Tibby Armstrong - Hollywood 1 - No Apologies by Tibby Armstrong

Author:Tibby Armstrong [Armstrong, Tibby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

During review week, classes shortened and study periods lengthened. The adjusted schedule might save him, Greg thought as he crossed the quad with Aaron and his classmates for the first time since they were outed.

Outed. The word pricked his mind like a poisoned dart. He couldn’t really be gay. Could he?

He thought back on the flirtations and more promising interludes he’d had with girls. They felt pleasant enough. Nothing to write home about, though. Then he remembered watching Aaron change the first night they’d roomed together —the placid blue of his eyes before he turned to tug on his pajama bottoms. Mutual attraction had flared. He had forgotten that spark of recognition and the hurried, reflexive dismissal of what he felt.

The single memory stood out, its lush outlines a map of his soul. Walking beside Aaron, their feet heavy against the pavement, he experienced a burst of loyalty. If being queer meant loving Aaron, then he’d own the label, at least internally. It was just…going to take some getting used to. And they’d have to be careful, once they graduated, not to out themselves again.

“Stay cool,” Aaron muttered as Nelson, a member of the elite corps, approached carrying a wooden dress rifle.

“Fucking freaks. I’ve got a pole to ram up your ass.” He jammed the butt of his gun toward Greg’s solar plexus as he passed.

Before Greg had a chance to react, a hair before the gun reached his gut, Aaron knocked it to the ground with a swift chop to Nelson’s arm.

Nelson grunted and cradled his arm. “Fucking queers!” he shouted at their retreating backs, Aaron propelling Greg along by the arm.

Greg clenched his jaw and looked straight ahead. Vulnerability enveloped him like a hooded straightjacket, threatening to smother and strangle.Fuck, what a cross to bear, just to be together. Did Aaron feel it too? The suffocating fear? The fight-or-flight pump of adrenaline through his system?

“Hey.” Aaron looked around to make sure no teachers would hear him speaking to Greg. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” Greg choked on the unshed adrenaline. “Thanks for that.”

“Sorry. It was reflex.”

The idea that Aaron would break his do-no-harm code to protect him buoyed his spirits, but in the next second, he remembered he had AP English next. Usually his favorite class, it held no joy for him when he realized he’d be without Aaron’s watchful influence to keep him in line.

He could handle a beating, he guessed. He’d taken them a thousand times before and by all appearances would again. The idea of failing Aaron—of breaking his promise to keep his temper in check—worried him most. Several times today, he’d barely missed blowing it. His ankle still throbbed where Aaron had trod on it when McHugh and Griswold had prodded their tongues in their cheeks, making blowjob motions, as they’d walked by.

They reached the building, and Greg opened the door to go inside, stopping when Aaron tugged on his sleeve.

“Here.” He held out a slip of paper.

Taking a deep breath, Greg pocketed the note and went inside.

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