BLUE [BXB]

TWENTY TWO

Ethan took a deep breath, running a shaky hand through his hair. A few months ago, if someone had told him that he would be willing to do something like this, he would've laughed in their faces. It had never once occurred to the young jock that he could ever feel so strongly towards anyone, let alone another boy.

It was such a foreign concept to him, and maybe that was why he'd been so terrified of admitting it in the first place. When asked to think about his future, Ethan had previously envisioned having a cozy little family home with an ambiguous wife and maybe a couple of kids. But now, his future revolved around a certain blue-eyed boy, and he would be glad to live in a cardboard box if it meant Vincent would be there with him. He would do anything for him.

Even come out to the whole school.

After a while of internal turmoil, he had finally admitted it to himself: Ethan wanted to be with Vincent. And if coming out was the only way he could do that, he'd gladly scream it to the world. Ethan knew he'd previously had a public coming out early in the school year.

But this was different. Telling everyone you were gay was one thing, but showing up with a boyfriend was on another level. Besides, the gossip had largely died down since, and nobody even took it seriously anymore. They all thought it was a prank, or he'd done it for attention.

   As fucked up as it was, everyone found it bizarre that Ethan—the infamous man-whore—wasn't jumping at the chance to hook up with the boys who were literally falling at his feet. All it took was a few weeks for the rumors to die down, and girls were back to winking at him in the hallways and slipping their phone numbers into his pocket.

As horribly anxious as he was, he knew it'd be worth seeing Vincent's heartwarming, dimpled smile. Regardless, part of him wanted to do it for himself. He was, fortunately, privileged enough to be surrounded by great individuals who would support him. Ethan thought it selfish and cowardly to pass up the opportunity, knowing there were people who had died fighting for the rights of someone like him.

He pulled up in front of Vincent's house an hour before class started. The two had agreed to meet up for breakfast, and Ethan couldn't tame the butterflies fluttering about in his stomach. As if the weight of their relationship-reveal at school wasn't enough to have his hair graying, Ethan now had to worry about what could very likely be his first date with the boy who could very likely be his first boyfriend.

The man of the hour emerged from the front door, looking like a literal angel. His sandy brown hair curled at the edges, peeking out from the beanie he'd pulled on. It'd started a light snow, and little flakes fell upon his pale skin. His nose and cheeks were tinted with a red hue, accentuating his already bright eyes and making him look more adorable than Ethan had thought humanly possible.

"Hey," he squeaked, climbing into the passenger seat. He sighed, rejoicing in the warmth offered by the artificial heat.

Ethan grinned fondly, leaning over to peck him on the lips in greeting. "Hey, baby."

Vincent smiled shyly, turning his head as a dark blush ravaged his cheeks. "Shut up," he mumbled halfheartedly. Ethan chortled, a cheeky smirk adorning his features.

The two boys were seated in the rusty, worn-out diner, immersed in a silly conversation about their night together on New Year's Eve when the waitress approached them. Smiling tightly, she set a tall glass of chocolate milkshake in front of Vincent, dripping at the edges and making his mouth water. She turned to leave, but couldn't get far before Vincent snapped out of his trance and stopped her.

"I'm sorry, but we didn't order this," he protested, reluctantly pushing it towards her.

She nodded. "The gentleman over there asked me to send this to you," she replied coldly, gesturing to an older man who winked at Vincent when they made eye contact.

Vincent covered his mouth, muffling a fit of laughs that had his stomach aching. Tears formed in the corner of his eyes as he struggled to catch his breath, heaving and choking on air.

   The man looked to be in his fifties, sporting a bald head and a pot belly. He appeared to be well off, clad in a suit with multiple accessories glinting on his wrists and a cigar dangling from his thin lips. Vincent couldn't believe he was being hit on like he was in some cheesy seventies movies, let alone by a pedophile. It was hilarious.

Ethan, though, didn't find it amusing at all.

"What the fuck?" he exclaimed, chest puffing out and nostrils flaring possessively. "What the fuck is his problem?"

Vincent was still gasping for air. "Baby," he breathed. "Relax. It's fine."

"Fine? Can't he see we're together?" he seethed. "The fucking disrespect. He could pass as your dad for Christ's sake."

Vincent failed to conceal another chuckle. "Who cares? We got a free milkshake!"

Ethan glared. "You're not fucking drinking that!"

Vincent pouted, "But it looks really good!"

"God dammit, I'll buy you another one," Ethan was practically yelling at that point, much to Vincent's amusement.

"It's kinda hot when you're jealous," he flirted playfully, catching Ethan off guard.

Ethan kept glaring at the boy, but his pink tinted cheeks betrayed his angry facade. "Fuck you," he snapped, hiding a grin.

Then, he turned to the old man who was disgustingly eyeing Vincent like a piece of meat. "Hey Grandpa!" Ethan yelled. "Get a load of this."

He held his middle finger up, leaned across the table, and kissed Vincent in public for the first time.

And it felt amazing.