My Brother's Best Friend - LGBT, boyXman

2

“Morning, Ava.”

I sank into my seat in my form room and closed my eyes, feeling exhausted.

The fight with David was unexpected, and I was more hurt than I realised at his denial of our… relationship.

“Hi, Triss. Alright?” She smiled at me in amusement.

“Mm.”

I fished around in my rucksack and handed her the two Meat Loaf CD’s.

“You wanted these two, right? Not his most recent album?”

“No, these two are perfect, thanks.” She grinned happily, and slid the CD’s into her bag. “I’ll get them back to you in a couple of days.”

“No rush.”

I slid my iPod into my bag and rubbed my eyes.

“You look angry.”

Ava slid into her seat beside me and rested her chin on her hand.

I shrugged.

“Just had a bit of an argument with… Matt.” I caught myself just in time. “He’s being a jerk.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“Not really… I’ll be fine by lunchtime.”

“Alright.”

We fell silent as our form teacher came into the room, hushed us all and took the register.

“Don’t forget you’ve got a sixth form assembly next Wednesday afternoon about safe sex and sexually transmitted diseases.” Ms Carver said, flicking through her notes from the daily teacher’s meeting.

Several people whined angrily.

Wednesdays were the only afternoon the sixth form had off for private study time.

Ava and I usually went to the cinema and then out to dinner on Wednesdays.

“And-” Ms Carver raised her voice determinedly. “-before any of you decide to play truant, or complain to the headmaster about missing your afternoon off, please remember that it was several of you in this room that were responsible for the outbreak of Chlamydia that swept through Years Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen like wildfire.”

There were several giggles at Ms Carver’s words.

“I guess that’s the upside to being the only gay in the school,” I muttered to Ava. “At least I know I’m clean.”

She laughed, earning herself a sharp glare from Ms Carver.

“You’re not the only gay in the school.” She muttered to me. “You’re the only out gay. Well… half-out gay. There’s a difference.”

I rolled my eyes at her.

“Besides, I reckon Mr Mason’s gay.” She whispered conspiratorially.

“He’s not. He’s married,” I snapped. “Stop trying to bait me with that.”

Ava knew I liked Mr Mason, and was constantly teasing me about him.

However, I wasn’t in the mood to be made fun of this morning.

“Alright, everyone. Get to your lessons.”

Ms Carver closed her register and stalked from the classroom.

“I’ll see you at lunchtime,” I told Ava. “Bye.”

I grabbed my rucksack and left before she was ready to go.