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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHCSdOWCY1
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡefHb6nADvp
“Hey, Eric,” I said. “Can you give me my phone and get out? I really need some sleep, still.”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWIRhKyrji
Eric looked at me for a few seconds, but didn’t put down my phone. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zfLAEw2bL
“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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AKgEZ007A
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡJizJDFWFZ4
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXek9gSGNU
“Who?”273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPxugOtgg1
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y5orgqsQQ
But then I saw the texts. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡicuerNPucl
Thursday; 3:57copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMjPjdD7wV
Delcan:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7helqSkXY
Hey, handsome.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpRbF7oZq8
Me:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzWmfnqsuJ
Hi. What’s up?copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpcetupi4Z
Delcan:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡprZ5RZl2qB
Working on the rest of my homework. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡorGRhUd9RY
But...I could use a good distraction. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzSddPfcQB
Me:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q9ghfwNpn
Delcan…copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡemKerWy78S
Delcan:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IRnSWR5DZ
Think you could come over?copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡIj09Jt5ZWT
Me:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡJb130SDytr
Don’t think so. I have a lot of homework I need to finish. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHpvX6RKXQ
Delcan:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡQANQuTiLZp
Okay. What class?copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡebh5XZTDdU
Me:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡifnRgoHX25
English, math class, and Pre-AP science. What about you?copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKEqseM9ma
Delcan:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIjaUSs77f
Science, Math, and some improvements for boxing. I messed up on my uppercut today, which never happens…copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡQad5gs5tbY
Me:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEOFJgF9jL
How could you mess up on anything? You’re amazing at each and everything you do. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLt0tGwK8B
I should know.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡDx3Lgo7ZOi
Delcan:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eHx2dDlL8
Ha. I know, it’s just that...I like to be at the top of my class. Is that weird or something?copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX0R8Exmdi
Me: copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqqVgmfApo
No. Just means you’re competitive. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIDj8JWWkq
Delcan: copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0zxcOc1NB
Okay, so is being competitive a good thing, or not?copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡm94JAmMNEv
Me:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d6cjOFLfA
Are you kidding? Of course it is.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pS6NkLdJX
Some people even think it’s hot…copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHonbva2Et
Delcan:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9clhbSAGG8
You’re cute too, Ez. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9icI0axIm
Sometimes, I seriously think you forget you’re the quarterback. You’re as sexy as they come.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyWoAxbGPb
Me:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8G2ITUIY2
Yeah…copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMWqKVKJrA
I have to go. Maybe we can talk when my homework is finished.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRkjk1xDr1
Delcan:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMgd2hkJgC
You don’t think you’d be able to take a break for a few seconds? copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18gjqN2Ihl
Me:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDTXwWFyFS
With you, no, Delcan. I seriously do need to get my work done, okay?copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0koYt6u51y
Delcan:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iK1DXSNlg
Just come over.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFNykGZ4Sl
I can tell my parents and Callie that we’re studying.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1J4z3L5v1
Me:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5eYIRzSoQ
They’ll know that’s a huge lie, Delcan.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCuuU3LSkL
Delcan:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkJOgNuC5S
Not really. I mean, we’re studying each other….copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTfBOa3Aml
Me:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWTR9cmxKI
What the heck? copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7rNvb1wfu
Sure, I’ll be over in a few minutes.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dYtQmkPO8
Delcan:copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gWg6ylMO5
Sweet. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QDm1AYmhD
And bring your homework too, in case you actually do want to study. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9ypB708pS
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqAyrfSXof
Why was he even going through my texts in the first place?copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡCceKkZv0dT
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5VDeAQMtM
This was not the way I planned to come out.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡydveF45WfR
“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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡM697IeEdIA
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡzV9rWFSBuL
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD08I4PhaC
“What do you want from me, Eric?” I asked him.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEfva0g7fi
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡXarKfzqJSZ
⟴, ⟴,⟴. I’m dead. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUiY0UQDgo
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡkS70Gasojb
