Chapter Text
-Anthony POV-
It was the last PE class of my 9th grade school year. Ms. Brant is taking attendance, and my
heart skips a beat as she says the name after mine. Milo Bettinger.
Because our last names are next to each other on the attendance sheet, me and Milo have sat
together in:
Every class.
Every day.
For the last 10 years.
I can’t escape him.
Physically and mentally. He's everywhere I go. Our eyes lock as he says ‘here’, and even after
he looks away, I continue to stare. As we’ve gotten older, he’s only gotten more intriguing.
Smarter. Taller. And I’m not the only one who’s noticed.
Sitting next to him is Max Webber. Last name all the way across the alphabet, but somehow
sitting right next to him. Ms. Brandt finishes attendance, and Max says something to Milo that
makes him snicker into his palm. That should be ME. It used to be me. 4 years ago. Before I
messed up. Before Lucas.
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-Milo POV-
I look to the white board and I see the words, ‘scooter racing’
Hm, this could be fun...
Once we get inside the gym, Ms. Brandt tells us to sit down, and I sit with Anthony, Max, and
Langston.
I take a moment to stare at Max.
He’s fascinated me ever since he arrived from England four years ago. He seemed impossibly
cool. Mature. Maybe it was his British accent. Maybe it was how no matter how much I grew, he
always seemed to be taller. Either way, I fell. And I’m still falling, years later. Falling in love, that
is.
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-Anthony POV-
I am fuming with jealousy.
Why is HE with HIM?
He used to sit with me and I used to be the one that made him laugh. Now, even in the few conversations we have, he’s always talking about him. His favorite color. What they did that
weekend together. I know if I told Milo that I didn’t care, that it makes me pissed every time he
mentions Max’s name, it would just push him farther and farther away.
And honestly, all I know right now other than the fact that I hate Max is that I want Milo
to be happy, even if that means he chooses Max over me.
Mrs. Brandt pulls out five multicolored scooters and tells us that for class that day, we’re
riding these. She tells us to get in pairs. Of course, Milo pairs with Max, and I look around for a
partner to ride with, a pit of dread in my stomach. My eyes glide over the options, and every
time I look around, my eyes catch on Milo and Max, who are pulling each other around on the
scooters. Time is running out to find a partner, and right before I think I’m going to end up alone, HE comes up to me.
Lucas.
Fucking.
Childs.
Right after me and Milo in the alphabet, and because I was once stupid and young, the
reason that we drifted apart.
Out of the corner of my eye I see these 4 super cool girls (some might say cutest) rhythmically spinning on their scooters. They are so graceful and light.
Sigh
I wish I could be like them. Carefree. Secure. Not worrying about evil ex’s with questionable
taste in baseball caps.
“Need a partner?” Lucas says, a smirk on his face as he deftly spins a scooter in his
callused hands. Hands I once held. Hands that once wiped tears from my face. Hands that
clenched as he told me that it wasn't working anymore. That he liked someone else. That he
liked Milo.
“You’re the last option.”
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—Time skip—
-Milo POV-
The flickering of the broken girls gym fluorescent lights shine down on us.
I glance over at Anthony and I quickly look away and blush because he's already staring directly
at me, even as he spins faster and faster with Lucas.
Wait no.
He's not staring at me. A little to the left of me.
At Max.
Why would he be looking at Max?
Something stirs in my stomach.
What is this feeling?
Hatred?
Annoyance?
Distrust?
Just a stomach bug?
No.
Jealousy.