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jt

I ’m still floating on a cloud later that afternoon, long after Quinn drops me off back home. I really hadn’t wanted to leave him, and I made sure he knew exactly how I felt before we parted ways.

My parents assume I spent the night at Trey’s. That’s where they think I’ve been every time I’ve stayed at Quinn’s. I’ve had to go so far as to ask Quinn to drop me off around the corner because I have no doubt there will be a whole lot of difficult questions if I rock up in the driveway in his WRX.

I press my fingers to my lips, certain I can still feel the way they tingle from Quinn’s kisses. I sigh and return to my attempts at studying for my upcoming maths quiz, wedged into my little corner desk in my room. I agreed to Amy’s sleepover conditions after all, and I am gonna make sure I uphold my end of the bargain. It is literally the least I can do.

I’m barely back into it when I’m interrupted by a soft knock on my door. My insides freeze right before Trey’s face peeks in from the hallway. I let out a breath of relief. I should have known it would be him. Nobody else comes to my house to see me.

“Hey,” he says. There’s something tentative about him this afternoon as he watches me, face closed off.

“Hey,” I reply. I nod at my bed and he steps inside, closing the door before moving towards my bed. He sits heavily, elbows on his knees and an expression on his face that has me feeling anxious.

“What’s going on with you and Quinn?” he drops. He’s looking at me expectantly while I swallow, certain my face has paled. Denial springs to my lips but before I speak the lie, I shove the words back down. Trey is looking at me in a way that makes me sure he doesn’t want to hear any lies. And for some reason, I don’t want to give him any lies either.

I blow out a breath and slump in my chair. “I like him,” I admit.

Trey shows no reaction as he mulls my response. “Like him as in you want to watch Netflix with him? Or you want to watch Netflix and chill?”

“Um, both.”

Trey blows out a breath. “You know what I mean by Netflix and chill?” he clarifies. “Like, you want to see him naked?”

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” I huff. “The answer’s still the same.”

Trey leans back on his elbows, eyes studying my face. “And have you? Seen him naked?”

I hesitate before answering my cousin. I mean, this feels really private but at the same time I’m kind of bursting to talk to someone about what’s been happening with me and Quinn. Which is why I shift and quietly say, “Yeah.”

Trey’s eyebrows lift off his head. “Holy shit. You’re serious?”

“Deadly serious.”

“Like what? Last night …?” Trey prompts.

“Yeah,” I admit.

“So are we talking blowjobs or have you like … you know?”

“Have we what?”

“You’re gonna make me say it, huh? Have you and him … you know, fucked?” Trey asks.

I snigger. “No, we haven’t gone that far.”

“But you want to?” Trey is curious about this. I am not feeling any hint of judgment from him. I’m pretty sure he’s just feeling out my level of interest in Quinn.

“Yeah. I do,” I admit, no point denying it. I’ve been thinking about it ever since Quinn mentioned the word condom earlier. Now it’s all I can think about.

“Holy shit,” he repeats. He’s chewing on his bottom lip while I wait as he processes his thoughts. “So does this mean you’re bisexual?”

I let out another breath. “I thought maybe a while back that I might be bisexual. But then after all the stuff with Chanel … and the more time I spend with Quinn … I think I’m actually more like just gay.”

“Holy shit, cuz,” Trey says again. “So you weren’t actually lying about what happened with Chanel? I thought you were just being all coy.”

“Nah, man. I have no interest in doing anything with Chanel. Or any other girl for that matter. I was not lying about that.”

“Wow. Okay. But … but dude. Your parents .” His horror mirrors my own whenever I think of how my parents will react to this.

“I know, Trey. I know.”

“Man, they are gonna explode,” he says, shaking his head.

“You think I don’t know that?”

Trey is silent for another few moments. “But he’s worth it? Quinn?”

“Yes. He’s worth it. I really like him, Trey.” Liking Quinn is quite literally the one thing I am sure of right now.

“And he treats you good?”

“Yeah, Trey, he treats me good. He’s been super respectful of everything. Especially with how I have no experience and he has loads.”

