Lucas Carter is struggling to find his place after moving to Seacrest and enrolling in Seacrest High.
As he settles in with a new group of friends, Lucas becomes caught in a complicated love triangle with Tyler, a closeted jock, and Alec, a my...
Jazz's eyes were wide as she tried to process everything I'd just spilled out. Her mouth opened, closed, and then finally, she spoke, her voice incredulous but tinged with humor. "So let me get this straight-you're gay, and you just made out with the sexy mystery boy while you're crushing on the sexy jock boy?"
I nodded, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.
She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "This makes so much sense now. I mean, it explains why you're not super interested in Casey. Even I was starting to get curious about that." "Yeah, Jazz. I'm gay," I admitted, the words feeling both heavy and freeing.
She tilted her head, studying me. "Are you going to tell Ethan and Stephen? I'm sure they wouldn't mind."
I shook my head quickly, the thought making my stomach twist. "No... I can't. Not yet."
Jazz's expression softened, and she stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Please, Jazz, you have to keep this a secret."
She studied me for a moment longer, then a warm, understanding smile spread across her lips. "Pinky promise," she said, holding out her hand.
Relief washed over me as I smiled back, stretching out my pinky to meet hers. We locked fingers, sealing the promise, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn't feel so alone.
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***
I could hardly focus on anything for the rest of the day; my mind kept traveling back to the art room, to Jazz now knowing my secret, to Alec. What was I thinking? What if he tells someone? I shook off the thought. Alec didn't seem like the type to spill secrets, but my doubts lingered.
I couldn't think of anything else, it felt like a million eyes were watching me, and that was once again affecting my day. I felt like the more problems I tried to avoid, the more I made for myself. First with Casey, and now Alec. I wish that I could just be honest about everything, but that would lead to even more problems-problems I wasn't ready to deal with.
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"Carter, get your head in the game," Coach's bellowing broke through to me, and I was back on the court, frozen in the middle of practice. I tried to shake it off and get my focus back into the game. The ball was passed from player to player until eventually, it is in my palms, its rough, grainy surface brushing against my fingertips. I dribbled it down to the opponent's side, getting ready to shoot, and I did, only to have it miss the net completely, my teammates groaned.
