𝕴 𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖉 𝖞𝖔𝖚 ; ʟʟᴏʏᴅ ɢᴀʀᴍᴀᴅᴏɴ x ᴍᴀʟᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

Chapter eight: the green ninja.

♫ ❝Got a secret, can you keep it? Swear this one you'll save. Better lock it in your pocket, taking this one to the grave.❞♫

YOUR POV.

Over the past two days, as I sat in my room, serving my suspension, my eyes fixated on the screen as Lloyd's face appeared. The first thing that caught my attention was the way he would shyly conceal his features, just a hint of his jawline peeking out from underneath his hand. I couldn't help but feel his gaze on me, even though his eyes were obscured.

As we talked, I found myself naturally complementing his sense of humor or the way he handled a tricky math problem. And each time, the second anomaly became apparent. He would press the mute button on his end, his reaction cut off from me, leaving me to wonder what he was feeling. Simultaneously, he'd let the camera drift upwards, capturing the ceiling as he presumably hid his emotions from my view.

Lloyd's mother seemed to be quite the meddler. Every five minutes or so, she would barge into his room, claiming she wanted to say hello or to ask me about my suspension. Despite her intrusions, Lloyd and I managed to build a connection, our conversations flowing effortlessly as we fell into a comfortable rhythm. Our calls would stretch late into the night, both of us unwilling to hang up, drifting off to sleep in each other's virtual company.

Those calls with Lloyd felt like a beacon of light during a particularly dark time. But as the days passed, I completely forgot about my responsibilities back at school - my girlfriend and Chen. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Today, Thursday, was the day I had to return, and I knew I was in for a world of trouble. My heart raced, a pit forming in my stomach as I contemplated the consequences of my actions. I was truly screwed.

With a sense of apprehension building within me, I made my way to the bus stop, the very place where Lloyd and I had first crossed paths. Our initial encounter had occurred when I had sat next to him, an event that had been a rarity in the past due to the constant barrage of invitations from other students. However, today, my focus was solely on Lloyd, my heart pounding in anticipation.

As the bus pulled up to the stop, I climbed aboard, the vehicle falling into an uncharacteristic silence. I could feel the eyes of my peers boring into the back of my head, their usual cheery greetings replaced by an air of curiosity. I ignored their scrutinizing gazes, determined to make my way to the back of the bus, where Lloyd sat.

As I approached, the tension in the air was palpable. My chosen destination was not lost on any of the passengers, and when I settled down beside Lloyd, the collective gasp that echoed throughout the bus was unmistakable. A rumor had been circulating, insinuating that Lloyd and I were more than just acquaintances, but I no longer cared about the whispers and speculation.

Lloyd jumped at my sudden appearance, his eyes widening as I claimed my seat. In an attempt to distance himself, he immediately reached for his headphones, pulling them out and moving closer to the window, leaving a gap between us. He remained silent, his face a vivid shade of red as he stared at me.

With a cocky smirk, I reached out, my fingers tracing through the soft, fluffy strands of Lloyd's blonde hair. Our intimacy thus far had been limited to virtual interactions, so the feeling of his hair between my fingers sent a thrilling shiver down my spine.

Feeling bold, I leaned in, our faces drawing closer until they were separated by a mere breath's distance. In this intimate proximity, I could see the subtle changes in Lloyd's demeanor, his breathing hitching as his gaze slid down to meet my lips. A tremor began to ripple through his body, a visible reaction that intrigued and confused me in equal measure.