Chapter 18

This chapter is...ok. I personally think that it isn't my best work. It isn't a horrible chapter, it's just...boring. This chapter will show you a nicer side to Cole, I think.

Enjoy?

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Chapter 18: Kent's POV, Thursday morning, in Cole's bed

I was having a wonderful dream about a flawless date with Cole, until someone next to me started murmuring my name in his sleep. That person being Cole, of course. I glanced at the clock next to the bed and it said that it was five o'clock in the morning. I usually would've gotten up by now, it's just that Cole was just so warm next to me as I let my feet tickle his calves a bit.

I turned around in Cole's bed to face him and gently caress his face which actually looked peaceful, surprisingly. I really enjoyed just laying there in the bed of they guy who had my heart in the palm of his hand.

I was just thinking about how Paul would feel about all of this when Cole muttered my name in his sleep. “Kent....Yeah, I love you too, babe,”

I smiled at how he said that he loved me even in his current, unconscious state.

After a little over half of an hour later, Cole's crystal-clear deep blue eyes opened and smiled at me as he kissed my neck softly. “Morning, Kent,” Cole's deep voice sent pleasant shiver down my spine. “When did you want to leave for school today?” for some reason,I don't know if it was the lack of sleep or something else, but I thought that I saw just the tiniest bit of apprehension in Cole's eyes at mentioning school.

Cole dragged himself out of bed, and it was just then that I realized that Cole had no shirt. Although, I remember that he had his shirt on last night; I guess it got too warm for him in the bed last night. I also couldn't help but widen my eyes at his washboard abs...and his strong arms...and the rest of his body in general.

I guess that I was staring at his body rather conspicuously, since he smirked at me and said, “Like what you see, Kent? Because you can have some later after school today,” Cole chuckled at the blush which was covering my entire face as he grabbed a towel and a change of clothes from the already filled closet and dresser as he headed to his bathroom to take a shower.

I quickly exited his room to go downstairs to make breakfast...and to avoid making a fool out of myself any more that I already had.

Cooking was rather soothing to me; no one ever bothered me, I could listen to my music, and I felt like I was doing something good that benefit the rest of the house. I settled on making something simple, like chocolate chip pancakes with fruit on the side, hoping that Cole would eat it. As I was flipping the pancakes for the last time before I placed them on a plate, I felt two large hands snake around my waist and a warm kiss being placed on my neck.

“It smells good; I could smell it all the way from upstairs. What is it?” Cole got out an orange juice carton from the refrigerator and poured two glasses and then set them on the table.

“Chocolate chip pancakes,” I was bringing a plate stacked high with them to the table when I remembered the fruit that I sliced was still on the counter. “I didn't know exactly what you liked, so if you don't like it, I can make you some eggs or whatever else you want, it's not a problem for me-”

“Kent, it tastes great, stop worrying so much,” Cole was already on his third pancake. I was about to go and get the fruit when Cole got up from the table when Cole shot me a glare and said sternly, “Kent, sit down and eat, I'll get whatever you were going to eat. Seriously, you should relax more. I don't want you to get an anxiety or panic attack from stressing over things like breakfast.”

“I guess you're right; I'll try to be more relaxed,” I sighed. Cole was just too perfect for me; Cole was a real gentleman. I liked that about him.

Cole came back with the fruit and sat down across the table from me and looked thoughtfully at his plate. “Kent, um, I don't know how to say this, but I think that the entire school knows about us being a couple.”

My fork full of fruit stopped midway to my mouth. “How did they find out, Cole? I didn't tell anyone, and I'm almost positive that you didn't tell anyone, so how-” I paused at suddenly remembering Tyler's words from the warehouse. “Tyler,” I whispered.

“What? Who's name are you saying?” Cole took my hand into his and squeezed it gently.

“Tyler actually did what he said that he'd do,” I said a bit louder, but it was loud enough for Cole to hear the name. “Tyler texted someone last night about us, and he probably texted someone who wouldn't hesitate to spread it around within minutes. Can you think of anyone who would do that?” I asked Cole since I knew no one popular; I only knew the geniuses of our grade.

