So High School

18

As the days passed, Cris continued to play his role with Jason, carefully maneuvering to gather more information while trying to keep his true feelings and suspicions hidden. Blake, meanwhile, was caught in a whirlwind of jealousy and regret, struggling to come to terms with his feelings and the growing divide between him and Cris. Blake couldn't quite tell if Cris was angry at him or if something else was going on. The uncertainty gnawed at him, it was like there was an invisible wall separating them. After all, Blake knew he had messed things up, but Cris? He couldn't read him at all. Was he mad? Was he planning something?

Meanwhile, Cris had a plan. After school, using his position as president of the student council as an excuse, he approached the principal's office. "I need to collect some materials for the student council meeting later. Could I have the keys to the administrative offices?" he asked with an air of responsibility that raised no suspicion. The principal, trusting Cris entirely, handed him the keys, which included access to the security office. Within that office was a large monitor displaying the school's security footage. Cris had marked a specific date and time on a notepad, knowing it was the day Jason had taken Blake's phone. The security cameras weren't positioned inside the locker rooms, but Cris had a strong feeling there was enough to prove what had happened.

In the security room, Cris fast-forwarded through the footage. His pulse quickened when he spotted Jason exiting the locker room with a phone in hand, one that clearly wasn't his. Jason lingered outside for a moment, looked around, and then re-entered the locker room. Moments later, he came out again, twirling a set of keys he had probably stolen from the coach's office. Bingo. This was the proof he needed.

Cris downloaded the footage onto his laptop, ensuring he had a backup in case Jason tried anything further. He carefully locked the security office behind him and returned the keys to the principal, who had already left for the day. Seeing the office empty, Cris acted quickly. He slipped an anonymous note into the principal's desk, detailing the exact time and date of the theft along with a message: "Check the security footage. I saw Jason Davis steal a set of keys from the coach's office and a phone from the locker room."

With his heart racing, Cris left the office, hoping the trap he had set would soon spring. On his way out of the school, Cris took another precaution. He logged into Jason's iCloud account and began deleting every incriminating trace: all the screenshots of conversations, every piece of evidence linking him and Blake. He made sure there was nothing Jason could use against them ever again, without leaving a trace.

Still high on adrenaline from his plan, Cris stepped outside the building, only to spot Blake a few feet away. Blake hadn't noticed him yet, busy stuffing his gym bag into the trunk of his car. Cris hesitated for a second, then tapped Blake on the shoulder. Blake turned around, eyes widening with a mix of surprise and joy. "Hey," he said, a little breathless. "What's up?"

Cris didn't waste time with pleasantries. "Can we go somewhere? I need to talk to you." Without asking for more details, Blake nodded. "Sure" he said, unlocking the car. Cris slipped into the passenger seat, and they drove in silence to Blake's house.

Once inside, Cris turned to Blake and began to explain everything. "After that party, I noticed how distant you became. And Jason? He even apologized and got closer. Too close. Something didn't sit right with me. Why apologize so late? Why now, of all times? It didn't make sense." Cris paused, watching Blake's expression for any hint of recognition, then continued. "When you told me you were being blackmailed, I knew I had to dig deeper. I looked through Jason's laptop: I found screenshots of our private conversations. It all clicked. I accessed the school's security footage. Jason took your phone from the locker room, made those screenshots, and has been blackmailing you ever since."

Blake's jaw dropped. How had Cris figured it all out so fast? How had he managed to do all of this in just a couple of days? And what was even more shocking was what Cris said next.

"Jason won't be a problem for much longer. I left an anonymous tip with the principal. In a few days, he'll be expelled. You're welcome" Cris added with a smirk. "Oh, and I erased every piece of evidence he had on us. If he tries anything again, I'll destroy him. And for the record? I never felt anything for Jason. I was just pretending. I don't even feel half of what I feel for you."

