He Got Him

Strangers With Benefits

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Written by Pink-Butterfly

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Episode 5

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“You guys should really learn how to do makeup”. Jeremy muttered as Hal stepped into the class with a large smile on his face as he sat on the seat next to him.

The two had rejoiced when they found out they would be in the same class again.

Their alike personalities matched nicely.

The two being named the inferno duo by most of their teachers and classmates due to the way how loud they could get when they started one of their laughing fits.

Jeremy eyed Hal’s neck, a small hickey visible on the side of it making sure his stare was obvious as he gagged while the latter rolled his eyes.

“Stop over reacting. It’s fine, it’s a small thing, so I doubt anyone would notice, besides I think Jordan likes marking his territory”.

Jeremy faked a gag. “Eww, you nasty little children. I think you both need sex education and how to control your hormones“.

“Shut up “. Hal laughed in return. “I’m not as nasty as your best friend, he’s the one who should be getting that sex education you are talking about, I swear, that kid is more sexually active that I am. And with different people at that, he should be the one that you should be worried about “.

Jeremy chuckled knowing there was some truth in that.

It was true Nathan was sexually active since he was some kind of lady killer despite being so shy around them as a child.

Although he just assumed his best friend only slept with women just to boost his self esteem and also as a little challenge against himself.

Yet Jeremy had noticed the slight change in Nathan’s attitude lately for a while now.

He had seemed to lost interest in girls over the past few months, not talking about any new additions to his lists.

Even when they were with the rest of the boys in the football team, he didn’t join into the conversation about the hot cheerleaders anymore and when asked about any of the girls, he would shrug and seem a lot less interested in talking.

And that could only mean two things.

Either Nathan found out that he wasn’t that sexually attracted to girls, making him either gay or bisexual.

Or maybe he just had a crush on someone.

Though now that he’s thinking about him, Jeremy realized it could be both.

As their science teacher kept on blabbering about some laws of chemistry, that he couldn’t bother to be interested in, his mind continued to wander thinking what was going on with his best friend.

He turned his head towards the window looking at the sophomores having physical education in the field, he continued to stare after noticing Jordan and Nathan together on the field chatting away before it was their time to run.

Jeremy focused his attention on the field trying to make a list of possible suspects on who could be his best friend’s crush.

Nathan was pretty open about his feelings to his best friends so if he hasn’t told them then the crush has to be someone he couldn’t be seen with or someone he couldn’t be with.

A light bulb lit up in Jeremy’s mind as he saw his younger best friend fool around playfully and too closely with Jordan.

Could Nathan have a crush on him?

Jeremy looked over to Hal who was innocently writing on his chemistry notes.

It made sense in some kind of way, maybe Nathan had a crush on Jordan but didn’t want to say anything so it wouldn’t hurt their group dynamic since Hal would be cut up in the middle of everything.

Sighing, Jeremy turned to look at the field again staring at his two friends run alongside one of their classmates.

Upon further inspection, he did recognize the unknown boy running with them.

Although he didn’t know his name, he had seen him in his apartment building a few times and also around the hallways too.

The teacher whistled and the three of them took off though Nathan was quickly far further than his two classmates.

The kid had always been talented in sports nothing out of the ordinary.

What was surprising, however, was seeing Nathan stop dead in his tracks once the unknown boy tripped and fell on the track.

Not that his best friend was an asshole who wouldn’t be worried for somebody.

But it was out of character to see Nathan halt completely and turn back jogging up to check on the unknown boy helping him to sit up.

Jeremy smirked.

He found it cute to see his best friend, who usually prioritize himself, to stop and and help his classmate up and even help to inspect him for any injuries.

Nathan has never been interested in someone before so it was cute to watch him care for someone.

Jordan probably didn’t notice the change of character in him since he was generally seen and portrayed as a very nice person.

But it was painfully obvious to Jeremy whose smile grew thinking about teasing his best friend about it.

“Jeremy! Care to come up to the board and solve this problem or is it more interesting to stare out the window?”.

Startled by the teacher, he quickly turned to face the board attentively murmuring a quick apology.

He breathed out relieved that the teacher accepted the apology so there wasn’t any need for him to come up to the board.

“Hey!”. Hal poked him with a pencil. “Who were you staring at for that long outside the window ?”.

“Nathan!”.

“N-Nathan? Why?”. His friend asked in return, curiosity underlining his tone.

“I stared at him for a good reason”. Jeremy whispered softly not to attract the teacher’s attention. “I think he has a crush on someone and I’m guessing it’s one of his classmate”.

“Really? Nathan? Crush?”. Hal scoffed not believing. “Is there really someone or are you joking right now?”.

