inactive

soooo im trying ONE MORE TIME to transfer to another account.

im going to be on @viviansturns2 and im going to do that thing where I tag all my followers but very slowly because i dont want to trigger some spam detection and get shadowbanned

i swear to god if that account gets restricted i will be deactivating and you guys can kiss me GOODBYE bc omg im losing it

also if staff does ever get back to me ill probably move back here!

╰┈➤ 𝒃𝒔𝒇!𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔 𝒙 𝒃𝒔𝒇!𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝐟𝐢𝐜

... in which you finally graduate alongside chris, and you think about your future

wc: 2.5k

cw: potential underage drinking (depends on where you live)

GRADUATION

You fiddle nervously with the top of your graduation cap, standing in a crowd of classmates. Today was the day that every 12th grader was waiting for. Graduation.

You searched around for the triplets, but they were nowhere to be seen. You hadn’t seen Chris for the past week. Well— maybe you’d been avoiding him. Ever since that late night that you’d almost kissed him, you didn’t know how to feel.

You’d been so close. The way he had looked at you was not like a best friend.

And now you couldn’t even look at him.

You squint into the crowd, praying the triplets would magically appear and distract you from the spiraling in your chest. You hated this. The not-knowing. The ache.

Your phone buzzes in your pocket.

Chris:Congrats, you beat highschool i’m looking for u

Your stomach flips.

He was acting like everything was normal. Like you didn’t almost cross that boundary you had made a long time ago.

You: where are ui feel like i’m gonna barf

Chris:left side near the fountaini’ll hold ur hair if u do

You let out a shaky breath, both laughing and absolutely dying inside. That was the problem with him. He never stopped being your best friend. Even when you weren’t sure that’s all he was.

You follow the current of students and there he is, leaning against the stone edge, cap in hand, hair messy and face calm.

“Hey,” he says, pushing off the fountain.

“Hey.” You stop a foot away. Arms crossed. Guard up.

He studies you for a second, then frowns slightly. “You mad at me or something?”

“No,” you lie, voice tight. “Why would I be?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugs, but it’s too careful. “Just haven’t heard from you all week.”

You look away. “Been busy.”

“Look, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable that night.” he blurts out. You just watch him.

“C’mon, you know me, I fuck around.” he adds sincerely. “I was just joking about the mouthwash thing, I never meant to make you feel like this.”

“I wasn’t mad,” you say quickly, tone clipped.

Chris looks at you with wide sad eyes. “Then why have you been avoiding me?”

“I haven’t,” you lie. Badly. “I was just... busy. University plans. Family stuff. You know.”

He studies your face for a second too long, then nods slowly. “Right. Just... I was kinda worried I made things weird.”

Your heart lurches, but you force a laugh. “No. You didn’t. Nothing happened, Chris.”

“I know, but—”

“Seriously,” you cut in, too fast. “It’s not a thing. We were just being stupid. You always say dumb shit when you’re high on sugar. There’s nothing happening.”

He opens his mouth like he’s about to say something, but he’s uninterrupted by a crackle on the speakers overhead.

“Good afternoon graduates and family, please make your way to the field to your assigned seats. The ceremony will be commencing shortly.”

With a smile, Chris raises his eyebrows.

“I guess it’s time,” he says. Before you reply, he leans in for a quick tight hug.

“Break a leg, bug.” Despite the awkwardness that had gone on prior, you can't help but smile at the nickname.

“You too, Chris.”

_________

The sun beats down over the field, a sea of dark navy gowns rippling in every direction. Folding chairs stretch in clean lines, students fidgeting, fixing tassels, craning to find their parents in the crowd. You sit stiffly in your assigned row, hands folded over your lap.

You try to focus on the valedictorian speech, but god the ceremony has been going on for awhile.

Your gaze keeps flicking up to the other rows. You spot Matt first—hat tilted too far back, sunglasses on. He’s not even pretending to listen, whispering something to Nick beside him. 

The names start.

