Lemon Boy

Chapter 1

"Are you sure this will work?" Cyrus asked, glancing over at TJ.

"Positive. Now, tell me the plan again."

"Go into the locker room, open Jonah's locker, take out the bracelet, and get out."

"Perfect. And what's the code word?"

"Muffin. And my code name is Eagle One."

"I thought I was Eagle One."

"Now who's not remembering the plan? You're Eagle Two."

TJ shook his head, a small smile crossing his face.

"Fine, I'm Eagle Two. Now get going, Eagle One."

Cyrus felt his chest swell up with the words. There was something about TJ that made him feel like Cyrus 2.0. He dashed across the hallway and slipped into the boys' locker-room. Furtively, Cyrus peered around, but there was no one there. He slid over to Jonah's locker, and frowned. It was locked. This was not in the plan. He pulled out his phone and sent TJ a text.

There's a lock.

The "..." text bubble sent a shiver down his spine. He had only just gotten TJ's number yesterday, and having access to the older boy 24/7 if necessary was admittedly thrilling.

Try 1234

If you say so...

Cyrus doubted that Jonah would be that obvious, but he tried it anyway. To his amazement, the lock clicked open. Huh. He hadn't been expecting that.

I'm in, he texted, scanning the locker.

A crumpled shirt hung from the hook. A pair of shorts, socks, and even an odd textbook added to the clutter. Cyrus fumbled through the pockets of the shorts, praying that the bracelet would be there. Ah! His fingers curled around the beaded strand and he pulled it out into the light.

Shutting the locker door behind him, he stuffed the bracelet into this pocket. Cyrus took out his phone to text TJ.

Eagle 2, mission accomplished, I'll

"Hey, Cyrus, what are you doing here?"

His fingers spilled over the keyboard.

Asdjevjekfrne

"Uh, hey Jonah, what's up my brother?" He said weakly.

"Nothing much, just getting back from gym. What are you doing here?"

"Um, I'm just...waiting for a friend."

"Oh cool. Which friend?"

Cyrus blurted out the first name that came to his head.

"TJ."

"TJ? You guys do seem...close."

Cyrus felt a trickle of sweat slip down his neck. That was not a good sign.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know, I mean Andi mentioned-"

Andi what?

"You know?"

"Know what?"

"I-I have to go."

Cyrus stumbled out of the locker room, and practically fell into TJ.

"Whoa, slow down there Eagle One."

Cyrus felt his heart rate speed up as he struggled to breathe properly. TJ squinted down at him, his brows furrowed.

"What's wrong? You don't look so good."

Cyrus's gaze shifted. He was finding it hard to concentrate on the older boy's face. TJ gripped his shoulders and leaned down.

"I-I-"

"Hang in there, I'm going to go-"

"No! D-don't leave."

TJ look startled, but he just nodded. He took Cyrus by the arm and led him outside, before sitting him down on a bench.

"Breathe," TJ reminded Cyrus as he stared at the ground.

He felt his vision blurring with tears. This was worse than the kiss, worse than anything he could've expected. If Andi had told Jonah- had told Jonah that he was gay, then Jonah must realize- must realize how much Cyrus liked him. And that couldn't happen.

TH kept running his hand down Cyrus's shoulder, and the boy felt himself begin to calm down, if only slightly.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?"

"I ran into Jonah."

"Did he see you take the bracelet?"

"No, but-" Cyrus sucked in a deep breath and looked up at TJ.

He felt like his hand was being forced here, but he already owed TJ so much for helping him. The least Cyrus could do was be honest with him.

"I think Andi- might've told Jonah that- I'm gay."

Cyrus turned from TJ, certain he'd reject him. Sure, he had been nice before, but he didn't know the truth then. TJ was cool, confident, popular. What could he possibly see in a dorky gay Jewish boy?

"Shit. That's fucked up, Cyrus."

He turned to TJ in surprise. It was only then he realized he had never heard the boy swear before. It definitely didn't seem out of character.

"I hope you don't think me being gay is, well, fucked up," Cyrus said, whispering the last part.

TJ almost looked angry.

"Of course not. Why would I think that?"

"I don't know, because you're this popular jock who-"

TJ laughed sardonically.

"So just because I'm a basketball player means I hate gay people?"

"No, I-"

TJ held up a hand.

"I get it Cyrus. I know not everyone is, well, accepting of that. But-"

And now TJ looked nervous, rubbing his neck with his hand.

"I understand, because I have two moms."

Cyrus looked up in surprise.

"I know, I guess I don't really talk about it much. But it's how I was raised. I hope you know Cyrus, that I- I would never judge you for anything."

TJ's voice softened as he looked down at Cyrus. Cyrus opened his mouth to say something, but then the honk of a horn sounded.

"That's probably my mom. Well, one of them, anyway."

TJ stood, and fiddled with the strings of his hoodie.

"I can hold onto the bracelet if you want. I don't imagine you'd want to be reminded of- you know."

"Yeah. Thanks."

"I-I hope you feel better. I'll text you later, okay?"

And with that TJ jogged off to his mom's van. Cyrus watched him go, feeling something flutter in his chest. Oh no. This couldn't be good. First Jonah, now this? He really couldn't afford to have feelings for TJ, even if he was nice and helpful and smelled like Cyrus's favorite type of citrus fruit. Besides, just because the guy had two moms didn't mean he had to be into boys or anything.

But Cyrus's mood quickly soured again once he remembered his interaction with Jonah. Cyrus considered himself a nice guy, but if Andi had outed him without his knowledge or permission, there would be hell to pay.