Page 26 of Out of Bounds

“Are you registered to vote in Pennsylvania? As a Browerton student, you’re eligible.”

“I’ll get right on that.” Brennan pulled Alex’s attention away from Cliff.

He breathed a sigh of relief and tried to meet Brennan’s eyes to thank him. And again, Brennan looked away.

“Every vote counts.” Alex got Cliff registered to vote during new student week and gave him pamphlets to encourage his fellow freshman to follow suit. Those pamphlets rested comfortably in the bottom drawer of Cliff’s desk.

“The city council is trying to disenfranchise students, rather than trying to win on their own merits. We have to vote them out.” He sat down on the bed, on the exact spot where Cliff had lain. Brennan on top of him.

Did he smell my armpit?

Did Cliff imagine that? Maybe Brennan dipped his head for a second.

Whatever it was, it was hot.

“I didn’t know you guys were hanging out,” Alex said to Cliff. “That’s awesome.”

Brennan stepped forward. “I’m helping him out with his art class.”

“I’m taking art for my distribution requirement.”

“But Intro to Art isn’t exactly Art 101, so I’m giving him some lessons on basic shit like shading. I’m helping Clifford discover his inner Da Vinci.” Brennan poured himself a fresh glass of water.

“I didn’t know you liked to draw. But that’s what college is all about.” Alex shrugged with a gleeful smile. “Experimenting!”

Brennan choked on his drink.

Cliff fanned his shirt, which became soggy from the lethal combination of humidity and awkwardness.

“You’re drenched.” Alex gawked at his melting younger brother.

“I was…”

“We were shooting paper hoops today.” Brennan flapped his finger on the rim of the basketball hoop. It boinged in response. “Got a little intense.”

You don’t say.The image of Brennan on top of him played on a loop. Hedidseem into it. Was this Cliff’s first official gay experience? A sense of unexplainable panic took hold of him.

“Do you have a shirt he could borrow?” Alex turned to Brennan.

“Sure.” Brennan walked to his dresser.

“No. That’s okay.” The words rushed out of Cliff. “I’m fine.” Brennan gave him one more look to make sure. “I’m fine.”

“Maybe it’s for the best. I am failing at laundry.” Brennan shut his dresser. “Remember that shirt I got at the Twenty-One Pilots show? I lost it.”

“What do you mean you lost it?” Alex said.

“I can’t find it. I don’t know where it went.”

It’s on the floor of my dorm room, where I...Cliff gulped hard. And soon, it wouldn’t be alone, joined by another shirt Cliff swiped from the hamper today.

“I loved that shirt.”

Cliff looked down at his shoes, feeling as red as the ottoman. Could he suspect Cliff was gay? That he pleasured himself with his dirty laundry?

His stomach turned. He felt disgusting. He had to get out of there.

“What are you guys up to?” Alex leaned back on his arms, which were right where Cliff’s arms had been when Brennan pinned him down in the hottest moment of his life.