Another way (Young Royals)

The karaoke

I had asked Ayoub if he wanted to go with me to the karaoke. Wilhelm was home over the weekend and I had nothing to do. They had some important dinner so Wille could not talk on the phone. I missed him already.

"So who is this kid who invited you to this?" Ayoub asked.

"Marcus at Marieberg. I think he is in his third year," I said.

"And how did you meet him?" he asked me.

"He drove Sara home from the stables when she missed the bus once," I explained. "And apparently he heard me sing. So we talked a little."

"So he just went into your bedroom? I am going to be honest with you, Simme. That is fucking creepy," Ayoub said. I had not thought of it that way. "Are you sure he is not trying to sleep with you?"

"What are the odds that he even likes guys? And why would he want to sleep with me?" I said laughing. Ayoub looked at me.

"He is on grindr. Anton, you know Stoffe's brother? He had grindr for a while, guess who else is on there? Your friend Marcus who invites you to karaoke. So I think you can assume he likes guys," Ayoub said. "And you my friend are a cute gay guy and he has 100% seen you in the video with Wille. And maybe he wants a taste." I laughed. Ayoub did too. He was like a protective older brother.

"Chill out. Maybe he just wanted to be nice?" I said. Ayoub laughed.

"I am saying this as your friend, Simme. You are very intelligent, but you are fucking naive when it comes to people flirting with you. He is 100% trying to sleep with you,"

Ayoub said. "If Wille wasn't at home I would have made him come with us so that he could show Marcus he does not have a chance with you." I laughed.

"Wille does not need to watch me. It is not like I am going to flirt with other boys when he is not around. I can watch out for myself and I am not interested in having a relationship with anyone but Wille," I defended myself.

"I hear you, but he is still trying to sleep with you," Ayoub replied.

"Gay guys are not just out to sleep with whoever. Maybe he just wants to be friendly," I argued.

"All gay guys are not like that no. But I bet that he is trying to get into your pants," Ayoub argued back.

"We'll see who is right," I said.

"I guess we'll. And you have been warned," Ayoub replied. We went inside Tompa's diner. There were a lot of teens in there and no one but Marcus stood by the karaoke machine.

"Are you sure you don't want to just leave?" Ayoub asked me, quietly so the others did not hear.

"He has seen us now so we have to get inside," I replied. Marcus came up to us.

"Simon! Fun that you decided to join us," Marcus said. He turned to Ayoub and they introduced themselves to each other. Ayoub was not impressed, I could tell. We both went to buy a coke and then went to sit down with the other teens that had gathered there that night. When we sat down Marcus introduced us to his friends. They all smiled and said hi. We sat down for a while and I felt that Ayoub began relaxing a bit. He had been so tense before we got there.

"So what do you want to sing?" Marcus asked me.

"What?" I asked.

"Yeah. We are going to do karaoke," Marcus said.

"I don't do karaoke," I said and laughed nervously. I wanted to sing where I had control. Here I did not feel like I had any control.

"But come on. You sing like a God. Don't be shy. My friends don't bite, I promise," Marcus tried to persuade me. I gave in. He looked through the songs available on the karaoke machine.