Bursts Of Words

Sweeter Waters

"It's just wrong" They would say. But what was wrong is that even though they said this, it felt right. I see him when I close my eyes and some say at least I have that. They don't know the picture that I see. They don't remember that place. They don't have a place they never go to anymore. They don't have a life they lead a lie with. They don't have a beautiful lake with a horrible memory. The lake that gave me my biggest fear of drowning. The lake that I shared with Everett.

I was a seventeen when I ran for my life; when everyone found out that I was gay. I lived in Clearwater my whole life. I was this stupid jock who was teased because I couldn't pick up a girl. Pretty much the only thing saving me in this small town was my arm. I suck at just about everything else and the only way I'm going anywhere is with my arm. Or with my tutor, Everett.

I belonged to a Christian, white privileged family, that all attend the same university and all become accountants. My father has his own office that I am suppose to take on some day as his successor and my son after that. You can probably see ew here the problem is by now, so I won't keep up.

"Jake, are you coming or what? That ball is not going to get to the rest of us with out the quarterback."

"All right all right Monty, I'll be out in a sec."

"Put your damn Econ homework down and do it later. We got practice for the big game tomorrow!"

"Yeah and I won't be in the game tomorrow or any after if I don't pass this class."

"You have your nerd, just pay him with some of daddy's money. Easy A and done in minutes."

"He's not my nerd, he's my.."

"Your? Nerd?"

Boyfriend, almost said.

"Tutor, asshat. They don't do the homework for you, they teach you how to do it yourself."

"Whatever dude. We got a game to play, you in or not?"

"Of course."

As I walked out and grabbed my helmet, I thought of all the homework and studying I have to do and I was filled with excitement. It use to be the thrill of the game that got me to move forward. The cool air of the fiel as it hit my face and the cheers that sang to my core, revving my spirit like a car. None of that mattered the way it us to. Now it's study sessions where I get to be the me that no one sees, no one but Everett.

_______________________________________________________________________

"That's not the answer." Everett was sitting cross legged with his back to my bed. He had on a collared shirt and a deep green sweater which made his eyes a deep shade of blue.

"What? No that has to be." I had one leg extended and the other bent to hold my folder and math homework. My back leaned on my bed as I kept moving my varsity jacket out of the way inorder to show him my homework

"No, it doesn't have to be. Infact, it isn't."

"I spent like 20 minutes answering the damn question."

"You spent 5 minutes and that's great, But it's not the right answer."

"I hate when you're right."

"I love when you get frustrated. Anyways, I'm literally paid to right."

I smirked. He always tried to be the witty and usually the only reason he was is becuase he was either right or used words I never heard before.

"What do you say we take a break?" I ask, sliding the textbook off of my lap.