They suspect something - Jay

The group chat was going wild and my phone wouldn't stop buzzing with notifications, Sam and I had been spending a lot of time together but I still hadn't told me friends the real reason, he was just a new friend, I was pretty sure I had them all convinced too as privately they were all telling me to stop pining for the straight guy.

I enjoyed the teasing though, knowing in reality Sam and I were dating, that's what he called it, I wanted to tell them all, but I didn't want to lose Sams trust either, it was best to keep it a secret, this was nothing like the time with Ben where I had to keep it a secret.

Tara: Soooo, what's the real reason you're skipping movie night?

Alex: He's having Sam over. That's the reason. Case closed.

Eli: Oh, Sam's going over now? This is the second movie night in a row you've been busy with him!

Tara: And you still haven't told us why he ran off at the arcade—spill the beans, Jay.

I stared at the screen, torn between laughing and groaning. My friends had zero chill.

Me: We're just hanging out.

Alex: Sure, hanging out... hot guy, in your room? Alone?

Tara: I'm not judging. I just want to know why he bolted. You didn't say much after and you never miss movie night

Tara sent a hugging emoji which made me feel a little guilty skipping movie night again but with Sams football matches and swim practice, Friday was really the only time we could hang out and as much as I wanted to just invite him to movie night, I also wanted to kiss him and I couldn't do that in front of my friends.

I sighed, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. The truth itched to come out so I didn't have to choose between Sam and my friends, but I couldn't do that to Sam. He trusted me to keep things quiet, to give him time.

Me: He was just overwhelmed, that's all. Long day.

Eli: Sounds sus, but okay.

Alex: Fine, but still hot guy in Jays room, the two of you alone... I'm gonna need the full story later.

Alex sends a wink emoji, I smiled despite myself, about to type back when I heard my sister's voice call from downstairs.

"Jay! Your friend's here!"

Friend. Of course, she'd stress the word. I might be able to fool my friends, but my sister seemed able to read me like a book, My stomach dropped as I realized I hadn't even heard the doorbell. Sam was already inside. Worse—he was probably trapped talking to my sister.

Me: Gotta go. He's here. Talk later.

I shoved my phone into my pocket and bolted downstairs. Sure enough, Sam stood awkwardly in the hallway, wearing his usual hoodie and jeans combo, while my sister, Lauren, leaned against the wall, grinning like she'd uncovered the world's biggest secret.

"Jay!" she said, spinning to face me. "Your guest is here. I was just telling him all about—"

"Thanks, Lauren," I interrupted quickly, stepping between them. "I'll take it from here."

"So, Sam," she was saying with a knowing grin, "how did you and Jay meet? You've been spending a lot of time together lately."

Sam glanced at me, fear flashing across his face. "Uh, math class."

"Lauren," I said firmly, stepping in. "Don't you have anything better to do?"

She smirked. "Not really."

I grabbed Sams paw and led him up the stairs, Sam gave me a lopsided smile. "She's, uh...nice."

"She's nosy," I muttered, shooting her a look. Lauren just shrugged innocently and stayed downstairs, thankfully leaving us alone.

"C'mon," I said, motioning towards my bedroom door, "Before she decides to interrogate you more."

My room was the one place in the house that truly felt like mine. It wasn't large by any means, but I'd crammed every inch of it with things that reflected who I was, things that made it feel like a personal sanctuary. A rainbow flag hung proudly above my desk, fluttering slightly whenever the window was open, a silent declaration of who I was. It gave the room an instant vibrancy, contrasting the blandness of the rest of the house. In the corner, a pin-up poster of a shirtless male model—an old, glossy print I'd picked up during one of my impulsive shopping trips—dominated a space on the wall. It wasn't the most mature or sophisticated piece of decor, but I liked it, so it stayed.

A boy band poster, the kind that was probably a relic from my younger, less cynical years, still hung near my closet. It was a little embarrassing, to be honest, but I couldn't bring myself to take it down. There was something comforting about it, a piece of my past that I wasn't quite ready to let go of. The walls beside my desk was covered in polaroid style pictures, each a snapshot of a memory, a moment frozen in time. Most of them were of my friends—Tara laughing mid-spin at the skating rink, her face lit up in that carefree way that only she could manage; Alex photobombing a group shot, his goofy grin stealing the spotlight; Eli proudly showing off one of his latest paintings, the colours almost glowing under the soft light of the gallery.

