More Than Friends (boyxboy)

Chapter 28: Between the lines

"He's not telling you everything."

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Mark felt uneasy. In fact, he had felt uneasy all afternoon. The words uttered by the teacher about the Shakespeareian works they were meant to focus on had fallen on deaf ears. All he could hear was, ‘I know everything about you.’  The words uttered by Archie said so little and so much at the same time that he needed to know what he knew, if anything at all and if he did know something, what was it? Who told him, and what would he do with it.

“What was that about earlier at lunch? Did you really punch him? People say you did.” Gus questions. He could tell Mark had been otherwise occupied over the past few weeks and wished to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“He was in my way.“ Mark stands up in order for him to push his copy of 'Macbeth' in his bag. 

“That sounds like something I would do. Not you.” Gus didn't seem convinced with the response given. “If you want me to finish him off, just say so. I've got your back.”

Mark stops his bag packing, as he stares blankly into the darkness of his opened bag. “Do you really have my back?” He dares to think it may be possible. Gus’ mind was usually narrower than a drinking straw. A good friend if you fitted in with his view of the world. Had he broadened it a little?

“Of course!” He stands up and slaps Mark on the shoulder. "People like us should look out for each other if you get what I mean." Gus had this habit of thinking he was some kind of superior being. It became nauseating to Mark at times.

“I've got it in hand.” He decides as he pulls his bag onto his shoulder. He reaches for his phone, already vibrating as he sees the message from Bay.

We need to talk, meet me around the back of the science block. 

Gus watches as Mark leaves, head down, absorbed by whatever was on his phone. His eyes squint as if to scrutinise his friend. What was he hiding?

***

“Where were you?” Bay sounds fraught, bouncing from one foot to the other. “I have 5 minutes before my bus leaves.” 

“Enough time to…” Mark is stopped taking a step closer to Bay as the other boy holds out a hand, with Mark walking into it. 

“Why did you hit Archie?” Bay stares at Mark as well as his hand unmoving as he waits for an answer. 

Mark wraps his fingers around Bay's wrist, lowering the hand. “Why don't you ask him?” 

“I did. He says you got in his way.”

“He's not telling you everything.” Mark raises his arms as he cages Bay between him and the wall. “You and me. Who we are, what we do. It's between us, but somehow he knows… Did you tell him about us?” 

“No!” Bay says, his eyes wide at the assumption. “He… he worked it out, but I've spoken with him. He won't tell anyone. I trust him.”

“I don't.”

“Are you still worried that I like him?” Bay wonders. 

“Do you?”

Bay looks just a little below Mark's gaze. “It doesn't matter. He sees me as a brother. He said so.” 

“You haven't answered the question….” Mark's words are stopped by Bay's lips pressing against his. Mark's once tense body begins to soften as he cups Bay's jaw with both his hands. It's Bay who pulls away, all too aware of the time. “Does that answer your question?” 

“Go catch your bus.” Mark backs away, letting his arms fall to the side.

Bay pulls his lips into his mouth. “See you tomorrow.” He utters as he pulls away from the wall, glancing back just once over his shoulder at the other boy. 

***

“And then he hit me. Who the hell does he think he is?” Archie hadn't stopped talking since he had arrived at Lena's. Careful to leave the boyfriend and gay aspects out of his description of events.

“Archie…”

“The guy thinks he is the bollocks. I hate him.”

“Archie!”

 Lena looks at the boy. Her mind was full of things she needed to say as she lay by Archie on her bed. Archie sits up on the bed and turns towards her, seeing her disengagement. “What is it? Are you not listening?” 

“I've done nothing but listen to you.” She complains.

“So what should I do?” He looks at her, desperately seeking some direction. 

Lena puts her phone on the nightstand. She sits up and crosses her legs as she looks at Archie. “Can you define to me what being in a relationship means to you?” She questions. 

“You're my girlfriend.” He replies, he frowns at her as if it were obvious. 

“And what do you think that means?” 

Archie looks away, deep in thought. “We spend time together, we enjoy eachothers company…” He grins as he glances up at her. “We kiss… and other stuff.” 

“Ok, let me stop you there."  Lena holds up a hand. “What you actually do is talk… and talk and talk about Bay. I am glad you feel you can share your feelings with me, but has it got you wondering?”

“About what?” 

“About how you really feel about him?” Lena sees Archie look a little lost as she takes his hand. “Look. I'm not one to judge or assume or anything like that, but from what I've seen and heard from you, you really care about him, and it goes deep. Real deep.” Archie looks at his hand in hers as he silently nods. “I feel like you may have known all along about what a true relationship feels like. You care for him in a way that goes beyond friendship. You get jealous,  like a boyfriend type of jealousy.  Jealous of who he spends time with. You want to protect him, be there for him. You're not like that with me. Other people may not be able to see it, but I do.” Lena looks at Archie, who was now looking back at her. "I've always known deep down."

He pulls his hand away.  “What do you mean you've always known? He stands up. “I'm not gay.” 

“I'm not saying you are. You could go out there and I'm sure you would date other girls but you need to ask yourself. Would they make you feel inside the way he does?” 

“I…” Archie sits back on the bed. It was as if Lena had set a firework off in his mind. 

Lena draws her knees up to her chin, she hugs them as she continues to talk. “I kind of know how you're feeling because I feel that way too.” She squeezes her eyes closed. “Jojo and I…” she opens her eyes, emitting a nervous chuckle. “It seems the past kisses we shared meant more to both of us than we realised. I tried to pass it off as infatuation, or juat being curious… I even dated you, maybe because I have suspected you two had a connection and on some level I was curious to see what would happen.” Feeling the guit in admitting so as she dared to look at Archie. “But I can't help how I feel, and it seems you can't either. Archie, I'm sorry. You're a good guy, you really are, but we just don't match.” She again reaches out a hand, placing it on Archie's arm. “Say something…. Please.” 

“I should go.” Is all he says. The overload of her confession combined with his own thoughts and feelings made him want to run, to get away from the situation. He again pulls away from her. His mind had changed from having so much to say to saying nothing at all. 

“I'm still here… if you want to talk.” She calls out as Archie heads for the door.” 

He turns to her one last time. “Thanks, but I think we have both already said too much.”