“Ezra up now, your going to be late for school!!”

“Ugh” I get up and stretch “mmmm” I open one eye to see my alarm. 7:38!!!? I rush out of bed, brush my teeth did my hair put on clothes and left “ bye mom love you!”

“Wait hon you didn’t eat breakfast!” She said but Ezra was already gone

“Huff huff huff” Ezra made it just on time “…” as he opened the door he was met with stares “…?”

“Yo Ezra” a boy yelled “you actually assaulted a girl in school?!”

“What are you on about?” Ezra said with a confused face

“Haven’t you heard?” A girl said “someone said you assaulted a girl when she was going to class”

Ezra immediately knew who spread this nasty rumor about him and he was going to comfort him “and y’all believed it?”

The class went silent “well your always so quiet we really didn’t know what to believe you know?” Another guy said

“Sure whatever” Ezra said. His teeth gritted together as he thought about Noah “that snake” he huffed as he sat down in his seat looking out the window. (It looked so peaceful the birds on the Cherri blossoms and the blue sky it looked like a good day. But the sun of a bitch had to ruin it) Ezra thought as the teacher called on him.

“Ezra!” The teacher said “how about you answer this?”

Ezra jumped when he heard his name “um X equals negative B” he says as he sits up

“Correct” she said glaring at him. He gulped and sat back down.

After class Ezra walked up to Noah “hey dickhead”

“Huh?” Noah says as he turns around with that smug grin “oh hey weirdo” he said his eyes narrowing

“Why the hell would you spread a rumor that I assaulted a girl you bitch?!” Ezra said stepping closer to Noah, as Noah’s grin widened

“Well it’s really not my problem-“ Ezra got mad and punched Noah in the nose and made his nose bleed “…”

Noah’s smirk disappeared as he gets mad he throws a punch and they break out into a fight

“What the hell are you doing you fucker!” Noah said while pulling Ezra’s hair, then punched Ezra more. As Ezra was about to punch back the principal came

“You two in my office NOW!” She demanded. We broke apart. After the fight Noah never said that much bad stuff about Ezra but still talked about him and Ezra he focused on his grades and school work.

[at school the next day]

(Ugh when is this day going to be over] Ezra said in his head when he looked out the window he saw….Noah? “H-huh?” He said looking out the window, Noah was doing something but it wasn’t clear enough to tell

“Um Ma’am can I use the bathroom?” He asked glancing out the window then back at the teacher

“Ok but be quick Ezra” The teacher said as she continued teaching. “Yes Ma’am” Ezra says as he walks out the class room. When he was out of the teachers sight he sprinted to see what Noah was doing skipping class outside. Finally Ezra reached the door and walked out.

As Ezra walked outside he saw Noah was hunched over his shoulders shaking he was mumbling something Ezra couldn’t make out “hic hic” was Noah CRYING!? Ezra thought as he walked closer.

Noah looked up his face stained with tears, his face went slightly red when his eyes met Ezra’s “um Noah?” “E-Ezra?!”Noah jumped up, nearly tripping over his own feet. He aggressively wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, smearing the tears.

"What are you doing out here, stalker?" he spat, though his voice was still thick and shaky. "Get lost! Go back to class and mind your own damn business."

Ezra didn't move. He just looked at the way Noah’s hands were trembling. "I just... I saw you from the window."

"Well, stop looking!" Noah yelled, his face turning an even deeper shade of red. He looked like he wanted to punch Ezra again, but he looked even more like he wanted to disappear into the ground.

“Don’t be such a dick Noah I’m trying to help” Ezra said scoffing but this time there was no real hate behind the words he said. Why do I even care my chest feels tight when I see him cry..Ezra thought. Ezra then pulled out a pack of tissues “here idiot take these”

“..what leave me alone I don’t want your pity..” Noah said aggressively. But then Ezra took Noah’s hand and put the tissues in his hand without making eye contact “I don’t give a shit take them” he said with a scoff his cheeks turning a light shade of red.Noah froze. The "smug king" act didn't work when the person looking at you knew what you looked like at seven years old.

"Shut up, Ezra," Noah snapped, but his voice was thin. "You don’t know anything about my life anymore."

