Love Square

The first rays of sunlight pierced through Luca’s bedroom window, promising him a good first day of senior year. He stretched out his limbs and yawned, pushing the covers aside in a hurry. It was time to face the changes that the final year of high school would bring, and he couldn’t have been more excited. He could feel himself change over the summer—for the better. He wasn’t going to be a shy loser anymore. He was going to be confident and outgoing.

With a quick shower and the familiar sounds of his family’s morning routine echoing through the house, Luca descended the stairs two at a time, a skip in his step and a smile on his face. His backpack was slung over his shoulder, mostly empty and ready to be filled once he got to school. His entire family was already gathered around the kitchen table, plates of pancakes and scrambled eggs filling the air with the delicious scent of breakfast.

“Morning, champ,” his father greeted, a warm smile on his face as Luca rushed into the kitchen.

“Morning, Luca,” his mother added, pouring a glass of orange juice.

He kissed her cheek and sat down, reaching over the pancakes. “Morning,” he greeted everyone. His two brothers, Joseph and Benjamin were already heavily engaged in conversation, so Luca turned to his dad, who was reading the newspaper. “Anything interesting happening in the world today?”

“Oh, you know, just your average shooting and muggings round the corner,” his dad said in a displeased tone.

Luca grimaced. “Jeez. The world’s turning into a complete and utter shit show.”

“You’re telling me,” his dad grumbled.

“Language, Luca,” Liz, his mother, scolded.

He grinned at her and apologised. The chatter at the table was then filled with well-wishes for the upcoming year. Everyone knew how important senior year was for Luca and wanted him to know it was okay and that he’d be fine. Joseph and Ben, who had already graduated, offered him some brotherly advice and encouragement. The comforting routine of family breakfast seemed a world away from the complexities of senior year.

But as they sat together talking aimlessly about what the year had in store for him, Luca heard the unmistakable horn of a car outside. He peered through the window to see Adam’s red car parked at the end of his driveway. It was a familiar presence that brought a smile to Luca’s face in an instant. It was the signal that senior year was beginning in earnest.

“Gotta go!” he said quickly, barely waiting for his family to reply. Luca stood up and quickly grabbed his backpack from the floor and headed outside, the crisp September air hitting him in the face. As he opened the passenger door, he was met with the sight of Adam behind the wheel. In the backseat, Mason and Charlie were already waiting, smiles on their faces and plastic coffee cups in their hands.

“Hey,” Adam greeted him first.

“Hi,” Luca replied with a soft smile.

“Ready for the first day back?” Adam asked with a wide smile on his face. His happy smile and obvious giddiness was completely infectious and Luca found himself grinning back, his heart lighter as he settled into the car, his eyes focused on his honey-haired friend.

“Totally!” Luca replied.

“One caramel latte for yours truly,” Charlie said to Luca with a smile. Luca turned around in his seat and grabbed one of the plastic coffee cups from Charlie’s hand with a grateful smile.

“Thanks,” he said quickly, his eyes shining with gratitude. Then his eyes slid over to Mason. “How’s it going?”

“Bad now that you’re here,” Mason said in a teasing tone. Luca rolled his eyes wordlessly, used to Mason’s annoying jokes which seemed to have started already, despite the early morning.

The engine roared to life, and as they drove to school, the conversations inside the car were filled with excitement for the year ahead. Luca felt grateful for the friendship the three boys in this car offered him, even as a subtle unease began to settle in the pit of his stomach. The tangled web of emotions that senior year would bring had just begun to weave its intricate threads, and Luca wasn’t sure if he was ready for it yet—but he had no choice.

Luca wasn’t a genius. Far from it, actually. However, compared to his three other friends, he was practically a saint. His homework was always done on time, he never argued with his family or classmates, he stayed off the radar when it came to teachers and bullies. All in all, Luca was practically invisible, and he was determined to say that way for the rest of the year.

Once Adam parked, they all hopped out and fell into line, walking toward their much-loved building. As they entered the bustling halls, Luca’s stomach erupted in a bundle of nerves. The familiar faces of classmates mixed with new ones, and the excitement of a new school year filled the air. The hallways buzzed with activity as the unknowns of senior year loomed ahead.

Adam, walking by his side, noticed the look on his best friend’s face and tried to ease the tension. “Don’t worry, Luca. It’s just another year, and we’ve got each other. We’ll be fine.”

