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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqgbYKx9sF
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0MBgdMQ2h
“Hey, Eric,” I said. “Can you give me my phone and get out? I really need some sleep, still.”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz4wZmYcAL
Eric looked at me for a few seconds, but didn’t put down my phone. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPbb1aVyjo
“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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7p1IFevvh
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYRRvQdt2N
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXCq9EB5dU
“Who?”120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjWCXi88WO
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr1TsKyHg4
But then I saw the texts. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡY22PUxF71I
Thursday; 3:57copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgGyHPciUp
Delcan:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoQfhiZPZg
Hey, handsome.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYjWNdutkw
Me:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfNSNuH0NC
Hi. What’s up?copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡp00gghyf7y
Delcan:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2xPYl2tOm
Working on the rest of my homework. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0CNSqhAq5
But...I could use a good distraction. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ6d6mvFCC
Me:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8ELXD6Z7V
Delcan…copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7VZUOqcoQ
Delcan:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBGoONKjsn
Think you could come over?copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGvBrteytm
Me:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPtpPodfAB
Don’t think so. I have a lot of homework I need to finish. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ScNg1A1k2
Delcan:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡogJURbn6JR
Okay. What class?copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdGWCwkPLU
Me:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSNDF3Ef5Z
English, math class, and Pre-AP science. What about you?copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuf1o7cMdW
Delcan:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG9kDLQXAC
Science, Math, and some improvements for boxing. I messed up on my uppercut today, which never happens…copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1uFF9JkpO
Me:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHjzIHGVuU
How could you mess up on anything? You’re amazing at each and everything you do. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8B1seMjcn
I should know.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5prK5Bup0
Delcan:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJICirkZmO
Ha. I know, it’s just that...I like to be at the top of my class. Is that weird or something?copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeWufpJ2JV
Me: copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡqF0P6LUIgk
No. Just means you’re competitive. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡIz3qclRwke
Delcan: copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡlesiJIItKr
Okay, so is being competitive a good thing, or not?copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡoa7p0ebUWr
Me:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE1i5eEXLZ
Are you kidding? Of course it is.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6dEpXm7q6
Some people even think it’s hot…copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPhGehUqcQ
Delcan:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrvTKB7oyS
You’re cute too, Ez. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJZBnoyKvZ
Sometimes, I seriously think you forget you’re the quarterback. You’re as sexy as they come.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4O8L2qGtC
Me:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡwk42eOEldc
Yeah…copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBWdcjCL48
I have to go. Maybe we can talk when my homework is finished.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVdy3YBuE4
Delcan:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bpbeD0SZe
You don’t think you’d be able to take a break for a few seconds? copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eP0r2k4No
Me:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxkp6noHS3
With you, no, Delcan. I seriously do need to get my work done, okay?copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZeaatOblN
Delcan:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq1frthMy4
Just come over.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKCvaITypL
I can tell my parents and Callie that we’re studying.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbKQmUja6E
Me:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw50Lwu2i2
They’ll know that’s a huge lie, Delcan.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tMJYWrRvQ
Delcan:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡC71mXnhhyn
Not really. I mean, we’re studying each other….copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwU1xFx1IP
Me:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PjQyhMZ9i
What the heck? copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMpS8ngqEO
Sure, I’ll be over in a few minutes.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAlIBSn9U5
Delcan:copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXViNtAAsJ
Sweet. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjwibFGr5k
And bring your homework too, in case you actually do want to study. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTUBCwuZFo
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5El0W9uxJX
Why was he even going through my texts in the first place?copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCgNVrsBSx
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8rQK3me32
This was not the way I planned to come out.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9GY9D8DaR
“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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡBruReqiG1b
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXkFO5JbjM
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWVUV5x3JH
“What do you want from me, Eric?” I asked him.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk9pbnPu4R
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjO1ZD6IOp
⟴, ⟴,⟴. I’m dead. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2mqWhwtlf
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgzkGLHvgM
