Chapter Text
Martin sat on the ramps patiently as he waited for his best friend, Seonghyeon, to arrive. Seonghyeon was never on time for their weekly hangouts. Martin had made it very clear— every Saturday at 14:00. Yet, for some reason, Seonghyeon never arrived until around 16:00.
During his predicted lengthy wait, he saw an unfamiliar car pull into the parking lot. It wasn't as if the park was some secret, but there were usually only three cars in the parking lot. Most of the visitors were kids and teens from the neighborhood a few blocks over.
It was also strange considering the type of car it was. A white luxury car with tint so dark it looked almost cartoonish. The rims were all black with yellow brakes, with a little clover on the front of the car.
Martin set his phone down and watched as the car parked. Martin had always been a bit nosy, it was one of his "toxic traits" as Seonghyeon would say. But anyone from a run-down neighborhood would be curious as to why someone rich enough to own such a nice car would even dare to enter.
Eventually, he saw a man, who appeared to be a butler, step out of the front seat holding a large light pink bag. The bag had 'Lexington school of dance" in big letters. Then, he saw someone he'd never forget.
A boy around his age stepped out of the car, so graceful it appeared as if he weighed nothing. He had fluffy brown hair that fell past his ears, a small waist that was impossible to ignore due to the fitted jacket he wore. He had on regular basketball shorts, but it wasn't hard to tell he had skinny legs as well.
Martin sat up a bit, his ears already red as he waited for the boy to turn around. He was already at a loss for words over the boy's waist alone. He wasn't sure he had the strength to see his face.
The boy took the bag from the butler and smiled a bit, putting in his wired earphones. "Thank you," was all Martin was able to make out from their conversation.
When the boy turned around to walk to the park area, Martin got a good glimpse of about 60 percent of his face before gasping. "My god..." he whispered, clutching his skateboard tightly.
Martin wasn't one to develop crushes. He didn't have time for that. But if having a crush on someone meant feeling a pit in your chest while being disgusted with yourself for being in the same vicinity as them, then he had a crush.
He watched as the boy effortlessly began preparing himself. The way he wrapped the ribbon of his pointe shoes around his ankles so carefully, how he stretched as if he was one with the air.
He parted his lips a bit after he let out a slight groan. He was in such a trance, he didn't even realize Seonghyeon was approaching him.
"Sorry I'm late," Seonghyeon said, gliding on his board effortlessly. "I took a nap and completely overslept. Then I had to eat lunch, of course—" Seonghyeon furrowed his brows when he realized Martin wasn't even listening.
He followed Martin's gaze to the willow tree, where he could see a small, graceful being setting something up. "Earth to M.J." Seonghyeon said, waving his hands in front of Martin's face before slapping his nose.
"Ow!" Martin yelped, turning around and looking up at Seonghyeon. "What's your deal? And why are you here so early?" He muttered.
"I could've sworn you scolded me multiple times for being late and the one time I'm slightly on time you see pissed off." Seonghyeon said.
"Yeah you slapped me in the nose!" Martin argued.
Seonghyeon scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Whatever man. What are you even doing? Boygazing since the stars aren't out yet?"
"Boy-gazing?" Martin asked, raising a brow.
"You were staring at that boy so hard I was worried you'd burn holes into his waist." Seonghyeon muttered.
Martin scratched the back of his neck and let out a flustered squeak. "What waist." He choked out, letting out an embarrassed grunt immediately after.
Seonghyeon blinked a few times before he burst into laughter. "I can't believe it. We have the hopeless romantic falling for some little boy-llerina."
"I'm not!" Martin defended.
"Gay or a hopeless romantic?" Seonghyeon asked.
"I'm— I'm not gay!" Martin said. "Not saying that's bad but that's not my thing. No."
"Mhm." Seonghyeon just smiled and sat next to him. "Well I don't stare at anyone I don't find attractive. That's why it's so easy to not look at you."
"You're so funny." Martin said, sarcasm lacing his tone. "If you're not here to skate with me then leave."
"I mean I'm here to skate I don't know 'bout you." Seonghyeon chuckled.
Martin ran his fingers through his messy hair and jumped down from the ramp. "I'm going to talk to him." He breathed out.
Seonghyeon blinked a few times. "I mean— I mean you can but like," he shook his head. "Never mind."
