The class bell clangs back and forth, bringing with it a sense of dread.

  Another school day, another seven whole hours during which I have to tolerate the presence of the one person in this world who makes my blood boil into an active volcano.

  Luckily, I made it to class before him, so I don't have to worry about seeing him again on my way here. Maybe I won't have to worry about seeing him again at all.

  Maybe he's sick with the plague.

  Maybe he got run over on his way to school.

  No, that isn't right. I prevent myself from thinking those thoughts.

  Maybe he really isn't as bad as he seems. Maybe, deep down, he's a kind soul.

  Maybe—

  Before I can finish my thoughts—Gabriel walks in, dramatically flipping his messy white hair out of his face, and as the girls start giggling to one another, he smirks and secretly gives me a wink.

  I sit there unimpressed, with my eyebrows furrowed.

  "If only looks could kill," I say to myself.

  Mrs. Majewska looks at Gabriel in excitement.

  "Oh, Gabriel, you're here! Goodness knows we couldn't start class without you!"

  "Naturally," he replies.

  Mrs. Majewska laughs.

  "Take a seat, dear. Any seat you want!"

  "Any seat I want, huh?" Gabriel whispers to himself, looking over at me very strangely.

  "I want that one."

  He points to the seat I'm sitting in by the window.

  "Oh, that one? Are you sure?" Mrs. Majewska asks.

  "I'm sure."

  He smiles his mischievous smile.

  "Daniel! You heard him! Get up!" Mrs. Majewska snaps at me.

  I innocently point to myself with a clueless expression that says, Me?

  "Well, don't just sit there looking stupid! Be polite to your classmates!"

  "Unbelievable," I mumble as I gather all of my books and change seats, glaring intently at Gabriel's smug smile.

  As soon as Gabriel takes my seat, the girls in the class immediately flock to the seats closest to him.

  I manage to find an empty seat farthest away from him, thank God, and I lay all of my books on the desk.

  As the hours slowly go by, the so-called "classroom" is now impossible to learn in, except to learn how to behave like a wild animal.

  I'm starting to doubt that the whole wolf story Gabriel told me last night was made up.

  "Now," Mrs. Majewska begins, "Who can simplify the following expression: (3 – 2)??"

  The class groans.

  "Gabriel? Would you care to demonstrate to the class?"

  "Oh, I don't know..." Gabriel teases.

  "Oh, pretty please," my teacher persists. "You're the smartest, most brilliant student in our school. It would mean the world to me if you could set an example for the others."

  "Meh," Gabriel says, clearly uninterested.

  "Oh, Gabriel, I'm begging you! Please!"

  "Well..." he begins. "Since you begged."

  Gabriel rises from his chair—correction: my chair—and walks toward the school board where our teacher is standing.

  "First, we calculate what's inside the parentheses. 3 - 2 = 1."

  The whole class watches in awe.

  "Next," he continues, "we raise that result to the fifth power—one multiplied by itself five times—is still 1."

  He walks closer to the teacher.

  "And now, I shall demonstrate the answer."

  Swiftly, Gabriel sweeps Mrs. Majewska off her feet and holds her in mid-air while she passionately wraps her arms around his strong neck for safety, and he savagely kisses her lips.

  "Jesus Christ!" I yell out in astonishment.

  As soon as Gabriel lets go of her, he demonstrates "one kiss."

  The whole class applauds him, as Mrs. Majewska giggles, "Oh, Gabriel! No one has done that to me in ages!"

  "Then they must surely be blind to your beauty, Madame," Gabriel flirts as he bends over to kiss her hand.

  This is so messed up.

  I can't bear to watch this a minute longer.

  I grab my school supplies from my desk and leave the classroom, practically invisible in my teacher's eyes.

  I don't get it—how can he act like that in front of everyone and not feel even a shred of shame?

  I walk over to the Sala Jadalna, lay my books on one of the many tables, and plop myself down, inhaling the peace and quiet.

  I have this room all to myself.

  Then, suddenly, I hear the lunch bell ring, and within a second, loud, chattering students fill the dining hall.

  I fall headfirst into the table's wooden surface.

  "One second..." I mumble to myself as I put my hands over my head.

  "I had one second of silence!"

  As they take their seats, the students can't stop talking about Gabriel's kiss with the teacher.

  That is, until Romeo himself arrives in the flesh—

  His very presence makes everyone rise from their seats, cheering as loudly as possible in admiration toward the "hero" of the moment.

  Everyone except Wanda, the girl whom Gabriel had whispered something to during class yesterday.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  She's a nice enough chick, very quiet and shy, with long, dark brown curls, and she is very popular among the girls in class.

  Gabriel jumps on a table to bow to everyone's applause and jumps back down to approach Wanda.

  "Don't talk to me!" I hear her yell.

  "Why, dear, what seems to be the matter?"

  "You know very well what's the matter! If you want to go around kissing middle-aged women, well, fine! Just know I want no part of your scandals!"

