It’d originally been Spencer’s idea — a simplistic way of getting his thoughts out of his head and into the mind of the one who deserved to hear it. During lunch as the hallways became vacant, he could easily walk past your locker, carefully slipping a note in without anyone noticing.

They were simple short notes, sometimes just sweet compliments — which he’d hang back to watch your reaction because he wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to see you smiling over something he said. Even if you didn’t know it was him, the rush of satisfaction was enough to leave him with his head in the clouds.

Derek, however, warped Spencer’s idea. After the first semester of senior year ended and school started up again following winter break, Derek was forcing him into officially presenting himself as the one giving you notes.

“This could be your ‘once in a lifetime’ for all you know,” Derek reminded, watched as Spencer carefully wrote another note. “Are you really just gonna let her slip away?” he asked in mildly annoyed disbelief, leaning back in his seat.

“She’s not mine to lose,” Spencer mumbled absentmindedly, cautiously folding up the note as if it’d tear with the slightest bit of force.

“Give it to her in person,” Derek told him. Spencer looked up with a sigh and a frown, setting the note down.

“I’m not gonna-”

Derek had forced him to stay by your locker during lunch, much against his will. His head stayed ducked down, fidgeting with the corners of the folded up note, trying not to crease it too much.

“This is stupid,” he mumbled under his breath, the minutes ticking by. You had yet to show and he was desperate to be anywhere else. He slipped the note into your locker despite Derek’s advice and started to walk the other way when he heard a track of footsteps stop not far behind him.