In the Wake of Dusk and Dawn

The halls of Willowcreek High buzzed with the familiar sounds of lockers slamming, students chatting, and the occasional hum of the bell. Dusk Cooper stood by his locker, adjusting the sleeves of his pastel blue sweater, a gift from his mom, who always knew how much he loved soft, gentle colors. The V-neck framed his crisp white polo underneath, a sharp contrast to the dull, gray lockers that surrounded him. Dusk was used to standing out. He was openly gay, and though it had taken time for his classmates to get used to it, he carried himself with pride.

He pulled out his marine biology textbook, hugging it to his chest. His mind was already drifting to the evening, where he'd spend hours reading about coral reefs and the mysteries of the ocean. Agriculture and marine biology were his escapes from the noisy world of high school. That, and his best friend, Alexis.

"Hey, Dusk!" a voice called out, pulling him back to the present.

He looked up to see Alexis waving from across the hall, her tall frame towering over most of the students. But today, someone else stood next to her-a figure dressed in a black hoodie, hands stuffed in the pockets, head slightly ducked. Dusk had seen him around before. Dawn Mitchell, Alexis's older brother, had always seemed quiet, brooding even. They'd never really spoken, but today, Dusk's heart skipped a beat. There was something about the way Dawn lingered behind his sister that made Dusk curious.

"Dawn, come over here and meet Dusk!" Alexis beckoned him forward.

Dawn shuffled over, clearly uncomfortable but willing to humor his sister. He was taller than Dusk expected, with broad shoulders and an easy-going kind of vibe despite the ever-present hoodie. Dawn's dark, curly hair fell slightly over his forehead, and his deep brown eyes held a cautious, almost nervous expression. Dusk smiled at him, his usual warmth and confidence bubbling to the surface.

"Nice to meet you, Dawn. Alexis talks about you all the time," Dusk said, holding out his hand.

Dawn hesitated before shaking it, his grip firm but gentle. "Yeah, she... she talks about you a lot too," he mumbled, his voice deep, like a rumble beneath the earth. He glanced at Dusk's outfit, eyes lingering for a moment on the soft pastel shades before quickly looking away.

Alexis grinned between the two. "Dusk is basically a marine biology genius. I told you, right? Maybe you can help him with mechanics or something since you're always tinkering in the garage."

Dusk chuckled, tucking a strand of his blonde hair behind his ear. "I'd love that. I don't know much about mechanics, but it sounds fascinating."

Dawn shifted awkwardly. "It's... it's cool, I guess. You know, fixing stuff, making things work. Not as cool as the ocean or anything."

The bell rang, signaling the start of class, and Alexis gave them both a parting wave. "Catch you later! Be nice, Dawn," she teased, leaving them alone in the hallway.

For a moment, there was an awkward silence between the two boys, neither knowing exactly what to say. But something in that silence felt comforting, like the calm before a gentle storm. Dusk broke the stillness, smiling up at Dawn.

"So, you like mechanics? I bet you're great at it."

Dawn scratched the back of his neck, a faint blush creeping into his cheeks. "Yeah... it's kind of my thing. I fix up old cars in the garage when I'm not at school. My dad's got a junkyard, so there's always something to work on."

"That sounds incredible. I'd love to see what you're working on sometime," Dusk said earnestly, his bright blue eyes lighting up with curiosity.

Dawn's heart did an unfamiliar flip at the sight. He wasn't used to this feeling-this strange, fluttering nervousness. He'd never been particularly close to anyone outside his family, and he definitely hadn't ever felt this way about a guy. It confused him, but at the same time, it intrigued him.