Luca nodded silently, his gratitude for their friendship bubbling up once more. He wanted to embrace the promise of a new, more confident version of himself, but he knew it was easier said than done. Adam could always sense when something was wrong with Luca, and the blonde boy felt eternally grateful. He didn’t even have to say anything, and Adam knew exactly what he was thinking and feeling.

They reached their lockers, which were quite conveniently close together (after a much-heated argument with the head). As Luca fumbled with his combination lock, he glanced over at Adam. His friend’s golden hair glowed in the fluorescent lights, and Luca couldn’t help but admire just how much Adam had seemed to grown over the summer. He was still the same Adam, but there was something different about him—something that drew Luca in more than ever before.

Adam, being the eldest of the group, seemed to have some sort of aura around him which let people know that he wasn’t somebody to be messed with. Which was true. Nobody ever messed with Adam, which meant nobody ever messed with Luca, Mason and Charlie either. It was almost like an unspoken rule. Mess with one of them, you’d mess with all of them.

None of them were hunks. At barely 18 years old, all four of them were just staring to fit into their bodies. Granted, Adam was taller and more buff than all of them. But Mason and Charlie were soon on their way, having gone to the gym all summer. Luca however... stayed the same. Scrawny, smaller than the rest, and introverted. That would probably never change. But somehow, despite being the one that looked like a loser and looked as if he didn’t belong with this crowd, Luca knew that his friends would never judge him. The four of them had been best friends for years, and that would never change. With different personalities, different hobbies and different ways of life, the four of them just...clicked.

Adam felt somebody staring at him. He turned to his side, and his eyes locked onto a pair of crystallised cobalt blue hues that shimmered with warmth. Adam’s gaze lingered on Luca for a moment before he turned his attention back to his own locker. Luca couldn’t help but wonder if his friend had noticed the changes he’d been going through over the summer, the newfound determination not to be the shy, unconfident person he once was. He probably did. Even though Luca had never voiced the desire to become a better version of himself, he was pretty sure that Adam, Mason, and Charlie knew exactly what his achievements were this year because they were the same as last year. And the year before that. And... the year before that.

The first day of senior year was always going to be an emotional rollercoaster, Luca knew that. He had mentally prepared himself for weeks. The time he should have been spending having fun and letting loose, was spent overthinking and daydreaming about how much it was going to suck if he didn’t have many classes with his friends. Then, a few days before class had actually started, an email was sent out to every single student with their new class schedules. And of course, the first thing Luca did was have a very mild, but very overly dramatic panic attack. This was before he had even opened the damn email. He knew it was pathetic, and he knew he needed to man up, but just the mere thought of not having any classes with his three best friends in his final year of high school had sent him spiralling. So that same evening, the four boys had been forced to come over to Luca’s house so they could all go through schedules together.

Luca couldn’t shake the unease that had settled in the pit of his stomach as soon as they had all started talking about what classes they were in this year, but he tried his best to concentrate on what was going on around him. As the four boys talked and shared, glancing at each others emails, he realised something awful; He didn’t have a single class with Adam. Not a single one... and it made him want to rip his hair out of his scalp. The moment he realised that his and Adam’s schedules looked completely different, his stomach dropped and his face had fallen. Thankfully, however, he had Maths and English with Mason. He also had Music and gym with Charlie too, which was fantastic news. That was definitely a plus. But still.. No Adam.

The truth was, if Luca could trade all the classes he had with Mason and Charlie for even one class with Adam... he would.

“Do I have something on my face?” a voice asked, snapping Luca out of his daydreaming.

“Huh?” he muttered.

Adam had a soft smile on his face which slowly turned into a ghostly smirk as he glanced at Luca and slammed his locker shut. “You okay?” he asked. “You’re staring.”

“Oh, uh, sorry,” Luca mumbled. “Zoned out for a second.”

“You okay?” Adam asked again.

Luca nodded quickly. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.”

“Swear?” Adam raised an eyebrow.

A small fizzle of fireworks shot through Luca’s chest and he grasped his bottom lip between his teeth to stop the smile that was working his way to his mouth. “I swear,” he murmured. “I’m fine. Just... not really looking forward to having Gym on a Monday, that’s all.”

