Warning: If you don't tolerate or approve of the gay lifestyle please leave now.
This is pure fiction. No one in this story is a real person, living or deceased. Any similarities is just a coincidence. ___________________________________________________________________________
The field goal sailed between the goal posts as the clock ran out. Michael's team, The Blue Warriors, had just lost the game and it meant the end of their season. The crowd that had been cheering so loudly a few minutes before was now silenced with surprise. It had been indeed a close fight between the two teams. However, they had not expected for their team to lose in their own turf, especially on homecoming.
Michael had not seen the loss coming either. Another thing he hadn't expected was Andy's presence at the game. He had seen him a couple of times during the game. Or did he really? Because every time he had thought he spotted Andy watching from under the bleachers or pretty much anywhere near the field, he seemed to disappear into thin air.
"Did you see Andy tonight?" He asked Jake who was walking beside him.
Jake looked at him, immediately worried. "No. Why? Was he here?"
Michael shook his head. "I don't know. I thought I saw him a couple of times watching the game but... after a split second of looking away, he'd be gone." Michael had a hard time grasping even his own story. Had he just been seeing things?
Seeing that Michael really was tense and bothered, Jake's face softened And he tapped Michael's back as he said, "Michael, relax. Andy's gone now, okay? If he knows what's best for him, he's probably back in his dorm room right now at college."
Michael thought Jake could be right. But what if he wasn't? What if Andy wasn't done with them? But then again, he could be just seeing things and he didn't want to worry everyone else with something he wasn't sure of, especially Jake and Ivan, so he decided to just let it go. "Yeah. You're probably right."
"There you go." Jake smiled at him.
"Oh and can you not mention this to Ivan. I don't wanna freak him out or anything." Michael added.
Jake nodded. "Sure."
Everyone watched sadly as the Blue Warriors walk back into their locker room with their heads down. Ivan, however, was concerned for only one person— Michael, who was looking so defeated and deep in thought.
Jesse noticed the way Ivan had been staring at Michael. He nudged him and said, "He's a big boy, Ivan. He'll get over it."
Ivan nodded and sighed. "I know. I'm just worried about him. You know with David no longer here, he's gonna go home and... be all alone. I'm afraid that he'll—"
"Be like you?" Jesse joked.
Ivan raised an eyebrow. "I was going to say `beat himself up over the team's loss'."
Jesse smirked. "Exactly. He'll be broody and tortured, just like you."
Ivan scoffed and said, "Ha-ha. That's funny, especially coming from someone who's torturing himself by not going to the homecoming dance just because of Max."
"You're an ass." Jesse said in a whiny voice.
Ivan chuckled as he stood up from the bleachers. "Why don't you just come with us to the dance?"
"Yeah, right. I'm just dying to be you and Jake's pathetic third wheel." Jesse answered sarcastically as they started walking towards the parking lot.
"What are you talking about? I'm going with Michael and Alex." Ivan said.
Jesse didn't want to state the obvious but it really seemed like Ivan needed to hear it. "You're their pathetic third wheel?"
"I will be if you don't come with us!" Ivan argued. If Ivan had to be honest, he didn't want to go to the dance either. Especially if he would just have to watch Michael and Alex dancing together to some sappy love song. But he also didn't have any reason not to go so basically, he had no choice. "Will you just come, please? For me?"
"I don't know..." Jesse said as he considered it.
"Are you kidding me? This is me begging." Ivan said. "And besides, it's not about Max. It's about us having a great time with our friends. Plus, you're nominated!" Ivan had almost forgotten about the last part.
"Ugh. I was so close to forgetting about that nomination. Thanks for reminding me." Jesse said with sarcasm. Ivan just shrugged.
After a brief silence, Jesse finally caved in and said, "Alright, alright! I'll go. But I'm going just because you begged me to."
Ivan chuckled and said, "Thanks." Now he wouldn't have to worry about feeling like a third wheel. However, there was really no need for worry since every time he was with Michael, Michael always made sure that he wouldn't feel out of place. He would include him in conversations and if not, he would ditch who he was talking to just so Ivan could hang out with him.