  I lift my head off the desk to hear more of the argument.

  "Why, Wanda, I dare say you are jealous!" Gabriel teases. "Jealous of a mere demonstration!"

  "That wasn't a demonstration!" Wanda yells out. "I saw how much you were enjoying—"

  "—Enjoying teaching those beneath me?" Gabriel interrupts. "My dear, you simply mustn't overthink these things!"

  "Well..." Wanda says, thinking for a moment.

  "If I hadn't given her a kiss," he went on, "however would you know the answer?"

  "That makes so much sense!" Wanda says with widened eyes and an ignorant smile.

  "Oh, brother," I mutter under my breath, rolling my eyes.

  "And after all," Gabriel begins, "The Christmas barn dance will be arriving shortly, and who else would be round enough to be my little pumpkin?"

  God, he is so rude!

  Wanda giggles, oblivious to the actual meaning behind his words.

  Gabriel turns around and loudly claps his hands together to quiet down the noisy students, and as soon as he gets everyone's attention, he makes an announcement.

  "The Christmas barn dance will take place at the Nowak farm on Christmas night!"

  As if everyone didn't already know that, they stand from their seats once again, praising Gabriel like he is their new lord and savior.

  "Oh, and by the way, be sure to bring a partner," Gabriel continues. "And don't you worry if you don't have one. I'm available all year round."

  In a flash, girls start swooning left and right as Gabriel gives a little wink to the crowd.

  Suddenly, Mrs. Majewska pokes her head in through the half-opened door, still very much blushing, and announces, "Toughness training! Any eligible boy who wishes to participate, please come and wait outside."

  As Mrs. Majewska pops her head back out, Wanda whispers, in an upset tone, "Oh, that awful 'toughness training'! It makes more boys sick than it makes them fit!"

  Gabriel, along with several other boys, darts towards the door.

  "Gabriel!" Wanda cries out. "Where do you think you're going?"

  "To participate, where else?" Gabriel responds, clearly annoyed.

  "But—"

  Before Wanda could finish her sentence, Gabriel had already run out the door.

  She sighs with concern as she too exits the Sala Jadalna.

  Before I know it, almost everyone has already left to watch the boys train, specifically to watch Gabriel train.

  I exhale in relief as I welcome back the peace and quiet.

  The only other person besides me still in the room is Jan, who had successfully escaped the wrath of that German soldier yesterday, and for that, I am relieved.

  Jan immediately runs toward me and starts tugging on my arm, urging me to get up from my seat.

  "Jan! Wha—?" I cry out, interrupted.

  "C'mon, Daniel, get up! Get up, or we might miss it!"

  "Miss what?"

  "Miss the show, now come on!"

  Jan pulls me from my chair and drags me across the floor until we reach the exit.

  From there, I force myself up and motion to Jan to let go of me.

  "I can walk there myself, thank you!"

  "Sorry," Jan humbly apologizes as I unwillingly walk with him to the school's front yard, where the boys will train.

  As we step outside, my eyes widen in shock at the countless wooden chairs, all overfilled with spectators, surrounding what used to be the schoolyard, and in the center lie the participants who will have to brave the bitter cold and remove their shirts before they can begin their workouts.

  Jan takes my hand and leads me through the busy crowd, finding a few empty seats.

  Jan notices my hateful frown as we take our seats and whispers, "You could at least try to look like you wanna be here."

  I glare at him for a second or two and then force an unconvincing smile, still frowning.

  Suddenly, the girls in the audience start chanting:

  "Strip it off! Strip it off! Strip it off!"

  Even Mrs. Majewska can't help herself and joins in the chanting.

  I glance over at Gabriel, who is warming up for the workouts, and can't help but feel... I don't know. Sorry for him, perhaps?

  I wouldn't want a crowd looking at me like that. Not like this.

  "I think you like him," Jan says, observing me.

  I scoff.

  "Don't be ridiculous. Why ever would I like such a cruel, ill-mannered, self-absorbed, ignorant, narcissistic, obscene—"

  As I go through the list, Gabriel dramatically rips off his shirt, showcasing his gorgeous, muscular chest while his white, messy hair blows in the wind like that of an angel sent from the Heavens.

  "—Irresistibly sexy, charming, courageous, attractive, beautiful chunk of a man like Gabriel?"

  I finish the list, jaw dropped, and eyes glued to Gabriel's muscles.

  I eventually realize how I was appearing to the people around me, and I break myself free from my hypnotized state, forcing myself to look away from Gabriel.

  Instead, I slowly turn to glance at the people in the audience.

  Everyone—boys and girls alike—watches intently, almost as if they were all put under a spell...

  A spell that doesn't pay attention to sex or gender, and allows everyone to live how they want to live, love who they want to love, without being told what to do and who to like.

  Without being discriminated against by society, simply by loving someone of the same sex.

  No.

