SteamPunk Wilson: Whoa, this is an interesting concept! I can see how slow burn would work with this! Nice :)

Reply: Aww! Thanks! And yeah, I have plans!

Guest: :Love this story so far!

Reply: Thank you so much! I already love writing this!

Thomas' P.O.V

The teacher, Mr Fergerson, walked into the classroom, drooping slightly. He sat at his desk with a tired sigh, turning on his computer, occasionally glancing up as students began filling the classroom. I watched as Burr and Lee walked in together, discussing god knows what. I spied their thread, it was a dark shade of purple, great friends. Nice. Then James Reynolds and his neighbour/girlfriend, Maria Lewis. I couldn't help but notice their thread. Maria' side was Blue, hidden feelings. And James' black. Hate? No. I shook it off, watching the three Schyluer Sisters walk in, arms linked, purple strings attracting them. I watched James' gaze rise from his book as he watched Angelica sit at the other side of the classroom. I caught his glance and wiggled my eyebrows.

"Stop it." He hit my arm playfully, retreating his eyeline back to the page, every so often looking up.

I heard laughing in front of me, but I wasn't really listening. Then, there was someone in front of me and my phone had been slammed on the desk. "Yes? Can I help you?" I looked up. "Oh, hey, Pegs."

"Hola, my friend!" She giggled, fixing the yellow scrunchie in her hair. "How are ya?"

"I'm aight." I reached for my phone but she picked it up.

"What's your password?" Peggy questioned, turning it on.

"And why would I tell you that?" I laughed, lunging forwards again.

"It's 1789." James said, not looking up from his novel.

"James!" I squeaked, slapping his shoulder. Peggy unlocked my phone, cheering with triumph. "Peggy, give it back!"

"Nope!" She popped the 'p', running from me to her sisters, laughing.

"Peggy!" I exclaimed, leaping from my chair and chasing after her. I heard James chuckle, shaking his head and placing the book in his bag to watch our shenanigans unfold. "Give it back!"

"No!" She exclaimed, damn she can run. "I wanna look at your messages!" I screamed internally, anything but that!

"Don't!" I yelled, skidding to a halt as she opened my WhatsApp.

"Too late!" She clicked on my most recent chat, labelled, Large Bagguette.

Peggy scanned the chat, laughing evily the whole time. "Oooh!" She giggled. "Hem-Hem,"

"Pegs, stop it."

"At 10 pm last night, Lafayette messaged you, saying," Lafayette spun around at the mention of his name and the teacher just groaned, watching Peggy sit on a table, "when's the Math homework due?" The class shrugged, not an unusual conversation.

"Thomas responded with, tomorrow why?" Peggy laughed. "Lafayette said, I haven't done it, so I'm fucking screwed then."

Lafayette looked away. "I did it this morning."

"Thomas responded, yeah, especially with our bitch math teacher." Peggy chortled. "To which Laf said, could be worse, she could be a pedo."

The class collectively chuckled, Kings High was known for its exceptional teachers, but the English ones are weird as fuck. I bit my lip, maybe she wouldn't view the chat with...

"Burr!" Peggy cheered, and said teen groaned, ending his conversation with Lee.

"What?!" He walked towards Peggy, a lilac purple thread connecting their fingertips.

"Kindly read your part of this chat?"

"Mkay."

Peggy cleared her throat. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

"Hey, Burr."

"Yo?" Burr rolled his eyes, "this is stupid." He murmured.

Peggy ignored him. "I need help."

"What with, I'm kinda busy."

"I think..." SHIT. PEGGY DON'T YOU DARE OUT ME I SWEAR TO LIN MANUEL MIRANDA AND ALL OF GOD THAT I SHALL SMITE YOU! "Sorry, I can't say this." She said, a look of sadness crossed her face.

I thought for a moment before my demeanour changed. She was just having a laugh, plus, it's always easier if someone else says it for you, right?

"Just..." I looked up at Peggy, said girl swung her legs. "Just rip the band aid off."

This time, it was Burr who spoke up. "You sure, bro? This is serious shit."

I sighed, "yeah. Just do it, Pegs." I laughed to myself. "Plus, if I don't let you tell every one, you'll tell Angelica, who'll tell everyone!" The tall girl chortled, not bothering to defend herself. It was the truth anyway. And I've learned not to hide from the truth.

She nodded with determination, and the purple thread between us turned a slightly darker shade. "I think I'm gay."

The class gasped, and I heard James drop his phone. Lee snorted. "You're only now just realizing?!"

I was about to say something when Burr continued. "You sure?"

"Yeah, gay as all of Satan."

"Well, congrats?" Burr sighed, "who'd ya fall for?"