“Me neither,” Charlie said from the opposite of the hallway as he closed his locker too. “I mean, seriously? Gym on a fucking Monday? Spare me.”

“At least it’s out of the way,” Adam shrugged, still eyeing Luca.

“I guess,” Charlie muttered.

“I can’t believe none of us have homeroom together,” Mason scoffed, rolling his eyes in annoyance. Luca hummed and nodded too. “I swear Mr Henley did this on purpose.”

“Why would he do that?” Adam asked with a frown.

“Because he knows how much we’d fuck shit up if we were in the same class,” Mason grinned.

“Speak for yourself,” Luca replied.

“Oh, yeah, sorry,” Mason scoffed again. “You wouldn’t do anything like that, would ya, angel?”

Luca rolled his eyes at the obviously sarcastic name they all had for Luca. It was no secret that out of the four of them, Luca was least likely to get into any trouble. Ever.

The bell suddenly rang and all four of them heaved a sigh.

“Well... I guess it’s time,” Charlie said with furrowed eyebrows.

“Fuck,” Mason muttered under his breath.

“Come on, guys,” Adam said, a smile playing at his lips. The three other boys looked over at him. “Perk up a little, huh? It’s the first day of senior year. Do you guys get that? Senior year. This is our last year here and we’re not gonna start it by moping around, alright?”

Luca couldn’t help the smile that formed at his lips when he watched Adam speak. Always the leader, always the optimist. That was definitely one of his favourite things about Adam. The smaller blonde boys heart swelled a little as he watched Adam’s infectious smile spread across his face, but it was quickly followed by a pang of disappointment. Despite Adam’s optimism, Luca’s mind kept circling back to the one thing that had been bugging him all week: the fact that, for the first time in years, he wasn’t going to have a single class with him. It felt like a punch to the gut every time he thought about it.

“Yeah, senior year,” Charlie muttered. “It better be worth it, ’cause I’m seriously over high school at this point.”

“You and me both,” Mason agreed, shoving his hands in his pockets as they all began to move down the hallway together. “But we’re here. Might as well make the best of it, I guess.”

Luca managed a chuckle, but it felt hollow. The hallway seemed louder than it had ever been before, filled with a cacophony of laughter, chatter, and the clatter of lockers. He couldn’t shake the feeling of being on the outside looking in. His friends were right there beside him, but without Adam in his classes, it was like a small piece of him was missing. They’d always been together through thick and thin—until now.

“Hey, Lu,” Adam suddenly called out softly, pulling Luca out of his thoughts again. Luca hummed and turned to see Adam giving him that grin. The one that made Luca’s heart do weird, inexplicable things. “Seriously... You good?” Adam asked, voice soft but with an edge of concern.

Luca hesitated. “Yeah, just thinking.”

“About what?”

Luca felt that old, familiar warmth bubble up inside him, that spark of something he didn’t quite know how to deal with. “Nothing important.”

Adam didn’t buy it, though. He always seemed to know when something was up with Luca, like he could read him like an open book. “You’re not fooling me,” Adam teased, leaning closer. “You’ve been a little off all morning.”

Luca wanted to tell him. Wanted to let him in on how much the idea of not being in the same class made his stomach twist in knots. But he couldn’t. Not when Adam was standing so close, looking at him with that concern in his eyes. It felt too vulnerable. Plus, how sad and pathetic would it seem if Luca admitted that the reason he was being so miserable was because his best friend wouldn’t be sat in the same room as him? Yeah, hard pass.

“Honestly, I just... don’t want this year to suck,” Luca admitted after a long pause.

Adam raised an eyebrow, stepping back slightly. “Suck? Why would it suck? Come on, you know I wouldn’t let that happen. I mean, we’ve made it through everything together, right? Senior year isn’t gonna change that. You’ve got me, you’ve got Charlie, Mason... we’re all here.”

The way Adam said it, with such certainty, made Luca want to believe it more than anything. But the fear gnawing at his gut wouldn’t go away. He could almost feel the distance between him and Adam stretching, growing with every passing minute they didn’t share a class together.

“You’re right,” Luca said, forcing a smile. “Guess I’m just overthinking.”

Adam clapped him on the back. “Nothing new there. Come on, we’ve got this.”

