The Art Of You And I

Chapter nine: A board game of secrets.

"You alright?" I asked.

Jack shrugged. "Fine."

I was sitting next to jack in the art room, working on my painting for the competition which I haven't even finished one bit. Damn me, why can't I have the motivation and focus to work on this painting? Oh right. There's a hot guy sitting next to me who I have the biggest crush on, despite him having a girlfriend.

"It's ok." I said. "You can tell me anything."

He sighed and looked at me with a tired smile. "It's Meghan."

I acted surprised. "R-r-really? What about her?" Stop stuttering!

He put his pencil down and rubbed his face with one hand. "I'm not sure this is going to work out. She's too invested into everything that involves me. Not to be rude, she's absolutely clingy. She's a sweet girl, but I'm just not the one for her."

I gulped. Sweet girl? Was he high during their entire relationship?

"Do what feels right." I said with a smile.

We painted more and talked for a while with me successfully not stuttering a lot. When I looked over at Jack's painting, my jaw dropped. I mean, it was halfway through finishing but it looked good so far. More than great.

It was a drawing of two faces similar to the one in the first Harry Potter film, with Voldemort's face stuck at the back of that hogwarts professor's head. The one at the right shows a normal face of an unknown person, with a little smile on his face. He looked completely relaxed, and totally happy. The one at the left showed the complete opposite. This face was full of misery, with tears streaming down his face and black bags under his eyes.

I shook my head. "Jack, this is incredible."

He laughed. "Thanks Sky. I don't know, actually. The idea just came to mind."

I shrugged. "It's great, nonetheless."

Before I knew it, it was already 5 and it was time to head back home. Everyone left with only the both of us staying behind, cleaning our part. With my messenger back slung over my shoulder and keys in hand, I was about to say goodbye to Jack when he interrupted me.

"Sky. Wait. I have to tell you something." He said after he finished cleaning. He walked over to me until he was standing right in front of me.

"Yeah?" I said, clearly confused.

He inhaled a deep breath before he began. "We've been friends since the beginning of the school year. I know it's only been a month and a half since we met but, I feel like we are much more closer than that."

I gulped and blushed. Oh god. Is this what I think this is?

He continued. "We've spent a lot of time together. Every time we talked, I always felt like I could tell you anything. But I always stopped because I didn't want you to know anything."

I stared at him. "What is it?"

He gulped and looked at me. "I don't want to ruin whatever we have right now, but I just want to tell you..." he hesitated.

"It's okay." I said softly. "Tell me."

He gulped. "I'm gay."

And that, my friends, is how I was plunged into utter depression.

Okay. That was an exaggeration. Let's just say, a part of me broke, with the other pieces barely holding up without the broken one.

"What?" I blurted out.

He sighed in relief. I could mentally see the invisible weights lifting off his shoulders. "I'm gay. I haven't told anyone, not my friends, my parents or anybody. You're the very first. I was terrified to tell anyone my secret because it made me feel alienated and different. I just wanted to blend in and not stand out but I always felt out of place. All the girls I dated didn't feel right. I mean, I thought I liked them until I found someone else and realized that wasn't attraction. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't feel so free."