Kiss, Don’t Tell

Chapter 1

Harman knew something was wrong the moment he walked into class after winter break.

It wasn’t the usual groggy students, half-asleep at their desks. It wasn’t even the way Devon nudged him, whispering about the upcoming football game.

It was Jay.

Sitting two rows ahead, staring straight at his textbook, shoulders tense like he could feel Harman’s eyes on him.

For weeks, they hadn’t spoken. Not since that night. Not since everything between them had flipped inside out. And now, here they were, back in the same classroom, surrounded by the same people, pretending like nothing had happened.

Harman tore his gaze away, exhaling slowly. He could feel Devon watching him, but he didn’t say anything. Good. Because Harman didn’t have an answer.

Before winter break, he and Jay had been rivals. Maybe not enemies, but definitely not friends. Jay was the brilliant, cocky star swimmer. The top student in their grade, quick-witted, sharp-tongued, and impossible to ignore. Harman was the football captain, golden boy of the school, just as competitive, just as stubborn.

They weren’t opposites. They were too similar to be that. They pushed each other, competed in everything... sports, grades, popularity.

And then that party happened.

Three Weeks Ago – The Party

The basement was packed. Someone had cranked the music too loud, the air was thick with sweat and cheap soda, and the entire football team was buzzing off the high of their big win.

Harman barely remembered how the dare started. Someone had pulled out a deck of cards. Someone else had suggested a game.

And suddenly, all eyes were on him and Jay.

“Kiss,” someone had said, grinning like it was the funniest thing in the world.

Jay, sitting across from Harman on the floor, leaned back on his hands, smirking. “What’s wrong, captain? Scared?”

Harman scoffed. “Please.”

But his stomach had tightened.

It should have been funny. Should have been awkward. Should have been nothing.

Then Jay tilted his head, that smug expression faltering just slightly. And Harman realized, Jay was waiting for him to back down. To roll his eyes, make some dumb joke, and move on.

But he didn’t.

He leaned in.

And Jay did, too.

The second their lips touched, everything shifted.

It wasn’t a joke. It wasn’t a dare. It was something else-something dangerous, something electric, something real.

Jay’s fingers curled in the fabric of Harman’s hoodie. Harman’s hands found Jay’s waist, pulled him closer. Their mouths moved too eagerly, too desperately, like neither of them wanted to stop. Like they had been waiting for this without even realizing it.

Someone whistled.

Someone else laughed.

They pulled apart.

The air crackled.

Harman’s heart was pounding. His lips tingled. He didn’t know what to do, what to say, how to breathe. So he did the only thing he knew how...... he played it off.

Harman forced a grin, shoving Jay’s shoulder. “Guess that wasn’t so bad, huh?”

Jay scoffed, rolling his eyes. “You wish, captain.”

The party moved on.

But Harman didn’t.

And neither did Jay.

Now – Back at School

After winter break, they had avoided each other. It wasn’t planned, it just happened.

Whenever they were in the same room, Harman felt off-balance. Like there was a thread pulling him toward Jay, stretching tight, ready to snap.

So he did what any normal guy would do... he ignored it. And when ignoring it wasn’t enough, he fought back.

When Jay made some sarcastic remark in class, Harman made sure to throw one right back. When they passed each other in the hall, he made a point to bump Jay’s shoulder. When their friends joked about the party kiss, Harman laughed the loudest.

But none of it helped.

Because every time Jay looked at him... really looked at him-Harman felt that night all over again.

And worst of all? He knew Jay felt it, too.

The bell rang, snapping Harman out of his thoughts.

Devon nudged him. “Dude, you good?”

Harman blinked. “Yeah. Why?”

Devon gave him a look. “You spaced out hard. Been doing that a lot lately.”

Harman forced a shrug. “Just thinking.”

Devon studied him for a second, then reminded. “We have game this Friday!... Focus on that.”

Harman let out a breath. “Yeah. Definitely.”

He grabbed his bag and followed Devon into the hallway.

He didn’t look back.

Because he already knew Jay was watching him.

And if Harman looked, he might not be able to look away.