There’s a loud bang, followed by a series of smaller sounds. I don’t know how the fuck it happened exactly, but what I do know is that I’m likely the cause, and likely fucked. Shit. I can hear the teacher saying shit about calling a guy over in the classroom below. Yeah, I should probably leave…

Jacob’s been... who knows where for a while. I wonder what they’re doing. Ah, I shouldn’t bother them so much. Y’know, there’s not much else to do, so let’s check out what shit’s going on with the Londons. If I've fucked up and forgotten to tell you, I'm talking about Lucy and Daisy.

Seems they’re together for lunch. Great, I thought I was gonna hafta search about. Hmm… What are they talking about...? Guys, I'm a creep. We’re eavesdropping!

“What’s the drama, fuckers?” I’m hiding in the middle of the closest wall. I may be a ghost, but I’m not invisible. 

Lucy doesn’t look up from their phone. “What is it?” 

I turn to them with surprise. 

“How would you know if… no. How do you deal with… being in love…? I guess…?” Ah. Not talking to me.

Of course, they can’t hear me, what was I thinking? Ah, but moving on, what’s this about being in love?? Hmm??? The older London seems just as interested as I am.

“Well don’t be shy, Day, spill!” Exactly my thoughts! I like this one.

“I… I don’t know…” C’mon! Don’t be a tease girl, I need drama!

“It’s- it’s Bella.” She blurts out.

“Ooooh… yeah, that’s sad.” 

I don’t hear the rest of their conversation, because holy fuck that was unexpected. 

What. Just-

WHAT?!?

-----

“Nathan!! Where have you been? Also, you’ll never guess this, but I was eavesdropping- don’t judge- and apparently Daisy is in love with Bella and- how did I not know this???”

Nathan stared. What they were thinking was obvious: You didn’t know? How did you not notice?

“I- of course I knew! I was totally testing you, haha…” Jacob responds as they shift their eyes to look anywhere but at Nathan.

Nathan’s expression screamed ‘you couldn’t be more obvious’. He turns back to his novel.

“Ok, fine. I’m a shitty liar, I get it. I’m probably just not smart enough to notice things.”

He pauses to look up from his novel once again. Jacob didn’t look at him. He places his book down and tentatively takes Jacob’s hand into his own. His words were feathery, laced with concern and confusion.

“No???”

His whispers did things. If Jacob had to describe it, it made everything feel all... floaty, and wiggly...?

Jacob turns away, a million thoughts racing through their head. One of which was something along the lines of  ‘Fuck, I’m grateful blushing isn’t something possible without blood.’

“I- it was a joke, Nat. Don’t worry about it.”

‘You’re not.’ He whispers, more firmly this time. He grips their hands. Jacob finally turns to look at him. Unspoken words were written all over Nathan’s face: ‘How could you think that about yourself?’

They search each other’s faces, slowly getting closer. Nathan’s gaze falls upon the others lips briefly before he catches himself. He looks away, flustered.

Jacob watches his lidded stare travel. Their own face probably had the same expression. They watch the other’s eyes before he turns away. They blink. There was no way. My eyes are playing tricks. They look away too, gently slipping their hands out of the other's grasp. 

-----

“KILL IT. KILL IT WITH FIRE. NATHAN, PLEASE.”

Nathan squints at Jacob. He was protectively fawning over a spider they had found in the storeroom while exploring. Jacob was now on the other side of the room, terrified. 

It seemed that whatever had happened earlier, they were both choosing to pretend it hadn’t. It was probably for the better. 

Nathan shook his head and further blocked Jacob’s view of the minute creature. As expected, Jacob hurled the nearest object in an attempt to squish the tiny bug. The item phases through Nathan and crashes into the next thing in its path: a stack of boxes. 

The tower wobbles, the top box toppling over. “Oh, shit,” Jacob whispers as the contents spill onto the floor. They carefully approached, still wary of the spider. Something catches Nathans’s eye. They pick out something strange- made of metal- from the pile. 

Suddenly, the door to the storeroom slams open.

Oh, fuck. The two turn and freeze like deer in the headlights.

“H-hi there.” Jacob gives a small wave. Nathan looks at them with disbelief.