"Really? Is this how you're going to be? Because, listen, I can't have you acting up like this. We're in this together and I need you on my side so, if you could, y'know, not, that'd be great."

I'm not sure why I think talking to my erection will change anything but, I tried.

"Fuck you too then."

And, of course, it has to be all excited because of Leo. I suppose hanging out with him yesterday explains why I would have an absolutely wonderful dream about him with far less clothes on but, still, can you not, dick? We need to keep ourselves composed around the hot soccer boy next door that we now know could possibly be interested in us and...shit, this isn't helping. I need a cold shower.

That is exactly what I get, a very cold shower before heading downstairs to get some breakfast. Mom is already up and moving about outside in the garden. She'll probably ask me to help pull weeds later so I better get the hell out of here before she can do that.

As if Beckett somehow heard my thoughts, my phone goes off from his text. I'm not surprised to see his words in a complete mess asking how last night went and if I'm still single. I roll my eyes and reply with two words, still single.

My phone rings. I don't answer it and eat my breakfast. It rings again so I put it on silent. About thirty minutes later, after I have eaten breakfast and went back upstairs to play games, the biggest annoyance of my life arrives.

"Why do you always ignore me?!" Beckett hollers into my room after practically kicking open the door.

"Put a dent in my door and you're replacing it."

"We wouldn't have to worry about that if you answered your damn phone."

"I did answer you. You just wanted to pester me."

Beckett pouts before dropping next to me in one of my bean bag chairs. With his arms crossed, he glares at me while waiting for some sort of response, probably an elaboration. Obviously, I don't give him that and it results in him asking, "So what happened?"

"We had dinner."

"And?"

"Came home."

"I hate you so much."

"Ditto."

Beckett grumbles about me for about ten minutes before finally realizing that, nope, he ain't gettin' anything out of me. So, with a heavy sigh, he joins me in playing some video games while talking about Misty. Apparently, she wants him to go to a family get together, which he's pretty nervous about. I don't blame him. He's such a fuck up, something is bound to happen. When I voice this he nearly goes into tears. Ah, it feels so good to be the unsupportive friend. I make him brownies later though so all is forgiven.

Then, sometime before dinner, my mom shouts something a bit shocking up the stairs.

"Micah, Leo's here, I'm sending him up!"

Beckett looks to me with such a perverted grin that I shove him out of the chair then kick him in the ass until my bedroom door opens. I'm not sure what Leo is thinking about when he sees me assaulting Beckett, who's still grinning like a madman but, judging by his cocked brow, it's probably pure confusion.

"Leo!" Beckett shouts and jumps to his feet. "Hey, what's up?"

"Uh, I was just-" Leo bites his lip and Beckett takes that as his cue to leave because he's an ass like that.

"I actually have to go, what a pity, we all could have played some games. We'll have to hang out some other time," Beckett says quickly and it's so obvious he's trying to run off that even Leo appears a bit uncomfortable.

Still, Beckett smiles, says goodbye to the both of us then runs out the door...only to peek his head back but not enough that Leo can see him. He gives me a wink followed by a thumbs up. I'm going to kill him.

Once Beckett is gone, I give Leo an apologetic expression. "Sorry, Beckett's a dumbass."

"I wouldn't say that, he's pretty funny."

"I definitely wouldn't say that."

Leo chuckles and continues to awkwardly stand in my room. Seeing as he isn't making any move to come sit down, I gesture for him to do so while asking, "You going to stand there all day?"

With a shy nod, Leo walks over and sits next to me. I'm not sure why he's here or what he wants especially since we just saw each other yesterday. This is simply weird, seeing each other so often. Not necessarily weird in a bad sense, simply, weird.

"Do you need something?" I ask since Leo hasn't said anything. My voice somehow startles him because he jumps then looks to me with wide blue eyes.

"Huh?"

"Do you need something?" I repeat, cocking a brow when I find Leo staring with a blank expression. Normally there's something, embarrassment, curiosity, happiness but, right now, it seems he's so lost that his own face doesn't know what the fuck it's up to.

