18

Farren got into his car, turning the key and starting up the engine.

It was Wednesday and yet again Kaden had asked him for a lift home from practice. He was starting to wish Kaden hadn't gotten his driver's license suspended. It would make his Wednesday afternoons easier without having to get up out of his comfortable bed just to collect the incompetent fool who couldn't drive slow.

God, to think it was the third Wednesday with Kaden already. He only had a couple of days left in his own home until he would be moving to Kaden's for the next three weeks.

He wondered what that would be like, living in that empty mansion with practically no parental supervision. They would be alone to do whatever they wanted.

Oh god, that came out dirtier than intended. Farren blushed, cursing his dirty mind and telling himself to get his head out of the damn gutter. It was all this time around Kaden that had filled his mind with innuendos and sexual references.

A few minutes later he pulled up at the football field, strumming his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited for Kaden to appear.

He checked his phone, scrolling through his Facebook page and liking a few posts here and there.

A few minutes passed before he chose to look up again, but once he did he wished he hadn't.

He felt his heart tighten at the sight before him.

Kaden stood leaning against the wall, talking to some stupid brunette girl. He was flirting with her, Farren could tell as much from the way she was giggling.

She traced her stupid finger up Kaden's arm, maddening Farren even more. Who did this bitch think she was?

But before he could react, he stopped himself. What right did he have to be angry? He felt sadness take over him instead, disappointment pooling in the pit of his stomach. Goddamn these stupid feelings.

He didn't think his poor heart could get any sadder after his conversation with Kaden the other night, but obviously he was wrong.

Farren looked at the girl with jealousy. How he longed to be in her position, openly flirting with Kaden.

Why couldn't he have just be born some hot chick. It certainly would have made this whole Kaden thing a lot easier.

Right on cue, Kaden's face snapped up and he met Farren's gaze from across the parking lot.

Farren saw him whisper to the girl, before pulling out his phone and handing it to her, presumably for her to type in her number.

Farren felt his grip on the steering wheel tighten, but he forced himself to adopt a calm composure.

He saw Kaden say goodbye to the girl and start making his way over toward the car.

Farren made his expression neutral, trying to seem as calm as he could. The last thing he needed was from Kaden to call him out on his strange behaviour.

"Hey." He said simply, not trusting himself to say anymore as Kaden sat into the car. He forced his voice to remain calm, though on the inside he felt anything but.

Kaden looked at him for a moment before replying, "hey."

The car stayed silent for a few minutes and Farren was praying that there would be no traffic on the way home. The quicker this journey ended, the better.

"So who was that girl?" Farren blurted out, before he could even realise what he was saying. Damn his stupid fucking mouth for having a mind of it's own.

Kaden stared at him searchingly for a few seconds before answering. "Who?" He asked casually.

Farren forced himself to remain calm. "That one you were talking to back there? You seemed to be really hitting it off." He said, trying to keep his tone neutral. But he could hear that his voice was slightly higher than usual. He just hoped Kaden hadn't picked up on it.

"Oh, Shauna? She's this girl that I'm kinda into." Kaden said nonchalantly, and Farren was glad he hadn't picked up on his tense movements and higher than usual voice.

Why are you bothering with her? You could have me, Kaden. I'm so much better than some stupid skank.

That's what Farren wanted to say, but he held his tongue.

"Oh. Nice one, she's.. hot." Farren he said instead.

"Yeah." Kaden shrugged, looking out the window.

"Yeah." Farren repeated, clearing his throat. God, when did things get this awkward between them? He thought they god past all that post kiss tension the other night.

"Careful Milton, you're coming across as kinda jealous." Kaden joked with a smirk, though Farren could hear that there was a trace of some underlying emotion in his words.

"Jealous?" He snorted in reply. "Of what exactly? It's not like I couldn't get myself a girl like her if I wanted."

"I didn't mean jealous of me." Kaden said, and Farren thought, or perhaps rather convinced himself it sounded likely Kaden was only half joking.

"Then what do you mean? Jealous of her?" Farren laughed, even though he was in fact very jealous of the girl.

"Exactly." Kaden said with a smirk.

"And why would I be jealous of her?" Farren asked, raising his eyebrow as he looked at Kaden.

At this stage they had arrived back home and were parked in the driveway. But neither of them had made an effort to get out of the car thus far.

"Because," began Kaden, leaning in closer to him.

Farren felt himself begin to panic as Kaden advanced. This scene was so reminiscent of their other moments that Farren had to stop and remind himself that Kaden didn't like him like that.

"Because what?" Farren managed to choke out.

By now Kaden's mouth was just centimetres from his ear. "Because it's not her you're into." He said, so quietly that if Farren had so much as moved he wouldn't be able to hear it.

Kaden then pulled back, shooting him a smirk before opening the car door and making his way out and into the house, leaving Farren alone with his whirring thoughts.

What the fuck had just happened?

