Swayed

"Anthony?"

"Sup."

"C-Can I ask you a question?" Ian asked a little awkwardly.

"Uh, sure. Go ahead."

"It's kind of weird."

Anthony paused for a moment. "Okay..."

Ian took a deep breath.

"I mean, I don't want to sound weird or anything."

"Well you already said it was kind of weird," Anthony recalled.

"No, I-I mean it's just... I dunno. Strange."

"Alright. What's the question."

"Just hypothetically speaking of course..."

"Just ask the question already!" Anthony said slightly irritated.

"Alright, alright. Um..." Ian put his hand on the back of his neck and looked at the wall.

"So um..." He took in another breath but didn't use it for his question. "Like..."

"Dude, just spill it already. I promise I won't be weirded out or anything."

"Okay," Ian gulped kicking at the carpet. "H-How do you know if..."

"If what?" Anthony pressed on.

"If..." Ian bit his bottom lip "...you're..."

Anthony looked at him expectantly.

"Um, you know..." Ian mumbled. "Uh..."

"Yes...?"

Ian froze then quickly turned away. "N-never mind," he quickly said, flushing bright red.

"What? Tell me!" Anthony tugged at his sleeve and Ian grumbled in protest, trying to move away.

"No, forget it! It's dumb!"

"Come on. You've built it up this far, man. Don't leave me hangin," he said dragging Ian closer. Ian closed his eyes and breathed in.

"How do you know if you're..." He mumbled the last part.

"Huh? I didn't catch that."

Ian mumbled again.

"Gray?"

"I said, how do you know if you're gay?!"

"Oh, gay!" Anthony slapped his forehead finally getting it.

"O-oooh..." came the next response out of him. "Um..."

Ian was eyeing the ground nervously.

"Um..." Anthony repeated. "H-hypothetically speaking, right?"

"Yeah..." Ian said weakly.

"Hmmm..." Anthony looked at the wall, then the table and all over the room as though an answer would miraculously pop out in front of him. "I-I guess if someone... checked out guys..." He trailed off. "…But I don't necessarily think that makes someone gay because there's nothing wrong with looking at someone else... I don't think so, at least."

Anthony began to really contemplate the question.

"Well," Ian piped up awkwardly, "what if you… think… about guys a lot?" Ian asked hesitantly.

"Think about them? You mean like... Sexually?"

"N-no! I-I mean... I don't know..."

They sat in one of the most awkward silences Ian had ever lived through. He began recoiling further away from Anthony who seemed to take the question better than he thought he would. It was slightly relieving in a way.