Author's Note:

Hey guys! I can't tell you how excited I was about the feedback last chappie! Made me too happy! Anyway, thank y'all for commenting <3. And keep it coming ;)
I actually have surgery tomorrow and am confined to a bed for a few weeks, so I don't know when I'll have time to get to writing, but I promise as soon as I can, I will! 
Enough about me. 
Enjoy this chapter!

xoxo,
Q.

PS: This is before Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus broke up, so yes, I know they're done. Just, shhhh, don't tell Katy.

“Okay, so what does this mean now?” I ask, tossing him my basketball. He catches it and tosses it back to me.

“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “What do you want it to mean?”

“I don’t know.” I echo.

Emery laughs. “This is a really productive conversation we’re having.”

I groan. “I know. Can we just not talk?”

“Well, what do you wanna do?”

I let myself fall backwards on the bed, my head bouncing slightly when it hits the pillow. “Like I know.”

Emery lies down next to me and weaves our fingers together, stroking my thumb with his. It’s a nice feeling, laying there with him, our arms in contact as well as our hands as we both look up at the ceiling.

Emery’s about to say something, but I immediately jump in.

“Yes, the door’s locked.”

He smiles at me and I turn my head so we’re facing each other. We’re inches apart now.

“How did you know that’s what I was gonna ask?” he says, eyeing me with a suspicious smile.

I shrug, smiling back at him. With my right hand—the one that’s not intertwined with his—I softly touch his bottom lip. He closes his eyes and smiles. I move my finger to his dimple.

“This is what I meant.” I say, quietly.

“What?” he asks, opening his eyes to look at me.

I smile slightly. “When you smile. Your dimple.”

He laughs. “How the hell did you even notice that?”

“Are you kidding? It’s so freakin’ obvious! How do people not notice it?” I laugh as well and then after a small pause, I lean forward and kiss him again, unable to get enough of the sweetness hanging on his lips.

When I pull away, he leans up with me, as though unhappy to let me go. I hold myself up over him, my arms on either side of him above his shoulders.

Suddenly, something clicks inside of my brain and the smile drops off my face.

“Luke?” Emery says, immediately, worriedly.

“This is why they did that to you.” I murmur.

“What?” Emery says, leaning up even more to hear me better.

“This is why they beat you up all those times, isn’t it?” I say, more clearly now.

Emery looks away from me.

“Isn’t it?” I ask, loudly.

He bites down on his bottom lip and I want to kiss him so badly, but I hold back, waiting for his answer. Then he nods and I feel my heart drop into my stomach.

“Oh my God, Emery.” I fall back down beside him and weave our fingers together again. “That fucking blows.”

He smirks. “Tell me about it.”

“Don’t do that.” I say, harshly.

“Do what?” he asks, looking at me confusedly.

“Don’t smile like that. It’s not your real smile.” I say, insistently. He smiles again; his real smile this time, and it’s contagious.

I smile back at him and he moves his face forward to push his lips onto mine again. I let him, relishing the soft feeling of his lips on mine.

I suck on his bottom lip gently and he smiles. Then the kiss deepens and his hands cradle my face, stroking my jaw with his thumb.

Somehow he ends up on top of me and I wrap my arms around him, clutching fistfuls of his shirt in my hands.

His tongue traces my bottom lip, teasingly, as if asking for entry, which I instantly allow. Unable to stop myself, I moan into his mouth and he tangles his fingers into my hair.

“Luke! Honey, I’m home!”

Emery immediately pulls away from me and we both stare at my door, wide-eyed. Emery climbs off of me and we both quickly fix our hair and clothes so we don’t look too messy and disheveled.

“Holy shit.” I breathe and Emery chuckles nervously. “Okay, you ready for this?” I ask.

He raises his eyebrows at me. “Ready for what exactly?”

“Lying.” I say, simply.

He stares at me. “You really want there to be…something to lie about?”

I chuckle slightly at the way he phrased it and grab onto the back of his neck, pulling him into a quick kiss.

He closes his eyes and presses his forehead to mine, smiling.

“I am so happy right now.” He breathes.

I peck at his lips again. “Ready for the biggest performance of your life?”

He plants a soft kiss on my cheek and even when he pulls away, I feel the warmth of his lips remain on my face. “Let’s do it.”

We walk out of my room and head downstairs to the kitchen, where my mother is putting away groceries.

