Rowan & Justin [boyxboy]

Chapter Two

Okay, so I may have left one person out when I was listing who knows about my sexuality. When I said that only Nathan and my parents know, I meant that they're the only people who know that count.

                I was reminded of this as I felt rather than heard somebody come up beside me as I organised my locker the next day.

                'Hey TinTin,' a syrupy voice said sickly in my ear, and I shuddered.

                'Hey Parker,' I muttered, wishing he'd graduate already.

                Parker Count is a senior, but he's been a senior three times already. He's nearly twenty-one and I don't think he's actually an idiot, I think he just likes being in High School.

                Though, that in itself probably does classify him as an idiot.

                Anyway, since the beginning of school this year he's developed a weird fascination with me, and follows me around between classes trying to talk to me. I make it my business to keep three paces ahead of him at all times and to never respond if there's anybody even vaguely cool around, but this doesn't deter him; if anything, it makes him more determined. And I can't even report him for stalking or harassment because, lucky me, he knows I'm gay and if I did that he could tell everyone.

                'We should go out this weekend,' Parker said now, as I closed my locker and scanned the hallways for an escape route.

                'Don't you have your Senior Prom this weekend?' I muttered between clenched teeth. I wasn't really asking; of course because all of my friends are seniors I know when the Prom is, but also because the school has been covered in posters for it for months now. The Committee decided on Masquerade for a theme and everyone has to dress flamboyantly and cover their faces. I thought this would be a problem for the traditional Prom photo op, but Nathan said that it will be an improvement on most of the kids in our school.

                And he's right.

                'I have that every year,' Parker said nonchalantly, as I mentally dismissed the idea of hiding in the bathroom across the hall. He'd follow me in and wait for me. 'But we could go together if you like.'

                'I'd rather shit twice and die,' I muttered, before launching myself into the middle of a passing throng of Juniors and away, away, away from him.

Rowan

'Dude,' my cousin Ben snapped, and smacked me, hard, across the back of the head. I jolted forwards in surprise, then turned to glare at him.

                'The fuck?!' I demanded, rubbing the back of my head. Our friend Mitchell sniggered quietly into his hand, one eye on the teacher.

                'You were staring out the window like some dreamy-eyed chick. What's up with you?'

                'Nothing,' I muttered, averting my gaze. Truth was, I was acting like some dreamy-eyed chick. I'd been thinking about Rosaline and how I was going to get her to come to Prom with me if she wouldn't even accept my friend request on Facebook, but I'd tried nothing and I was all out of ideas. I've never had to try this hard with a girl before. I'm not saying girls throw themselves at me because they don't, but usually a bit of flirting, just being nice and taking care of them, was all it took to get a girl to go to dinner with me. Rosaline hadn't even wanted to shake my hand!

                'Are you thinking about those Capu-retards again?' Ben demanded, and I paused before nodding. I guess I was. Technically, Rosaline was a Capu-retard. I don't think she counted though, because she was a transfer, and also because the only Capulet students we really referred to with that intelligent nickname were the football players.