Free Fiction Friday: November 14, 2014:

Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 39

The perfect weather did little to lift Blake’s mood as he and Ethan walked across the quad toward his dorm. Ethan’s presence should have helped, but his boyfriend didn’t approve of them slipping in to get some things while Brett was out.

“I’m not pretending it didn’t happen, you know.” Blake wondered why he tried again. “We’re holding hands on campus. How is that avoiding the issue?”

“You’re avoiding him.” Ethan lacked any of his usual happy go lucky demeanor.

“No, I’m not.” He stopped until Ethan turned to face him. After the hard played soccer match early, Blake was tired. And that usually meant cranky too. Taking a deep breath, he held it for a few seconds, and then let it go. “Really, I’m not. I just want to get my stuff now so we don’t have to worry about it later.”

“So if Brett’s there, you’ll confront him?”

Blake looked down. “No.” Continue reading Free Fiction Friday: Second Shot – The Senior Year – 40

 Free Fiction Friday: October 31, 2014:

Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 39

 

“He can’t do this.” Dean paced back and forth. “It’s not allowed.”

Darryl swallowed a mouthful of water and nodded vigorously. “What Little T said. Just talk to campus housing.”

“They might kick him out of school if I do that, Darryl.” Blake struggled with why that thought bothered him. This was Brett’s issue, not his. Wasn’t it?

Dean raised his hands above his shoulders in a shrug and leaned forward. “And we should care that Graydon will have one less douche bag on campus, why?”

“It’s not that simple.” Blake turned his head to avoid Dean’s stare. “We’re… we were friends.”

“Friends don’t act like that.”

“Let it go, Dean.” Jason said as he walked back into the living room. He had two cups of coffee and stopped in front of Blake and held one out. “Black, two sugars. Right?”

Lifting his eyes, Blake managed a thin smile and nodded. “Yea. Thanks.” Continue reading Free Fiction Friday: Second Shot – The Senior Year – 39

 Free Fiction Friday: October 3, 2014:

Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 38

 

“Stop worrying.” Ethan said. He shook his head, but the Wi-Fi connection distorted it on Blake’s screen. At least the audio was clear. “I doubt he’s going to freak out.”

“I’m not worried about him going off on me, that’s not Brett’s style, but I’m not looking forward to moving out if it comes to that.”

Ethan’s face tightened and Blake braced for his response. “It doesn’t matter if he’s unhappy, that’s his deal. He needs to get his knuckles off the ground and move into the twenty-first century. Why do straight guys all think they’re at risk of being hit on by gay guys?”

“I don’t think he’s that bad, Eth.” Or maybe he was and Blake didn’t want to believe Brett was really upset. “But I think I make him uncomfortable.”

“Why are you defending him?” The way Ethan’s eyes narrowed told Blake they’d crossed the Rubicon. “He’s the one with a problem, not you. What does he have to be uncomfortable about? Do you stare at his junk when he gets changed? Do you grab his ass constantly? What?”

“You know I don’t do that.” Even if he found Brett attractive—and he didn’t—he wouldn’t do those things. Continue reading Free Fiction Friday: Second Shot – The Senior Year – 38

 Free Fiction Friday: September 26, 2014:

After a couple weeks off to deal with some family issues, I’m back this week. Hopefully this will the start of a good run. 😀

Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 37

“I’m telling you he’s acting weird.” Blake lifted his shirt and wiped the sweat from his eyes.

Dean didn’t bother with modesty and pulled his shirt over his head and used it to dry his face and neck. He bent over and grabbed his knees. “You’ve been running with my brother, haven’t you?”

The accusation wasn’t the response he expected. “Yeah. Why?”

“Cause you pick spots and run intervals like him. I hate that.”

“They’re good for you.” Having hated them at first too, Blake became a believer after how much stronger he felt during games. “You’ll appreciate it when you have your legs at the end of the first game.”

“I know they’re good for me, but I still hate them.” He used the white T-shirt to dab his face again. “So what’s Brett doing that’s weird?”

“I dunno, maybe it’s just me.” Having brought it up, Blake suddenly felt stupid talking about it. “Just forget about it. It’s probably nothing.”

“Clearly something bothered you or you’d never have said anything.” Continue reading Free Fiction Friday: Second Shot – The Senior Year – 37

 Free Fiction Friday: September 5, 2014:

Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 36

 

Blake paced his small dorm room. Brett’s stuff added to his made it feel even smaller. He’d been spoiled having the room to himself for the three weeks. Spoiled in more ways than one. But the weekend came and went, Ethan went home and Blake left Jason and Darryl’s house to come back to the dorm.

During the two days at Jason’s place, he’d tried to find the right words to tell his roommate. Everything he came up with sounded lame. “Brett, I’m gay,” was direct but had an overly dramatic feel. And he didn’t think he could or should blurt it out to start the conversation. On the other hand, the whole, ‘sit down, I have something to talk about,’ wasn’t any better.

Plus he really liked his roommate—in a friends only way. The last thing he wanted was to cause him more stress than needed. Especially the first week of school.

Still, they had to have this talk tonight. Enough people knew about Ethan and he being a ‘couple’ that sooner or later Brett would get the, ‘whoa, dude. You’re living with a gay guy?’ question and then it would be on. Better to deal with it directly and early on so they could both move on with the semester—one way or another. Continue reading Free Fiction Friday: Second Shot – The Senior Year – 36

 

Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 35

 

The night felt strained. Blake wished he’d told Jason he and Ethan didn’t want to be a part of the ‘party.’ Despite his best efforts to keep things chatty and friendly, even Ethan couldn’t cut the tension.

Then again, maybe Ethan was the problem. Blake noted how Hanna tensed up every time Ethan did something flamboyant. Wendy brought out the ‘gay’ in him—at least that is what Ethan whispered too him after a particularly funny exchange.

He thought he’d have minded the over-the-top, queeny performance, but seeing his boyfriend having fun, being himself, laughing with their friends, Blake realized that was part of the attraction; Ethan was comfortable being Ethan. Everyone—Hanna excluded—enjoyed the ‘show.’ Even Dean managed to laugh. Continue reading Second Shot – The Senior Year – 35