"Hey, Loverboy!" Preston teases as he wraps an arm around my shoulder. It's Monday now which means Thanksgiving break is officially over.

I shut my locker, faded blue from years passed, and elbow him, knocking his arm down. "Don't," I warn him.

"Don't what?" Preston asks innocently, yet his grin is the opposite of his tone.

"Don't call me 'Loverboy'" I tell him. He laughs causing me to roll my eyes.

"Who we callin' Loverboy?" Alex asks as he, Alyssa, and McKenna walk up to us.

Preston met Alex through football in our sophomore year. Alex was already friends with Mckenna, and Alyssa and I had a few classes together also back in our sophomore year. We've all been friends ever since. We all have other friends, Preston and Alex basically talk to everyone, but this is our main group.

"No one," I say right as Preston exclaims, "Reid!"

"'Reid' and 'love' I'm pretty sure don't go together," Mckenna points out sarcastically.

"Har, har," I deadpan.

"Oh, but they do now," Preston continues as he claps my right shoulder. "Our boy here has taken one step further into manhood."

Alex and the girls all gasp and move closer to us as if what Preston is telling them is confidential. Oh wait, it is! "Shut up, Preston," I say through gritted teeth.

"You finally had sex?" Alex asks with a dumbfounded expression on his face.

I glare at him, "No, dickweed. Could you keep it down? I didn't have sex," I tell them quietly then look around to make sure no one's listening. Not that it really matters, but the thought of random people knowing about my sex life freaks me out. Especially considering it was a boy I hooked up with.

"But you almost did," Preston counters. "Reid got to 3rd base with a hot Westwood girl Saturday night," Preston says smugly as if he's my proud father... gross. I shake my head.

"Atta boy," Alex says then slaps my ass.

Alyssa looks hurt then avoids making eye contact with me. McKenna cringes, "you guys are disgusting. Really Reid? Hooking up with some random girl?"

I suddenly feel ashamed and decide the tiled floor looks far more interesting than anything else as Alyssa and McKenna leave.

"Don't listen to them. Alyssa's just jealous that it wasn't her you hooked up with and McKenna's just trying to make her feel better by making you feel like shit," Preston explains and I nod my head even though I still feel bad.

It's obvious that Alyssa has a crush on me, but, I don't know, I've never seen her in that way. Don't get me wrong, Alyssa is gorgeous and funny, and an all-around great person. I'd be a fool not to date her, but I'd be lying if I said I felt something that resembles any kind of sexual feelings towards her.

"I'll catch you guys later. Gotta get to class," Alex says then waves us goodbye. We return the wave.

When Preston, and I start walking towards our first period classes, a sophomore named Kurtis is shoved to the ground by Colton Rivers. I can't hear what Colton says to Kurtis, but it's probably something vulgar. Some gay slur, no doubt.

I wince. Colton, along with his asshole friends, thinks it's hilarious to make fun of people. With our school being so small, there are not too many open-minded people and everyone knows everyone. Even if you're irrelevant and a rumor gets out about you, trust me, you're no longer irrelevant.

"Jeez, I'd hate to be a faggot," Preston says then nods towards Kurtis as we walk past them and down another hallway. I know it's shitty, and trust me it keeps me up at night, but it's better to keep walking and not try to help. That'll just make things worse.

"It's not his fault he's attracted to the same gender," I say suddenly getting defensive.

"Yeah, but it's his fault for not keeping it a secret," Preston says and I give him a did you really just say that? look. He holds up his hands in surrender. "Hey, I'm not saying I'm against it," and by it, I assume my best friend is referring to Kurtis's sexuality. "but look what he got himself into. It sucks, but he, and every other LGB-whatever kid, should've kept their mouths shut."

Kurtis just recently came out at the beginning of the year with his boyfriend Ruben. Thinking about it, Preston's right. If I were them, I would've stayed in the closet- far in the closet- until graduation. But I'm not gay, so I don't have to worry about that.

"You can't honestly tell me that you disagree," Preston says.

I sigh in frustration "God, this town is so fucked up. You shouldn't have to keep who you are a secret. People shouldn't be afraid to walk in the hallways of a Goddamn high school and it's assholes like Colton that make people scared."

