Please Remember Me Like This

Beautiful and Delicate

Please Remember Me Like This

Chapter 3: "Beautiful and Delicate"

Ian had been to every single pep rally through high school, but he honestly never knew what one actually entailed. Usually he hung at the back of the bleachers, balancing his books in his lap as he tried to work on homework while announcements were made, so he'd have a little extra time to goof around at home.

Spirit Week also had never been something he cared about until he started dating one of the most popular guys at school, always opting for his usual gear of flannels and jeans (and he still had never considered the absolutely amazing benefits of finally wearing skirts), instead of trying to fit in with the themes set out.

Certainly not the case this year, though (and technically not last year, given it was during the period of time when the school was, well, destroyed). Ian sat toward the front of the bleachers with his friends, completely in the moment as the respective team took the field. Instead of ignoring, Ian screamed for Aeric, for Sadalia, for Gurge. He chanted along with the cheerleaders, waved at Aeric from the bleachers and knew the kiss he blew back was meant just for him. Sure, he still didn't really understand the game, but... he tried!

During the pep rally, their principal announced their Homecoming Court: as everyone predicted, Aeric was crowned King, Sadalia Queen—and Ian honestly didn't think he'd be friends with one of the Court, let alone dating one of them. The surreality of one year passing! It still never stopped working wonders.

Sure, the announcements were a little boring, just going over the rules for Spirit Week when it came to what to wear (Flannel Friday! PJ Monday! Teacher Tuesday!), but Ian had been planning outfits in his head, discussed ways to make them coordinate with Aeric to just keep, well... being themselves. That's how they won "Most Magical Couple" in the last yearbook, after all.

After school, Ian drove up close to the field, beeping at Aeric politely after he emerged from the locker room, sharing a friendly conversation with this year's team captain (Peter, if memory served). "Hey, Hot Stuff!" he called from the open passenger window, shooting his boyfriend a flirty wink. "Want a ride?"

Just a joke between the two of them, of course. On days where they got out of school at the same time, they carpooled, of course, and Ian just had to make up for all the times Aeric would drive him, now that he had his own car. But wow, he never thought he'd ever have the freedom to say that to someone.

"Why? You offering, stranger?" Aeric joked back, plating right along. For once, Ian wanted him to be the one flustered and unable to form a complete sentence from something he said.

But he still played along, just shrugging. "Whaddaya say?"

Aeric said his friendly goodbyes, then climbed into Ian's car, reaching over for a quick kiss before buckling in. "You're only picking me up because I'm Homecoming King, aren't you?"

"It doesn't hurt," Ian shrugged, before driving off. In this case, much as he really liked people knowing who he was in hallways, Homecoming King or part of the court just didn't appeal to him. Now, when Aeric mentioned prom, on the other hand...

"So... Alysha's 18th is tomorrow at the country club." Alysha was this year's satyr cheerleading captain. "We're going, right?"

Ian sighed. "Only if we get a practice test in first and an outline for college essays." How was he supposed to balance his new social life with how everything seemed to double down when it came to school? Nothing too bad with homework just yet, but... the year was just starting.