered between them. It wasn't until lunchtime when they found a secluded spot in the courtyard, that the topic of their shared dreams resurfaced.

Blade took a deep breath, breaking the silence. "Hey, Nate, about that dream. It felt real, you know? The idea of you leaving town..."

Nate, looking down at his sneakers, nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I get it. It felt real for me too."

Blade glanced at Nate, a vulnerability in his eyes. "I guess it made me realize how much you mean to me, lil' bro."

Nate looked up, meeting Blade's gaze. In that moment, the unspoken understanding between them transcended the awkwardness. "You mean a lot to me too, Blade. More than I can put into words."

Blade grinned, a genuine warmth returning to his features. "Guess we both have a soft spot for each other, huh?"

Nate chuckled, drawing a big red heart rate line in the air with his finger. "Yeah, you could say that."

And so, in the midst of doodles and awkward confessions, Nate and Blade navigated the complexities of their friendship. The shared dreams had unveiled a layer of vulnerability, bringing them closer in a way that transcended the typical middle school camaraderie. Little did they know that the unpredictable journey of adolescence would continue to weave their stories together, with each awkward confession and doodle adding a new chapter to the saga of P.S. 38.