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Carlos spent the night tossing and turning on the mattress, too upset to get more than just a moment or two’s rest. When the alarm clock went off he groaned and put his hand over his face to keep the light from him. When Eli started talking to him, he sat up and yawned, “Not really but Mr. Peterson said if I failed another test I’d get held back so I guess I better go to school.”

With a scowl, Carlos watched Eli and felt a tug of jealousy that would not be abated. With his most charming (and rare) smile, he walked over to where Erin had trotted off to. “How’s it going Erin?” He said as he took out his sketch pad and began to draw her face.

With the drawing completed, he handed it over to Erin and chatted a few more moments before he heard the slap. What had happened? Turning, Carlos was surprised to see the slightly flushed area on Eli’s cheek. Hiding an inner feeling of satisfaction, he frowned at his friend. “What did you do?”

Carlos shrugged and said, "I couldn't tell you. She's way too hyper for me anyways, though. She couldn't stand still the whole time I sketched her." He shrugged dejectedly, "Well, you win some you lose some right?" Though it would have been more accurate if Carlos had grinned like a tomcat, as he was utterly thrilled that Eli had struck out.

Carlos was very aware of Eli’s blush but he didn’t deign to comment on it until his friend made the comment about getting to class yet the boy with the dreadlocks didn’t make a move to do so. “What’s up Eli?” He asked, slightly concerned.

It wasn't like his school minded friend to make them close to being late to class. As the countdown to the bell continued and they made no progress, he began to get a little nervous. What was affecting Eli like this? Was it the rejection he'd just received from that girl? The one who had slapped him? That thought was like a knife tearing into his heart. No one else was allowed to have Eli! Eli was his.

Wait, what?! Carlos knew that he’d been really confused since that kiss on the forehead but now it was as if he was coming to a realization that he had feelings towards the other. What was he going to do about this? Surely this wasn’t normal – to have a crush on your best friend. And not any normal best friend – a male best friend.

Carlos blushed and shivered before he reached out a trembling hand and pulled at Eli’s shirt. With a blush staining his cheeks a shade eerily close to tomato he whispered, “I know how to make me happy. Just don’t be with them, okay? M-maybe you can be with me?” His eyes dropped to their feet, unable to face Eli's rejection but at the same time unable to let go of the other's shirt. The feelings had been there for a long time now; he just hadn’t been able to accept them. Thinking back on all their time together, he had probably had a crush on Eli for ages.

His heart in his throat, Carlos blushed more before he nodded, whispering, “It’s… really confusing but I want you Eli.” When he was tugged towards his friend, he made a humming noise in his throat. Their lips got so close, but not close enough. With a whimper of frustration he frowned and said, “I don’t want to go to class.”

Carlos was left speechless by that kiss and so he spent the rest of the day in a fog of happy impatience. As the hours passed by, each minute feeling like thirty, he was oblivious to the gossip going on about the most amazing of kisses. As the bell for lunch break rang, he hrried to his locker to put away his books and sketch pad – many of the pages now filled with Eli’s face and other doodles involving his… friend or was it boyfriend now? He didn’t know and he didn’t particularly care. All that Carlos knew was that he was happy for the first time in a very long time and it was all thanks to Eli.