“Man, I knew something was up. The way you always stare at him. The way you get all shy and tongue-tied around him. I should have seen it coming,” Trey mulls.

“I think I’ve been crushing on him a while,” I admit.

“Can I make a suggestion?” Trey asks, his tone thoughtful as he leans back towards me. “Can I tell my dad?” I recoil instantly at the thought of anyone else knowing, particularly someone so close to my family. “Before you freak out, I’m just saying maybe it’s best I give my dad a heads up. That way if anything blows up for you here … well, you know my folks are going to have your back, right? And me. I promise I’ll always have your back.”

“Thank you. That means a lot,” I tell him, letting my racing heart calm. “And yeah, maybe you’re right about telling your dad. I have no idea what to expect at this end. Quinn’s mum is, like, totally cool with everything, even with me staying the night. She talked to us about safe sex this morning. It’s crazy to me.”

“You know my parents will never judge. We talk about you all the time at home. They worry about you.”

“Thanks but there’s nothing to worry about right now. I’ve got it under control.”

“Sure,” he huffs a laugh. “So how are we going to manage this then? I assume you tell your parents you’re staying with me when you’re blowing Quinn?”

“Trey! Seriously.”

“Oh sorry. Didn’t realise we were back to being all modest. When you’re over playing sword fights with Quinn then.”

I just sigh heavily, running my hand down my face. I appreciate my cousin’s support but I should have known it would come with a healthy dose of teasing. “I’m not answering that. But yeah, that’s what I tell them.”

“That’s cool. You know I’m always down for a little subterfuge. And I have no issues perjuring myself for you.”

I laugh again, feeling almost at ease. Something about being in this house always has me feeling on edge, like my parents are going to stumble on the secrets I keep locked up inside at any moment. I am so relieved at having Trey on my side. I didn’t realise how much I needed it until now.

“Okay, let’s brainstorm this and then I want details,” Trey says, taking off his hat and laying across my bed like he owns the place.

“Details? You want details about me and Quinn?” I clarify.

“Yep. All of them,” he affirms. “Hey, I tell you about what I do with chicks all the time and I didn’t once pick up on how uninterested you were in the gory details. I want to be here for you in the same way.”

“You honestly are the best. You know that, right?”

“Oh I know. One in a billion some might say.”

“Modest too.”

“Eh, it’s a Sterling family trait,” he shrugs. “You have it too but you keep it on the basketball court. You got zero swag off it just saying.”

“Shut up. You’re supposed to be on my side,” I grin, swiping his hat off the bed and planting it on my head.

“I’m always on your side, cuz. Never doubt that,” Trey affirms. And no, I don’t doubt it. Not now at least, now I know I do actually have people in my corner who will fight for me. The relief I feel inside is palpable.

***

I’m feeling really good when I walk into school on Monday morning, Trey at my side. We head straight for science class which always puts a little extra pep in my step because science means Quinn. He’s there already and those ocean blue eyes connect with mine the moment I enter the door.

I can’t stop the smile that appears every time I see him and today is no different. Trey pushes me along when I unwittingly stop in my path, but Quinn just has that effect on me. I expect Trey to split paths to his usual desk, but he follows right behind me, leaning his elbows on the desk in front of Quinn who stares back with suspicious eyes.

“Hey, man,” Trey smiles broadly down at Quinn. What’s this? Is my cousin trying to make an effort with my — . Hmm, that thought pulls me up short. I don’t actually know how to describe what Quinn is to me.

My everything feels a tad premature.

“Hi,” Quinn replies, not hiding his confusion. I’m pretty sure Trey has never given Quinn the time of day before. I stifle a laugh as Trey just grins back.

“You have a good weekend?” he asks pleasantly.

“Ah yeah, it was alright,” Quinn replies.

“Yeah? I heard it was pretty epic,” Trey drops suggestively, and I groan into my hands. Quinn is looking at me curiously by the time I glance back up, Trey laughing on his way to the back row.

“What was that about?” Quinn asks.

