James Dolle was the epitome of high school cool. Tall, with the kind of rugged good looks that made heads turn in the hallway, he had an effortless charm that made everyone want to be near him. He was popular, his name whispered with admiration, envy, and sometimes even longing. People assumed his life was as perfect as his appearance—the classic dream of a star athlete with a great group of friends and an endless string of parties to attend. But no one knew the truth. James kept his home life under wraps, a secret buried beneath the smiles and the swagger.
He lived in a small, rundown trailer with a father who was either absent or drunk and a mother who had checked out years ago. His upbringing was a mess, but James had become a master at hiding it, ensuring that no one ever saw the cracks in his facade. He had worked too hard to get to where he was, to be anything but perfect in the eyes of his peers.
Then there was Anthony, who everyone called Annie. Annie was the opposite of James in every way—quiet, naive, and too sheltered for his own good. He was the kid who wore his heart on his sleeve, always a little too trusting and a little too unaware of the cruel reality of high school life. And because of that, Annie was bullied relentlessly. People mocked his innocence, his softness, and James—well, James played along, if only to protect his own reputation. After all, how could the popular guy defend the weird, naive kid?
But the truth was, James couldn't stop thinking about Annie. Every time he heard someone laugh at him, James felt a pang of guilt. There was something about Annie that tugged at his chest in a way he couldn't ignore. Maybe it was the way Annie's eyes always held a flicker of hope, despite everything, or maybe it was the way he seemed so out of place in a world that didn't understand him.
The night of homecoming, everything changed.
It started with a few drinks and a party at someone's house—one of those nights where the music was loud, and the air was thick with the smell of booze and the promise of things better left unsaid. James had gone, as always, playing the part of the charming, carefree guy everyone expected him to be. But as the night wore on, he found himself slipping away from the crowd, his mind wandering to Annie.
He found Annie sitting alone in the back of the house, away from the chaos of the party, his shoulders hunched as he scrolled through his phone. He looked so small and out of place, and for a moment, James felt something crack inside of him.
Without thinking, James walked over and sat down beside him. Annie looked up, startled. "James?"
"Hey," James said, his voice softer than usual. "Why are you out here all alone?"
Annie shrugged, clearly uncomfortable. "I don't really fit in with all... this," he gestured vaguely toward the house.
James chuckled. "Yeah, me neither."
Annie shot him a look, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You? You're the most popular guy in school. You fit in everywhere."
James leaned back, staring up at the stars. "You'd be surprised."
They sat in silence for a while, the distant thrum of the party fading into the background. For the first time in a long time, James felt at ease, like he didn't have to pretend to be someone he wasn't. With Annie, he could just... be.
Before he knew it, they were talking—really talking. Annie opened up about how hard things had been, how he felt like he didn't belong anywhere. James found himself doing the same, sharing bits of his life that he had never told anyone else. By the time the party had died down, they were the only ones left.
"I should go," Annie said, standing up reluctantly.
James grabbed his wrist, stopping him. "Don't go yet."
