Fernando looked up at the man over him. Khan's somber golden eyes pierced into Fernando's brown ones. His face was still. Fernando gulped, then spoke.

"Everything is f-fine, Khan."

"You can talk to me, Fernando. I know something is bothering you," he insisted, moving closer to his friend. Although he cherished the closeness, Fernando tried to move away, wanting to avoid the confrontation. In response, Khan shoved him back against the wall and put his hands on either side of his body, effectively trapping him.

"Khan…" His friend's face softened into a frown.

"I just want to help you."

"I'm alright, I don't need help." Khan looked away from Fernando.

"You keep saying that, but I can see something's wrong. You haven't been yourself lately." Fernando realized the decision that faced him. Should he be honest and tell Khan what's bothering him, or keep up the act?

"Just leave it alone, please," he responded, trying to contain his misery. Khan, who had sat down on his bed, gave Fernando a longing look.

"Are you sure?" he asked. Fernando remained silent, unsure what to do.

"No." Khan's eyes lit with concern. He looked at Fernando expectantly.

"I'm not doing okay." Fernando struggled to get his words out. He put a hand on his face. Dios mio, I'm really about to do this, he thought to himself.

"What's up?"

"Ay, ay, ay, there's just- I don't know where to begin. I can't do this."

"Just let it all out, I'm listening." Fernando paused again. He couldn't tell Khan about the secret. It would be the end of him. But he still wanted to be honest with his friend.

"I don't like how Lian treats you. I can't stand to see you, one of my best friends, get walked all over like that." Khan's expression turned from concern to shock, his face turning slightly red. He nodded, signalling Fernando to continue.

"I don't trust her. She's done so much shit, to Viktor, to Buck, you know? I can't- I don't want her to hurt you, too." Khan looked away.

"She'd never hurt me. I've known her forever." He didn't seem confident in his answer.

"I'm just concerned, that's all. She's so controlling over you. Hell, she was acting up today," Fernando continued. Khan sighed.

"I know our relationship looks bad, but I'm trying to fix it. I have faith that she'll come around."

"I don't know." The two fell into a brief silence.

"Is that really all that was bothering you?"

"Yeah," answered Fernando. He didn't want to draw suspicion to his supplementary feelings regarding Lian and Khan.

"You don't have to be worried, I've got it under control. But I appreciate the concern," Khan reassured, smiling. To Fernando, the smile looked fake, but he ignored it and returned a grin.

Shortly after the end of the conversation, the two started to work on homework together. They laid on their stomachs, Fernando on Khan's bed by his insistence, and Khan on the floor. Fernando felt slightly relieved that he had released some of his turmoil, but was still uncertain about the future of his friendship with Khan. Khan's motivation to change Lian could end up harming him in the long run. Fernando didn't have faith that Lian could change, even with someone like Khan. His own feelings of desire were secondary to his concern. He tried to ignore it and cherish their time together. After they finished working, Khan spoke again.

"You're coming to my party on Friday, right?" he asked. Fernando perked up. He heard Khan mention a party earlier, but ignored it.

"Of course. Here, right?"

"Yeah, I'm going to invite a lot of people, feel free to bring a guest or two," Khan answered, smiling. Fernando grinned back, and sat up on top of Khan's bed. Khan sat on the floor in front of him, the light from the narrow windows behind Fernando casting golden rays across his tanned skin.

"No game this Friday, huh?" Khan commented.

"Oh, yeah. Kind of sucks. It's an away game, right?"

"Yeah, so we'll get to go on the bus." Fernando preferred home games, but one part of away games that everyone on the team liked was the bus, which had a similar atmosphere to the locker room.

"True that. Things always get interesting there," replied Khan through a chuckle.

"Remember that one time we played truth or dare and Viktor had to do push ups across the bus seats?"

