Pride

Chapter 6- Chase

"This is great. This is the best thing ever," Levi says for like the hundredth time since the announcement about the school's new 'work-team' doing tedious tasks. And it's only lunch.

Correction: it's just barely lunch. The bell just rang, and we're at our lockers to dump our stuff and grab our lunches. I've just finished when Ashley sidles up to me, ducking under one of my arms so she can lean into my side. "Hey, babe. What was that thing I heard about the school's new work-team this morning during announcements?"

Levi shoots her a huge grin while I roll my eyes. "It's Coach Baines and Coach Johnson's punishment for me and Werewolf. To force us to learn to tolerate each other or something."

"Good idea," Ashley tells me pointedly. "Then you might learn to stop provoking Jordan and you might actually not get kicked off the basketball team."

"I know, right? Imagine that," Levi says, grinning. "Now, if you'll excuse us, I'm bringing Chase to gay club so we can brief him and Jordan on their first project."

"Wait, what? Seriously?" I look at him incredulously. "Already?"

Ashley's smiling too, now, as she puts her hands on my shoulder to both pull herself up and push me down so she can peck my cheek. "Have fun, babe!"

"I'm sure I won't," I grumble as Levi grabs my arm and pulls me away from our lockers.

"Where are we going? Isn't the GSA in the English classroom? Because this is the literal opposite direction."

"We need to pick up Jordan first."

"Right. My business partner. How fun."

"That's a good attitude to have going into this," he comments, giving me a look. I sigh.

"Well, how do you want me to act? Should I pretend to be happy about it? It's called a punishment for a reason, Levi. Also, are you sure you should be bringing three random guys to your GSA meeting? Aren't there closeted kids there?"

"Don't worry, I sent out a group email over the weekend to tell them you'd all be attending our meeting and if they're not comfortable with that then not to come to this one. And I put a sign on the door this morning. Stop trying to weasel your way out of this."

"Do Werewolf and his right-hand-man know about this meeting? What if they're uncomfortable?"

He stops walking and gives me a serious look. "That had better not be your way of saying you're uncomfortable."

I open my mouth to tell him that no, of course I'm not uncomfortable with going to the GSA meeting, but the words stick in my throat as the memory of kissing the cute guy from the party on Friday resurfaces in my mind. I keep thinking about it, and I don't know what that means. I mean, obviously that made me feel something. He did. But I'm not sure how I feel about that. And I'm not sure how I feel that I don't know how to feel about it. Because I feel like I should maybe feel guilty, for having that kind of reaction to kissing someone else when I'm supposed to be exclusive with Ashley. But it's also a guy, so does it count? Was it just the alcohol? Or am I actually not as straight as I thought I was?

Levi's looking at me more differently every second that I don't say something. I close my mouth, swallow, then glance around us. We're in a crowded hallway because it's lunch hour, and-

I grab his wrist and pull him into the nearest classroom. It's empty, thank goodness. Levi's looking at me like I'm a stranger, and his expression has nearly turned to stone. Cold gaze, unflinching. I close my eyes and sigh.

"Levi, I'm not homophobic. You know I'm not."

"Then what? It's okay if it's just me, because I'm just one gay person, but a room full is too uncomfortable? Or you don't want people to start thinking that you're gay, too? Please, explain."