One by one, students walk the stage to polite applause. You clap automatically. Your row inches closer.

And then—

“y/n, l/n.”

The sound of your name is a jolt. You stand, legs weirdly loose. Smile fixed. Walk like you practiced in the mirror.

You’re halfway across the stage as you shake your teachers’ hands, and you look out into the crowd of students. It was a strange feeling to see all the faces you’d come to recognize, knowing they’d soon be nothing but memories. High school ending felt like losing a part of your childhood—you weren't just a kid anymore.

As you take your diploma, you hear a particularly loud scream over the round of applause.

“WOOOO! THAT’S MY GIRL!”

You snap your head toward the bleachers. Chris is on his feet, cupping his hands around his mouth, face lit up. Matt’s beside him howling like he’s at a concert. Nick’s clapping with his whole body, and your other collection of friends who are sitting in different rows are cheering as well, and it really makes you feel seen— wanted.

You can’t help it and you laugh on stage. Your smile turns real and wide and borderline embarrassing. You shake your head and walk the rest of the stage.

You don’t stop smiling the whole way back to your seat.

_________

When the ceremony ends, caps fly into the air like popcorn. People scream. Someone starts crying. You barely remember standing before you’re pulled into a wave of hugs and selfies and yearbook signing pens clicking everywhere.

Then you see him.

Chris is walking toward you, gown flapping, grinning so wide it’s actually stupid. “y/n!”

You meet him halfway and before you know it, you’re in his arms. He lifts you a little off the ground and spins you once, laughing into your hair.

“Jesus,” you laugh as he sets you down, arms still loosely wrapped around you. “You beat highschool!”

You pull back just enough to look at him, eyes bright. “We both did.”

He nods, gaze soft now. “I’m really fucking proud of you.”

Your throat tightens.

“I’m serious,” he adds, brushing a hand over the top of your grad cap, knocking it sideways. “You’re my best friend. I don’t even know what I would’ve done without you this year.”

You blink a little too fast. “Don’t start getting sentimental on me, Chr—”

“Too late,” he says, pulling you in again, voice quieter. “I mean it. I’m so fucking grateful for you.”

You press your forehead against his shoulder, the warm smell of him under the gown hitting you all at once.

From somewhere nearby, Matt yells, “Okay, that’s enough, get a room!”

Nick throws a rolled-up program at him. “Shut up, they’re having a moment.”

You pull back laughing, cheeks burning. “Yeah, yeah, don’t make this weird. But... thanks, Chris. For everything.”

He smiles, squeezing your hand. “Always, bug”

“Hey,” Chris says after a beat, thumb brushing the edge of your palm. “You still going to Jamie’s tonight?”

You blink. “The party?”

“Yeah. I heard she rented a bounce castle.”

You laugh. “That feels aggressively on-brand.”

“She also got one of those big inflatable screens. Gonna project the High School Musical 3 grad scene at midnight.”

“Oh my god.” You press your hand to your mouth. “Why do I want to cry already?”

Chris grins. “Because you’re nostalgic and soft inside.”

You shove his shoulder. “Shut up.”

He bumps into you on purpose as you start walking toward the school parking lot, your gowns swishing side by side.

_________

The party is already thumping when you get there. Lights flashing, music bleeding into the street, bodies pressed shoulder-to-shoulder on the porch and spilling out onto the lawn. You clutch your phone a little tighter as you step over the threshold—instantly hit with the smell of chips, sweat, and some sort of suspicious fruit punch.

You recognize a few classmates right away—someone’s dancing on the coffee table, Jamie’s waving around a glow stick like a lightsaber, and a kid from your business class is throwing up in a flowerbed.

You’re barely ten feet in before someone loops an arm around your shoulders.

“There she is,” Chris says, breath warm against your ear.

You look up and can’t help but smile. “You made it.”

“I said I would.” He glances down at you. “Didn’t think you’d flake on me.”

You roll your eyes. “Please. I’m only here because it’s graduation night.”

