Achilles meets me at the school gates when I arrive and just starts following me around, barely talking and obviously trying not to get in the way. It's a little strange, as I'm only used to Briseis' company, but I can't really tell him to leave me alone as he isn't doing anything wrong. Briseis gives him a strange look at first but mostly just ignores him. We have a few separate classes, but for most of the day Achilles and I are in the same room, and I'm acutely aware of Achilles' presence even though he barely speaks. A few times, I notice him staring at me, but he looks away so quickly that it's almost as if I imagined it. I decide he must just be daydreaming, not realising that he's looking at me until I stare back.

When the day ends, I say goodbye to Briseis and follow Achilles to his home. He doesn't speak as we walk, and he doesn't even look at me now, confirming my theory that he wasn't staring on purpose. When we reach his house, he throws his bag onto the couch then goes down to his bedroom without bothering to tell me to follow him. When I reach the bottom of the stairs, he is laid face-down in his bed.

"Achilles? Are you okay?" I ask.

"Yeah." He mumbles, his voice muffled, before sitting up. He sighs and drags his eyes up my body slowly, then pats the space beside him. I sit beside him, placing my bag at my feet.

"What do you need to study?" I ask. He shrugs, causing me to sigh.

"Biology?"

"Yeah, whatever."

I pulls out my biology book and start reading my notes to him, occasionally checking to see if he understands. He clearly isn't paying any attention, but when I look at him he nods distractedly and makes a noise of agreement.

"...so the diploid cells divide again to create four haploid cells, which are called gametes. They're..." I look at Achilles, who is looking at the wall behind me. "Are you even listening?" I ask him, irritated. I've been here for almost an hour and I don't think he's learned a thing.

He gets to his feet, grabbing my arm leading me to the other side of his room wordlessly. I follow, trying to ignore how my skin seems to burn where he's touching it. A gesture so simple should not make me feel this way.

He hands me a pair of boxing gloves, puts his own on, and starts fighting me with no warning. I'm confused, but I fight back anyway. It's pretty equal for a little while, which means Achilles isn't trying as hard as usual, then he just seems to give up completely. In a matter of seconds, I push him back until his back is against the wall, then stop and lower my hands, confused.

"Achilles? Are you sure you're alright? You've been so quiet all day, and it's worrying me. You're usually so confident and talkative, what's gotten into you?"

"N-nothing." He says. I frown.

"If this is because I ignored you for a while, I'm sorry, okay? I was just upset because... I really like you Achilles." He looks at me with surprise evident on his face. "I want us to be friends." His face falls a little. It's such a minute gesture, it easily could mean nothing. "I just... I don't know if I can trust you." He definitely looks more upset by this. The hopeless expression he wore earlier is back, and it makes my chest ache. "I'm worried you might leave me again... I don't want to lose you again." I'm surprised by what I say, but it's the truth, so I don't try to take it back.

"I won't." He says, quietly, then again, louder. "I... I won't do that again. I... You're my only friend, Patroclus. You've always been my only friend, my only real friend. I don't want to lose you again, either." I look at him hopefully. He slowly looks across my face, like he's trying to memorise every feature, then, without warning, he leans forward and presses his lips to mine.

And oh, wow, this is a good first kiss. Achilles is unsure and worried at first, and he almost pulls away, but then I lean closer, wrapping my arms around his neck, and becomes more sure of himself. I have no idea what I'm doing, so I let him take control. He places his hands on my hips and a million thoughts fly through my head, but then he pushes my lips apart with his tongue and my mind goes blank, and the only thing I can think is Achilles.

He pulls away far too soon and looks at me like he's expecting me to yell at him. I try to calm my laboured breathing and erratic heart rate as I lift my hand to brush some of his long hair away from his face.

"That was..." I smile, then laugh. Achilles smiles back sheepishly.

"I... I don't know what came over me." He murmurs.

"Well whatever it was, I'm glad it did." I say, then frown slightly. "But what about not being gay?"

"I may have lied." Achilles bites his lip, and God, how have I never noticed how attractive that is before?

I want to kiss him again, but I don't want to seem over eager or pushy. Then Achilles leans forward, and I forget my self consciousness and close the gap between us. This kiss is more passionate. Achilles seems desperate for something, but I have no idea what. I try to kiss him the way he kisses me, and it obviously works, because when Achilles pulls away, his smile is bigger than anything I've ever seen before and his laugh is the purest sound I could imagine.

I smile back, giggling slightly then cringing at how I sound like a lovesick schoolgirl.

"Do you have any idea how long I've wanted to do that for?" Achilles asks quietly.

"As long as I have?" I ask tentatively. He beams at me, showing his unbridled joy, and I can't help but smile back.