Page 27

quinn

J T hasn’t shown for science class. I wasn’t worried until I see Trey walk in alone, no sign of my boyfriend beside him like usual. I turn to question him, but he just gives me a shrug and sits down in the back row.

When JT still hasn’t shown by the end of class, I’m officially worried. I’ve sent him four texts already even though we’re not allowed to have phones in the classroom, and he hasn’t even read them. I beeline for Trey the second Mr Peters lets us out of class.

“Where’s JT?”

“I don’t know, bro,” Trey replies with a worried look. “But shit went down at their house last night. I don’t know the details, but I heard my dad talking to Uncle David last night and it sounded pretty intense.”

“Shit.” Panic bolts to my stomach. I am already making plans to ditch school and go find JT when I step out into the hall and see him standing there waiting for me, leaning up against the lockers. Trey and I both flock to him.

“Are you okay?” I ask the moment I reach his side.

“I think so,” he sighs.

“What happened, cuz?” Trey asks, his concern matching mine. “I heard our parents talking last night and Dad sounded pretty damn furious.”

“Yeah, so, my parents found out about me and Quinn,” JT admits, confirming what I suspected. I immediately reach out to grasp hold of his hand, not even thinking about the fact we haven’t touched publicly in school like this, but I need to touch him. He must agree because he squeezes my hand and doesn’t let go, not caring about the double takes and stares being sent our way.

“So?” I prompt. “Is everything okay?”

JT sighs again, running his free hand down his face. “It’s not okay but it’s also not– not okay if that makes sense. I mean, they were pretty devastated and angry when they found out last night. But they spoke with Uncle Alec afterwards and whatever he said seems to have given them a kick up the ass or something. This morning they cornered me and basically agreed they can ‘tolerate’ us being together but they need time and patience to come to terms with it.”

“Fuck,” I curse. I didn’t want this for JT. I didn’t want to have his relationship with his parents deteriorate because of me. This sucks totally and I hate that I am the cause of this.

“Don’t,” JT whispers. “Don’t blame yourself for this. I chose this too. I chose you.”

“I never wanted this for you.”

“I know. But I wouldn’t change a thing,” he assures me, thumb stroking the back of my hand.

“The family’s on the alert if anything happens,” Trey cuts in, reminding us it’s not just me and JT in our own little bubble here in the school corridor. “You know we’ve got your back, yeah?”

“I know. Thank you, Trey,” JT says. “And thank Uncle Alec for me too. Whatever he said seems to have tempered the outrage.”

“From what I overheard he basically told them they either accept your sexuality or lose you forever,” Trey says.

“Are you okay though?” I ask, needing him to be okay more than I need to breathe.

“I will be,” he assures me, green gaze hitting me in the guts.

“Do you want to get out of here with me for a bit?” I suggest. I have never once in my life ditched even a minute of school, but I have a far greater need burning up inside me to make sure my boyfriend is okay. JT nods, sucking on his lower lip as he keeps his gaze on me.

“You’ll look after him?” Trey cuts in, eyeballing me. He is clearly as worried about his cousin as I am, and I appreciate that more than he can know.

“I’ve got him,” I assure Trey. He just nods at me, the significance of the moment not lost on me. He’s giving me the reins to his cousin, a role he has always held in the past but one I now want more than anything. He’s mine to take care of now.

Trey squeezes JT’s shoulder and then leaves us alone, back in our own little world that is interrupted once again when Mr Peters comes into view.

“JT. I didn’t see you in class,” Mr Peters says, eyes dipping down to where I am still clasping onto JT’s hand. Confusion marks his face before it is replaced with understanding as he looks back up at JT.

“I’m sorry. I had a … family issue,” JT replies. The dark circles under his eyes confirm his words and I want to burn something down to remove those marks from his flawless face.

“Ah, I see,” Mr Peters says, glancing between the two of us. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

“I will.”

“The school has a counselling service too, don’t forget,” he adds just as he’s about to leave.

“I know. Thank you, sir,” JT replies.

We watch as Mr Peters leaves us in the corridor, alone now that next class has started.

“He may have a point about the counselling service you know,” I add gently. I know I haven’t lived JT’s life, but I can only imagine how hard this must be for him, trying to unlearn a whole heap of ingrained value systems. “It might be good for you.”

