Unlikely Valentine
by Rob Warr
Chapter 2
More surprises
I was right, there had been a major realignment of Dylan's classes and the next day in second period Chemistry class I got another shocker. Not only was Dylan in my class, the only empty seat was at my table.
Ohmigod, how will I even function with that boy next to me all period? I just know he smells as yummy as he looks and I'm just liable to attack him like some crazed monkey just from sniffing his pheromones or whatever. Stay calm, I kept saying to myself as he approached after having been pointed my way by Mr. Jolly, our teacher.
"Hey," he said as he slid into the seat next to me.
"Hey," I said trying to be cool as my heart beat so fast I was afraid he could hear it.
"Guess we're lab partners now," he said smiling that smile that caused girls to swoon and boys to gasp in surprise, "I'm Dylan," he said offering his fist to bump.
Oh no, I cannot actually touch him, not even in a fist bump, but somehow I managed to do it, though I felt a little faint for just a moment.
Then it suddenly occurred to me that I needed to tell him my name, too, cause I sure as heck didn't think he knew who I was, but just as my mouth was starting to open, he surprised me one more time.
"You're Josh, right?"
I didn't even mind that he'd shortened my name. In fact, it sounded awesome coming from those highly kissable lips of his. Yeah, from now on I was Josh, just Josh.
"Yeah, Joshua, but Josh is my nickname," I lied. Well, it was now, at least with Dylan.
"Cool, I've seen you around, just never had any classes with you till now."
"Yeah, I've um...seen you around too," I said blushing. Boy, have I seen you, almost all of you.
We were rudely interrupted then as Mr. Jolly began the lesson for the day, and I turned my attention to him out of respect. Mr. Jolly was one of my favorite teachers. He was in his late 50's or early 60's, short, bald, and like his name implied, jolly. He was funny and kind, and the kids reacted positively to that. He seldom ever had to raise his voice, because most all the kids liked him and we had fun in his class, unlike most of our classes.
Tomorrow we'd be doing a science experiment with our partners, he said, and woo hoo...Dylan was now my lab partner. So, what if we blew the place up? At least I'd go out with my angel by my side.
Mr. Jolly nearly always ended the class about five minutes early to give us time to gather our things together and to talk, as long as we didn't get too loud. He would sit at his desk then and prepare for his next class or answer any questions his students might have.
"He's cool," Dylan said as he gathered his things together.
"Yeah, he's my favorite teacher this year."
"Yeah, I actually had him fourth period till they changed my schedule around."
"Yeah, I was wondering. I mean, it's none of my business but why did they change your schedule this far into the school year?"
"Personal reasons. I can't really go into it, but I had a conflict in one of my classes. I only asked to change one, but it was like dominoes falling. They redid the whole dang schedule for some reason. But...it's cool. I like the new lineup. It's better for me all around," he said grinning.
Was he grinning at me? Was he implying that he liked having classes with me? Nah, no way. Probably some girl in one of the classes he had his eye on.
The bell rang and we were off to third period, which we did not share. That was actually a good thing, cause it gave me a chance to settle down after being so close to him in Chemistry. And, yeah, I was right, he smells yummy.
More later.
Well, the shocks and surprises just keep on coming. When I got my lunch tray and sat down at my usual table I looked up to see Dylan come in alone and head to the line. I couldn't help but watch him, thinking even doing something as simple as this he had all the grace and poise of a jungle cat. Meow, he he.
I wondered what healthy things he'd picked for his lunch, but I had no clue I'd soon get to find out. Yes, as soon as he'd swiped his card at the register he looked up, locked eyes with me, and smiled. Then...ohmigod, he headed my way.
There were two empty chairs at my table, one on the far end, and one next to me and I really wasn't surprised when he chose the one next to me. After all, I was probably the only one there he knew by name. Wrong.
Hi Keith, hi Larry, hi Bill, hi Terrance, hi Nicky, and finally, hi Josh, long time no see," he said with a chuckle.
He knew all my friends by name? WTF? Then it occurred to me, maybe he's just very observant and has one of those mnemonic memories or whatever.
I think that might have been it, because all of them looked shocked, especially Nicky, who'd been bad-mouthing him in gym the day before.
"Is it okay if I sit with you guys?" he said noting the looks of shock on the other boys' faces, "I mean, I guess I should've asked first?" he said looking around the table with a worried look.
"No, no, it's fine," I barked, "they're just surprised, that's all. We're not exactly the most popular kids at Harding Middle School," I said, then blushed. Why did I have to say that? Now he'll think we're all losers.
"Personally, I think cliques are stupid, and everyone should be judged on who they are and not what group they associate with, or how rich or poor, or whatever they are."
