New Kid

The school parking lot was empty at the moment, as classes wouldn’t be starting for another hour. Adam pulled the keys out of the ignition and took a deep breath then looked over at his passenger. Gavin gave him a small, uncertain smile. He’d argued with Adam last night over the wisdom of driving to school together, but the taller boy overruled him. He knew that Gavin likely took a lot of abuse on the bus, as Dave’s younger brother and his friends all took the same one, and Adam refused to allow Gavin to be put through that anymore.

It was quite a change from the attitude he’d had when they’d first started talking the previous week, and Adam knew that Gavin must still harbor some reservations about it. But he was determined to prove to him that their new relationship was real.

“You ready?” he asked the black haired boy.

Gavin turned wary, tortured silver eyes to him silently, studying him for a moment.

“We’re not coming out, are we?” he finally queried softly. “Because I’m sure that would be a bad idea for both of us.”

Adam frowned at that statement. He hadn’t intended on coming out publicly either, but to hear Gavin say this out loud was disheartening, almost as if he was ashamed of things.

“If you don’t want to be with me …”

“Oh no, Adam! That’s not what I meant at all. I do! I do!”

Adam couldn’t contain the smile that formed on his lips as Gavin threw himself against him. He clamped both arms tightly around the boy and squeezed, kissing his black hair.

“I just don’t want you to feel like I’m pressuring you into anything,” he murmured. “I realize how fast this is going.”

“Fast,” Gavin snickered as he snuggled closer. “It’s been six years overdue.”

“I think we would have created a bigger shock if we’d done this when we were ten,” Adam said dryly. “But I just want you to know that we’ll go as fast or as slow as you want to.”

“To protect me from Dave and Ted.”

“And me from Suzie and Bobby!”

“What?” Gavin laughed. “They’re not mean!”

“Not to you,” Adam griped. “But put yourself in my position. Bobby told me I’m under surveillance.”

“That just means his friend Chris is watching you.”

“Oh, now THAT’S reassuring. He’s only the best high school wrestler in the state!”

Gavin laughed heartily at that and Adam secretly smiled, knowing he’d lightened the boy’s mood a little. “For now, we’ll just let everyone know we’re friends, okay.”

Gavin pulled back and smiled as Adam pushed a long lock of ebony hair back for him. “Okay.”

Adam leaned forward and kissed Gavin again before they both got out of the car and headed toward the school building.

----------------------

Adam shut his locker and walked over to stand by Gavin’s as the smaller boy chose his books for the morning.

“Why do you carry all four of your first classes?” Adam asked curiously. “The second one is right near here. You don’t need to carry that heavy social studies text all morning.”

“Just ‘cause,” the boy replied.

“’Cause of Ted?”

Gavin shrugged.

“Put it back in the locker, Gav,” Adam said softly. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t bug you.”

Gavin looked uneasy as he peered over Adam’s shoulder.

“Hello, boys,” Dave greeted them jovially. “Whatcha doing, Ad? Slumming?”

Adam sighed wearily and turned to his friend, straightening himself to his full height. Dave wore a wicked smirk and Ted lounged lazily behind him.

“What the hell is going on here?” Suzie demanded as she sauntered up. “Haven’t you three learned anything?”

“Suze?” Gavin piped in with a small voice.

“Don’t worry, sweetie,” she replied, glancing at him briefly. “Just let me get rid of them and we’ll walk you to class.” She put herself between Gavin and Adam and assumed a wrathful pose.

That did it. Adam was in a bad enough mood dealing with Dave, but Suzie trying to come between him and his … well, he and Gavin hadn’t discussed what exactly they were, but it was more than friends that was for sure. Hold on to your socks, he thought. Mount St. Adam was about to erupt.

“Hold it!” he finally growled at Suzie then turned to Dave and Ted, who shot the others looks of superiority. “First of all, you two idiots are going to leave him alone!”

“Huh?” Ted muttered.

“You heard me,” Adam hissed. “He’s my friend, and you’re going to leave him alone.”

“Your friend?” several people on both sides chorused.

“Yes,” he replied emphatically.

Suzie turned to Gavin quizzically. “Is this true?”