“mhm,” he says, but there’s a beat of silence, and then he adds—quieter—“You look nice, by the way.”

Your heart gives one of those stupid traitor-flips. You glance away. “It’s literally the same dress I wore to the winter formal.”

“Yeah,” he says, “but that was six months ago. You’re a graduate now. It hits different.”

You bump his arm with your elbow, face burning. “You’re so annoying.”

He’s smiling, but softer now. “You looooove it.”

Before you can reply, Matt appears out of nowhere holding a red cup the size of his head.

“Shots outside in ten! I better see both of you!”

Chris waves him off, grimacing. “Go find someone else to poison.”

Matt points dramatically. “You’ll regret this when you’re sober and everyone’s having fun!”

He disappears into the crowd. You and Chris glance at each other and laugh.

“Wanna sit for a sec?” Chris nods toward the stairs, just barely quieter up there.

You follow him up and perch on the steps, side by side, watching the chaos below. The party hums beneath your feet, but the moment between you two feels just a little more still.

“Kind of crazy, huh?” he says.

“What is?”

“All of it. School being over. Everyone moving on. Feels like we blinked and it was done.”

You nod, thumb rubbing absently at the glow bracelet in your hands. “I don’t think it’s really hit me yet.”

He watches you, quiet for a second. “So, you excited about uni?”

“God yes,” you say, grinning. “UCLA business, who would’ve thought?”

“I did.” he said, putting an arm around your shoulder. “I’ve watched you work hard for 4 years, do you really think it would get you nowhere?”

You smile shyly and shake your head. “Thanks, Chris.”

You hesitate for a second. “Have you thought more about what you're gonna do? After this, I mean?”

He nods, slowly. “I mean yeah. I’m not going too far from boston. Matt, Nick, and I—we’re gonna go all in on YouTube. Stay close to home, keep at it. I think we’ve really got something.”

You pick at the edge of your sleeve. “You ever think about doing that in LA? With the whole influencer scene… and, y’know, I’ll be there.”

He looks over at you, surprised. “LA?”

You shrug, trying to sound casual. “Just... if you guys ever wanted a change of scenery. Or a fresh start. It could be cool.”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment. Just shifts slightly, like the idea’s too big to hold all at once. “I dunno. I’ve always figured I’d stay around here. Family, comfort zone, you know? Besides, LA influencers get like— cocky? I guess. I don't know if that’s someone I’d want to become.”

“Yeah, I get it.” You glance at him, voice a little softer now. “I just think... it’d be nice. Not being so far.”

He looks at you like he’s storing the thought away somewhere deeper than he lets on. “I’ll think about it.”

You smile. Then someone yells something unintelligible from the kitchen and a loud crash follows. You both flinch.

Chris snorts. “Party’s peaking.”

You laugh, standing and holding a hand out to him. “Come on. Let’s go make sure Matt didn’t, like, light something on fire.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” he mutters, grabbing your hand and letting you pull him up.

The rest of the night passes in a blur of plastic cups and bad dancing. Nick tries to DJ off someone’s Spotify playlist and keeps skipping songs halfway through. You and Chris end up sitting shoulder to shoulder on a sagging couch outside for most of it, sharing a bag of chips someone left on a patio chair.

By the time the party winds down and people start calling Ubers, you’re barely awake. You climb into the backseat of Matt’s car with him while Nick slouches against the window up front.

You lean your head against Chris’s shoulder in the back, slowly melting into him until you’re practically laying on his chest.

He looks at you softly, like you’re something fragile and golden in his arms—like the night could end right there and he wouldn’t mind one bit.

His hand drifts to your back, gentle, steady. “You good?” he murmurs, voice low and close.

You nod, eyes fluttering shut. “Mhm. Just tired.”

He just rubs small circles into your back, and he feels hollow.

Because this—this right here—is everything he wants. You curled into him, fitting like you always have. Trusting him enough to let your guard down. But it’s not enough, not really. Not when he thinks you don’t feel the same.

