Omorphi (13 page)

“So, are you guys, like, together now?” Jake asked as they walked.

Michael looked at Christy and found uncertainty in his eyes once again. Without turning from him, Michael said a quick, “We’re official.”

Christy’s eyes twinkled, and he bit his lower lip in a failed effort to stifle a monumental smile. Michael couldn’t help but grin shyly in return all while he wanted to shout to the heavens
I have a boyfriend!

Jake slapped Michael’s back. “Cool. Congrats. You going to be out?”

“We’re going to keep it low-key at school. Outside of school, we don’t care.”

“Around Whitman, definitely keep it low-key. Rich and Tony too,” Jake cautioned.

“Tony? I thought he was cool.”

“He is, but he hangs with Jason and Rich, so he has to act like he isn’t.”

“Lame.”

Christy tugged on Michael’s shirtsleeve, and he turned. Christy pointed to the art bungalows. “Okay. When you get a chance, write down your classes and room numbers for me.”

Christy pointed at him.

“I will too.” Michael bent to peck Christy’s lips and caught himself. Their eyes met, and Christy’s eyes held surprise. “Sorry, can’t help it,” Michael whispered.

A slow smile crept onto Christy’s perfect lips.

Michael straightened up. “See you at lunch?”

With a nod and a wave to Jake, Christy jogged off.

Longing set in as Michael watched him go, again noticing the awkward gait. He wanted Christy at his side his every waking moment.

“Cute,” Jake said.

“Pretty,” Michael corrected.

Jake put an arm around Michael’s shoulders and one-arm hugged him as they set out for class again. “You in love, bro?”

“Something as profound as love shouldn’t be crammed into a single syllable, four-letter word.”

Jake chuckled. “You think it should have, like, six syllables and fourteen letters?”

“At least.”

“Okay, wait, let me think of one. Oh, no way, man, it definitely doesn’t work. Can you imagine saying I’m in sesquipedalian? Or, worse yet, in the heat of passion, I sesquipedalian you?”

“Yeah.”

“You English Lit people are sick. A word like that could ruin a love life. So, answer the question.”

Michael’s face filled with heat. “I’m definitely in like.”

Jake laughed. “Ah, ha. Liar. Thought I’d never see it happen.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Hey, aside from the fact that there are a limited number of gay boys flitting around, you’re pickier than hell. It’s always too tall, too skinny, too buff, hair’s not long enough, hair’s not curly enough, bad eyes, thin lips, too hairy, look at the way he dresses, and you need eye bleach for that one.”

Michael shoved Jake’s shoulder. “Shut up.”

“Did you find out what happened to his neck?”

Michael’s face darkened, and he stopped walking. Jake stopped and faced him. “Something tells me I’m really not going to like this.”

“From the look of the scar on his neck, either he tried to hang himself or someone tried to strangle him.”

Jake shook his head. “Man, that’s harsh.” They set out again. “I don’t mean to be rude, but is he okay? In the head, I mean?”

“He seems okay. He says he’s afraid and angry a lot, and lonely.”

“Like that’s a surprise.”

“Dad gave me some statistics about abuse and neglect last night that are friggin’ horrifying.”

“Oh man, Michael, please tell me you did not take him home with you!” Jake was incredulous.

Michael laughed. “Yeah, bro, I did.”

Jake gawked. “And the venerable Mrs. S was okay with him?”

“Fine, except she was a freak because I brought a guy home who wasn’t you.”

“Glad to know I rate. What about your dad?”

“Did the usual doctor thing. Had to check out his neck and later gave me the talk. I asked him for some pointers, and he gave me some good intel. At this point, Christy and I are a work in progress.”

“Well, yeah, you just met.”

“Actually, we talked for hours yesterday. I feel like I’ve known him forever.”

“You don’t know shit about him, man. You have no idea who he is or what he’s been through.”

“No, but I got to know him. You should see his paintings, Jake. They’re freakin’ awesome.”

Jake turned to him, his dark eyes intense.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“When you say ‘nothing’ it means you have something important to say.”

“Everything I say is important.”

“That isn’t what I meant.”

“Okay. How about questions like where are his parents? His family? Does he have brothers and sisters? Where’s he from? Why is he interested in you?”

Michael remained silent. They hadn’t covered those things.

