The bustling halls of Crestwood High were alive with the usual chaos of a Monday morning. Students hurried to their lockers, laughter echoed off the tiled walls, and the faint hum of gossip filled the air. Among the sea of faces, three best friends Jaden, Marcus, and Elijah stood out, not just for their inseparable bond but for the secrets they carried.

Jaden, the quiet artist with a knack for capturing emotions on paper, was the thinker of the group. His sketches were his escape, a way to express what he couldn't say out loud. Marcus, the star athlete with a heart of gold, was the protector. His confidence on the basketball court was unmatched, but off the court, he struggled with vulnerabilities he rarely showed. Elijah, the charismatic one with a sharp wit, was the glue that held them together. But beneath his cheerful exterior lay a past he had buried deep, a past that was about to resurface in the most unexpected way.

The trio had a secret one they had sworn to keep from the world. They were all DL (down-low) gay, hiding their true selves from a society they feared wouldn't accept them. Their bond was their safe haven, a place where they could be themselves without judgment. But that bond was about to be tested in ways they never imagined.

It all started when Liam Carter transferred to Crestwood High.

Liam was the kind of guy who turned heads wherever he went. With his piercing green eyes, effortless charm, and a smile that could melt even the coldest heart, he quickly became the talk of the school. Girls giggled as he walked by, and guys wanted to be him. But it wasn't just his looks that drew people in it was the air of mystery that surrounded him.

Jaden, Marcus, and Elijah were no exception. Each of them found themselves drawn to Liam in ways they couldn't explain or ignore. For Jaden, it was the way Liam's eyes seemed to see right through him, as if he could read the secrets hidden in his sketches. For Marcus, it was the way Liam's confidence challenged him to be better, both on and off the court. And for Elijah, it was the way Liam's presence stirred something deep within him, something he had tried to bury long ago.

But there was a catch. None of them wanted to risk their friendship or their secret by confessing their feelings. So, they made a pact: they would all keep their crushes on Liam discreet, and whoever he chose (if he chose anyone at all) would have the others' full support.

What they didn't know was that Liam had his own secrets.

Years ago, before he moved to Crestwood, Liam had been the bully who tormented a classmate named Adrian for being "too feminine." Adrian had been outed against his will, and the trauma had forced him to transfer schools. But now, fate had brought them back together because Adrian was none other than Elijah, one of the three friends who had fallen for Liam.

When Liam realized who Elijah was, he saw it as the perfect opportunity for redemption or so he told himself. In truth, he was still grappling with his own guilt and confusion. As he grew closer to Elijah, he found himself falling for the very person he had once hurt. But Elijah, still haunted by the scars of his past, wasn't ready to forgive or forget.

Meanwhile, Jaden and Marcus were navigating their own feelings for Liam, each convinced that they were the one he truly wanted. Jaden, the quiet artist, expressed his emotions through sketches of Liam that he kept hidden in his notebook. Marcus, the star athlete, tried to impress Liam with his skills on the basketball court, hoping to win his heart.

As the school year unfolded, the trio's friendship was put to the test. Secrets began to unravel, and the lines between love, loyalty, and vengeance blurred. When Elijah finally confronted Liam about their painful past, it sparked a chain reaction that forced everyone to confront their own truths.

In the end, it wasn't just about who Liam would choose, it was about whether love could heal the wounds of the past, and whether three friends could find their way back to each other after everything they'd been through.

The tension between Jaden, Marcus, Elijah, and Liam grew thicker as the weeks passed. Each of them was caught in a web of unspoken feelings, hidden truths, and the fear of losing what they held dear.

Jaden's sketches became more intricate, almost obsessive. He filled his notebook with drawings of Liam his smile, his eyes, the way his hair fell across his forehead. But one sketch stood out from the rest: a haunting image of Liam standing in the rain, his face shadowed by guilt. Jaden didn't know why he drew it, but it felt like a premonition.

One afternoon, while Jaden was working on the sketch in the art room, Marcus walked in. He glanced over Jaden's shoulder and froze. "Is that? Liam?" he asked, his voice tight.

Jaden quickly closed the notebook, his cheeks flushing. "It's nothing," he muttered.

But Marcus wasn't convinced. "You like him, don't you?"

Jaden hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. But it's not like it matters. He's not going to choose me."

Marcus sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I get it. I like him too. But we made a pact, remember? No matter who he chooses, we'll support each other."

Jaden forced a smile, but inside, he felt a pang of jealousy. What if Liam chose Marcus? What would that mean for their friendship?

Meanwhile, Elijah was struggling with his own feelings. Every time he looked at Liam, he was torn between the boy he had once been Adrian, the victim and the person he was now. He wanted to hate Liam, to make him pay for what he had done. But the more time they spent together, the harder it became to hold onto that anger.

One evening, after basketball practice, Liam approached Elijah in the locker room. "Hey, can we talk?" he asked, his voice hesitant.

Elijah crossed his arms, his guard up. "About what?"

