Appearances Matter (Dumb Jock) by Erno Jeff

Author:Erno, Jeff [Erno, Jeff]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2013-08-11T16:00:00+00:00

I FINALLY caught up with Shannon at lunch.

“Where’d you go this morning during your free periods?” she asked me as I sat down across from her.

“Over to the college.”

“To see that professor? Trevor’s dad?”

I nodded. “Except he’s not Trevor’s dad. He’s Adam’s dad. Adam is Trevor’s… you know….”

“Boyfriend,” she said, practically shouting. “Trevor has a boyfriend, I know. He’s gay. It’s not like it’s a big secret, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.” She scowled at me as she delivered her mini lecture.

In response, I grinned.

“I thought you were cool with that sort of thing,” she said, flipping her hair back away from her face. “I mean, after that speech you gave Friday, where you even came right out and talked about gay people.”

“I am cool with it.”

“Then what’s your deal? Why do you act like the word ‘gay’ is a swear word?”

“Sorry,” I said with a shrug, “but I can guarantee you I’m not prejudiced against gays.”

“Good, ’cause I’d have to hit you.”

I took a bite of my pseudo cheeseburger, then washed it down with a big swig of Cherry Coke. “I’m gay,” I said as quickly as I could. I reached across the table for the saltshaker. “Can you slide me that salt?”

“What?”

“The salt. I need some for my fries.”

“Fuck the salt. What did you say before that?”

“I said sorry and that I wasn’t prejudiced.”

“After that.” She had her hands on her hips and was leaning forward, her upper body extending over the table.

I smiled at her sheepishly. “Uh, I said I’m gay.”

“Well, it’s about fucking time!”

“That I became gay?”

“That you acknowledged it. My God, I’ve known this for years. I’m just glad you finally do.”

“Really? How’d you know?”

“Um, let me see. Your obsession with Glee, for one. Two: the way you practically wet yourself every time Galen’s name is mentioned. Three: you never belch or fart. Four—”

“Wait! I do belch. Watch this.” I opened my jaw all the way and tucked my chin against my chest, then forced air up from my belly and released a wicked-ass burp that reverberated throughout the cafeteria. Several people around us looked over at me, disgusted, and Shannon cracked up.

“Oh, okay, then. Well, maybe you’re bi.”

“I’m gay,” I said, still laughing.

“Is it because you realized you’re in love with Galen?” she asked.

“Will you please stop with the Galen,” I said, sighing. “What makes you even say that?”

“Oh, the way you two were flirting with each other on Friday. Todd, it was so obvious.”

I felt kind of disappointed. The news I was dying to share with her was going to be anticlimactic. She’d already guessed it.

“Well, it’s not exactly because of that, although you are on the right track.”

“If not Galen, then who?”

“No, you’re right about it being Galen.”

“Okay, what happened?” She reached across the table, grabbed hold of my T-shirt, and pulled me toward her, nearly dragging me through my own food tray.

Raising my hands as if being held up by a bank robber, I protested. “Please, hold on and I’ll tell you everything.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.