XXXXX

"Earth to Kaden."

It was Luke's voice that spoke, as a hand waved in front of his face. It was currently Thursday afternoon, and school had just ended.

"Sorry man, what were you saying?" Kaden asked.

They were making their way across the parking lot and towards Luke's car.

"I asked if you're going to the party tomorrow?" Luke asked.

"Nah," said Kaden.

The truth was he was sick of these parties, not that he had ever really enjoyed them. Now that he had finally realised that he wasn't that into girls, he understood why. After all those years of flirting with these people he wasn't even attracted to, just because he felt like he had to, he couldn't be bothered to put himself through it again. Besides, he didn't need to waste a night jealously watching Farren get it on with some girl.

His little 'operation make Farren jealous' didn't go exactly to plan. If he was honest, it just left him more confused then he was to begin with.

He could admit that Farren seemed kind of off, but that might not have had anything to do with him and the girl. And, while Farren did look like he had seen a ghost when he whispered in his ear, that was probably due to the fact that Kaden had basically accused him of liking him.

Ugh, since when were boys so confusing?

"Why not man?" Luke asked, glancing over at him.

"Just not in the mood," he replied with a shrug. Yeah, not in the mood to see some girl tonguing Farren while he sat there like a jealous fricking ornament on the wall.

"I heard Kaylee Chang was asking around about you." Luke said, wiggling his brow suggestively in an attempt to get him to go.

"Not interested." He replied shortly, not in the mood to humour Luke today.

"Why not bro, she's a ride." Luke said, voice full of surprise.

"She's just not my type," he said with a shrug.

They were almost at Farren's house. If only Luke could drop the questions for the next three minutes, and he could escape.

"She's not your type?" Luke asked with surprise.

"That's what I said, didn't I?" Kaden replied.

"Why?" Luke asked with confusion, stopping the car as they turned into the Milton household driveway.

Kaden didn't know what came over him, but suddenly he had the urge to tell Luke. He needed to get this off his chest, otherwise Luke wouldn't stop pestering him and trying to set him up with girls.

Besides, Luke's cousin was gay and he didn't mind, so Kaden was reasonably confident he wasn't homophobic.

"Look, Luke." Kaden began, turning on his seat to face Luke who looked at him in confusion.

"Yes Kaden?" He asked slowly.

"The thing is Luke, I'm just not that into her." Here goes nothing. "Her, or any other girls for that matter."

"What do you mean?" Luke asked, brow furrowing in confusion. God, Luke never was the sharpest up in the whole brain department.

"I'm gay." He said casually, surprisinng himself with how calm he sounded about the whole thing.

"Wait, what?" Luke asked with a laugh.

"I'm gay Luke. G-a-y. Gay."

Luke's laughter ceased and he looked at Kaden with confusion. "Wait, seriously?"

"Yes." Kaden sighed impatiently.

"Since when?"

"Forever, I presume. Only really came to realise it last week though."

"Oh." Luke replied, looking like he was trying to figure it all out. "But all the girls you slept with..?" He asked.

"You mean all the girls who claim they've slept with me," he corrected him. "But, yeah I've slept with a few girls but I never really liked it, I just didn't understand why. But now I do."

"Oh." Luke replied simply.

"Yeah," Kaden said, nodding awkwardly.

Well this was fun.

Deciding that he couldn't stick this awkward tension anymore, he unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car.

"Thanks for the ride." He said, closing the door. But Luke's voice interjected before he could.

"Wait!" He called out, just as the door was about to slam shut.

"Yeah?" Kaden asked, opening the door wider and peering his head in.

"I just want to say.." Luke began. "I just want to say I'm cool with it bro," he said. "I'm not gonna judge you.. or tell anyone. Unless you want me to of course. I'm actually surprised I've never noticed before. Not that you come across as gay. Or that you don't-"

Kaden cut him off with a laugh. "Luke, your rambling," he said with a laugh. "Thanks, for understanding. And if you could just keep this to yourself, for the time being at least." He said with a small smile.

"No problem bro. And hey, I may even agree to set you up with someone as long as you don't start dragging me along to gay clubs." Luke said with a small laugh, restarting the car and slowly turning out of the driveway.

"Bro, I went to straight bars and clubs with you for years. You owe me." Kaden said with a laugh as he waved Luke off, unable to prevent the smile that spread across his face.

"Hey," Luke protested out the window. "It's not like you exactly complained. How was I supposed to know you liked dick?" He called over his shoulder, driving away before Kaden had time to reply.

Much as he could be a right pain some times, Kaden did have to admit that he had a good friend in Luke. That whole coming out thing could have gone a lot worse.

He couldn't shake the grin off of his face as he made his way inside. If coming out always felt this good, he would have to do it more often.

XXXXX

Chapter 18? Already!! Hope you enjoyed

Qotc; Favourite season?

Aotc; Summer

VCF, love you all!

-A