The rest of the night was short due to the hours he spent at the cinema – and the hours he tried to pin down, who exactly the mysterious ‘K.’ might be. With the arrival of the morning, Ciaran wasn’t smarter than the evening before, but definitely more grumpy. 

Couldn’t he just skip school today? He wasn’t keen on meeting more gazes, nor did he feel rested enough to focus on studies. The only thing that kept him from bunking off school was that his mother would worry and ask too many questions. Instead, he drank the double amount of coffee and decided he’d just spent the rest of the day in autopilot.

As he needed a moment longer to get ready than usual, he was surprised to see a familiar figure leaning on the tree before his houses.

“Did you wait for me?”, he asked Mael as he approached. All he was offered as an answer was a single nod. 

“I’m sorry, if I’d known you’d wait for me, I’d have written you. Thanks, though.” Why did he bother? It was not as if they had agreed to walk together every morning.

“You can’t”, Mael declared calmly. As Ciaran’s confused gaze met him, he sighed and elaborated further. “You don’t have my number.”

“Oh.” It was something so obvious that he felt like smashing his head against the tree trunk. “You’re right. I’m still a bit tired, sorry. But actually, would you mind exchanging numbers?”

“No.” Mael pulled out his phone and showed him his contact data. Ciaran saved him to his phone under ‘Talkless’. He was still sparing his words, as if he had to pay a monthly bill for every one he uttered.

Their walk to school was silent and uneventful. Strangely enough, the surrounding silence started to feel comfortable. Like a sanctuary before the noise of the world would devour their nerves again. Was that the reason, Mael was a man of few words? 

As they reached the school ground, the gazes were gluing onto them like a piranha that had bitten itself into fresh flesh. Why didn’t they care for their problems? Ciaran snorted, but tried to ignore them to the best of his abilities. 

It did work for a longer portion of the day, but the world had other plans instead. As Mael and him seated themselves for lunch, he saw a few of the girls starting to hang around the first decorations. 

Mael followed his gaze, monitoring them, and shifted his focus back to Ciaran as he was frowning. “What’s wrong?”

It surprised Ciaran so much to be asked this simple questions, that he blinked at Mael like an idiot before producing an actual answer. “Oh, not much. It’s just the upcoming autumn prom. Nothing too much, but it’s a Halloween event, and well – I had planned to go with Pierce.” 

Yes, he had. All the last days he hadn’t spent a single thought to the event itself. Why bother? He had broken up with the man and even if he hadn’t, Pierce was dead now.

“Normally, I am not someone who gives too much about a damning prom, you know? But this time, it’s a bit different”, he admitted without elaborating further. In the last events, he wasn’t sad for having no date as he never expected one in the first place, and he had Ashley and Dylan who went with him to have some fun instead. 

This Halloween, though, he thought he’d finally have a real prom date. With that opportunity gone, it was one thing, but Dy and Ash wouldn’t be here, either. Thinking about it that way added more to the grumpy mood he barely shook off this morning. 

For a moment, it seemed like Mael wanted to add something, but they were interrupted instead. Of all the people who could have walked up onto them, it was Jack seeking their attention.

“Hey, Cia.” He grinned widely at him, leaning himself over the table. “You know, I just wondered – you didn’t get another date for the prom yet, did you?” 

Ciaran’s eyes widened. “No, I didn’t. Why do you ask?” 

Jack’s grin got more annoying, as he whispered to him. “Well, consider yourself lucky, darling. I’m here to ask you out. I’ll pick you up at 6 pm, and we will have a fabulous evening, together. What do you see, Cia?”

Under other circumstances, he would have never considered accepting this invitation. But off all the available options, Jack was the only want that was at least easy on the eyes, and he had the courage to ask him out openly. So, what did he have to lose? 

“Ok, fine, but just so you know: If you’re out to play this out as a one-man-show for your eccentrics, I have no problem to leave you in the middle of our date to have a dance with your giant ego on the floor. Got that?” 

Jack chuckled and blew him a kiss. “Don’t worry, sweetie. I’ll gift to you an unforgettable evening.” 

Ciaran rolled his eyes as he watched Jack walk away. Was it a mistake? He had his doubts already with Mr. To-high-self-esteem, but – at least he wasn’t going alone to the prom. So maybe, just maybe, he should give Jack a tiny chance? He might be surprised if that boy actually tried for once.

Wait. Was Jack perhaps interested in him? He wasn’t out to date somebody like him. Should he have told him off instead? Oh, well. It was just a prom date, wasn’t it? Not like he actually agreed to a spontaneous marriage or something. Ciaran sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

As he threw a glimpse to Mael on the side, he raised an eyebrow. “Is everything ok?” Did he imagine it? For a moment, he could have sworn, that Mael glared at the leaving Jack from behind.

“Nothing. I’m just not one for nothing but hot air.”

“Ok, if you say so?” He understood why someone had an aversion against Jack and his behavior, so he wasn’t interpreting too much into the situation itself. 

After lunch, they returned to class for the rest of the lessons passing without further surprises.