Hiding in the Dark

Chapter 2

He stays silent for a few moments, just looking at me with hurt expression. We were just at lunch and he was happy so what happened?

"Damn it Mason. Can you just speak? What is going on?" I demand, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Why didn't you tell me about your family?" Mason blurts out and I freeze. Shit, he knows.

"Mason...It's something I'm not proud of. If you knew from the very beginning, you wouldn't have wanted to be my friend." I said softly, looking down at the ground.

With fury laced in his voice, he says, "Bullshit. I would have still been your friend. Because I know what it is like to be apart of a family I'm outcasted in. You knew that, too. You know that my family hates what I do. You know that my brother is planning on following in my footsteps. You knew all of this and you still didn't trust me enough to tell me."

"You are the only person I trust in our friend group. Knowing about my family can lead you down a dangerous path. The more people that know, the more dangerous it is. That's the main reason why I didn't tell you. It was to protect you."

"I get that. I do. But it still pisses me off that you didn't think that you could tell me. We have been friends for four years now." He said, the anger dissipating.

"I know. It's just that you can never be sure, especially in the line of business my family's in. Besides, how did you figure it out?"

He pulls out his phone and shows me a message he got from his brother: Hey, you are friends with Nico Morelli, right? One of my friends just joined a gang that is led by a Morelli. I'm not friends with him anymore, but I thought you should know. Nico could be dangerous.

"Wow. Can't believe your brother found out before you." I said.

He scoffs. "I know, right? Anyways, your secret is safe with me. I just hope you are keeping anything else from me."

I wince once he says that because I am keeping something from him: the fact that I am gay. For a few moments, I contemplate whether I want to tell him or not. As far as I am concerned, he is homophobic or anything but maybe he is. We have never really discussed the LGBT community so I don't know his opinion on it. I know Nina is pansexual but I don't think he knows that. The only reason I know is because I saw the flag inside her locker and she told me once I noticed it. Nina told me not to tell anyone because she doesn't know if anyone would accept her.

Opening my mouth to say something, I am interrupted by the bell. Mason curses under his breath before moving to get to class. Since we both have a different class, we go in opposite directions, not even sparing a second to say bye.

The last class of the day is my favorite class: music. I found out how much I enjoy playing music when I was accidentally put into the class last year, although it was the best thing that has ever happened. There were two instruments that I went between when first entering the class but I ultimately chose the drums.

I say sorry to the teacher for being late before going to sit behind the drum set and taking the sticks out of my bag.

"Today, we are going to be exploring playing on your own. What I mean by that is each of you are going to be doing your own thing today. You can either learn a piece of your choice or continue with the piece we have been playing as a class. You are now dismissed to do what you choose. Nico, can you come here for a moment?" The teacher, Mrs. Bianchi, says.

Getting up, I walk over to her desk. "What do you need, Mrs. Bianchi?"

"You have already mastered the one we are playing as a class, so I want you to learn a new piece. However, I also want you to do a solo at the fall concert with that piece. Would you be up for that?"