"Here comes your boyfriend." Jesse whispered in Ivan's ear, nodding towards Jake who was walking in their direction.
"Shut up! He's not my boyfriend!" Ivan whispered back at Jesse.
"Hey. I'm sorry about the game." He said sincerely to Jake once he was in front of them.
"Me too. But just look at it this way, it's more reason to party and get wasted tomorrow, right?" Jesse added, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Thanks. I guess you're right." Jake said with a humble smile. "So you guys wanna grab something to eat? I'm starving!"
The offer was for the two of them but Jesse knew Jake was probably just being polite, so he said, "You guys go ahead, I'm kinda tired anyway."
"You alright riding with Jake?" Jesse asked since they had come to the game in Jesse's car.
Ivan nodded and said, "Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" He made sure to look at Jesse intently while he said that.
Jesse rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. See ya!" And with that, Jesse left.
"So?" Jake asked, after Jesse was gone.
Ivan felt like he had been put on the spot. He didn't want to say no to Jake but he wanted to check on Michael to make sure he was okay. "Actually, I'm..."
Just as he was about to gently turn down Jake's offer, he saw Alex and Michael walk into the parking lot. Michael's arm was around Alex's shoulder, and her arm was around his waist. The two were practically glued together at the hip; something that Ivan couldn't fail to notice.
Ivan looked at Jake who was still waiting for his answer. "I'm really craving some pizza." Ivan said with a little chuckle.
Jake grinned. "Alright then."
"Hey, you two!" Alex shouted when she saw Jake and Ivan.
"Hey." Ivan greeted back. "I'm sorry about the game, Michael." He said, trying to sound less concerned than he really was.
"It's okay." Michael responded with a weak smile then he looked at Jake and nodded. Jake nodded back.
"You played well though." Ivan said, trying to lighten up Michael's mood. "And you too, Jake." He added, afraid that his efforts to cheer Michael up could easily be misinterpreted.
"And you guys looked good doing it too!" Alex chimed in. "Unlike those rednecks who call themselves The Saints. They should really name their team The Hillbillies."
Jake and Ivan laughed at that but Michael just mumbled a thank you.
As Ivan noticed Alex leaning in for a kiss, he immediately diverted his attention to Jake. He was about to ask him if they could go already but his stomach did it for him when by growling loudly.
Jake chuckled at him and said, "I think we better go. Do you guys wanna join us? Where grabbing some pizza."
Alex and Michael looked at each other, both had the same question in their head. Was Jake taking Ivan out?
Alex was the first to respond. "We'd like to go but Michael and I have our own plans for tonight."
Michael looked at Alex then he nodded and smiled at Ivan before saying, "Yeah. We'll just see you tomorrow when we meet at your house."
"Sure." Ivan nodded.
"Let's go." Jake said as he led Ivan to his car.
After the two boys had left, Alex said to Michael, "So, Jake and Ivan, huh? Didn't see that one coming."
Michael didn't know how to respond so he just went with, "Yeah."
Jake took Ivan to a pizza place downtown called Lorenzo's. They were sitting in a booth at the far end of the restaurant and Jake had just finished the last piece of the Cheesy Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza.
"Thanks again for keeping me company, Ivan," said Jake.
"Sure." Ivan smiled at him. "No problem."
Jake shook his head and chuckled. "No. You don't understand. I really needed to go out tonight and avoid going home as long as I possibly could." Jake saw the questioning look on Ivan's face so he continued. "My dad. He'll surely be putting in his two cents on how I could have stepped up my game for the team to win."
"You're dad, the mayor?" Ivan asked.
"No. My dad, the overachiever. Just because he's such a success, he expects me to be the same." Jake tried to sound as light as possible, not wanting to make Ivan feel sorry for him or anything.
"But he's so nice to people!" Ivan argued. He thought maybe Jake was just exaggerating but he didn't say it to Jake. He didn't want him thinking that he was discounting his feelings. He just couldn't believe that the mayor would be anything like that, especially towards his own son. If he really was anything like how he was during his campaigns and public appearances, he couldn't be that horrible person. But then again, politics was all about appearances, so no one could know for sure.