Not the way he does.

He rests his cheek on the top of your head and closes his eyes, trying to memorize the weight of you against him. Trying not to wonder how many more nights like this he’ll get before you’re gone—off to UCLA, off to a life that doesn’t have room for him.

You shift a little in your sleep, hand fisting lightly in his hoodie, and he lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

Maybe he was meant to go to LA.

_________

(the next morning)

“Absolutely fucking not,” said Matt, hands crossed over his chest, glaring at Chris. You’d already gone home earlier in the morning, saying something about packing.

“This is home. You can’t just leave.”

Chris exhaled hard. “I’m not leaving, dude. I’m talking if we blow up. If it actually happens. LA could make sense.”

“Oh, come on,” Matt snapped. “Just say it. You’re only saying that because y/n’s going to be there.”

Chris froze for a second. “What?”

“You think I don’t see it?” Matt’s voice sharpened. “You’ve been different ever since she got into UCLA. Now suddenly LA’s not that bad?”

Chris’s jaw clenched. “That’s not fair. I’m thinking long-term. About what we’ve been building.”

Matt shook his head. “No, you're thinking with your dick.”

“Jesus Matt,” Nick muttered from the couch. “Don’t be an asshole.”

“I care about her,” Chris admitted, voice tight. “Yeah. I’m not gonna pretend I don’t. But that’s not all this is.”

Nick raised a brow. “So then... what is it?”

Chris looked between them, suddenly a little more serious. “It’s not about abandoning anyone. Boston’s home. We’d visit. We’d fly back whenever. Our family’s here. But if we’re serious about this YouTube thing, about actually making something of it, don’t we owe it to ourselves to go where the opportunities are?”

Matt frowned, “We’ve literally shit on LA in videos. All there is are overpriced apartments and a bunch of TikTokers doing thirst traps in front of Erewhon. Haven’t you seen the influencers there? They all become cocky assholes that don’t care about their fans.”

“I’m not asking for us to pack up tomorrow,” Chris added. “I’m saying—if we blow up. If we’re really doing it. We go. Together.”

The room went quiet for a second.

Then Nick, ever the diplomat, leaned forward and shrugged. “I mean... it wouldn’t be forever. And if it sucked, we’d just come back.”

Chris nodded. “Exactly.”

Matt sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. If—big big big fucking if—we blow up... we’ll talk about it.”

Chris cracked a small, hopeful smile. “That’s all I’m asking.”

AYYYYY GUESS WHO FINALLY WROTE SOMETHING OVER 500 WORDS???

im so excited.

btw guys y/n is a business BADDIE who's about to get a degree at the one an only UCLA cause she dont need NO man.

also poor chris i feel bad for him atp... i swear ill switch it up soon gimme like 2 more fics.

disclaimer, in none of these possibilities will chris and y/n be in the same university, BUT they will be in close proximity

╰┈➤ 𝒃𝒔𝒇!𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔 𝒙 𝒃𝒔𝒇!𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒃

He was already leaning against the streetlight when you showed up, hoodie up, one hand on his phone, and the other—he was wearing what looked suspiciously like your favorite hair tie.

“You stole that,” you said as you walked up.

He smirked. “Borrowed. Temporarily. It’s good for, um… luck. Gotta look good for my midnight date.”

“Not a date,” you said, but your voice didn’t sound all that convincing.

“I know,” he said. “M’just kidding.”

As the two of you started walking toward the corner, he leaned over a little and sniffed you.

“You smell really good.”

“I’m wearing perfume.” You opened your mouth. Closed it. “…It was already on.”

He looked pleased, glancing away like the streetlight suddenly needed inspecting. “Oh.”

The ice cream place was empty, humming with soft music and fluorescent lights that felt too loud for how late it was. You headed for the freezer, scanning the tubs like it was a life-or-death decision.

“Cookies and cream,” Chris guessed.

You squinted at him. “How’d you know?”