“Oh, hello.” She says, when she sees Emery and walks over to hold out her hand to him. “I’m Kelly, Luke’s mom.”

Emery shakes my mom’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Adams. I’m Emery.” He says, tensely.

Mom raises her eyebrows at me. “Mrs. Adams? Wow, your new friend is much politer than Nate.”

I snicker and I see Emery lighten up slightly.

“Honestly, sweetheart, just call me Kelly.” My mom says, warmly.

Emery smiles and I can tell even my mom can see the way his entire face lights up. I’m tempted to just grab his face and kiss him again, but I hold myself back due to the presence of my mother.

“You staying for dinner, Emery?” Mom asks, already getting back to unpacking the groceries.

Emery and I look at each other, both of us waiting for the other to answer.

“No, thanks.” Emery says, hesitantly. “I should be getting home.”

“I’ll walk you to your car.” I say, and we both walk to the front door.

Once we’re both outside and the door is closed, I look to each of my sides to make sure the street is empty and then pull him into another kiss.

He kisses back, his lips smiling into mine and I press my thumb into the dimple on his left cheek.

“Are you sure you wanna do this?” Emery says, pulling apart from me and looking at me skeptically.

I nod emphatically and he laughs.

“Are you okay with keeping it a secret?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Won’t kill me. I do have to tell you though, Alana and Katy already know I’m gay. And Katy knows I’m totally into you.”

I feel a blush creeping onto my cheeks. “Well, Alana and Toby both know I’m into you.”

“So…who do we tell and who do we not?” he asks.

“Let’s tell Alana and Toby. I’d say tell Katy, but I don’t think she’s great with secrets.” I say.

Emery laughs lightly and brushes his lips over mine swiftly. This almost-kiss sends a shiver down my back. “You know what? I don’t even care.”

I smile.

“I’ll see you later.” He says and walks over to his car. I wave at him as he leaves and don’t go back into the house till his car has turned the corner and can no longer be seen.

“He seems like a nice friend for you.” Mom muses as I walk back into the kitchen, where she’s chopping up vegetables.

I answer with a grunt and hike back up the stairs.

Oh, Mom, you have no idea.

When I get back into my room, I close the door behind me and collapse on my bed, laughing to myself in complete bliss.

Yes.

*

“So how’d everything at the concert go?” Toby asks, sitting cross-legged on my floor.

“Yeah, were you totally obvious about Emery?” Alana says, spinning around in my desk chair.

“I kissed him.” I reply, and Alana nearly falls off the chair.

“You’ve got to be shitting me!” she almost yells.

“What happened?” Toby asks, his mouth agape.

“He kissed me back.” I answer, unable to stop myself from bouncing slightly on the bed out of excitement.

Toby’s head falls backwards as he exclaims, “Yes!”

“Told you there was nothing to worry about.” Alana smirks.

I glare at her. “He also told me that you knew he was gay. Why did you not tell me this?”

Alana rolls her eyes. “He asked me not to tell anyone. But I dropped so many freakin’ hints, you were just too dense to pick up on them.”

“Wow, thanks, Alana. Way to be happy for me.” I say, pretending to be offended. She smiles genuinely and jumps over to sit on the bed and hug me.

“I am happy for you. Incredibly happy for you.” She grins.

“Same here. Finally, I’m not a part of the only gay couple at school.” Toby says, dramatically.

“Hey, about that.” I swallow. “Emery and I are keeping it a secret. I’m really not ready to be out. We decided we’d tell you two, but please, don’t tell anyone else. Not even Drew.” I look meaningfully at Toby.

Alana raises her eyebrows, but Toby nods in understanding.

“Of course, man. I totally get it. Take your time.” He says, with a comforting smile.

“Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone.” Alana assures me.

I sigh in relief. “Thanks, guys.”

“Okay, so now spill the deets.” Toby declares, scooting closer to the bed. “Tell us everything.”

*

Over the weekend, I can’t stop reliving Thursday night.

Oh, how very glad I am I missed going to the movies with the rest of the group. Nothing against them or anything, but when you compare it to what I actually did…I laugh to myself, still unable to believe it.

On Monday morning, Alana smiles at me knowingly as I open my locker to get my books out.

“How was your weekend?” she asks, grinning.

I roll my eyes, but can’t stop the grin from crossing my face as well. “Pretty eventful. Yours?”

She laughs and pecks me on the cheek. “It’s good to see you so happy, Luke.”