As they walked to their first class, Luca tried to shake off the feeling that had been following him all morning. It was the first day of senior year, after all. They had a whole year ahead of them. Maybe, just maybe, this year wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Luca eventually walked into homeroom, the familiar hum of students settling in filling the air, and his stomach churned with nerves. He didn’t recognise anyone in the class, which only made things worse. The thought of sitting through a whole year with strangers didn’t sit well with him, but he had no choice. His eyes scanned the room, looking for an empty seat. He was hoping to blend in, not draw attention to himself—so naturally, he found the seat at the back of the room, the one furthest from the front and closest to the window. Perfect.

He dropped his backpack onto the floor, slumping into the seat, relieved that the room seemed to be settling into its own rhythm. He pulled his phone out, distracting himself with it as the teacher began to call roll. He wasn’t exactly excited for homeroom—he never had been—but it was just the first day. Maybe it would be different.

“Alright, class,” the teacher said after finishing roll, his voice carrying across the room. “Let’s get to know each other a little better. I want you to turn to the person sitting next to you, introduce yourselves, and chat for a few minutes. You know, just to break the ice.”

Luca froze. He wasn’t great at talking to new people. His introversion had always made these types of activities feel like a chore. But he glanced over to his left and sighed. There was a guy sitting next to him. Of course.

He wasn’t sure if they’d ever spoken before. He’d seen him around the school, but they’d never really interacted. His name, if he remembered correctly, was Tate. Luca hadn’t noticed much about him before, but now, sitting next to him in a quiet, forced moment of socialisation, he could tell Tate had that confident, easy-going aura about him. He was one of those guys who seemed comfortable in his own skin. The exact opposite of Luca.

Tate turned to him with a relaxed smile, as if this were no big deal, and Luca’s heart skipped a beat. “Hey,” Tate greeted, his voice low but friendly. “I’m Tate.”

Luca blinked, feeling heat rise to his face. “Uh, yeah. Yeah, I... I’m Luca,” he muttered, shifting in his seat uncomfortably. His palms were sweating, and his heart was pounding. Great, he thought. He was already failing this.

Tate chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair, clearly not bothered by the silence that lingered for a second. “So, first day of senior year. How are you feeling about it?”

Luca swallowed hard, trying to think of something to say. It took him a moment to realise Tate had taken the lead, and that was actually a relief. He didn’t have to try and fill the silence. “Uh, I don’t know,” he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Nervous, I guess.” He immediately regretted saying that. He was always so nervous, so awkward. So lame.

Tate seemed to pick up on the hesitation, his eyes softening in understanding. “Yeah, I get that. Senior year’s a big deal, huh?” He leaned in slightly, clearly trying to make it easier for Luca. “You worried about, like, college stuff or just... the usual first-day nerves?”

Luca almost laughed at how casually Tate asked. “Yeah, mostly college stuff,” he said, shrugging. “I mean, everyone’s talking about it. I feel like I’m supposed to have it all figured out, but... I don’t know.”

Tate nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, it’s a lot of pressure. Everyone expects you to have your future planned out by the time you walk across the stage, but no one really has it figured out, you know?”

Luca glanced up at Tate, surprised. It was a relief to hear someone else talk like that. He’d always assumed that everyone had their plans set; except for him. “Yeah,” Luca agreed quietly. “I guess you’re right.”

Tate gave him an encouraging smile, then shrugged. “Anyway, don’t stress about it. You’ve got time. And seriously, a lot of people are probably feeling the same way. We’re all in the same boat. A sinking one, but the same boat nevertheless.”

Luca nodded and let out a carefree laugh, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. Tate’s calm attitude made him feel a little more at ease, which was something he hadn’t expected. It was hard to talk to people sometimes, especially when he felt like he didn’t fit in. But with Tate, it didn’t feel like a performance. It was just two people talking.

Luca eyed Tate and realised that the boy was tall. Definitely taller than him, but not as tall as Adam, that was for sure. He had a lean yet muscular build that suggested he was active but not overly bulky. His hair was dark brown, tousled, and a little longer than most guys would wear, giving him a carefree, messy vibe. It fell just past his ears and had a natural wave to it. Luca noticed that eyes were a striking green, sharp but warm, with an intensity that contrasted the laid-back air he carried around. His eyes actually reminded Luca of Mason’s. Green like the forest. Deep and rich. He had a defined jawline, slightly stubbled, and his skin was slightly tanned. His olive skin kind of reminded Luca of Charlie. There was something effortlessly attractive about Tate, a quiet confidence that radiated without needing to speak too loudly.

