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Viktor never expected his high school science fair project to change his life. He was used to the solitary work, to late nights tinkering with wires and equipment in the dim light of his bedroom. But this year, this changed. His teacher had paired him up with Jayce, the charming and effortlessly popular senior who seemed to glide through life with a confident grin and a reputation for always being at the centre of attention.
Viktor, on the other hand, didn’t mind being invisible. He was content in the background, his mind always elsewhere, lost in calculations and inventions. But when he saw Jayce across the classroom that first day, he couldn’t help but feel the jitter of his heart, once and then twice. There was no way Jayce would be interested in working with someone like him.
But to Viktor's surprise, Jayce approached him, extending a hand with that trademark smile of his.
“Hey, you’re Viktor, right? I’m Jayce. Looks like we’re partners for the science fair.”
Viktor nodded stiffly, his eyes briefly glancing at Jayce's outstretched hand before he awkwardly shook it. “Yes, uh... Partner.”
“I’m thinking we should build something unheard of, you know?” Jayce’s voice had that unmistakable excitement, his eyes already lighting up. “It might seem silly but what do you think about being my partner in working on a project I've been at for years? I've got most of the ground concept laid out but it's missing the catalyst. To be honest, it's not perfect at all yet. But I feel that it will change the world. And I also feel like you're the perfect person for it.”
Viktor blinked, unsure if Jayce was genuinely serious or just trying to mock him by seeming science nerdy. But as they sat down after class and started talking through Jayce's notes, Viktor began to realize something: Jayce was brilliant, in his own way. Sure, his enthusiasm was over-the-top, but there was a sharp mind behind all of it. And slowly, over the next few days, they started improving and building something together - a hybrid of Viktor’s precision and Jayce’s vision. The project was becoming more than just a science experiment. It was turning into a partnership.
Every day after school, they spent hours working in the lab, their chemistry undeniable. Viktor respected Jayce's intelligence, not just his ability to make ideas come to life, but his careful attention to detail. Jayce, in turn, began to admire Viktor’s quiet determination and unwavering dedication. It was a bond neither of them had anticipated, but one they both welcomed.
By the time the science fair was a week away, they were inseparable. Jayce would often show up at Viktor's house, and they’d dive into their work, sometimes late into the night, fueled by takeout pizza and cans of soda. Viktor had never spent so much time with someone outside of his family, and he found himself looking forward to their sessions, even when the exhaustion hit him. He caught himself stealing glances at Jayce - his bright smile, the way his hands moved so naturally as he explained their latest ideas.
But just as things were starting to feel right, it all changed.
It was a Wednesday night, two days before the science fair. They were at Viktor’s house, working late again when Jayce’s phone buzzed. Jayce picked it up with a grin, his fingers tapping eagerly.
“Mel wants me to go to the school dance with her,” Jayce said, a playful edge to his voice as he glanced at Viktor. “Can you believe that? I mean, I wasn’t planning on going, but... it’s Mel.”
Viktor’s heart sank, his pulse quickening for reasons he couldn’t explain. Of course, Jayce would go with Mel. She was everything Viktor wasn’t - popular, outgoing, the life of every event. Jayce had always gravitated toward people like her, while Viktor had always stayed in the background. The thought of Jayce at the dance, surrounded by people, laughing with Mel... it twisted something inside of Viktor.
“Oh. I see,” Viktor replied, forcing his voice to remain steady. “That is... great. You should go.”
Jayce raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing the odd tone. “You okay? You’re acting a bit off.”
“I am fine,” Viktor muttered, his eyes dropping to the circuit board in front of him. He could feel the weight of the moment hanging between them, thick and suffocating.
Jayce didn’t push it. Instead, he set his phone down with a shrug. “Well, I’ll see you at the science fair on Friday. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be back before you know it.”
But even as he said it, Viktor felt a knot form in his stomach. He wanted to go to the dance with Jayce instead of Mel. He understood that she was beautiful, a flower in eternal bloom. He couldn't compare.
The night of the science fair arrived, and Jayce stood at the front of the crowded auditorium, presenting their project with a passionate glimmer in his eyes. It was a moment he had dreamed of, and the crowd was captivated. Viktor stood right beside him, but he couldn’t help but notice how far apart they seemed now, the space between them growing with every passing moment.
The announcement came later that night: Jayce and Viktor had won! But the satisfaction of the win felt hollow. The applause and congratulations blurred into the background as he spotted Jayce, laughing with Mel in the corner of the room. They were standing close, their chemistry undeniable, just like Viktor and Jayce’s had once been.
Viktor turned away, retreating to the quiet hallway, needing space to think, to breathe. His heart contracted achingly and he clenched his chest as he heaved for air. His eyes prickled with tears - the victory felt distant now, a prize that meant nothing if it couldn’t be shared with Jayce. But Jayce didn’t come after him. Instead, he stayed with Mel.
The next few weeks were tense. Viktor threw himself into his work, avoiding Jayce at all costs. He didn’t want to be the jealous fool, but every time he saw Jayce, he couldn’t help but feel that tight, painful ache in his chest.
