Unlikely Valentine
by Rob Warr
Chapter 4
Revelations
If I thought I was nervous about our study date, the prospect of sleeping over at Dylan's house Saturday set a new record for me. I mean, what would it be like being so close to him, maybe in just our undies as we slept side by side? Yeah, I said side by side, cause Dylan had already made it clear that I'd be sharing his king-sized bed in his room.
My folks had approved of the sleepover with the usual enthusiasm of parents who want their kids to make friends and have fun, and as expected, Dylan's' folks were all for it. But so far I hadn't told any of the other kids at our lunch table about it, especially not Nicky. I'd also asked Dylan to please not mention it, though I didn't give him a reason. He agreed, though he looked confused.
As far as the others knew, Dylan and I were just friends at school who shared a few classes, and that was all. Only Nicky knew or suspected that there was more to it, at least where I was concerned, and I wanted to keep it that way if possible. I still feared what would happen if I got outed and I really didn't want to risk losing the bunch of friends I'd made this year.
Friday, there was a Valentine assembly and they announced once again that there would be a Valentine Dance that night at the youth center just across the street from the school. It was hosted by the PTA and fully chaperoned, and cost 4 bucks per student or 6 bucks for a couple. There would be snacks and punch provided by the parents and, a DJ (a high school kid who called himself Dan-D). The dances were always well attended, though most of the guys attending came stag, hoping to find some unsuspecting girl to dance with so they could get close enough to smell her perfume...lol.
I asked Dylan if he was going and his answer surprised me.
"Nope, those things are for couples. It's sad to go to one of those dances alone, standing in the wings, hoping someone wants to dance with you, or even talk to you. Oh sure, a lot of guys go together as buddies so they're not alone, but it's still sad. Even some of the girls seem lost and lonely there. It's just too sad. The only way I'd go is if I had someone special with me," he said, then gave me a sad smile.
Wow, that was deep, but when I thought about it, I realized he was right. I'd never considered going for obvious reasons, but it seemed Dylan had reasons that sort of mirrored mine. I'd feel totally out of place there alone, or even in a group of guys, but...if there was someone, someone special to go with, well that would be different. Someone like Dylan. Maybe we couldn't hold hands or dance together or kiss, but as long as we were there together and we knew what we had it would be okay. But that was just a dream, wasn't it. Dylan didn't feel that way about me, did he? Sure, he'd said I was his special friend, but what did that mean exactly? There are all kinds of friendships, but so far ours had been strictly platonic. No slight hint of romantic interest, and even this invitation to sleepover had been out in the open and not the least bit suggestive of anything intimate.
The assembly ended and we were dismissed to lunch a little early, so we quickly headed out, hoping to be some of the first kids in the lunch line. Today was pizza day, and for school food it wasn't bad. There was a salad too and chocolate pudding for dessert and I grabbed an apple and Dylan grabbed a banana.
"Monkey boy," I teased and he made a few chimp sounds causing me and the kid behind us in line to laugh.
I flicked my eyes that way and caught the kids kind of staring at Dylan's backside, then when he saw me staring him down he blushed beet red and looked away.
We slid our cards at the register and headed to our usual table and found we were the first to arrive. It took another ten minutes for all of the others to arrive and by then Dylan and I had pretty much finished eating. All that was left was the pudding and our fruit and I really wasn't that much for the pudding so I offered it up to the group and Nicky too it.
I started eating my apple then and the talk turned to the Valentine Dance and who was going with whom and what not. Nicky surprised me by saying he was going and was taking Cherry Holt, a 7th grader.
"Cradle robber," Keith joked, "did you offer her protection if she'd go with you?" he snickered.
"No, lump head, she's actually almost 13, she had to start school late cause of the cut off date of her birthday. She's a nice girl, too. Unlike any girl you could ever get to go with you."
"Chill man, I was just teasing," Keith said holding up his hands, "I'm going stag, so I hope I'll find a girl to dance with, but you know, there's snacks and stuff..." he said trailing off.
"Well, if you're nice I might let you dance with my date, once," Nicky said softening, having not doubt been one of the 'stag' boys before.
