Page 52 of This is Me

Every fucking ounce of strength in my body exerted to stay where I was.

“So, I suggest we do the homework and the study,” Leroy said, pulling his books onto his lap, letting them rest lightly on my knees.

I did the same, and the movement must have put me closer, for when I set my books up, mine and Leroy’s knees were now touching. Our school shorts pulling up slightly, allowing us to have skin-on-skin contact, the feeling sending shivers down my spine. Leroy didn’t seem to be bothered by the contact and continued flicking through his books.

“Can’t we just do the homework and not study?” I whined, opening my own book and listening to Leroy chuckle.

I was not the studying type or even the homework type. I thought we wouldn’t be doing either and instead would be talking. How wrong I was.

“You need to learn how to study, Pete. For when you go to university.”

“That isn’t for, like, five months. Just because you’re a study freak doesn’t mean I have to be.” I let out a small laugh, and Leroy shook his head again. “Plus, we are going to the same uni, so you can always help.”

I did my best not to sound too hopeful at the prospect of spending sleepless nights with Leroy. Even if it was to study and nothing else.

“Ugh, and you know I could never say no to you.” Leroy groaned, filling in a few answers on the sheet Ms Lane had given us for homework,

“And why is that?”

“Because you’re my best friend, and I’m a nice guy,” Leroy said quickly, shuffling on the spot, causing him to move even closer. “I think I need a bigger bed.”

“Yeah, I don’t want to catch any of your diseases,” I joked, and Leroy snickered.

“Have you looked at the room you’re sitting in? I’m the cleanest person you’ll ever meet.”

“On the outside, maybe. But I know how dirty your mind is.”

“How dare you! My pure, virgin mind shall never be tainted!”

“The poster on your wall says otherwise,” I pointed out, stealing a glance at the woman in the bikini, and a faint blush graced Leroy’s face.

“I genuinely thought that was how nuns looked,” Leroy said, tilting his head and shrugging.

“You thought nuns walked around half-naked?” I questioned with a chuckle.

“Yes. Then again, I’ve never seen one, so I could be wrong.”

“You are. You are very, very wrong.” I laughed, and Leroy joined in.

“Anyway, we should probably get this done,” Leroy said after we had recomposed ourselves. “It is due tomorrow.”

“I guess so,” I muttered. “But when we’re done, I am not studying.”

“Okay, okay. Deal.” Leroy smiled, and so did I as we began working on our homework together.

I had no idea how long we had been doing homework for, and even though it felt like an eternity, I knew it couldn’t have been longer than a few hours. Who knew math’s homework could take so long? Perhaps it was because I was barely paying attention to what I was doing, continually asking Leroy for help. Every time he leant over to see what I was having problems with, I would take in all of the details of his face and the sweet scent that followed him.

The constant stopping and starting was most definitely the reason for the homework taking so long to complete, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t stop myself from being enamoured by Leroy and everything he did. I hated myself for it, but at this moment, sitting alone with him, I decided to give in to who I was and let myself have a small moment of pretending I had everything that I wanted.

“Are you finished?” Leroy asked suddenly, throwing his books aside, and leaning back.

Our knees were still touching, though mine were beginning to ache.

“I’ve just got one more,” I said quietly, looking down at my homework, random drawings scattered all over it.

“That’s, like, the easiest one,” Leroy muttered with a smile, leaning over to look at my work.

“To a nerd, maybe,” I whispered back, and I looked at Leroy’s hair dangling in front of me.