A New Day - Clive

Clive opened his eyes, his eyelids fluttered in the bright sunlight. He had left his curtains open overnight and the light hurt his eyes.

He stepped out of bed, a familiar creek accompanying him. He walked to the window and opened it. The fresh air filled his room and he breathed a deep breath, taking in the air and the scenery all at once.

After getting enough sunlight for the moment, he grabbed some clothes out of his drawers and closet, picking out an outfit for the day. Once he had the "perfect" outfit picked out, he took it to his bathroom and showered, putting the outfit on and brushing his teeth. He spent some time admiring his ceiling from his bed, and then his phone rang, right on time. He knew it was his alarm for school.

He sat up and tossed his phone to the side, gripping his nightstand he stepped out from his covers once more. He smiled as his phone pinged with a new notification. Ruby.

Ruby was Clive's best friend. Since a young age she'd been with him, by his side. She called him her sidekick and he liked being just the sidekick.

"You gonna tell the person?" Ruby's text read. She was talking about the mystery crush Clive had.

"No. No way. Never!" Clive messaged, smiling as his fingers pattered on the screen.

He put his phone in his pocket and left for school, not eating breakfast as he usually would. He must have been a little too excited for today.

***

School went by as usual, the day dragged on, and Clive was passing all of his classes per usual.

He could see a tall boy from his grade stepping out of school, a group of his popular friends with him. Clive watched the boys separate. Clive could see Ruby on the other side of the boys and so he ran toward her, bumping into the tall boy, who recoiled in surprise.

"S-sorry!" Clive yelled, stepping away and around the boy before running toward Ruby again.

Ruby had beautiful green eyes and hair that was dyed black. Clive liked here style and while most would call her emo, Clive enjoyed her presence.

***

Rodo was walking home when suddenly he could hear footsteps in the street behind him. He turned quickly in surprise to see the boy who bumped into him from before.

"H-hey! Rodo! You dropped this!" The boy yelled, his feet skidding across the ground. He'd run a long way to reach Rodo.

"Oh... thanks." Rodo said, reaching out and grabbing his wallet from Clive's hand. "When did I..." Rodo began to wonder.

"Don't mention it!" Clive said, turning around to begin walking.

"You're that... gay kid... aren't you?" Rodo asked, his face looking serious.

Clive stood in place, not facing Rodo. He didn't know what to expect or what this guy would do.

"Y-yes. Sir." Clive said, trying to be respectful.

"Cool." Rodo said, turning around and beginning to walk. "I'd like to talk to you more often just as long as you don't say anything to anyone." Rodo spoke. "It's not like... that. I just need a friend outside of my friend group is all. You just so happened to... appear."

Rodo left Clive right there. Clive was frozen in place. Was Rodo... no... Rodo said it wasn't like that.

Clive went home, confusion filling his body.

***

Rodo smiled widely as he twisted his doorknob, entering his house. "How did he know my name?" Rodo wondered. "Ah, best not to think too hard. We go to the same school after all. He's probably in one of my classes."

"Any new girlfriends kiddo?" His dad asked, pestering him as always.

"No you old fart. I don't... need a girlfriend." Rodo replied.

"You don't... need one? Don't tell me you're like... that boy?" His old man asked.

"No. Dad. It's not like that. I just don't need a relationship. I have sports to deal with. I'm not a... weirdo like him." Rodo said, looking toward the wall, where a picture of his mother was. Her smiling face always cheered him up. If only she hadn't left him with dad. If only she took him as well.

"Well you better do your homework, and don't stay up too late. Tomorrow is Saturday and we'll be doing some work around the house."

"Alright dad." Rodo said, placing his bag on his chair and heading into his room where he flopped down on his bed and pulled out his phone.

"I'm not a... weirdo like him."

The words he said echoed in his head as he held his finger above the send friend request button. Clive's name was under his finger.

He tossed his phone to the side, ignoring Clive's profile. He instead turned on his computer and waited for it to boot up before starting a game.

"I couldn't add him." Rodo said. "I'm... not like him."