“You always get it. You pretend to debate, then pick it anyway. Like a fraud.”

You scoffed. “Okay, stalker.”

He stepped beside you, closer than necessary. “I just pay attention.”

Your arm brushed his. He didn’t move away.

“What’re you getting?” you asked, a little breathless. “Mint chip?”

“It’s green and amazing.”

“It tastes like mouthwash.”

“You taste like mouthwash.”

“You don’t know that.”

He paused—just half a second—eyes flicking up like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to grin that hard. Then he said, “Yet.”

You stared at him.

Something shifted.

His smile faltered a little. Not in a bad way—just softer, quieter. His gaze dropped to your lips, fast, like maybe you wouldn’t catch it.

“Graduation’s next week,” he said, barely above a whisper.

You blinked. “Yeah.”

He nodded, looking at you again. Really looking. “Feels like everything’s about to change.”

Your heart was way too loud in your ears. “Chris…”

You didn’t finish the sentence. Neither did he.

He leaned in just a little. You didn’t move. His hand was suddenly at your elbow, thumb brushing gently, like he wasn’t sure he was allowed to touch you at all.

And then— The freezer door slammed shut behind you. You both jumped.

He coughed, taking a step back. “I—uh. Mouthwash. Yeah. Mint chip it is.”

You turned back to the tubs quickly, pretending to be so fascinated by frozen dairy. But your face was warm. Too warm. And you weren’t thinking about graduation anymore.

You were thinking about what would’ve happened if that door hadn’t slammed.

first fic is out tn!!!! its time for grad

╰┈➤ 𝒃𝒔𝒇!𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔 𝒙 𝒃𝒔𝒇!𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒃

(highschool)

You’d spent hours getting ready.

You started too early because you couldn’t sit still. Hair curled and pinned, makeup done with a precision you only ever bothered with on special occasions. The dress—dark red satin, clinging to the right places had been a splurge. Something you justified as a once-in-a-lifetime thing, even if a part of you wished you were going with someone else—or maybe just with your friends.

Still, you’d smiled when your date rang the doorbell. You’d smiled when he told you you looked cute, even if his eyes flicked too fast and he kept checking his phone. You let it go. You wanted tonight to be good.

But it didn’t stay good.

The compliments stopped when his friends showed up. You were suddenly quiet in the passenger seat, laughing at jokes you didn’t really get. At the venue, he walked two steps ahead of you. Introduced you as “my date”. Wandered off somewhere between “Uptown Funk” and “Mr. Brightside.”

By the one-hour mark, you were checking the exits.

By two, you were sipping flat punch and pretending you didn’t want to throw up. here you are, alone on prom day.

By three, you were standing against the far wall, blinking fast so no one would see your mascara smudge.

You didn’t text Chris. You thought about it, twice. But your pride got in the way. He was probably with his friends, having the “boys night” they’d been hyping up for weeks.

So you didn’t call him.

But he still found you.

“Is this spot taken?” he asked, nodding to the wall beside you like it was a chair. His voice was easy. Familiar.

You turned, startled. “What’re you doing here? Isn’t this your boys night or something?”

“I heard your date was an idiot.”

You swallowed. “Who told you that?”

“Umm. I don’t know. I had a feeling.”

He shrugged, his grin crooked. “I figured if I were a decent guy with a license and a soft spot for you, I’d find you. Just in case you needed rescuing.”

You tried to smile, but your face felt stiff. “And are you?”

“What?”

“A decent guy. With a license. And a soft spot for me.”

Chris paused. “Depends.” Then: “Will you dance with me?”

You stared at him. His hair had been brushed back—an actual attempt at grooming. He wore a sharp black suit with a crisp white shirt, clearly coordinated with Matt, though Matt was nowhere in sight.

He was gazing at you with a look you couldn’t quite place—soft, safe.

Just you.

So you nodded. “Yeah. Okay.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment. Just smiled—soft and stunned and golden, like he’d been waiting for this.

