Chapter 2: Are You In or Out?

When we walked through the door back into our house, my mom & dad went to their bedroom. I on the other hand went into the living room & plopped down onto the couch, going over my thoughts & what had just happened.

"Hey" said a voice. I turned around to see my brother Chris walking in from outside. He was in his bathing suit, dripping wet & had his hat on, which was also wet.

Chris was my younger brother. At 11, he was already popular with all the ladies in his grade. I wasn't very popular at all, but instead, I was mostly known as "Chris Truman's older brother."

Two years ago, I was on the computer doing none of your business. I had to go to the bathroom downstairs, due to the renovations we were having in our bathroom. While I was in there, Chris came into the house & saw what I had up on the monitor. When I returned & noticed him looking, I knew I had no choice but to confess to him that I was gay. He took it better than I expected, probably because he didn't know what gay was until I told him.

He constantly asks me if I've seen any hot guys. At first, him always asking me this was extremely uncomfortable. But over the last year, I don't mind. I even sort of like it, letting somebody know. He promised that he would never tell anybody. We talk on a regular basis.

Now here's the bad news. When Chris was 7, he was diagnosed with leukemia. When he began losing his hair, he began wearing hats to cover it from other kids. They already knew, but he still did it. Unfortunately, my family has never really been the richest people you'll meet, so it's been difficult to help treat his condition. My parents, mostly mom, have been strict on him & constantly worry about his well-being.

"Hi" I replied.

"How was your party thing? Is he hot?" he asked, taking the blanket on the couch & using it as a towel.

"Yes, but forget about that. Where were you?" I said firmly.

"I was out in the pond in the woods."

"Oh there's a good idea."

"What'd I do?" he asked.

"You know mom & dad don't want you swimming in that pond at this time of the year. It's getting colder kiddo."

"Are you gonna tell mom & dad?"

"Maybe."

He stopped drying off just then & stared at me.

"Connor!" he exclaimed, storming over to me & shoving me.

"I won't tell if you promise to stop swimming in that pond."

"Fine" he pouted with a sour look spread across his face. Clearly, he liked swimming in that pond & was upset about not being able to swim in it at this time of the year.

"Good" I said, pulling him into a brief hug.

"Stop" he chuckled.

I lightly pushed him away.

"Go to my room bud" I told him.

"Why?"

I shrugged.

"I don't know, I though you'd wanna hear about the new kid at school who is crazy hot."

"Ok" he said, walking to my room. I walked into the kitchen & got a soda before going to join my brother down the hallway in my room.

When I got there, I closed my door. Chris was sitting on my bed, lounging around, wanting to hear me talk.

"Get off my bed" I said.

"Why?"

"You're still soaked & I don't want my bed all wet" I answered, walking over & picking him up in my arms & moving him. Or at least trying to.

"Connor, stop. I have no place to sit" he complained.

I sighed. This kid never gave up.

"Fine," I said, placing him at the foot of my bed, "but you sit here."

As I sat down on my end of the bed, he began.

"So what's his name?"

"Well, his name is Travis & he just moved from Oklahoma & he's wicked hot, but also really cute at the same time. I mean Chris, he's just perfect. He has sort of long light brown hair, these deep dark blue eyes & he's maybe just like an inch taller than me."

"What would you give him?"

"Hmm. I give him a 9 out of 10."

"Not a 10? How come?"

"Only the fact that he's taller than me. If we were the same height, he'd be a perfect 10."

"Cool. Do you think you'll ever have a shot?"

"Well here's the thing. At the party, just before we left, he kissed me, right on the lips."

Chris's eyes opened wide at hearing this.

"That's kind of...weird."

I gave him a sour face.

"Sorry, but you know what I meant."

"Yeah. But still, it was incredible" I said, blushing a little bit.

"Well, if he is...you know...gay, do you think his parents & a lot of other people know?"

"I don't know kiddo. I guess I'll ask him tomorrow. Until then, I think you should go to bed. C'mere."

He walked over to me & I kissed him goodnight. Then he walked out of my room.

"G'night" he called.

"G'night" I called back.

I turned the light off, pulled the shades down & got undressed down to my boxers. I curled up in my bed & drifted off to sleep.

**********

The next day at school, I waited for Travis to arrive. I noticed that it was one of his parents dropping him off. I followed him for a little bit. When we were close enough to a bathroom, I pulled him into it.

"Ugghhh...."

I checked under the stall doors. No one. I went over & locked the bathroom door. I turned to him.

"You want more?" he asked with a smile.

"Travis, what exactly happened last night?"

"I kissed you."

"I know that, detective. But why? I mean, are you really...gay?" I asked him.

"Yeah. So? Half the school knows now."

"Already?! How?"

"I told some people. I'm not going to hide it. I tell everyone. Except you. For you, I SHOWED you.My parents also know. I'm not going to hide it."

I spoke before I thought.

"Lucky."

He gave me that puzzling smile. For now on, I named it 'his smile'.

"So...?"

"So what?"

"So are you gay?" he asked me.

"Well, I don't know, I mean I guess in one-"

"Just answer the question."

"Yes."

"Did you like that kiss?"

"Compared to kisses I've shared in the past, then-"

"Hey! Did you like that kiss or not?"

"Yes" I replied.

"Do you like me? Like, really really like me?"

"Travis, I don't know. I mean, I've only known you for like-"

He took hold of my shoulders just then.

"Connor! Do you really like me? Yes or no?"

"Yes" I stammered out.

Then he asked me one more question that would change my life.

"Would you want to be boyfriends?"

Before I could respond, he brought me into him & kissed me deeply on the lips. I couldn't help but just give myself to him. I just closed my eyes as I felt his warm wet tongue play with mine. His warm lips felt cozy on mine. I loved this. He pulled away then.

"And I'm not going to ask you again."

"Yeah, I would..." I stuttered.

"Ok then" he grinned, giving me one more kiss. He walked over tot he door, unlocked it & walked out, but not before turning around & winking at me. He was so amazing.

Wow. Just...wow.