The Break Up Plan (BoyxBoy)

Step 3

"Stephanie!" I called.

Her long hair flew gracefully past her face as she turned. At the sight of me, her perfectly neutral expression vanished behind a smile.

Compared to her, I looked like a lump. Specifically, a lump running for the first time. I jogged to a stop in front of her, my breathing coming out haggard. Being tired next to someone so beautiful made it that much more embarrassing.

"I'm so glad I caught you," I smiled brightly. "Rin said he wanted to meet up with you at the library before you guys leave today."

"Oh," she shook her head adorably in confusion, her shorter layers of hair catching a few of her long lashes. "Did he say why?"

"Nope! When I asked why he just turned red so I didn't push it."

"I see," an even dusting of pinks and reds warmed her cheeks and her eyes dropped shyly to the floor. "Thanks for telling me, Elly."

No. Thank you for believing me, Steph.

The result of hours of brainstorming brought me to this bright and bubbly conversation. If I wanted the argument to feel realistic, it should be about something they've fought over before.

Attention.

Turns out, Stephanie Huarez had a flaw after all. Her desire for Rin's attention could make her lose reason. Or at the very least, become the opposite of the pleasant, upbeat person I'd come to know her as.

Going to the library for some afternoon fun with the boyfriend only to be blown off would make anybody mad. If all went to plan, it would make Stephanie livid. And in a few hours, they'd be on the brink.

So the smile I gave her in return was completely genuine.

"You're welcome."

—————

James was late showing up to school Thursday morning, so I didn't feel guilty tuning in to a chatty Rin. Our desks almost touched with how close he'd dragged his in and he put his elbows on my desk as he talked.

A lack of personal space was pretty normal for the two of us. But today I was acutely aware of the fact that I could count each of his lashes. And, when he laughed, warm air brushed my cheeks. Each time he cracked another smile, which was almost constant, my heart squeezed a little bit more.

I tried to push my weird observations to the side. Him being so close shouldn't bother me. And, I was waiting for him to explain what happened yesterday when he didn't show up to the library. Depending on how much Stephanie said, there was a chance he'd be mad at me. Yesterday's plan had been a risk but I was too eager to give it a shot.

Still, he didn't seem upset with me this morning. He didn't seem upset about anything at all, sunshine just about spilling out of his ears.

"And it was so awkward the other day–you know when I came over to your house after your shift–because her parents canceled their trip!" His laugh was half relaxed, half mortified. "I had to socialize with her parents like a respectable boyfriend. Like I hadn't come over to- you get the point."

I did. His inability to get laid and the resulting surprise visit gave me the heart attack of a lifetime. Not like I wanted him to get laid, of course. Continued intercourse would make it way harder for them to split up. That's why I didn't like it.

"But the weirdest thing happened yesterday."

"Oh?"

Stay calm. You're uninvolved. Totally chill.