Because I'm scared to say the truth - Landoscar

·Chapter 10·

The first rays of morning light filtered through Lando's bedroom window, gently nudging Oscar awake. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness, and turned his head to see Lando, still asleep beside him, a soft smile tugging at his lips even in his dreams. Oscar took a moment to appreciate the moment, feeling his heart swell with affection for the boy lying next to him.

Careful not to disturb him, Oscar traced gentle circles on Lando's bare chest, feeling warmth under his fingertips. As if sensing the touch, Lando slowly stirred, his eyes fluttering open. "Morning," Lando mumbled, his voice full with sleep.

"Morning," Oscar replied, his cheeks turning a shade of pink as he remembered the events of the previous night. He wasn't quite used to this intimacy, but it felt... right.

"How do you feel?" Lando asked, studying him closely.

Oscar bit his lip, a small smile forming. "Perfect. How about you?"

"Never better," Lando grinned, leaning in to place a soft kiss on Oscar's lips. They lingered in that moment, but the urgency of the day soon pulled them apart. "We should get ready for school," Lando suggested reluctantly.

"Yeah, we should," Oscar agreed, though he made no effort to move. After a few more stolen kisses, they finally peeled themselves from the bed.

They made their way to the bathroom, and Oscar felt a bit self-conscious as they stepped into the shower together. It was a first for him, sharing this kind of intimacy with someone else, but Lando was gentle, playful even, making Oscar feel comfortable. They laughed, splashed water at each other, and shared slow, tender kisses under the warm spray. Oscar marveled at how effortlessly Lando made everything feel natural and safe.

After drying off, they dressed quickly, and Lando made sure they had breakfast before heading out the door. The ride to school was filled with easy conversation, teasing banter, and the occasional stolen glance that made Oscar's heart race. They'd decided to keep their relationship a secret for now, at least until they could figure out how to handle their friends.

Once they arrived at school, they parted ways, offering each other an unspoken promise that they would be okay. Oscar headed to his locker, meeting up with Arthur, Fred, and Logan, who greeted him with their usual smiles.

"Hey, mate, you alright?" Arthur asked, noticing the little bounce in Oscar's step.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good," Oscar replied, fighting to keep the grin off his face.

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Meanwhile, Lando rejoined his group—Max, Charles, George, and Alex. He felt a bit nervous, wondering if anyone would notice how he couldn't stop glancing at Oscar.

"Someone's in a good mood today," George commented, raising an eyebrow. "Care to share, Norris?"

"Just... had a good night," Lando replied, shrugging nonchalantly, though his eyes involuntarily flickered toward Oscar.

Max shot him a skeptical look but didn't say anything. Charles, however, didn't miss the subtle exchange. "Just make sure you're not getting distracted," he muttered under his breath. George, who had caught the direction of Lando's gaze, exchanged a knowing look with Alex, who both silently hoped Lando had found something—someone—that made him happy.

The day passed uneventfully until History class. Oscar, feeling the effects of his morning coffee, excused himself to the restroom. The hallways were quiet, and he appreciated the moment of solitude as he walked down the corridor.

However, just as he reached the restroom and stepped inside, he felt an unsettling presence behind him. Turning around, Oscar's heart sank as he saw Max blocking the entrance, his expression anything but friendly.

"Well, well," Max drawled, leaning against the doorframe. "You've been quite the busy boy lately, haven't you, Oscar?"

Oscar tried to stay calm, but his pulse quickened. "I don't know what you're talking about, Max. I just want to get back to class."

Max stepped closer, cutting off any chance of escape. "Oh, I think you do. You see, I'm not stupid. I can tell when someone's lying. And you," he sneered, "you've been lying to all of us."

Oscar took a step back, bumping into the cold tiles of the bathroom wall. "What do you want, Max?"

"I want to know what game you're playing with Lando," Max replied, his tone sharp. "He's acting different, and I have a feeling it's got everything to do with you."

Oscar swallowed hard, his mind racing. "There's no game, Max. I care about him."

Max scoffed. "Yeah? Well, you're not good enough for him." His voice dropped, carrying an edge that made Oscar's skin prickle. "In fact, you don't belong anywhere near him."

Before Oscar could respond, Carlos appeared from his back and grabbed his wrist, pinning it against the wall. Panic surged through Oscar, but he tried to remain calm, even though fear flickered in his eyes. "Carlos, let me go," he demanded, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

"You think you can just walk in and take everything from us? From me?" Carlos hissed, leaning in closer, his grip tightening. Oscar struggled but found himself unable to break free. "You're nothing, Oscar. You've always been nothing."

Desperation took over, and Oscar's heart pounded in his ears. "This isn't about you or me, Carlos. Lando chose to be with me. You have to accept that."

Carlos's eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, Oscar thought he might lash out. But instead, he released Oscar's wrist with a shove, leaving a red mark behind. "This isn't over," Carlos snarled. "You better watch yourself."

Breathing heavily, Oscar stood there, shaken but refusing to let Carlos and Max see how much they had gotten to him. As they left the bathroom, Oscar's legs felt weak, and he slid down against the wall, trying to collect himself. His hand trembled as he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to someone he never though he will text; Charles: "Can we meet? Now."

Within minutes, Charles arrived, his face contorted with concern as he found Oscar sitting on the bathroom floor. "Oscar, what happened?" he asked, rushing over to help him up.

"Just... Max and Carlos," Oscar muttered, trying to brush it off, but Charles saw the faint red mark on Oscar's wrist, his expression darkening.

"They did this to you?" Charles's voice was dangerously low, and Oscar could see the anger simmering just beneath the surface.

"It's fine," Oscar lied, though his voice betrayed him. "I'm okay. Really. Just...don't tell Lando. I know he and Max are close... I know you two are close, but I didn't know who to call..."

"No," Charles said firmly, "it's not okay." He pulled Oscar into a tight hug, holding him as if he could shield him from all the pain and fear in the world. "I'm going to make sure he never touches you again."

Oscar buried his face in Charles's shoulder, letting the tears he'd been holding back finally fall. For now, Oscar trusted Charles that he is gonna help him.