When I woke up, there was loud knocking on the door. Thinking it was Dad or something, I jumped up from my bed and practically ran to the door. The main reason why I felt so worried was because today was Friday, and I’d totally forgotten I got to skip school today. I opened it up, but instantly wanted to close it once I realized it was my older brother, Eric. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMJT8vRBlb
I didn’t even notice he had my phone in his hand until he held it up, his face without any expression at all. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiADyJQ8YY
“Hey, Eric,” I said. “Can you give me my phone and get out? I really need some sleep, still.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwHriGnOlM
Eric looked at me for a few seconds, but didn’t put down my phone. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hzKbIg2jC
“Come on, Eric,” I said, putting out my hand, flat so that he’d just leave it there and then go back to what he’s doing. “Give it back.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWUOAsyqBw
Eric shrugged, then went into my room without asking and sat down on my bed. “I will,” he said. “But, first, I need you to tell me who this Delcan kid is.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡp537wlOUa9
The second I heard Delcan’s name, my entire body went into lockdown mode. Don’t say anything about him, I said. Tell no one. Don’t tell him anything he needs to know. Just lie and get it over with. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbrgVDYcFi
“Who?”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeP5Z7O15MU
Eric titled his head to the side. “You know who,” he said, handing me my phone. I took it, making sure I wouldn’t make eye contact. This probably wouldn't even be that bad. They would just be him flirting with me and me joking about that. Or I could just say that all of is a lie, because I couldn’t tell him. And I really did think it’d just be a breeze.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUeIJObhfM
But then I saw the texts. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFSRMpdAjo
Thursday; 3:57copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0zbgvOfIu
Delcan:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwoLf7AqpQ
Hey, handsome.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡddv55huiRO
Me:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBOgM4MBju
Hi. What’s up?copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R0uCfBdG1
Delcan:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Uez0jQvCI
Working on the rest of my homework. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjk7A7cmIw
But...I could use a good distraction. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOnRi07UeN
Me:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡViIaRIuId6
Delcan…copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwqLE0TRmC
Delcan:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡodqL5IMcD0
Think you could come over?copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yiIJaqdSE
Me:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjbK5QLYH8
Don’t think so. I have a lot of homework I need to finish. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6m1RrKEDn
Delcan:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDWXmF7NSZ
Okay. What class?copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdjDYptJnb
Me:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYhe09FKNj
English, math class, and Pre-AP science. What about you?copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sX4qjJx6C
Delcan:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyPRbOgExE
Science, Math, and some improvements for boxing. I messed up on my uppercut today, which never happens…copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqD7EDgko3
Me:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvwAAWUju0
How could you mess up on anything? You’re amazing at each and everything you do. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1zLTKz9p7
I should know.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfxrmc4Dxs
Delcan:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbYdMyaGSE
Ha. I know, it’s just that...I like to be at the top of my class. Is that weird or something?copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOGgzz19Iq
Me: copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwFPX222Gz
No. Just means you’re competitive. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡunKtAw2LcU
Delcan: copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUI5aiFbsn
Okay, so is being competitive a good thing, or not?copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJUizSkBU0
Me:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡapoUSZrUKE
Are you kidding? Of course it is.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡPayxgIQVUi
Some people even think it’s hot…copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw2dPB59c0
Delcan:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡampzhiyJdi
You’re cute too, Ez. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2sVAIEqEz
Sometimes, I seriously think you forget you’re the quarterback. You’re as sexy as they come.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡIX6LaVmg5z
Me:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgWGPdZnXc
Yeah…copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡGke9gPSVfw
I have to go. Maybe we can talk when my homework is finished.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYtBJEw6VB
Delcan:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcSBTHPS5M
You don’t think you’d be able to take a break for a few seconds? copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L7kUn9Nio
Me:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNnMp6rVdm
With you, no, Delcan. I seriously do need to get my work done, okay?copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSzpts7jkc
Delcan:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qYcKTATGT
Just come over.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZHFM6Ld1Y