“So um, Trey kind of knows. About us,” I tell him, voice dipped low.

Quinn doesn’t reply and I glance up to gauge his reaction. Is he annoyed? We haven’t talked about this at all, about whether we could tell people. Or even whether I’m ready for anyone else to know.

“You told your cousin?” he asks softly.

“Well, he kind of ambushed me but yeah, I told him. Is that okay?”

“It’s fine, JT,” Quinn smiles. “It’s definitely fine.” I expected softness but there’s something a little dark and possessive in the way he’s looking at me right now and I feel a stirring in my gut. I’ve always thought of Quinn as well behaved and someone who keeps out of trouble. I’m having a strong notion I might be wrong about that.

At least, that’s what I hope.

My little Quinn theory gets a chance to be put into practice later that day. Mr Peters has a full lesson planned so Quinn and I don’t get a chance to go check on our experiment. We agree to meet up at lunchtime instead and I am both nervous and bouncing with excitement at the prospect of spending time with Quinn.

He's waiting for me outside my design tech classroom, leaning up against the wall as he flicks through a book and looking like every wet dream I’ve ever had. I come to a stop in front of him and he gives me that lopsided smile I adore. It sends a thrill through me every time.

“Ready to go harvest some algae?” he asks, eyebrows raised.

“Aw, you’re so romantic. Just what every boy wants to hear,” I gush.

“Play your cards right, Sterling, and you never know,” he replies, voice dipped low in my ear. I can’t hide my shiver as his gaze looks me over.

The science block is quiet during the lunch hour, and we make quick work of finding Mr Allan’s classroom. Our aquarium of algae is looking pretty damn spectacular even if I do say so myself. We’ve been keeping meticulous notes on the growth conditions and I note that Mr Allan has been in to check on it during the weekend too. He’s left a note for us and a couple of mesh nets and containers to prepare for harvesting today.

It doesn’t take us long to collect the sludgy green algae in the nets. We rinse and then transplant the algae to the containers where we will leave it to dry. We move the containers into Mr Allan’s small office off to the side of his classroom. It’s dark and quiet in here and I’m suddenly very aware of Quinn as he presses up behind me, trapping me against the desk. His mouth drops to my neck as he takes the net out of my hand.

“Do you know how much I wanted to touch you in science class this morning?” he asks, trailing kisses along my neck. I drop my head to the side and he dips into the space, biting up to my earlobe.

“How much?” I ask, voice suddenly all breathy.

“This much,” he says, trailing his hand straight to the button on my grey pants. My breath hitches in my throat as he pops the button and then slowly drags my zipper down. He shoves his hand straight into my boxers and I suck in a sharp breath as he grips me, his touch firm. I let out an involuntary whimper.

“Quiet now, JT,” Quinn says in my ear. “You don’t want anyone walking past to hear what I’m doing to you.” His words only make me whimper more and he chuckles into my neck as he makes quick work of pumping me. There’s something about knowing we could be interrupted at any moment that heightens everything for me, every sensation of his hand on me.

I drop my head onto his shoulder as his other hand moves under my shirt to flex against my stomach, pulling me taut against him. I can feel how much this is turning him on and that’s the trigger for me. It’s almost embarrassing how quickly I feel my spine tightening and I am flying into the clouds.

I’m feeling slightly dazed by the time he finally drops his hold on me, and I suck in a shaky breath. Quinn reaches for the tissues on Mr Allan’s desk and cleans us both up before he tucks me back in and rebuttons me. The gesture seems really sweet after what he just did to me and I can’t help turning to look up at him, seeing the heat in his eyes.

“Quinn,” I murmur just as he swoops down and kisses me. He presses me against the desk, and I don’t resist as he kisses me like only he can. I’m already dazed and breathless, but he just compounds it even more as he grinds against me and I wonder how I ever survived without this. Without Quinn and his beautiful eyes and magic hands and incredible kisses.

The classroom door suddenly bangs open and Quinn and I jump apart. I’m all panicky and breathless while Quinn just straightens his tie and buttons his blazer, looking remarkably nonplussed. How is he so cool at this while I just keep floundering and showing my inexperience? I wish I could be as cool as him sometimes. Actually, make that all the time.