“I bet I have a pretty good idea,” Cole growled as he stood up and took his dish to the kitchen sink and then stormed off upstairs.

I frowned; today was not starting out like I had originally thought or wanted it to at all.

-Cole's POV: Thursday morning, Kent's house, in his room-

I was seriously pissed off at Tyler. I thought that I had gotten rid of him once and for all last night since he had incriminating evidence against him for his intent to kill both Kent and me.

But, I was mistaken. Tyler's presence still haunted us in the form of a text message that had spread like wildfire in just one night. I was packing up my backpack angrily when I heard someone knock on the door that I had closed because I really didn't want to talk to anyone.

“Cole?” Kent's voice sounded timid and afraid. And God, did that kill me hearing that my Kent was afraid of something, especially when that thing may have been me. “Are you ok in there? May I come into your room? It's ok if I can't, it's just that I-”

I interrupted his words by opening my door and pulling him into a tight hug as I kissed the top of his head repeatedly. “I'm sorry, Kent, it's just that I'm really stressed about how to handle this situation. I wish I knew what to do so that you'd feel a lot more comfortable,”

Kent wiggled himself out of my hug and put his hands on his hips and sighed as he looked at the floor.

“I don't really know what to expect today, but from what I've read and heard about in the news, it won't be the great,” Kent took my large, rough, callused hand into his smaller, much softer and smoother one and closed his hand around mine. “But what I do know is that we can't give them the satisfaction of them knowing that we're bothered by them and their comments. I also know that as long as I have you there with me, I'll be ok. So stay calm and don't try to punch anyone, ok Cole?” Kent joked as he entered my room and handed me my backpack.

I nodded as he led me to his room to grab his jacket and backpack.

“Do we need to wake up Paul?” Kent asked as we passed his room which had the door opened completely.

“No, I think that he should sleep in for as long as he can; he looks peaceful for once.” I said with a smile as I took one more glance at my brother before I led Kent down the hallway and then down the stairs.

Kent grabbed his keys and then went out through the garage to his black Mercedes. Kent got into the driver's seat as I slipped into the passenger's side.

Kent drove the car as if we were going to a funeral; he was really slow, but, I guess it makes sense since the entire school was waiting for us to get to school and then bombard us with questions of whether the rumors are true or not.

“Are you ok, Kent? You seem a bit...tense,” I saw how his hands were pure white from how hard he was gripping the steering wheel. Kent then began to shake as if he was really cold.

“Y-yeah, Cole, I-I'm fine,” Kent's teeth were chattering and I was getting worried if he should even be going to school like this.

“Pull over, Kent,” I sternly said since we were only a few minutes away from school now.

Kent pulled over and then he unbuckled his seat belt and said, “Can you come to the back seat with me? I just need a moment,” However, his face betrayed his emotions by letting me see just a hint of sadness.

“Of course,” I got out of the car and slid into the backseat and watched as Kent sat himself down in his car next to me.

Kent then laid his head down onto my lap and then started crying his eyes out and shaking form the emotions which were consuming him. I stroked his soft hair and whispered, “It'll be ok, Kent,” repeatedly as Kent let out more and more tears.

After Kent cried all of his tears away, I calmly asked him, “Babe, why are you crying like this, I really don't want to see you like this. It hurts me just as much, if not more, to see you like this since I don't even know what's wrong.”

“Sorry,” Kent wiped a single tear away from his eye and sat up and leaned into me. “It's just that so much has happened recently and I don't know how to let it all soak in, since I've never really been in anything even remotely like this. I mean just last week this all started just because your dad went berserk, and then I found myself with all of these conflicting feelings towards you since I had never even interacted with you ever before, and then Tyler came along...and...I'm just overwhelmed by everything, Cole. And then there's going to be school, so that's another obstacle in front of us, so-”

I interrupted Kent because he was rambling again, and I needed to make him feel calm again. “Kent Whitman,” I said sternly as I made him look at me by tilting his head upwards just a bit. “From what I've hear about you, you are the smartest person in the entire school. Now, I'd imagine that with studying so much, you'd be able to handle pressure much worse than just being 'overwhelmed', no?”

