༒𝓐𝓵𝓵 𝓘 𝓦𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓨𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓑𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰༒

𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦

Percy jolted up from the couch, his eyes wide with panic.

-Oh no, we're late for school! - he exclaimed.

William groaned, rubbing his eyes and reluctantly sitting up.

-We need to get moving - William said, looking at the clock. -We can't afford to miss another day. I'll give you some of my clothes for you to change.

They scrambled to get ready, the peaceful morning quickly turning into a frantic rush. Percy threw on his clothes, while William brushed his teeth and ran a comb through his hair. They grabbed their bags and rushed out the door, barely having time to grab a quick breakfast on the go.

As they hurried to the bus stop, they couldn't help but laugh at the chaotic start to their day.

-Well, this is one way to start the week - Percy said, grinning at William.

-Yeah, definitely - William replied, chuckling.

They managed to catch the bus just in time, finding seats next to each other and trying to catch their breath. Despite the rush, they felt a sense of excitement and anticipation for the day ahead.

-You know, even with the craziness, I'm glad we had that morning together - William said, looking at Percy with a soft smile.

-Me too. It was perfect - Percy replied, squeezing William's hand.

As the bus made its way to school, they chatted about their plans for the week, their hands intertwined. They knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, side by side. And that made all the difference.

Suddenly, someone stopped them in the middle of the school hallways.

-Morning, guys -Marco greeted them with a mischievous smile -William, I thought you wouldn't have the audacity to come to school today after your little scene on saturday.

William's grip on Percy's hand tightened as they faced Marco in the hallway. Percy squared his shoulders, ready to stand by William no matter what.

-Yeah, morning, Marco -William replied, trying to keep his voice steady. -I'm not going to let you or anyone else scare me away.

Marco chuckled, crossing his arms.

-You really think you can just walk around here like nothing happened? Everyone's talking about it.

-Then let them talk -Percy said firmly, stepping closer to William. -William doesn't have anything to be ashamed of.

Marco's smile faltered for a moment before he regained his composure.

-We'll see about that -Marco said, his tone dripping with malice. -This isn't over -Marco looked from up and down at Percy and noticed he was wearing William's clothes. He chuckled -Nice clothes.

As Marco walked away, Percy turned to William, concern in his eyes.

-Are you okay?

William took a deep breath and nodded, though he couldn't hide the anxiety in his eyes.

-Yeah, I think so. 

They continued down the hallway, ignoring the whispers and stares. It was difficult, but knowing they had each other made it a little easier. They made their way to their first class, determined to face whatever the day threw at them, side by side.

As they settled into their seats in the classroom, the usual buzz of morning chatter seemed louder than usual. William could feel the weight of the stares and the hushed conversations around them, but he focused on Percy beside him.

The teacher, Mrs. Roberts, entered the room and began the lesson. For the first time in a long while, William found it hard to concentrate. He glanced at Percy, who was taking notes diligently, and felt a surge of gratitude.

During a brief moment of respite, Percy leaned over and whispered, 

-We'll get through this. One day at a time.

William nodded, a small smile breaking through his tension. 

-Thanks, Percy. I needed that.

As the class continued, the whispers began to die down, replaced by the usual routine of note-taking and discussions. The supportive presence of Percy made all the difference, grounding William and helping him push through the discomfort.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, they packed their things and headed for the door. Just as they stepped into the hallway, Lila approached them.

-Hey, William, Percy -she said, her tone surprisingly soft -Can we talk for a second?

Percy glanced at William, who nodded cautiously. 

-Sure, Lila. What's up?

Lila shifted uncomfortably, her usual bravado replaced by a rare vulnerability. 

-Look, I know I said some things...some really crappy things. I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I didn't realize...well, I didn't understand. But I'm trying to now.

William's eyes widened in surprise, and he glanced at Percy, who nodded encouragingly. 

-Thanks, Lila. That means a lot.

Lila smiled, albeit a bit awkwardly. 

-I know it's not much, but if you need anything, I'm here. Both of you. Yeah? Take care.

As Lila walked away, William felt a strange sense of relief. Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to change. He turned to Percy, who was beaming with pride.

-See? One day at a time -Percy said, squeezing William's hand.

They continued down the hallway, feeling a bit lighter, ready to face whatever the day had in store for them, together.