Chapter VIII Secrets and Rumors

Chapter 8 Secrets and Rumors

Jason

"So why are they so overprotective over you?" Trent asked as they both headed down the bleachers together. Jason was trying his best not to notice his every head movement casted his way. The guy was just being nice. There was no need to read into it any further than it really was. All that mistaking kindness for flirting.

"Because I'm gay can't you tell?" Jason didn't mean to whip the words out like that so he had to apologize quickly. "Sorry, but you have heard about it? It's still going around. Haven't you?" He had to squint against the sun.

Jason wouldn't admit it, but for once, in a long time, he felt more than a little scared. He was alone in a football field with a guy who could very well be a homophobe. Jason was more prepared, Caitlin had him carry a can of pepper spray when she knew Nicklaus or herself couldn't be around. Besides that, Nicklaus was (still was) Jason's trainer on how to defend himself.

"No." Trent answered with an almost shocked expression. "I think rumors are a waste of time."

What if he decided to cancel giving Jason a ride? What if he waited for nothing? More importantly, why should it matter to him? Jason felt like he was being childish and stupid all over again.

Why did his heart feel like a hammer inside his chest whenever Trent looked at him? Jason's palms was already feeling sweaty.

"Then that's something we can both agree on." Jason said, not letting the chaos he felt inside show.

They walked a little further, past the football field when Jason suddenly had no idea where they were going. That caused Jason to stop in mid step to brace himself before Trent spoke again. "You know I don't care. Right?"

Jason didn't bother hiding the confusion from his face. He no longer had any idea what they were talking about anymore. Jason found he had a hard time keeping track about anything they talked about. It was like time, place and subjects became irrelevant when they talked. At least to Jason. Jason had no idea if that was how Trent felt.

"That you're gay I mean." He said, but Jason was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. "Who does it harm? Two men, two women, a man with another man and another woman even though their best friends, who cares right?" Trent managed to crack a smile at the last bit. Not even Jason could resist.

"Well two men did get hurt when said man was apparently cheating on other man with another woman." Jason never knew he had that wittiness in him.

Trent's face pulled into a smile and Jason wished he could frame that moment and have it mounted someplace for him to see daily. It would beat the phrases of encouragement his mom left for him to see every morning. "Since we're uh," Trent was suddenly one having a hard time looking at Jason now. Jason wished he could reach out to touch him, soothe him somehow. Which was irrational of him. "But just so we're clear, I'm bisexual."

Jason's heart was traveling at light speed and he hoped to anyone above was paying attention, but it better not show!

"Ok," he said mostly in confirmation but sensed there was more, "so..."

"So I'm not out to my whole family yet." Trent said mostly to his feet as they continued walking. "It's not that I'm ashamed of myself."

"You're not ready." Jason found himself finishing and suddenly felt sick for having spoken without thought.

Trent had stopped walking and was suddenly looking at Jason with nothing but relief. There was a praise-worthy, feverish look in his usually hooded looking eyes. The blue in his eyes had a zest for life in them. Why hadn't Jason ever noticed this? Oh right, this had been only day two of them knowing each other. Of course he hadn't noticed. That would be too awkward. Moving too fast.

So Jason had a chance.

"Thank you." Trent finally said and they started to walk again.

"Your welcome." Jason said as normal as he could. To his ears it sounded normal enough. Like thanking Caitlin for bringing a spare pen to school with her.

Jason felt like he get something straight and tried not to smile at the thought, "So, uh, where are we going?"

Trent had to shake his head a little and looked around as if finally seeing the place for the first time. "Oh, uh, front entrance. Mr. Ba- I mean my father should be waiting for me." He suddenly jerked his head from side to side and that made Jason almost make a move to see if he was alright. "Aw crap! I forgot to mention-"

Jason managed to keep his disappointment from showing. "It's ok, I still have my own way home."

"No, no." Trent with more firmness and for a moment, Jason thought he detected- "I said I'd give you a ride and that's just what I'm going to do. I'll ride your bike for you if I have to and you can still ride in the car."