God, this boy was golden. Not only was he good looking and sexy, but kind and thoughtful, and a genuine good guy.
Nicky was downright staring now, "You...um, want to sit with us, for real?" he stuttered.
"Sure, why not? I like to get to know all the other students wherever I go to school. I may not sit here everyday, but as long as I'm welcome I'll keep coming back."
"You're welcome, anytime," I said, taking my rightful place as spokesman for the table. After all, he was my crush.
"Cool, so...let me tell you a little about me, and then you guys can tell me something about you, okay?"
Wow, he wanted to know about us, or...was this some kind of trick to get us to reveal some ugly secret so he could use it to ruin us? No, no, no, I cannot think like that. He's not like that, he's proved he's a nice guy.
"Well, I came from California, and I guess you probably know it was a lot different out there. Kids were mostly in two groups where I went to school, the haves and the have-nots. I was lucky, I was one of the haves, but I had friends in both groups. In fact, my best friend, Rudy, was attending on a scholarship and had to work part time just to stay in school. I helped him when I could, but he was pretty stubborn and so were his folks, who were immigrants from Mexico. Rudy was born here, but that still didn't keep other kids from calling him names, like wet-back and beaner. I'll confess I got in a few fights over that, and after a while I shut it all down.
"Wow, that's so cool," Keith said, "that you beat up those bullies."
"I'm not a violent person by nature, but I'm extremely loyal to my friends, as you will see," he said grinning, "but that's enough about me for now, "Josh, why don't you tell us something about you. These guys might know you, but I don't, and I really want to."
He wants to get to know me? Ohmigod, my crush wants to know about me, well...where to begin?
"Well, not much to tell. I'm 13, and I live with my brother, Kenny, who's 10, and my parents, Dan and Betty Billingsly, in a pretty nice neighborhood over on Clark Street. I like music, watching baseball, and any kind of outdoor activity. I'm not much for video games but when the weather is bad I'm down for a game or two."
"Nice, Keith...?"
And so for the rest of our lunch period we got to know things about each other that we never knew. Like that Nicky was Catholic and was an altar boy at one time. Or that Larry had a twin sister, Kara, who attended an all girl's school for reasons he didn't explain.
Oh, and BTW, Dylan selected a salad, an apple and chicken nuggets for his lunch. More exciting news later...he he.
It's been a week since I last wrote in this diary or whatever you want to call it. Journal, maybe. Diary sounds like something a girl would write in. Anyway, it's February 9th, less than a week to go till Valentine's Day. Not that VD is a big deal with me or anything, but when I was a little kid (two years ago...he he) we used to have a party in our class and exchange Valentine cards and have cookies and milk. But once you reach 7th grade that holiday is pretty much left for lovers. Not that that many 7th graders have a girlfriend or boyfriend, but by 8th grade there are usually a few couples even if it's only puppy love.
As I sat trying not to stare at Dylan today I've come to realize that he's not just a pretty face. He's smart, caring, and has dreams like everyone else. He made good on his promise to come visit our lunch table again and wound up sitting with us 4 out of 5 times last week, but who's counting...he he.
He continued to tell us about his life and to encourage the rest of us to open up more about our own lives. Wow, just wow, it was almost like he was one of those therapists or something. He really knew how to get us talking. Of course I still had that fear niggling inside me that I'd say something to give myself away, but Dylan always seemed open and accepting of anything we had to say.
I'd also come to think of him as more than a crush. I'd begun to think of him as a friend. Maybe not besties yet, but definitely a friend. And I felt a little guilty for some of the fantasies I continued to have about him, but what is a guy gonna do? Dangle some candy in front of him and he's gonna wanna take a lick now and then, he he.
The others, including Nicky, had warmed to Dylan, too, and they seemed as comfortable with him as they did with each other after only a few days.
I had to wonder though, what did all the super cool kids and jocks think about Dylan sitting with a bunch of kids who were marginal at best? Not on the outside, but definitely not on the inside. Not super cool but tolerable, I guess. Then I wondered if Dylan sitting with us actually elevated us to a higher status, and that made me smile.
But I really didn't care what the other kids thought, not really. As long as I had my friends, and now, Dylan, I was happy. And then Dylan decided to up the ante and threw me back for a loop.
It happened after PE today. And just so you know, PE didn't turn out to be as torturous as I'd feared. Yes, it was difficult at first to be in the same locker room and showers with this godlike boy, but as I got to know him better I began to realize that he was more than just something for me to drool over. He was real now, not an object of my fantasy only seen from afar. I'd gotten to know him in the short time we'd been interacting and I'd begun to see that he was just like every other boy in some ways, just more beautiful.
