#bbhs

Nogla was a good friend.

He knew that without having to hear it from his group. Whenever Moo asked him to help out with the council, he was there with a smile and more energy than the rest of the student body put together. If Vanoss needed someone to split a pizza there, Nogla was the one to call. Terroriser pretended that they weren’t friends sometimes, but Nogla could tell by the grumbled request for the two of them to kick the soccer ball around that they were close buddies.

And with Wildcat, there wasn’t a question. They were together all the time, whether it was school or the student council, and Nogla had gotten good at reading his stubborn friend. They had similar interests, liked to talk on a daily basis, and helped each other with homework or projects whenever their classes assigned them. Sometimes, when Wildcat was in a bad mood, he didn’t speak much while they hung out. He’d ask to go for a walk to the school’s field, sitting there for an hour without a reason as to why. But Nogla still went along, humming happily in the silence. Just being there for Wildcat was enough to please him.

Nogla was a good friend.

“Don’t paint that part of it!” Confused at Wildcat’s order, Nogla stopped the paintbrush mid-stroke, watching the glob of red paint slip down the cloth fabric.

“Well, where else am I gonna paint it?” Being assigned to work on the ‘spirit week’ banner hadn’t been so bad when he found out he’d be working with Wildcat, despite Nogla’s lack of artistic skill. In the distance, he could hear classmates chatting from outside, the open window providing a warm spring breeze in the room. It was still too cold to lose his school jacket, but he didn’t have to stuff his face in scarf or dig out his mittens to battle the morning freeze anymore. Closing his eyes for a moment to enjoy the wave of fresh air, Nogla turned to glance up at his scowling friend standing by his seat and grin. “They said to make the thing really colorful, ye know?”

“They want color, not a puking rainbow.” Wildcat tried to steal the steal the paintbrush from Nogla, who made a noise of protest before pulling the art tool away from his friend’s grasp. Though Wildcat was tall, Nogla matched his size, making it easy to keep the paintbrush away from Wildcat even while he was seated.

“Hey hey hey! My art is beautiful.” He knew it wasn’t the Mona Lisa, but he’d remembered to draw all the limbs on the mascot this time! As if reading his mind, Wildcat snorted, moving closer to obtain his prize.

“That head looks like someone squished it with a car flattener.”

“Well, I think it looks kinda neat.”

“Because you’re blind, dumb, and stupid.” Was the instant reply, Nogla laughing at the face that moved closer to his own. “Give me the brush.”

“No way.” He put up a hand through his snickering, which was quickly captured in Wildcat’s before his grumpy classmate leaned over his seat at the table.

“Nogla!”

“Whatcha gonna give me for-” But the joke was lost between them when Wildcat dropped a hand onto the table, caging Nogla between his arms. Stunned at the sudden closeness of his friend, Nogla’s lips lost any ability to talk, eyes widening in surprise. He didn’t lean away from Wildcat, the paintbrush dropping from his limp hand to roll away on the floor. Neither looked to see where it landed, too focused on each other to be bothered. Nogla’s stomach flipped in a strange sensation, his gaze trying not to show his confusion and excitement over the hint of blush edging the face over his. Fingers that held his hand tightened their grasp, but didn’t pull away, stealing the whisper of breath left in Nogla’s lungs. “Wi-Wildcat?”

“Does this bother you?” The question sounded accusatory, despite its soft volume, like Wildcat was waiting for Nogla to pull away or flinch. Instead, he gave a small smile, hoping that his slight leaning into Wildcat’s dwindling space wouldn’t be rebuffed.

“I don’t mind,” he mumbled quietly, wondering when it was that his shoulders relaxed so easily at Wildcat’s blush. His neck was tilted at a weird angle from how close Wildcat was, but he didn’t want to move and risk breaking their moment. His palm felt clammy against his friend’s, so he clutched tighter to keep from losing their connection. Blue eyes searched his for a moment, and Nogla tried to show his honest acceptance of their situation. His heart leapt through his ribcage when Wildcat leaned closer, his friend’s eyes flickering to glance down at his lips before back up again.

“Nogla.” His name was said with such a heavy undertone, that Nogla wasn’t sure if he was going to get killed or… or…

“Oh.” Wildcat jerked away from Nogla at the new voice, making the Irish teen blink in confusion. Slowly he glanced to the door, the heart which could barely contain itself suddenly plummeting into his stomach at the sigh of Moo. How could he have forgotten his plan to help Wildcat confess to his secret crush? He’d planned today out perfectly, telling Moo to switch off with him mid-way through the preparations so that he could ‘check in’ with his teacher about his math grade. And yeah, he probably actually needed to do that, but it had just been a flimsy excuse to give Wildcat and Moo time alone together. So that they could confess, could go on dates, could finally work up the courage to kiss-

Nogla was a good friend.

“Moo? What the hell are you doing here?” Wildcat’s face was flushed much brighter than before, and Nogla had to force out a laugh to cover the slight pinch at the bottom of his heart at the sight.

“Oh, would you look at the time!” He kept his voice chipper when he pushed out of his seat, nearly bowling over Wildcat. “I gotta get going.”

“Wait, what?” The confused voice Wildcat used sounded a little more upset than Nogla expected, but he pushed down the feeling to lean closer and lower his voice.

“I got ye some alone time with him. Don’t worry about thanking me; just make sure not to fock it up.” Nogla didn’t look at the face Wildcat made when rushing away from the incriminating scene, dropping a hand onto Moo’s shoulder and smiling. “Thanks for covering for me, buddy, ye the best.”

“Oh, uh, sure. Just make sure to fix that grade, okay?” Moo answered, Nogla nodding a few times before heading through the doorway.

“Have fun, but not too much fun. We’re still in a school, ye know.” Nogla heard one of his friends sputter at the implication, but he hummed over the sound while leaving the classroom. He didn’t go far, using his slender body to his advantage in order to press between the end of the lockers and the doorway to the room. He was invisible to the two still in the room, but was able to pick up on the gentle laugh of Moo.

“You don’t look happy to see me.”

“...I am, I… fuck, course I am! Anyone’s better than that potato idiot. He can’t even paint a stupid banner right.” And the words, spoken with more conviction as the sentence proceeded, squeezed around Nogla’s heart hard enough to make him wince. The hand, which had felt so warm in Wildcat’s grip, clutched at the shirt covering his wounded heart. The corner of his eyes blurry with tears, Nogla closed them, trying to keep his breathing steady. He was in pain, too much to really bear, but he didn’t want to ruin the moment for the happy couple. His body ached, wanting to go back into the room and ask Wildcat what he had planned to do before Moo had come in. But really, did he need to? Hearing Wildcat sputter over something Moo said too softly for Nogla to hear was enough to get the answer. His smile was wobbly at best, but he pushed it higher on his lips, knowing that he’d made the right choice. He’d helped the guy who stole his heart find happiness, even if it wasn’t with him. Because in the end, he the truth. To Wildcat, Nogla was a good friend.

And that was all he’d ever be.