The Pros and Cons of Being Outed | Peterick

Chapter Five

Almost immediately, the group chat practically exploded. Everyone was typing pretty much the same things: OMG, You're gay??, and EXPLAIN being the most common ones.

And yet, none of them were hateful. None of his friends were disowning him for who he is. Patrick laughed to himself. How could he have ever thought they would?

They've been friends since grade school, man. Of course they wouldn't care. They were more concerned about him and how he was feeling. But they also wanted to know what the deal was with "Satan".

Patrick didn't feel like explaining the whole thing over text-- that, and the fact that he felt the sudden urge to give his friends big hugs, and you can't do that through a phone. So, instead he decided to be cheeky.

PS: Interrogate me tomorrow at breakfast :]

Joebro: We're not interrogating, that sounds very aggressive.

Andy: Yeah. Change that to question.

PS: You guys are aggressive, though?

Pete💚: Yeah idk about you guys, but I was being aggressive.

Pete💚: And Gee was too, until he decided that he had other 'things' to do.

PS: Let's agree to disagree guys. I'll spill the metaphorical beans tomorrow.

Geerat: Dork.

After that, his friends started talking about other shit. The attention was off of him now, so he took the moment to think to himself.

Maybe things were starting to look up for him. His friends, arguably the most important thing to him, still care for him and love him. His parents are still unaware of his sexuality, so Patrick could just keep delaying it. And well, all that's really left is to find out who that asshole "Satan" guy is. Patrick would love to give him a piece of his mind.

---

Like he said he would, Patrick gave them some answers to their questions. Breakfast at School has never been this stressful though, he had to admit.

"How long were you two talking?" Joe asked, sipping some of his milk.

"A few months," Patrick recalled, thinking about when they first started messaging. Back then, it was so simple. It was just the two of them chatting to each other excitedly, happy they found someone else like them.

And Patrick was pretty sure that between the flirting and the butterflies, he may have fallen for that guy. He had dreamt about what their meeting would be like, and how great he'd turn out to be, but now he dreamt about punching him hard in the face. Bonus points if he draws blood.

How did it end up like this?

"I want to know why he's such a scumbag," Gerard blurted out, then flushed. "I mean, I don't understand why he even did that."

Patrick couldn't believe it either. He knew his motivation, but it was completely strange that he felt like it was enough to wreck someone's life. "Oh," Patrick started nervously, "he wanted to date me, but I didn't want to come out. I liked him and all, but I just wasn't ready, so I guess he decided to take it into his own hands."

"That's bullshit," Pete declared, slamming his hand on the table. "I hope you don't like that douchebag anymore." Gerard, Joe, and Andy nodded, completely agreeing with him.

"Obviously I don't!" Patrick exclaimed, in disbelief that they even have to ask. "How could I, when he just walked all over me like that? Besides, I'm not sure exactly how much I liked him. I'm pretty sure I get a crush on any guy I think is gay, anyway."

Gerard cackled, his body shaking due to all the laughter. "Oh my god, how many guys at this school do you think are gay?"

Patrick stared at him straight in the eyes, giving him a knowing look. "A lot," he stated, watching as Gerard flushed.

After a few more questions, Patrick felt the need to confirm that they were fine. "You guys really aren't like mad, or offended that I'm gay?" he asked.

"We'd love you even if you somehow turned into a fish," Andy stated, ever so profoundly. "Sure, we'd acknowledge that you're weird, but you're still you."

Patrick smiled brightly. He was still him.

"I'm more offended that you said I wasn't your type!" Pete joked, laughing.

It took Patrick a second to understand what he was talking about, but then he remembered that "Satan" had one time brought Pete up and asked if Pete was his type.

Patrick had said no, which wasn't exactly the truth. Pete actually was his type of guy, but he felt like it would probably hint to his identity if he said yes.

Yeah, Patrick may consider Pete a guy he had at one time been crushing on, but it didn't matter anyway. Pete was straight, and Patrick had told himself that he wasn't going to fall for straight guys anymore.

But that wasn't what he was going to think about right now.

As Patrick laughed along with his friends during breakfast, he felt like all was well. Things weren't going to be different after all.