I can tell my parents and Callie that we’re studying.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzR9ZlC6EX
Me:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJnhW7aw0Q
They’ll know that’s a huge lie, Delcan.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiP7XCeJQf
Delcan:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqPzAOUcVz
Not really. I mean, we’re studying each other….copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eiwvfDFME
Me:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcWmkUYyDO
What the heck? copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmfEVPsQ1o
Sure, I’ll be over in a few minutes.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbCIH8YlNK
Delcan:copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkXWGiQEQu
Sweet. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFQIjMyMDz
And bring your homework too, in case you actually do want to study. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3KMLsUKNI
My throat was dry, but at least my phone was back in my hands. Clearly, these texts showed that we were much more than friends. I swallowed, and held my phone tightly in my hand, trying to pace my breathing. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN2sJIKznB
Why was he even going through my texts in the first place?copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QhUzAG7mj
I still wasn’t even breathing correctly. Possibly, I was sweating, I wasn’t sure. The morning sun shone through my room, which usually calmed me, but now made me wonder how long it would take for me to reveal the truth. Days? Nights? Years, maybe.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwmsj8UeSI
This was not the way I planned to come out.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnvZQfIBP5
“Wanna explain it?” Eric asked, his voice sounding questionable. I didn’t even know if he was angry or not, it just seemed weird to hear it.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTWuNw4tDr
I shook my head, still looking down. I had to bite my lip down to hold back the tears that were starting to form on his face. But I guess I was biting hard enough that I began bleeding. The blood wasn’t a lot, but it was burning as if I’d put my hand in boiling water. I stood up, pushing past Eric and went into my bathroom that I shared with him. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlY9NiiIwa
Grabbing a tissue, I tried my best to get all of the blood off my face while also getting back all the pain I felt right now. I didn’t know why, but I thought that going in the bathroom would have Eic take the hint, though he followed me in there, his arms crossed. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtyWtpbb01
“What do you want from me, Eric?” I asked him.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdUeIHKNbo
Eric un-crossed his arms and put them down to his sides. “The truth,” he said to me. “I took a few screenshots of the conversations between the two of you, plus the pictures…” he shook his head, and I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks. “But I just need the truth, Ezra.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYJd8wvqe2
⟴, ⟴,⟴. I’m dead. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFwaBZzNaz
But Eric didn’t even wait for me to respond to him. “I won’t tell Mom, or Dad. But I just want you to tell me what’s going on between you two.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsNJGwqqjC
“Can’t you just guess?” I snapped. He raised his eyebrows to me, and I shook my head, leaving the bathroom. I could feel the tears beginning to find their way into my heart. There was no way I could tell Eric, he was basically like Dad.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyAyMJ5i9k
But he wasn’t backing down. Eric followed me out of our bathroom and sat down on the bed next to me. “Guess what, Ezra?”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLZQVBPuo0
“Um…” I said, trying to find some way to say the words. “Delcan-Delcan and I-” I stopped myself and thought about anything that could get me out of this. “We’re just friends. I have a girlfriend, Eric.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dsSW9onzI
Eric smiled to me, but not any normal smile, a smug one. “Try again.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡZogAX2k2kt
“Why are you forcing me to tell you?” I asked, raising my hands up in the air. “Can’t you just guess?”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7KdrX7CyN
Eric shook his head. “I’d rather hear it from you.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFemwaXmEm
“Fine!” I said. Maybe if I just said it, he’d leave me the ⟴ alone. But, just as I was about to get the words out of my mouth, my stomach twisted, and I closed my mouth. I closed my eyes, and then said the words rather fast. “I’m dating him.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIAPAxYZUy
Eric blinked, and then nodded slowly. “Okay…” he slowly said, processing it like I was still trying to. “Are you...bi?”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUXYvV1PXl
I shook my head. Maybe if I was bi, things would’ve been easier. I still would’ve been into girls, and avoiding Delcan by saying I had a girlfriend would’ve been easier. But, my stupid mouth had to open up and just say it. Now, here I was, being forced out of the closet. “No.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl1yHxIFTm
“Oh,” Eric said. I could tell her felt uncomfortable, but he was trying to act cool about all of it. “Then what are you?”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2g5C5Ga4F4
The tears were already coming. I hid my face away from him and tried to pull myself together, but my body was already giving up. Might as well say it all.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnZAlvvmkt
“I-I...I’m gay.” I said. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEOJcwhVbb
