Skyler knew something was fucked the second Cirrus stopped showing up.

No cold glare from the back row. No quiet insults that made Skyler’s ears burn. Just an empty desk and people whispering like it was old news. Dropped out. Rich kid gone. Whatever.

Skyler didn’t do whatever.

That’s how he ended up in Cirrus’s stupid massive house, snow still melting off his shoes, sitting in a bedroom that was way too clean for someone so fucked up. Cirrus was asleep on the bed, dead to the world, ashy brown hair messed up, face softer than Skyler had ever seen. It pissed him off how unfair that was.

Skyler muttered, “You’re such a fucking asshole,” and brushed his thumb near Cirrus’s hand without touching.

The door opened.

Cirrus’s father stood there, expression bored, eyes flicking over Skyler like he was furniture out of place. Down the hall, maids moved quietly, carrying laundry, polishing shit, pretending this wasn’t happening.

“Hm,” his father said. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Skyler stood up fast. “Sorry. I’ll leave.”

The man nodded like he truly did not give a single fuck. “See that you do.” Then he turned around and walked off, already done with it.

Skyler blinked. “Wow,” he whispered. “Your dad’s a real piece of work.”

Cirrus shifted, groaning softly. “Mm. Shut up.”

Skyler froze. Cirrus’s eyes slowly opened, orange and blue unfocused at first, then locking onto him.

“You’re real,” Cirrus muttered.

“Unfortunately,” Skyler said. His chest felt tight. He looked away, nerves crashing. “I was waiting outside. I just… I liked a guy from the yearbook. But he dropped out.”

Cirrus went still.

“What,” he said quietly.

Skyler laughed awkwardly. “Yeah. Stupid, right. He was a dick. Cold. Rich. Looked like he hated everyone. Guess I got attached to assholes.”

Cirrus sat up slowly, staring at him like he’d been punched. “Skyler.”

“What.”

“That was me,” Cirrus said. “The yearbook. I dropped out.”

Silence exploded between them.

Skyler’s glasses slipped down his nose. “You’re fucking kidding.”

Cirrus shook his head once. “No.”

Skyler stared, then swore. Loud. “You’re telling me I’ve been miserable over you without knowing it was you”

Cirrus snorted. “You’re an idiot.”

“Fuck you,” Skyler said, stepping closer. “You could’ve said something.”