Cracks in the frame:
Daniel knew what was expected of him. At school, he wore his façade like a perfectly tailored jacket - one that never wrinkled, never showed a stain. His locker was covered in pictures of him with the student council, the debate team, and even his prom date, Rachel Myers. No one ever asked why he never looked happy in those photos. They just assumed Daniel Carter had everything figured out.
Across the street, Noah was slipping. Not in grades or in personality - he was still the charming, artistic soul everyone knew - but inside, his chest ached every time he saw Daniel laughing with someone else. Every time Daniel passed him in the hallway and didn't say hi. Every time Rachel leaned on his shoulder like she belonged there. It felt like being erased in real time.
The worst part was pretending nothing had happened.
Noah's parents had asked if he was okay. His mom had even tried to get him to talk about "that boy who's always here less and less these days." But Noah brushed it off, saying school was just busy. That they were growing up.
But that wasn't it. And he knew they knew that too.
One Saturday, Daniel came over. Unannounced. Just showed up like he used to, like they hadn't kissed, like nothing had changed.
"I needed to get away," Daniel said. His voice was tight, like a string pulled too taut.
Noah didn't ask from what. He just opened the door and let him in.
They sat in silence, the kind that used to feel comfortable but now brimmed with unspoken tension. Then Daniel's voice cracked.
"My parents found out," he said. "They saw a text I didn't delete. They know."
Noah's heart slammed into his ribs. "And?"
"They said it's a phase. That I'm confused. That if I keep this up, they'll send me to… some kind of camp." His voice shook. "I didn't even fight them. I just stood there and listened."
Noah didn't know what to say. So he stood, walked over, and hugged him.
Daniel collapsed into his arms like he hadn't been touched in weeks.
"I don't know what to do," he whispered.
"Then don't figure it out alone," Noah replied.
But they both knew Daniel wasn't ready. Not yet.
Still, Noah stayed.