Harley didn't know crap about love. Love, to him, was a waste of time and emotion. Sure, he held onto a girl here and there. But that wasn't love. That was the need to keep up a bad reputation. That was cruel. Even Harley knew that. He wanted someone to spend the end of his days with as much as the next guy, but he never found her. Or him. As far as Harley was concerned, he didn't care about gender. Girl or guy. Didn't matter. As long as there were no games. No pain. No secrets. Just raw love. But guys like Harley aren't blessed with things like that. They just didn't get that lucky.
He did have his eye out though. There was someone who caught his attention. They stood out like a sore thumb in the sea of thugs. The button up shirts. Extreme kindness. The wide-framed glasses that made their hazel coloured eyes pop. A soft smile that could light up the whole world.
And that person was none other than Griffin Jacobs.
The mere thought of Griffin made Harley smile like an idiot. Once, during science class, they had bumped into each other and Harley could feel Griffin's warm hand right next to his cold, rough one. Griffin didn't even move away for a while. After, he looked Harley dead in the eyes and apologized, with that endearing smile painted on his face. No one ever smiled at Harley. But Griffin was impossible to get. He was nice and well loved amongst the school. Harley was just another druggie on the sports team. Griffin was part of almost every club, was on the honour roll and still kept up with the buzz of society.All Harley could think of doing was leaning in for a kiss that would last a lifetime. But that would cost both him and Griffin the reputation they worked so hard for. They would be labeled as fags. They could lose their scholarships. That would be the end of everything. He couldn't do that to Griffin. He couldn't do that to himself. Still, he found himself walking into the public library, out of hope that Griffin was there. He seemed like the type to hang around here.
Sure enough, he was right at the check-out counter, helping a little kid with a library card. God, that smile was breathtaking. Harley began to saunter over, but stood back up straight. What if Griffin didn't like his posture?
"Hey," Harley said, once the kid was gone. Griffin looked up from the laptop screen.
"Oh, hi! You're in my science class," he whisper-yelled, being welcoming as usual.
"Actually, bio and trig too," Harley mumbled. So he hadn't noticed him. Great. That totally helped his already dying self-esteem.
"Really? That's cool."
"Wanna... um, go out later?" as soon as the words left Harley's mouth, he regretted it. "I need help with math and stuff," he threw in quickly.
"Sure, why not?" Ugh, why was he so damn hard to talk to?
"Cool... so when-"
"I get off at four," Griffin answered.
"Sweet," Harley said, grinning. He spent the next half-hour hanging around the check-out counter, well, checking Griffin out. Damn, he was hotter than the hellfire that Harley-
"Okay, grab your stuff and lets go," Griffin announced as he reached for his bag. Harley blushed. He forgot about the homework help part.
"Actually... I didn't bring anything..." Griffin laughed. Or giggled. Either way, Harley loved it.
"What, looking for a free ride home?" Taking the chance, Harley nodded. Griffin gestured for Harley to follow. They got into Griffin's car.
"Address?"
"68 Parkville."
"Hey, I live on 90!"
All the way back, Griffin kept on mindlessly babbling about nothing in particular. He'd occasionally belt out the lyrics to whatever song played on the radio. It should've been annoying, but Harley chimed in here and there, singing along to whatever song he knew. Sadly, the ride came to a quick end.
"Hey, why don't you come in for a bit? I owe you one," Harley offered.
"A soda for a ride? You're kidding, right?"
"Um, well..."
"I'm just screwing with you. Yeah, okay, pay me back with a sugary drink that causes tooth decay and cancer."
They sat in Harley's room, and Harley watched admiringly as Griffin animatedly looked around at all the band posters on the wall.
"Oh my god, I like Fall Out Boy too! Patrick Stump is a god," Griffin fawned.
"Really? You seem like the Beyonce type."
"I am."
Harley felt an incredible need to grab Griffin's beautiful face and kiss it, and that is what he did. He leaned over and stole a kiss. Harley's lips touched Griffin's. It was surprising that he didn't pull back.
"Harley", Griffin mumbled.
"Yes?" Harley smiled. Griffin opened his mouth to speak but closed it and shut his eyes. Harley brought his lips down and kissed him. Griffin laid back and Harley lay on top of him, and they kissed. Harley fell even more in love. Griffin didn't feel like the rest of them. He was different. Harley was fully aware of who he was. It wasn't a blur of lust and alcohol. It was... real.
"What are you doing?" Griffin asked as Harley pulled back for air. "Is this some sort of prank?! I really thought you were better than-"
"God, no. No, no, no. I would never!" Harley exclaimed, stradling Griffin. Tears bubbled out of Griffin's innocent eyes. Harley reached down and wiped them away.
"This is exactly what I didn't want happening... I'm sorry. I have to leave," Griffin pushed Harley off and got up to leave. Harley caught Griffin's hand just as he turned the door knob.
"Hey, this isn't some sick joke. I promise you. Let me prove it."
"You can't," with that, Griffin walked away, shattering Harley heart in the process. He swiped his arms across his desk in anger, sending his books and laptop crashing to the ground. Hot tears made their way down his cheeks. He yelled out in rage. He screamed and cried. His breathing was distorted and his room was a mess after what he had done. Still, he didn't feel content. He curled up on his bed and cried himself to sleep. He opened himself up. That's what happens when you open up to somebody. Harley vowed to himself that he would never speak of it again. He would never talk to Griffin again. He wouldn't try to win his heart.
The next day, his promise went out the window. He saw Griffin walking into the cafeteria with Evalynn and Bryn and he couldn't stand it. The whole school would see it. He could prove himself to Griffin.
Harley strolled over to Griffin and the girls.
"What do you want?" Eva snarled. There really was no hope of her ever being kind. It was ironic that Griffin and her were best friends. She was sassy and rude while he was the exact opposite.
"I just needed to talk to Griffin."
"We have nothing to talk about," he said darkly and for the first time, Harley thought he saw hate in Griffin's face.
"Actually, we don't even have to talk."
"What do you mean we do-"
Griffin was cut off by Harley's lips crashing against his. The whole cafeteria went dead silent. No one moved. Everyone stared. When Harley let go, scattered whispers started from the crowd.
"Is that proof enough?" Harley asked. Griffin blushed madly. He looked down at his shoes, looking confused and horrified.
"Don't you dare come near me again." With that, Griffin ran out of the cafeteria.
