Kindred Spirits

XXIII

The Monday morning air was crisp and clear, a stark contrast to the overcast skies that had loomed over the weekend. As Lukas walked to school, his thoughts were still lingering on the events of the past few days. The date with Liam had been perfect—better than he could have imagined—and the quiet time they had spent together had given him a sense of peace that was rare these days.

But as he approached the school, the familiar anxiety began to creep back in. The hallways were already buzzing with the usual chatter, and Lukas could feel the weight of the day pressing down on him. He had spent the weekend in a bubble with Liam, but now that they were back at school, he couldn't ignore the realities they had to face—the rumors, the judgment, and the ever-present tension that seemed to follow them wherever they went.

Lukas entered the building, keeping his head down as he made his way to his locker. The noise of the students around him felt overwhelming, and he focused on the simple task of getting his books, trying to block out the world around him.

"Lukas!"

He turned to see Corrin jogging up to him, a smile on his face. Lukas forced a smile in return, but there was a knot in his stomach that he couldn't ignore. Things between him and Corrin had been... different lately. The easy friendship they had shared was starting to feel strained, and Lukas couldn't help but wonder if Corrin was beginning to see the changes in their dynamic—changes Lukas wasn't sure how to address.

"Hey," Lukas greeted as Corrin reached him.

"Hey," Corrin replied, leaning against the locker next to Lukas. "How was your weekend?"

Lukas shrugged, trying to keep his tone casual. "It was good. Just hung out with Liam, did some homework, the usual."

Corrin's smile tightened ever so slightly, and Lukas could see the flicker of something in his eyes—something that made him feel uneasy. "Yeah, I figured you'd be with Liam," Corrin said, his voice light but carrying a hint of something more. "You guys have been spending a lot of time together lately."

Lukas swallowed, unsure of how to respond. "Yeah, I guess we have."

Corrin's gaze lingered on Lukas for a moment before he sighed, pushing off the locker and giving Lukas a pat on the shoulder. "Well, as long as you're happy, man. Just don't forget about the rest of us, okay?"

Lukas nodded, forcing another smile. "I won't."

As Corrin walked away, Lukas felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He hated the idea of drifting away from his friends, especially Corrin, who had been one of the first people to welcome him when he transferred to the school. But things were changing, and Lukas wasn't sure how to keep everything from slipping through his fingers.

The first few periods passed in a blur, Lukas struggling to focus as his thoughts kept drifting back to the tension between him, Liam, and Corrin. By lunchtime, the weight of it all was starting to feel unbearable, and he found himself seeking out Liam, hoping that seeing him would help ease the anxiety that had been building all morning.

He found Liam at their usual spot in the cafeteria, sitting with a few of the other football players. When Liam saw Lukas approaching, his face lit up with a smile, and Lukas felt a rush of warmth in his chest—proof that even on days like this, Liam could make everything feel okay.

"Hey," Liam greeted him as Lukas sat down beside him.

"Hey," Lukas replied, trying to shake off the unease that had been following him all morning.

Liam seemed to sense that something was off, and his smile faltered slightly. "Everything alright?"

Lukas hesitated, glancing around the table. The other guys were engrossed in their own conversations, but Lukas couldn't help but feel self-conscious, knowing that anything he said might be overheard. "Can we talk later?" he asked quietly.

Liam nodded, his expression serious. "Of course. Meet me after practice?"

"Yeah," Lukas agreed, feeling a bit more at ease now that they had a plan.

The rest of the day passed slowly, Lukas counting down the minutes until the final bell. When it finally rang, he made his way to the football field, where practice was already in full swing. He stood at the edge of the field, watching as the team ran drills, Liam moving with his usual confidence and precision.

But as Lukas watched, he couldn't help but notice that Corrin seemed... off. His movements were tense, his interactions with Liam lacking the usual camaraderie that Lukas had come to expect from them. There was an undercurrent of tension that made Lukas' stomach twist with anxiety.

When practice ended, Liam jogged over to Lukas, a tired but genuine smile on his face. "Hey, thanks for waiting," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

"No problem," Lukas replied, though his eyes drifted back to the field, where Corrin was talking to another player, his expression tight and guarded.

Liam followed his gaze, his smile fading as he seemed to pick up on Lukas' unease. "What's going on?"

Lukas hesitated, unsure of how to bring up what had been bothering him. "I... I don't know. It's just... things feel weird between us lately."

Liam frowned, concern flickering in his eyes. "Weird how?"

"I don't know," Lukas admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "It's like... like things aren't the same between me and Corrin. I feel like he's pulling away, or maybe I'm pulling away, and I don't know how to fix it."

Liam's expression softened, and he reached out to place a hand on Lukas' shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. Relationships change, especially when other things in your life are changing too. But that doesn't mean you're losing him as a friend. Maybe he just needs some time to adjust."

Lukas nodded, but the uncertainty still gnawed at him. "I guess. I just don't want things to fall apart."

"They won't," Liam said firmly. "We'll figure it out. Together, remember?"

Lukas smiled faintly, the tension in his chest easing a little. "Yeah, together."

As they left the field, Liam slung an arm around Lukas' shoulders, pulling him close in a gesture that was both comforting and reassuring. Lukas leaned into the warmth of Liam's side, grateful for his presence and his steady support. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he knew they would face them together.

But as they walked away, Lukas couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated—and that Corrin was at the center of it.