Zack’s perspective

I’m straddling Michael’s hips when my bedroom door opens. I look at the doorframe and see my dad. Michael freezes and so do I. My dad looks at Michael and I suspiciously.

“What are you two doing?” He asks slowly.

“Nothing,” I reply quickly.

“Uh-huh. Really?” My dad says, doubt lingering in his voice.

“Y-yes,” I say while nodding.

“Why are you straddling this boy’s hips then?” My dad asks.

“We were messing around and he called me a brainless muscular boy,” I say.

My dad and I just stare at each other for a minute or two.

“You do realize you haven’t moved since I opened the door, right?” My dad asks.

Michael and I look at each other. “Oh. No, I didn’t realize,” I reply. I get off Michael and he sits up. “Sorry, Mikey,” I say.

“I-it’s fine,” Michael replies, hiding his face.

My dad shakes his head. “I came up here to talk to you about your math grade,” my dad says.

“I’m failing. I know,” I say.

“We’re going to get you a tutor,” my dad says.

“I can tutor him. I’m really good at math,” Michael says, his face lighting up.

My dad nods. “Okay then. I guess that’s settled. I’m going back downstairs. Keep your clothes on, you two,” my dad says.

I feel my face heat up. “Stop! You’re embarrassing me!” I say.

I hear my dad chuckle. “Okay. Sorry Zackary,” he says and goes downstairs.

Michael looks at me. “That could’ve gone horribly wrong,” he says.

I nod. “My dad doesn’t care what anybody’s sexuality is. My mom on the other hand…” I trail off.

Michael nods. “That’s understandable. Your brother doesn’t seem to care, either,” he says.

I smile. “He can be a bit much sometimes. It’s funny but annoying at the same time,” I say.

Michael nods. “Yeah. My younger sister is like that sometimes,” he says.

“Um, so, should we get back to studying?” I ask.

Michael nods. We finish our homework and finish studying. Michael says bye and leaves. I take a quick shower after he leaves and put in a pair of shorts.

I lay in bed that night with Michael consuming my thoughts. He’s the last person I think of before I fall asleep. He consumes my dreams that night. Nothing anything very inappropriate, but it’s enough for me to keep to myself forever.

When I wake up, I think of seeing Michael at school. I quickly put on a pair of black ripped jeans, a tight black t-shirt, a leather jacket I haven’t worn for years, and my pair of black Converse high tops. I look at myself in the mirror and chuckle because I look emo. I style my hair and smile at myself in the mirror.

It’s important love your appearance and I’m loving my outfit today! I hope Michael likes it.

I brush my teeth and grab my backpack and phone. I run downstairs and see Trent, still in his pajamas, sitting at the dinner table eating a bowl of cereal. I check my watch and see that I have half an hour until we leave for school. I go upstairs and look for my keys. I find them under my bed.

Why were my keys under my bed?

I shrug and walk downstairs. “Mom, I found my keys and I’m ready to go to school. Can I leave and you take Trent to school?” I ask.

My mom nods. “Sure, Zack. I expect you to pick up Trent after school, though,” she says.

“Yes, ma’am,” I reply and get in my car. I drive to school and wait in my car for Isaac and Michael to arrive. While I wait for Isaac or Michael, I play music in my car. Someone knocks on my car’s passenger door window and scares me. I turn down my music and look at the window to see Michael smiling at me. I unlock my car and he opens the passenger door and gets in. He shuts the door and smiles at me.