Then he held out his hand. You took it. His palm was warm, fingers steady as he pulled you toward the center of the room.

It wasn’t a slow song. The music was too upbeat, too loud. But Chris didn’t care. He wrapped an arm around your waist like it was the most natural thing in the world, and you leaned in, mascara smudged, heart cracked.

He rested his chin on your shoulder like this was what he’d come for all along.

“You’re the prettiest girl here, bug,” he murmured.

You choked out a laugh. “Chris.”

“What? I’m not lying.”

He pulled back slightly to look at you, eyes crinkling at the corners. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s not my fault you showed up looking like a princess.”

You rolled your eyes, but your lips twitched. He caught it.

“I didn’t even know people could glow,” he added. “It might just be you.”

You raised a brow. “Are you flirting with me right now?”

“No,” he said instantly. Then paused. “Well—kind of. But not in a weird way.”

You waited, skeptical.

He scratched the back of his neck, sheepish. “Like. In a ‘you deserve to feel good tonight’ way.”

You exhaled. “So… pity flirting.”

“No! Supportive flirting.”

You snorted, then laughed.

Chris looked proud. “Plus, I’m not letting an asshole be the last one to call you pretty.”

You tilted your head. “You’re such a golden retriever.”

His entire face lit up. “Good. Those guys are loyal as hell.”

The song shifted, finally slowing. The lights dimmed slightly, and people around you began coupling off. You moved in closer without thinking. Chris didn’t hesitate and just pulled you in.

Your head dropped to his chest. Your heartbeat was steady. His wasn’t.

“I almost left,” you admitted.

“I’m glad you didn’t.”

“I was gonna Uber home.”

“Then I would’ve just shown up at your house and made you slow dance in the kitchen,” he said easily. “Like a rom-com. One of the good ones.”

You chuckled. “Ew Chris, we’re only slow dancing because we’re at prom and my date ditched me.”

He squeezed your hand gently. “Yeah.”

You fell silent. The music carried on.

Then you whispered, “I thought tonight would feel different. I thought it’d be romantic, and fun.”

“Is this not that?” You chuckle like he’s joking.

“It’s fun at least,” you respond.

When the song ended, he didn’t pull away.

“So,” he said. “You wanna leave?”

You blinked. “What?”

“I have a car. There’s a diner like ten minutes away. It’s kind of a dump. The fries are good.”

You hesitated.

He smiled softly. “We can stay. But if I’m being honest, you deserve more than this gym floor and bad music and guys who walk away.”

Your chest squeezed.

“Yeah,” you said. “Okay. Let’s go.”

He didn’t cheer or joke, and just walked out with you with an arm draped over your shoulder.

Outside, the air was cooler. You hadn’t realized how stuffy it was inside.

Chris opened the passenger door for you. Waited until you were buckled in before jogging around the front.x

Once inside, he turned the key. The engine hummed to life.

Neither of you spoke for a moment.

“Thanks for dancing with me,” he said quietly.

“Thanks for showing up,” you replied.

“I always will.”

“You’re a good friend, Chris”

He visibly swallowed. “Yeah,” he croaked out. “Good friend.”

balls deep in the friend zone i fear...

im lwk feeling like turning this into a au + series thing what do you guys think?? each part of the series would be a big story development while i keep making burbs and shit.

im in a big dilemma whether or not to keep it a highschool au or also university?? helpppp

Intro 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

summary: ness gives birth??? guys idk where this series even ended up but yeah

c/w: very vague descriptions of birth and pregnancy, angst, crying, fluff

╰┈➤ 𝒃𝒔𝒇!𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔 𝒙 𝒃𝒔𝒇!𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒃

(highschool)

you missed his call while you were at dinner. when you see his name on your screen with the little voicemail icon, you expect something quick—"happy birthday,” something joke-y, but it’s nearly a full minute long.

you press play.

"hey. okay. so. happy birthday, obviously. that’s what this is. the birthday call. uh—i was gonna sing but i chickened out."

a soft laugh.