“What’d you talk about for hours?”

“His art, my running, our faults. You know, things about us.”

“Look, bro, I don’t mean to take the bow off the end of your rain, but you gotta be smart about your first boyfriend.”

Michael stopped walking and glared at Jake. Jake wasn’t wrong. It only upset him that Jake wasn’t happier for him.

“Don’t look at me like that, Michael.”

“Why aren’t you happy for me?”

Jake’s face softened, and he put an arm around Michael’s shoulders again. “I am happy for you. Really happy. Don’t forget, I’m coping-skills challenged unless I’m dealing in empirical evidence. That’s what happens when your father is a lawyer.”

Michael met his gaze for a long moment. “You sure?”

“Am I sure that I’m screwed up? Absolutely.”

Michael glared at him and started walking again.

“All Right! Yes! Yes, I’m happy for you! I just don’t know Christy yet. You’re my best friend, man, and like a brother to me. How do you expect me to be?”

“God, Jake, you’re acting as weird as Mom. What’s the matter with you?”

Jake slowed again. “I guess I’m worried about your first boyfriend.”

“Jake, come on. I didn’t freak about Kelly. And I haven’t freaked about Becca, though most of the time I think she’s freakworthy.”

Jake laughed. “Where do you get these words?”

“I make them up as I go. Seriously, Jake, give me a break.”

“I care about you, Michael. Deal with it.”

“Are you going to give Christy a chance?”

Jake kissed the side of his head. “’Course I will. I gotta bounce. See you at lunch.”

“Later.”

M
ICHAEL
hadn’t been able to concentrate all morning. His heart had swollen with longing, and he ached to see Christy again. It was all he could do to remember to write down his homework assignments. When the lunch bell rang, he bolted from his seat and was the first one to reach their usual table. He sat on the table rather than in a seat so he could watch for Christy. Elation swept his mien when he saw Christy, and a smile claimed his face. He made his way through the crowd and turned in step with Christy. “Hey.”

“Hey,” Christy mouthed in return.

Michael leaned down and whispered, “Missed you.”

Christy smiled briefly, and Michael could immediately tell that he was upset. “What’s wrong?”

Christy gestured to the table and took a seat. Hanging his backpack on the back of the chair, he withdrew his pad and pen and wrote. An anvil of fury crushed Michael’s good mood as he read, and a low oath escaped him as Jake joined them.

“That’s one hell of a greeting.”

“Sorry, bro. Whitman hassled Christy in the locker room again.”

Jake frowned. “Thought you were excused from phys ed.”

Christy scribbled
Still must dress
and showed the pad to Jake.

Jake’s concern rose to the surface, and he leaned in. “You think the guy’s sweet on you or something?”

Christy shrugged.

Michael leaned in. “Did anyone see it happen?”

Christy nodded.

“They didn’t do anything?”

Christy shook his head and wrote
Afraid.

Jake snorted. “Nothing to be afraid of.”

Christy tapped Michael’s knee and pointed surreptitiously. Michael turned to find Jason and his posse headed their way. He turned back to Jake. “Why wasn’t he suspended after the fight this morning?”

“Got me. Should have been.”

“Sattler,” Jason called as he approached.

If Jason hadn’t been one of his track mates, Michael would have ignored him. He looked back and called, “Whitman.”

Jason bumped fists with Michael when he reached him. “A word?”

“Speak.”

Jason eyed everyone at the table, his eyes holding on Evan for a moment before returning to Michael. “Private.” Jason hitched his head toward the cafeteria doors.

“Hey, Rich, Tony.”

Tony said, “Hey, Michael.” Rich said nothing.

With a quick glance at Jake and Christy, Michael stood and gestured Jason forward.

W
HEN
they reached the cafeteria doors, Michael turned and leaned against the wall to face Jason, Tony, and Rich. He didn’t know why, but he thought it best to stay inside the cafeteria. “What’s up?”

“Jake said you ran the one-ten in under fourteen.”

“The last two days.”

“Congrats. You think we’re ready for Saturday’s heat?”

“You know it. We’re in great shape.”

“I think some of the guys are slacking. Not practicing like they should.”

This wasn’t the Jason that Michael knew. The Jason he knew slacked off all the time and often didn’t show up for practice. If it weren’t for the fact that Jason could run four hundred meters faster than anyone Michael knew, he’d be off the team. “I’ll check it out. Thanks for mentioning it.”