Eric didn’t say anything to me, instead, he just nodded. Then he said something both of us knew were true. “Mom and Dad will kill you if they find out.” copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡiernRx41BK
I nodded and ran my hands through my hair, feeling my breathing skip. “I know,” I said. “How are you not mad at me?”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5e75PsAkPV
Eric shrugged, like it was an everyday thing that he deals with this. “Mom and Dad taught us that being gay, bisexual, trans, or anything else, is wrong. But I don’t think I could judge you over something you can never change. And if that’s who you are, I’m willing to accept that.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxzDhM9zHl
I didn’t even know that you could happy cry. I seriously just thought it was something they did in movies. Like, where the guy gets the girl, and she’s happy crying because he revealed his feelings for her. But here I was, happy crying. More than anything, I was thankful to at least have him accepting me. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0zboqIsrk
Though I didn’t even want him to see my crying, he pulled me into a half-hug. I didn’t resist it like always. Instead, I rested my head on his shoulder, still happy-crying. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxzjDpMeKC
“You won’t tell Emmanuel right?” I asked him. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9y9Jbrwl0d
Eric laughed, letting me go. “How could I? I don’t even think he completely knows what gay means. Telling him would have no point.” copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKegWCGF48
I nodded, laughing too. I remembered the night after we watched a movie which turned out to have a lesbian character, Mom and Dad sat us down for a long talk. Because I was around 10 years old, hearing the words hurt me, even though I was still too young to know why. But I do remember that the entire time, Emmanuel kept on tapping on Eric or me and would ask us what they were talking about. I told him he needed to stop after he tried getting Eric’s attention for a third time, but he was only four then. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hGzBkZnyJ
After he realized that neither Eric or I would give him anything, he moved onto Evelyn, who simply ignored him.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Hh9rtBXOB
“Yeah,” I said.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvmpLi1sY5
Eric smiled without showing his teeth, shaking his head. Then, he got pretty serious. “So...does Evelyn know?”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYmhyXBxla
I nodded, halfy remembering the details from that night. Lots of tears, and lots of heartache. “Yeah,” I said. “She found out when I was in 7th grade.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡglRyvi17gP
Eric seemed shocked, and it was really hard to tell why. Maybe because he was suddenly hearing all this news about my sexuality, or possibly because I never told him about any of it. Still, I had a feeling he was about to ask me a lot more questions.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrk5Q6oRym
And I was right.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9kkrSi2pE
“But what about your girlfriends?” he asked me with curiosity.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡcG04ewnfDD
I raised my eyebrows. “Girlfriends?”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5l5qrVxPN5
“You know what I mean,” he said, talking with his hands. “Haven and Evvie.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKev5FooIO
Slightly offended by the comment, I shrugged. “Evvie knows,” I said. “But Haven doesn’t. And neither does her sister, or her family.”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYNWkvSkyQ
“Oh my God, Ezra!”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Vu30JznZc
“Not you too…”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNGDNOrOTe
Eric ignored my comment. Instead of stopping to think about a response, he acted as if I’d never even opened my mouth. “You really need to tell Haven,” Eric said. “Does she love you?”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15y6wZ23OP
I looked at him this time. The inside of me wanted to respond with; Oh, you didn’t go through those messages? But I knew that wasn’t the me everyone knew, not even the me Eric knew. But it felt as if one of the thousands of weights I felt everyday had been lifted off my shoulder, so I fessed up.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80AnwG2V4L
“Yeah, she does.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7GeaGYJ4X
“Bro…” Eric said, dragging out the word and falling down on my bed. I looked at him, but still was feeling a bit thankful that he was cool with all of this. Not the Haven part, the part about me. Honestly, I thought the second he would’ve heard about Delcan and I, he would’ve immediately gone to Mom or Dad and would’ve told them everything. Maybe to get me in huge trouble for the first time, I don’t know. But the fact that he was so cool about my sexuality made me feel a bit better about myself, even though I still had Haven to deal with. “You really need to tell her. I’m not really allowed to tell you what you wanna do with your life, but...you seriously need to let her know.”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaltoMrvpZ
I nodded. “I know,” I said, checking my phone to make sure there were no new messages. “I’m getting to it.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡV62ucytfBi
“How long have you been trying to get to it?” Eric asked me. He was right, and I hated it when he was. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KjF7Pl9Kp
“Good point.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuwBIGiGqn
Eric smirked. “Yup,” he said. “And when can we meet Delcan?”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡEltGPGfjVR
I tensed up, and looked at him quickly. “What do you mean we?” I asked, my voice sounding just as tense as the rest of my body did. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0BVFIK1Sv
