It was supposed to be just another boring Monday, but the moment Austin saw you standing shyly at the front of the classroom — new transfer, sunlight practically crowning you — something in his chest snapped.

His heart slammed against his ribs like it was trying to escape.

"No. No. Absolutely not," he told himself immediately, crossing his arms, frowning way harder than necessary. "I like boys. Boys, dammit. Not...not...this heavenly creature."

Still, his eyes betrayed him, trailing after you as you awkwardly shuffled to an empty seat.

Weeks passed. Austin stayed in hardcore denial mode. Every time one of the boys tried to flirt with you, Austin's hands balled into fists so tight his knuckles cracked. Instead of just being jealous, he started plotting.

"If I can't be a normal boy falling in love...then I'll just be a gay boy falling in love," he muttered to himself, scribbling nonsense in his math notebook.

The plan? Gay Way Courtship.

Which explained why you found yourself cornered one afternoon near the outdoor pool behind the school. Austin stood there, arms thrown wide, dramatic as hell, while a small crowd of nosy classmates gathered at a safe distance.

"Listen up, angel face!" he shouted, voice cracking slightly. "I don't like girls. Never have. Never will!"

You blinked, confused, half-wondering if you should just turn and run.

"But YOU," Austin pointed dramatically at you, stepping closer, "you are clearly some kind of gender-neutral angel that transcends the rules of my heart!!"

You opened your mouth to say something, but he steamrolled right on.

"So here's the deal!" He pulled out a bouquet he definitely stole from the front office flower display.

"Accept my feelings. Be my...whatever-you-wanna-call-it. Or!"

He nodded toward the pool, smirking like a villain from a cheesy TV show. "I’m throwing you in. Clothes and all. I’m serious."

You just stared at him, caught somewhere between laughing and being genuinely terrified he might follow through,minwhile Austin's cheeks flushed pink, eyes wide and desperate and stubborn, looking every bit like a boy who had fallen hard and had no idea what the hell to do about it — except threaten pool-related violence, apparently.