Chapter Text
Miguel and Taylor had broken up 3 months ago.
Tom hadn't brought it up. Miguel and Taylor seemed to get along as they always did. Tom wasn't even sure why they had broken up. They seemed to get along as good as they ever had, and oddly enough their group hangouts watching anime in Maroon's garage were as easygoing as ever.
Tom did wonder though.
He often looked at Miguel.
It wasn't anything romantic, Miguel was just...physically attractive.
His dark eyes, crinkling at the corners as he laughed at whatever joke one of their classmates told him.
His smile, bright and easy, when Tom could tell had figured out a math problem quickly and without any difficulty.
His arms, strong and wiry, pulling himself to the bar for pull-ups in gym class.
Right. Definitely not romantic. Tom was just observant, that's all.
"Tom."
Tom jumped, Maroons lips loud in his ear, knocking over the open milk carton that sat in front of him.
"Gahh, you gave me a heart attack!!" Tom pushed back from the lunch table.
Taylor helpfully handed him a napkin, and Tom wiped the milk off his jacket sleeve.
"Are you alright?" Miguel asked, looking up at him from his position seated at the table; his dark, rosy cheeks grinning in sympathy.
"Uhh....uh, yeah. Yeah. Fine." Tom heard himself stutter out, and Maroon lifted an eyebrow.
"What were ya thinkin about?" Maroon chirped, looking at him directly.
Tom swallowed. Maroon always had a way of seeing him, seeing past the mask he wore, seeing what he was really feeling.
It was a quality of hers he appreciated most of the time.
Most of the time.
Maroons eyes bore into him, and he flushed, looking away.
"I, uh, I just remembered something I need to do do," Tom said, making a speedy exit.
"Wait but-" Taylor started.
Tom ran.
"You forgot your backpack!"
Tom ran up the steps and around the corner, stopping short and catching his breath.
"Wheeze!" Tom held his hand over his chest.
Damnit. Tom did forget his backpack. He was so STUPID. What was he doing, sitting and imagining, what, Miguel's arms? Miguel's arms, lifting his lunch tray. Miguel's arms, comforting Taylor on a bad day. Miguel's arms, wrapped around Tom, safe and comfortable and-
Goddamnit.
Maybe it was romantic after all.