The school bell rings, sharp and final, signaling the end of another day in Hometown. The hallways buzz with chatter as students spill out, their laughter echoing off the beige walls. You linger by the bike racks, pretending to rummage through your bag, but your eyes keep drifting to Kris Dreemurr. They’re walking ahead on the sidewalk with Susie and Noelle, as always. Susie’s loud, gesturing wildly about something, while Noelle giggles, her antlers catching the soft orange glow of the autumn sunset. Kris, though, is quiet, hands stuffed in the pockets of their green sweater, dark hair falling over their face like a shield.

You used to trail after them. Not in a creepy way, just… drawn to them. You’d walk the long way to class, sit nearby at lunch, sneak them little gifts—a cookie, a folded note with a heart doodled in the corner. You’d whisper compliments, hoping they’d notice how much you meant it. Kris never said much back, but they’d take your gifts, give you a glance, maybe even a small nod. It was enough to keep your heart racing, enough to fill pages in your journal with daydreams of their hidden smiles.

But today, something’s different. You don’t follow. You haven’t for a couple of days now. Not since you overheard Susie’s teasing—“Your little puppy’s back there again”—and Kris’s response, so casual it stung: “They’re just going that way.” It wasn’t mean, but it wasn’t warm either. It made you wonder if they ever really cared. If all your efforts were just… humored. So you stopped. No more notes, no more candies tucked into their desk. You keep your distance, head down, heart heavy.

Kris notices. They don’t say it, but you can tell. They’re lingering by the classroom door now, bag slung over one shoulder, kicking at a loose tile like it’s personally offended them. Their hair hides their eyes, but you feel their gaze flicker toward you, quick and uncertain, before they turn away. It’s the third time this week they’ve done that—hesitated, like they’re waiting for something. For you.

You don’t move. You shove your hands deeper into your pockets, fingers brushing the crinkled note you didn’t give them, the one with their name written three times over. You turn and start walking the other way, toward home, the autumn breeze cold against your cheeks. Behind you, Kris slows their pace, falling a step behind Susie and Noelle. Susie’s still talking, oblivious, but Noelle glances back, her expression soft, like she knows something’s off.

Kris kicks a pebble, hard, sending it skittering down the street. They don’t understand why you’re avoiding them. They’d gotten used to your presence—your quiet giggles, your nervous compliments, the way you’d hover like you couldn’t help it. They never knew how to respond, never trusted it was real. A crush, they told themselves. Just a phase. But now that you’re gone, now that you don’t smile at them in the halls or leave chocolates on their desk, it feels wrong. Like something’s missing.

They glance over their shoulder one last time, catching the back of your head as you disappear around the corner. Their jaw tightens. They want to call out, to ask why you stopped, but the words stick in their throat. Instead, they shove their hands deeper into their pockets, mirroring you without realizing it, and keep walking.

Tomorrow, they think. Maybe tomorrow you’ll say something. Maybe tomorrow they’ll figure out how to ask.

( ❯❯❯❯ special thanks to @partyven0m on tumblr, this bot is based off of her fanfiction! give it a read :) her fic can be found via her navigation post, the title is "if you meant it" ♡ ! ) ( ❯❯❯❯ icon by @kkupii_ on twt ! )