“I’m not, come on, I’ll tell you all about it later, not now, we are in class and I don’t want to get detention “. Jeremy said.

Hal thought about it for a moment before nodding his head. “Okey, deal. After class, we talk about this assumption of yours”.

“Shut up. It’s not an assumption “. He rolled his eyes in reply. “I’m pretty sure I’m right about this “.

***

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“Slowly, slowly”. Nathan muttered as he led Ivan towards the other side of the field.

“You don’t need to teach me how to walk “. The latter blurted out. “I’m fine”.

“Are you sure?”.

“Yes”. He replied shrugging his hands of him. “I merely fell down, it’s not like I broke an arm or anything like that “.

Nathan frowned staring at him. “Why are you acting like an asshole towards me? I’m trying to help you”.

“Well that’s the problem, you are trying to help me, I don’t want that. Your friends are staring at me because of that “.

Nathan turned around and noticed his friends from the football team giving him curious glances.

A sigh escaped his lips knowing they were surprised to see him helping a quiet kid.

“I’m sure you understand the situation so please leave me alone. After all, you were the one who suggested we shouldn’t talk to each other at school”. Ivan muttered.

Nathan scoffed getting slightly angry at that which made him leave jogging over to stand with his closest friend.

“How’s he doing?”. Jordan asked as they walked together.

“Arrogant”.

Jordan laughed in response not getting the situation. “Hah! I guess your seductive charm didn’t work on him “.

Nathan rolled his eyes glancing over at Ivan again but paused seeing Bryant walk over to him.

What the hell is Bryant doing close to him ?

He thought as he watched the scene.

Nathan noticed Ivan was kind of scared due to the way his hands were shaking.

He wanted to go over and push Bryant away but he couldn’t do anything.

Doing that would give him unwanted attention from his teammates and every one.

Soon P.E was over and Ivan rushed out of the field.

Jordan felt concerned when he saw how fast Ivan left, he turned his head to inform his friend about it but stopped seeing Nathan was also staring at the scene.

“Uhh, dude!”. He tapped his arm trying to get his attention.

“Yeah I am”. Nathan sighed looking away thinking of an excuse. “I was just staring at them because uh, I think__”.

“Bryant is bullying him, same reason, I was also staring at them “. Jordan said completing the statement.

Nathan smiled quickly agreeing grateful that his friend didn’t notice anything.

“Maybe we should go check on him “.

“No!”. He quickly objected holding Jordan back. “Bryant might mess with you and being up your sexuality. I’ll go check on him instead, you just don’t wait for me “.

“Sure, okey “.

Jordan quickly agreed as Nathan walked off quickly heading off the field as he went back into the school hallways searching for where Ivan or Bryant might both be.

He stopped hearing a whimper and then shot his head towards a hallway where the low sound was coming from and there they were.

He moved to the side of the wall watching them as his heart clenched seeing Bryant twist Ivan’s wrist.

Nathan stepped out walking towards them clapping his hands loudly causing Bryant to snap his head towards him.

“Well if it isn’t Nathan Calloway, helping the quiet kid two times in a row, something must clearly be going on”. Bryant smirked stepping away from Ivan to face him.

“Well if it isn’t the one guy everybody hates “. He retorted. “I am really surprised that you are still like this. Did daddy not have enough money to send you to anger management classes ?”.

He chuckled seeing Bryant’s face drop from a smirk to a frown.

“You shouldn’t intrude in what’s not your business, Nathan. You’ve never had a problem with me bullying before, why are you suddenly playing the hero now?”.

Nathan scoffed. “Don’t turn these tables around on me. I’ve never had a problem because I didn’t care about the unluckily students that got entrapped with you. But Ivan? Ivan is different because he’s my friend so I’m suggesting you run off now “.

“Or what ?”.

He shrugged in response cracking his knuckles. “Or I’ll make you run off. Do I need to remind you of how many black belts I have?”.

“You must be sick to protect some unpopular kid “. Bryant muttered moving backwards.

“Run off, I don’t want to say it twice “.

Bryant huffed angrily eyeing Ivan before walking away.

The hallway was so clear and Nathan breathed out with relief rushing over to help Ivan.

“Hey! Are you okay?”. He whispered softly.

Although the swollen eyes and fresh tears streaming down Ivan’s face told him otherwise.

Not waiting for an explanation, Nathan softly pulled him to his chest and surprisingly he felt Ivan’s arms wrap around his waist as he let out sobs.

“Thank you!”.

A low appreciation was muttered but it was still heard.

“I got you, Ivan, remember that”. He whispered as the cries started to go silent.

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TBC

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Written by Pink-Butterfly