Ocean hadn't slept. He had tossed and turned all night, haunted by the image of Skyler standing in the art room, Emily's lips pressed to his, and worst of all—Skyler doing nothing to stop it. It had played over and over again in his mind, like a cruel, unending loop, each replay twisting the knife deeper into his heart.
He didn't push her away.
That thought lingered, burning like a cold flame in his chest. He had tried to accept it the way he always did, to bury the pain deep inside himself like he had so many times before. But this was different. He had fallen hard for Skyler—too hard, too fast. And now, he was paying the price.
Ocean had let himself believe in something, in someone, again. And now, just like every other time, his heart was shattered, his world crumbling around him. But this time, it hurt more than he had ever imagined.
The next morning, Ocean dragged himself out of bed, his body heavy with exhaustion and his mind still swirling with the events of the day before. Every step felt like a monumental effort, but he forced himself to go to school, to pretend that everything was fine. It was easier that way—easier to slip back into the mask of indifference than to face the reality of his broken heart.
But as soon as he stepped into the school building, he felt it—Skyler's presence. It was like a magnetic pull, an invisible thread that connected them, even when Ocean didn't want it to. He could feel Skyler's gaze on him, heavy and searching, but Ocean kept his eyes down, his face a mask of cold indifference.
He couldn't do this. He couldn't face Skyler. Not after what he had seen.
Ocean walked through the hallways, keeping his head low, ignoring the whispers and curious glances from other students. He didn't care what they thought. All he cared about was getting through the day without breaking.
But Skyler wasn't going to make that easy.
Ocean could feel Skyler's gaze burning into his back as he made his way to class, the weight of it almost suffocating. Every step felt heavier, as if the tension between them had become a physical thing, something that threatened to crush him if he stopped moving.
He didn't look back. He couldn't. The moment he saw Skyler, the moment he met those familiar eyes, he knew he would break. And he couldn't afford to break—not now.
But Skyler wasn't letting go.
By the time lunch rolled around, Ocean's resolve had started to crack. He had spent the entire morning pretending not to notice Skyler, not to feel the tension that hung between them like a storm cloud ready to burst. But he couldn't ignore it anymore. The silence between them was suffocating, and the weight of everything unsaid was too much to bear.
Ocean stood at his locker, his hands trembling as he fumbled with the combination. He could feel Skyler approaching before he even heard him. His heart raced, panic flaring in his chest as Skyler's footsteps grew closer.
Before he could react, Skyler was there, his hand grabbing Ocean's arm, pulling him away from the crowd. Ocean's breath caught in his throat, his heart pounding in his chest as Skyler led him down the hallway, away from prying eyes.
"Let go," Ocean muttered, trying to pull his arm free, but Skyler's grip was firm, unyielding.
"Not until you talk to me," Skyler said, his voice low but filled with frustration.
Ocean's chest tightened as they reached the art room, the very place where his world had come crashing down. His mind replayed the scene from yesterday—Emily's kiss, Skyler standing there, not pushing her away. The memory hit him like a punch to the gut, and suddenly, it was hard to breathe.
