The G(r)ay Area

Part Seventeen

Part Seventeen.

"Are you ready?" Lucas asked, fixing my tie.

I took a deep breath. "I think I need another week."

"You've been out of school for a week and a half, Aiden. It's time for school."

"What if people don't... like us?"

He moved his hands up to cup my cheeks. "I've been openly gay since we started dating. I haven't hidden anything from anyone here. If they were going to be mean towards us, it would have already happened."

I sighed. "I just... can't shake the feeling that things aren't going to go as smoothly as I'd hoped."

He kissed me. "It will be great. I know it."

I hugged him tightly before I grabbed my backpack from the car. "Okay, the faster we do this, the sooner it'll be over."

"See, you're a pro."

"You have too much faith in me."

"That's called love."

I took his hand and followed him through the parking lot. "So how good's the soccer team here?"

"Do you really even want to go there?"

I laughed. "I really want to know. Seeing as I haven't been to any games."

"Yeah, why is that?"

"I haven't been invited to any."

"Fair enough."

"When's the next one?"

"Saturday."

"I think I can cancel my plans and see you kick some balls around."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" He opened one of the doors and held it for me.

"Only if they're mine."

"Who's the cutie?" A girl asked, walking over to us. Her hair was curly and reached her shoulders. She had braces and freckles all over her face. And she was short.

"Val, this is Aiden. Aiden, Val."

Val's eyes widened and she giggled. "So you're the infamous Aiden?"

"I hope that's a good thing." I mumbled.

"Lucas has told me so much about you. Though he didn't do you justice in the looks department."

I glanced at Lucas and he was blushing.

"Have you seen Molly? I want to introduce her." Lucas said, adjusting his backpack.

"Check her locker."

He winked at her. "See you at lunch."

Val waved at the two of us before Lucas started pulling me further into the school.

"Who's Molly?"

"A friend of mine. And Val's."

"A friend."

Lucas looked over at me. "Are you jealous?"

"No, I just... I'm surprised. That's all."

"Why surprised?"

"I thought you'd have more... guy friends."

"So I could make you even more jealous? Aiden, get real."

I sighed. "I just... think you could do a lot better. I'm surprised you haven't."

Lucas took my hand and led me around a corner. "Do you think if I found anyone else, I'd still be with you? I'd still love you and care for you and be everything you needed me to be?"

I stared at him, not sure what I was supposed to say.

He took my face in his hands. "You're the only person I want to be with."

"There you are. Val said you were looking for me."

We both turned and a girl stood a few feet away. She had a septum piercing and bright pink hair covering half of her head. She had on thick black boots and a black dress. She was pretty but a bit scary.

"Molly, this is Aiden."

"Oh, Molly. Hi." I said, trying not to sound on the verge of tears.

Molly smiled at me, revealing pink braces. "I can't believe Lucas didn't talk you into this place four years ago."

"I wish he could have. My old school was brutal."

"Where'd you go?"

"Franklin."

She grimaced. "Those public school's are rough."

"Tell me about it."

Lucas took my hand again. "We're gonna be late."