After All, I'm Your Secret Admirer~!!

Ch33 - Notes of Another Name

The next day is spent at Paige's house, playing games, watching TV... doing whatever the two wanted before it's time for OJ to go back home.

So, here Paige is, Sunday night, sitting at his desk in despair.

We both know! he thinks. What do I write? Do I write in the first place? Oh gosh...

"Is this really worth all this goddamned stress?" Leaf interrupts roughly, rolling their eyes. "If you both know, just walk up to him and tell him. That's how this thing is supposed to work, isn't it?"

"...Nnno?" Paige says, unsure. "I... Look, I don't know! I'm new to this!"

"Well hurry up and make up your mind," Leaf huffs. "The light is bothering me."

Paige pouts, upset. Leaf never made things easy for him, did they?

+++

The next morning, Paige shuffles out of his mom's car, Brandon right behind him.

I didn't even tell Brandon... Paige thinks to himself. Should I? I normally tell him everything, but he might say I should do something if I do...

"Yo!" Brandon shouts suddenly. "Earth to Major Control!"

"Huh?" Paige asks, blinking out of his thoughts. "Um... what—what is it?"

"I asked for your note, dude." It's true, Brandon has his hand out like he normally does when waiting for the notes. "I gotta get to class early, so I wanted to make sure I got it before I bolted."

"Oh... u-um..." Paige shyly takes out the note he wrote last night and hands it to his brother. "Here..."

Brandon takes the note skeptically. "You alright man?" he asks, putting a hand on Paige's shoulder. "You're normally like, super hype about this."

Paige nods, but it's a little pathetic. "I'm just... worried about how he'll take this one, I guess."

"Psh!" Brandon smirks, ribbing the other. "You've been going back and forth strong so far! I'm sure he'll love it no matter what." He turns around, shrugging. "Besides, nothing's changed, right? So you'll be fine."

"Right..." Paige mumbles. "Nothing's changed..."

"That's what I just said, dude!" Brandon laughs. "But look, I gotta get t' stepping. I'll see you later, 'kay?"

"'Kay..." Paige waves. And like that, Brandon is gone.

I hope I didn't screw this up... Paige worries as he slowly follows the crowd into the school.

+++

Paige heads into the cafeteria, chewing his lip. He's not looking where he's going, navigating by muscle memory the whole way, so when he gets off of the lunch line, he's not looking at the table the Crew normally sits at. So when he hears a "Paige!" he's surprised by whose voice it is.

"Oh!" he perks up. "OJ!"

OJ waves, beckoning Paige over. "Hello, hello!"

Paige rushes over, thoughts dispelled. "Hi!" he beams, sitting down and turning towards the other. "What are you doing here? Isn't your lunch period after ours?"

"It is," OJ nods. "But I had an empty period, so I thought I'd come visit everyone today!"

"Oh!" Paige smiles wide. "That's awesome!"

"We're all happy to see you too, Paige," Brandon says with a fake pout. Everyone else laughs, but Paige flushes.

"Ah! Sorry!" he apologizes. "But it's not everyday OJ's here, you know? I just got a little turned around."