Thomas’ friends.

I needed to get my attention back on school matters or my grades really would suffer more than they already did from games and guitar. Bad grades would equal less freedom to do things outside the house, and these days I had lots more reasons to do things outside.

I paid as much attention as I could, took notes and highlighted the things that seemed important. Still don’t have the courage to ask questions out loud, though. I’d get there, just give me time. It was only first period, however. I needed to keep this up the entire day, and not just this day.

Class ended and we all stood up with the bell for the first recess. Sarah walked up to my seat while Mila and Grace spoke to a couple of other friends.

“Any plans right now?” she asked me, casually sitting on my desk.

“I wanted to check up on Thomas,” I told her, voice soft as always. Doubted anyone else in the classroom would hear me. “I know he’s not a kid who needs to be paid attention at all times, but…”

“You’re worried, I get it.” She smiled. “Go. I’ll find myself something to do.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re not hanging out with Grace and Mila?”

“They’re talking to someone they’re on friendlier terms than I am,” she told me, shrugging. “Don’t want to ruin the mood.”

“Ah.” I thought of inviting her to come with me to check on Thomas, but…

“And before you invite me to check on Thomas together,” she said. SPOOKY. “Might not be the best idea right now. I doubt he’s the type to cry over seeing other coup… Uh…”

She was about to say couples! She knew that I caught it, and had no way of smoothly playing it off as something else. Her cheeks turned pink while she scowled, and instead of trying to fix it…

“ANYWAY. Who knows what’s going on in his head right now, so I’ll wait a bit before talking to him. In case you forgot, I’m also friends with him and I’m worried about how he’s doing.”

It was tempting to question her on the ‘couples’ thing, but I knew it was better not to. “I’ll come back with news.”

“Thanks.”

I left my classroom and went over to Thomas’ on the same floor, just a couple of rooms over. I snuck a nervous peek inside. Just being close to a classroom not your own feels kind of weird, like you don’t belong there.

I saw my friend inside, leaning against a wall as he spoke to two other guys. Thomas caught sight of me at the door and smiled.

“Oliver!” he called, waving. “Don’t just stand there. Come in!”

Standing outside someone else’s classroom is weird. Going in is even weirder! Like the air or atmosphere is totally different. I might not talk or have much of a presence in my own classroom, but at least no one could tell me to leave. I was SUPPOSED to be there. This was different.

With nervous steps, I walked in. It was one of those times you feel self conscious that everyone is watching and start believing you’re forgetting how to walk properly. And yeah, a few people were watching, but probably because Thomas had called me too loudly.

I went up to him and his group. Both guys were about as tall as him. One was just slightly shorter, the other was just slightly taller. I felt like a dwarf standing next to them.

“What’s up, man?” Thomas asked, genially. Though before I could answer, he turned to his friends. “You remember Oliver, right Kevin?” he asked the taller one.

Kevin had short black hair, a round-ish face and a big nose. His build was different from Thomas’, being generally thinner. He looked kind of familiar, too. Kevin laughed loudly as he nodded. “Of course I remember.” He turned to the third member of their group, the shortest one save for me. “He’s the one who saved Thomas’ ass during the last tournament. Remember we told you about him? The hero who ran all the way back to the hotel to get this idiot’s backpack after he mistook his with mine?”

Oh, no wonder he looked familiar. He was on the basketball team and was there when I subbed for their manager that one time.

“Oh shit, I remember,” the third guy said, laughing with his friend. He then turned to me with an amicable smile and extended his hand. “A pleasure, Oliver. I’m Benjamin, but just call me Ben.”

I nodded stiffly and shook his hand. The dude’s… er… Ben’s grip was strong. Compared to the other two, he had the bulkiest build and biggest arms. He had dark skin and a buzz cut. Looking up at him, I noticed a bit of swelling under his right eye. Small eyes, too. I wanted to ask if he was alright, but I didn’t know if it was appropriate to do so.

Thomas came to my rescue. “By the way, don’t worry about his eye,” he said, pointing a thumb to it. “Ben practices boxing.”

Oh! My eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“Yeah, had a sparring get a bit rough, but nothing terrible,” Ben explained.

Shit. All this time had gone by and I still hadn’t said a fucking word. Don’t be like always, Oliver. You said you’d change. You can talk to Thomas and the girls. Just because Mark snapped at me the other day, it didn’t mean these guys would, as well.

…

Right?

Okay, but… what could I say? My mind was drawing a blank. Should I introduce myself? But Thomas had already introduced me. Shit, shit, shit. My chest was starting to hurt.

“Sorry, Oliver is a man of few words,” Thomas chuckled, giving an excuse for me. I appreciated it, but he shouldn’t have to do it at all.

I shook my head. “S-Sorry. I wanted to say that… it’s cool. T-That you do boxing, I mean.”

Ben grinned. “You like boxing, Oliver?”

I nodded. “I’m not an expert, but I’ve watched some matches. Looks hard.”

“It is,” Kevin confirmed, wincing. “Motherfucker tried to get me into it and brought me over to his gym. Shit was more intense than anything we do at basketball practice.”

“It’s a professional boxing gym, Kevin,” Thomas said, matter-of-factly.

“What sport do you practice, Oliver?” Ben asked me.

Huh? “Um… N-None. Why?”

“You’re shitting me?” he exclaimed. “With those shoulders and those arms?”

W-What? Was it that noticeable still with my uniform on?

“Oliver started working out at home during summer,” Thomas explained. “Didn’t you?”

He was passing the ball to me. I smiled internally. “Y-Yeah. I’ll start going to the gym this weekend, though.”

“Oh, no shit?” Thomas said, grinning. “Which one?”

“I… can’t remember the name. Sorry.” I truly couldn’t. I’d have to find out and tell him, if only so he wouldn’t think I was making it up.

“Sorry, we started talking all of a sudden. What brings you here?” Thomas asked me.

Ah, right. I’d come here to check up on him.