“It’s good to be so happy.” I respond, sighing. “But remember—”

She cuts me off with a roll of her eyes. “Don’t tell anyone. Yeah, yeah, I know.”

I smile. “Good. See you at Break.”

She grins at me as I walk off to first period History.

It’s weird how normal I’m able to act around Nate and everyone. I thought I’d be incredibly nervous that they could smell the gay on me, or something.

But I feel completely fine, like it’s just a regular day at school, barely paying attention to Mrs. Lawrence’s PowerPoint—as usual—and doodling on Nate’s arm in black Sharpie, ignoring his attempts to swat me away.

After second period Geometry, I don’t even bother going to the cafeteria to get a snack.

Instead, I head straight over to my locker and smile to myself when I see Alana, Katy, and Emery all seated on the floor, leaning against the lockers and talking amongst themselves.

Emery smiles at me when he sees me, and I feel my stomach lurch as usual, only there’s something pleasant about the feeling now.

I remember, though, that I can’t say anything about, well, you know, because Katy’s there and we decided not to tell her. Still, she knows more than Nate and Jess, who are completely oblivious.

“Hey guys.” I say, sliding down the lockers to sit in between Alana and Emery.

“What’s up, Luke?” Katy says, taking a sip from a bottle of blue Gatorade.

“I’ve got Science next.” I groan, pretending not to be aware of Emery’s arm brushing against my own.

“Ha-ha!” Alana taunts. “I have Health.”

“I don’t have Health this semester.” I say. “But hey, that means you have to suffer through Gym during the warmer months. They’re gonna take you out on the track, you know.”

“Oh, fuck you, Luke.” Alana snaps at me and Emery laughs.

“Did you do the Spanish homework?” Emery asks, looking at me with those incredible silver eyes. A soft layer of frost surrounds his pupils, like freshly fallen snow.

I shake my head. “I, uh, didn’t really have time over the weekend.”

Alana snorts and I elbow her in the stomach hard. She lets out a little whimper, but Katy doesn’t seem to notice this little exchange.

Even though we can't say anything, it’s nice to be sitting there, so close to him.

I really want to reach out and take his hand and I see his fingers twitch a few times as the same idea strikes him, but neither of us actually make the move. It’s just too risky.

“We should go to class.” Katy says after a while, with a sigh.

“Do we have to?” Emery asks her, pouting. I chew on the inside of my cheek.

Jesus, how the hell can one person be so perfect?

“Yes, honey, we do.” Katy says, rolling her eyes and speaking as one would to a little child.

“Have fun in Science.” Alana grins at me.

“You are the spawn of Satan.” I say.

She smiles sweetly. “See you at lunch.”

And she skips off. I roll my eyes after her and turn back to Emery and Katy.

“Well, I’ll see you in Spanish.” I say to Emery, not looking directly into his eyes out of fear that it’ll make me completely lose control of whatever self-restraint I have left. “And I’ll see you at lunch.” I smile at Katy and head off to Science class, feeling Emery’s eyes follow me as I walk down the hall.

*

I start feeling nervous on my way from my Science classroom to my Spanish one. My friends haven’t been able to pick up on anything different between Emery and I, but is it possible that Bryce might?

I mean, I know Bryce isn’t exactly the smartest apple on the tree, but underestimating him could be dangerous.

When I walk into the Spanish classroom, though, Emery’s smile immediately calms me down, despite it making my stomach lurch up and down like a broken elevator.

Bryce is balancing a pencil on his nose and this in itself makes me breathe a sigh in relief.

They haven’t been able to tell anything about me was different so far. And yes, it’s true that up until Emery came along, I was completely sure of my heterosexuality, but just because I didn’t know doesn’t mean that no one else could. I feel like Toby must have known.

I look over at Emery and he turns his head back to look at me at the exact same time. He winks and I feel a smile cross my lips.

“Señor Adams, perhaps you could share with the class what you find so amusing.”

My head snaps over to look at Mr. Sanchez, my eyes as wide as a deer’s.

“¿Qué?” I ask, and a small laugh ripples through the classroom.

Mr. Sanchez rolls his eyes. “Very funny, Luke.”

“Perdón, no hablo ingles. Repite, por favor.” I say. Emery stares at me in surprise, as does Mr. Sanchez and most of the rest of the class. That is the most Spanish I have spoken in my life.