Luca shook his head to himself, realising that he was seeing so much of his friends in this one boy. It was weird, but oddly comforting.

“So,” Tate continued, “what are you taking this year? Any cool electives?”

Luca blinked, grateful for the change in topic. “Uh, I’m taking Music and Gym. And I think... I think I’ll probably do something with Art. I’m not sure yet.”

Tate nodded thoughtfully. “Music, huh? Nice. I’m in band, actually. So, I’ll probably see you in Music class.”

Luca’s heart skipped again, but this time it was for a different reason. “Wait, really?” He hadn’t realised Tate was into music. That was... kind of cool. “What do you play?”

“Drums,” Tate replied, a grin forming on his face. “Been playing since middle school. You?”

Luca felt a small smile tug at his lips. “Guitar. I’ve been playing since... I don’t know, a few years ago. My friend Charlie’s been teaching me a thing or two so I thought it would good.”

“Nice,” Tate said, clearly impressed. “We’ll have to jam sometime.”

Luca couldn’t help but laugh at the idea. It was kind of ridiculous, but he liked the sound of it. “Yeah, sure.”

The conversation flowed a little more easily after that, with Tate asking him about his interests, and Luca answering in small bursts of excitement. Tate had a way of making Luca feel like he wasn’t so out of place in this strange, new setting. And for the first time that morning, Luca wasn’t thinking about his lack of classes with Adam or how awkward he was. He was simply... talking. For once, it felt okay. Maybe he had just made a new friend?

Before the four boys knew it, the final bell rang, signalling the end of the school day. The day had gone by in a blink of an eye but it had been a success. Luca quickly shoved a few things into his locker and then hurriedly walked out of the high school. The four best friends had been meeting each other outside by the stairs for the past four years, and things wouldn’t change just because it was senior year. When Luca got there, Charlie was already waiting.

He quickly rushed over and nudged the tanned boy’s shoulder. “How was your day?” Luca asked, his eyes glancing around to see whether he could spot their other two friends.

Charlie shrugged. “It was okay,” he replied. “I have Mr. Matthews again for religious studies this year. I hate him so much.”

Luca grimaced. He knew that Charlie didn’t really have the best relationship with that teacher, and he felt bad for the boy. “Maybe you could switch to another class?”

“I highly doubt it,” Charlie shrugged.

Mason suddenly appeared and stood next to Charlie, swinging his arm around the tanned boy. “What’s with the long face?” he asked with a frown.

Luca watched with careful eyes as Charlie instantly leaned against Mason’s side and huffed a little. “I was just telling Luca that I have Matthews again this year. He always picks on me and singles me out.”

“Because he’s an asshole,” Mason grumbled with a deeper frown on his face, looking down at Charlie. A sense of protectiveness flowed through both Luca and Mason in an instant.

Charlie nodded and sighed. “I know, but there’s not much I can do about it. I’ll just have to keep ignoring him like I usually do.”

“Maybe we can egg his car again,” Mason suggested with a grin.

Luca’s eyes widened a little. “No, we can’t. Not again. I felt really bad the first time.”

“You always feel bad about everything!” Mason scolded the blonde-haired boy.

Luca rolled his eyes. “Yeah, because unlike you, I actually have a conscience.”

“Are you saying I’m an asshole or something?” The bright red-haired boy asked with a frown.

Luca playfully held his hands up in mock surrender. “Hey, man. You said it. Not me,” he said. Before Mason could reply, Adam appeared and playfully nudged Luca’s shoulder. The blonde’s face instantly became blank as he tried not to stare too hard at Adam. He kept his eyes on Mason. The four friends were definitely not ready for the day to end. “Whose house are we going to?” Luca asked the group as they all walked aimlessly toward Adam’s car.

“Not mine,” Charlie said quickly. “My dad’s been kind of weird with me ever since he found us with all that alcohol a few weeks ago. He thinks you guys are bad influences on me.”

“Does he know that buying all that alcohol was actually your idea?” Mason asked him in an amused tone.

Charlie snickered. “No, and he’s never going to find out. You’re all sworn to secrecy.”