The boy nodded quietly and turned back to Adam. “I was trying to tell them.”

“I know. But as usual, no one was listening.”

“Hey!” Bobby cried. “Who do you think you are?”

“New Kid’s boyfriend, apparently,” Dave sneered.

“His name is Gavin,” Adam shot back. “And I’d better hear you use it from now on.”

Suzie was watching him, Adam knew. He could see her dubious expression from the corner of his eye. But she wasn’t what concerned him right now. Dave and Ted were glaring at him with animosity he’d never seen from them before. Apparently they didn’t like that he’d denied them their favorite toy. Tough shit. He may be known as a brain, but he was far from defenseless. In fact, it was their own fault in some ways. They’d taught him how to fight.

“Why, Adam?” Ted asked in a stone-like voice.

“Because I like him,” he replied without inflection. “He and I read the same books and have a lot of the same interests. You two hate most of it.”

“So, that’s it then?” Dave demanded. “You’re choosing him over us?”

“It doesn’t have to be this way. You could just leave him alone.”

Both Ted and Dave wore matching stubborn expressions that made Adam sigh with annoyance.

“Adam, I told you that you didn’t need to,” Gavin spoke softly and Adam glanced over his shoulder at the boy. He looked defeated and sad, and all Adam wanted to do was erase the expression altogether.

“They made the choice, Gav,” he said reassuringly.

“WE didn’t.”

Adam turned back to Dave. “Yes, you did.”

“Eleven years of friendship,” Ted pointed out. “You threw that away.” He looked at the boy standing just behind Adam now. “For that,” he added cruelly.

“For HIM,” Adam clarified.

“He just wants to get into your pants, Adam,” Dave sneered. “He’s queer.”

“You afraid he’ll beat you to it?” Adam retorted.

Dave’s face reddened at that. “Don’t expect us to be here when you come to your senses.”

“Okay, then,” Adam nodded his head. “Good luck in trig, Einstein.”

Dave’s face went from beet red to ashen in seconds, making Suzie and Bobby snicker behind Gavin.

Ted clapped a hand onto Dave’s shoulder and pulled him away down the far hall.

“Well, your day should be eventful,” Bobby said as Adam turned to face them.

“Don’t worry about me,” he replied. “I’ve dealt with them before. My concern now is you.”

“Me?” Bobby asked innocently.

“Yeah. Am I going to have problems with you guys, too? Or can I just concentrate on those two morons?”

Bobby stared at him intently for a while probably contemplating how best to humiliate him for the years of torture Ted and Dave inflicted on Gavin while Adam stood by and did nothing.

“Bobby, please,” Gavin pleaded. “Adam’s my friend.”

Bobby and Suzie both turned to Gavin finally remembering he was there, Adam assumed. They glanced at each other and sighed.

“Gav, are you sure he’s okay?” Suzie asked gently.

“He’s been my friend for a week now,” the boy explained.

“Not long,” Bobby huffed.

“Long enough to lose his two best friends,” Gavin countered.

“Two only friends,” Suzie added looking at Adam. “They’ll definitely turn any others against you now.” She paused to let that sink in before adding, “It might not be too late to fix things with them.”

Adam’s mood went from frustrated to downright enraged. “My decision stands. Gavin’s with me.” He gave Bobby a challenging look after he said that just to be sure the implication had set in.

Suzie pulled her boyfriend a few feet away to confer for a minute, casting furtive glances back to Adam every now and then. Gavin had touched Adam’s hand reassuringly while they waited. They could only hear bits and pieces of the conversation, but it was clear they were taking the matter seriously.

“… deserves what he gets,” Bobby hissed.

“Gavin’s choice,” Suzie countered.

“… still watching him.”

“Good. He’ll need help.”

Finally the two walked back over and Suzie smiled while Bobby stood by watching Adam coldly.

“Gavin, sweetie, whatever you decide is fine,” she said.

Gavin smiled.

“But you’re still being watched,” Bobby added to Adam.

“Good,” Adam replied with a smile. “Tell Chris to make sure I take my gym clothes home once a week to be washed.”

Bobby’s expression turned thunderous and he stalked down the hall with a giggling Suzie at his heels. Gavin and Adam followed with matching grins.