This piece takes place where the short film left off, with Jonathan and Sherwin under the tree right outside their school. It's been a great project to work on, and all I can say is I hope everyone enjoys!

He'd done it. Sherwin had finally come together with the boy he had admired from afar for so long. Though not in the way he planned, none of it matters. Jonathan is here, sitting right beside him, their hearts aglow with the same vibrancy and color as Sherwin's red hair. The same heart he had refused to follow until it decided to do the work for him.

Even with his crush seated right next to him and their feelings apparent, Sherwin can't shake the nervousness he feels under the boy's affectionate gaze.

"You're missing class," Sherwin begins.

Jonathan lets out a light laugh. "So are you," he counters.

"Yeah, but after what happened not ten minutes ago, I think it's clear what my choice was going to be." His head drops down to look at the ground as soon as he's through speaking, not wanting to see how the comment will be received. Sherwin doesn't realize he's holding his breath until Jonathan places a hand on his forearm and elicits a small gasp.

"I can understand that." Of course he does, or else these two wouldn't have arrived at this exact moment, sitting side by side under a canopy of leaves and branches. There was something to be said about Jonathan's willingness to chase after Sherwin, but what about classes and perfect marks? Sherwin doesn't know too many intimate details about this dark-haired boy, but one thing is for certain: Jonathan has always been praised and revered for his stellar academic achievements, so it doesn't fit the bill that he would purposefully skip class to console a boy who he had only ever interacted with in passing. What reason did they have for communicating with one another otherwise? Jonathan is, by far, the most well-liked person in school. Without meaning to, his good nature and easy-going attitude attract nearly any person who crosses his path. It's like an invisible magnetism is emitting from his very being, one that only a select few seem to be immune to.

Sherwin, on the other hand, is what no one would call popular, and he thinks of himself as nothing more than a danger to his crush's hard-earned success. Being skittish and on the small side are attributes not many gravitate towards, so it's baffling that this boy would be anything but dismissive towards the likes of him.

The red-head remains silent, so Jonathan decides to continue.

"There's something I'd like to give you."

He takes his hand off Sherwin's arm and reaches for the belongings at his side. After a few moments of rummaging through his backpack, Jonathan takes out a folded piece of white paper. No lines or print are visible on the outside—just a blank sheet that he hands over to his friend. Before Sherwin can give in to the desire to open up the page, he unzips his own backpack and carefully sets it inside the front pocket of his favorite blue binder.

"Read that before the start of school tomorrow. I'm not sure if you'll be here for the day, but just know I will." And with that Jonathan stands up, reaching a hand out to Sherwin once he's on his feet. This simple gesture makes the redhead's cheeks flush—although the dirt stains cover up any hint of embarrassment—and it takes more than a few moments for him to extend a hand in return. He gets to his feet and slings the bag over his right shoulder. The first bell will ring within minutes, so sticking around for much longer isn't an option.

"I'm going straight home. Not sure what excuse I'll use to explain why I'm back so early, but I'll think of something on the walk over." Sherwin is quiet for a moment before he continues. "I just can't go back in there right now."

"Don't worry about trying to figure out an excuse. I'm going back into school to tell Principal Schwartz you're not feeling well, and that I've taken it upon myself to help you until you're better." Jonathan's plan would be met with refusal by almost anyone else proposing the same thing, but the staff respects him just as much as the other students. He will not be turned down. One of the many perks of being the Golden Boy.

"Would you like to walk together to your house? It won't be any trouble. Plus, I'll come right back here afterwards to tell them the news."

Sherwin's eyes grow wide. "You know where I live?" he asks.

"I take the bus every day. There's a stop right across the street from a gray house with blue shutters. I've noticed you walking out of there some days. Isn't that the one?"

"Yes. Didn't think anyone was paying much attention to where I live, though…especially you."

"My nose isn't always stuck in a book, you know. I notice things just like everyone else. Most pieces are insignificant, but I hold on to and cherish some of them—especially when they catch my eye." Jonathan then looks his friend directly in the eyes, and Sherwin freezes. His heart still beats, and his lungs still expand, but the look he sees on the boy's face is so meaningful that Sherwin doesn't know how to continue. He feels stuck in place, unsure of what to do next. Did his crush really just admit to having feelings for him before this very day, or is he reading too far into the entire situation?

"By the way," Jonathan questions, bringing Sherwin out of his muddled thoughts, "if there's a bus stop right near your home, why don't you ever ride it?"

"Walking is good for me. I only do it when the weather's nice, and my mom drops me off every other time on her way to work. I've never had a reason to take the bus before."

Jonathan's eyes are downcast as he fidgets with the hem of his shirt, and the action of lifting his head clearly reveals a faint blush marking both cheeks. "Maybe now you'll have a reason to start." The smile he then offers is so warm yet bashful that Sherwin can't help but smile right back. The expression turns out as more of a goofy, half-lidded grin than anything else, but he is too happy to care. (As long as there's no suspicion he just passed gas, at least).

Once his daze wears off, the ginger replies, "I think so. More time for me to sleep in, too." There's really no way to refuse such an offer.

