Whispers

We Could Study Or... Not.

"Jonas this is your tutor, Ezekiel. Ezekiel please take care of him, he really needs the help." My mother shook the boy's hand with a broad grin and a pleased expression. She turned to me expectantly and pushed me forward from hiding behind the door after I had opened it.

"H-hi..." I murmured and nodded at him a bit acknowledging his presence. "We can study in the dinin-"

"Jonas, you can study in your room. I'll prepare some snacks for you boys. Work hard!" My mom cheered us on and gestured towards the backroom.

"Your room isn't upstairs?" Ezekiel asked me curiously as we walked on the hardwood floors. "Most people pick the upstairs rooms."

"Well I didn't. Is that so wrong?" I stated defensively. Ezekiel seemed surprised by my response and turned his eyes away nervously. I felt a sense a remorse from my harsh tone but I couldn't let him break my shell. We are studying together, not becoming friends. The sooner my grades went up the sooner he would be out of my life, hopefully. "This room was bigger than the ones upstairs..."

My answer made the boy look back at me and grin. "That makes perfect sense! I mean you need the room for all your games!"

I jumped back and covered my bedroom door in panic. How had he known that I play games, and how did he know I have so many? "Whaddya mean...?"

"Oh, it's just you're wearing a vintage gaming shirt. I assumed that meant..." He trailed off and met my eyes anxiously. "That you're-"

"A nerd? A geek? A loser?"

"I was going to say gamer. You don't like me do you? You've been nothing but tense since I arrived. Did I do something to upset you?" Ezekiel seemed really concerned for my feelings but I couldn't fall short now. I gestured him into my room without responding and he looked around in awe at  all my shelves of consoles and games.  "Holy crap! This is awesome, I don't even have half the games you do! How'd you get some of these, they're really rare!"

"Online shopping... So you game then?" I asked him shyly and closed the door behind me as I entered. "What do you play?"

"I love RPGs, in fact a new one came out a few days ago I've been dying to get. But my parents said it'll rot my brain and make me lazy. So I can only game at friend's houses." Ezekiel explained to me with a hint of annoyance in his voice but he sighed and smiled again, sitting himself on the floor. "Shall we get to studying?"

I groaned in irritation and flopped on to my bed. "I have a better idea. I have that new game, you convince my mom to give me back the game controllers and cords and you can team up with me in a party."

"No deal, kiddo. I get paid to tutor you, not game. Hand over your cell too, we are focusing as of now." The boy stated seriously and held out a hand to take my phone. I sighed but handed him the device begrudgingly. He pocketed it and crossed his arms. I got out my notes and so we studied for a few hours, only interrupted once by my mother bringing us food and tea. "Tea... You're a real classy kid.  I can appreciate that Jo."

"Please just call me Jonas. I don't want a pet name from my tutor. We aren't even friends." I grumbled at him and he seemed surprised by my harsh tone yet again. I didn't think I was being that rude, just honest after all. "What you're making a face at me."

"Why do you hate me, Jonas? Did I do something to piss you off?" Ezekiel asked me the same question as before and I wasn't sure how to respond to it properly. So I just shook my head. "C'mon tell me. I don't want us being on bad terms if we have to spend so much time together."

"You insulted me..."

"What, when?"

I explained to him about the day in class when he mocked me for my sexuality and he quickly shook his head.

"No, no! You misunderstood! I wasn't making fun of you, I myself, I mean I'm bisexual. What good would it be to make fun of both of us?" He explained and reached out a hand in apology. I shook it acceptingly and he smiled at me warmly. "So, how about we become friends? It will make this a lot less awkward."

I wore a blank expression as I pulled my hand away and spoke. "I refuse." I was waiting for his jaw to snap off or his eyes to roll out from how much he kept widening them. Thankfully they didn't. "Don't misunderstand, I don't dislike you, I just hate popular people as a whole. If you were like me I wouldn't mind. But if people see me with you, they'll get into my business. I'm not down for that. Sorry."

"I understand completely. I'm not too fond of it myself. I have girls fawning over me and they never leave me alone. Some of them even ask for pictures with me to brag to their friends." Ezekiel sighed to me but didn't seem upset. "How about... We become secret friends? We can hang out and no one will have to know but us, not even your boyfriend, if you want."

"H-how'd you know about Theo?" I gasped out in surprise, flustered by the mention of him. We also tried to keep our relationship on the down low due to Theo being popular with the girls at his school. And trust me, nothing is worse than jealous teenage girls.

"I've seen you two around town being cute. I assumed that meant something. Not to mention your phone has been going off constantly so I assumed it was a boyfriend blowing up your inbox. So his names Theo? What's he like?" Pestering me for answers, Ezekiel's eyes were practically sparkling.

"H-hey," I waved my hands defensively. "I didn't agree to this secret friend business yet! I don't mind... But I'll probably tell Theo, I don't like hiding things from him."

"So, what's he like?"  Ezekiel tried again but I quickly changed the subject yet again.

I starting closing books and putting them back into my school bag. "It's eight o'clock. Time for you to go. Good night, Ezekiel."

"Stop avoiding my questions! But fine, I'll go. And you can call me Zeke, all my friends call me that." Ezekiel insisted and out his stuff back in his own bag. He stood up and I saw him to the door. After he left I sighed and went to pull my phone out of my pocket but I didn't find it.

"Crap! Ezekiel has it!" I ran out the door but the boy was long gone. I rushed to my computer and opened Skype. I told Theo what happened and he laughed at me, saying I must've been too disgusted by the popular boy. I responded to him telling him to shut up and decided to turn in around ten o'clock. The next morning would be more stressful than I even knew it could be.