On my bed sat three plushies, each one with its own little place. The orca sat beside the fox that Sam had won me at the carnival, the one I'd carried home so proudly like a badge of honour. And, of course, my trusty Blahaj Shark was right in the middle, dominating the space. The shark was huge, comically so compared to the other two, but it was always the one I gravitated towards. It had a special place in my heart, and it felt right to have it in the middle of the bed, where I could always reach for it if I needed some comfort.

When Sam stepped into the room, he took a moment to glance around, his eyes scanning the walls, the bed, the posters. Then, his gaze landed on the bed, and he chuckled softly. "So... they're still hanging out together, huh? And they have a shark friend too!"

I followed his gaze and laughed, a light blush creeping up my neck. "Yeah. They've been getting along surprisingly well." I smiled, feeling a rush of warmth spread through me. It was strange, this blend of embarrassment and affection for the little things that made my room feel like me.

Sam grinned and walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge. He picked up the orca plushie, his fingers brushing over its smooth surface. "Y'know, I hope the sharks not the jealous type because I think this guy's my favourite. He's cooler than the shark."

"Oh, no," I teased, immediately grabbing the shark and holding it protectively against my chest. "He'll be devastated to hear that."

We both laughed, the sound ringing out in the quiet of the room, and for a moment, everything felt simple. We were just two people, enjoying each other's company. But then, as we shared a smile, our eyes met, and the atmosphere in the room shifted. It suddenly felt smaller, quieter. The space between us seemed to disappear, and everything else faded into the background.

Sam leaned forward, and I couldn't help myself. I closed the gap, our lips meeting in a soft, tentative kiss. It was the kind of kiss that spoke volumes, full of unspoken feelings, of emotions we weren't ready to fully articulate. His hands found my waist, steadying me as I moved closer. I felt a spark of electricity between us, like the world outside had disappeared, and it was just us in this small, safe space.

My fingers hesitated, hovering for just a moment before slipping beneath his hoodie, brushing lightly against the bare skin of his stomach. The contact was enough to make him flinch, his body stiffening for a brief second before he pulled back slightly, his breath catching.

"Sorry," he said quickly, his voice a little shaky. "It's all just... new to me."

I immediately withdrew my hands, feeling a sudden pang of guilt. "I didn't mean to push—"

"No," he interrupted, catching my hand gently in his. His grip was warm, reassuring, and he placed it carefully on his chest, over his heart. "I want to. I just... need more time, okay?"

I nodded, relieved by his words. "Of course. Take all the time you need."

A soft smile spread across his face, and I felt the tension that had built up in me over the past few moments ease away. He glanced around the room, his eyes landing on the wall of photos. "You've got a lot of memories here," he remarked, standing up to get a closer look at the pictures. "It's like a timeline of your life, huh?"

I nodded, watching as he carefully studied each photo. There was something about the way he took it all in, like he was seeing me in a way that no one else had. It made me feel exposed, but in the best way possible. I wanted him to see me, the real me—the person behind all the posters and plushies and memories. And for the first time in a long while, I didn't feel the need to hide anything.

Sam paused in front of a photo of Tara and me at the beach, both of us laughing so hard we could barely stand. "I like this one," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You look happy."

I felt a soft warmth spread through me. "I was," I said quietly, "We both were."

He looked at me, a mix of admiration and something else flickering in his eyes. Then he turned back to the photo, seemingly lost in thought. And in that moment, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, we were starting to create a memory of our own.

I joined him, pointing to one where Alex and Tara were mock-wrestling. "That was at the lake last summer. Alex won, obviously. Tara doesn't stand a chance against him."

Sam chuckled, his fingers brushing over another picture of Eli holding up a canvas. "He's good."

"Yeah," I said fondly. "That's the first painting he sold. He was so proud of it."

Sams eyes caught my own for a moment, "maybe we could have a picture of us on your wall?" he smiled holding his phone up to take a photo

"sure, send it to me and ill print it out later" the thought of having a picture together was a little overwhelming, although secretly I was happy to see the result once he sent it to me, I had to stop myself from setting it as my wallpaper to avoid any questions, I made a mental note to take the polaroid down from my wall when movie night came around but for now it would take pride of place at the top.

We went through a few more photos on the wall as we added the new one to the collection, sharing laughs at the stories behind each one, until finally, I turned to him. "Wanna play Mario Kart?"

Sam raised an eyebrow. "You sure you want to lose again?"

"Funny," I shot back. "We'll see who's losing."

