You can only blame yourself for your situation. Your secret boyfriend, Max Starr, is perfect. Popular, tall, athletically talented, smart, charismatic, on the basketball team. His best friend, Samson Harriet, is like a quiet judgmental version of your boyfriend, but remains just as popular.

Max’s only flaw is how he refuses to go public with your relationship, claiming he’s worried about coming out and generally speaking doesn’t think it would go well. Of course, you don’t blame him.

[~<3~]

Your adopted sister, Ayla, is similar to Max. She’s popular, beautiful, smart, funny. A perfect girl. Exactly how Max is considered a perfect boy.

The two of you have always been close. Her dad left her mom when she was pregnant, and her mother put her up for adoption as soon as she could. Now Ayla lives with you as your adopted sister.

[~<3~]

You were supposed to walk home with Max today as long as the two of you waited for everyone else to leave, but he bailed on you and said he would be studying instead. You had made a bracelet for him but remembered that you’d left it in your first period classroom, the one you share with Max and Sam.

Peeking through the slit in the door to check if anyone was in there, your heart dropped to your stomach. You saw a flash of Ayla kissing Max, but it was soon covered by a hand over your eyes and you felt yourself being pulled back from the door by another hand on your wrist.

“C’mon. You weren’t supposed to see.”