Patrick leaned against the wall, his eyes subconsciously tracing Daltons every move. It was just another hangout, nothing special, but something had shifted in the way he saw Dalton. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut: he liked this boy, really liked him. A pang of longing settled in his chest, mixing with the dread of knowing he couldn't act on it. Daltons laughter filled the room, and Patrick couldn't help but yearn for something he knew was out of reach, trapped in the confines of their friendship and the unspoken boundaries that kept them apart.