Anyway, that day we were playing B-ball, shirts vs skins. Dylan of course was skin, but I was shirt, so I had to attempt to play against him. He's good at everything, every sport, every exercise, even tumbling, and I knew I was no match for him, but I tried, if for no other reason than to get an occasional close up look at him or to touch him as I tried to block him.
Suddenly he was at my side and he asked if we could talk after PE. I was nervous, of course, but said yes, and he suggested we could shower together and talk then. Well, I had mixed feelings about that. So far I'd avoided being in the same shower stall with him after PE but I'd seen enough of him from the corner of my eye to know he was as yummy naked as he was clothed.
But I wasn't about to refuse my boy anything, and I easily agreed, hoping I didn't pop a full on robot chubby and send him screaming and running for cover. Not that my chubby would be all that big, but you know, it can be intimidating when it's staring up at someone who didn't invite it to pop up...he he.
So, I sweated the whole rest of the period, and not cause I was jumping around trying to get the ball. I was nervous. What if Dylan was going to call me on my staring and weirdness around him? Or what if he'd figured out I liked boys and he was gonna confront me with that? What would I say if he came right out and asked me if I was gay? Would I chicken out or be honest? And if I was honest and he hated me then, how could I ever show my face in the classes I shared with him again?
But it turned out I was worrying for nothing. In fact, what Dylan wanted to discuss was our getting together at my house to work on the Chemistry project we'd been assigned by Mr. Jolly. Wow, talk about a relief, but not for long. Then I began to worry about what he'd think when he saw my room and my choice of posters. Not one pretty girl decorated my walls though there were several movie posters with boys I admired. The car posters would be all right I supposed, but maybe I should take the other posters down. Then I decided I wasn't going to do that. I knew him well enough by now to think that he'd be as accepting of my choices in decorating as he had been with everything else I'd revealed to him.
So, we agreed on Wednesday, and I got mom to agree to pick us up that day instead of riding the bus. She said she would call Dylan's mom to make sure she was okay with him riding with us and I left the details for her to work out.
Kenny was curious as to who this new friend was, and I told him he was just a boy from school and that he was my lab partner and we were gonna work on a project for Chemistry class. He's a smart kid, and he knows me well. He gave me that look that said, 'yeah, but I know there's more', but he didn't press me on it, not then anyway.
I begged him to be on his best behavior and he just laughed and went off to his room. Grrr...that little twerp. He'd better not embarrass me or I'll give him a wedgie so big his grandkids will feel it.
I didn't want to brag to the others at our lunch table about my 'date' with Dylan, because I wasn't sure how they'd feel about it. So far Dylan was our friend and didn't belong to any one of us, and I didn't want them to think I'd been going behind their backs or anything. I know, silly right?
But what I didn't count on was Dylan spilling the beans. Just as casually as he might say, 'pass the salt', he said, 'so, we're still on for our study date tomorrow, right?' So, with all heads turned my way and my face as red as the Valentine Hearts decorating the halls and classrooms, I muttered a 'sure', and quickly added, 'to work on that Chemistry project.'
Chemistry project, as in: do Dylan and I have any chemistry? But after the initial shock everyone seemed to understand or at least accept that the two of us were meeting outside the confines of the cafeteria or class. And fortunately, Dylan, who seemed unaware of any awkwardness, moved on to discuss a new movie he'd seen on cable and the others quickly joined in the discussion. I didn't have cable so I was kinda left out of that discussion, as was Nicky, who unfortunately seemed to still be brooding over the study date thing.
Later at my locker, which was right next to Nicky's, he brought up the subject.
"So, you and Dylan, huh?"
Whaaaaa...? I thought. Is he implying we're a couple? No way. First of all: I'm not out. Second of all: anyone in their right mind would know Dylan could never fall for someone as plain as me. And third: it was just a stupid study date. Kids did it all the time, especially when they were partners for some class project.
"What do you mean?" I said trying not to panic.
"Oh, come on, I see the way you look at him," Nicky snorted.
"I don't know what you mean..." I stuttered, "we're just friends and lab partners, that's all."
"Yeah, maybe..." Nicky said with a sneer, "and you've had the hots for him since school started."
"I don't' know what you're talking about," I lied, "I didn't even know him till he changed classes and started sitting with us at the lunch table."
"No, but you sure wanted to. And the way you were always watching him," he laughed, "dude, you are so busted."
"Nicky..." I said pleadingly.
"Relax, I'm cool with it. Whatever floats your boat. At least you picked a nice guy to crush on. He's nothing like I thought he'd be. Heck, if I was gay I'd be jealous. But, I'm not gay, I don't think," he chuckled, "cause if I was...well...he'd have some competition."