“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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIBPZb5EUc
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVDjJtMKZ7
“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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVCM2etRdF
Eric smiled to me, but not any normal smile, a smug one. “Try again.”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwRxp0eR68
“Why are you forcing me to tell you?” I asked, raising my hands up in the air. “Can’t you just guess?”273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uRgC0Noms
Eric shook his head. “I’d rather hear it from you.”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMu6hvAWdg
“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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rsPUN8cQ8
Eric blinked, and then nodded slowly. “Okay…” he slowly said, processing it like I was still trying to. “Are you...bi?”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡht1DsZMIu6
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWZpzRqujL
“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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡiabTMrrXbr
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV1CBFsCnQ
“I-I...I’m gay.” I said. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNDCJWwR9j
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSgStqoEs0
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡrY4ATWTgv5
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9rtuMRmBe
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iESf17Pdu
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTy9NuSLwz
“You won’t tell Emmanuel right?” I asked him. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XVjloJu1w
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mwCxkiY3e
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMs3yn40nT
After he realized that neither Eric or I would give him anything, he moved onto Evelyn, who simply ignored him.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD2KWjO8nr
“Yeah,” I said.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYIOZRyvSG
Eric smiled without showing his teeth, shaking his head. Then, he got pretty serious. “So...does Evelyn know?”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCcMCt5QQM
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2uvaIE8eG
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAzeipCrpC
And I was right.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡosQhJHOFHM
“But what about your girlfriends?” he asked me with curiosity.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtC9lFNvC8
I raised my eyebrows. “Girlfriends?”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡeehsJZTkbd
“You know what I mean,” he said, talking with his hands. “Haven and Evvie.”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jB3oRxs8S
Slightly offended by the comment, I shrugged. “Evvie knows,” I said. “But Haven doesn’t. And neither does her sister, or her family.”273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojGoS2bnnV
“Oh my God, Ezra!”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAfC2tcvL3
“Not you too…”273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GCYvQ7ZMA
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1rsmS6tIR
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UmEvmR47C
“Yeah, she does.”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI24YcsNdz
“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.”273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr0hNdlbOy
I nodded. “I know,” I said, checking my phone to make sure there were no new messages. “I’m getting to it.”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMey2jSPjg
“How long have you been trying to get to it?” Eric asked me. He was right, and I hated it when he was. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDxt1K5cvn
“Good point.”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡjR53T2bb0B
Eric smirked. “Yup,” he said. “And when can we meet Delcan?”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mjb0sWXrt
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVLrZUZBfO
“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?”273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyfi6q4axJ
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡriuggbXt88
“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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmusYbCCsA
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAMyalDSjY
But it was fine that he did, because I still had my mixed emotions about him.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZphJ4Kk22
“Yes, they do,” I said. “And so does his sister. He’s really open about all of it.” copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwuga8X3YA
Eric nodded, soaking in everything. “I’ve never seen you really...look at any guys at school. Where does he go?”273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRbbxMbeJw
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIjYVOoEWF
“What?” Eric asked, pure shock on his face. “He goes to Oakwood?! Why would you even-how did you two-what-”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48QByrSorc
“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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGCgXZ48UF
Eric looked up at her. “Did you know that Delcan goes to Oakwood?” copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wfj8fddb1
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrboLL9lC6
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s1sLB5A27
I looked at him. “Two things,” I said. “One, be quiet. And two, how would that even affect the rest of you?”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡonNGEPLG26
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwf7KMqF83
“Who doesn’t?” Eric mumbled. But I was close enough to hear him, and I began laughing. “Is that true?” he asked me.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGyvWyiMDg
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3b34axLxg
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ877WUrSDM4
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…”273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTU8q2Tmfr
“Okay,” Eric said, sounding really odd. “Good to know.”copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsILyqaPRi
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡzl3USg2dwW
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BgRTGjoyo
Did that just happen? I thought to myself. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjGba8fjrA
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 protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGLAzC6XYS
It did. copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSqW2mKm6C
ns3.239.236.140da2
