A Hint of Color (boyxboy)

Chapter 5

I don't really see Jake until lunch. I texted him and he said he was sitting with some people from his chemistry class.

I'm at a table with Taylor, Nadine, and Evynne just like last year. We've been lucky to all have the same lunch period two years in a row.

"So, which one is he?" asks Nadine.

I look around the cafeteria. "I don't know where he is."

She tilts her head. "You'd think he'd at least tell you that much."

"He's sitting with classmates," I tell her. "I don't know who, though."

"He's in my Algebra class," says Evynne with a grin. "Pretty hot."

I finally spot him at one of the more crowded tables. "There he is..." They follow my gaze. "Shit..."

"Oh," says Nadine, frowning.

"He's sitting with those idiots," observes Taylor.

I sigh. "Maybe I should've warned him."

"Well, it looks like he fits right in."

I shoot a glare at Taylor. "Are you calling him an idiot?"

He shakes his head. "No, just saying... he looks happy to be part of their crowd."

Looking back over to their table, I see Jake smiling and laughing. He really is attractive. No wonder there are both girls and guys who want to be his friends already. Some of them are definitely on the soccer team. I guess that's good for him because he wants to join the team, but it makes me uneasy.

They're not necessarily idiots, they're just snobs who put other people down. They're either straight-A students or great athletes, or both. All good-looking. Typical popular kids. Teachers adore them and everyone else wants to be them.

Except people like me and my friends, who see how shallow some of them are.

"Damn... They sucked him in."

"Well, go over there and get him back," says Evynne, as if that's the obvious solution.

I chew my lip. Honestly, I'd rather not have to deal with them. They already give me enough trouble just for being gay.

"It's okay," I say, looking away from Jake and back towards them. "I'll talk to him later when we hang out. Maybe he'll want to sit with us tomorrow."

I try to sound optimistic, but I can't help but feel nervous. Why would anyone want to sit with us after being taken in by the popular crowd?

I force a smile and eat my lunch.

Jake's not like that.

-----

When he comes over after school, I lead him upstairs to talk but he immediately presses me down onto the bed.

"Jake..."

He pauses and locks eyes with me.

"I wanted to talk to you," I say, smiling softly. "How did you, uh, like your first day of school?"

Jake laughs a little. "It was alright."

"How were your classes?"

"They were okay."

I hesitate, then say, "I see you made some new friends."

"I guess."

"Those guys... they're kind of jerks... so..." I don't know how to bring it up.