Adam, always the peacekeeper of the group, chimed in, “Well, my place is out of the question. My parents are hosting some fancy work dinner tonight and don’t want me getting in the way.”

Mason, still grinning from Charlie’s statement, suggested, “Don’t worry about it, guys. My parents are at work, and we’ve got the house to ourselves. Let’s go.”

The consensus was reached, and they piled into Adam’s car, heading straight to Mason’s house. Luca quickly texted his dad to let him know where he was so that he wouldn’t worry. He’d never admit it, but he was a giant daddy’s boy and never wanted to make his parents mad. The three other boys knew just how close Luca was to his family, and they constantly teased him about it. The drive over there was filled with the usual level of banter and excitement as they contemplated the afternoon ahead.

Once they all arrived at Mason’s quaint home, they settled in the spacious living room. It was one of those rare moments when the four friends could relax without the pressures of school or family. Luca couldn’t help but notice how easy-going the atmosphere was at Mason’s house. He’d always found solace in their gatherings, even if it meant he had to endure the teasing and jokes from Mason and Charlie.

Charlie had taken over the stereo, playing a mix of their favourite songs. The music filled the room, and it was as if nothing could break the bond between the friends. They lounged on the comfortable couches and talked about their previous summer adventures and what the upcoming school year had in store for them.

Luca’s gaze kept drifting over to where Adam was sitting, who was seated across from him. He watched as Adam laughed at something Charlie said, his laughter echoing through the room, his hands covering half of his face. Luca couldn’t help but smile at the way Adam’s hazel eyes sparkled with amusement. They practically lit up, and he couldn’t keep his eyes away.

“You seem deep in thought,” Mason observed suddenly, breaking Luca’s gaze.

Luca blinked, turning his attention to Mason, who was sitting on the same couch as him but on the other end. “Huh? Oh, just thinking about senior year and stuff. It’s a big change,” he lied. He couldn’t admit to Mason that he was drooling over his best friend.

Adam, always perceptive and somehow having supersonic hearing, added, “Change can be a good thing, Lu.”

The words were comforting, but they also stirred up the web of emotions within Luca. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep his feelings for Adam hidden, especially when he saw him so carefree and happy with somebody else. He wanted desperately to admit to Adam that the thoughts in his head weren’t platonic at all, but he couldn’t. Never. It would just ruin everything. Their four-year friendship would end up going down the drain, and he didn’t want that. He couldn’t allow himself to lose this friendship circle. He loved it so much.

And another thing that nagged at his brain was the way Adam would say Lu. God, it was perfect. For some reason, the nickname was Adam’s alone. Mason and Charlie never called him Lu. Ever. He wasn’t sure why. All he knew, was that any time Adam called him Lu, he was putty in the older boys hands and as much as he hated the idea of swooning over his best friend, he loved the butterflies he got anytime those two letters escaped the boys perfect lips.

Luca hesitated for a moment before responding, “I know. It’s just... this is the last year of high school where we’re all going to be here like this. What happens after? We’re probably going to go off to college and never see each other again.”

“Dude,” Mason groaned, “don’t be so negative. That’s depressing. We don’t wanna think about all of that just yet.”

“Mason’s right,” Charlie chimed in. “We have plenty of time for all that.”

“Let’s focus on the here and now,” Adam said, eyes flickering across Luca’s face.

Luca sighed deeply, looking down at his lap. “Okay, I’ll try.”

The afternoon continued with laughter, music, and shared stories. Luca revelled in these moments he shared with his three best friends, but he couldn’t shake the growing unease that gnawed away at him. He sometimes felt like an outsider in the group, caught between the friendship he had made and the desire to feel something a little deeper. It was a secret he couldn’t reveal to them, but he wished things were different sometimes.

As the hours passed and the afternoon turned into early evening, they all decided to order some pizza for dinner and watched a movie together, enjoying each other’s company like they usually did. Luca pushed his growing feelings for Adam to the back of his mind. All he had to do was wait a year, and then hopefully, once he left this small town, he’d be able to get over this silly little crush and move on. Only time would tell. He sighed to himself, his eyes fixated on the movie that played on Mason’s giant TV. Luca just had to take it one day at a time and try and ignore the feelings of want and desire every time he looked at his hazel-eyed best friend. He could do it. It wouldn’t be that hard... Right?