Peggy looked down at my phone. "Aww!" She exclaimed, tossing my phone to me, which I caught. "You don't say who!"

"Because I don't know if I fell for them or not!"

Lee spoke up again, "as I've said, you're only just realizing!?"

I stared at him, "what?"

Charles tilted his head to the side, "we've been shipping you and James ever since like, middle school." The class murmured in agreement.

"What?" A quiet voice from the corner spoke, breaking the noise.

"Oui, sorry, James. It is what it is! You're just so... perfect for each other!" Lafayette exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

Perfect for each other?

I mean, we've been best friends as long as I can remember, he's always been by my side. When Sally broke my heart, when I broke my wrist jumping a fence (look it up, he actually did that), when I was suspended for getting in a fist fight with Hamilton.

He was the one that cleaned me up.

He was the one that dried my tears.

He was the one that stayed by my side.

He was the one that never gave up on me.

He was the one that cared for me.

He was the one that had been there since I was young.

How am I only now just noticing his adorable nature, his stance, the way he shrinks in on himself when he's nervous? How am I only just now realizing that James is small and smart and funny yet shy? How am I only now seeing his perspective on the world is amazing? How am I only just now remembering how he's never left my side? How am i only now seeing, that he is perfect?

How am I only now just noticing, that my side of the thread was never purple!?

It was Red.

The bell rang and I sprinted from class, bag bouncing uncomfortably on my back. I raced to my first class, Home Economics. At least I don't share this class with James! That should give me enough time to think.

I arrived at the class early, setting my bag down and sinking into the uncomfortable wood school. Eliza walked into class next, her feet tap tap tapping against the marble floors of this classroom. The teacher, Miss Murphy, gave her a little wave, going back to writing on the board.

"Hey, Tom." Eliza smiled weakly, sitting in the chair next to me.

"Hey, Eliza." I sighed, hanging my head.

"Why'd you run? James was calling on you."

I could feel the bile pool in my mouth and I felt sick at the mention. I gagged, running to the sink, spitting the contents of my mouth into it. "Are you okay, Mr Jefferson?" The teacher called across the classroom, finishing her writing with a flick.

I wiped my mouth, "dandy." I sat back in my seat and Eliza looked down sadly.

"Are you alright?" She questioned as the classroom filled up.

"Yeah, I'll be alright." The thread connecting our hands was a dark purple, Eliza's the Schyluer sister I'm closest with.

Charles Lee sat at our table, along with Maria Lewis who waved sheepishly at Eliza. I zoned out as Miss Murphy taught us how to make a casserole, until I was called on.

"Jefferson!" The class laughed, what was going on? "Care to repeat louder what you were saying?"

Fuck. What was I murmuring?

"Not really." I slipped off my tongue before I could stop it. The classroom sniggered, and Miss Murphy rolled her eyes.

"Watch your tone."

"Will do."

The class ended and I checked my phone, Math. Fun. I started down the busy hall, spying other threads. I never truly noticed how much black there is. At least 1/4 of the threads I spotted were black, or maybe really dark purple. It could just be the lighting. I hope it was all purple, that all these people were friends.

Someone tapped my shoulder, "Thomas!" I whipped around, seeing James.

"Hey." I didn't look at our thread, no, no way. I won't. I can't bring myself to.

"What happened in Homeroom? Are you okay?" He clutched a History textbook to his chest, head tilted in confusion.

Goddamn it, James. Why are you so adorable?

"Nothing, I just..." I raked my brain for a plausible excuse, "I felt a little ill, that's all."

James saw right through it, "no you don't. Was it because of what Lafayette and Lee said?"

He's pretty smart. I should stop underestimating him.

I clapped softly, "you're right. Sorry." I looked away.

"It's alright, I was freaked too." He turned into our Math class, and I followed on his heels.

I chuckled and Mrs Swingler glared at me, "sit down, Thomas and James." She looked up at the clock, "You are three minutes late."

I rolled my eyes, sitting at my desk in between Lafayette and James. I pulled out my homework and jotter, sighing. Lafayette was tapping his pen on the desk, making slight alterations to his homework with a frown. "What's up, Frenchie?"

He turned to me, fixing his bun swiftly. "I've got zis all wrong, I give up." I laughed, pointing at a question.

"15."

"What?" He looked perplexed, following my gaze.

"Number 15, the answer is 15 too." I smiled.

He returned it graciously, writing the answer swiftly. James looked at my desk, chewing his pencil. " Ready?"

"What for?" I chuckled, staring at him.

I examined our thread. Purple on his side. I need to look.

Red.

"Ready for Math?" I shook my head, and James laughed. I was really trying to erase the thought of the red thread, but answered his question too.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

Words: 1,811

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