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School was back for term 2 of the year. Both Arik and Isaac hoped that maybe this term might have something good in store for them. Maybe they wouldn’t get stalked, or outed, or put in any other situations. Arik had taken the advice from their therapist and decided to leave his music class and swap into Isaac’s Japanese class, just so they could be closer to each other. They had spent so much of the holidays together, it felt weird to be apart for even just a couple classes. They had both agreed it would be better to sit on the opposite side of the room from each other in order to not be more obvious since there had already been one too many incidents surrounding them.
On the first day of term, Isaac decided to stay home. Arik had swapped into Isaac’s Japanese class but had decided that even if he wanted to sit with Isaac and his friends, it would be less suspicious if they didn’t sit with each other.
It’s okay. It’s for the better.
He sat next to his other friend Tyler just as planned. Austin took the free seat as he always did. The lesson went normally, a great start to the term.
The following day, Isaac was back. His friends were glad to see he was okay and Arik was just glad to see him in general.
After the bell rung at 2nd break, the two walked to class together, excited to share another class on their timetable. Arik sat with Tyler while Isaac sat in his usual spot, chatting with his friends about his trips to Carindale over the holidays, mentioning being with someone, but not specifying who. Not that he needed to, he was only with one person the entire break.
The whole class was caught off guard just moments later when Mr. Hanson started asking the students if they had blindfolds.
Everyone was confused what this could possibly mean until Mr. Hanson mentioned a partner activity.
Immediately, Arik and Isaac’s eyes met across the room, both knowing they wanted to be partners.
That fantasy was short lived as soon as Tyler excitedly asked to be Arik’s partner. How could he say no? Besides, the whole point of him sitting away from Isaac was to avoid suspicion, it made sense for them to not be partners.
It’s okay, we can be partners another time.
Though Arik was quite upset at the fact he couldn’t do a kinky activity with Isaac, he sigh and reluctantly revised keywords with Tyler
The class walked out to the old parade ground where they would do the activity. Isaac stood next to Arik as nonchalantly as possible as they waited for the next instructions from their teacher.
Arik explained to Tyler the goal; to walk around the school gym and circle back to the starting point. While demonstrating using books for blindfolds, Arik cast a glance towards Isaac, who was already staring right back at him.
Arik felt his cheeks heat up as they held each other’s gaze, their eyes communicating a secret message only they knew.
He was snapped back to reality by Tyler’s annoying laugh as he removed the book from his face. Arik faked a small laugh at whatever joke was told and peeked back to where Isaac was. He had turned to talk to his partner.
The activity started and Isaac headed off with his partner, Austin. Isaac guided his blind partner with skill the rest of the class could never achieve (in his mind). The Japanese words came easily to him, which was no surprise as he can’t stand the phrase “semi-fluent”.
As the two slowly made it through the area, Isaac saw over Austin’s shoulder that Arik and Tyler had started the activity right after them. Isaac smiled to himself and moved around behind Austin to guide him from there, that way he was closer to Arik.
He slowed down his instructions to Austin, allowing Arik to catch up. The two groups moved around the bus chutes in sync, The two boys with vision smiling at each other every other second.
Arik took a moment to look around at the area. They were now near the closed uniform shop. Arik took the opportunity and lunged forwards towards Isaac, catching his lips in a kiss before quickly retreated in order to not get caught. He continued guiding Tyler, yet he couldn’t stop his giggles after seeing Isaac’s flustered face.
Isaac quickly turned back to Austin, stuttering out his next instruction. His head whipped around twenty times, triple checking there was absolutely no one around.
Once he had calmed, he sighed, shaking his head to himself as he continued guiding an oblivious Austin.
When Isaac wasn’t expecting it, Arik pounced again. And again. Each kiss was getting longer, and riskier the closer they got to coming back around the gym.
After each kiss, Isaac’s voice came out wobbly and nervous, obviously worried someone would catch them.
Austin, who was growing suspicious of the long pause between each instruction, decided he’d had enough. He moved his makeshift blindfold and opened his eyes. His eyes had to adjust to the brightness, but what he saw was unmistakable.
His jaw dropped to the floor when he realised it was Arik and Isaac, their mouths connecting right in front of him.
He stood there frozen in shock at the fact that all these rumours must have been true. His brain started connecting all the dots, becoming more and more flabbergasted each time. He was so out of it, he didn’t even hear Isaac yelling at him while Arik guided his stupid, unsuspecting friend away.
When he finally came back down to earth, he managed to hear Isaac saying something along the lines of “Don’t tell anyone or I’ll kill you!”
He dumbly nodded, still not fully comprehending everything. Isaac seemed to take that as enough of an answer and stormed back to the starting area back at the old parade ground, refusing to complete the activity and leaving Austin there dumbfounded.
---
New post from: aus.song
Aykus opened the notification with a sigh, bracing himself for whatever bullshit Austin had posted today.
The video started playing, so he turned the volume up to see what this guy was saying.
“Dude, why are the people at my school so weird? Like, I was just doing my Japanese activity, and I see two boys in the class kissing?” *boom sound effect* “aw hell nah”
The video repeated on Aykus’ phone as he sat there confused. What the hell was he taking about? Who could’ve it been?