Liam took a deep breath. "I know you don't want to hear this, but I need to say it. I'm sorry. For everything. I was a different person back then, and I hate who I was. I hate what I did to you."

Elijah's chest tightened. He wanted to yell, to tell Liam that sorry wasn't enough. But instead, he just nodded. "I appreciate that. But it's not that easy."

Liam's eyes filled with regret. "I know. I just? I want to make things right. However, I can."

Elijah didn't respond. He didn't know how.

As the days turned into weeks, the dynamic between the four of them became increasingly complicated. Jaden and Marcus found themselves competing for Liam's attention, while Elijah tried to keep his distance. But Liam's persistence wore him down, and slowly, he began to let his guard down.

One night, after a school dance, Elijah found himself alone with Liam on the bleachers. The stars were out, and the air was cool. For the first time in years, Elijah felt a sense of peace.

"I never thought I'd say this," he admitted, his voice soft. "But I think I'm starting to forgive you."

Liam looked at him, his eyes filled with hope. "That means more to me than you'll ever know."

But just as they were beginning to find their way back to each other, a new secret threatened to tear them apart.

The revelation of Elijah's past as Adrian sent shockwaves through the group. Jaden and Marcus were stunned when Elijah finally confided in them, his voice trembling as he recounted the bullying he had endured at the hands of Liam.

"I can't believe he did that to you," Jaden said, his fists clenched. "How can you even stand to be around him?"

Elijah sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's complicated. He's not the same person he was back then. And? I think I'm starting to forgive him."

Marcus frowned, his protective instincts kicking in. "Just be careful, Elijah. People don't change that easily."

But Elijah wasn't so sure. Every time he looked at Liam, he saw the pain in his eyes - pain that mirrored his own. And despite everything, he couldn't deny the growing connection between them.

Meanwhile, Jaden and Marcus found themselves growing closer as they navigated their own feelings for Liam. One evening, after a particularly intense basketball game, Marcus found Jaden sitting alone in the bleachers, sketching by the light of the setting sun.

"Hey," Marcus said, sitting down beside him. "What are you working on?"

Jaden hesitated, then showed him the sketch. It was a drawing of Liam, but this time, he wasn't alone. In the sketch, Liam was standing between Jaden and Marcus, his arms around both of them.

Marcus stared at the drawing, his heart pounding. "Is this? how you see things?"

Jaden nodded, his cheeks flushing. "I don't know. Maybe. I just? I don't want to lose what we have. But I also don't want to keep hiding how I feel."

Marcus placed a hand on Jaden's shoulder. "We'll figure it out. Together."

But their bond was about to be tested in ways they never imagined.

The school year was coming to an end, and the tension between Jaden, Marcus, Elijah, and Liam had reached its peak. The trio's friendship was hanging by a thread, and it was clear that things couldn't continue the way they were.

One evening, after a heated argument about their feelings for Liam, Jaden, Marcus, and Elijah found themselves sitting in their usual spot on the rooftop of Crestwood High. The air was thick with unspoken words, and the weight of their secrets felt heavier than ever.

"We can't keep doing this," Jaden finally said, breaking the silence. "We're tearing each other apart."

Marcus nodded, his expression grim. "He's right. We need to figure this out. Once and for all."

Elijah sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. But how? How do we choose?"

Jaden hesitated, then reached into his bag and pulled out his sketchbook. He flipped through the pages until he found the drawing he had been working on - a portrait of the three of them, standing together, their hands intertwined.

"Maybe we don't have to choose," Jaden said softly. "Maybe? maybe we can figure this out together."

Marcus and Elijah stared at the sketch; their hearts heavy with emotion. For the first time, they realized that their bond was stronger than any romantic feelings. They had been through so much together, and they couldn't let one person come between them.

The next day, they approached Liam after school. He looked at them, his expression a mix of confusion and hope.

"We need to talk," Jaden said, his voice steady.

Liam nodded, his heart pounding. "Okay."

They sat down together, and Jaden took a deep breath. "We've all been hiding our feelings for you. And it's been tearing us apart. But we realized something - our friendship is more important than anything else."

Marcus nodded. "We're not going to let this come between us. So, we've decided? we're going to figure this out together."

Elijah looked at Liam, his eyes filled with emotion. "We care about you, Liam. But we care about each other too. And we're not going to let anything break us apart."

Liam stared at them, his heart swelling with admiration and respect. "I? I don't know what to say. You guys are amazing. And I'm so lucky to have you in my life."

In the end, they didn't need to choose. They realized that their bond was stronger than any romantic feelings, and they were determined to protect it. They decided to take things one day at a time, supporting each other no matter what.

As the school year came to a close, they stood together on the rooftop, watching the sunset. They had been through so much, but they had come out stronger on the other side.

"No matter what happens," Jaden said, his voice filled with determination. "We'll always have each other."

Marcus and Elijah nodded, their hearts full. They knew that their journey was far from over, but they were ready to face it together.