Abel gives Mr. Molina his permission slip for the junior class trip. He wishes seniors came, too, so he could lay his eyes on Emmett. He watches as Bella stands in place in the spot where she was almost crushed by a van.
"Abel!"
Abel spins around and he sees Alice and Jasper approaching. Alice has been very sweet since Abel started school, a very attentive friend. But in this past week, Evan and Emmett have spoken to him more than anyone else. He doesn't mind. He likes Emmett, he's attractive, he makes Abel feel good: normal. Emmett helps Abel feel comfortable with his sexuality. Evan could make to be Abel's best friend. Rosalie, she'll be around Evan when he talks to Abel, but she's usually quiet, but Abel isn't concerned. She's not exactly glaring at him or trying to stab him with a pencil, so he supposes that's something.
"Hey, Alice," Abel greets. He's not as soft spoken as he used to be, but he's still careful about his words and won't out and say he's gay, not after Jason. "Jasper."
Jasper sends Abel a nod greeting. One thing that Abel's noticed is that Jasper doesn't talk a lot. He usually stands back and lets Alice do all the conversing, not that Abel can blame him. He wonders if Jasper ever gets a word in where Alice loves to talk. A lot.
"Wanna go shopping with me this weakened?" Alice asks. "I was thinking Seattle or Olympia."
"I'd like to try shopping in Olympia," Abel admits. "I've been shopping in Seattle with my friend when I was in Port Angeles still."
"Ooh, I love the Mall on Olympia," Alice says softly. "It has more stores."
"I can't wait," Abel admits. "I wish seniors could be on this trip."
Alice giggles as Jasper smirks. "You miss Emmett?" she teases.
"Alice!" Abel whines and the girl giggles. "I also miss Evan and even Rosalie."
"Even Rosalie?" Jasper raises an eyebrow. "Wow. Has she reallt made a good impression?"
"Not really. She never talks to me when Evan does," Abel replies. "But I like her care-free vibe, even if she is bitter." He smiles when Jasper frowns. "She doesn't have to speak to be bitter. Her face gives it all away."
Jasper hums. "Yeah. Rosalie is not very good at concealing her emotions," he says.
Alice is so proud of Jasper. He normally becomes a turtle hiding in its shell when it comes to socialization. But when it comes to Abel Swan, it seems easy for Jasper to communicate with someone besides the family, with Emmett's handsome, gay, human mate.
"Hey, Abel," Bella greets as she walks over after she's done rejecting Mike for his asking her to the Prom.
"Hey," Abel greets, "I'll see you at the greenhouse?"
Alice smiles. "Of course." She looks at Bella and she smiles. "Hi!"
"Hey," Bella greets shyly before she and Abel walk to the bus.
"Since when are you friends with the weird girl and her pained boyfriend?" Lauren Malloy asks as soon as Bella sit behind her and Jessica on the bus.
"Alice isn't weird, she's just... eccentric and very... sweet and very hyper," Abel says. "And Jasper... I don't know. I just like the way he carries himself. But they're no Emmett."
"You have a crush on Emmett Cullen?" Jess gasps and Abel realizes what he said. "Oh, honey... there's no way he's into boys. He just screams 'straight'."
"I know," Abel replies. "But he's hot."
Lauren hums. "Very true," she agrees and Jessica chuckles. "I kind of get a pansexual vibe off of him."
"How do you know the vibes?" Bella asks.
"I'm pan," Lauren admits. "I know."
"I'm just gay," Abel says for the first time since Jason found out. "What's pansexual like?"
Lauren grows excited and she jumps into explaining it. Even Jessica and Bella listen in because they're both curious.
*******
"Pansexual sounds so cool," Abel says confidently as he and Lauren sit on a stone bench outside the greenhouse after seeing the plants since they were in the front of the line.
"It is," Lauren says. "So... can I ask you a couple personal questions?"
"Sure," Abel replies.
"Firstly, are you a virgin?" Lauren asks as Jasper and Alice leave the greenhouse together.
"No," Abel replies. "I've had sex five times... before my dad found out I was gay and got... murderous."
Lauren grabs his hand when he mentions the 'm' word. Her dad didn't accept her, but he didn't get abusive. He just divorced her mom, Naomi, and left the state of Washington. Douglas Malloy moved across the country to Maine.
"Ask your other question," Abel urges, "distract me."
"Are you a top or a bottom?" Lauren asks.
Abel blushes at the question and Lauren grins at his red cheeks. "I'm a bottom," he says lowly, not knowing that Alice and Jasper can hear him.
"Ooh!" Lauren laughs and Abel soon follows.
"Okay, I'm jealous," Jess says as she and Bella walk over after Edward gets snappy. "Where's my GBF?"
"Hey, there's plenty of me to go around if you'll have me," Abel mewls with a grin.
Jessica smiles and she sits on his other side. They all hang out and talk until Mr. Molina starts wrangling up the stragglers and they head back to the high school.
