Please Remember Me Like This

Some Things Just Don't Change

Please Remember Me Like This

Chapter 7: "Some Things Just Don't Change"

Second semester for seniors brought on this laissez-faire attitude almost immediately, with how lively everyone sounded when they came into school, greeting each other with smiles despite the cold weather. Aeric walked in with Ian, who decided to show off the boots he'd gotten for Winter Solstice, paired with a tasteful sweater, shorts, and thermal tights.

"Ian, you look so well rested!" Sadalia complimented at lunch, her voice seemingly laced with the barest hint of jealousy. "Did you find a sleeping spell or something?"

"Not all of us are studying our butts off for Valedictorian!" Parthenope replied, nudging her playfully.

"I just had a great winter break!" Ian laughed in return, and Aeric realized he'd still never gotten around to telling the group that he'd found more magical friends. Was it supposed to be a secret? Would Aeric even know about them if he hadn't seen Victoriana that first encounter? "The application to my first choice school is in, I spent Winter Solstice with Aeric, played some Quests of Yore with my brother... I mean, we also all did the lights drive around a couple of weeks ago! And now we're second semester seniors? Of course I'm happy!"

"Man, second semester is gonna be a breeze!" Gurge exclaimed, pumping a fist in the air. "I have a recruiter from Stonemeade coming to a game soon, so I might be playing against the Griffins in the future!"

"Hey, if I lose to you, at least it's a good loss!" Of course, missing Gurge from the team would always hurt—but his dad had also been on the Stonemeade team, which made his chances getting in there with a scholarship so much more likely. Whatever made him happy, of course, that was what mattered.

Even the teachers seemed more lax—in study hall, Aeric and Ian worked on homework a little louder than usual, and no shushing occurred. If anything, now he felt like he could get away with more, and what they'd done last semester, that seemed insane. But, of course, they still doubled down on studying, and what especially intrigued Aeric was just how much Ian wanted to get done during this hour they had together.

"You know, quality work matters, too, babe," he pointed out as Ian seemed to be on a mission with how quickly he wrote on his calculus study sheet.

"Just trying to get it all done early to free up the day," Ian dismissed, not looking up.

Brow furrowing, Aeric almost asked about the group—but refrained at the last moment. He had a feeling Ian would just change the subject, or would barely say anything. And if he pressed... that might push him away more. But that's what it was, he knew it.

Was it jealousy, he wondered? Was he jealous of the fact that his boyfriend found another group that could do something he couldn't, that was becoming so much a bigger part of his life? Did he envy that there were things Ian wanted out of his future that Aeric couldn't provide?

Honestly, yeah, a bit. At least, when Ian failed to disclose what made them so special. He wanted to at least try to relate to all the magic, just as he tried to bring Ian into his own lifestyle, but being so secretive meant Aeric couldn't figure out what he was supposed to know!

The plot started to thicken a little bit, after practice next Monday. Every second and fourth Monday of the month, Chess Club let out right around when practice ended which, well, meant carpool. Aeric had driven them to school this morning, coffee and all, and Ian had given no indication that anything had changed. But when Aeric finished up in the locker room and noticed Ian wasn't waiting for him, something felt... off. Not in this just being a fluke, but like something might be wrong.