The boy was new. Name: Simon. Sharp smile, rainbow pin on his backpack, eyes like he'd seen every side of the moon.
Benjamin noticed him first. They were waiting at the bus stop, early morning, mist curling through the branches. Simon leaned against the bench, flipping through a zine. Benjamin, curious, said hello.
Simon looked up. "Hi. You queer?"
Benjamin blinked. "...I think I'm figuring it out."
Simon grinned. "Welcome."
It wasn't flirtation. Just recognition.
They talked for ten minutes - about bands, poetry, the weight of words. Donny arrived, quiet but smiling. Christopher followed soon after, watching the conversation unfold.
Simon saw them - how they leaned, how glances lingered, how closeness didn't break.
"Are you guys..." he started, gesturing.
Benjamin shrugged. "We're... something."
Simon nodded. "You look lucky."
Then his bus arrived. He vanished into the fog.
The trio stood quietly.
"I liked him," Donny said.
Christopher nodded. "He felt... safe."
Benjamin smiled, pulling them both closer. "I'm glad we met him. He reminded me - we're not alone."
They stood like that for a while, warm breaths in cold air, hearts knitted tighter than ever.