  I can't think that.

  I mustn't think that!

  I slap myself across the face to prevent further thoughts on that topic.

  "I have to go," I promptly tell Jan.

  "But they haven't even started their workouts yet—"

  "I HAVE TO GO!"

  I shout, cutting him off.

  Suddenly, everyone focuses their gaze on me.

  I stumble over myself as I rise from the chair and run off in the blink of an eye.

  I rush home late in the evening and am greeted by my mother in the living room, as she unboxes the Christmas decorations.

  "Sweetie," she says, lovingly. "I've been waiting for you to get out of school before we start decorating. I know how much you enjoy making the house look so festive."

  "I'm sorry, Mom, I can't help right now. I, um, have homework to do,"

  I tell her as I am about to walk down the hallway.

  "Well, the homework can wait, can't it?" she persists. "We won't take long, only got to put up a few decorations."

  I turn around to face her.

  "I really can't right now, Mom. I'm just... not feeling well."

  Her face turns with concern, and maybe even a hint of disappointment.

  "Oh... okay," she says. "I hope you feel better soon."

  I walk down the hallway into my room and close the door behind me.

  I let out a deep sigh as I lean against my door.

  I can't allow myself to think these thoughts.

  I've been doing so well up till that point, when... when I saw him.

  What is wrong with me?

  I walk toward the center of my room and get into a push-up position.

  "I have to get stronger," I mutter. "I have to man up!"

  I sigh at the sound of my own voice.

  What does that even mean? I'm already a boy.

  Before I can fully push myself up, I collapse headfirst into the cold stone floor, more than likely due to a lack of vitamins, and end up badly hurting myself.

  "Crap!" I cry out in pain.

  I pull myself up from the floor and feel for the now bruised mark on my forehead.

  "No, that's not how he did it at all!"

  I rest on the edge of my bed and think for a second.

  "Come to think of it," I say, "I didn't actually see him perform any push-ups. I didn't stay that long..."

  I reach for my notebook and a pencil.

  "But I know what I did see."

  Before I'm fully conscious enough to know what I'm doing, I begin to draw a shirtless figure: a boy with glowing, fluffy hair, exposing his broad shoulders, his built-up chest, and his gorgeous abs.

  I draw every last detail of what I remember from that magical moment on paper, when I suddenly begin to realize what I was doing, and dare myself to look up from the drawing just to stare straight into nothing.

  I don't wanna be like him,

  but I just can't seem to look away...

  I look back down at the drawing and continue to draw, and draw, and draw, until someone quietly opens my door.

  "Hey, honey."

  "AH!"

  I let out a small scream while I immediately hide the notebook behind my back.

  "I'm sorry, did I startle you?" my mom asks with a smile.

  I laugh nervously.

  "Well, you know me, I jump at just about everything."

  My mom laughs.

  "I came to check up on you. You said you weren't feeling well. Are you feeling any better now?"

  I almost have the nerve to ask, Are you kidding?, but I don't dare get smart with my mother, no matter how shaken I am.

  "Um, yeah, I'm just... very sleepy, that's all."

  "Then why aren't you asleep?" my mom asks suspiciously.

  "Uh," I try to come up with an excuse. "I couldn't very well fall asleep without kissing goodnight every one of my comic books, could I?"

  My mom once again laughs at my response with the conclusion that I must be kidding, then slowly turns her expression more serious.

  "You know, I already put up all the Christmas decorations all by myself. I regret that you weren't there to help me. I remember the decorating used to be your favorite part of the Christmas season, even without a tree."

  She begins to walk toward my window next to my bed as I accidentally let the notebook slip out of my hands and onto the blankets.

  I quickly search for it while my mom has her head turned, and find it as soon as she slowly turns around at me, saying,

  "I just can't shake the feeling that you're hiding something from me."

  I gasp and secretly hide the notebook under my blankets.

  "Mom, I-I'm not hiding anything from you, I swear!"

  I reassure her with a cracked voice.

  "Aw, I know that, honey," my mom says as she sits beside me on my bed, brushing my hair with her fingers.

  "The cold must only be getting to me—"

  She abruptly pauses, and traces the bruise on my forehead.

  "Daniel, what happened to you??" she asks in concern.

  "Nothing!" I cry out.

  "I mean, nothing much. I, um, just tripped on my way to school, that's it."

  If there were an award given to each child who lied to his mother the most in one night, I would surely win.

  "It looks pretty bad," she says. "Well, I shall leave you be now. I'm sure you must be very sleepy."

  She kisses my cheek.

  "I love you," she says as she walks out the door.

  "Love you too, Mom. Goodnight."

  As she closes my door, I pass out on my bed, lying on something hard and uncomfortable, which hurts my back.

  I reach under my blankets, frustrated to see what it is, and I pull out my notebook.

  I groan as I get up and put it back in my drawer, and as soon as I'm done, I fall back down to my bed into a deep slumber.