"Yeah, he's a class act alright. But you have to live with him to really get to know him." Jake said, this time sounding a little serious.
Ivan remembered how it was living with his father, how he had always felt belittled and mocked because he hadn't been measuring up to his father's expectations. "I'm sorry if that's the case." He said sincerely.
Jake sighed then said, "That's alright. We can't choose our family, right? But we can choose who we're friends with." He said the last words with a bright smile.
Friends. Somehow word triggered a whole set of recollections from the day's events. Jake had been acting differently all day, walking him to his homeroom, having lunch with him and Jesse, and now taking him to a restaurant. Was that all they were? Friends?
Ivan knew it would sound presumptuous to ask, but the last thing he wanted was another confused relationship with a guy. He was already confused enough about how he was feeling towards Michael.
"Why did you invite me to eat tonight? I mean, aside from letting you delay going home." Ivan asked sheepishly.
Jake was surprised by Ivan's question. He tried to recount their conversation to understand what might have Ivan think going out for pizza had been for a different reason. "Whoa. Did you think I asked you out so that I could have an excuse to avoid my father?"
Ivan shook his head quickly. "No, of course not. But, I mean, I don't know. This morning you walked me to my homeroom and during lunch you ate with Jesse and me and now this." He looked at Jake unsurely. "What is this?"
Jake smiled kindly at Ivan. "All that and this..." He saw Ivan's hand resting on the table and he put his hand over it. "Because I like you, Ivan."
He said it so sincerely that Ivan didn't know what to say. He could feel his cheeks burning. So Jesse had been right. Jake liked him. But did he like Jake too? He searched for the answer within him and when he finally got it, he returned Jake's smile and said, "I like you too."
Jake drove Ivan home that night while Ivan gave him the directions. "Well, this is me." Ivan said as he gestured towards his house.
Once he brought the car to a halt, Jake said, "Thanks again for hanging out with me, Ivan. I had fun."
"Yeah, me too."
"So I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?" Ivan wasn't quite sure what Jake was saying with those words. Was he asking him to be his date or was it just his way of saying that they would be casually hanging out at the dance tomorrow? After all, Jake wasn't out yet. There was no way he could come to the dance with a guy, especially Ivan.
Remembering how he had already spoke of his confusion about them going out earlier, Ivan decided to forego asking about the dance. He didn't want to seem too clueless. Even though he really had no idea what was he supposed to do or how he was supposed to act. Or how he really was feeling for that matter.
Jake noticed Ivan drifting into thought. "Ivan?"
Ivan looked at Jake and answered, "Sure. I'll see you at the dance" He was already facing the door to leave the car but he felt Jake's hand on his shoulder.
"Goodnight, Ivan." He heard Jake say as the boy leaned towards him.
At first, he awkwardly waited for Jake's lips to meet his. But when it seemed to be taking forever, he leaned towards Jake and their lips finally touched.
If there was one way that Ivan could characterize the kiss he and Jake shared, it was that it felt familiar. The way Jake's lips felt on his, the way his tongue snaked into Ivan's mouth, and the way Jake held him so firmly against his body as if he wanted him to be closer to him than it was possible for two physical entities to be together.
Ivan didn't know how long it was until they separated but when they finally did, he suddenly realized why it had seemed so familiar and special. Jake had been his first kiss. Even though it hadn't happened for romantic reasons a year ago, it was Jake. And the realization made him smile.
Jake noticed Ivan's smile and said, "Your mind took you back to that playground a year ago, didn't it?"
"Yeah." Ivan smiled timidly before adding, "You were kinda my first kiss."
Jake smiled widely in surprise. "You were mine too."
Ivan scoffed. Something that he hadn't planned on doing. But somehow it came out of him. "Yeah, right." He said.
Jake laughed. "Okay. Fair enough. Technically, my first was in seventh grade when Sally Wesley practically forced her tongue down my throat."
Ivan made a face and imagined himself kissing a girl. The mere thought made him shudder.
