Only The Brave

Jealousy

Like any other high school, theirs ran on rumors and drama; who's doing what drugs, and who's getting the girls. Some chose to just completely shut it out, but like the general population, paying for those sleazy magazines filled with nothing but lies, most students tended to help spread those petty rumors. Much like the game telephone, little nothings became catastrophes, and they should have seen it all coming.

In following couple of weeks, Darren had actually been studying. It wasn't that he'd taken any particular interest in the curriculum, but he had let it cross his mind that he was finally beginning to put the past behind him. Still, he wasn't being fucked with around school. Thinking that once more, he was actually worried that he should be alert. Calm waters weren't always a good thing. Having a new friend, though, had to be the best part of it all.

Emily and Dare only shared one class, in which they made sure to be partners when a project came up. No longer would either of them have to wait to be picked last, or forced to pair up with one of the other losers no one wanted. He didn't have to go and talk to the counselor, and even his father was doing better. Emily was someone he felt completely comfortable around. She'd been to his place twice, and his father had finally been given the chance to formally introduce himself. They still had a while to come up with it all, but Sunday, he'd invited her over so they could kind of sort out their project. Thought he tried not to be obvious about it, he didn't want them to be alone with closed doors. To avoid his father's constant eye, Darren settled for working with Emily in the living room. Little did his dad know that he wouldn't ever even think of doing anything with her. Wasn't that she wasn't attractive...

He stood from the floor, stretching out and cracking a few bones noisily, as his father stepped outside for a cigarette by his lonesome. He glanced out the window, and could see his father peer in from time to time, “Do you want more tea?” He asked his partner, taking both of their cups, as he walked toward the kitchen. He heard a 'yes', and proceeded to make her's as she'd taken it the time before, “Alright, this is the last of it.” He made his way back in, setting her glass in front of her.

“Dare... Your dad's pretty... Strange, huh?”

“Yeah, I'm sure he just doesn't want grandbabies yet.” Darren laughed, “He shouldn't be too worried.”

She cocked a brow, “Why's that?”

He paused for a moment, scratching his head, “Well, I mean... I'm only sixteen. I don't think I should be having sex right now anyway. Besides, I don't... Have a girlfriend. So, that makes it a little impossible, right?” Before he could grab for his tea like he'd intended, he felt a cool hand on his cheek. He was staring directly into hypnotizing baby blue's, and he could feel her breath on his face, “D- uh..”

Quickly, he threw his hand up over his own mouth, moving back, and trying to laugh it off, “...what is it?” She asked.

“...I-I'm not a cheater.. Emily, I'm sorry..” The look on her face depicted betrayal, and he pursed his lips as his hand finally fell from his face.

“You said you didn't have a girlfriend. What the fuck is your–”

He shook his head, leaning up on his knees from the ground to see her at eye level, “I don't, Emily. You're my best friend... You're my only friend, and I don't know all the right things to...say right now. I don't have a girlfriend. I never have, I... I'm not...attracted to women.” His voice was small at the end. He wasn't ashamed, but it seemed more like his brain was shutting down, preparing for her retreat, so that it wouldn't be so painful when he had to find a new partner and go back to being friendless. But that didn't come, and Darren dared to hazard a look at her face, which seemed more filled with curiosity than hurt now.