when you really wish they weren't Like That™

neck kisses

It started with a sweater.

Jon wore it to school one day—a nearly perfectly-fitted beige cashmere sweater—and nearly got away with it; had it not been for Hailey Williams, he would have.

That's when they noticed. Jon owned approximately four colors: black, blue, red, and white. He was a farm boy, he wore flannels, T-shirts, and jeans—not cashmere, clearly expensive, tailored-especially-for-him sweaters.

When she asked, he just smiled (close-lipped and small, but genuine), and declared happily, "Don't you like it? Dami got it tailored the other day! He likes clothes better when they fit me and him... He's tiny." He added thoughtfully at the end, like he'd just realized this.

(He had. For all his brothers teased him about being short, Dami had a way of filling a room with just himself, had something larger-than-life about him, something that demanded Jon's—everyone's—attention.)

Then he turned, like he hadn't just caused dozens of questions to erupt in their minds and practically skipped off to Phys Ed.

The next few weeks didn't help any either.

The week after The Sweater Incident, Jon came to school in a thick, light green beanie, which, according to him, "Dami doesn't like it much but he always likes things after I wear them."

Later, Nate of their friends, said to Marissa, "Maybe they're dating?" Marissa denied this vehemently. She'd know if Jon were gay.

Two days later, Jon showed up in sharp black eyeliner drawn in perfectly symmetrical cat-eyes. People stared. Hailey complimented him and asked him to teach her.

("Can you teach me how to do that eyeliner? 'Cause that's... wow." "Aw, thanks Hailey, but Dami did this, not me. He says it's a artistic something or other.")

"Maybe they are boyfriends." Marissa said thoughtfully.

On Wednesday two weeks later, Jon was dropped off and picked up from school by his brother Conner, who drove a red motorcycle. Conner had a black leather jacket and combat boots, unlike Jon, who wore dorky super-hero T-shirts and zip-up hoodies. They both rode without helmets. Hailey Williams didn't shut up about it for two days.

When he finally came back to school on Monday, he had a bruise blooming across his cheekbone and two black circular studs in his ears.

Marissa kind of wondered how a nerdy boy with glasses could look so badass.

Eight days later, he showed up wearing a gold necklace with three charms hanging from it: a rhombus/diamond-like shape, some type of bird, and a circle. When Nate asked, he just blushed and said it's a meaningful gift.

(He doesn't mention how, when he puts on his new black domino mask, its charms change to Superman's S, a bat, and the rune that made the transformation possible. Best gift ever.)

The week after, he showed up in black slacks and dress shoes for his flute part in the school's band concert. He didn't look happy when they received a standing ovation from the parents and other students, but did look a little more excited after his mom showed him the video she took.

(The next day, she'd idly read in the paper about how Superboy the second changed his suit to a more red-orientated outfit and black domino mask.)

Jon showed up with a few bracelets over the next few weeks after the concert. Nate and Marissa exchanged glances over his shoulder and agreed to record all of them.

At first, it's just a black string wrapped around his wrist with black, red, green, and gold beads on it. Then a different type of string bracelet—like Marissa's dad wore, the type you burn on—is added. Red, yellow, green, and black. The last two are a thin gold bracelet and an expensive silver Rolex watch.