That night, Dan is sitting at the dinner table with his parents.
"So, how is Riley, Dan?" His mother asks.
"She's okay. I haven't had a chance to text or call her. She's probably busy, I guess," he replies. Dan's parents give awkward glances to each other, then back to Dan. "What?"
"Do you not love her anymore?" Dan's father questions him.
"What do you mean? Of course I do," Dan is raising his voice.
"There is no need to raise your voice, Dan," his mother commands. Dan sighs in aggravation. Dan gets up and takes his plate to the kitchen. He goes up to his room after he clears his plate into the trash. He knows that their feeling is correct. He is losing feelings for Riley, and he has to tell her. His stomach is churning, and he isn't sure if it's because he didn't finish his dinner, or this big decision he has to make. Dan decides to sleep it off.
Dan's mother drives him to school early, because he has an assignment to work on. He waves goodbye to his mother and waits for his friends, Charlotte, Louise, Samantha and Taylor.
Louise is a bubbly and vivacious girl. Louise is the fashionista of the group. She seeks to help others and to improve herself in any way she can. She is a highly loyal friend, and is always willing to stand up for what she believes in.
Samantha is quiet and reserved. She is very loyal, faithful, and dependable. She places great importance on honesty and integrity. While she is generally take things very seriously, she also usually has an offbeat sense of humor and can be a lot of fun.
Taylor is pretty loud and rowdy although nothing really matters, but he's shy when he is around people he doesn't know. He's really sweet. She hates it when her best friends are angry for real at her, but she likes to just annoy/joke around with some people. He is very close to Charlotte, and only her. He doesn't feel the same way about Louise or Samantha. Taylor is an extravagant type. He is Dan's gay best friend. A lot of people aren't accepting of people who like the same sex, but Dan, Charlotte, Louise and Samantha are.
Dan sees them approach. He waves to them. Taylor is walking with his arm around Charlotte's shoulder. Louise and Samantha are talking to each other, but Dan can't hears them, due to students surrounding him. They reach him.
"Dan, are you alright? Rumours are spreading about you and Riley breaking up. Are you two going to break up?" Charlotte asks.
"What? No, of course not. Who told you this? Dan questions her.
"I heard it from some girls in my chemistry class," she says, without revealing their names. Dan sighs and drops it. "So, how is Riley?"
"She's fine, I think. I haven't called or texted her in a while."
"Maybe you text her now," Samantha speaks up.
"Yeah," he answers back.
"Want to join us for breakfast?" Louise suggests, but Dan shakes his head. They leave to the cafeteria. Dan sees Riley scrolling to him.
"Riley, is everything okay? I'm sorry that I haven't called or texted you. Are you mad at me?" Dan apologises.
"Of course everything is okay. My boyfriend refused to call or text me. I'm not mad, sweetie," she speaks sarcastically. Dan looks down. A raging fire of anger burns in her green eyes. "If you loved me, you would have called!" she shouts. People around them stare. He quivers in fear a little.
"I need to talk to you about that. I feel the love dying. I think we're over," he murmurs.
"Bastard," she hisses and spits in his face. Sorrow washes over him. Dan has never felt this sad before, but he has himself to blame. He could have called Riley, and now she is out of his life.
He tries to avoid her the rest of the day, but she would walk up to him and say some insult, or have her friends do it for her. He feels terrible. Dan's friends try to cheer him up, but nothing seems to work.
Later that night, Dan cries on his bed. He is confused over his emotions, and feels awful that he hurt a girl that only liked him and did him no harm. Dan is now at a low point of his young life. He goes to his bathroom and dries his red, puffy eyes. He stares at himself in the mirror, then shakes his head and walks out. He didn't dare look at himself. This is his fault, and he knows this.
Riley has moved on. She has a boyfriend who is on the rugby team. Dan sees them walking down the hallway past him. She doesn't even look at Dan. He slides his hands in his pockets. At lunch, Dan sits outside with his food. He is alone, until a guy walks up to him and sits beside him.
"Are you okay? Usually people sit out here if something is on their mind, so what's up?" the guy asks.
"Oh, the girl I liked and I broke up."
"That sucks. When was this?"
"Last week. She already has a new boyfriend. I know, I sound jealous. Maybe I am jealous, but it doesn't matter. What's your name?"
"John. What's yours?"
"Dan," John shakes his hand. He returns the gesture. A male year eleven student walks past them. John stares at the student. A smile grows on John's face. He stares at the student until he is out of sight.
"Wow, he has a nice ass, doesn't he?" John turns to Dan. Dan scoffs at the comment. Dan couldn't believe that John is making comments like this. "You know what though, Dan?"
"What?"
"I think you are the hottest guy in our year," Dan blushes and John tilts Dan's face his way and kisses him on the lips to Dan's surprise. Dan is in shock. A guy is kissing him, and he is enjoying it. Dan kisses him back. He feels ecstatic. A boy, who is one of the popular kids, is kissing him. An exuberant feeling washes over Dan. John pulls away.
"Come have lunch with me, Dan."
"Okay," John takes his hand and helps him to his feet. They walk into the cafeteria. They are no longer holding hands, but Dan is elated. He feels like he has finally found the one. They talk about video games. Dan finds out that they like the same games. He leans his cheek on his hand. His twinkling brown eyes are fixed on John.
Later that night, Dan is eating dinner with his parents. Dan's mother notices a change in her son, noting that he apparently had a good day. Dan just smiles. After dinner, he helps his mother with dishes. He goes upstairs when he is done with dishes. Dan gets dressed into his pajamas and lays down. That night, he thinks of John.
The next day at school, Dan waits for John, but he has no luck finding him. Dan's friend are worried about Dan. He hasn't been acting the same since Riley. After class, Dan tracks John down in the men's restroom. When no one is around, Dan starts to kiss him. John doesn't respond to it.
"Look, Dan. I didn't mean for you to get addicted to that kiss. I was just having some harmless fun. I wanted, and never will want, nothing more. Nothing will change between us though. I won't tell anyone about this. I'll keep this a secret," he tells Dan. Dan is crushed, thinking he found a potential partner.