He hesitates to respond, opening and shutting his mouth continuously like the words can only make it half way up his throat before disappearing. Then, after a deep breath, Leo says, "I...was thinking of coming out to my parents tonight."

My eyes widen. I knew he had been considering it but is he sure he wants to do it so soon? We just talked about it last night so, I happily voice my concern. "Already? Are you sure you're ready for it?"

"I don't think I ever actually will be."

True. Most people can work up all the courage in the world and still feel like running away at the mere idea of coming out.

"Any reason why?"

"Mom's making a special dinner tonight as celebration for getting my college acceptance letter."

"Oh...congrats."

Leo rolls his eyes at my poor excuse of a congratulations. Even I feel a bit stupid for giving such a shitty response. However, his smile tells me that it in no way bothers him, which baffles me. I guess Leo is too nice for his own good. Instead, he shrugs and goes on to say, "I thought I could bring it up tonight. Hopefully the good news will put them in...a good mood?"

"Understandable."

Leo brings his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them so he can rest his chin atop his knees. "I've been trying to think of what to say but the closer dinner gets the more messed up my speech becomes."

"Does it have to be a speech?"

"Just saying "Mom, dad, I'm gay" doesn't seem like the best way to tell them."

"But it's the truth." I try my best not to sound disinterested. I know that I can come across as uncaring and, yeah, most of the time I don't really care. However, this is pretty serious and I do care how tonight goes. "It doesn't have to be some grand speech. You don't have to explain yourself. You're gay, just tell them that."

"What if they aren't ok with it?"

That's the question I was hoping he wouldn't ask. Seeing Leo staring at me with wide and horrified eyes makes my skin crawl. That's the question we always ask. It doesn't matter how kind our parents come across as. It doesn't matter how much they claim to love us. There's always fear.

"Don't think about it. You'll cross that bridge if it gets here," I say while reaching out to ruffle his short blonde hair. I have no idea why I'm doing it but it seems to be working. The tension in his shoulders slowly dwindles away while the blush on his cheeks only grows.

"Thanks."

"You already thanked me."

"I'm thanking you again." Leo sends me a smile that should be illegal. He's about to be arrested for being too cute and I hate that I even thought that.

Clearing my throat, I drop my hand and turn away to keep playing my game because I can't stand the sight of him anymore. It's making my heart act like it just ate a pound of straight sugar. Leo chuckles, either at my reaction or simply from nerves, I'm not sure.

The silence is killing me. It's not awkward but there's certainly a strange feeling, something lingering in the air. Every now and again I glance at Leo out of the corner of my eye and, sometimes, I catch him looking at me. When I do, he smiles sheepishly at getting caught then looks away with the blush remaining on his face.

Can I say that it's official? He has to like me. Why? Who the fuck knows but he definitely likes me.

Rather than sitting here awkwardly doing absolutely nothing, I decide to try and make conversation by asking, "What college are you going to?"

"Memphis."

Hey, that's the college I got into by pure dumb luck. While Leo has a reason he wants to go, mine is far more simple. It's close. I'll get to sleep in. I choose not to tell him that though.

"Ah, they have a good soccer team."

"Yeah, I actually got a tour over the summer!" Leo perks up, his eyes brightening at the mere mention of his favorite sport. I'm a bit shocked on how he went from depressed to bright as fuck in under 0.2 seconds. "They have a huge gym with an absolutely amazing training regime. I've been trying to work it into my own so I'll be ready by next year. Oh! And their cafeteria has so many different options. I could probably eat there everyday over the next four years and never get tired of-"

Leo stops mid sentence causing me to give him a curious glance. Slowly, his smile fades before he bites his lip and says, "Sorry, I got a little over enthusiastic."

I shrug, choosing not to mention how I like it or the fact that I, too, had a tour. "Not really. Keep talking."

"About college?"

"Anything."

For whatever reason, my answer baffles him because his expression turns apathetic. I'm not sure if I said something wrong but I haven't the time to ask. Again, he cheers right back up, smiling from ear to ear while chuckling, "I thought you weren't the type to really care."

