A Straight Guy's Guide to Being Gay

Chapter 13

Theo didn't know what was more scary, the fact that he was fake-dating Finn or Becky when she was angry about a boy who ghosted her. She was stomping around the house screaming at her phone, presumably a picture of the poor guy who messed with the wrong girl.

"You piece of shit! I can't believe this! We were talking for three fucking months. How— Why— What did I do wrong?"

Followed by his mother saying soothingly, "Beck, he's just a stupid boy. He doesn't matter because you're so much better than him."

She had been screaming all morning. First there was confusion. Then tears. Now anger. Theo was just glad that she wasn't screaming when Finn had been here because that would have been embarrassing for the both of them.

Becky's eyes were alight with fire. "No, mom, he's not. He's smart, he's funny," she ticked off her fingers. "He's kind, really good at soccer, and he's so, so cute." She pouted, "Why did he have to be so mean?"

They were sitting on the gray couch in the living room, and Theo sat uncomfortably on the other couch eating a slice of pizza. His mom was brushing away a strand of hair and yawning while Becky complained on and on about this guy named Ryan.

"Ryan," Theo repeated. Becky's eyes shot to his. "Gosh, even his name sounds douchy."

She bared her teeth. "Shut the fuck up, Theo."

His mother sat up straight and pointed a finger at Becky. "Hey, don't speak like that, young lady."

She snorted. "You should hear the way Theo talks."

Theo glared at her and she glared back. Their mother said, "At least he doesn't talk like that in front of me." She got up and used her feet to pull down the ends of her pants. She was wearing black joggers and a light green sweatshirt. Becky was dressed in gray leggings and a P!NK shirt on, her favorite singer. Theo was in gray sweats and a dark red shirt. She walked to the kitchen.

"Theo," she called from the fridge. "How did it go with Finn?"

Becky raised her eyebrows at Theo, also asking, but it was more of a knowing look that Theo didn't like very much. "It went well." That was all he said and he hoped that no more questions were asked.

His mom's head popped out from the kitchen doorway. "Are you two friends now? What did you talk about?"

"Why is it so important?" he snapped.

She bristled. "Theo," she said, sounding disappointed. "I was only asking."

Becky was on her phone again texting, her thumbs flying across the keyboard. Her lips were pursed. Theo stood and walked to the stairs. He felt angry and guilty at the same time.

His mother meant well, he knew that. He just needed to think about everything because it all happened so fast. He was dating Finn fucking Georgiou. It didn't matter that it was fake; everyone else would think it was real. He changed his mind and walked to the mudroom where he slipped on his shoes and grabbed his coat. A walk always cleared his mind, so that's what he was going to do. He heard his mother calling for him, but he was already out the door.

—

Monday morning had never made Theo wish he could stay in bed more. Not only did he have to wake up before the sun had risen, but he was about to walk into Eastlake High School holding hands with Finn. Theo thought it was some sort of twisted irony, that the boy who he tried his best to forget about for making his life so miserable would be the key to unlocking a girl-free, relationship-free, stalker-free life.

His walk to school was mundane; nothing unusual or different, other than the fact that he now walked alone since all of his friends drove in with their girlfriends. Theo didn't even think about what his friends would say to his new and unexpected boyfriend. He knew that they were all Allies, which was a very good thing. But literally a couple weeks ago he was with the hottest chick in their school. Maybe if he could just tell his friends...