"Or that other time Buck admitted he would smash Terminus?" Both boys began to laugh as they recalled the fond memories. While Khan was distracted, Fernando caught a quick glimpse of him. His smile was priceless, and the way he would snort and cover the lower part of his face with his fist was all too adorable. He felt his face turn warm.

"Good times, good times," Khan added, his laughter dying down.

"Yeah. We'll see what happens on Thursday, I guess," Fernando commented. They lingered in his room for a couple of minutes, then they goodbye and Fernando left Khan's house, returning to his own.

When he arrived home, he walked to his room and flopped down on his bed, mentally exhausted from the day that had just passed. He used all of his energy to maintain his composure at school, especially in front of Khan, but clearly, he failed. He was caught. Khan saw through, and he was vulnerable. Now, he had to be extra careful, but he wasn't sure he could. If he broke down at school like that again, his truth could be exposed. He didn't know if he could handle the pressure. As he showered and got ready to sleep later that night, he couldn't get it all off of his mind. He got into bed and eventually drifted into a shallow slumber, seemingly unprepared for the next day.

/

There was a strange tense air in the art classroom when Fernando entered. It was quieter than normal, and when he got to his table, it was silent. Skye was gone once again. Lian sat with a sly look on her face, and Khan wore a concerned expression. He sat down and faced the white-haired girl across from them. She glared daggers into him. Probably still pissed that I took her man away from her yesterday, he thought as he cleared his throat.

"Where's Skye?" he asked, searching the classroom, "She's been gone for days."

"You didn't hear?" Fernando and Khan looked at each other, then at the girl with suspicion.

"No," answered Fernando.

"She's been expelled." Fernando gasped. Khan wore a surprised look, but maintained his silence.

"What- why?"

"I heard she was having an affair with a teacher. Mr. Jade, I think," she explained casually. Khan and Fernando wore their shock on their faces. Fernando never thought that Skye would be caught in her promiscuous ways.

"That's a real bummer," said Khan.

"We all knew she'd be caught doing something like that eventually," Lian commented, looking at her nails and smirking. She didn't even seem to care that one of her best friends had been hit with such a severe punishment. Now, Fernando realized why Skye had spent her lunches away from the table. She was busy with a teacher, but not in the way everyone thought she was. Deep down, he knew Lian was right. Fernando knew that Skye was the type of person to act in such a way. He just didn't want to admit that his friends reeked of corruption.

"Alright, class," Inara started, snapping Fernando out of his thoughts. "Today, we're doing a lesson about inking. I'll show you some new techniques, then you'll have time to work on your new assignment." Most students ignored the lesson that followed, while Fernando paid attention. He didn't feel like chatting after that bombshell of bad news. Instead, he doodled on a sheet of paper, applying the methods Inara taught.

"I hoped you paid attention to that lesson, because it'll come in handy for your assignment," Inara began, waiting for students to pay attention. She continued when she realized her words would fall upon deaf ears either way. "You are to draw, using ink, a person. The subject should be some type of adventurer, but you can interpret that definition however you want," Inara explained. She then gestured towards the sheets of paper and containers of various sized pens, signalling the start of their free time to create.

Fernando remembered his sketch of a knight. He pulled it out of his bag, then got another sheet of paper to draw on. He started a new neater sketch to use for his project. By the time he finished, class was over. He, Khan, and Lian got up and walked to the cafeteria together, got their food, and sat down. A strange tension lingered around them. Eventually, Fernando decided it was time to lighten the mood, so he turned to Khan.

"So, what type of adventurer are you drawing?" he asked, sarcastically. Khan chuckled.

"I don't know, I can't decide between a stripper or the CEO of a failing tech company," Khan joked. Both laughed, while Lian maintained her cold expression.

"No, but seriously, what's your idea?" Khan asked Fernando.

"I'm going with the knight."

"That's cool. I'm actually not too sure. I need some inspiration, you know?"

"Yeah."

"How did you get your idea?" Fernando perked up, excited to share his interests with Khan.
"I'm really into history, especially the Middle Ages. The knights were so cool." Khan nodded.