“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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡnW5cY4P4ND
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiFQIC8e5u
“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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡugK4AqQiW6
Eric smiled to me, but not any normal smile, a smug one. “Try again.”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j3aw1fl52
“Why are you forcing me to tell you?” I asked, raising my hands up in the air. “Can’t you just guess?”120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaUdhsHSSb
Eric shook his head. “I’d rather hear it from you.”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzkFq3hzhm
“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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MDOQefGxb
Eric blinked, and then nodded slowly. “Okay…” he slowly said, processing it like I was still trying to. “Are you...bi?”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCvQM1R1nX
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mxo1YrixJ
“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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBwjpmxF34
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQGmGtoxvL
“I-I...I’m gay.” I said. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz82Y90qsy
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡa89Grz3Ze6
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45WLsCeRaK
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFkKIjUIJm
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUurAW0DWf
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0lGLOj0Fu
“You won’t tell Emmanuel right?” I asked him. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡLha62SpWB8
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡjS3OjDLkhH
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2IWIuK2vp
After he realized that neither Eric or I would give him anything, he moved onto Evelyn, who simply ignored him.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgHGmKzLHa
“Yeah,” I said.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡU03XPnBAIT
Eric smiled without showing his teeth, shaking his head. Then, he got pretty serious. “So...does Evelyn know?”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡijV0fEu0GZ
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdg7TCRtoz
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjzHhp5T0N
And I was right.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi7IimmNn3
“But what about your girlfriends?” he asked me with curiosity.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNg2VaFNE4
I raised my eyebrows. “Girlfriends?”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡminWZFl5yl
“You know what I mean,” he said, talking with his hands. “Haven and Evvie.”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlDZ3WmqJK
Slightly offended by the comment, I shrugged. “Evvie knows,” I said. “But Haven doesn’t. And neither does her sister, or her family.”120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttFZuTNj25
“Oh my God, Ezra!”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwxLzsWegA
“Not you too…”120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQoUsmdAva
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCSGySmUXU
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQfTQjQdJz
“Yeah, she does.”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe6uZFXVTd
“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.”120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpikjvBMdtE
I nodded. “I know,” I said, checking my phone to make sure there were no new messages. “I’m getting to it.”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcQoTohfie
“How long have you been trying to get to it?” Eric asked me. He was right, and I hated it when he was. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡay5qsVJi8t
“Good point.”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5HYAHDyCx
Eric smirked. “Yup,” he said. “And when can we meet Delcan?”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8KBxD0OTj
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34S8uk4eDd
“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?”120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX84WDXKW0
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvjpuT67rJ
“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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdSpOq2PeW
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8i00rulwJY
But it was fine that he did, because I still had my mixed emotions about him.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqu2QYWW6o
“Yes, they do,” I said. “And so does his sister. He’s really open about all of it.” copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLByaqYcfd
Eric nodded, soaking in everything. “I’ve never seen you really...look at any guys at school. Where does he go?”120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVQePjA3U5
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ow9oYEKun
“What?” Eric asked, pure shock on his face. “He goes to Oakwood?! Why would you even-how did you two-what-”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdOcgEacBg
“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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh1cPcCOoS
Eric looked up at her. “Did you know that Delcan goes to Oakwood?” copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ygyIFwnp1
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7ezkvevHP
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi6OvW07Lp
I looked at him. “Two things,” I said. “One, be quiet. And two, how would that even affect the rest of you?”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NXhmFWT2m
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNu9mOFAkn
“Who doesn’t?” Eric mumbled. But I was close enough to hear him, and I began laughing. “Is that true?” he asked me.copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6FwUbtUie
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡjj2hApWxjY
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeMno9c3Kw
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…”120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjnyCTao6E
“Okay,” Eric said, sounding really odd. “Good to know.”copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaD5Hxgasz
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMTs3tR00b
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUpLhNUuQE
Did that just happen? I thought to myself. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gOEmvbDGE
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 protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5q6yuAquB
It did. copyright protection116ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtv0eNO9iF
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