“Maybe,” JT agrees softly. “I just need you right now.”

“That, I can give you,” I promise, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice. JT threads our fingers together and he feels so right being there, his hand tight in mine. I give it a little tug as we fall into step beside each other.

It’s good being a senior because nobody questions us as we head for the student carpark, no words spoken between us as I open the door for JT before buckling into the driver’s seat.

I don’t have a plan, but I find myself heading towards our duck pond and JT seems to be happy with that as he chews on his bottom lip beside me. We make the walk through the forest to the pond, his hand still clasped tightly in mine.

There are a few other people out on the trail on this nice Monday morning, families of pre-school children and a few older couples who say a cheery hello as we walk past them.

JT sinks onto the grass as soon as we make it to our usual spot, and I am right there beside him. I wait for him to speak, and he finally tells me everything that happened with his parents last night. I am left feeling both indignant and furious on my boyfriend’s behalf, but I keep my emotions in check. The last thing he needs is me adding to the drama so I let him speak, not saying a word until he finishes with this morning’s talk and the tentative agreement they reached.

I kiss the part of his neck just above his school shirt, needing to ground myself before I do something stupid.

“Are you really okay with this, JT?” I ask, laying my arm across his shoulder and pulling him against me. He comes easily, laying his head on my shoulder.

“I know it seems like I’m accepting scraps from them, but I honestly expected them to tell me to start packing this morning,” he tells me. “So this, in comparison, is more than I expected.”

“Okay,” I reply, running my hand up his arm. “As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters. That’s all I care about.”

“I just … I wanted to jump out my window last night and run to you,” he says in a quiet voice. “I thought I was going to end up with no family.”

“You’ll always have a place with me,” I promise him. He doesn’t reply but he burrows further into my neck, and I let him, loving the feel of him beside me like this.

We sit like that for a while, just the sound of the ducks quacking to keep us company. JT lets out a sigh and then lays on his back, pulling me down with him. He looks at me, that smile I love so much back on his face.

“I must be a bad influence on you,” he says. “Ditching school, Quinn Dayton. I don’t even know you right now.”

“You are a terrible influence on me,” I agree. “But I’d ditch the rest of the year for you if you needed me.”

JT sighs, a soft smile on his face. “There you go being a perfect boyfriend again.” He props himself up on his elbow, free hand coming down to play with my tie. “We should go back to your place,” he hints, eyebrow raised suggestively.

“Whatever for?” I reply.

“You know what for,” he grins, leaning down to press a kiss to my neck.

“As much as I love where your mind is at, my mum has her rostered day off today and I’m pretty sure she’ll disagree that midday sex is a sufficient reason for ditching school.”

“Really? I think it’s the best reason,” JT pouts, lips tracing my jaw.

“True but there’s nothing stopping you from kissing me here.” He grins at me, the light sparking in his beautiful green eyes before he dips his head and presses a kiss to my mouth. It’s a sweet, loving kiss that doesn’t stay sweet for long. He deepens the kiss, tugging on my tie, pulling me closer until we’re both kissing desperately, hands wandering over clothes and finding all those places that make each other breathe a little harder.

The squeals of delighted children puts a swift end to our make out session before it gets too far and we reluctantly break apart from each other. JT’s left me more than a little turned on, but I sit and adjust my tie, trying to cool my overheated body.

We watch silently as two young boys, twins if I had to guess, barrel into the clearing and immediately start sloshing in the shallows, gumboots filling up with duck pond water while their harried parents rush after them.

“They look like a handful,” I grin.

“That was me and Trey when we were younger,” JT grins back. “Always the double trouble.”

“I think you turned out alright.”

“Just alright?”

“Hmm, maybe more than alright. Maybe even slightly perfect.”

JT smiles. “I bet you never saw me coming, huh? You, the perfect student with your classy clothes and your whiskey and law school ambitions. And me, the bratty kid from the basketball court.”

“Well, you certainly are a brat but you’re also perfect for me. You don’t take life too seriously which I need reminding of from time to time. Plus, you’re hot as fuck and riddled with talent. Lots of ticks in my column.”