"I know enough!" Ezra stepped forward, closing the gap until he was towering over Noah. He grabbed the front of Noah’s uniform jacket, his knuckles grazing Noah’s chest. "I know your mom’s voice gets high when she’s pissed. I know your dad thinks anything less than an A is a failure. And I know you're a coward for taking it out on me!"

Noah’s eyes widened, his breath hitching. Being held like this by Ezra—the boy he used to share snacks with, the boy who now had a fist full of his shirt—sent a jolt through him.

"You think because we haven't talked in three years that I just forgot who you are?" Ezra growled, his face inches from Noah's. "I knew you were lying the second that rumor started. I know you better than anyone in that room, you idiot."

Noah’s face went from pale to a deep, burning red. He tried to shove Ezra’s hands off, but he was shaking too much. "Then why do you care?!" he yelled back, his voice breaking. "If I'm such a snake, just let me rot! Why are you out here giving me tissues and acting like you still give a damn?"

Ezra’s grip tightened for a second before he shoved Noah back slightly. "Because I can't stand seeing you look like this," Ezra muttered, looking away quickly so Noah couldn't see the hurt in his eyes. "It’s pathetic. And it’s not the Noah I knew."

Noah opened his mouth to snap back, but the heavy clunk of the school’s back door echoing through the courtyard made both of them freeze.

"Ezra? Noah? Is someone out there?" The muffled, stern voice of their teacher, Ms. Halloway, drifted toward them.

"Shit," Ezra hissed. His heart hammered against his ribs—not just from the fear of getting caught, but because he was still standing inches away from Noah.

Noah’s eyes went wide with panic. He looked like a deer in headlights, his face still a mess of tears and red blotches. If the teacher saw him like this, the "perfect student" image he tried so hard to keep for his parents would be destroyed.

Before Noah could move, Ezra grabbed him by the arm. "In here, move!" he whispered aggressively. He hauled Noah behind a row of tall, thick cherry blossom bushes and pushed him back against the cold brick wall of the school building.

The space was tiny. Ezra had to press his body right up against Noah’s to keep them hidden from the windows. Noah’s back hit the wall with a soft thud, and he let out a sharp intake of breath as Ezra’s chest brushed against his.

"Don't. Move," Ezra breathed, his hand landing on the wall right next to Noah's head.

They stayed like that, paralyzed. Outside the bushes, they could hear the click-clack of Ms. Halloway’s heels on the pavement.

"I could have sworn I heard shouting..." she muttered to herself.

Ezra could feel the heat radiating off Noah’s body. He could smell the faint scent of Noah’s laundry detergent—a smell he hadn't been this close to in years. He looked down and realized that in the chaos, Noah had gripped the front of Ezra’s shirt, his knuckles white.

Noah was looking up at him, his breath coming in short, jagged hitches. In the shadows of the bushes, the anger was gone, replaced by a raw, suffocating tension. Ezra’s heart wasn't just thumping anymore—it was racing.

Ezra didn't move. He should have pulled back the second the coast was clear, but his boots felt like they were glued to the pavement. He stayed pinned against Noah, his hand still braced against the brick wall. He could feel the rapid, frantic beat of Noah’s heart through his thin school shirt—or maybe it was his own.

Noah’s grip on Ezra’s jacket didn't loosen either. Instead, his fingers twitched, clutching the fabric tighter as he stared up at Ezra. The aggression from their fight was gone, replaced by a wide-eyed, dazed look. His breath, still shaky from crying, fanned across Ezra’s neck.

"Ezra..." Noah whispered. It wasn't a snap or a taunt. It was the same way he used to say his name years ago, back when they were kids.

Ezra looked down at Noah’s lips, then back at his tear-stained eyes. The "tightness" in his chest was now a full-blown ache. He was supposed to hate this guy. He was supposed to want to punch him again. But standing this close, smelling the familiar scent of the boy he grew up with, Ezra realized he didn't want to leave.

"You're still a dick," Ezra breathed, his voice dropping to a rough, low tone. But he didn't pull away. He leaned in just a fraction of an inch closer, his gaze locked on Noah’s.

Noah didn't flinch. He didn't push him. He just let out a small, broken exhale, his eyes fluttering shut as if he were waiting for something to happen—or for the world to finally make sense again.