More Than Just Roommates (Book 1)

10. Trouble in Paradise

~ Josh

"What's the worst they're going to do?" I asked Kyle. We were walking together from class. While we weren't in the same class, the rooms just happened to be right next to each other, which was close enough, in my book.

Kyle gave me a sideways glance. "Kick me out? Disown me? Beat me?"

"Your parents are such sweethearts, though. Maybe a little strict, but they're super nice." I couldn't understand what he was so afraid of.

He sighed. "Sure, when they're around you guys. You didn't have to grow up hearing how gross gays are. They'll hate me just because I like you."

I smiled slightly. Not at what his parents said, but at hearing that Kyle likes me. I laced my fingers through his and squeezed his hand. "But you're their son. They'll love you no matter what."

"That's easy for you to say. Your moms have to accept you. If they didn't it wouldn't make any sense."

I stopped walking and turned to Kyle. "Regular, straight parents - like yours - also have this wonderful parental gene in them that makes them accept their gay children."

He shook his head slowly, before leaning over to press his lips gently against mine. Pulling back after a second, he whispered, "You're such an optimist."

Before I even had a chance to say something back, I was being shoved away from him. I didn't even know what was going on. Did Kyle push me? Why would he do that? I hit the ground hard, my vision spinning.

"Who knew you were a fag, Whitaker?"

I focused my eyes on a kid who was standing over Kyle, who had also been pushed to the ground. I recognized him as Reed, Kyle's old roommate. They hadn't exactly been great friends when they lived together last year, but I guess whatever civility between them was gone now.

There were two other guys with Reed, one of which was glaring at me, keeping me on the ground. Even if I were to get up to defend Kyle, I knew there was absolutely no way I could take on one of them, let alone three.

"What do you care, Reed?" Kyle asked. "It's not like kissing my boyfriend hurts you, right?"

"Oh, it hurts," one of Reed's friends said. "Our eyes practically melted out when we saw that."

The boys laughed. "Nice one, Carter," the third one said, slapping Carter on the back. Why did straight guys do that to each other? I never understood that.

"You know what?" Reed asked. "I bet it was this little punk that turned our friend here a fag." He pointed at me. Oh no.

"Leave him alone," Kyle demanded, having stood up when they weren't watching him.

Carter scoffed. "Yeah? And what are you going to do about it?"

"What's going on here?" A booming voice said over Carter's. We all turned to look at the man who had walked up behind me. To my surprise, it was my professor of my next class. Nobody answered him. "Mr. Reynolds," he said, looking at me. "Are you alright?"

I nodded slowly and got to my feet.

My professor glared at the three boys and Kyle. "What is going on here?"

"We're just trying to teach these faggots a lesson," Reed said smugly.

"You might want to learn a few lessons yourself, Mr. Garcia. Or did you not skip my lecture this morning?"