"Last night I thought of you
And the color lifted me from the ground
Last night I swallowed you
Now there's a spectrum inside my mouth"

Will arrives at school early the next day, sitting in first period English with only Mrs. Sinclair and two other students. It's quiet and bathed in grey morning light. The sky outside the window is blanketed in thick clouds and the air has felt heavy since last night, yet it never rained. As if somehow the moisture just stayed trapped inside the atmosphere.

Will figured if he's in class early maybe it'll be too busy and he'll be able to avoid Mike until lunch. He knows he can't avoid him forever. They had a movie night planned with the guys tomorrow night, but if he can just get through today, then maybe, he'll survive this first week of school after all.

He is hunched over his desk, head in his book. He only has the last two chapters of A Separate Peace to read, and it really is good. He just wants to know what happen at the end, but when he looks up he notices Jamie heading down the aisle towards his seat next to him. Will instinctively slaps the book shut, readjusting himself in his chair. Jamie smiles at him, one side of his mouth curling up, and pauses his cassette player, pulling his headphones from his ears, and casually resting them around his neck.

"Hey," Jamie greets him, eyes falling to his book and then back up to meet Will's gaze. He's more subdued today. His energy is quiet. Still.

"Hey." Will smiles up at him.

Jamie settles into his desk, propping his skateboard against the metal bars beneath the seat of his chair. He pulls out his notebook and copy of A Scarlet Letter, then turns to him, shoulders drawn in and elbows resting on his knees. Will notices the hair on his tanned skin is black and there's a scattering of moles along one arm, like a constellation. The ring wrapped around his finger is in the shape of a snake. Its eye sparkling red against the light from the window.

"So did you survive the first day in hell?" he asks, squinting at him. His tone is breezy, yet weighted. He's really asking.

"Just barely." Will says honestly, squeezing the bones of his knees together and shifting in his seat. He taps his pen along his knuckles. "You?"

Jamie chews at his bottom lip, his gaze studying the floor before finally settling back on Will, "Oh, you know. Living the dream."

It's a half-hearted attempt at being positive. Will isn't sure what's changed since the day before, but it's not like he doesn't get it.

"Always," Will responds, chuckling, then regrets it. He can see something heavy spread across Jamie's features. It flashes in his dark eyes and then it's gone, and it leaves Will unsure if he saw it in the first place.

Jamie reaches for his book, trying to see the cover, "What are you reading?"

Will instinctively pulls it away from his view, tucking it under the desk in his lap. "It's nothing," he says. Jamie pulls his hand back quickly, as if he realized a stove was too hot.

"Sorry," he says. "I'm not trying to pry."

"No, no. It's nothing." Will assures him, trying to recover. "It's just a book I'm reading for my Summer report. I haven't finished it yet."

Jamie turns his body back towards the chalkboard, cracking his knuckles nervously. He gestures toward the book. "Do you like it?"

Will pauses, caught off guard by his question. Why does he care what I think about it? "Yeah." he responds quietly, trying to keep his knee from bouncing under his desk. "I do."

"Mhm," Jamie hums, peering at him from the corner of his eye. He's picking at his desk with his pen, carving something into it.

"Cool." Will watches the way Jamie's mouth is full and how there's the glint of a smile as he says it.

They are interrupted when the bell rings and the rest of the class boisterously shuffles into the classroom to find their seats. Will peers up and notices Mike coming in. He is wearing a dark blue polo and khakis today, something Will hasn't seen him wear in ages. He's animatedly talking with another kid from Hellfire. His hands are gesticulating wildly and his brows are raised animatedly. His eyes are black with excitement and mischievous humor. The other kid laughs as he settles into his seat. As Mike approaches his desk he pauses in his tracks when he notices Will observing him. He purses his lips giving him a little half smile and a tentative wave. Before Will can respond Jamie's asking him something.

"Will?"

Will shakes his head a little, returning his attention to him. "Yeah?"

Will's surprised by the expression on Jamie's face when he observes him. Jamie peers at Mike for a split second, and then clears his throat, roughly pulling at his thumb. He's nervous, Will realizes. He wasn't aware Jamie could be nervous.

"Hey, what are you doing after school today?" he asks, peeking at him tentatively.

Will's heart flutters in his chest, and his mind goes blank as he tries to comprehend his question.

"Uhm," he responds, nervously chuckling and sitting up straight in his seat. He studies the scratches along the top of his desk. "Yea, well, I didn't have any plans tonight." God, that sounds so stupid. Who doesn't have plans on a Friday night?

Jamie exhales happily, "Yeah?"

Will nods in agreement, "Yeah."

"Well," Jamie says, "You wanna just.. hang out?"

Will can't help the blush that burns his cheeks or the smile that beams across his face.

"I mean. Yes, for sure. That sounds great actually."

"Ok. Great! I could..I can meet you? Like…at Melvin's or something? ...do you like ice cream?"

"Yeah of course. Who doesn't like ice cream?"

Jamie laughs, and Will likes the way it makes his whole face light up. "Hah, I guess you're right. That was a dumb question." He's bunching up his black shirt in his hands beneath his desk. Will thinks maybe Jamie doesn't have as many friends as Will originally thought. This might be really good, he thinks. I could use a new friend.

Mrs. Sinclair is almost finished taking attendance and gathering her things. She'll be ready any second, and Will feels like the moment will be lost. Jamie's looking at him expectantly, waiting for a definitive answer.It's now or never.

"Hey, uhm, would you… want a ride after school? I have my brother's, well it's mine now… I have a car."

Jamie's brows raise in surprise and then he grins. "Yeah. That would be killer!"

Will can't help but gaze at him. They smile at each other a moment longer before Mrs. Sinclair closes the door and begins her lecture. Will feels an excitement he hasn't since he was little. He might burst out of his skin, as if the elation that swells inside him is a tangible thing he could hold onto, and even if it's only for a moment, it makes him forget the tears from the night before. It makes him forget the shadow at his back, forget the words Mike won't ever speak. It makes him forget everything except for the boy sitting across from him.