Martin furrowed his brows a bit and threw down his board, preparing to skate over, but a wave of anxiety crashed over him. He could physically feel the potential regret on his back.
"I can't do it!" He squeaked, immediately rubbing his throat. He hated how high and shaky his voice became when he was nervous or flustered, because Seonghyeon always teased him for it.
"Let's just board." He whispered.
Seonghyeon bit back a smile and nodded slowly.
***
Martin was losing it.
He knew he was losing it because during one of his usual mindless sketches, he found himself drawing a pair of pointe shoes.
Pointe shoes.
"Ah!" He yelled out, pushing his notebook to the side.
The class turned to him in confusion, including Seonghyeon, who sat across the room from him since they had to be separated.
"You good man?" Seonghyeon asked, as the classroom erupted into whispers and giggles.
"Silence." Their teacher scolded, approaching Martin's desk. "What have I told you about drawing in my class, Edwards Park?" He asked.
Martin covered his face in embarrassment, dragging his hands from his temples to his jaw as his teacher took up his notebook.
"Ballet flats?" The teacher asked, clicking his tongue. "This is what you're making a fuss over?"
"They're pointe shoes." Martin muttered, barely audible.
"Well that doesn't matter since I'm taking it up. You can have it back at the end of the day."
Martin nodded slowly and sighed, slouching down in his chair. He could already feel Seonghyeon's gaze piercing into his skull.
He spent the rest of class avoiding his work. Math had never been his strong suit anyway. Once he'd learned how to multiply and divide, he'd decided there wasn't much else worth knowing.
Besides, the only thing on his mind at the moment was the graceful boy from yesterday. Every time he thought of him he felt disgusting and heavy in his own body. Things like "I could never" and "he's too good for me." raced through his mind.
Martin let out a small sigh of relief when the bell rang for lunch, grabbing his backpack and jumping out of his seat.
Despite him trying to prevent it, he was immediately attacked by Seonghyeon,
"Pointe shoes? Really?" He asked.
Martin rubbed the back of his neck and cleared his throat. "It means nothing. I was thinking of 'La La Land'."
Seonghyeon folded his arms and looked at him with a raised brow. "La La Land? That was the best you could come up with? Just admit that you think boy-llerina is cute."
"I don't—" Martin sighed and rubbed his temples. "I don't think he's cute, 'Hyeon, you're scaring the ladies." He whispered.
"Boy, no girl wants you. Especially considering you're always next to me, the charmer, the main thing." Seonghyeon turned around and his head collided with someone else's.
He stumbled back into Martin, who immediately caught him by the chest.
"You good?" Martin asked.
Seonghyeon groaned and rubbed his forehead, using Martin to stand up properly. He looked up to see the other guy rubbing his head as well, leaning on the door.
"Sorry I should've been watching where I was... going." Seonghyeon murmured, opening his eyes completely.
"No it's alright." The other replied, picking his glasses up off of the floor and looking up at Seonghyeon.
Seonghyeon blinked a few times as he looked down at the boy. He furrowed his brows as he analyzed his face. The boy had thick eyebrows, a small nose with a beauty mark that stood out like a sore thumb.
Seonghyeon gulped and pushed Martin away. "I mean it. I'm sorry. Are you okay?" He asked.
The boy gave him a cheeky smile and nodded. "I am. I mean it. Though there is a small throbbing sensation."
"Then I'll get some ice. I mean let's get you some ice." Seonghyeon said.
The boy nodded slowly. "I'm fine I promise you— but sure."
"I'm Seonghyeon by the way. But you know, people call me Sean."
"No they don't." Martin said.
Seonghyeon shot him a dirty look. "Ignore him. He's my number one hater. He can't stand to see me making friends."
The boy let out a small chuckle, flashing his teeth as his eyes turned into little crescent moons. "Ah.. I'm Keonho."
"Are you an 11th year?" Seonghyeon asked.
Keonho nodded.
"Im your senior then. We should be friends." Seonghyeon shot him a sly smirk as he waited for a reply.
"I'm down." Keonho shrugged.
And just like that, Seonghyeon had completely forgotten about interrogating Martin, which Martin was extremely grateful for.
"No one calls him Sean..." he muttered.