Chapter 2: Extra Credit

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Ken eyes me in shock.

"Wait, so you're homo..."

I nod. "Queer. Gay. Homosexual. All of the above. Whatever you want to address me as."

So, that's what Jake had in mind? Tell everyone that I'm gay. Tell me something I don't know.

"Well, I didn't know that," Ken says, "You act so... you know... not into fashion and shopping. You're into non-girlish things."

I purse my lips together. "Yeah... no. I'm not your stereotypical gay fellow, I guess."

"I would've never guessed."

I laugh, "I thought my sexuality was pretty obvious, considering that I never look at any girl that way."

He nods. "True. Whenever I talked about girls with you, you would just agree with me all the time."

"So, I guess I have high masculinity then," I beam.

Ken laughs as well. "Well, I'm beyond shocked, but that explains why you haven't went out with your friend Luciana."

I suspiciously squint my eyes at him. "What are you trying to say?"

"Have you looked at her lately? She's beautiful. I used to believe there was a thing between you two, but then I wondered how would someone like you be Luciana's type, no offense." He pauses, observing me to see my reaction.

My facial remained stagnant, but I remark, "Someone like me?"

He places his hands on my shoulders. "You're the type that would inform about the evolution of music."

"I know that I'm a nerd or geek or whatever. I don't need you to point that out for me." I remove his hands from my shoulders.

He changes the subject. "Now that I know you're gay and not into Luciana or any girls for that matter, it'll be okay for me to ask her out."

"You like her?" I ask, with my eyes agape.

"Who doesn't? Every guy that liked her thought that you two had something going on."

I scratch my head. "She is beautiful but I don't look at her that way."

"You and I, Rico, we're friends," he says, making direct eye contact, "I stayed away from Luciana because I thought you liked her, but now since I know you don't..."

"Ask her out," I simply state, "She might like you too."

"What if she rejects me?"

"Ask her out again," I respond. "She'll more than likely reject you the first time, since she doesn't know you too well, but if you give her a reason on why she should go out with you, she's all yours."

He smiles. "I like women who are like Luciana."

"By women like Luciana, you mean what?"

"The full package," he remarks, grinning, "She has it all."

I glare at him, folding my arms across my chest. "If you're after her for her body, then leave her alone."

"Not that way!" he reassures. "She's independent, confident, brave, outspoken, caring, and so many other things."

I nod in agreement, smiling. "She's amazing and she deserves an amazing guy."

"Do I qualify as amazing?" he asks, grinning.

I skeptically examine him. "I don't know."

"But, you're my friend," he reminds.

"And Luciana is my best friend," I note.

He pleadingly gazes at me. "Please put in a good word for me."

"You're the one that likes her."

"Please?"

"Ken, you do it."

"Please?"

I sigh, "Fine. I'll mention you in our next conversation, but after that, you're on your own."

"Thanks." He gestures his hand out. I high-five it.

"No problem," I reply.

"So..." he trails off. "Why didn't you, you know, tell me that you go sideways?"

"You never asked."

"Well, isn't it just absolutely normal to ask someone if they're gay?" he sarcastically questions.

"I wouldn't have minded." I shrug.

"When did you plan on 'coming out', Rico?" he asks, putting air quotes on coming out.

"There was never a 'coming out' plan," I answer, frowning, "but if there would've been one, Jake screwed it up for me."

"Does your family know?" he asks.

I nod. "My dad's fine with it, but my mom is still trying to get used to it."

"She'll come around, Rico." He pats my shoulder.

The club president enters the library.

*~*

"How was school today?" Dad asks, as I enter.

"It was great," I retort, "The whole school is just figuring out that I go sideways."

"Sideways where?"

"That I'm non-heterosexual."

"Oh." His face changes from interest to concern. "Is anything happening?"

"No, but something is going to happen to a jerk, if that jerk humiliates me again."

"Anything you're not telling me?"

I shook my head. "No," I lie.

"Hey," Mom greets, coming from the kitchen.

I present a small smile at her.

"I overheard the conversation from the kitchen," she states. "No one is giving you a hard time, are they?"

I shook my head.

She smiles back at me, but it looks forced. "I never heard someone regard being gay as sideways," she laughs.

"Same here," I say, "But it makes sense, because straight is a slang for heterosexuality."

A sense of discomfort crept up on the atmosphere. Avoiding any further uneasiness, I go up to my room and decide to call Luciana.

"Tell me what happened!" she says, as soon as she answers.