Until one day, Jayce appeared at Viktor’s doorstep, his usual grin replaced with something more serious.
“Viktor,” he said, his voice low. “Can we talk?”
Viktor hesitated for a moment, his gaze flicking to the door behind him, as though he could retreat into the safety of his room and avoid whatever was coming. But he couldn’t. Not with the weight of the silence that had stretched between them for weeks. He stepped aside, gesturing for Jayce to come in.
“Sure,” Viktor muttered, his voice tight. “What is the matter?”
Jayce entered, glancing around the familiar space, his eyes lingering on the scattered papers and half-finished projects. He always seemed at ease, no matter where he was, but there was something different about him now - an uncertainty Viktor had never seen in Jayce before.
“Look,” Jayce began, shifting uncomfortably, “I know things have been... weird between us, and I’ve been a total idiot.”
Viktor felt his pulse quicken, though he wasn’t sure why. Was Jayce about to apologise for the way things had gone, or was he just going to leave it at that? Like everything had always been so easy for him? Viktor crossed his arms, trying to mask his emotions, trying to keep his face neutral.
“You did not do anything wrong, Jayce,” Viktor said quietly. “It is fine. You won the fair. You have got everything going for you, and I have just been... busy with my own stuff.”
Jayce took a step forward, shaking his head. “It’s not that. I should have been there for you after we won. I should’ve been there for us, instead of just... running off to the dance with Mel. I’m sorry, Viktor.”
Viktor's heart skipped a beat. For us? The words felt foreign, but they tugged at something deep inside him, something he’d been trying to ignore for too long. The rush of emotion was too much to handle, and he couldn’t keep his composure anymore. His eyes dropped to the floor, his fingers trembling slightly.
“Why did you go?” Viktor’s voice was barely above a whisper. "With her."
Jayce let out a long breath as if he were trying to find the right words. “I don’t know. I was being an idiot. Mel asked me, and I guess it was easier than dealing with... whatever this is. Between us. I didn’t realize until it was too late that it wasn’t just about the dance, Viktor. It was about... you.''
Viktor swallowed hard. He felt an ache deep in his chest, something that had been building for weeks, and he couldn’t stop it anymore. He looked up at Jayce, his heart hammering in his throat.
“Why did you not say something sooner?” Viktor asked, his voice rough. “You should have told me. You should have talked to me.”
Jayce stepped closer, his expression softer now, almost vulnerable. “I didn’t know how to. Every time I tried, it felt like I was making things worse. Like... I was losing you, and I didn’t know how to fix it.”
The words hung in the air, and for a long moment, neither of them spoke. Viktor’s mind raced, his thoughts colliding in a jumbled mess. He had spent weeks avoiding Jayce, pretending like it didn’t matter, pretending like it was nothing. But now, standing here, with Jayce so close and so honest, Viktor realized just how wrong he had been.
“I... I missed you,” Viktor admitted, his voice cracking with the weight of his confession. “More than I care to admit. I wanted things to be the way they were before.”
Jayce’s gaze softened, his hand reaching out slowly, almost hesitantly, to rest on Viktor’s shoulder. “I missed you too. I was stupid for not seeing it sooner. And I’m sorry for everything, Viktor. I never wanted to hurt you.”
Viktor’s breath caught in his throat as he looked at Jayce, really looked at him. The intensity in Jayce’s eyes made his heart race, and for the first time in weeks, Viktor didn’t feel like he was being left behind. It felt like everything was coming together - like this was where they were meant to be all along.
“You did not hurt me,” Viktor whispered, his eyes flicking down to Jayce’s lips, then back to his eyes. “But I think I have gotten hurt... by not saying what I should have said.”
Jayce’s eyes searched Viktor’s face, and at that moment, Viktor didn’t feel the need to hide anymore. No more walls. No more pretending. Nothing but Jayce was standing before him, everything else fading into the background.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to figure this out,” Jayce murmured, his thumb gently brushing Viktor’s hand.
Viktor felt the weight of his feelings, all the words he had kept locked inside finally bubbling to the surface. “I love you, Jayce,” he said, his voice barely audible, but the sincerity in his words was more than enough to understand.
Jayce froze for a second, and for a moment, Viktor thought he had said the wrong thing, that he had ruined everything. But then Jayce’s face broke into a real, unguarded smile.
“I love you too, Viktor,” Jayce replied softly, gently cupping Viktor’s face.
Viktor’s heart leapt in his chest, and before he could say another word, Jayce closed the distance between them, his lips meeting Viktor’s in a kiss that was gentle at first, tentative. But then, as if the floodgates had opened, it deepened, and Viktor felt every bit of the longing, the frustration, the months of silence dissolve in the warmth of Jayce’s embrace.
When they finally pulled away, breathless and wide-eyed, Viktor could hardly believe it. The world felt different, lighter, as though the weight of everything unsaid had been lifted.
“I do not think I can go back to pretending anymore,” Viktor murmured, his forehead resting against Jayce’s.
“Good,” Jayce said with a grin, brushing his lips against Viktor’s once more. “Because neither can I.”