"anyway. i was thinking about that first time we met in calculus when i was sitting next to you, and I just had to know what you were drawing. and you called me a golden retriever and we got ice cream after school”

there’s a pause. like he’s waiting to see if that memory lands, even though you’re not there.

"also i still have your hair tie. from, like, last month? you left it in my car and i was gonna give it back, but i don’t know. emotional support elastic or whatever."

another pause. a breath.

"you’re kind of… you’re just one of my favorite people, i guess. not ‘cause you’re, like, always nice. ‘cause you’re you. and you let me be me. and that’s—that’s really rare. and cool."

your heart does something weird.

he keeps going, softer now.

"okay i feel like i’m talking too much. this is so long. sorry. i’m gonna hang up."

a beat.

"love you. not in a weird way. i mean—not like—i just—okay bye."

click.

MY SHAYLAAAAAAAAAA

lmk when you guys are bored of tiny burbs and if you want the story to progress, or you want some longer fics!

╰┈➤ 𝒃𝒔𝒇!𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔 𝒙 𝒃𝒔𝒇!𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒃

he showed up late.

of course he did. first monday of the semester and he strolled into homeroom with a hoodie half-on, a backpack he didn’t bother zipping, and a sort of scared look on his face like he didn’t mean to be late—he just got distracted by something on the way, or forgot where the classroom was.

"chris," the teacher sighed, already exhausted by him and it was barely 9:07. "take the empty seat in the back."

the seat next to her.

you didn’t look up at first. your headphones were in, pencil moving, not really listening to anything around you. he sat down with a plop, and you felt him watching you, practically vibrating with curiosity at what you were doing.

"yo," he whispered, leaning way too far into your space. "what’re you drawing?"

you lean away from the sudden intrusion. "boundaries," you said flatly.

he blinked, then let out a cackle that could only be described as too much.

"that was good," he grinned. "i’m chris."

you gave him a look. "yeah, i got that from the teacher."

he didn’t take the hint. of course he didn’t. the rest of class, he kept fidgeting—tapping his pen, bouncing his knee, spinning a coin on his desk like he was at home and not in calculus.

at one point, you caught him not subtly trying to glance at your homework.

"seriously?" you muttered, dragging your notebook a few inches further away.

"what? i wasn’t—" he paused, busted. "...okay, i was. but like. in a respectful way."

you gave him an eye roll so sharp it must've hurt your eye socket.

"no really! you seem really smart!" he added quickly, grinning like that somehow made it better.

"there’s no respectful way to cheat off someone’s homework, chris."

his entire face lit up at you using his name in a sentence— he was absolutely the type of guy who loved that when people did that.

"god," you said, trying to hold back a laugh. "you’re so… whats the word… earnest?. like a golden retriever."

he blinked. "is that a compliment?"

he stuck to you like a magnet after that.

group projects? suddenly you were partners. lunch? he’d sit at your table, even though there were fifteen empty ones closer to the door. gym? he somehow convinced you to skip with him once, and you both ended up in detention, where he doodled tiny skateboards on the desk while you tried to not laugh, but it was hard. he really did have a contagious laugh.

you tried to stay away— not for any particular reason. but he was... warm. loud. kind in a way that didn’t ask for anything in return.

you sat on the curb after school, sketchbook open on your knees. he dropped his backpack beside you and sat so close your shoulders touched.

"that a tree?" he asked, peeking over.

"obviously."

he nodded, like you’d said something deep.

"you’re a weird girl," he said fondly.

"you’re an annoying boy."

and still—he stayed there. legs stretched out, hoodie sleeves too long, gaze on the sky like he couldn’t believe his luck just sitting beside you.

“wanna get ice cream?”

he smiles huge. “yeah.”he didn’t say it then. but he knew it already. he was going to fall in love with you. and you were never going to fall back.

MORE OF THIS AU

ok guys hear me out i change it to bsf!goldenretriever!chris x bsf!reader