"So, Dylan who are you taking to the dance?" Terrance ask. T, as he liked to be called, was of mixed decent, a beautiful caramel color with deep dark eyes that sort of pulled you in and very nice body. If I wasn't already crushing on someone I'd have sure given him more attention. But T was most definitely straight and often bragged about the girls he'd been with. How much was truth and how much bravado, who knew?
"No one, I'm not going," Dylan said starting to peel his banana, "Not my kind of fun. Besides I have plans tonight."
Everyone looked at Dylan with interest as if waiting for more, but he just resumed peeling his banana and then took a big bite.
"Mmm, just ripe enough," he said around a mouthful of the sweet fruit.
"I'm talking Lindsey Marshal, T said then, she's hot for my bod," he chuckled.
"Oh, yeah...what you gonna do?" Larry sneered, "I want details..."
"A gentleman never tells," T sniggered, "at least not till later, after the deed is done."
"Anyone else going, you going Josh?" Nicky asked smugly, pretty sure he knew the answer.
"Nope, never go to those things. They're for lovers," I chuckled.
"Yeah, well...there are all kinds of love..." Nicky said without explaining.
"Yeah, there are," Dylan said grinning, "and I love me some bananas."
With that everyone laughed and the tension Nicky had caused seemed to melt away. We talked about other things then and soon it was time to go to class.
In PE that day, we played dodge ball and Coach warned us not to shoot at anyone's face and the first injury the game was over. He knew us well, kids could get carried about even in simple games like this and nailing someone a little too hard came easy. But with coach warning us to play fair and not be out for blood we managed to get through the game with only a few red welts and bruises.
In the showers, more than one guy had a red mar on their butt or thigh or in a couple of instances back or chest where the ball had hit them, but no one complained. The marks were medals of honor and would be gone by tomorrow.
I'd been lucky and sustained no lasting marks, but Dylan had a big red splotch square in his chest where Nicky had landed a good one with all the force he could muster. I suspected he did it on purpose and intended for it to sting, but Dylan just shrugged it off and laughed as he accepted his fate and got out of the game.
When Dylan left to go get dressed out I approached Nicky, "What the hell was that about?" I asked angrily, "you heard what Coach said about hitting to hard."
"Oops, I guess I don't know my own strength," he smirked, "besides, he's tough and he can take it. You don't hear him complaining, do you?"
"No, because unlike you, he's a good sport. You should count you lucky stars that he is, cause someone else might have wanted payback, maybe outside of school. So, watch it!"
"Oooo...I'm quaking, queer boy," Nicky said and I spun around so fast my head almost came off.
"What did you say?" I practically screamed as I got right up in his face.
The look of fear and shame was evident on Nicky's face but it quickly turned to remorse, "I'm sorry," he whispered, "so, so sorry. I didn't mean to say that..."
I didn't know what to do. Should I just forget it and let it go, or deal with it now before it got out of hand. And what could I do anyway. I could whip his ass for what he'd said. We're both be in trouble and anyway, it wouldn't stop him from doing it again. No, best to just let it go.
"Just stay away from me, okay?" I finally said, "we're not friends anymore, go it."
"But..." he said looking ready to cry, "I said I was sorry."
"Yeah, well sometimes sorry just doesn't cut it," I said and then I walked away.
Dylan was already dressed and waiting for me and he gave me a curious look when I came out of the shower room, no doubt looking flustered and flushed.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, fine," I said trying to sound as normal as possible.
"Okay, I'm gonna head out, I need to go by my locker."
"K, see ya later."
Nicky came out then and he gave me a wide berth as he went to his locker and began dressing. I tried to ignore him, but he was sneaking little peeks at me every chance he got. Finally I got tired of it and gave him a scathing look, then slammed my locker door and charged out of there.
Fortunately I would have to deal with Nicky again till Monday and hopefully by then I'd have cooled down some. It suddenly occurred to me that I never used to get this upset or confrontational before I met Dylan and I wondered if that was a good thing or a bad thing. I sighed and went off to class and fortunately the teacher was engaging enough that day to keep my mind off my own problems.
That night Dylan called to confirm our sleepover and I laughed.
"Afraid I'm gonna bail on you at the last minute?" I teased.
