Over the next few weeks, Skyler and Ocean's paths crossed more often, like the pull of the tide meeting the shore, inevitable and unspoken. Ocean found himself drawn into Skyler's orbit without realizing it—small moments in the hallways, shared lunches beneath the trees, even casual conversations that stretched longer than they should have.
It was confusing. Frustrating, even. Because Ocean wasn't sure what this was between them. He wasn't used to this—friendship, or whatever it was turning into. But he couldn't deny that Skyler had begun to carve out a place in his life, no matter how much he tried to ignore it.
One afternoon, Ocean found himself back in the art room, as he often did when he needed space to think. The familiar scent of paint and paper filled the air, and the quiet hum of the empty room was soothing.
He sat at one of the tables, staring down at the blank page in his notebook. Words always came easier here, in the quiet. But today, his thoughts felt tangled, too many things swirling in his mind.
Ocean's pen hovered over the paper, his fingers tapping lightly against the page. He couldn't stop thinking about Skyler—about the way he always seemed to break through Ocean's defenses without even trying. About the way his smile made Ocean feel... seen.
It was terrifying.
But maybe it didn't have to be.
Before Ocean could overthink it, the door to the art room creaked open. He glanced up, half-expecting a teacher or another student, but instead, Skyler stood in the doorway, his familiar grin lighting up his face.
"Found you," Skyler said, stepping into the room.
Ocean felt his pulse quicken, though he wasn't sure why. "You were looking for me?"
"Of course," Skyler said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You weren't at lunch."
Ocean glanced down at his notebook, feeling a mix of embarrassment and confusion. "I just needed some time alone."
Skyler didn't seem bothered by the explanation. Instead, he walked over and took the seat across from Ocean, setting his own notebook on the table. "Mind if I join you?"
Ocean hesitated, but then he gave a small nod. "It's fine."
They sat in silence for a while, the soft sound of pencils and pens moving across paper filling the room. It was... peaceful. And for the first time, Ocean didn't mind sharing this space with someone else.
After a few minutes, Skyler broke the silence. "You know... I've been thinking."
Ocean raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
Skyler looked up from his sketch, his gaze steady. "About how sometimes, people push others away because they're afraid."
Ocean felt the words hit him like a wave. He stared down at his notebook, unsure of how to respond. It was as if Skyler had looked straight through him, right into the places he kept hidden—the fears, the walls, the need to protect himself from the hurt that came with broken promises.
"I'm not pushing anyone away," Ocean muttered, though even he didn't fully believe the words.
Skyler smiled, but it wasn't his usual carefree grin. It was softer, quieter. "I didn't mean it as a bad thing. I just... I get it, you know?"
Ocean glanced up, meeting Skyler's gaze. There was no judgment there, no pressure. Just understanding. And that was what unnerved Ocean the most—that Skyler seemed to understand him, maybe better than he understood himself.
"What if it's easier that way?" Ocean finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Skyler tilted his head, his eyes searching Ocean's face. "Maybe it is. But it's also lonelier."
Ocean's chest tightened. He hadn't realized just how lonely he had become until now—until Skyler had started filling the spaces in his life with moments of warmth and laughter. But letting someone in meant risking everything. And he wasn't sure if he could handle that again.
Skyler didn't push for a response. He simply leaned back in his chair, watching Ocean with that same patient expression he always had. It was like Skyler was offering him a choice: to stay behind the walls or to take a step forward.
After a moment, Skyler spoke again, his voice softer now. "You don't have to do this alone, Ocean. Not anymore."
Ocean blinked, the weight of those words sinking in. For a second, it felt like he was standing on the edge of something vast and unknown, like the ocean just before a storm. He could step back, retreat to the safety of what he knew—or he could take the plunge.
And for the first time in a long time, Ocean wasn't sure what he wanted.
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur, with Skyler beside him, sketching and humming softly to himself. They didn't talk much after that, but the silence wasn't uncomfortable. It felt... natural. As if they didn't need words to fill the space between them.
When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Ocean packed up his things, glancing over at Skyler, who was still lost in his sketchbook.
"Are you heading home?" Skyler asked without looking up.
"Yeah," Ocean replied, standing up and slinging his bag over his shoulder.
Skyler closed his sketchbook and got to his feet, stretching lazily. "Mind if I walk with you?"
Ocean hesitated for a second before nodding. "Sure."
They made their way out of the school together, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement. The air was warm, with a gentle breeze carrying the scent of the ocean in the distance. As they walked, Ocean found himself glancing over at Skyler, who was humming some tune under his breath, seemingly lost in his own world.
It was strange—being with Skyler like this. There was something calming about him, something that made the world feel a little less heavy. Ocean wasn't used to it, but he found himself wanting more of it, despite the unease that lingered in the back of his mind.
As they reached the corner where their paths usually split, Skyler stopped and turned to face Ocean, his expression thoughtful.
"Hey," Skyler said, his tone a little more serious now. "I know we don't really talk about stuff like this, but... I'm glad we're friends."
The word 'friends' hung in the air between them, and Ocean felt something twist in his chest. Friends. Was that what they were? It felt like something more, or at least, it had the potential to be. But Ocean wasn't sure how to label whatever this was between them. And maybe, he didn't need to. Not yet.
"Yeah," Ocean finally said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Me too."
Skyler grinned, the warmth in his eyes making Ocean's heart stutter for a second. "Good. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah," Ocean repeated, feeling the strange warmth linger even after Skyler walked away.
As Ocean watched Skyler disappear down the street, he realized something. Skyler had already become a part of his world, slowly and steadily, like the tide creeping up on the shore. And Ocean wasn't sure if he could stop it—if he even wanted to.
TBC. 🩵
