Over the next week, things started to get easier with Delcan being around at school. Everyone at school now thinks that we’re just friends, which I guess is sort of true. But at least I could finally breathe when Delcan and Haven were around me at the same time. Though the more I got comfortable with Delcan, the more my girlfriend became suspicious.
“So..” Haven said, leaning onto the locker next to mine. 5th period had just ended, and I watched as she had a strange smile on her face. “Delcan and you are pretty close, right?”
I nodded slowly, dragging out my history binder. “Yeah…”
“Then do you know who he’s dating? I have a feeling that he goes here, and I really want to meet him.” I stopped what I was doing, and looked at her for a few seconds. There was really nothing I could say to her. Why was everybody so obsessed with who Delcan is with?
Now I know another reason why to never come out.
“Why do you care?” I asked her, making sure my voice sounded at level. There were probably better words that I could use, but that was all I could come up with.
Haven looked at me with her head tilted to the side, and her hands on her hips. Of course, she wanted answers. “Everyone kinda is, Ez,” she told me. “Well, except for the guys, obvi. But there aren’t a lot of gay people at this school in the first place, and Delcan is kinda like fresh meat.” I didn’t answer for a few seconds, because she was kind of wrong. Yeah, there weren’t a lot of gay kids at our school, but there were a ton of people who were bisexual. Annalise is, Thomas is, and so are a few people that I used to know in 8th grade. They just weren’t fully open to the idea of talking about it like Delcan is.
But before I could even open my mouth to reply to her, I heard a voice behind me who’s emotion wasn’t trying to be hidden. “You, Haven, are living proof that evolution can go in reverse,” the voice said. It didn’t take me longer than a second to realize it was Delcan. I turned around to face him, and he had his arms crossed over his chest, wearing the “I don’t give a ⟴ look.”
Haven immediately put on her sympathetic face, looking like she was actually hurt by what she’d said. “Oh my gosh, Delcan. I cannot believe I just said that! I’m so sorry, and you have every right to hate me.”
“K, cool,” Delcan said. I relaxed on my locker and waited for the two of them to stop arguing. Delcan had made it very clear that he didn’t want anything to do with Haven, while she was still trying to be his friend. I had gotten used to people fighting around me, so I just waited for it all to be over.
“And just for a reminder,” Delcan said to Haven. “It’s my life. I can do whatever I want with it, and if I were to share information like that to somebody, it wouldn’t be with you, Haven. And on top of that, I’m not anyone’s boyfriend, and I don’t plan to be.”949Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjg9njpn9T
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It was hard to tell if those words were just to get Haven off of him, or if they were actually true, but my heart was telling me not to ask.
Delcan didn’t wait for Haven to say anything back, and he walked off, giving Haven one more quick glare before doing so. When he was gone, I didn’t feel like following him, because something told me to leave it alone. Though Haven was still there, and she was pretty upset with me.
“Why didn’t you defend me?” she asked, actually looking a bit hurt.
“Because, Haven,” I said. “What you said is wrong, and you know that.” I walked off before she could say anything back to me, and I caught up with Adam before he went into normal science class. I’d been taking advanced science since I was in 6th grade, though that subject was probably his worst one.
“Hey, man,” I said.
Adam turned and gave me a nod. “Yo,” he said. “I don’t even understand what everybody’s obsession is lately. Yesterday, it was Kim and her butt, and now it’s some dude who’s gay. I mean, it’s not a big deal, I just don’t get it.” It seemed like he felt bad about what he’d said after mentioning Delcan like that, but I really didn’t care. I was pretty upset with him.
“I know,” I said. “Haven brought it up earlier, too.”
“Yeah, so did-” he paused for a moment, then gave me a smile. “Never mind. I’m just saying, what’s so amusing about all of that?”
I shrugged. “Not sure,” I muttered. “Guess people just like new things.”949Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHDpc6EUl3
“Then why was no one all over us when we got on the football team?” Adam asked. I smiled because it wouldn’t be too bad to get attention. Sure, I don’t really like girls in that way, but it didn’t mean I had an issue with it. I could always pretend, even though I knew that Adam wouldn’t be. “Like, come on. I’d like some attention.”
“I feel the same,” I said. “I mean, I have no problem being around him or anything, but the last time we got attention was on our first big win.”949Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuIV500RZC
949Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2P1CaSuEW
Adam nodded. “I agree,” he said. “Plus, everybody thinks that I have an issue with his sexuality and stuff. Which-I don't by the way. Neither Thomas and I are homophobic.”949Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9eos8avXk
949Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGWFMeJheQ
I looked at the floor but nodded. There was an odd silence between the two of us before Adam punched me lightly on my shoulder. “See you at practice.”
“You too,” I said.
And with that, both of us walked off.
Though I was never the type to try getting to class the second the bell rang, I did today. Maybe it was because of Delcan’s words, or my own thoughts, but they weren’t sounding good in my head. He never mentioned anything about...being more than “dating,” so it was weird to hear that word out his mouth. Even though he probably was just trying to get Haven off his back, the words stuck to my head.
But only because I don’t think I wanted what he did.
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