Page 19

When I woke up I felt terrible. My head was pounding and I felt like I was going to throw up at any moment. I couldn’t be sick, could I? I never got sick easily.

As I was having an internal conversation with myself I felt the blankets shift. Did I just move? I don’t think so.

I was right, it wasn’t me who moved but another person. Wait, why was another person in my bed?

I looked up and met icy blue eyes and that’s when a huge wave of nausea hit me. I fell out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom making it to the toilet just in time. I coughed a few times trying to catch my breath.

Once I was sure I was done, I collapsed against the now closed toilet lid. I still felt terrible. I felt a hand touch my back which made me jump.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you jump. Are you okay?” Damon asked me worry etched into his eyes.

“I probably just caught a bug or something.” I said trying to stand up.

“I’ll make you some toast.” Damon said and left the bathroom.

What the hell is going on? I haven’t ever been sick like this. I’m not even going to be able to go to class today. Maybe I’ll just take some meds and be fine.

I shakily made my way over to the kitchen and sat down. I felt like I would fall apart if I took to deep of a breath.

“Here you go!” Damon said and handed me two pieces of toast and some water. He sat down across from me and started to eat his own toast.

“Thanks. I’m sorry for bothering you so much.” I said and took a bite of the toast.

“You aren’t bothering me. I like taking care of you.”

“Why? I’m a mess and a disaster and I can be a pain in the ass sometimes and I’m gay and everyone hates me. So why don’t I bother you?” I really didn’t understand why he was being so nice to me.

“You aren’t nearly as bad as you think. And being gay is a stupid reason to not like someone and I don’t hate you and neither does Jake or Mark. Plus I understand what you’re going through to a certain degree.” He said eating more toast.

“What do you mean you understand? You couldn’t understand unless… you… were” He nodded his head as if finishing my sentence. Wait, Damon’s gay too?! “Wha-what?” I said sputtering, trying to figure out how I didn’t notice. With Jake I knew as soon as I talked to him at the store but with Damon, I didn’t think so at all.

“Yeah I’m gay. Why was that such a surprise?” He asked like it was obvious.

“I don’t know, I just never thought that you were.”

“Well now you know.” He said.

After he said that it got kind of awkward. Like really awkward.

“I didn’t mean to sound like a dick, Max. It just came out that way.” Damon said trying to ease the tension.

“I didn’t think you sounded like a dick, I just didn’t know what to say. I thought that Jake and Mark were the only gay guys that I knew. You just don’t give off a gay kind of vibe.” Just shut up please Max. You sound like s dumbass.

“Well if you didn’t tell me you were gay that first time we met I wouldn’t have known until we went and saw your old roommate.” He said finishing off his toast.

“Really? I thought I was obvious.”

“Nah, you probably don’t even notice how you act outside of the house.” He said with a small laugh escaping his lips.

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”