"He told everyone I go sideways."

I hear her breathing come normal. "Sideways, really?"

"What? Are you surprised or something?"

"I thought he would do better than that," she laughs, "I mean, really?"

"Wait, so you're the only one that understands the meaning of sideways?"

"It's self-explanatory," she responds, "It means you're not straight, right?"

"How are you the only one that understands that?"

"Easy," she answers, "It's obvious."

Memory just struck me. "You know my friend Ken Edder?"

"Don't tell me you like him, Rico?" she sighs, "He's as straight as Jake's A+'s."

"If I were with you right now, I'd give you the meanest look for reminding me of how better Jake's grades are."

"Don't be a baby," she groans, "I'm just saying."

"And I don't like Ken," I add, "He's not even my type."

"What is your type, anyway?" she asks. "Oh yeah, I know. Jake Terrence is your type."

"No he's not!" I snap. "He's a blockhead. He's annoying. He's cocky. He's—"

"Your type," she finishes. "Anyways, before you get charged for murdering me, what did you want to tell me about Ken?"

I intake a big breath, thinking about how I'm going to make him the new subject of our conversation. "He's the one that told me about the rumor."

"And he was fine with it, right?"

"Yeah, he was fine," I remark, "But he was also surprised."

"In a good way or bad way?" she asks, getting immediately testy.

"Good way of course."

"Good."

"So... Ken is a good guy."

"Why is he essential to this discussion?" she suspiciously questions.

"You should go with him," I blurt, "Besides, you're the only one who understood his term."

She quizzically states, "What?"

"He's cute. He's kind—"

"Rico, what the hell?"

"You two are perfect for each other!" I yell crazily, before hanging up on her.

After an awkward dinner with my parents, I plugged in my earphones and blasted Gustav Holst as I did my homework.

*~*

Going to school the next morning, I avoid Luciana. I stayed pretty focused in all of my classes, even though I constantly got asked if I'm gay, which I responded yes. However, when I went to Government and Economics, my mind kept drifting elsewhere. Why does Jake always have to prove how much smarter he is than me? Who cares if he's a smart athlete?

"Focus," I think aloud. I place my earphones into my ears and begin listening to my music, while I work on my classwork.

In the middle of the period, Mr. Daniel goes to the middle of the room, catching my attention.

"Class, I have some news," Mr. Daniel claims, gaining everyone's attention. "I'm offering extra credit to anyone, who's interested in gaining community service at the old Saundergate building. Raise your hands if you're interested."

Numerous students' rose their hands happily, including mine. Actually, Mr. Daniel had me at the 'extra credit' part.

Reese Vergon raises her hand. "And when will this happen?" she asks. Reese is an overachiever and will do anything to bring her A's up to A+'s.

"During Spring Break." Reese's hand falls, as does everyone else's, but mine remained raised. Mr. Daniel's eyes land on me. "If anyone's interested in hearing anymore information on it, see me after class."

At the end of the class, I eagerly walk up to Mr. Daniel.

"So, I see that you're interested?" he asks, even though I'm the only one that hasn't exited his room yet.

I nod quickly. "I want to bring my B+ up, so I'll take on any extra credit opportunities."

"You don't have any important plans during Spring Break, do you?"

I shook my head. "No."

"Great!" He hands me a sheet of paper. "This has the time and the date to appear."

"Thanks." I grin.

"I'm happy that—"

"You're Mr. Daniel, right?" We both turn around to face the doorway. Agitation wraps around me entirely.

"Yes I am," he responds, "May I help you?"

Jake Terrence merely glances at me. "This is my free period and Mrs. Yin told me to come to you about doing community service at Saundergate School."

"The IB European History teacher?"

He responds, "Yeah."

Mr. Daniel walks up to him and hands him a sheet. "This paper has details on dates and times to be there. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me."

He glances at it and asks, "Is he also doing it?" He gestures his head my way, as if I wasn't there.

"Yes I am," I remark, before Mr. Daniel has the chance to answer.

"Is this a class that you have a B in?" he asks.

"B+."

"It figures that you would need the extra credit." He smirks.

I scoff, "And you do, Mr. A+'s?"

He grins. "I can see that I quickly obtained a new nickname, that drastically transitioned from Dumb Jock to Mr. A+'s. How cute."

Mr. Daniel awkwardly looks from Jake to me.

I feel my face boil increasingly. I need to exit this room, or else he'll make a bigger fool out of me. "Mr. Daniel, can you write me a pass to my next class?"

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