He opened the comments to see what people had to say, only to be reminded of the infamous couple in the grade by the top comment.
Jaym1e_w: Arik and Isaac 👀
Aykus sighed, knowing exactly what must’ve happened. The nerve of those guys though, they were getting too cocky.
Aykus went to Austin’s profile and hit the message button, typing out his text.
aus.song
Let me guess, Arik and Isaac?
He put his phone down, not expecting the answer right away, but of course Austin always replies immediately.
How did you know??
They told me about their relationship. Back when Caelan posted stuff on the school Instagram
Oh
Yeah. Besides, they weren’t exactly secretive, I saw right through them
Wow, I would’ve never guessed…
Aykus rolled onto his back, sighing again at the ceiling. What the hell were they even thinking? They’re literally in school, that’s one way of guaranteeing getting caught.
He rolled his eyes before opening his and Austin’s chat again.
---
Airk followed his distressed boyfriend, trying to calm him down and not flip out at everything and everyone.
The two were headed fast towards P block, where Jaymie sat at lunch.
Isaac had broken his own rule of no social media just to see what was so crazy about a video Austin had posted last week. He was fuming after seeing it.
Of course, Isaac was pissed at Austin, but of course there had been a lot of attention on one comment under the post.
He slammed open the P block doors, the bang so loud the doors might’ve just come off the hinges. He stormed through the hallway, ignoring Arik who was practically begging him to calm down.
He came to the courtyard area between P block and N block, eyes immediately falling on Jaymie sitting right there. He tried to calmly ask Jaymie if they could speak privately, though it was quite obvious to everyone around that he was 2 seconds away from losing it.
Jaymie tried not to laugh, clearly knowing what this was about and finding it hilarious.
She quietly followed Isaac into a practice room, where he lost it. Screaming at her, his words pretty much illegible at how fast and loud he was speaking.
Arik leaned against the wall around, his head in his hands, embarrassed because you could hear everything from outside. People walking by peeked in, wondering what the hell could have someone this mad.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done!? People have been coming up to me talking about this all week, and I’ve had no clue until yesterday! You know, people are believing that comment you left and it’s made my life hell!”
Jaymie sat watching Isaac, fighting for her life not to burst out laughing in his face. This had to be one of the funniest things she’s ever been involved in.
“Okay… well is it true?”
Isaac was caught off guard by her response. Does she seriously not care!? He was about to raise his voice again when a thought popped into his head.
What if it was true?
He paused, his own thought catching him by surprise. While yes, there had been a lot of allegations about them as a couple, no one had ever seemed against it, or weirded out. Just surprised. No one made fun of him for ‘being with another man’ or for being queer, everyone was just not expecting it. People were okay with it. With their relationship. So what if the rumours of them were true? Even now it wouldn’t surprise many people, not after everything. Maybe how defensive he was being about it was actually more suspicious than not caring.
His silence was becoming suspicious, but when he opened his mouth to say something, nothing came out.
He had been saying for the past year or so that he couldn’t be queer because he was a Christian. That’s all he’s known growing up, but now he’s faced with the real truth. He liked boys too. Of course he still liked girls, but he liked boys too. He liked Arik. And that’s what he knows.
He knows deep down that it’s okay, that being queer is okay despite what he’s been told his whole life. It’s okay. And maybe it’s time he accepted that himself. Maybe it’s time that he doesn’t fear how he’s perceived by others, and instead lives the rest of his life okay with his own sexuality. It’s okay.
He was snapped back to reality when Jaymie’s hand waved in front of his face. He jumped in surprise and sighed, knowing he had to answer now.
“… Yes, okay. It’s true, we’re… a thing. But please. Please don’t tell anyone. I… I want to do this myself.”
Jaymie nodded along, understanding in her eyes as she realised he was serious.
On her way out, she kept her mouth shut, heading back towards her friend group with a lot weighing on her mind.
“And delete your comment!”
---
By the time Isaac had come to terms with how he felt, everyone had forgotten what had happened and moved on with their lives.
He met with Arik one weekend, sitting him down on the park bench opposite him as he sighed, preparing himself for the talk he wanted to have.
“So..” He started, unsure of how to go about it despite it being the only thing on his mind lately.
“Yeah?”
“I… I’m Bi. Like, Bisexual. I’m sure you already know that though, since, you know, yeah.” He explained, stumbling over his words because of his nervousness.
“Okay.” Arik said, unfazed.
“Yeah and... yeah. I don’t know, I’ve just been kind of thinking… that I’m okay with that. I… I don’t really mind if people know…”
Arik was so excited by the news he started moving excitedly in his seat. “Wait really? Yes! I’ve been wanting to tell more people! I can’t wait to go-”
He tried to jump up, but failed sadly, toppling the bench over and bringing the table between them with him. He winced as all their belongings fell down to the ground with him and groaned in pain as he got off his nor bruised shoulder.
Isaac quickly helped pick everything up again and moved to check on Arik’s arm.
“Is your arm good?”
“It’s okay.”