"They are pretty badass," he added. Lian rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"History is so lame. It's all about people who've been decaying for hundreds of years," she commented. Fernando and Khan faced her, surprised and annoyed at her interruption. She glared daggers into Fernando.

"I'm sorry you don't find it interesting," said Fernando.

"People who like that shit are lonely freaks," she continued. What a goddamn puta, he thought to himself, trying to remain calm.

"I guess I must be a lonely freak then."

"Let him like what he wants," Khan butted in.

"This isn't your business," Lian argued. Khan paused.

"It is now."

"You don't have to be so noble, you know. You're not some knight hired to protect him." Khan's face turned dark at that.

"Well I'm sorry that I don't want people to bully my friend."

"So where are you when people give me a hard time?" He paused.

"You always do this. You always make it all about you," he declared angrily. Fernando was surprised at his sudden emotion.

"Answer me, Khan. Where are you when-"

"Shut up!" he snapped, his voice raised. Lian gasped.
"How dare you tell me, your girlfriend, to shut up," she started.

"You're always saying mean shit and starting unnecessary arguments, and it's getting really annoying," he explained. Lian rolled her eyes, then spoke.

"Oh, Khan, you're so righteous, calling out the mean bitch Lian to protect your precious creep friend," she taunted in a mocking tone. Khan grunted with frustration, which Fernando sympathized with. He was tired of this banter, too.

"Now you're changing the subject to make me look like the bad guy."

"You're the one who started it!" she spat.

"You were being a jerk!" he snapped back. Fernando couldn't take this anymore. He didn't like seeing Khan or Lian in this angry state. He wanted to stay to talk with Khan, but the tension was just too much. This is exactly what he was concerned about.

"Dios mio, you guys can get annoying," he complained, "I'm leaving." He got up out of his seat and walked away from the table. He didn't even look back. He was headed straight to a table where he knew the people would graciously accept him and not fight with each other constantly. As he approached the table tucked in the corner of the lunchroom, Buck noticed him and gave a quizzical look. Cassie, who had also noticed Fernando, nodded to Buck. He moved over to make some room for Fernando. Fernando returned a gracious smile, sat down, and scanned the people around him. He recognized Koga, Buck, Cassie, and Ying, but there were some new faces as well. A short boy with long pale blue hair and tanned skin who sat next to Buck caught his attention. God damn, he's cute, he thought to himself as he noted the rest of the faces. A boy with black hair and green eyes wearing a muscle shirt, a fit dark-skinned girl with black hair and amber eyes, and a tall blonde girl he thought he recognized.

"What brings you here, Fernando?" Buck asked, turning to him. He sighed.

"Trouble in paradise over there." He gestured back towards the other table. "They started arguing and won't drop it." Buck nodded.

"Well, glad you stopped by." He went back to talking with the boy next to him. After a few minutes, Fernando joined in.

"What's up with you two?" Fernando asked.

"Nothing much. Have you met Jenos?" Buck replied.

"No, I don't think I have."

"Well, this is him," he gestured to the shorter boy, who gave a weak smile.

"Hola."

"Hello. Fernando, right?" Jenos greeted.

"The one and only!" Buck and Jenos chuckled at that.

"Nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

Fernando left the two to continue their conversation. He turned to Cassie, who chatted with Ying and the blonde girl. They exchanged an awkward glance. She seemed caught off guard by his sudden visit to their table. Fernando hoped speaking to her wouldn't interfere with the image he implied of a broken relationship with Cassie.

"Hello, Cassie." A few other students perked up.

"Hi Fernando, how are you?" she asked.

"Holding it together," he responded casually.

"That's good. How are Khan and Lian?" Fernando winced at that.

"Not too well." Cassie chuckled and nodded, then went back to chatting with the other girls. He realized that talking with Cassie too much might make him look suspicious, so he went back to talking with Buck and Jenos. He chatted until the end of lunch, said goodbye to the students, then he, Buck, and Koga walked to the locker room together to get ready for gym class.

