Pretty Boy

13

"Are you gonna be okay today?" Phil asked as we drove to school.
"I'll be fine," I sighed.
"Alright but, if you need to leave at any time just text me or my mum and we'll take you home. Okay?"
"Okay..."
"Hey, do you want Starbucks today or no?"
"I don't care,"
"We'll just go to school then,"
"Fine..."
"You should've stayed home,"
"Too late now,"
"Go in," Phil said, dropping me off in the front, "I'll be in, in a minute,"
"Okay," I mumbled.

I grabbed my backpack and books and hesitantly walked into the school. Once I was in the year 12 hallway, I headed for my locker, but I was unfortunately stopped by Chris.

"Hey Howell,"
"Get out of my way," I mumbled.
"What's this?" He pinned me to a locker and started observing my neck. "Looks like someone had some fun over the weekend, huh?"
"Let go of me..."
"Did Phil give these to you?"
"Let me go, Kendall!"
"Say, Howell, what's it like being a huge faggot?"
"Stop!" I cried as I tried pushing his away; I was unsuccessful.
"Answer me gaylord,"
"Chris, stop!"
"What's it like being lord if the gays?"

All of a sudden, I felt Chris let go of my shirt; I opened my eyes to find Phil hitting hitting him repeatedly.

"He asked you to stop!" he yelled, still hitting him. "Don't you ever lay another hand on him. You hear me?"
"Yes," he cowered.
"Good...let's go Dan," he said as he took my hand.
"Wow, Phil...I-I didn't know you had that in you..."
"Yeah, well...apparently I do,"
"Thank you..."
"It's no trouble...hey, do you wanna ditch first block and hang out in the roof?"
"Yeah...I kinda do..."

***

By the end of the school day, Chris had done a pretty good job at avoiding me. At three o'clock, when school was let out, I was sitting outside, on the curb, waiting for Phil to be done with watering the plants so he could drive me home. Around 3:10, someone sat down next to me; it was Chris.

"Hey, I wanted to apologize," he said.
"Save it,"
"Look Howell, I'm serious...I'm sorry,"
"Why are you suddenly apologizing? You don't apologize to anyone,"
"Yeah well, I thought I owed you one after I heard that your mum died...I'm really sorry man,"
"Why are you sorry? It's not your fault,"
"You're right, it's not but I still want to apologize," he sighed. "My dad died when I was four so, I kinda get what you're going through,"
"Really?"
"Mhmm...lost him the same way you lost your mum,"
"I'm so sorry..."
"Don't be, it was over a decade ago,"
"Is that um...is that why you act the way you do? Cause y'know...you never really had a dad?"
"Yeah, I guess...my step-dad is a total dick so, to be honest, I kinda blame him," he laughed.
"Gotcha," I chuckled.
"Don't tell anyone about this, okay?"
"Why not?"
"Cause...everyone thinks Brian's my actual dad..."
"Oh...I won't tell anyone...I promise,"
"Good," he smiled. "Does this make us friends now or..."
"I don't know," I shrugged. "My boyfriend kinda hates you," I laughed.
"Yeah, I know," he smiled.

We continued to sit on the curb and stare off into nothingness for a few more minutes.

"Where is Phil?" I mumbled.
"I can give you a ride home," Chris offered.
"No, he's just watering the plants on the roof. He should be down soon,"
"Alright," he shrugged. "So, what the fuck did you this weekend?" He asked as he poked at my neck.
"Stop," I laughed.
"If I were him, I wouldn't make you wait out here for so long,"
"I've only been out here for ten-" I was cut off by Chris planting a semi passionate kiss on my lips; my eyes widened as I immediately pushed him off. "Whoa!" I backed away.
"I might have some stuff I need to figure out,"
"I would think so," I sighed.
"Oh my god...I am so sorry..."
"It's um...it's fine...it's was, um...it was good," I nodded. We awkwardly made eye contact as he hesitantly kissed me again.

Dan...stop it! What would Phil think!

Shut up! Let me be!

Dan...stop...

"Wow..." I mumbled as Chris pulled away.
"Hey Dan," Phil called. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah," I smiled. "I'll, uh...see you tomorrow Chris,"
"Bye Howell," he smiled widely.
"Come on Phil," I said, walking to the car.
"Why were you talking to Chris?" he asked me as we drove home.
"He wanted to apologize for today,"
"That's not like him," he said.
"Well, he heard about my mum and he felt bad,"
"That's good of him,"
"Yeah," I blushed.

Tell him!

No, he'll kill him!

Dan, you have to be honest with your boyfriend!

It was a stupid, innocent kiss. Let it go!

Dan-

No! If I tell him, he'll get mad and kick me out! I'll have nowhere to go! And...I'll be losing the only person I've ever loved...

It's your call Howell...your call...