LOVE STARTS AT YOU

Ethan sat beneath the large oak tree at the far end of the high school campus, his sketchbook balanced on his knees. The bell had just rung, signaling the end of lunch, but Ethan wasn't in a rush to get to his next class. The first week of school always felt like a chore, a slow march toward the inevitable grind of assignments, tests, and social awkwardness. He flipped to a new page in his sketchbook and began to draw, losing himself in the swirling lines and shading.

His quiet concentration was soon interrupted by a shadow falling over his page. He looked up, squinting against the sun, to see a tall boy with messy brown hair and a confident smile standing in front of him.

"Hey, that's a cool drawing. Mind if I join you?" the boy asked.

Ethan blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Uh, sure," he mumbled, moving his sketchbook to the side. "You new here?"

The boy plopped down beside him, his movements easy and relaxed. "Yeah, just moved from out of state. Name's Ryan."

"Ethan," he replied, trying to mask his curiosity. It wasn't often someone approached him out of the blue. "Welcome to the most uneventful place on earth."

Ryan laughed, a sound that was bright and infectious. "We'll see about that. Sometimes, the most boring places have the best surprises."

Ethan glanced at Ryan's open, friendly face and felt a strange mix of apprehension and excitement. Maybe this year would be different.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Ethan went through the motions of his classes, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Ryan. Something about the new boy's easy confidence and warmth intrigued him. He found himself looking for Ryan in the hallways, curious to see how he was adapting to the new environment.

By the time the final bell rang, Ethan was exhausted. He gathered his books and headed for the exit, ready to retreat to the comfort of his home. As he reached the doors, he heard a familiar voice call out his name.

"Ethan! Wait up!"

Turning, he saw Ryan jogging toward him, his backpack slung over one shoulder. "Hey, you heading home?"

Ethan nodded. "Yeah. You?"

"Same here. Mind if I walk with you? I'm still figuring out my way around this place."

Ethan hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

They fell into step together, their footsteps echoing in the nearly empty hallway. As they walked, Ryan peppered Ethan with questions about the school, the teachers, and the best places to hang out.

"So, what do you do for fun around here?" Ryan asked, genuinely curious.

Ethan chuckled. "Honestly, there's not much. I like to draw, obviously. Sometimes I hang out with my friend Sam, but he's usually busy with his own stuff."

Ryan nodded thoughtfully. "I get that. Moving here wasn't exactly my idea of a good time, but I'm hoping to make the best of it. What about you? What's your story?"

Ethan shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious. "Not much to tell. I'm just trying to get through senior year without too much drama."

Ryan's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Well, if it's drama you're trying to avoid, you might be hanging out with the wrong person."

Ethan laughed despite himself. "I'll take my chances."

As they reached the edge of the school grounds, Ryan paused. "Hey, thanks for letting me tag along. It's nice to have someone to talk to."

Ethan felt a warm glow in his chest at the sincerity in Ryan's voice. "No problem. See you tomorrow?"

Ryan grinned. "Definitely. See you, Ethan."

Ethan watched as Ryan walked away, feeling a strange sense of anticipation. Maybe, just maybe, this year would be different.

The next morning, Ethan found himself looking forward to school for the first time in a long while. He arrived early, hoping to find a quiet spot to continue his sketching before the day's classes began. As he settled under the oak tree once more, he heard footsteps approaching and looked up to see Ryan heading his way.

"Morning, Ethan!" Ryan greeted him with a smile.

"Morning, Ryan," Ethan replied, feeling a bit of his usual shyness melt away. "You're here early."

"Thought I'd catch up with you before class," Ryan said, sitting down beside him. "Got any more drawings to show me?"

Ethan hesitated, then handed over his sketchbook. Ryan flipped through the pages, his eyes widening with admiration.

"Wow, these are incredible, Ethan. You've got real talent."

Ethan blushed at the compliment. "Thanks. It's just something I enjoy."

Ryan nodded thoughtfully. "You know, we should find a way to show off your work. Maybe a school art show or something."

Ethan laughed nervously. "I don't know about that. I'm not great with attention."

Ryan gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out. Besides, it's about time someone around here recognized your talent."

The first bell rang, signaling the start of the school day. Ethan and Ryan stood up, gathering their things.

"Ready for another thrilling day of high school?" Ryan asked, a teasing glint in his eye.

Ethan smiled. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Throughout the day, Ethan found himself looking forward to his next encounter with Ryan. They shared a few classes together, and during lunch, they met up under the oak tree again. Ryan's easygoing nature made it simple for Ethan to relax and be himself, something he hadn't felt in a long time.

By the end of the week, Ethan realized that Ryan had already become an integral part of his life. Their friendship was effortless, and Ethan found himself opening up in ways he hadn't thought possible. As they sat together under the oak tree one last time before the weekend, Ethan felt a sense of gratitude.

"Thanks for being my friend, Ryan," Ethan said quietly. "It means a lot."

Ryan looked at him, a genuine smile on his face. "Thanks for letting me in, Ethan. This is just the beginning."

Ethan felt a surge of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this year would be the best one yet.