"But you were the first guy that I ever kissed." Jake said and from where Ivan was sitting, it seemed like he was blushing.
Ivan smiled and leaned in for one more kiss before he said goodnight to Jake and bid him goodbye. He walked his way to the house feeling like a giddy school girl. There were butterflies in his stomach and he couldn't stop his damn self from smiling.
Upon entering the house, he saw Jean sitting on the couch, watching an old black and white movie and on the coffee table was a cup of tea.
"Hey, Pumpkin. Wanna join me?" Jean offered with her usual calm and kind voice.
Even though he had no idea what she was watching, Ivan said, "Sure. Let me just make myself some coffee."
When he came back, he sat beside Jean and put his cup of coffee on the table.
"You seem happy." Jean pointed out, with a curious smile on her face.
Ivan didn't know how she caught onto his mood but then he realized his smile must have never left his face since he had come into the house.
"I think I am." Ivan nodded, still with a smile, before taking a sip of his coffee.
"I would be too if someone made out with me like that in a car." Jean said, grinning and trying hard not to laugh.
Surprised by her words, Ivan choked on his coffee. Some of it regurgitated and sprayed out of his nose.
That did it for Jean. She laughed at Ivan as she patted his back, "I'll go get you some napkins." She left for the kitchen to get the napkins and a glass of water. When she came back, she saw the mess Ivan was with coffee stains on his shirt.
"Awww. I'm sorry, Pumpkin." She said, still giggling, as she handed him the glass of water.
"Were you watching us?" Ivan asked after he regained his ability to speak.
"Yes, I saw the whole thing." Jean answered casually but after seeing how Ivan was blushing, she added, "I'm just kidding. I peered through the window checking to see if it was you who had arrived. Then when I saw the two of you kiss, I just let you two be."
Ivan let out a relieved sigh.
"Now..." Jean faced him seriously and held his hands. "Do we need to have the sex talk?"
Ivan's eyes grew big which caused another fit of laughter from Jean.
"Okay! This is so unfair! You don't get to make fun of me for going through adolescence." Ivan scolded her, but he was still smiling.
Once Jean calmed down, she said, "I'm sorry. But I'm serious. If you do have questions about being intimate with someone... Just ask me, okay? I mean, I may never teach you exactly how your man parts work with his, well, other man parts."
"Jean!" Ivan shouted, wanting to stop her. And she did.
"Look, I'm not ready to have sex. Maybe I was before, or I thought I was but... sex isn't the main concern in my life right now." Ivan explained.
Jean just nodded. "Atta boy."
Ivan was already lying on his bed when he received a phone call from Jesse.
"Heyya, dude!" He heard Jesse say from somwhere, along with the loud music and people chattering in the background.
Ivan sat up as he asked, "I thought you were tired. Are you at a party?"
"Yes and not only that. I threw this party." Ivan detected some slurring
from Jesse. "We're at my place. Come on over."
"Are you sure that's a good idea, Jesse? I mean, you don't wanna be hangover for the dance tomorrow, do you?"
Ivan heard Jesse laughing and then saying, "Who cares? It doesn't even matter. What matters now is you need to come over here now and party with me."
"I'm not really in a partying mood right now, Jesse." Ivan said.
"Suit yourself." Jesse said, and let out a little moan. "I, however, will drown myself in booze and boys."
Ivan was really getting worried about Jesse but it wasn't like he could do anything to stop him. If it was anything, Jesse was probably just trying to move on in his own way.
"Okay. Just be careful, alright?" He said to Jesse who, as he could hear, was starting to breathe heavily on the phone.
Jesse groaned and said thickly, "You are so good at this." Then the call got disconnected.
And that concludes Chapter 24. Was Michael really just seeing things? Or was Andy still in town? What do you guys think about Jake and Ivan? Will they even make it as a couple? E-mail me your thoughts or post them on the reders' page :) Happy holidays everyone!
Thanks again to Mr. Dennis S for patiently editing my work. For those who aren't still members of the facebook readers' page, we have lots of room for you guys. If you want to join, here's the link: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ISBreaders/
Thanks! Keep on reading :)