Kent nodded his head without looking at me.

“So what's so different about this pressure? Is it the fact that academics are something that is merely pressure from yourself, and this pressure is from other people?” That was my best idea since around school, Kent was a really quiet guy, even if he was with me as long as someone else was nearby.

“Yeah...I guess, since I've always tried to 'fly under the radar' in school. No one can pick on you if no one knows who you are.” Kent leaned back into the seat and gazed out of the window.

“But what about school? Everyone knows about you when it comes to academics,” I countered, trying to find something that would make Kent talk about a lot more to me since something clearly bothered him and as his boyfriend, I needed to make sure that he was ok mentally and physically.

“Yeah, but school is something that I can control; all I have to do is study harder if I'm not good enough. I can't change people's perceptions on me once they've developed them. I'm just really self-conscious....”

“But Kent, you're perfect to me in every way possible; you're smart, cute, adorable, helpful, and just an all around great guy. Why would you be so self-conscious about yourself when you're already so great?” I pulled one of Kent's hands into mine.

“Well, you know how my parents are so smart and such great business people?” I could tell from Kent's voice that this would probably lead into a story of some sort. “Well they want me to be better than both of them combined. How am I supposed to become better than America's greatest lawyer and the president of a home furnishings company? All that I wanted to do since I was little was become a doctor to help people! I never asked to try and fill their massive shoes. You know, they even told me last year that they'd only pay for college if I went to a business school, so I applied to schools with a huge business major but also made sure that their medical program was great too. But now, I'm- sorry, we're about to enter something that neither of us have any control over at all. I'm just nervous and...scared? What if some people try to do something to us because they don't like the fact that we're gay? What if-”

I leaned in and kissed Kent on his lips to get him to stop talking and for him to calm down from his anxiety attack. At least I calmed him down by kissing him; I'd have to keep that little piece of information stored away for the future.

“Don't worry Kent, I'll be with you every step of the way,” I smiled gently at him. “And if anyone says anything about us, well then they can go and just fuck themselves since they're complete morons and assholes. You need to stop worrying, Kent, I'm here for you. Do you think I'd let anyone or anything hurt you intentionally? God, do I love you, Kent. I really hope that you know how true that is. I can't even believe that I'd lived without you for these eighteen long years,”

Kent looked at me with a sweet smile and then did something that was very out of character for him: Kent leaned in and pulled my head to his as he planted a kiss on my lips. Kent's lips tasted amazing; he was the perfect mixture of sweet and naughty at the same time. His lips meshed with mine perfectly as I nibbled at Kent's lower lip, begging for him to let me into his mouth.

When he did, I immediately seized the chance and let my tongue overpower Kent's tongue as I let my hands move around his waist while Kent groaned into my mouth, making me want him even more.

Unfortunately for me, however, Kent pulled away and said, “There's still school starting soon, Cole, and you're right: as long as I have you by my side, I think that I'll be ok. Come on, I think we should head over to school now. I don't want to be late.”

Hearing him say that he'd be ok as long as I was with him warmed my heart as I pulled him into a hug and whispered, “Thank you, Kent for trusting me to take care of you,”

Kent smiled at me and nodded as he proceeded to get out of the car and get back into the driver's seat while I went back into the passenger's seat.

Kent drove into the parking lot and then smiled as he unbuckled his seat belt and stepped out of the car. I was wondering what Kent was thinking of, but my thoughts were erased when after he tossed my backpack to me from his trunk after he got his own. Kent then walked closer and closer to me until he was standing only mere centimeters away from me and then he took my hand and locked his hand in with mine.

“Ready, boyfriend of mine?” Kent asked as we started to walk to the entrance, already drawing attention from fellow students in parking lot.

“Yep, as long as you're ready,” I smiled and squeezed his hand gently as we proudly entered the school.

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So, what did you think about Cole's attempt to analyze Kent's insecurities? do you think that he was right with his assumptions? Anyway, as usual, vote, message me, and comment please! :)

~Michael