“You have no idea how many ticks in my column you get, Quinn,” JT grins. “Beautiful, sexy, smart as hell ... insanely good at sex.”

“ Damn . It is kind of a shame my mum is at home today.”

“What about tomorrow after school?” JT hints.

“What? Our study time?” I return, pretending shock.

“Exactly.”

“Well, only if you’re good.”

“I promise to be very, very good,” JT returns, sinking his teeth into his bottom lip. I steal a quick kiss, mindful of the young family on the other side of the pond but not minding sharing this stolen morning with my sweet, sweet boyfriend at my side.

***

Things are different at school this week. For one, there’s no more hiding who JT and I are to each other. If we’re together we’re touching in some way, and I have no plans to put a stop to that. We return to school after our morning escape to the duck pond just in time for lunch and there is no question that we will be spending it together. We line up at the cafeteria and then JT merely threads his fingers through mine again and we walk outside to the spot I usually sit with my friends.

“Decided to stop hiding your relationship then?” Jace asks as we come to a stop on the grass beside them.

“Yep,” I say, dropping to the grass and pulling JT with me.

“You do know literally the entire school is talking about you two,” Jace adds, sunning his face with his dark sunglasses on.

“What? Really?” JT asks.

“Oh yes. Did you really think we could have a hot new gay relationship at Evergreen and not have the drama and gossip follow?” Jace laughs.

“Leave them alone,” Benson cuts in, whacking Jace on the chest. “It’s really not that bad.”

“I mean, it’s basically all anyone was talking about in English but sure, let’s go with that,” Jace shrugs.

“Why does everyone care?” JT asks.

“Two hot young guys having sex with each other?” Jace replies, eyebrow artfully raised. “Yeah, everyone cares about that.”

“I don’t,” Benson adds with a grin. “Though I’m happy for you. Quinn was getting all pathetic with his big, mopey eyes watching JT from afar.”

“I was not getting pathetic, thank you very much,” I huff. My three loyal friends just laugh at that and I roll my eyes.

“Well at least you didn’t trip over your own two feet every time you saw me,” JT cuts in with a wry grin.

“Yeah I’m sad you’ve stopped doing that actually,” I return. “I liked seeing you become tongue-tied and clumsy whenever you were in my vicinity.”

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind,” he winks back at me.

“Ugh, you two are going to be those really annoying couples that make constant sexual innuendos just to rub it in to the rest of us that you’re having lots of hot, frequent sex, aren’t you?” Jace huffs dramatically.

“Probably,” I shrug.

“So when did this actually start?” Eddie mulls, pointing between the two of us.

JT and I glance at each other, that pink dotting his cheeks that I want to lick up. “A while ago,” I admit.

“We did know, just so you’re aware,” Eddie adds. “We’re not as oblivious as you think.”

“I didn’t know,” Benson mutters.

“That’s cos you’re adorably na?ve and innocent as a lamb,” Jace returns, pinching Benson’s cheeks.

“Get lost,” Benson huffs, knocking Jace’s hand away but I know better. Benson is a big teddy bear for Jace, and I know he doesn’t mind the teasing.

JT is reluctant to leave me later that day and I feel a pang somewhere deep in my soul when I turn back to look at him. He puts on a brave face as he waves at me, but I can see my boy needs me a little more than usual today.

I wait for him at the end of the day, and he walks straight into my arms, burying his head in my neck and confirming the rumours about us to all the overly interested passersby. I have no issues with this though. All my care and concern is for the boy in my arms and everyone else can take a flying leap.

I know that Mum will be at home, and I don’t want to return JT to his parent’s house, so I propose working on our science project as a way to keep him with me a little longer. I also think it is a good idea to have his mind occupied by something other than our dramas. The way JT readily agrees to my suggestion tells me I made the right choice.

JT is focused as he measures the oil we have extracted from the algae. We spent last week grinding the algae into powder and adding ethanol to extract the biofuel so we’re getting close to our final step. I pull on my specialist maths hat to calculate the yields and JT watches with his teeth sunk in his lower lip as I work out the results.

And then I push the project away and take my boyfriend in my arms. I push him up against the desk and I kiss him and hope I can take some of that sadness away from him as I let him feel exactly how much I care for him.