Don't panic, don't panic, Lee's mind raced as he walked down the basement stairs. He drummed his fingertips against the delicately wrapped present in his hands.

Today was the last day of school before winter break- a day of final exams and last minute gift exchanges. Lee had given and received his fair share of gifts, but there was one person left on his gift-giving agenda.

Lee stopped right outside of the detention room. He didn't bother to peek inside to know Biffy was there. Lee pressed his back to the wall and stared at the ceiling. He felt his heart begin to race, and the lingering ache in his stomach intensified.

He's waiting for you, idiot. The voice screamed in Lee's head. Get in there.

But what if he rejects me? What if he laughs in my face?

Seriously? Now is the time to panic? Lee rubbed his eyes. Great, now I'm just talking with myself. This whole thing better be worth it.

"Uh... Lee?" He froze when he heard Biffy. "You just gonna stand there all day?"

Shit, Lee cringed. How did he...? Never mind, let's just get this over with. He drew in a deep breath as he looked at the package. One way or another, nothing will be the same by 4:15.

Lee took one final breath as he stepped into the detention room. He was met with his usual sight of Biffy and Miss Rumplekittycat, who was wearing a red knitted sweater. Lee could only guess that it was Biffy's newest creation. "Hey, you two," He greeted. "Aw, nice sweater, Miss R." He stroked the cat's neck.

"Hey yourself," Biffy said. "What was with the whole 'standing creepily outside the door' thing?"

Lee immediately avoided eye contact as he scooted into his chair. "Uh, it was nothing," He murmured. "I was just..." His eyes trailed over his desk until it laid on the package. "I was just preparing your gift!" He turned around and placed the present on Biffy's desk.

Biffy at Lee, and then back at the gift. "You... got me something?" He asked rather slowly.

Lee rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the blood rush to his cheeks. "Uh, yeah," He said calmly, but underneath the desk, he was kicking himself.

Biffy's features softened. "I, ah... actually got you something as well." He reached into his backpack and pulled out a brown paper sack. "Sorry for not wrapping it."

Lee blinked at the sight of Biffy being nervous. It was kind of… cute. "No, no, it's fine, really." He said. "Here, I want you to open your gift first."

"What?" Biffy said almost in a panic, to which Lee raised an eyebrow at. "Ah, no, you open mine first."

"Please, Biffy," Lee pleaded. "It's really important that you open your gift first."

Biffy opened his mouth to say something, but the look on Lee's face made him close it. "Alright if it means that much to you." He started to rip open the corner of the package, but Lee's mind went into full gear.

"Wait!" Lee blurted, and Biffy froze.

"What now?"

Lee clenched his teeth and moved his hand to pet the sleeping Miss Rumplekittycat. Her purring soothed the ache in his stomach.

This is it. Don't screw it up.

"Look, Biffy," He sighed. "I'm gonna make this short and sweet." He watched as Biffy raised an eyebrow at him, which tightened the knot in his stomach. "You... you mean a lot to me, and I don't know where I would be without you."

"What..." Biffy started. "What are you getting at, Lee?"

"Just... You mean a lot to me as a friend and..." Lee drawled on the last word. He had no idea what to say. "Just open the box." He watched Biffy's face for any type of change, but he only saw a mix of curiosity and panic. He rubbed his sweaty palms together, watching Biffy tear open the package and peer inside. The knot was burning as Biffy saw the gift.

Inside the package was a white, knitted scarf. Lee watched as Biffy's eyes scanned over the gift, and then Lee held his breath when Biffy reached the end of the scarf. There, poorly stitched, was a red heart and a tag that read, "I love you."

Lee ever so slowly released the breath he was holding as the reality sank in. Either I walk out black and blue, or... god, I don't even know.

He kept his hand on the cat while he scanned Biffy's face for any kind of reaction. The bigger teen kept his eyes on the damn heart that Lee had fumbled to stitch on. A solid minute passed, and there was no reaction.

