Vise Versa

Dylan & Aaron

The hallway was quieter than usual, like even the school had grown tired of teenage drama.

Dylan didn't mean to see Aaron. It just happened. They turned the corner at the same time, and there he was.

Aaron.

Holding his phone, eyes on Dylan like he wanted to say something but had forgotten the words.

Dylan froze. So did Aaron.

"Hey," Aaron finally said. His voice was so soft. Unsure.

"Hey," Dylan replied, his fingers tightening around the strap of his sketchbook as he nervously avoided eye contact.

They stood there, a few feet apart, breathing in the same air tense filled silence. Like neither of them wished to be there.

Aaron shifted, then spoke quickly. "I, um... sent you a message. About wanting to talk. In person." he said as he gesture of word with his hands.

Dylan always found that side of him cute and he still does.

Dylan nodded, eyes flicking away. "I saw it."

A long pause.

Aaron scratched the back of his neck. Licked his lips nervously, "I just... I don't know what I did wrong, Dylan. And I think that's what's making it worse. You won't look at me, and I keep trying to play it cool, but—" he laughed, bitter and nervous, "I'm not good at this."

Dylan blinked. "You didn't do anything wrong," he said carefully. "You just did what you felt. That's allowed."

"Then why do you look at me like I betrayed you somehow?"

Dylan opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Instead, he said, "Can we... talk later? I'm not ready to explain it yet. Please."

Aaron nodded, confused but respectful anyways. "Okay."

They passed each other with a tension that lingered like static — unspoken things trailing in the air behind them.

POV: Ruby & Dylan

After the sixth period, Dylan sat alone behind the art building, sketching in the warmth of the sun.

Ruby found him.

She approached slowly, not her usual confident strut — more careful, like she wasn't sure she'd be welcome.

"Hey," she said warmly and inviting.

Dylan didn't look up. "Hey."

She sat beside him, leaving space.

"I noticed how you've been looking at me lately. Like I stole something of yours."

Dylan half-smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You didn't steal anything." he said with a nervous smile as he tried to brush off her statement.

Ruby exhaled, twisting the sleeve of her tracksuit. "Then what is it? Is it because of Aaron?"

That made Dylan flinch — just slightly.

She caught it.

"I thought maybe you were mad that I didn't tell you sooner," she offered. "Or that you feel like I... ruined something."

Dylan stared at his drawing — just lines so far. Nothing solid.

"I'm not mad at you," he said. "I'm mad at myself for... expecting things that were never promised."

Ruby tilted her head, sensing the weight of his words.

"You like him," she said softly.

Dylan didn't answer. He just looked down.

Ruby nodded slowly. "I didn't know. Neither does he, I think."

"I know," Dylan whispered. "That's what makes it worse."

She didn't say anything for a while. Then:

"I'm not going to pretend this isn't messy. But I care about Aaron. So much. And if I ever knew this would hurt you... I would've done things differently."

Dylan nodded. "Yeah. Me too."

It wasn't forgiveness. It never was meant to be, but deep inside, Dylan was glad that she came to understand his aching.

And it meant a lot to him.

POV: Skie & Conner

They sat under the tree near the back field — the same one where they used to swap snacks and secrets.

Skie stared at the grass. Conner fiddled with a leaf between his fingers.

"You ever think about how we got here?" she asked.

"Every day."

They sat in the ache for a moment. Then Skie said, "I visited Mrs. Adams."

Conner looked over. "The banana muffin lady?" he asked her in a sharp tone.

Skie giggled a bit before answering, "Yeah. She told me about her best friend. How they never made up. She said regret lives longer than pride."

Conner blew out a breath. "Smart woman."

Skie looked at him now in a playful way before saying, "Smarter than someone I know"

"I'm pretty smart" he said defensively.

They both giggled but it all became quiet again.

She looked at him... really looked. "I don't want that for us."

"Me neither."

There were tears in her eyes, but she blinked them away. "We hurt each other. But I think that means we cared too much, not too little."

Conner nodded. "So... retake?"

She smiled but responded anyway, "Retake," she whispered.

They leaned into a quiet hug. It wasn't magic. But it was real.

And it was the best hug Conner had received in a while.

POV: Dylan at Home

He sat at his desk, phone in hand.

Aaron's message still sat unopened.

Dylan finally tapped it open again.

AARON: What if I want to apologise in person about the other day?

He stared. Then typed.

DYLAN: Okay.

Then he added:

DYLAN: Just... be ready to hear the truth. All of it.

He hit send before he could stop himself.

Then he opened his sketchbook and, for the first time in weeks, drew something whole.

Something meaningful.