Close to you || Clay + Tony

4

He crossed the street and saw him. Tony. He and his dad were working on his car.

„You remember Clay?", Tony asked his father as Clay appeared next to the car.

„Of course", his dad answered, distracted.

„So, Clay.. what's up?", he asked and looked at him.

„Nothing uhm, I was out for a ride", Clay answered and shrugged his shoulders. He didn't expect him to ask such questions.

„On the other side of the town?", Tony asked sarcastically, and starred at him.

That hit Clay right in the face. He didn't know what to say.

„I just drove through the area. Hadn't a specific goal", he lied, abashed.

„Okay", Tony answered and smirked.

„I'll see you tomorrow?", he asked. His stomach felt like there were hundreds of butterflies in it. His cheeks turned red.

„Sure. See you tomorrow, Clay", he grinned and turned around to continue the conversation with his dad.

Clay drove back home. He didn't understand what just happened. His head started to hurt and he decided to sleep. It was almost lunch time but he wasn't hungry anyway.

He woke up the next morning.

„Did you sleep all day yesterday?", his dad asked as he came down the stairs to have breakfast with his parents.

„Yeah. I wasn't feeling well", he replied.

„Maybe you should stay at home today", his mom said, worried.

Staying at home, not being able to talk to Tony? Not being able to be around – him? No way.

„No, I'm much better. Don't worry, mom. I gotta go now, see you later", he forced a smile, grabbed a pancake and left the house.

On his way to school he started to become nervous. He totally forgot that Tony's reaction seemed a bit weird. Why did he smirk? Why did he grin? And why the hell did he have that strange feeling?

He walked past the hallway. A classmate crossed his way.

„Hey Alex", he said absent. „Why are you wearing.."

„Hey guys!", Zach yelled and interrupted Clay. „Party tonight. My house!"

„I don't think I can come", Clay answered.

„Why? You've got something better to do?", Zach asked, sarcastically and raised his eyebrows.

Clay – as clever as he is – expected that question. He knew that Zach wouldn't have invited him if Alex didn't stand next to him.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. Tony appeared next to him.

„Clay needs some help with french. Right, Clay?", Tony asked, staring at Clay.

Clay was busy staring at those beautiful fingers on his shoulder until he forced himself to look at Tony. His heart started racing.

„Yeah, sure."

Zach and Alex got into an argument about the pary and decided to leave.

„I've got better grades than you in french", Clay said.

„I was just trying to help", he answered and winked, before he left too.

Clay went to the bathroom and leaned against the wall. He closed his eyes. What was that? Why couldn't he stop staring at Tony's hand? Why did the skin under Tony's hand feel like it was burning? And why did he feel like his heart was about to jump out of his chest.