Solitude.

It was not just a café’s name. It was an identity.

You can’t go to Solitude, order a coffee with your friends, chill, and hang out. For one, there are no tables for two or more people to sit together. You sit by yourself, with a book or a laptop or whatever it is you're spending your time alone with. Waiters are not allowed to talk to the customers; you just go to your table, check the menu, write out your order on the notebook that is previously set up on the table, and that’s it.

It's easier for both the customers and the employees.

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'SCORE!'

Everyone cheered amidst a round of applause for the school team, the Blue Angels. Weird mascot but to each their own, I guess.

Look, I had my hesitations at first. Football was not my thing. Sports were not my thing. School activities were not my thing.

But Thomas. Thomas was my thing. I hated to admit it but I was desperate. I had no friends before. No one made the effort and I didn't make an effort either.

It has been 3 weeks at this school, and I already had Luna and Thomas trying to befriend me. If you were someone with a giant pool of friends, a popular kid, you'd think it's silly. However to me, this was the biggest social status I've ever reached.

Of course not counting my life before the incident. That Raiden died when his innocence died.

"See it's not so bad isn't it?" Evan said over the crowd cheers. His seat was thankfully next to mine.

"I guess"

"I'm so glad Zac was dragged back to the team after he quit" the noise quieted down a bit.

"Why did he leave, if you don't mind me asking?"

"That's a long, long story. Bottom line is, he's my boyfriend-"

"Where's the prob-"

"And step brother."

"Oh" that wasn't a problem either considering they're not real or half brothers? Again, to each their own.

Out of the corner of my eye, and as I was talking to Evan, I caught a glimpse of Thomas. His movements were graceful and he didn't look merely tired.

When the whistle announced the end of the first half of the game, some players went to the changing rooms, while others stayed on the field. There was a quick distribution of water bottles, and then the cheerleaders took the field.

The first thing Thomas said to me when he approached the court seats wasn't "I'm glad you're here" or "thanks for coming" or "how are you liking the game". On the contrary. It was "Is anyone giving you any trouble?"

For some reason, I preferred that question over any of the other bullshit. We both knew that I don't like sports, and that I don't like social events. We were not dancing around our lies.

He offered me a ticket which he could have given to anyone he wants, and just the thought that he gave it to me, a guy he hasn't known for much, proved that he wasn't about having numbers in his life.

Numbers never matter, but the value of a number does.

For that one thing, I came to the event, and I was glad that I did because for once someone showed care about me without knowing me. If other humans where like that how easier life would've been?

"It's ironic," he said.

"What is?" his eyes were locked with mine, which he always does whenever he's talking to me, which I made a mental note of to check if he does it with others. There was a spark of a thought at the dark bottoms of my mind that this could be something related to only us, and I didn't want it to dissipate.

"That I'm on a Blue team, while my favourite colour is green, and my name is Thomas Red" he smiled. He was happy. I liked that he was happy.

"Life is ironic" I deadpanned.

"Agreed."

We didn't have much more time to talk because the game was almost starting again and the players were coming out to the field again.

"Bye love" A guy, who I assumed was Evan's boyfriend said and kissed his head.

How beautiful would it be if I could have something like that?

"Beautiful aren't they?" Thomas whispered so Evan won't hear. "Everyone deserves a love as pure as theirs" his breathing was dangerously close to my ears I felt tingles down my neck.

He stepped back and then leaned in again before he realised something and then retreated to the field with clenched fists.

My eyes were trained on Thomas. His muscles rippled underneath his tight attire. His hair was disheveled and pointing in all directions; and as I predicted , it looked almost white in outer light.

Aiden and I probably had the darkest skin in this whole damn town because it rarely sees the sun. Considering that we lived in Hilltown, which was a very much sunnier town south of Rivertown. Though if I'm being honest, the cold weather was kind of growing on me.

"Duuudeee you didn't tell me you and Thomas are a thing!"

"Because we aren't, Evan."

"Bet 10 corn cobs he wants to smash"

"The only thing getting smashed is your head if you don't shut up"

"Tough crowd" he said lastly, and the game continued.

They won.

"Now I'm safe to say: did you enjoy the game?"

"According to Evan, it's 20 guys chasing a ball, and I couldn't agree more."

"You're missing the whole point but whatever" I stood up as everyone else, and turned towards the exit doors, which were almost blocked by the leaving crowds. "Follow me" Thomas lead us in the opposite direction.

He took us through the team's door inside.

We reached the locker room, and Aiden was already there. Thomas trudged towards his locker to change, while I went to Aiden's. I wouldn't feel comfortable waiting for Thomas to change as I stood right next to him, and Aiden had already finished.

"Congrats" I said, for his team won.

"Stop it"

"Stop what?"

"l know you weren't here to watch the game"

well it was obvious I guess because I never, ever, ever, watched a football game before. Sports disinterested me.

I absent-mindedly looked at Thomas, whose bare back was turned to me. His muscles flexed and twitched as he changed his clothes. I could write poetry if I were to describe the tones of his body.

I felt a hand smack my forehead, something only Aiden did, and it drove me mad. "Will you stop eye fucking him?" he pleaded. "at least not in front of me. It's weird"

It was still a foreign concept for me; Aiden knowing about my sexuality and accepting it, even though I was still annoyed that he knew and didn't tell me.

"I'm not eye fucking him" I felt a little hotter as I blushed. He didn't see me watching him, which was good. I didn't want him to see me ogling on him from afar. He was attractive but I didn't want to be "the creepy kid". I had enough titles as is.

"Allow me to accompany you to work?" Thomas asked me in the hallways. We were going to my locker because I needed to fetch some books.

"Ok first of all, how did you know I got a job? Second of all that is very creepy"

"Always remember this: there's nothing that happens in this town that I do not know of"

"And that is supposed to make you less creepy? Because it's not doing a very good job" I clapped back.

All joking and banter ceased to absolutely nothing in a split second. The moment I saw my locker, I knew that it was never going to end.

My older life was haunting me again.

Hey guys I thought it's time for an author's note. So what are your opinions on the story so far?

Also if you guys have any fan art for any of my stories I would love to see them and feature them in the respective story!

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