Mr Allan steps into the office a second later. His enthusiasm at finding all the algae harvested and ready for drying helps me calm my racing heart while Quinn converses with him as though he didn’t just have his hand down my pants three minutes ago.

We finally leave and head towards the cafeteria, Quinn stopping by the bathroom to wash his hands like it’s nothing. He bumps my shoulder as we line up at the mostly empty cafeteria, not a whole lot of options left with only ten minutes to go of the lunch hour.

“You okay there, JT?” he asks. “Not going to hyperventilate on me?”

“Me? I’m fine. Totally cool,” I reply.

“Sure you are,” he grins, bumping me with his elbow again.

“I appreciate your concern,” I sniff after I pay for a sad looking sandwich. “I’m just not quite used to having my dick out in the middle of the school day.”

“Really? That’s sad,” Quinn replies, that crooked smile out to play. “Stick with me and I’ll make sure school is a much more interesting place for you.”

“You sound like you speak from experience,” I huff, not quite able to keep the jealousy from my tone.

“Do you want me to apologise? You knew I wasn’t a saint before I met you,” Quinn volleys right back at me.

“You know, you’re really not as goody two-shoes as you make yourself out to be.”

“Are you complaining?” he returns, levelling me with a look . I’m just about to snark back when a voice calls out Quinn’s name and I glance up to see his group of friends heading our way. Jace is there too and I don’t miss the way he steadfastly avoids Quinn’s eyes, nor the scowl he directs my way. I don’t mind though, I have a matching scowl right back for him.

“You just getting lunch?” Eddie asks.

“Yeah. JT and I had to go harvest some algae for our science project,” Quinn replies easily. I flounder once again but I’m coming to terms with the fact this is basically my default state. Unlike Quinn who always remains calm and cool. I’m equally infuriated and turned on.

“We’re heading to English if you want to come with?” Eddie continues.

“I’ll meet you there,” Quinn responds while I try not to rejoice at the fact he chose to stay with me. Even if it is only for the next three point five minutes. But I know I look a little smug as Jace shoots me a final glare and the three of them depart. I know they’re all off to Advanced English together and I feel a tiny pang of insecurity that I can’t mix it with Quinn and Jace. Academically at least.

Quinn and I sit on one of the vacant tables as we quickly eat our lunch while the clock marches down on our time together.

“You and Jace ever make school a more interesting place together?” I quip, chewing on my tasteless sandwich.

Quinn smirks at me. “You’re really jealous of him, aren’t you?”

“A little,” I admit. “I’m still pissed at him for muscling in on you on Friday. And a little jealous of how smart you both are.”

“You’re smart too, JT,” Quinn replies. “Besides, you should probably know that smarts don’t turn me on.”

“No?” I ask, suddenly more interested.

“No. My tastes run a little wilder. A little sweatier and more masculine. Kind of like you.”

“Like me?”

“Exactly like you,” he returns. The bell signals the end of lunch, but I can’t look away from Quinn, my heart thumping hard in my chest as he holds my gaze. Neither of us moves from our table even as the cafeteria clears out around us.

“Better get to class,” Quinn finally says.

“Yeah,” I agree because I have nothing clever to say. Not when all I want to do is grab him and kiss those smart, pouty lips on his gorgeous face. When all I want is to haul him somewhere private so I can do to him what he just did to me in Mr Allan’s office.

But I don’t. Instead, I pull myself to my feet, waiting as Quinn does the same until we’re the only ones left in the room.

“Go recite some Shakespeare in Advanced English class for me,” I say.

“Go get hot and sweaty in P.E for me,” he replies with an evil looking grin. I snort out a laugh as Quinn heads for his very smart Advanced English class and I trudge to P.E in the opposite direction.

But as I watch him walk away in those tight grey pants, the ones that have my brain short circuiting once again, I note that while Quinn might not be turned on by academic prowess, I’m recently discovering for myself that I most certainly am.