---
It happened on a Thursday.
The last bell had rung but Scott wasn't going anywhere — not until he said what had been burning a hole in his chest all week.
Brian caught up with him by the bleachers — still sweaty from practice, hair a mess, eyes wide and desperate like he already knew.
"Scott, wait — can we talk?"
Scott dropped his bag on the grass, jaw tight. "Yeah? Now you wanna talk?"
Brian flinched. "I didn't mean what they said I said. They twisted it —"
"Don't lie to me!" Scott's voice cracked. "You told them I was obsessed with you. Like I was just some… joke. Some project."
Brian ran a hand through his hair, pacing. "I didn't know what to do! They were cornering me — I panicked. You know how they are —"
"I don't care how they are!" Scott shot back. "I care about how you are. How you treat me when you're scared."
---
Brian stepped closer. "I love you, okay? I swear I do — I just can't —"
"Can't what?" Scott's hands shook. "Can't stand up for me? Can't admit I'm yours unless we're behind a locked door?"
Brian's eyes pleaded. "Scott, please. If the team finds out — my dad, my scholarship — you don't get it, they'd tear me apart."
Scott laughed — a broken, bitter sound. "You think this doesn't tear me apart? You think I like being your dirty secret? Like I'm something to be hidden — so you can keep pretending to be this perfect, untouchable jock?"
---
Brian's mouth opened — but nothing came out. The silence said it all.
He was sorry — but not brave enough.
Scott's voice dropped to a whisper. "I can't do this anymore, Brian."
Brian's eyes went wide. "No. Don't — don't say that."
Scott stepped back. "I love you. God, I love you so much it makes me sick. But I can't keep loving someone who doesn't love me enough to stand in the light."
Brian grabbed his wrist, voice cracking. "Please. Don't go. I'll fix it — I'll figure it out, just — just give me time."
Scott's eyes filled, but he didn't wipe the tears away. "You had time."
---
He pulled free, shoving his bag over his shoulder. His throat burned like fire as he turned away — heart breaking with every step.
Behind him, Brian's voice broke across the field. "Scott! Scott, please — I love you!"
But Scott didn't turn back.
Not this time.
The tears slipped down his cheeks — hot, unstoppable — but he didn't run.
He walked away from the only boy he'd ever loved, because for once, he loved himself more.