“Evelyn and I,” Eric said, seeming completely calm about all of it. He’d turned his body to where he was still sprawled out on my bed, though he was looking at me now. “Has Evvie met him?”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIY7FjCxEb
No use trying to hide ⟴ now. “Yeah. But I really don’t think you should talk to him. That sounds rude, I know, but-”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOZXpIEIp4
“Do his parents know?” he interrupted. I didn’t even know if Eric cared about my answer, he was probably just asking me a series of questions now. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53qyJgfZzb
I nodded, biting my lip. Both of Delcan’s parents knew he was gay. His mom was cool with it, basically let it all slide, but his dad was still trying to understand it. Though Delcan always told me never to worry about it, because him and his dad have been close since he was born. Though, as much as I’d like to trust Delcan, I’m pretty sure his dad hates me. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbbs6RbRS3
But it was fine that he did, because I still had my mixed emotions about him.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjRmgh4V0t
“Yes, they do,” I said. “And so does his sister. He’s really open about all of it.” copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5wpEgFUgf
Eric nodded, soaking in everything. “I’ve never seen you really...look at any guys at school. Where does he go?”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocZ5PMUhAN
I was still worried that Dad would walk in any second now, but then I remembered the large meeting he had today, and that Mom was still feeling pretty bad. Neither one of them would even make an effort to ask me about my actual life, anyways. “Oakwood,” I responded, beginning to feel distracted.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56qgyx7Jp0
“What?” Eric asked, pure shock on his face. “He goes to Oakwood?! Why would you even-how did you two-what-”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMjF8zXcvX
“Don’t attack him, Eric.” Evelyn demanded softly, sounding a bit like Mom when she wanted all of us to stop fighting. She was standing in my doorway, her arms crossed. She was wearing the same clothes from earlier, but her hair was now dry, and pulled back out of her face. She must’ve been in the backyard practicing. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡGu3dUItACJ
Eric looked up at her. “Did you know that Delcan goes to Oakwood?” copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHQhYpO69e
Evelyn nodded, raising her eyebrows. “It’s not even that big of a deal,” she said. I shook my head, smiling to her, because I knew that she didn’t even understand the rivalry between Oakwood and EastLand, not that she needed to know, anyways, she was only in 9th grade. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6X0pD8ZAlu
Eric glared at her, beginning to put up a fight. “Yes, it is. You do know that since he is dating someone on the opposing team, that Delcan could just break up with him at any time. And if Ezra is heartbroken, we’re all screwed.” he said. He was still talking with his hands, something my brother did when he wanted to make a point. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1ZCeTkIuX
I looked at him. “Two things,” I said. “One, be quiet. And two, how would that even affect the rest of you?”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡskEjBDIqJR
Both of them ignored me, too caught up in which one would be right. “Delcan isn’t on the football team,” Evelyn argued. “He’s on the boxing team. Plus, I’ve already interrogated him about that, I’m positive he wouldn’t. On top of that, he basically hates everyone on the Oakwood football team.” copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPPEesNe38
“Who doesn’t?” Eric mumbled. But I was close enough to hear him, and I began laughing. “Is that true?” he asked me.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡICaHepBz85
I caught my breath and then nodding, doing my best to ignore what Evelyn said about interrogating Delcan. “Yup,” I said. “Also, he knows what the two of you look like, so don’t try talking to him after school or something.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡwApbT1OCry
Eric sat back on his arms, relaxing. Evelyn chuckled, probably thinking about how awkward of a conversation that would be. “Will he be at the game tomorrow?” Eric asked me, beginning to grab his phone.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5njKCLxQO
I felt the need to take it from him, like with what he did with mine, but I resisted. Brushing the back of my neck with my hand, I nodded slowly. “Yeah…”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjYRMmEeS4
“Okay,” Eric said, sounding really odd. “Good to know.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzqQgFfRen
Evelyn cleared her throat. “Stop it,” she said. “Come on. I need one of you to help Emmanuel get ready for this morning. Oh, and Ezra?” I looked away from Eric and at my younger sister, who was already looking tired. “Someone’s here to see you.”copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLYmWRnLuP
I furrowed my eyebrows. But before I could even open my mouth and ask who it was, Eric had began leaving my room, following Evelyn into the hallway to help Emmanuel get ready for today. Before he left my room, Eric looked back at me, and raised one of his eyebrows, his sign of “I love you”, then left my room.copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYVIhFk2cb
Did that just happen? I thought to myself. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSKiI1XXTb
All of the words that were said, the huge surprise from my brother being okay with my sexuality (except for the fact that he’s from Oakwood. That would take some time to get over for him), and on top of all of that, Evvie was back in town. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQXjdTbAFF
It did. copyright protection10ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0ElIV03Yd
ns34.207.152.62da2
