WoodBridge Academy

Chapter Four

My eyes widened in shock. So much for that theory. "You're kidding, right? You know how ridiculous that sounds. You're the one who sat down to talk to me earlier, and you're the one acting like a total dipshit. You're the one acting like someone pissed in your cheerios. So maybe you're the one who is queer and has a thing for me. That's what I think!"

Matt seemed to shrink as I continued with my rampage and I instantly felt terrible. I didn't want to be an asshole. I'm not that guy.

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I'm just being a jerk."

His gaze fell to the floor, his entire alpha male facade entirely forgotten. "You're right though." He mumbled.

"What?"

"I'm gay." He mumbled again, not bothering to look up at me. "And yes, I've had a thing for you for a while."

"Wait...what?!" I repeated. "You're kidding."

His eyes finally lifted from the tiles of locker room floor and met my gaze. He looked...haunted. I don't know why I cared so much, but all I know is that I DID care and I felt terrible about the events of this whole night. "I'm not kidding."

"You're gay?" I simply couldn't believe it. "But you're...you."

"Yup." He grimaced. "I'm me."

"I don't get it." I mumbled as I moved out of the doorway, I didn't want him to feel like he was being trapped anymore. I didn't want to be the bully.

"There's not much to it. I like guys." He chuckled, but there was a darkness behind that laugh. "Specifically, you." I couldn't find any words to answer him with, so I dumbly just stood there in my boxers.

"But you don't even know me."

He shrugged. "Maybe not. But what I do know, I like. Quite a bit, actually."

I sat down on the bench in front of my open locker, absolutely baffled by this turn of events. Matt was still standing there, obviously waiting for me to say something back. I just had no idea what to tell him. I'm not going to lie, part of me was really curious about this whole situation, but the other part was quite alarmed.

"Could you at least say something?" He finally huffed. "You're killing me here."

"What do you want me to say?" I snapped. "In case you weren't sure, that was one hell of a bombshell you just dropped on me!"

"Oh, pardon me for inconveniencing you." He snapped right back. "You must have something you want to say. Yell at me. Make fun of me. I don't care. Just do something!"

"I'm not going to make fun of you." I told him as I realized how awkward it was that I was standing there in just boxers for all this time. "I don't care if you're gay. My best friend is gay for crying out loud. Give me a little credit here."

He sighed and seemed to settle in a little bit, but was still acting like a skittish bird ready to fly away at any second. "Right. I forgot about Josh."

"Yeah. Exactly." I snapped as I shoved my feet into my sneakers and pulled my sweatshirt on.

"Look. I see this going two ways. First, you drop this bomb on me and then walk away, making us both look like assholes, or second, we discuss this like rational adults."

He looked up at me then, and the signature Humphrey smirk was back: "Like rational adults? Okay, dad."

I grinned back. "Well, it's true. You didn't exactly leave me any room to work through it. You just kind of ninja kicked me in the stomach with this news and instantly got all defensive without even giving me a chance. I'm not an asshole, you know. I don't just jump all over people because they're different."

"So I am different from you." Disappointment crossed his face for a brief second, but it was quickly replaced with the stoic look I was used to see across campus. The one that didn't even bother to speak to me in all this time.

I just rolled my eyes. "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that I don't judge people over stupid stuff."

He stared at me for another moment, the gears in his head were pretty much visible as he held my gaze. An unfamiliar feeling nuzzled itself into my stomach, confusing me more than the bizarre events of the evening. I actually had butterflies in my stomach.

Fucking butterflies. From Matt Humphrey!

"Let's just try and talk it out." I suggested. "I mean, there's no harm in having a conversation about all of this. I have to admit I'm a little overwhelmed by this sudden confession."

Matt just gave me a curt nod. "Understandably so. I didn't mean to say anything. It just kind of...came out? I don't know. I had every intention of just letting it go and continuing as we were, but I don't know. Tonight just seemed like a good time to come clean."

"It was pretty spontaneous, but I have a feeling it's not really as fresh as it seems."

"Not really." He blushed. "But if you're willing to talk, I would absolutely love it if we could have a conversation. Preferably not while you're wearing the smallest bathing suit on earth or just boxers. It makes it a little hard to focus."

"You're the one who blabbed in the middle of the locker room." I laughed. "Come on. We can go back to my place. Josh owes me after sexiling me tonight."

I made my way out of the locker room, letting him trail behind me. He didn't say a word as we walked back to the senior dorms.

The senior dorm was by far the best on campus, but set the furthest back from the rest of the main buildings, like the academic buildings, cafeteria, and sports complex.

It was worth it though. Some wealthy alumni donated the dorm a few years back, and it is pretty damn slick. Josh and I had a perfect unobstructed view of the small lake on campus, and beyond that some rolling hills.

Nothing that made you think you were on a high school campus. It felt more like a retreat or a hotel. The only thing that stood in the way was a ridiculous amount of homework.

As we approached the front stairs, Matt actually stopped me. "We could just go to my room." He suggested. "I don't have a roommate, and that way you won't have to involve Josh in anything."

I shrugged. "Makes sense. I just assumed you had a roommate. I figured Josh is the most laid back guy around, so he would be the best choice of a person to bother at 11 at night."

"Student body president, remember?" He smirked. "I have a suite on the first floor without a roommate."

"And here I was thinking you weren't a snob." I joked. Luckily, Matt also thought it was funny and gave me a little shove towards the door.