"Do you think so little of me?" I tease, smirking at the pure panic that Leo shows.

"N-No! That's not, I didn't mean-"

"I'm fucking with you." I elbow him playfully in the side. Damn, how can his cheeks stay that red for so long? It's impressive or am I impressive for keeping them that way?

"You're kind of an ass."

"Only kind of?"

Leo ignores my teasing, either because he is excited to keep talking or because he knows he can't beat me (probably both), and goes on to talk about school. Seems that it was his first choice, that he's been aiming for it since sophomore year. I don't know much about soccer but I know they have a good team and, judging by how Leo talks about them, it could lead to a real career.

I always assumed Leo played soccer with the intention of quitting after college but it seems it's the opposite. He seriously wants to play soccer for the rest of his life. I shouldn't be surprised but it's pretty impressive how he has so many plans already laid out for his future in case one doesn't work out.

I'm just hoping I don't end up getting shot in an alley or something. People who have their shit together are scary.

"Have you heard back from any colleges?"

"Yeah, I'm going to Memphis."

Leo hacks on his own spit, I think, he's hacking on something while I'm grinning from ear to ear. I watch him suffer a bit longer before patting his back ever so lovingly (it's not lovingly). With wide eyes, Leo looks to me and asks, "W-What?"

"I'm going to Memphis. I'll probably see you in a class or two."

Leo's at a loss for words. It's funny watching him try to come up with something to say. In the end, he literally queaks out, "But...you had me talking about it for like 20 minutes?"

"Mhm."

"And you already knew all that information."

"Mhm."

"Why?"

"You were excited about it," I answer, sitting my controller aside since I can't really concentrate on my game. "Might as well let you talk."

Leo hesitates to respond to me. I'm not sure why but I never find out either because his phone suddenly goes off. The both of us look to said phone and I'm guessing it's his mom saying that dinner is ready or about to be based on his worried frown. Our earlier conversation is forgotten in an instant.

"I...I better get going," he says more to himself than me.

Nodding, I stand up along with Leo, who looks ready to ask what I'm doing but I beat him to it, "I can walk you out."

Leo doesn't give much of a response. He appears too nervous, his hands are shaking. So, with a nod, he steps out of my room with me right behind. Mom says goodbye and I'm surprised Leo can offer her up a smile. The two of us walk out the door in silence and over to his yard, where Leo suddenly turns around to look at me.

"If...if things don't go well, c-can I come back over?" He asks, his voice so soft that it's hard to hear. His eyes are visibly shaking, the once light blue somehow darkening with concern.

"Yeah. My door's always open."

My words relieve Leo enough to let out a heavy sigh. He's still shaking. Even his breaths are coming out in uneven patterns. I've never been good with words. Grand speeches or soft encouragements elude me so, I do about the only thing I can think of.

Reaching out, I wrap my arms around Leo's shoulders. The moment I do, his entire body freezes. I'm not sure if my hug is even that good but I'm trying for fucks sake. But, when Leo's arms suddenly wrap around my waist, I take that as a sign that the hug is greatly appreciated so we remain like this for a while longer.

"It'll be ok," I say since that's about the only thing I can come up with. Leo nods against my shoulder, his warm breath heating up said shoulder but I don't ask him to pull away nor do I try to move. I patiently wait for Leo to work up whatever courage he needs until, finally, he pushes me back.

His face is red but I'm not sure if that's because of the hug or how nervous he is. With a wave, Leo backs away, spins on his heel then bolts into his house. All I can do now is hope for the best. Shit, now even I'm getting nervous.

Turning around, I head back up the porch to patiently wait inside. However, before I open the door, a sudden chill runs down my spine. I'm quick to spin around, looking about the street because I can't help but feel eyes on me. The occasional car passes, there's a couple out walking their dog and an elderly woman sitting on her front porch, nothing out of the ordinary but, for some reason, my gut is twisting.

I pass it off as worrying about how Leo's dinner will go.