Somehow, Jonathan's smile stretches even further across his face. "Great! Looks like it'll work out for both of us."

"It does."

A comfortable silence falls between them, but only lasts for a few moments before the bell announces the end of first period. Both boys immediately focus their attention on the school. There's only one building that students use for classes, yet it still makes Sherwin anxious to think someone might step outside for whatever reason and spot them.

"I should really get going. Thanks for taking the time to talk to me." He slides his belongings across his back and pivots around to start the journey home, but Jonathan calls out to him.

"Wait." The imploring tone causes Sherwin to halt mid-step, although he doesn't turn around for fear of what will be said next. "Are you sure you don't want anyone by your side today? I'd be glad to join you on the trip home. We can talk some more and just enjoy each other's company. You don't have to brave it out alone anymore."

If such a thing is possible, Sherwin's heart begins to swell at an even greater rate than earlier today when it elected to leap out of his chest. Thankfully, it stays put long enough for its owner to respond.

"I'll be all right. Just want to clear my thoughts, and going home by myself is the perfect way to do it."

"Okay. For what it's worth, I really hope to see you tomorrow."

Sherwin turns his head just slightly enough to look at the dark-haired boy once more. "Maybe you will."

He then watches as Jonathan turns towards the direction of school and wonders how his boy can be just as handsome from the back as he is from the front. After he disappears inside the school, Sherwin begins his journey home. The twenty-minute walk does him well but only does so much to ease his racing thoughts. Fishing out the silver key from his pocket, the front door is unlocked and opens to reveal Sherwin's mom on her cell phone. Although not panicked, her tone has an edge to it that suggests she's not comfortable with the topic. It's anyone's guess as to who she's talking to, but Sherwin has a hunch.

Please, please, please be school, he thinks.

Just moments later, Candice hangs up and stows the phone inside her black leather purse lying on the couch. She hasn't yet noticed that the door is wide open, so her son takes a few tentative steps forward. After hearing the sound of footsteps coming across the foyer, she swivels around.

"There you are! I would have come straight to school for pick up, but the Principal told me you had already started home by the time he called. Said another boy came to his office to say you felt sick and needed to come home. Apparently, this young man is supposed to be your caretaker for the day." She peaks outside to see if anyone is there, but is greeted by no one. "Yet he didn't escort you home." Her eyes narrow in a way that makes Sherwin tense. "What's up with that?"

"He's not with me right now because I told him I wanted to have some time to myself. I knew he was going to bombard me with questions like How are you doing? Is there anything I can get you? Are you going to pass out on me? so I decided the best way to avoid all that was to just be alone. Please don't blame him." It is the only bluff he can think of on a whim and hopes it's enough to satisfy her inquiries.

Thankfully, she lets out a sigh that relaxes her tense posture. "Still, it would have been nice for him to insist anyway. You could have gotten worse on the way over and then no one would know where to find you." She seems a bit rough at this moment, but Candice is truly a loving, gentle mother. Seeing as Sherwin is her only child, she takes great care to ensure her son is looked after in every way possible. Her husband—Sherwin's father—passed away several years ago, and the closest relative lives more than 500 miles away. These two are all the other one has, making their bond top priority.

"He did insist. I would have let him join me if I thought it was needed, but by then things were better. He stayed with me until I felt well enough to come home, though."

"I would hope so. Why is there dirt all over your face?"

"Oh, I had to lean over some bushes once the vomiting started."

Her eyebrows furrow into a look of compassion. "Oh, Honey." She then places the back of her right hand against Sherwin's forehead.

"Doesn't feel like a fever's coming on, but I still want you to take it easy for the rest of today. Go upstairs, lie on the couch, or do whatever is needed to fix you up—Doctor's orders. I'll even let you stay home tomorrow if things haven't gotten better."

"Lying in bed seems like my best bet right now."

"Sounds like a plan. Just let me know if there's anything I can do. Until then, please take care of yourself."

"Will do."

Candice wraps her arms around the boy before finally letting him go upstairs. Once in private, Sherwin locks himself inside the bedroom and immediately opens his backpack. Jonathan's letter is still nestled safely inside the binder, and Sherwin gently reaches for the folder piece of paper. The inside reveals a short, simple message.

Sherwin,

Can you meet me tomorrow evening under the apple tree,

the one right along the edge of the meadow that ends just

before the campus entrance? I'd like to show you something.

J.

When did he find the time to write this? It must have been made just moments before coming outside to see where the boy with the broken heart had run off to. He refolds the small white sheet and tenderly holds it between his hands. Perhaps this could be the first piece in what he hopes to be the start of many more keepsakes from his love. This note, as unremarkable as it seems, is distinctly Jonathan. Many people would toss it away as soon as the message was received, but there is no chance Sherwin will rid himself of something so precious. Maybe if more people treasured the little things that could grow to be so much bigger, there'd be less room for intolerance.

The note is placed in the very back of the top dresser drawer, away from anything that could tear or crumple it; memorialized in the best way possible. Sherwin has been asked by his friend to meet him under the apple tree tomorrow evening.

And that's exactly what he'll do.