"Nah, just wanted to make sure you what time you were coming."
"Noon, I'm gonna ride my bike, remember?" I chuckled to hide my own nervousness.
"Yeah, cool. Don't eat, cause mom is gonna fix us some lunch, okay?"
"No problem, I'll sleep till ten and have a bowl of cereal to hold me over. But I'll be hungry by noon, trust me."
"Cool, well...I was wondering, today in the shower, what was that all about...with Nicky? I heard you kind of get loud."
"He was just being a jerk, that's all. No big deal. I kind of overreacted I guess. It's fine, we'll get over it."
"Okay, cool. You know, he seems like he watches us a lot, you and me. Like he's trying to figure something out. Any clue what that's about?"
"Just Nicky, being Nicky, I guess. He's kind of weird sometimes."
"Ah, okay, well...listen, I gotta go, but I'll see ya tomorrow, okay?"
"Yeah, noon," I chuckled and he chuckled and we hung up.
"Who was that, lover boy?" Kenny teased as he breezed in the kitchen and headed to the fridge.
"What are you talking about?" I said angrily.
"Oh, nothing. Just wondered if that was Dylan or one of your other friends."
"What does that mean?" I challenged. Thank God mom and dad were nowhere to be found, probably in their room by now.
"Oh, nothing," he said as he pulled a jar of pickles out of the fridge.
"Look, if there's something you wanna ask me or something you want to tell me, now's the time. Mom and dad are already in bed and it's just us two."
Kenny's look softened then and he frowned, "It's just, well...since you met that Dylan guy you've been different."
"Different, how?"
"I don't know, not your usual quiet and meek self. Like you've gotten tougher or something."
"And? That's not a bad thing, is it?"
"I guess not, but what's it all about? What's the big deal with that guy? Is it because you, um, like him so much, or what?"
"Let's go up to my room," I said making a decision I hoped I wouldn't regret. But knowing my little brother as I did, I wasn't too worried. In fact, I figured telling him a few things might make it easier for him to understand and to come over to my side. He hated being left out in the cold and had always wanted to be treated as an equal, well now was the time to test that theory.
Seated on my bed as I stood facing him I began, "Do you know what gay means?"
"Duh," he said with a smirk, "it's when two dudes or two chicks like each other in a sexy way."
"Yes, and no. Sometimes it's not about sex, it's about feelings, like love, you know?"
"Yeah, so...are you trying to tell me you're gay, cause if you are, I'm totally cool with that. It explains a lot of stuff that's been going on lately. Like this Dylan guy. You love him, don't you?'
Wow, talk about perceptive. My little bro already had me figured out.
"I don't know if you'd call it love, yet," I said frowning, "It's more of a crush, you know, like I really like him, but I'm not sure how he feels, so it's kind of just friends for now."
"That sucks. Why don't you just tell him how you feel?"
"Have you seen his body?" I teased, "one punch and I'd be out for the night."
Kenny giggled, "He wouldn't hit you. I don't really know him, but I know he wouldn't hit you. Even if he didn't like what you said, he'd be cool about it. I just know it."
"You're probably right, but it's still a lot to think about. We're slowly getting to know each other and this sleepover tomorrow night may be a chance to find out if he has feeling for me, too."
"Yeah, while you're laying in bed nekkid," he giggled.
"We're not going to be naked," I chuckled, "maybe in our undies."
"Hot," Kenny giggled.
"Hey, don't go getting the hots for my crush."
"Nah, I like girls. I think," he said looking unsure all of a sudden, "Yeah, I do," he said brightening, "there's this girl named Sandra in my class and she's sooo nice."
"Good for you, little bro, I'm glad one of us is...normal," I sighed.
"You're normal, just...gay normal," he said grinning.
"So, are we cool then. You know you can't tell mom and dad about this, right?"
"Paleeeze," he said rolling his eyes, "when was the last time I ever went blabbing to mom and dad about anything we talked about?"
"Never, and I appreciate that. And you know I'll keep your secrets, too."
"Like I have a lot of them," he smirked, "but I get it. I'll have more as I get older. So, tell me, what's it like to like a boy...?"
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