Bridging Hearts (DNF)

Chapter Five - Chemistry in Progress

Fanart is not mine.

Clay's POV:

I look at myself in the mirror, eyeing my outfit. I'm wearing a black turtleneck with a green hoodie above it, my brown school bag slung across my shoulder. I look at the scars on my face, observing myself with unease. Normally I'd care less about how I looked, but today, I'll be spending a lot of time with George, and I don't want to look bad.

Wait, why do I care about this? I mean, it's not bad, right?

I check myself one last time before walking out of my room, grabbing breakfast, and walking to school.

As soon as I see George, my heart starts thumping a little faster.

Why is this happening? Heart, shut up!

I observe the brunette as he sits at our usual spot, alone, waiting for me. He's wearing a blue turtleneck that looks exactly like mine...we match.

After the morning bell rings, George and I walk into the chemistry classroom, eager to continue our project. Today, we're diving into a new experiment on chemical reactions. As we mix solutions and observe reactions, our laughter fills the room when something unexpected happens. George's smile is contagious, and I find myself looking forward to these moments more than anything else in my day.

---

George's POV:

"Hey, George, are you following?" Clay asks.

I nod, though truthfully, I've been more focused on Clay than the experiment itself. "Yeah, got it. Let's mix these solutions first."

Clay's American accent adds a charm to his explanations as we work through the project together. His dedication and natural curiosity make the lab session enjoyable, despite my initial reservation to move here. Back in England, my circle of friends was different. If you could even call it that. People were all so busy with their lives, and their families, so I never found the time to fully connect or call anyone a friend.

Clay is different, he seems actually interested in what we're doing, and it's refreshing. I've been holding back, not sharing much about my life here, but maybe I should open up soon. Clay seems like someone I could trust, someone who might understand.

"Clay," I begin, glancing up from the experiment. "I used to do a lot of things back in England, and it feels so different here."

Clay looks up, his eyes appearing confused. "Different how?"

"Well," I start, hesitating slightly, "back home, I used to spend a lot of time exploring. There were these beautiful trails near my house, and I'd go walking with Wi- ...with my friend..."

"That sounds amazing," Clay replies, leaning back on his heels slightly. "I've wanted to walk more, but I haven't much."

"Yeah, I miss the scenery. I enjoy being outdoors, surrounded by nature. The yellows and...blues..." I pause. "Though, um...It'd be better if I could see green, I think,"

Clay looks puzzled. "Green? What do you mean?"

"I'm colorblind," I say, taking a deep breath. "Specifically, I have protanopia. It means I have difficulty with shades of red and green. So when I walk, I focus more on the textures and shapes rather than the colors. It's all quite the same to me..."

Clay nods, his expression thoughtful. "That must change things..."

"Yeah, but I've never known life without it," I say with a small smile.

We continued talking, with Clay asking questions about how I navigated the trails and what aspects of nature I liked the most. His genuine curiosity and understanding make me feel comfortable sharing these things with him.

---

Clay's POV:

After class, George and I head to the library to research our next experiment, not caring much if we're late. Sitting side by side, our shoulders occasionally brushing, I feel a warmth spreading through me that confuses me.

"Did you play sports back in England?" I ask George, curious about his background.

George looks up from his laptop, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Oh, I played football," he says with a chuckle. "It's quite popular where I'm from. I used to play for my school team."

"You mean soccer?" I ask, smiling at his British terminology.

George chuckles. "Yes, that's what you call it here. It's strange getting used to your American ways."

As usual, we discussed a lot of things that don't have to do with the project. I realize how easy it is to be around him, how effortlessly we connect over our shared interests, and the excitement of being together.

As we pack up to leave, Josh, one of my basketball teammates, walks in. He gives me a friendly nod and then notices George. "Hey, Clay, who's your partner?" Josh asks, a curious smile on his face.

"This is George," I introduce them, feeling a surge of pride at having George meet my friends. "He moved here from England. George, this is Josh, one of my teammates."

George offers a polite smile, shaking Josh's hand. "Nice to meet you, Josh."

George offers a polite smile, shaking Josh's hand. "Nice to meet you, Josh."

Josh leans against the table, his interest piqued. "So, George, are you into basketball at all?"

George chuckles, shaking his head. "Not really. I'm more into...soccer," He says, staring at me.

I hold back a laugh as Josh continues.

"Well, you'll have to come watch one of our games sometime. Maybe Clay can teach you a thing or two about basketball."

I glance at George.

George is too short to play basketball, I think with a smirk on my face.

George smiles warmly at him. "I'd like that," he says, his eyes locking on mine briefly before turning back to Josh.

We exchange goodbyes with Josh as we head out of the library. Walking side by side with George, I realize how much I enjoy introducing him to my world, and how much I look forward to learning his.

Word Count: 943 :)