LOVE STARTS AT YOU

d of lunch, but Ethan wasn't in a rush to get to his next class. The first week of school always felt like a chore, a slow march toward the inevitable grind

his page. He looked up, squinting against the sun, to see a tall boy

rawing. Mind if I joi

. "Uh, sure," he mumbled, moving his s

ovements easy and relaxed. "Yeah, just

It wasn't often someone approached him out of the b

ectious. "We'll see about that. Sometimes, th

and felt a strange mix of apprehension and e

ept drifting back to Ryan. Something about the new boy's easy confidence and warmth intrigued him. He f

ooks and headed for the exit, ready to retreat to the comfort of his ho

n! Wa

d him, his backpack slung over one

dded. "Y

ith you? I'm still figuring

a moment, then shrug

y empty hallway. As they walked, Ryan peppered Ethan with question

fun around here?" Ryan a

to draw, obviously. Sometimes I hang out with my f

n't exactly my idea of a good time, but I'm hoping to

us. "Not much to tell. I'm just trying to get

if it's drama you're trying to avoid, you m

ite himself. "I'll

, Ryan paused. "Hey, thanks for letting me tag

st at the sincerity in Ryan's voi

"Definitely. S

g a strange sense of anticipation. Maybe,

ved early, hoping to find a quiet spot to continue his sketching before the day's classes began. As he sett

" Ryan greeted h

feeling a bit of his usual shyne

lass," Ryan said, sitting down beside h

sketchbook. Ryan flipped through the p

redible, Ethan. You

mpliment. "Thanks. It's

should find a way to show off your wor

don't know about that. I'm

, we'll figure it out. Besides, it's about tim

tart of the school day. Ethan and Ry

day of high school?" Ryan ask

"As ready as

ed a few classes together, and during lunch, they met up under the oak tree again. Ryan's easygoin

r friendship was effortless, and Ethan found himself opening up in ways he hadn't thought possible. As

end, Ryan," Ethan said q

n his face. "Thanks for letting me in

Maybe, just maybe, this ye