Your Natural Hatred

Chapter 9

I sat in math class, Frank two rows ahead of me. He sat with Jamia and I could hear them talking during work time.

"So, you wanna come over to my place after school?" Jamia asked. "I can wear your jersey and do that thing with my tongue that you like."

Frank glanced back at me before shaking his head.

"You know, I think it's best if we keep things cool between us for a little bit," he said.

"What? Why?" She asked.

"You're my best friend, right?" Frank asked. "If I had a secret you wouldn't tell anyone, right?"

"Right," she said.

Frank pulled her close and whispered in her ear. Jamia looked surprised before smiling softly.

"Really? You are?" She asked and he nodded, not looking up at her. "Frankie, I'm proud of you for discovering yourself."

"You don't think I'm disgusting?" Frank asked.

"No, what kind of person do you think I am?" She asked.

I smiled, doing my work. I sat with Frank at his table at lunch, something I've been doing more often. Mikey wasn't the happiest that Frank and I were friends now. Me and Frank shared out lunch. He gave me half his peanut butter and jelly sandwich and I gave him my orange slice cup in return. Jamia watched the interaction before smiling.

After lunch I went to my locker where Jamia met up with me. She smiled, leaning against the locker as she chewed her gum.

"So, you and Frank have been spending a lot of time together recently," she remarked. "And Frank told me a nice little secret today."

"Sounds cool," I said. "Maybe you should keep it to yourself."

"Of course I am," she said. "But I have a feeling that you already know the secret."

"Probably not," I said. "We aren't that close."

"You know, it's tradition for the girlfriend--or partner--of varsity players to wear their letterman jackets the day before a game," she said. "Frank has always wanted someone to wear his jacket."

"Sounds cool," I said.

"Maybe you can wear his jacket," She said.

"Would be cool but we're not a couple," I said. "Besides, Frank is straight."

She smiled, narrowing her eyes.

"Okay, I'll let you win this one," she said. "But I'm going to be keeping my eye on you, Way."

She left and I let out a small sigh. Me and Frank went over to his house after school, going up to his room.

"Jamia is suspicious of us," I said. "I'm glad that you told her, though. Does it feel nice now that you've come out to someone?"

"It does, actually," he said.

I picked up his letterman jacket and put it on. Frank smiled and came over, pressing me up against the wall.

"You look good in this," he muttered.

I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck. We moved to the bed, kissing softly.

Frank smiled down at me, brushing the hair out of my eyes. He turned on the tv, the two of us cuddled together as we watched.

"You know what would be fun?" I asked and he looked at me curiously. "If we stole some booze from your parents. I bet they have the really expensive, good shit."