When they arrived, Khan was there alone, sitting on a bench. The three exchanged confused looks, then headed to their lockers to start changing. Fernando took off his clothes, then spoke to Khan.

"You're an early bird today, huh?" Fernando commented. He gazed at Khan through the mirror that he had walked up to.

"Yeah," he replied quickly, not looking at Fernando.

"How was your lunch?" Khan chuckled.

"Unpleasant." The taller boy got up and took off his shirt. He stared directly into the mirror, returning Fernando's gaze. Fernando averted his eyes, not wanting to get distracted by the other's sculpted body.

"That's not good," Fernando replied nervously. He moved away from the mirror towards his locker, near Koga and Buck. More students started to trickle in by the time Koga spoke to Fernando.

"What's up, dude?" greeted Koga. He leaned against a locker and faced Fernando.
"Nothing much. You?"

"I noticed you joined us today." Fernando took off his clothes and shoved them in his locker.

"Oh yeah, I just felt like dropping by." Koga raised an eyebrow. Fernando anxiously searched his locker for his gym clothes.

"Any reason?"

"No, just felt like it." He saw Khan turn towards him in the corner of his eye. Koga nodded slowly.

"Alright then. Well, Cassie seemed to enjoy your company," he joked. Fernando chuckled and socked him on the arm.

"Cállate." Koga laughed.

"It was pretty funny to watch you guys," he continued.

"Like I told you yesterday, things aren't the same anymore." The conversation suddenly felt more serious. Fernando noted that Khan continued to watch them, and hoped he couldn't hear what they were saying.

"I can see that now," Koga replied in flat tone. Both fell silent. Fernando was the only one who knew that he could still talk to Cassie as his best friend. He needed to be careful; if not, he could expose himself to everyone. Other students rushed to and from the lockers to change and head out to class. Koga, who had already changed, spoke up again.

"I'm going to head to class now," he said.

"Alright, see you there." Koga walked away with a group of students, leaving Khan and Fernando alone in the locker room. Khan stood near a bench and stared towards Fernando, which made his face turn warm. Right after Fernando put on his clothes, Khan started a conversation.

"So, you went to Cassie's table?" he questioned. Fernando suddenly felt nervous.

"Yeah, why?"

"Just wondering. Are you guys good now, or what?"

"I don't know. I just said hi, nothing more." Khan nodded, his eyes squinted.

"Interesting." After a few moments of silence, Khan frowned and sighed.

"I'm really sorry that you had to witness, well, you know." His face was gloomy, and he looked away from his friend.

"It's fine." Fernando didn't know what to say. He didn't want to make Khan feel worse by admitting that their behavior was unacceptable.

"No, it's not okay. We shouldn't have acted that way in front of you."

"It wasn't your fault. You couldn't control her. She's the one who started it." Khan faced Fernando and gave a weak grin.

"You really think so?" Fernando realized Lian had probably convinced him he was the guilty party.

"Yeah. I'm actually grateful that you stood up for me."

"Oh, it's nothing, really. I hate when she does that to people, especially my friends," he said, averting his gaze from Fernando as his face turned slightly red. It was easy to flatter him. Fernando returned a playful grin.

"Just don't let me ruin your relationship with Lian," he joked. Khan's expression turned serious once more.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.

"Relájate, it was just a joke."
"Okay then." Fernando wanted to say something about how Lian was slowly draining his friend, but he couldn't. He wanted to say the relationship wouldn't end well. He wanted to call Lian so many terrible names and call Khan an idiot for even submitting to her. His hands were tied. To Fernando, speaking up would create a rift in their friendship. In addition, he didn't want to seem selfish or possessive. He felt that his negative feelings towards the relationship were caused by his own love for Khan, and that expressing his opinion could expose him. Fernando tried to ignore his thoughts as he changed into his clothes, then headed to gym class with Khan.