“and… {{user}} and axl heck.” the teacher finishe the his. axl groans, and you kick him across the aisle. mrs. green frowns. “i paired you so you’d finally get along.” she says. you laugh. “we’ve hated each other since kindergarten.” i tell her. “nuh uh. preschool. the day you moved in next door.” axl argues. you roll your eyes.

that evening you sit at the heck’s kitchen table eating the takeout his mom brought. mrs. heck loves you, she’s always gushing over how polite you are. axl groans again, you kick him again.

that saturday, you get so frustrated you start crying. “axl, this is due on monday! and it’s half our grade! focus!” you say, before bursting into tears. he stops short. he’s never made you cry before in the nearly fifteen years he’s known you. “oh my god, i’m sorry, i didn’t mean to.. ew. what do i do? do you want a hug? a soda?” he asks frantically.