✔️The Greaser and the Skirtchaser [18+]

21. That Time They Got Caught

T/W: f-slur, homophobic language

"Petey, would you stop gawking and shut the goddamn door?!" Blake was sure that killing the lights and covering Vance's face with his hand was enough to hide his identity, but this was still a very damning situation.

The kid finally took the hint and shut the door. Blake let go of Vance's face. "Okay, look, I'll go handle it, alright? Him and I are buddies; I'll make sure he doesn't tell."

"Blake!" Vance whisper-shouted.

"I'm sorry; I didn't know that guy would follow us! I'll sort it out. Don't come out."

Blake straightened his clothes and stepped out. The kid was red to the roots of his hair, and he had the nerve to back up a step from Blake. Still, that newfound fear didn't stop him from running his mouth. "So, you—so, you're a—"

"That's none of your business," Blake said even though it was useless saying that to Petey. "Listen, you didn't see a thing, alright?"

"Huh?" This kid had to have some kinda brain in there.

"You asked me what favor I wanted, and this is it. Absolutely nothing happened here." Blake put out his hand. "Got it?"

"Hold on, but you're Blake Coleman. You can't be—"

"Yes, I'm a queer, and yes, I'm still Blake Coleman. And if I'm right, we're still friends, aren't we?"

"But... but you...." He tapered off, looking uncomfortable and frankly like his world was crashing down because the big, bad king of the punks Blake Coleman actually turned out to be one of those degenerates.

"We're friends, aren't we?" Blake stuck out his hand, and he was starting to sweat. "Come on, Petey. This is serious. Don't snitch, alright?"

He looked at Blake's hand like it was covered in bugs.

Blake looked at his friend who wouldn't even look him in the eye anymore, and even though it was clear as day exactly what Petey thought of him now, Blake kept holding out his hand for a few moments longer like a goddamn idiot, hoping Petey would just take it anyway. Eventually, Blake had to put down his hand, swallowing. "Fine. But let me give you some advice. If you tell anyone at all that I'm queer, then everyone's gonna think that the guy that hangs out with me all the time is also a queer. If you don't want that label on you, then don't go shouting from the rooftops about who you used to be friends with."

Friend. Blake hardly realized 'til now that that was what Petey had become to him, yet the way Petey was looking at him now stung like crazy even though this was exactly how anyone would act. Blake was a queer, after all.

"See ya, Petey. Stay out of trouble."

Petey looked at him for a second, but he made his decision and scurried back into the cafeteria. Once Blake was sure that the coast was clear, he went inside the closet. Vance was leaning against one of the shelves, all worried with his brows knit together.

"Hey, I'm sorry about that, Vance. The kid won't tell, and he doesn't know a thing about you, okay?" Blake knew that the supply closet door was thin enough for Vance to have heard their entire conversation.

He looked around, then at the floor. He rubbed his arm. "I'm gonna go."

"Hey, wait, I'm sorry, really." Blake put a hand on Vance's arm, but he got brushed off. "Vance."

"I know. It's just... this wasn't a good idea." He slipped out of the door.

Blake ran his hands down his face and let out a heavy sigh.