“Well, Señor Adams, if your Spanish has improved this greatly over the weekend, why don’t you take a stab at Exercise dos?” Mr. Sanchez says, with raised eyebrows.

I look down in my book and find what he’s talking about.

“Las hijas y sus padres estan caminando en el parque.” I say, quickly conjugating in my head.

Mr. Sanchez doesn’t look too happy. “Muy bien.” He says, and continues on with the lesson.

I catch Emery’s eye again, and this time I wink. He grins back at me.

After Spanish class, we walk down the hallway to the cafeteria together, like we always do. As we walk, our hands brush against each other a few times, and every time, I can’t stop a goofy smile from finding its way onto my face.

I’m so desperate to be able to hold his hand and kiss him and just…hold him, like I’m been aching to do ever since I had that first damn dream.

My hands twitch impatiently, and I decide to tell him about the dreams, despite it being incredibly creepy.

“Hey, remember how I told you that I was pulling all-nighters to avoid having this dream?” I say, lightly.

“Yeah?” He replies, looking at me curiously.

I feel a blush forming on my cheeks and look down at the ground as I walk, unable to meet his eyes. “Well, uh…it was kinda about you.” I mumble.

“What?” He says, his eyebrows furrowed. I bite down on the inside of my cheek, playing with the damaged skin on the inside with my tongue. I’ve been chewing on it so much, I can taste the blood.

“You heard me, don’t make me say it again.” I groan and he laughs. I can’t not smile when he laughs, so I reluctantly let my lips pull to the sides.

“Damn, I just can’t believe it.” Emery sighs. I look at him, blankly.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

His eyes meet mine and I feel like the Titanic after it hit the iceberg. His eyes even look like ice, in the most angelic, beautiful way possible.

“I mean, I can’t believe that this is real. That you…” he trails off, unable to finish, and smiles at me.

I groan. “Don’t do that to me.”

“Do what?” he asks, bemusedly.

“Smile like that.”

His eyebrows furrow. “I thought you liked my smile.”

I roll my eyes. “I do like your smile. I love your smile. But every time you smile, it feels like I’ve been hit by a ton of bricks.”

He smiles again, and then, after realizing, claps a hand over his mouth.

“Sorry!” comes a muffled apology through his hand.

I laugh and pull his hand away from his mouth. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

It’s the last thing I want to do, but I let go of his hand as we get into the lunch line. He lets it drop back down, hanging at his side.

I’m hungry for him, for the taste of his lips, for the feel of his hands around my neck, for the burning sensation of his skin touching mine, for the warmth that radiates and reflects from his body…

SLOP.

Who would’ve thought mashed potatoes could be such a turn-off?

I follow Emery, carrying my tray, and we both sit down at our usual table. Everyone’s already there, like they always are (the Spanish classroom is really far away from the cafeteria), and Katy and Jess are in a heated debate over Ryan Gosling and Chris Pine, as neither of them can agree on who is more attractive.

“Ryan Gosling is overrated!” Katy exclaims. “He’s so cliché!”

“Are you kidding me?” Jess’ eyes widen. “Ryan Gosling is the hottest thing on two feet!”

“If I stab both my eyes out with this fork, will I still be alive?” Alana ponders.

“Yes.” Nate confirms.

“So does that mean I’ll still be hearing this conversation?” she points at Katy and Jess with her fork.

“Yes.” Nate says again.

Alana sighs and drops her fork. “Well then, that’s not going to help very much.”

Emery laughs and I roll my eyes at her, beginning to eat from my plate of mashed potatoes and popcorn chicken. I glance at Emery’s plate and all I see is a small bowl of fruit and a carton of lemonade.

“Is that all you’re eating?” I ask.

He looks up at me and nods. “I had a big breakfast.”

I snort and roll my eyes, getting back to my own meal. I see Emery smile coyly through the corner of my eye and I have to bite down on my tongue, hard. I clench the fork in my hand. Ugh, why does he have to be so damn attractive?

He sees my reaction—though no one else does—and smirks.
Then I feel it.

His hand on my knee under the table.

I swear to God, I nearly drop my fork and throw myself at him right there. I swallow and tensely crack my neck.

“I’m going to the restroom.” Emery announces, scooting his chair back and leaving the table. He shoots me a glance before walking away. Jess and Katy are still in the midst of their argument, and Alana is asking Nate to list different ways she could kill herself with the items on hand.

“I, uh, gotta get something from my locker.” I mumble lamely, in case