The game was, as always, intense. We shouted at the screen, laughed at each other's mistakes, and threw insults that were meant to be playful but came out with a competitive edge. The tension was thick, the air electric with every move we made. As we raced through the track, the familiar sound of the controllers clicking and the chaotic music in the background only added to the atmosphere. By the final lap, Sam was in the lead, looking confident as he sped ahead. But I wasn't about to let him win so easily. I pulled off a sneaky shortcut, weaving through the track with precision, and before Sam could react, I crossed the finish line with a victorious shout.

"Unbelievable!" Sam shouted, his voice a mix of frustration and amusement. Without warning, he tackled me onto the bed, sending a wave of laughter through both of us. "You cheated!"

"Strategy!" I corrected, laughing even harder as he pinned me down, trying to catch his breath from the thrill of the game. "It's all about timing."

We were tangled in the sheets, playfully wrestling as we always did. The familiarity of it all settled over me like a comforting blanket, the easy connection we shared making everything feel natural. It was just like the first time we'd wrestled, that moment of hesitation when I wasn't sure where things were going. But now, there was no hesitation. The air between us felt charged, and before I could even think about it, Sam kissed me, deeper this time, his lips pressing against mine with a warmth that made my heart race. When he pulled back, our foreheads rested together, and his eyes were soft, searching, like he wanted to say something but couldn't quite find the words.

"You make me feel... warm," he said softly, his voice a tender whisper in the quiet of the room. "Like everything just makes sense when I'm with you."

I felt my heart swell with emotion, his words touching me in a way I hadn't expected. I hugged him tightly, holding on like I never wanted to let go. "You make me feel the same way," I whispered, my voice thick with affection.

For a moment, we just lay there, wrapped in each other's arms, the room still and peaceful around us, the theme tune to Mario Kart playing idly in the background. Sam's paw gently brushed my cheek, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that made me feel seen in a way I hadn't before. He looked at me with such care, and it was almost overwhelming.

"How did you tell your friends?" he asked, his voice tentative, as if he was trying to gauge my response. "You know, that you're... gay."

I hesitated, the question stirring up old memories. They bubbled to the surface, as I thought about the difficult conversations I'd had. "Alex was the first person I told," I said, my voice quiet but steady. "We were hanging out after school, and it just kind of... slipped out. I wasn't planning on saying anything, but once it was out there, he didn't even blink. He just said, 'Yeah, I figured.'"

Sam chuckled, his eyes softening with affection. "That sounds like Alex."

"Yeah, he's great," I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. "The rest of the group took it well too. But school..."

My voice faltered, and the words caught in my throat. The memories were still raw, despite the time that had passed. Sam sat up slightly, his eyes searching mine with concern. He didn't say anything at first, just waited for me to continue, giving me the space I needed.

"What happened?" he asked gently, his voice full of empathy.

I swallowed hard, the weight of those old wounds still lingering in my chest. "People found out," I said, my voice low. "I didn't even tell them—it just... spread. The bullying, the whispers, the name-calling... it was awful. I don't even want to think about it anymore."

Sam's grip on my paw tightened, his touch grounding me as I relived those moments. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice thick with sympathy. "You shouldn't have had to go through that."

I shook my head, trying to brush away the lingering sting. "It wasn't your fault. I don't want that for you," I said firmly. "You don't have to come out if you're not ready. Take as long as you need. I'll wait."

Sam's eyes softened, and before I could say anything else, he leaned in, kissing me deeply, as if to reassure me. When he pulled back, his voice was steady, but there was a hint of uncertainty behind his words. "I can handle it. I want to," he said, his gaze unwavering. "It just... feels like I'm living a double life right now, and I hate it."

I nodded, understanding exactly how he felt. The weight of secrecy had pressed down on me for so long, and I knew it wasn't easy. "It gets easier," I promised, my voice quiet but firm. "I swear."

Sam's arms wrapped around me, pulling me close as he sighed, his breath warm against my skin. "I hope so," he murmured. "Because I don't want to keep us a secret forever."

The words hung in the air between us, heavy and full of meaning. I didn't want to keep it a secret either, but I understood why we had to for now. Sam had to find his own time, his own rhythm. "Maybe I could tell your friends?" he suggested, his voice tentative, but there was a spark of hope in his eyes.

I blinked, startled by his words. "You want to come out to my friends?" I asked, surprised at the idea.

"Yeah," he said, shrugging slightly. "I mean, they must suspect something anyway, right?"

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "They're teasing me, but it's harmless. They think you're straight and that I need to stop pining after you."

Sam smirked, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "And how wrong they are," he said with a grin, leaning in to kiss me again, his lips pressing against mine in a gentle, teasing way. It felt like everything was falling into place, the weight of the world lifting as we shared this moment together, just the two of us.