Ocean had never liked being the center of attention. In fact, he had spent most of his life perfecting the art of being invisible. He moved through school like a shadow—unseen, unheard, unnoticed. It was safer that way. He could avoid the inevitable questions, the painful conversations, and the judgment that came with letting people see him.
But Skyler was the opposite. Skyler had a way of drawing people in without even trying. Wherever he went, eyes followed. He didn't ask for the attention; it just seemed to naturally gravitate toward him. His easy smile, his effortless charm, his warmth—it was like the world couldn't help but notice him.
And Ocean was starting to feel the weight of that difference now more than ever.
They had just been given an important assignment in class, one that would count toward their final exams. The room buzzed with energy as students scrambled to find their partners, but Ocean remained where he was, silently hoping to be left alone, as usual. He had always worked better that way—on his own, in the quiet, away from prying eyes.
But this time, fate had different plans.
"Alright, everyone!" their teacher called out, clapping her hands to get the class's attention. "I've already assigned your partners for this project. It's crucial that you work well together, as this will be a major part of your exam grade."
Ocean's stomach sank as the teacher began to read out the pairs. He wasn't sure why, but something inside him tensed, like he was bracing for something he couldn't quite name.
"And finally," the teacher continued, glancing down at her list, "Ocean and Skyler. You two will be working together."
Ocean's heart stopped.
There was a moment of silence in the room—a brief, heavy pause—before the whispers began. He could feel it immediately, the weight of eyes turning toward him, the murmurs spreading like wildfire. It was like the air had thickened, pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
He didn't need to look up to know what was happening. He could already feel the stares, the judgment, the quiet envy that rolled off the girls in the room. Of course, they all wanted to be paired with Skyler. Skyler, who was always at the center of everything. Skyler, who seemed to make everything look so effortless.
And then there was Ocean—the quiet one. The one who stayed in the background, who never spoke unless spoken to, who faded into the walls like a shadow. The one no one noticed. Until now.
As the whispers grew louder, Ocean's discomfort settled deep in his chest. He hated this. Hated the way all eyes were on him, on them. He had spent years perfecting the art of being invisible, and now, all of that was being undone in an instant.
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, staring down at his hands. His mind raced with thoughts, a storm of emotions he couldn't quite control. Why me? Why now? Why Skyler?
Suddenly, he felt a presence beside him. Skyler had moved from his seat and was now standing next to him, his expression calm, unaffected by the stares. Skyler didn't seem to notice the tension in the room, or if he did, he didn't care.
"Looks like we're partners," Skyler said, his voice easy, as if they weren't standing in the middle of a classroom filled with people staring at them.
Ocean didn't look up. He could still feel the eyes on him, the quiet judgment, the weight of being seen for once—and not in a way he wanted. "Yeah," he muttered, his voice low. "We are."
Skyler's gaze lingered on him for a moment, and Ocean could feel the concern in his eyes, even without looking. Skyler always seemed to know when something was wrong, when Ocean was uncomfortable, but he didn't push. He never pushed.
"Let's go talk somewhere else," Skyler suggested, his tone gentle, like he understood exactly why Ocean didn't want to stay in the room. "We can figure out a plan for the assignment."
Ocean nodded, grateful for the excuse to leave the room. He grabbed his bag and followed Skyler out of the classroom, aware of the whispers trailing behind them. As soon as they stepped into the quiet hallway, Ocean let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
They walked in silence for a while, the soft sound of their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. Ocean's mind was still spinning, the weight of everything that had just happened pressing down on him like a stone.
"Hey," Skyler said quietly, breaking the silence as they reached an empty bench by the window. "You okay?"
Ocean sat down, staring out at the view of the campus below. The autumn leaves were beginning to fall, the colors vibrant against the gray sky. He watched the students below, all going about their day, unaware of the storm brewing inside him.
"I'm fine," Ocean replied, though his voice lacked conviction. He knew Skyler could see right through him, but he didn't know how to explain the knot of emotions that had tightened in his chest. How could he explain the overwhelming discomfort of being paired with someone like Skyler? How could he explain the envy he had felt from the girls, the way it made him feel even smaller, even more invisible?
Skyler sat beside him, not pushing for more, just waiting. His patience was one of the things that Ocean both appreciated and feared. It meant Skyler knew when to let things sit in the quiet, but it also meant that Skyler knew when something was wrong, even if Ocean wasn't ready to talk about it.
"It's just..." Ocean finally began, his voice soft, "you're always the center of attention. People notice you. They want to be around you. And me... I'm not like that."
Skyler didn't interrupt, just listened.
"I've always been okay with being unnoticed," Ocean continued, his eyes still fixed on the campus below. "But today, it felt like... like suddenly everyone was looking at me. And not in a good way."
Skyler leaned back against the bench, his expression thoughtful. "I didn't think about it like that," he admitted after a moment. "I didn't realize it would make you uncomfortable."
Ocean shrugged, though the weight of his discomfort was still heavy in his chest. "It's not your fault. I just... I don't like being seen. I've spent so long staying in the background, and now..." He trailed off, not sure how to finish the sentence.
Skyler was quiet for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "I get that," he said softly. "But you don't have to be invisible, Ocean. You don't have to fade into the background. I know it's uncomfortable, but you don't have to carry that weight alone."
Ocean's chest tightened at Skyler's words. It wasn't that easy. He had spent years perfecting the art of being unseen, of not letting people in. And now, with Skyler by his side, it felt like everything was shifting, and he didn't know how to stop it.
"It's just hard," Ocean whispered, his voice almost breaking. "I don't like people looking at me like that. It makes me feel... like I don't belong."
Skyler leaned forward, his voice low and gentle. "You do belong, Ocean. Maybe you're not used to it, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve to be seen."
Ocean didn't reply, his thoughts too tangled to find the right words. But Skyler didn't need him to. He just sat there, quiet and patient, his presence a steadying force beside Ocean's storm.
After a while, Skyler stood up, offering Ocean a small smile. "Let's get out of here. We can work on the assignment somewhere else, away from all the eyes."
Ocean nodded, grateful for the suggestion. They gathered their things and left the building, walking in comfortable silence toward the edge of campus where they could be alone. As they walked, Ocean couldn't help but glance over at Skyler, who seemed so effortlessly at ease, even with the attention that followed him everywhere.
He didn't understand how Skyler did it—how he handled being noticed, being seen, being wanted by so many people. But there was something comforting in knowing that Skyler saw him too. That even when Ocean wanted to disappear, Skyler was still there, waiting for him to come back.
TBC. 🩵
