shoot down in flames.

chapter one

"what's your name?"

It's been at least a few months since someone had tried conversation with Dan, as if those around him had given up on giving him a chance, so when one of the most well-liked guys in his year approached him at his desk, he was startled.

His eyes met the bluest eyes he had ever seen, at least, that's what he felt at that moment.

"Daniel, my name's Daniel,"

The boy smiled down at him, his eyes crinkling, and dan couldn't believe it was genuine.

"I know, I just wanted to hear you say it."

His eyes widen, no one knew who he was, let alone the Johnny Romero.

He had never spoken to johnny before, he hadn't talked to anyone yet as he had transferred last year, he was too scared of rejection.

"I'm johnny, I don't think we've had a class together before, but I've seen you around. Apparently, you're super mysterious." Johnny smirked at him and sat down at the desk next to the boy.

Dan blushed, hard. He didn't do well with jokes.

Johnny tried to talk to the silent boy more throughout the class but had little luck, only getting nods and shy smiles. He didn't stop trying and never seemed annoyed at the silent treatment Dan was giving him. Although he was very clearly disturbing the lesson, their teacher let it slide, knowing how little people tried to talk to their most quiet student.

-

He couldn't concentrate all day, too focused on that one conversation. He only said four words to the guy, and he was repeating what he said over and over again.

'Oh god, does he think I'm weird? Should I have tried to continue the conversation?'

Dan was an overthinker, nit-picking every social interaction he has and far too paranoid to initiate one himself.

As he was packing his bag at the end of the day, he heard someone call his name, and looked for the source, doing a double-take when he realised it was Johnny,

"Hey! I was thinking I could walk you home?"

Dan panicked; he could barely talk to the guy! How awkward was it going to be if they're alone?

"Oh, um, sorry, I can't today," he basically whispered, feeling awful about rejecting the guy but not being able to face the anxiety-inducing interaction. Just talking to someone was enough for him.

To his surprise, Johnny didn't falter, instead smiled down at the shorter boy,

"Maybe another time then! See you tomorrow, Danny,"

Leaving dan a blushing mess at the innocent nickname.

No one had ever called him Danny before...

-

After arriving home, he tried to be as quiet as possible while making his way to his room. His father was a scary man when he was angry, and he despised being woken up right before his night shift.

Dan's home life was as lonely as his school life, as his mother passed when he was young, and his father distracted himself through overworking and alcohol. He didn't hate his father for what he did to grieve, he just wished the man would acknowledge him without yelling at him.

After successfully making it to his bedroom without waking his sleeping father, he let out a sigh of relief, finally in his safe place.

His bedroom was small, only made up of a single bed, a tiny desk and a built-in closet, yet he didn't mind too much, he was small enough that his bed was cosy and comforting rather than suffocatingly small. He set down his laptop on his desk and fell face-first into his bed, unmotivated to start any homework, and distracted from the surprise interaction he had earlier that day.