Blake was speechless. He tried to process everything Cris had just said, but his mind kept returning to that last part. Did Cris really just admit he had feelings for him? Blake felt a flush of heat rise to his cheeks, and his heart pounded in his chest.

He managed to blurt out tho, "Wha- I mean, I'm scared of you. You're...scary, you know that? But God, you're so fucking smart." He paused for a second, gathering his courage. "I didn't realize that tbh. But yeah, at this point I think it was Jason who was blackmailing me. I found our conversations printed out, along with a note threatening to expose everything. I couldn't do anything about it, and I... I was scared. So, thanks. For saving my ass." Blake added, trying to play it cool. "And, for the record, I care about you more than you could ever imagine" he said, giving Cris a sincere smile.

Cris, trying to suppress a smile, grabbed his backpack. "I think I should head home," he said, turning towards the door. Before he could take another step, Blake caught him by the wrist, his grip firm but gentle.

"Hold on. Where do you think you're going?" Blake asked, stepping closer. "Tyler and the team are away at a tournament. I didn't go because I failed my math class. My parents aren't home. Lisa's off on some cheerleader retreat in the mountains. This weekend, it's just you and me."

Something shifted in Cris. A strange feeling bubbled up inside him at Blake's words, and he couldn't tell if it was excitement or something else entirely. "So, what, I'm just your backup plan whenever the people you care about aren't around? Does Lisa know I'm your second choice?" Cris snapped, his voice harsher than intended.

Blake froze, hurt flashing across his face. But this wasn't the time to hide behind lies anymore. "No, Cris. It's the opposite. Lisa is the backup when you're not around."

Cris looked confused. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice softer now.

Blake took a deep breath and explained. "Every time I'm with Lisa, everything I say, everything I do, it's like she's not even there. In my head, it's you. I'm thinking of you, talking to you, touching you. It's always been you."

Cris was taken aback. Those words should've been comforting, but instead, they unsettled him. "Blake, that's twisted and messed up. So what am I to you? I don't get it. Oh that's it, I gotta go bye." Cris said, pulling his arm away and heading toward the door.

But Blake moved quickly, catching him by the waist and spinning him around. His voice was raw, desperate. "You're everything I want. Don't you get that? I hate it, Cris. I hate how much I think about you. It consumes me because I know I'm supposed to be with you. Please, just stay with me this weekend."

Cris didn't know how to respond. His mind was spinning, and his emotions were all over the place. But deep down, he knew what he wanted. Even though he tried to push the feelings away, he couldn't deny them anymore. "I don't have any clothes with me. Or my skincare stuff. I can't just stay over" Cris argued, trying to find any excuse.

"I'll drive you to get them," Blake insisted, his determination growing stronger.

Before Cris could protest, Blake hoisted him over his shoulder in a playful move and carried him to the car. Despite Cris's mock complaints, he found himself seated in the passenger seat once again, his heart racing for reasons he couldn't quite explain.

Back at Cris's house, which, while not as grand as Blake's mansion, was still a modern, spacious house, Cris hurried upstairs to gather his things. Blake stayed behind in Cris's bedroom, taking it all in. The room was surprisingly tidy, with posters of Olivia Rodrigo and Lana Del Rey covering the walls, and vinyl records of their albums displayed on shelves. The desk was meticulously organized, with notebooks lined up perfectly. The bed, dressed in a deep purple comforter, looked as cozy and inviting as Blake had imagined.

Everything about the room screamed Cris: it was personal, intimate, and a reflection of the boy Blake couldn't stop thinking about. When Cris emerged from the bathroom with his skincare products and essentials packed into a small bag, Blake couldn't help but smile. Cris shot him a look. "What?" he asked, feigning annoyance.

"Nothing, You're just so cu- never mind" Blake said, shaking his head. "Let's go". With everything packed, they headed back to Blake's house, the tension between them hanging thick in the air, filled with unspoken words and desires neither of them was quite ready to face.