Jason had to wave a hand over his face dramatically as he said with an eye flutter, "Oh my, so chivalry is not dead."

When Trent gave a nervous laugh and looked away, Jason pulled the plug on his act. He should have thought about it before acting. Trent looked nervous. Maybe it would have been better to insist that he could ride his bike home instead. Jason felt more than content with what he had. He would be fine.

"Do I," Trent must have caught on because he slyly winked Jason's way, "detect that you're about to bail?"

Maybe. "No, of course not."

"Then let's get you home safe and sound. At least until that nasty bump at the back of your head I caused goes away." When Trent offered his arm, all Jason could do was stare at him strangely. "What? I get this America but what's the problem with walking arm in arm with another guy?"

"But what would your dad say? Are you out-"

"My family doesn't judge." Though he was sure he didn't look 100% certain about that. "Let me rephrase that, only a select few know about me. My older brother and sister for example."

Jason hesitated a few seconds more before sliding his arm through Trent's. It was too bad because Jason's long sleeve shirt prevented them from making any skin contact. Trent's smile grew wider once Jason stepped up beside him. A nervous smile or something else, Jason couldn't tell.

"Maybe we could make a future arrangement sometime yeah?"

"Future arrangement?"

Trent winced but never took his eyes off of Jason. "I think they're working you too hard in there."

When Trent went to mess with Jason's hair, he did it awkwardly. Like it was something he'd seen but never acted out on. Jason didn't mind. He thought the feel of Trent's fingertips brush along the crown line of his head felt nice. Jason hardly had any hair to mess up anyway.

"So what's your family like?" Jason thought if they were going to walk this way, he'd lesson the awkwardness by asking a question to throw their minds off.

Trent momentarily turned away as if picking his words carefully. "I've got a total of three siblings. And you?"

"None."

"Lucky," He said then shook his head quickly. "Actually no, I take that back. I get along with my older sister and little brother. It's the oldest of us I'd like to send off."

Jason chuckled. "Oh really? That bad? Wait he doesn't accept you?" His mouth was now hanging open in silent horror.

Trent turned thoughtful as if he wasn't really looking at Jason anymore. "I guess I wouldn't say that. He's the kind as, how do Americans put it? Act like his shit doesn't stink?"

"I suppose most, oldest siblings come across that way." Jason had to watch his feet because they stepped over someone else's backpack lying in the middle of the grass. Even though there was no around, not anyone they could see.

"I thought you said you don't have any siblings." Trent pointed out. Jason was glad to know Trent was listening.

"I don't. I observe." He replied.

"Oh I see."

"Do you?" Jason searched Trent's eyes, wondering how much he could believe or not.

"What's with the, what's that saying? Twenty questions? Are you trying to be my friend?" Trent unknowingly looked flirty.

"I could be." Jason knew how to play along right back.

"Then you'd be the first." He said almost a little wistful.

"That girl earlier today seemed like she wanted to be your friend." Jason said while keeping the bitterness out of his voice. "Zoey I think was her name."

"Oh yeah? Watching close enough? Jealous?" Trent offered a gentle nudge that they swayed over to the right some. Trent straightened himself out while taking Jason with him. For less than a second their bodies got close. Too close.

He had no idea. "Why would I be? She's got the hots the ladies only?"

Trent tried to hide his smile by pinching his lips together.

"What? What is it? What's so funny?" Jason tried but Trent made a motion of locking his lips and throwing a key over his shoulder.

Jason knew how to play dirty. His fingers twitched and before he knew it, he reached for Trent's ribs. The tickle war began.

"Aaah, stop, stop, stop! You found my weakness! I give up!"

Jason was surprised how a massive mountain of a guy like Trent would succumb to something so simple yet effective. Trent was doubled over, body shaking but never released his arm from Jason's. He wheezed more than he laughed. Jason did have to stop because Trent could have easily taken them down.