This is it. Lee realized. I lost him, and now he's going to kick my ass and-

"Haha,"

Lee jerked his head upwards in time to see Biffy started to chuckle, and then a full, belly laugh was emitted. Lee's brain spiraled into total panic. Dear lord, it's happening. He hates it. He hates me. He's gonna tell the whole school, and I'll go down in history as the kid who confessed his feelings to the school bully-

"Lee, snap out of it!"

Lee jolted in his seat and let out a rather girlish yelp. His brain kicked into gear when he realized that Biffy stopped laughing. He anxiously peered up and was surprised to see a gentle gaze coming from Biffy.

"Lee," He spoke softly. "I... I didn't mean to laugh at you... I, well," He chuckled. "I got so worked up on my gift to you that I didn't think that you'd feel the same."

It was Lee's turn to be shell-shocked, as he stared at Biffy and then at the paper sack with his gift in it. He wordlessly reached into the bag and felt something soft bundled at the bottom. He nearly dropped the gift in shock when he realized that it was an identical white scarf, but it was worth millions compared to his own creation. Lee traced his eyes at the gift and stopped short at the simple heart at the bottom.

"Yeah," Lee looked up at Biffy's voice. "Heh... only difference is the message on the one you made me." He held his own scarf delicately, looking at it like it was made of gold.

Lee's eyes darted back and forth between the scarf in his hands and in Biffy's hands. "I... Biffy," He breathed, which turned into a quiet laugh. "I can't believe this."

"Yeah, and here I was freaking out while you were doing whatever in the hall before detention," Biffy smirked.

"Dude," Lee grinned. "I was the one freaking out before detention! I was talking to myself and contemplating if it was worth running out the building."

Biffy laughed heartily, and Lee did the same. When the laughter died, they were left in another awkward silence. "So..." Lee drawled. The knot in his stomach returned. "What now?"

Biffy fiddled with the scarf in his hands and sighed: "Honestly, I have no idea," He admitted. "Look, Lee, you mean a lot to me too, but this is a whole new territory for me."

The weight in Lee's stomach returned. Here we go, he thought.

"You and I are both still figuring things out, with the whole Radcircles thing, but I really appreciate your gift, buddy." Biffy thought for a moment. "I'd prefer to take things one day at a time, you feel?"

Lee felt his heart flutter, and a weight was lifted from his chest. "Y-yeah, totally, man." He sighed. "One day at a time." He made a move to grasp Biffy's hand, and Biffy took the initiative and held Lee's hand tenderly. Lee's small hand fit into Biffy's like a glove- a large, too big glove, but he loved it. "Just know that... I really like you, Biffy."

Biffy smirked. "Yeah," He said. "I'm pretty great."

"Hah, oh real funny." Lee moved to jab Biffy before putting on his scarf. "Man, this scarf is awesome."

"Thanks, bud." Biffy put on his scarf as well. "Yours is nice too- a few dropped stitches, but it's the thought that counts."

"Yeah, I was having a hard time on those," Lee said. "Knitting is a bitch though- how do you do it?"

"Years of practice," Biffy shrugged. "I can show you some tricks over the break if you want."

"Really?" Lee said. "That'd be awesome, dude." He thought for a moment. "Like... a date?"

Biffy startled, and Lee braced for rejection, but then he said, "Yeah, sure, if that's what you want." With that, he reached into his backpack and brought out his knitting needles. "Here, I can show you some things now."

"Awesome."

The rest of detention was just that- knitting and talking. Lee attempted to follow Biffy's instruction, but he was too lost in his brash yet gentle voice.

This is nice- really nice, Lee thought to himself. He let his mind wander. It was only the beginning of winter break of his sophomore year, and there was so much more time until the future came- but, if he had to make the choice, he would choose to stay in this moment forever. Just him and Biffy alone together- maybe a cat or too.

But that's the future, and this was now. One day at a time.

Wherever we end up, I hope it's together.