Days passed, though they didn't feel any different to Ocean. The school corridors were the same, the students the same. Even the sky above remained bright and unwavering, untouched by the uncertainty he carried within. Yet something had shifted—something subtle, like a breeze that changes direction before you even notice.
Skyler.
He was everywhere now, or at least, it felt that way. Ocean would catch glimpses of him across the cafeteria, laughing with his friends, his eyes bright and full of life. Skyler was the kind of person who seemed to draw people in without even trying. It wasn't just the charm, though there was plenty of that; it was the way he listened, the way he made even the smallest conversation feel important. Ocean wasn't sure how someone could shine so brightly without ever burning out.
It was distracting, if nothing else.
Ocean leaned back against the bench in the library, his notebook open in front of him, though he hadn't written a single word in the last twenty minutes. The familiar silence of the library was usually comforting, but today it felt stifling, as if the walls were closing in. His mind kept drifting back to that moment—that touch, brief and insignificant as it might have seemed to anyone else, but still lingering in his thoughts.
It wasn't the touch that haunted him, though. It was the way Skyler had looked at him, like he was something more than just a quiet boy who spent his days blending into the background. As if Skyler had seen him, really seen him, and still wanted to know more.
Ocean closed his notebook with a snap, frustration bubbling under the surface. He couldn't afford to think about things like this. Not now. Not ever. People like Skyler didn't belong in his world, not with the weight of broken promises dragging him down. People like Skyler believed in things that weren't meant for him—like love and forever.
"Hey."
The sound of Skyler's voice pulled Ocean out of his thoughts, and he stiffened, eyes darting up to meet Skyler's gaze. There he was, standing in front of Ocean's table, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. It wasn't the easy, carefree grin he wore around his friends. No, this one was softer, almost tentative, as if Skyler wasn't sure what kind of response he would get.
Ocean's first instinct was to look away, to pretend he hadn't heard. But something stopped him. Maybe it was the sincerity in Skyler's eyes, or maybe it was the strange sense of curiosity that had taken root inside him. He didn't know, but for once, Ocean didn't retreat.
"What do you want?" Ocean's voice came out quieter than intended, more defensive than it should have been.
Skyler shrugged, slipping into the seat across from him as if they'd done this a hundred times before. His presence was like the sun breaking through a clouded day—warm and inviting, but Ocean wasn't ready to let the light in.
"I was just passing by," Skyler said, leaning back casually. "Figured I'd see how you were doing."
Ocean raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "We don't even know each other."
"Not yet," Skyler countered, a playful glint in his eyes. "But I figure everyone starts out that way, right?"
There it was again—that lightness, the way Skyler spoke as if the world wasn't as heavy as Ocean knew it to be. As if friendships and connections could be formed without the weight of expectations. Ocean's fingers curled around the edge of his notebook, his eyes flicking to the cover. The word promises was scrawled there, faded but still visible, a reminder of the things he'd left behind.
"You're wasting your time," Ocean muttered, shaking his head. "I don't... I don't do this."
Skyler didn't flinch. "Do what?"
Ocean gestured vaguely between them. "This. Whatever this is. Making friends. Talking. I don't need any of it."
For a moment, Skyler was silent, his gaze steady, unwavering. Then, slowly, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Maybe you don't need it," he said quietly, his voice soft but firm. "But it's okay to want it."
The words hit Ocean like a wave crashing against him, unexpected and powerful. Want. The word twisted something inside him, something he had tried so hard to bury beneath layers of indifference. He didn't want anything—at least, that's what he had always told himself. Wanting meant hoping, and hope only led to disappointment. Ocean had learned that the hard way.
"I don't want anything," Ocean said, his voice colder now, sharper. He stood up, pushing the chair back roughly. "Not from you. Not from anyone."
But even as the words left his mouth, Ocean knew they weren't entirely true. Because somewhere, buried deep beneath his guarded exterior, he wanted something he couldn't quite name. And Skyler... Skyler had a way of making him feel that wanting wasn't such a dangerous thing after all.
"Hey," Skyler's voice was soft as he stood, not moving closer, but not backing down either. "I'm not asking for anything from you, Ocean. I just... I just want to be there."
Ocean's heart stilled for a moment, his breath caught in his chest. Be there. It was such a simple phrase, but it carried the weight of promises he didn't want to hear. Yet, there was something different about Skyler's words—something that felt lighter, less binding, like a gentle breeze instead of a chain.
"Why?" Ocean asked, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes meeting Skyler's for what felt like the first time.
Skyler smiled softly, his gaze unwavering. "Because sometimes, people need someone to believe in them, even when they don't believe in themselves."
Ocean's chest tightened at the words, and for a split second, the walls he had built around himself trembled. But they didn't fall. Not yet. He wasn't ready for that.
Without another word, Ocean turned and walked away, leaving Skyler standing there, watching him go. His footsteps felt heavier than before, but somewhere deep inside, something had shifted—like the first ripple in a calm ocean, the beginning of a storm.
TBC. 🩵