"That's life, kid. There's always going to be that one shitty person who has to pound you down because you're views are different than theirs. It's up to you rather you fight back or get your ass beaten."

"Wise words," I say stopping in front of my classroom.

Preston smiles smugly, "I was thinking of becoming a professional public speaker. An activist for the youth. A famous role model, like Martin Luther—"

"Shut up and go to class, you idiot," I say, rolling my eyes as I push him towards his class which was across the hall from mine.

He laughs and says bye to me before heading into his first-period class.

When I settle down in my seat at the back of the class, I hear giggling and look up. Jessica and Marisa- the two girls from the party- walk into the classroom, murmuring to each other while they laugh, and blush.

They take a seat at the desks in front of mine and continue their discussion. "I heard he moved here from California," Jessica gossips.

Marisa's big blue eyes widen. "No way! Is that why he's so tan? I bet he surfs too. That's hot."

By now, almost everyone has taken their seats and were waiting on the final bell to start our class along with the teacher.

"Yeah. But did you see how many girls were all over him at the party?" Jessica frowns.

I sit up in my seat. They can't be talking about Grayson, right? I mean, he goes to Westwood... or at least I assume he does.

Oh, God! Is Grayson a new student at Austberg?

"Fuck those girls. He's gay anyway," Marisa says with a shrug.

"He might not be. All we know is that he's kissed a boy. Could've been a drunken kiss or a dare—"

I lean forward, "Who are you guys talking about?" I ask. I can't help it.

Both girls turn around, "Oh Reid!" Marisa says as if she's just now realizing I'm here. "Remember Grayson, the guy we were taking shots with at the party Saturday night?"

Please don't say what I think you're going to say. I reluctantly nod.

"He just moved here! He's gonna be finishing his senior year here!" Jessica tells me with the biggest grin.

I'm gonna throw up.

Sitting back in my chair, I decide not to listen to the girls' conversation any longer. I sigh, trying to relieve my stress, as I lay my head down, using my arms as a pillow. Doesn't matter, as long as I don't have a class with him, I'm good.

A couple of minutes after the bell rings, I hear heels clanking on the tiled floor which means our teacher finally showed up, but I don't bother acknowledging her. Instead, I keep my head down and my eyes closed.

Mrs. Spencer, our teacher, speaks up. "Class, please be respectful and give your undivided attention towards..." she trails off, so I dare to look up to see what is going on and gasp when I see him.

No! No, no, no, no, no! Why God? Why do you do this to me?

"Grayson Clarke," Grayson fills in the blank for her.

Gah! Even his last name is hot! Damn you!

I watch as Grayson's eyes scan the room until they land on me. He smirks.

Fuck you.

"Grayson, right," Mrs. Spencer says. "Care to share some interesting things about yourself? Where you moved from...?"

"Moved here from San Francisco, California," he shrugs, "I'm not too interesting," he tells the teacher.

"I'd beg a differ," Marisa says with a playful wink and Jessica giggles, whacking her best friend's arm.

"Well, you can just take a seat in one of the two empty seats in the back." My teacher informs him, ignoring Marisa's comment.

Well, fuck me in the ass— actually don't do that— but of course there's an empty seat next to me. There is also an empty seat on the other side of Jessica, so I'm really hoping Grayson understands the pointed look I'm currently giving him and sits next to Jess.

He must not have noticed my expression, or didn't care, cause he sits down in the desk next to mine. "Hey," Grayson greets me in a whisper once Mrs. Spencer begins to lecture us on mental illnesses.

I open my mouth to say something, but when nothing comes out, I close it and face the front of the room.

What's wrong with me? Just say hi back!

**********

Get To Know The Character:

Alyssa Hayes: Age- 16//Junior//DOB- July 12//Cancer//Strengths- tenacious, creative//Weaknesses- manipulative, insecure//

Alex Wells: Age- 18//Senior//DOB- October 3rd//Libra//strengths- social, open-minded//weaknesses-indecisive, depressed//

McKenna King: Age- 17//Junior//DOB-Nov 10th//Scorpio//Strengths- Brave, resourceful//Weaknesses- vengeful, distrusting//

Fun Fact: I don't know anything about astrology signs, so I had to look all this up haha But I wanted you to have an idea about how I see the character's personality and whatnot.

-Bert