Stuck for summer

There will come a soldier.

Joe walked into his class, he glanced around at the people in the class and he saw one of his "many" friends Brian Holden, he was drawing in notes that he was going to give to Jaime, a new girl, who Joe liked, a lot, she was loud and always joking and to him her laugh was infectious.

"You good there Brian?" Jaime's voice said "sorry...it's just... Meredith" Brian replied swooning over the second most impossible girl to date in the junior year.

Meredith possessed a cascade of loose chocolate brown curls that framed her face in a soft, elegant manner. Her eyes, reminiscent of swirling chocolate with a hint of caramel, held a delicate sweetness that seemed to draw people in. Whenever Brian locked eyes with her, he felt as though he was being pulled into a deep, enchanting abyss. The richness of her gaze was akin to savoring a piece of exquisite candy, each glance revealing new layers of her captivating essence.

But Brian quickly snapped his eyes away from her, so he wouldn't get to cocky and actually speak a word to her.

Joe walked over "sup Jaime, hey Brian, ew. Are you swooning over Meredith-" Joe said in a grossed out manner "I am not swooning! I don't swoon." Brian argued, Jaime burst into laughter "yeah I don't wish Kermit was my father" Jaime joked "Love Kermit." Joe said "me too!" Jaime said with a bright smile.

"I don't swoon over Meredith, she's uh...a theater kid." Brian argues "You literally played the Mercutio in R&J whilst Meredith played Juliet and you fell in love because apparently 'not even Nicole Kidman could do better' like, that's theater kid ism..." Joe argues back, he gets a look from Jaime "theater kid ism?" Jaime asks "yeah." He replied.

"Have you ever actually had a conversation with Meredith?" Jaime asks, in curiosity "no. But I did manage to say Hi. Once or possibly even twice, I know, hold the applause." Brian said confidently only earning two deadpan looks from his friends.

"You did well." Dylan applauded "I'm proud of you" Dylan adds "Thank you Dylan!" Brian replies with a smug look "how about you talk to her? Like about musicals? Shows? Movies? Books? Anything!" Jaime expresses "Jaime, thank you!" Joe said done with Brian's antics.

"I guess I like Meredith, but I don't have to talk to her. I can stalk her mother's Facebook and watch her whenever she's in my classes and when lunch comes around I can watch her" Brian said confidently "no Brian, that's called stalking." Dylan corrected "so? I don't where she lives, so it's okay!" Brian said defensively "my gosh." Jaime giggled.

Joe looked at her, she had a distinctive, infectious laugh you could hear across the room 20 years later and know it's her. Joe got a little red but he hoped Jaime wouldn't notice, thankfully, she didn't.

Brian wanted more than anything to talk to Meredith without feeling a crushing love for her, which makes him flustered, his face grow hot, make him stutter and those butterflies- that love to fly around stomach making him feel all queasy -attack.

Brian huffed, Jaime felt bad, Joe didn't understand what was wrong whilst Dylan understood.

"You got a crush, don't you? But it's not what you imagined." Dylan said softly "I've had crushes before! Multiple. Jaime, Ali, Janaya and Nicholas!" Brian said arguing "Me? Jaime?" Jaime asked with perked brows "yes...shush." Brian scoffs.

"Did you just come out to us?" Joe asks, confused, as he glances at Brian "huh?" Brian asks concerned "you said Jaime, Ali, Janaya and Nicholas. Nicholas is a man." Joe said confidently "...yea, I'm bisexual..." Brian said nervously, it was a lot to tell them, even though they were his best friends, he just blurted out his crush on Nicholas because he wanted to prove he had crushes before.

Jaime enveloped Brian in a warm, tight embrace, her arms wrapping around him securely. Brian, feeling a wave of nervousness wash over him, hesitated for a moment before returning the hug. In that moment, within the safety of Jaime's embrace, Brian experienced a sense of security that was entirely new to him. He had never felt this level of comfort in someone else's arms before, but Jaime was different.

Just as Brian began to relax into the embrace, he suddenly felt another pair of arms encircle him. It was Joe, joining in on the hug, followed by Dylan, creating a circle of warmth and support around Brian. Surprised by the unexpected display of affection, Brian found himself able to open up about his feelings for the first time in a long while.

However, as the group stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Brian became aware of curious eyes watching them. "Guys... people are watching us," Brian choked out, his voice tinged with a mix of embarrassment and vulnerability.

"Oh, let them watch," Jaime responded nonchalantly, her carefree attitude causing Brian to let out a chuckle, feeling a sense of relief and acceptance in that moment.

Dylan pulled back then Joe then finally Jaime "thanks guys." Brian smiles, Jaime was grinning as per usual and so was Joe and Dylan.

Suddenly the teacher burst into the room, it was like a screeching sound she made, she looked furious that people weren't in their seats "everybody in their seats. Clutter away. School books out. pencil cases out. Complete silence!!" Mrs Quigley said enunciating on her words, everybody quickly acted, But Jaime didn't do what she was told fast enough "Ms Beatty, detention for the rest of the semester." Mrs Quigley said coldly glaring at Jaime "what did I do?" Jaime replied confused "three strikes! You were disruptive in my last class, you always think this class is a comedy show and you never do as you're told." Mrs Quigley stared into Jaime's soul, making her feel as small as a snail "that's not fair!" Dylan said protectively everyone looked at Dylan as if he was crazy "it isn't.." Joe mumbled but he was far too afraid of Mrs Quigley.

Brian wanted to defend Jaime but he was scared and also he was nervous in case of what Meredith wanted although they've never even talked to each other.

"If you give Jaime detention then you'll have to give me detention too." Brian said confidently but that was just his entire body showed clear signs of nervousness of fear even "alright Mr Holden." Mrs Quigley said and then any confidence Brian's ever had was gone.

Brian cocked his head to see Lauren Lopez trying to stifle laughter, she mouthed "sorry" then attempting to hold back her laughter.

"That's not fair." Joe murmured a bit too loud "detention for you too Mr Walker anybody else care to join them?" Mrs Quigley said, proud of herself, it was almost like a game she played with herself, how many students can she put in detention?

"That's not fair. Jaime didn't even do anything! Neither did Joe or Brian..." Dylan said, confused about why Mrs Quigley was such an asshole for no reason and it only got "detention for you too Mr Saunders. It's after school for all of you for the rest of semester." Mrs Quigley explains and then turns to the board and suddenly Meredith stepped in "that's not allowed especially since-" Meredith said annoyed only to be told she too has detention, she scoffs and then looks back at Brian and smiles softly.

Jaime, Joe and Dylan all looked at Brian who was blushing profusely "smile back." Jaime whispered so the two corners of his mouth lifted into a sort of grimace although it was awkward and made Meredith quickly turned her head not to look at him.

After class everybody was packing up their stuff and rushing out, Meredith ran out with Lauren, Lauren smirks at Dylan, Jaime, Joe and Brian as she leaves.

"Meredith smiled at you!" Joe said who picked up on the smile "did you see how Brian smiled back?!" Jaime said nervously "like..." Jaime said sheepishly "it was a normal smile!" Dylan said quickly so Brian had confidence "no it-" Jaime began only to get Dylan's hand over her mouth to shut her up.

"It was normal!!" Brian said nervously "right?" Brian adds, Joe and Jaime quickly walks away so they don't say anything stupid "of course it was, she totally doesn't think that you're a creep." Dylan said reassuringly "th...thanks.." Brian said nervous.

A/n- THOUGHTSSSS?