“No problem. What’s with mute boy at your table?”

Michael’s ire blossomed like a malignant chrysanthemum. “His name’s Christy.”

“Whatever. Why’s he hanging with you?”

Michael didn’t bother to hide his displeasure. “What’s it to you, Jason?”

“He’s a friggin’ homo, and you’re our team captain, that’s what.”

Michael winced at the pejorative. “You sure he’s gay?”

“Just look at him, man!” Jason’s hushed voice was emphatic.

Michael made an exaggerated turn, looked at Christy, and turned back to Jason. “All I see is a guy with long, blond hair.”

“He’s queerer than a three-dollar bill, I’m telling you!”

Michael folded his arms over his chest and looked at Tony, who looked sheepish, then turned to Rich, who looked disgusted, then turned back to Jason. “Yeah, all right, suppose he is. So what? It’s none of my business and none of yours.”

“Don’t tell me you’re a friggin’ fag lover, Michael!”

Michael winced again and scratched his forehead with a thumbnail. “Yep. That’s me.”

“Come on, Michael, don’t screw around. You can’t be okay with it.”

“I’m totally okay with it. Assuming he’s even gay, which you don’t know for certain.”

Jason gaped at him.

“Let me make a few things clear to you, dude. I’m not only totally okay with it, but you can be kicked off the team for the fight you had with Lisa this morning. You can also be kicked off the team for the things you just said to me, and you can be expelled from school if the administration gets wind of your discrimination. Discriminating against gay people is illegal, whether you like it or not
.
You need to watch what you say and to whom you say it. I don’t want the team or the school embarrassed or penalized ’cause you can’t keep your mouth shut. And—”

“That’s not gonna happen!”

“
And
, because you’ve been hassling Christy in the locker room, people are starting to talk. They’re starting to wonder if
you’re
gay. What’s up with that crap, anyway?”

“I’m just messing with him!”

“Don’t be a tool, Jason. Hassling Christy like that constitutes a hate crime. Look it up on the damn net. You can go to freakin’
jail
for it. And people are talking about you, not him.”

“Who?”

Michael leaned in as if to impart crucial information. “More than half the guys in your gym class.”

“No friggin’ way!”

“Way. Keep it up, and see what they’re saying next week. I wouldn’t be surprised if a couple of guys didn’t try to jump you in the showers.”

Jason paled. “You gotta tell ’em it’s not true!”

“Stop messing with Christy, and the rumors will stop. And watch your damn mouth. I’ll kick your ass if our team gets penalized because of you.”

Jason barked a nervous laugh. “Right. Okay, man.”

“Jason?”

“What?”

“Why
do
you hate gay people so much?”

This question seemed to take a little steam out of Jason’s bluster. “It’s a crime against God. What they do is just wrong.”

“It isn’t your place to judge them. Last I knew you were a high school senior, not an avenging angel.”

That made Jason laugh. Then he became serious again. “You’re really okay with dudes being gay?”

“Totally.”

Jason was incredulous again. “No friggin’ way!”

Michael rolled his eyes. “What’s the matter with you, Jason? How many times have you seen me and Jake hug? I kiss his head all the time, and he’s always calling me gay boy. You don’t freak about that.”

“That’s different. You guys aren’t gay.”

“How do you know?”

“’Cause I know.”

Michael huffed his exasperation on the air. “Don’t make the team look bad, don’t make the school look bad, and stop messing with Christy. You could end up in jail, for God’s sake. Thanks for letting me know about the slackers. I need to go eat so I can run this afternoon.”

“Yeah, okay. Later.”

“Later, man.”

Michael walked back to the table, dropped into the seat next to Christy, and delighted when Christy pushed a tray of food to him. “You got that for me?”

Christy nodded, and Michael’s heart swelled with adoration. “Thanks. What do I owe you?”

Christy shook his head.

Michael looked at the tray, did a quick calculation, dug five dollars from his wallet, and handed it to Christy.

Christy pushed it away.

“Come on, take it. You may need it someday.”

Christy shook his head again. Michael stuffed it between Christy’s neck and the navy-blue scarf he wore. Christy pursed his lips as he retrieved it.