What? What was he saying? Was he saying he'd be interested in me? No, no way. Not only was Nicky straight, but he'd never shown anything more than passing interest in me. No staring, no perving, just...calm rational guy talk, even when we were naked in the showers.
"I gotta go," he said then, as if he'd said too much, "but dude, tone it down if you don't want others to see what's going on, okay? I'm cool though, see ya later."
And then he was gone, leaving me wondering WTF just happened.
I didn't have long to stew about it, though, cause before I knew it it was time for PE which I shared with both Dylan and Nicky as well as a couple other guys from the lunch table.
Today Coach had us do some warmup exercises and we paired off, and naturally Dylan chose me as his partner. I noticed Nicky giving us a cheeky smile and I quickly looked away as I held Dylan's ankles while he did sit ups.
I was so upset by Nicky's comments earlier and his glare that I didn't even fully appreciate the fact that I was touching my crush in an almost intimate way. Cause, gosh, even his ankles were sexy.
It was my turn then, and Dylan actually sat on my feet and started giggling, which got me to giggling, and then there was Nicky looking over at us and smirking with a 'told ya so' look on his face.
Coach looked up, but didn't say anything. We were doing what we were supposed to be doing even if we were having fun doing it. That's one thing I liked about Coach and PE in general, he made it fun.
Later in the locker room, Dylan and I stripped down to our jocks and grabbed our stuff for the shower. I'd gotten used to this part of our day now, and didn't get nearly as flustered as I did at first, but I was still careful to keep my eyes above the waist so as not to embarrass myself and others.
I caught a glimpse of Nicky just going into the showers and I relaxed a bit. Maybe we could avoid him if we were lucky. But...no such luck. While Dylan and I took shower heads on opposite sides, Nicky moved in to take the shower head right next to mine and gave me a lewd smile.
"Sorry, I'm not as much fun to look at," he teased, "but I'm sure you've seen plenty of what he's got."
I ignored him at first, then I started to get pissed off as he continued to tease me. And when he finally insinuated that the only studying the two of us would be doing at my house was Biology, I finally erupted.
"Shut up!" I almost screamed, causing a dozen or so heads to turn in our direction, Dylan among them.
Dylan gave me a worried look and for a minute I thought he was going to march over to see what was the matter. Instead he began to rinse off so he'd be ready to go at a moment's notice if needed.
"Sorry," Nicky said in a hushed voice, "keep it down, coach will hear you and come to see what's up."
"Then just shut up about me and Dylan," I whispered in as hostile a voice as I could manage while speaking as low as a mouse.
"All right, all right. You're no fun," he smirked, then he turned his back to me and for the first time I really looked at his...um, backside. And, you know what? it was actually kind of cute. Two soft little pillows with just the right amount of padding, and the cutest little dimples on either side at the top.
Gawd, Joshua, settle down. That's Nicky's butt you're looking at. The same Nicky that you've known since he was a skinny, runny nosed kid back at Washington Elementary. And you've seen him naked dozens of times, too, so what's different today?
Only I knew what was different. He knew. He knew about me, and he said he was okay with it, and what was that crack about him being jealous of Dylan if he'd been gay? Was he implying that he thought I was hot?
Damn, I was confused. On one hand there was Dylan, who was most definitely the prettiest, sexiest boy in existence, but who I probably stood a snowball's chance in hell of ever getting, and then there was Nicky, who knew I was gay and was cool with it, and maybe might be interested in me.
No, no, no, I could not think that way. I could not switch off my crush for Dylan and direct it toward another boy, especially one that was doing a pretty good job of pissing me off. Dylan might be unobtainable, but we were getting closer all the time, and maybe this study date would turn into more than just that. Who knew, weirder things can happen, right?
Dylan was finished, and had gone on to the locker room to change and Nicky finally turned back around and gave me a sincere look of apology.
"I'm sorry. Really, I was a jerk. If there really is something going on, it's none of my business and I shouldn't be teasing you about it. So...still friends?"
"Yeah, it's cool," I said smiling at last, "but there's nothing going on besides what you see on the surface."
"Oh, okay. Well, good luck then," he said, then he grabbed his towel and started drying off, leaving me to wonder exactly what he meant.
I was the last to finish, and Dylan was already dressed and waiting for me. We didn't have the next class together, but our classrooms were close together and we'd fell into the routine of walking together till we had to split up.
I dressed quickly and we left, and suddenly Dylan asked what that was all about with Nicky. I told him he was just being a jerk, but he'd apologized and we were cool now. He didn't press for details and I didn't offer. Nuff said.
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