Cyrus was indisputably the teachers pet. In every class. Including gym (which everyone knows is not his best subject). So it was no wonder that he was the one approached to make a video for the upcoming 6th graders, to "prepare them" for the horrors of middle school.
"I have so many ideas, but so little time! And since my parent's needed their camera back, I have nothing to film with.." Cyrus was sitting at lunch, chatting with Buffy and Andi about his new "project". He had been rambling for about 20 minutes now, and his friends were getting a bit fed up. "Are you sure this is a good idea? Bex told me how the whole 'script-writing' thing went for you last time." Andi cut in, in an attempt to talk him down. It didn't work. "But that was different! This is for the school, I have plenty of experience for this one! But still, predicament, camera anyone??" Cyrus pushed on, taking a bite out of his double chocolate muffin (his second one of the day, to be exact). Just then, Jonah strolled over, tossing his bag on an empty seat. "What do you need a camera for?"
"Don't encourage him, we've been hearing about this all day," Buffy replied before Cyrus could respond. "Dr. Metcalf asked him to make a 'welcome to middle school' documentary thing"
"Well, I have a camera! I got it for my birthday this year and it's just been sitting in my locker. I can help you if you want? I could be like, your camera man!"
Cyrus's face lit up like a fire pit soaked in gasoline. "S-sure Jonah, that'd be great. How's this afternoon? I've already got a script and everything!" "Doch! See you later Cy-guy."
Jonah grabbed his bag, and a piece of the muffin (much to Cyrus's dismay) and headed off to class. As Cyrus and Andi both stared after him, all Buffy could do is role her eyes. She couldn't believe how both her best friends had fallen for Frisbee-Mc-Dimples over there. Ugh.
That afternoon Cyrus sat by his locker, flipping through his 30 page script while waiting for Jonah show up. He laughs to himself when he hears footsteps approaching. He quickly realises it's Jonah as he jumps to his feet, slamming a locker shut in the process. "Hey Cyrus! You ready to film?" Jonah not only had a camera, oh no, he had a full-on tripod. "Uh, yeah yeah totally, let's do it!"
They spend all afternoon going over the script, filming Cyrus doing all his crazy ideas, and having to re-film half of it because Jonah was laughing too much. They were almost finished with the final clips when the camera flashed Low Battery on the screen. 16% left.
"Shoot, dude the camera battery is dead. I think I've got another one in my locker, i'll go grab it and we can finish up." Jonah said, heading down the hall and around the corner. Cyrus sighed, leaning his head against the lockers. Just then, Buffy jogged over, obviously coming from track practice. "Hey Cyrus! Are you guys still filming? Where's Jonah?"
"The camera died, he went to go get a new battery." Cyrus slid down to the floor, putting his head in his hands. "Hey..are you okay?" Buffy asked, reaching her hand out to help him back up. "Yeah it's just.."
"What?" She placed her hand on his shoulder, in an attempt at comforting him. "Well at the fair last weekend, I talked to Iris. We broke up." Cyrus said. "Oh you did? Is that why you're upset? How did you feel?" "Well, we agreed to stay friends which is nice..but Iris is not what's wrong." Cyrus looked down at the ground, avoiding her eyes. "Then what is it..? Oh, it's Jonah isn't it.."
"It's just so hard to be around him Buffy, I don't know what to do." He looked up at her, and her expression softened. She let him continue. "I just like him so much, but he's with Andi and she's my best friend and I can't hurt her and I know I said it doesn't pain me to see them together but-" Buffy cut him off there. "Cyrus..Andi would understand, I promise. If you tell her you like Jonah, I'm sure she would be more careful of your feelings. You deserve to be happy too." She gave him a big hug. "I know, and I will. Thanks Buffy."
Just then, Jonah came back around the corner, battery in hand. "Got it! Oh, hi Buffy." He nodded at her and headed for the camera. "And that's my cue to leave," she said, patting Cyrus on the shoulder and heading down the hall. "See you later guys." Jonah hit save on the camera, making sure he didn't lose any footage. He then switched the batteries, and nodded at Cyrus to continue. "Alright dude, let's finish this up!"
That night Jonah took his camera home, offering to edit all the footage and give it to Cyrus on a flash drive. He hooked up his camera to his laptop, and smiled as the clips began to play. He was just about to call it a night when he realized there was about 2 minutes more footage left. He hit play, and Buffy and Cyrus showed up on the screen. "Oh the camera must have still been recording when I left, I can just get rid of this." He said, until he heard his name.
"It's just so hard to be around him Buffy, I don't know what to do. I just like him so much, but he's with Andi and she's my best friend and I can't hurt her and I know I said it doesn't pain me to see them together but-"
"Cyrus..Andi would understand, I promise. If you tell her you like Jonah, I'm sure she would be more careful of your feelings. You deserve to be happy too."
Jonah's eyes widened with realization. His breath caught in his throat as he realized what they had just said. "Cyrus likes me. Like..likes me likes me.." Slowly, a smile spread across his face, and a blush spread across his cheeks. A smile so big his eyes sparkled with joy. He shut the laptop, saving that video, just for himself. Then he remembered: Andi. He touched the bracelet she made for him sadly, before making up his mind.
And he took the bracelet off.
