WILLIAM (bxb)

1

Jamie knows he's staring, but he can't stop. The boy on the other side of the room seems electric, enthralling, beautiful. Jamie thinks it's like he has a spotlight on him at all times, forcing Jamie to notice him, to look at him.

The boy looks up from his work and catches him staring. Jamie blushes and shuffles awkwardly in his chair, but the other boy only smiles. When he finds Jamie staring at him again, his smile gets bigger and Jamie's cheeks get brighter.

Jamie's seen the boy around, of course, but they've never been this close – if you consider sitting across a cafeteria close – and Jamie's never really noticed him before. He has brilliant blue eyes, and dark curls that spring to his shoulders. He's wearing eyeliner, for Christ's sake. Like he doesn't even give a shit. It's probably the most attractive thing Jamie's ever seen. The boy is probably the most attractive person Jamie's ever seen.

He's still across the room and already Jamie's heart is pounding in his chest like there's no tomorrow. He couldn't imagine what would happen if the boy came any nearer. He can't imagine what would happen if the boy smiled any larger. Jamie would probably have a heart attack. Jamie would probably faint.

Of course he would – he's always been so awkward. So introverted, and so intent on books and passing grades that he's never had a relationship, a real one, at least. There had been a boy, once, who liked to hang around him, who liked to kiss him and fuck him when he had the time, but that boy was someone who Jamie didn't like to think about. Jamie didn't consider him a real relationship, he had just been a large mistake. He had made Jamie feel inferior, and that's not what relationships were about.

The boy with the eyeliner winks at Jamie as he stands up and for an instant Jamie thinks that maybe he's going to come over and sit with him, maybe he's going to talk to him maybe Jamie's going to have a chance, but the other boy leaves.

Jamie clenches his hand around his pencil and closes his eyes. He doesn't know what to do. He doesn't want to lose this boy, he wants to talk to him, he wants to do something. He wants a chance at being more than just Jamie. He wants to be a part of this boy's life, because he's fucking electric.

Without thinking, Jamie packs up his things, stuffing his textbook into his backpack. Without thinking Jamie runs out of the cafeteria and into the hallway, where the boy is nowhere to be seen. He swallows his disappointment, and is about to turn back around when he hears a chuckle.

"Giving up that fast?" the boy says, and he's smiling even bigger than he was before. His voice is like velvet, and it wraps around Jamie like a rope. He's intoxicating.

"No – " says Jamie, and then, "Yeah, I mean, I didn't see you."

"It's not like I was hiding," the boy laughs, and steps away from where he was leaning against the wall.

Jamie suddenly can't look at him. He has to look at the floor. He fidgets uncomfortably as the boy gets closer, and the boy notices.

"What's your name?" he asks, and his voice is softer. He ducks his head, so he can meet Jamie's gaze and despite the eyeliner, his eyes seem warm, inviting, kind. He seems like he's easy to get along with, easy to talk to, easy to laugh with.

"Jamie."

He points at himself and the smile takes over his face again. "William," he says, and then he holds out his hand. "It's nice to meet such a handsome stranger."

The blush rushes back along Jamie's cheeks, and he takes William's hand in his own, trying not to jerk back when their skin meets. He was right. This boy is electric.

"Would you like my number, Jamie?" William asks, squeezing Jamie's hand.

Jamie nods sheepishly, and hands William his phone.

William types in a contact, and when he passes it back, Jamie has to laugh. "Nice contact," he says, and William grins.

"You better keep it like that," he says, and then, "and you better text me later."

"I will," Jamie promises, and William nods.

"I'll see you later then, yeah?"

"Of course."

William shoulders the backpack he'd left on the bench behind them, and walks away, leaving Jamie standing in the same spot, grinning like a fool. He can't help himself. He clicks on the new contact – That Handsome Stranger with about a million winky faces – and says, i told you.

It's only a few minutes later when he gets the reply, nice to see some guys keep their word.

Now he really can't wipe the smile off of his face.