Monday morning came around and Braydin greeted Titus with a smile. Today was a particularly colder day than usual, and Braydin wasn't dressed for it at all.
    "Dude–" Braydin began, but Titus cut him off and spoke.
    "Your puffer's still on my bed. I didn't realize you left it and I'm assuming you didn't either."
    "That's where that went!" Braydin exclaimed. "I knew it was either at your house or somewhere at the park. Why didn't you bring it?"
    "Well..." he began.
    Braydin pouted. "Titus..."
    "Are we going to see Halfaday or not?" Titus sighed, looking around before taking hold of Braydin's hands.
    Braydin briskly shook his head before the two skipped over to the social studies teacher's classroom.
    One knock, and not a single answer. Another knock, and there's frantic rustling. A third knock, and Titus was met by the door opening right in his face.
    "Listen, students. You cannot come to Halfaday's room early, okay?- Oh, hi son." Brian's voice started as a frustrated growl, but paused and got calmer. "Oh, and hi Braydin."
    "Your shorts are unbuttoned." Titus looked down at Brian's cargo khakis.
    "Oh." Brian's breath caught in his throat. He let the two boys in, patting the shorter on the back, and then reached down to re-button his jeans before leaving to his own classroom.
    Braydin and Titus skittered over to Halfaday's desk. Titus spoke first, "Hi, Halfaday."
    "What's up, Repp? I see you brought Koch with you, too. How exciting, double trouble. I already know you guys wanna tell me a story, what happened between you two this time?"

    "Um," Braydin nervously crossed his arms, feeling Titus's hand slip onto his waist. "Halfaday, we need to talk."
    "What's up, homie cheeseburger? Are you boys not feeling very sigma today?" Halfaday queried, eyes drifting down to the hand Titus held on the other boy's body but then shifting back up to their faces.
    Titus took a deep breath, and the two boys placed a singular hand on their chests. "Coach Halfaday, me and Braydin had a serious conversation this weekend. We're dating. Do you accept us?"
    "Are you Americans?" Halfaday cocked an eyebrow.
    The two boys looked at each other confused and then looked back at Halfaday pleadingly. He spoke again, "You may as well start doing the pledge of allegiance doing all that."
    Slowly lowering their hands, a smile creeped onto the bald man's face and they all started chortling. "Turn to America... no, turn to God, boys. Is this what he wanted?"
    Braydin gulped and Titus pulled him in closer. "You boys are both strong, white, clever athletes. The girls are all over you two... and you choose each other? Oh, you two have gyatt to be kidding me."
    Halfaday maneuvered around to behind them, which made them turn around as Braydin shakily queried him. "Wait... so, you don't support us?"
    There was a moment of silence. "Who am I kidding, boys? Of course I do!"
    Smiles painted everyone's faces until a voice cut through the suddenly elongated silence like a machete.
    It was Meacham, standing up from underneath Christina's desk. "The bell rings in one minute."
    "Oh, okay." Halfaday responded as the man underneath the desk galloped over to him to plant a kiss on his cheek before turning to the boys. "Don't tell a soul, or you'll both run 15 miles next practice. Separately."
    Braydin and Titus shakily, briskly nodded before Meacham waved goodbye and sprinted out the exit of the classroom, toward his own.
    "Stay safe, champs. You know big ol' blueberry Halfaday's got you guys if they don't treat you good, you know, if you're open about all of this. Now shoo, I got a class to teach!"
    Halfaday ended up having to push the two out, and shut the door behind him.
    As the bell rang, realization hit Braydin like a truck. "Wait, Titus, did your dad call me Braydin?"