If Like Repels Like, Do Opposites Attract?

If Like Repels Like Do Opposites Attract?: Chapter 6

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“So…I heard that you saw Chad au natural yesterday.”

Sam and Alyssa were sitting together outside during their lunch period. Chad and Todd weren’t with them. They had extra basketball practice in the gym so Sam didn’t need to worry about the possibility of them being overheard.

“He told you that?”

She grinned, “Please, of course he did!” She shot him a mischievous look. “So…How was it?” She comically raised her eyebrows, wiggling them in a ridiculous way.

Sam chuckled at her expression. “Well…let’s just say that Todd doesn’t exaggerate when he comments on Chad’s size.”

“Yeah? Really?” She nudged his shoulder grinning inanely. “You like it?”

Sam felt himself blushing. “Um…it was kind of nice.” He still felt awkward talking about the attractiveness of men with other people. Especially talking about someone they both knew as being attractive.

“It’s not going to be weird between you two now is it?”

“I don’t think so. As long as he’s not weird about it. I mean, I’m the same as I was before I saw it. He’s not just a body to me.”

“Good to know you won’t be different. I think I talked him through it so he won‘t be either. He’s probably going to ask if you want to hang out after basketball practice. What will you do?”

Sam didn’t hesitate. “I’ll hang out with him.”

Alyssa smiled broadly. “Good. I want all my boys to be friends.”

“Hey! When did we become your boys?”

“Well, I am the only girl of our group.” She shrugged, “so you’re my guys.”

“I guess I can’t argue with that logic.”

“Of course you can’t. It‘s argument-proof.” She bumped into his shoulder.

“Speaking of your boys, how long have you known Chad and Todd?” Sam asked. He’d been curious. The three were so close and the trust and affection they demonstrated was clear every time they were together.

“Well, Chad and I have been neighbors since we were born. Our families have always been good friends so we became best friends. We did basically everything together,“ she was smiling with a fond expression in her eyes. “Todd came later. Chad met Todd in middle school when they were on the basketball team. We all got along really well. I started dating Todd our freshman year when my parents finally agreed to let me date. Todd’s the love of my life and Chad’s my best friend, so it’s kind of like the perfect life.”

Sam could see the affection clearly shining in her eyes as she spoke. He felt a stab of jealousy. He didn’t have people in his life like that, that cared like that. After he was officially outted, his ‘friends’ pretty much cut him off.

Alyssa seemed to pick up on his sad feelings. She was pretty intuitive that way. “Hey,” she put her arm around his shoulder. “And then we met you, this pretty artist who completes us. You’re part of our group now as long as you want to be.”

Embarrassingly, Sam felt choked up by her words, like he was about to cry. He leaned into her and she rubbed his arm.

“You guys don’t know me very well. How do you know I complete your group?” He managed to voice his doubt shakily.

“Well, we kind of have noticed you for awhile.”

“What like screening a new friend?” Sam was kind of amused by the thought.

She chuckled a little. “Not exactly. We had obviously known who you are from school, seen your artwork and thought you seemed cool. Then you know at the party? With Tony? We saw it all. I had to hold Chad and Todd back from pounding Tony’s ass. I think that really sealed the deal and we wanted to meet you so we did.”

“Chad and Todd wanted to beat up Tony?”

“Yeah. Obviously they like you. Chad, I don’t think I even need to comment on him. And Todd, why do you think Todd says all his stupid jokes about you?”

Sam looked away bashfully. “I knew they liked me, but enough to beat someone up because he hurt me?”

Alyssa pulled him into a full on hug. “We think you’re awesome sweetie, if anyone hurts you, they have to deal with all three of us.”

“Thanks,” he whispered into her shoulder.

“It’s nothing. We care about you and you should know it.” She pulled back to look at him face to face.

“I think you’re awesome too.”

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After school, Sam met Chad outside of the gym. Chad ‘s hair was still damp from his shower and he looked relaxed.

“Hey Sam. Want to go to my house?” He asked.

“Sure.”

“Awesome,” Chad’s face was slightly flushed.

They settled into Chad’s truck. Sam felt at ease. Since this had become their routine, riding with Chad had become one of the best parts of his day. He just felt at ease and comfortable with Chad, listening to classic rock and watching the scenery passing by. With Chad, there was just no pressure to be a certain way or say anything and it was nice.

Sam was glad that the awkwardness over seeing Chad naked had seemed to pass and they were okay with each other.

They pulled into Chad’s driveway and went in the house to Chad’s room. They were chilling out and playing video games when Chad had to pause the game and began rotating his shoulder with a grimace.

“Are you okay?” Sam asked him.

“Sore from practice. I was fouled by Kyle Davis and he knocked me down. I fell on my shoulder.”

“Did you have someone look at it at all?” Sam was concerned.

“Nah.” Chad was still wincing.

“Let me see.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“If you’re hurting it is. Let me see,” Sam demanded.

Chad appeared surprised by Sam’s insistence. He sighed as he slowly stripped off his shirt, hindered by the pain in his shoulder.

Sam suppressed a gasp. Chad’s shoulder was bruising. Not that Sam had medical training, but to him it didn’t look like it was dislocated or broken, but it was turning black and blue.

“Oh Chad, that doesn’t look good. I think you need to ice that. I’ll get some.” Sam got up.

“There’s an ice pack in the freezer.”

Sam quickly found it and was back in Chad’s room. Chad was trying to see his shoulder in the mirror on the wall.

“Hey lay down,” Sam told him. They settled on the bed, Chad facedown on his stomach and Sam leaning behind him. “Tell me if I hurt you,” Sam warned before gently touching Chad’s back.

Chad hissed, “That’s cold.”

“Am I hurting you?” Sam was trying to keep his touch soft, the hand not holding the ice stroking the unharmed skin between Chad’s shoulder blades.

“You’re not hurting me,” Chad reassured.

Sam held the ice to Chad’s shoulder and continued to run his fingers along Chad’s back. Chad had a very nice back, the shape of his muscles and he had really nice skin too. It was smooth and silky to the touch. It was kind of unexpected that his skin would be so soft.

“Mmmm…you’re putting me to sleep,” Chad’s voice was low and quiet.

“So your shoulder feels better?”

“Mmmhmmm” Chad didn’t answer so much in words but more of an affirmative grunt. It was kind of cute. He sounded half-asleep.

“Are you falling asleep on me?”

“Mmmmm….maybe?”

Sam leaned over to look at Chad’s face. His eyes were closed and he was smiling. Sam impishly wondered if Chad was ticklish. He lightly slipped his fingers down Chad’s side. Chad’s entire body jerked at the contact.

“Sam!” He protested.

Sam giggled. “You’re ticklish.”

He continued to tickle Chad until Chad flipped over suddenly. They ended up face to face, Sam leaning against Chad’s chest, Chad’s hands on Sam’s arms. They were so close together, Sam could feel Chad’s breath on his mouth.

Sam wanted to kiss him.

Sam bolted upright at the thought breaking the moment and backed away from Chad. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s ok. I’m really ticklish.”

“How’s your shoulder feeling?”

“Better. Thanks.” Chad reached over and put his shirt back on. “Hey, wanna go out and grab some dinner?”

“Sounds good.” Sam smiled and followed him out.

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