𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬

Chapter Eight.

ROMEO CASTILLO HAS hated the person he has become. In every crowded hallway, or when passing by the gym, or even walking near where he knows Spider's classes are, he can't help but be on the lookout for him. Just to catch a glimpse of him or something.

Like he was obsessed. Like he was tangled in a web and couldn't get out. So naturally, when he and the other boys on the basketball team were practicing that day, he couldn't take his eyes off the blond boy. Who doesn't even look his way, or even acknowledge him. At all.

He hates that Spider has this effect on him.

"Spencer! Romeo!" Their coach now calls out to them, so the two boys walk over, standing on either sides of Malakai in front of their coach. "Right. So every spare minute, I want you guys out here training. Together! As a team." The man emphasizes to the three boys. "Okay, get each other up nice and early. Egg each other on." The coach tells the three teenage boys, just as Spider glanced at Malakai, then looked at Romeo who now look at one another, the two sharing polite smiles.

"You're gonna motivate each other. Our school really needs this." The man goes on and Romeo just nods softly. "Yes, Coach." Spencer says, his arms crossed. "Cheers." Malakai simply says to the man. "I'll leave you to it. Good. Jordy!" The coach now shouts to another student. "Got a free period next. Hit the weights?" Spider now asked the other two.

"Yeah, sounds good."

The three boys walk out together, Malakai turning to the other two, "I'm... I'll meet you two there in a sec." He says, then walked away, jogging over to Amerie. Spider shakes his head as Romeo glanced at the taller boy, now silently following behind him to the weights room.

Later in SLTs, Romeo walked over and plopped down next to Stevie, "hi." He says, fidgeting with his hands. "Stressing about basketball?" She asked and he nods. "Little bit, yeah." He says and then he glanced over to where Spencer was seated, with Ant and Dusty.

The class begins, Jojo is walking in the middle of class as she spoke, "so, we figured out when someone's into you, but that's just step one. Right? After that, we need to find out what they might be comfortable doing sexually. Say "rimming" one more time, Darren, I'm going to ask you to leave." She says to the Rivers who just put their hand back down.

"Cool. So, what are some ways of communicating with our partner in that space?" She now asked, standing at the front of the classroom. "Ooh!" Spider raised his hand, "Morse code?" He suggested. "Okay." Miss Obah says quietly. "On her clity." He says in a sing song tone and Romeo rolls his eyes, looking the other way.

Just in time to catch Cash toss a crumpled up piece of paper at the blond boy, which makes him snort, glancing down. "But what about asking for guidance? Something like... uh... "show me where you want me to touch you." Jojo suggested and Ant points at his lap, "here." He says, making everyone laugh. "Okay, let's split into our designated groups and work through the consent exercises attached." At that, Romeo just groaned.

His group was unfortunately with Spider, Missy, Ant, Dusty, Amerie and Malakai. And Stevie got to stick with Enya as Miss Obah paired the two up with Darren, Quinni, Sasha, Harper and Cash. "I heard there was a big mess at your house after the party." Malakai spoke to Dusty as Romeo was taking his seat next to them, directly across from Missy who stares at him, before glancing down, rubbing her neck.

"Yeah, it was an insane night. Like, someone stole my dad's car." Dusty says and Malakai laughs, rubbing his eyes. "And crashed it into a shop off Heeley Street." He adds. "That's crazy." Romeo quips. "Yeah. Would love to know the asshole that did it." The Reid boy says, glancing at him then looking down.