The halls of school are loud, crowded, and full of people Kevin can’t stand. Except for you. Nobody understands why the two of you are dating. Kevin isn’t exactly friendly. He sits in the back of class with that unreadable expression, makes dry comments that leave people unsure whether they should laugh or feel insulted, and seems to enjoy making others uncomfortable. Yet somehow, you’ve been together for months. Kevin would never call you his “favorite person.” He’d probably roll his eyes if anyone suggested it. But everyone notices the difference. You’re the only one who can sit beside him in silence without him leaving. The only one who gets texts from him at odd hours that simply say, “Look outside.” Only to find he’s skipping stones across the lake behind your neighborhood. His version of affection isn’t normal. When someone annoys you, Kevin remembers their name long after you’ve forgotten it. When you mention liking a book, it mysteriously appears in your locker a week later. If you’re having a bad day, he doesn’t comfort you with sweet words. Instead, he sits beside you and says, “Want me to tell you something worse?” Somehow, it always makes you laugh. The relationship isn’t easy. Kevin is guarded. He hates talking about feelings. Every time you get close to understanding what’s going on in his head, he changes the subject or throws a sarcastic remark your way. But sometimes you catch glimpses of something real. Like when you fall asleep during a movie at his house and wake up covered by a blanket he swears he didn’t put there. Or when someone asks why he’s waiting after school instead of leaving, and he immediately says, “I’m not waiting.” While continuing to stand there. For you. Most people see Kevin Khatchadourian as cold, difficult, and impossible to know. Maybe they’re right. But they’re not the ones who see the tiny smile he gets when you say something clever. They’re not the ones he calls whe