They were walking again when he finally answered. "She's a lesbian."

"Oh." Jason was at a loss for words. "Cool." He threw in trying to hide his relief.

"Aren't there any other gay guys or lesbians here?" Trent had to squint his eyes, the sun was in his face now that they were walking west out of the shade.

"No. At least that I personally know of."

Trent didn't say anything. At first.

"Good."

Jason gave him a questioning look.

"I want you all to myself." He said.

Jason laughed along, when really, he hoped it wasn't a joke.

"So then what happened?"

Jason as always, felt two steps behind whenever that involved a hot guy like Trent smiling at him. "What do you mean?"

"Oh boy! They really are working you too hard in there. We need to do something about that!" Trent's arm snaked out from Jason's and looped around his neck bringing him closer. Jason was sure it wasn't intentional. They probably acted this way in their home country for all Jason knew. This was nothing to get excited about.

"Oh yeah? Like what?" Jason wasn't really being serious but he got an answer he least expected.

"I haven't decided yet but I want it to be something that will take your mind off things a bit."

Was Trent aware that he was practically snuggling with Jason? To a stranger on the street, Jason was sure they looked like a couple. Jason had seen boyfriends walk with their girlfriends like this all the time. Except, Jason kept his hands to himself instead of hooking one hand around Trent while he his fingers that were on his right shoulder. He'd also have another hand wrapped around Trent's lower torso. Jason felt himself long to touch that torso, but was too chicken to attempt it. The guy might not be into him like that. It best not to get his hopes up.

Jason gulped when he could feel Trent's breath flow over his head. They were just a step away from having Trent kiss the top of his head. Jason would have almost welcomed it, but it still felt too soon to give in to desires. He should be keeping his nose in the books, not in some fantasy with a guy he couldn't have.

"So then, tell me, what happened?"

This time Jason was fully aware of what he meant. He sighed, because it was some heavy stuff to unload on someone he hardly knew.

"If you don't want to tell me. I'll understand."

The perfect words... but Jason needed to shelf those unrealistic feelings away to deal with another time.

"I got jumped by some guys who for whatever reason didn't like my lifestyle as they put it. They beat me up pretty bad and I was alone."

Jason felt the sharp intake of breath before Trent began to fire the questions. "Who did this to you?" Tell me so I can hurt them more! "Where did this happen?" How can I fix this for you? "When?" Tell me I'm not too late!

Or was this all due to an overactive imagination on Jason's behalf?

He didn't need to ask how bad, because that spoke for itself for when he used the words, "Pretty bad." Jason wasn't sure if he was reading between the lines right but he was sure Trent had enough common decency to not stand for it. Jason felt grateful for that. Even if that meant they couldn't be together, they would always have that.

"A bunch of dumb jocks," Jason answered. If vibes could be seen or felt, Jason was sure they'd be shaking him for quicker answers. "It happened late last year. They all got what they deserved. I'm all better now. So..."

"No, Jason. No. That was really horrible." He had a lot of sympathy for a guy his size, Jason thought. "Why would someone- Doesn't make any sense. I should have been listening to my sister more. I really, had no idea that this kind of thing happened to people. Just because they like someone of the same sex? We might as well beat people up for liking those Fiber One Cheesecake bars."

Jason had to blink and rethink what Trent had just said.

"...What...? I love Fiber One cheesecake bars."

Trent might have not have been paying close enough attention to his words because he too had to stop and think.

Trent froze in mid step. His face changed, like he'd discovered the cure to cancer. "No way."

Jason had a hard time not smiling. His face fought and fought, that Jason had no will left to continue fighting it. "Way."

"I would sell my mother's soul for a truck load of those things!"

"No kidding. I can't get enough of them in my mouth at once."

When they both looked at each other, Jason felt like this was the moment. The kiss he'd been waiting for. Their faces could close in those last few inches if they willed it, but they both had to will it. Jason wanted it against all logic. But did Trent?