Zustin - A new start

Partners

Justns POV:

It's been almost two weeks since I started at my new school, and for the first time in ages, I feel something close to happiness. It's a strange, unfamiliar feeling—like a small spark of light in a place I'd nearly forgotten could be bright. After everything that happened at my old school, I wasn't sure I'd ever feel like this again.

Of course, Noelle has always been my source of joy. She's my world, my everything. But as much as I love her, there's still a part of me that longs for more—something outside the safety bubble we've created together. And for the first time in a while, I feel like I'm starting to find that something. I've made more friends in these two weeks than I thought possible. It's as if I've always been here, as if I've slipped right into the rhythm of things without missing a beat. By the second day, people were treating me like I'd been one of the popular kids all along, and it's... bittersweet. I've felt this before, that sense of belonging, but back then, I was hiding so much of myself that the feeling was hollow.

I still haven't come out. The idea is terrifying, to be honest. But I've noticed a few openly gay couples around, and that gives me hope. It warms my heart in a way I can't quite explain. Even though I'm still in the closet, I feel like I'm living more authentically than I ever did before. I'm not pretending to be someone I'm not—I'm not faking being this hyper-masculine, borderline toxic dude just to fit in. I'm not particularly feminine, but I know I think differently from most guys, and that's okay. What's more surprising is that people still seem to like me. I've had a few girls ask me out, and each time I've politely declined, telling them I'm not really looking for a relationship right now. Which, to be fair, is true. Mostly.

I haven't told anyone about Noelle yet either. The idea of being judged as a single teenage father is daunting. Plus, I don't want to introduce her to anyone until I'm sure they're good people, and that kind of certainty takes time. Right now, I'm just trying to navigate this new life without drawing too much attention to myself—or to her.

Classes have been pretty easy. It feels like my last school was ahead of the curve compared to this one. Most of what we're covering, I already know, so I'm coasting through, which is a relief, honestly.

History class on Friday is a bright spot in my day, though. Mr. Ortiz is a fantastic teacher, and we've bonded quickly over our mutual love for the subject. Today, he announces a new project that we'll be working on for the next few weeks. We're supposed to pick one of history's biggest events and create a presentation on it. I'm already buzzing with ideas as he explains the assignment. This is going to be fun—I can feel it.

I glance around the room, wondering who I might partner up with. Perrie and I have gotten pretty close, but Zayn, her boyfriend, doesn't seem too thrilled about it. Liam's likely going to pair up with Zayn, and Kendall would be another good option—she's one of the nicest people I've met here. I catch her eye, and she nods, already knowing I was going to ask if she wanted to team up. But before I can even ask, Mr. Ortiz throws a curveball.

"To help you get to know each other better, I've decided to assign the pairs myself," Mr. Ortiz announces. I don't mind, though; I like almost everyone in this class. When he calls out my name, I brace myself, waiting to hear who I'll be working with.

"Justin, you'll be working with... Zayn."

Fuck.

I look over at Zayn, and he meets my eyes, rolling his in response. Great. Just great.

Mr. Ortiz finishes pairing everyone up and hands out some papers for us to go over. He tells us we can work at school or find time outside of class to meet up. This project is going to take a lot of work, and he reminds us it's a significant part of our grade, so we need to take it seriously.