The Secret

Danny Peterson was an unassuming high school senior. Unseen by the world around him. By his classmates, his family, and random strangers who pass by in the streets. He did not mind being overlooked. He preferred to keep to himself most of the time. He kept to himself most of the time, only conversing with his parents when he needed to, or when topics came up. He felt different a lot of the time, like an outcast. He did not know why. But with senior prom coming up, he was hoping to be able to find a date. Someone that would understand him, the only problem being, he was gay. In a town of hardcore Catholics in the South, being gay was possibly the worst thing one could be. The scrutiny, teasing, bullying and if he came out, that would be from his classmates, who knows what it would be like from his parents. * Danny woke up on a Monday morning, a new day, a new week. The prom was one month away and he still did not have a date. There were not many gay people in his community, there were some he suspected of being gay, and some he knew were gay, but there was only ever one boy who he found truly mesmerizing. Connor Wilkes. He was a force to be reckoned with. Tall, muscular, with dark wavy hair. It was as though a Greek god in mortal form. He was a sight to behold. Danny lay in bed with his eyes closed, and a smile crossed his lips thinking about Connor’s perfect physique. Thinking about Connor’s plump lips and kissing them ever so softly. He could feel a growth in his shorts. Danny turned himself on by thinking about how good-looking Connor was. He did not realize that just thinking small thoughts would get him so aroused. Then there was a knock at his door “Danny, time to wake up sweetie”, his mom called. “I’m up mom, I’ll be down in a minute,” he called back to her. Interrupted by the perfect image of the boy he liked, she was right, he needed to get ready for school. Danny got up out of bed and started to get dressed. He went over to his dresser and pulled out a shirt he thought was cute and then grabbed a pair of jeans. He had a nice pair of jeans which made his butt look nice, so he could try and get Connor to notice him, but he decided against it because his mom would start to make comments about it. So he grabbed a pair of loose jeans that still matched the shirt. He picked out socks and put them on. Danny looked into his mirror and thought to himself “Damn I look good” and turned around to grab his favorite necklace. His necklace was a gift from his grandma just before she passed away. He looked on his dresser and could not find it. He got onto the floor, peered underneath it, and saw it near the wall. He figured it must have fallen in between the dresser and the wall when he took it off last night. He reached for it, grunting and groaning. “Damn it, come on” and with a twitch of his fingers the necklace rushed into his palm. Danny quickly got up and was puzzled. “What just happened?” He whispered to himself. Did the necklace just jump into his hand as if an invisible force pulled it? He did not know and quickly put it on. Danny raced out of his room and down the stairs. His mom was setting the table for breakfast and his dad was reading the paper while sipping coffee. “Hey mom, hey dad,” he said as he sat at the table, "What's for breakfast?" Danny's mom put a bowl of cereal in front of him. He was not expecting a bowl of cereal for breakfast, but he did not care. His mom gave him his favorite cereal too, "Colonel Crunch." Danny smiled and took a big bite and smiled. He liked this cereal a lot, and he used to have it a lot more when he was younger, but after he grew up. Did not eat it as much as he used to, but he still loved it. “Hurry up kiddo or you’ll miss the bus” Danny’s father Steve said not once looking up from his paper. Danny finished his cereal and put his bowl and spoon in the dishwasher. He then ran to the front door and in a hurry put on his shoes and grabbed his backpack. Danny rushed out the door to find he was late by a few seconds proving his father right. Danny chased after the bus waving his arms and calling for it to stop. As he was running after it he stretched his arm out and thought about the bus stopping, pictured the brake pedal pushing down and suddenly the school bus stopped. Shocked by the event he took this opportunity to catch up to the bus. When he got to the door he knocked and the bus driver opened it for him with a confused look on his face. Danny climbed aboard and went to go find a seat. Most of the seats were taken except one. There was an open spot next to Connor and that had Danny both excited and terrified. “H..Hey, Connor” Danny said voice cracking. Connor looked up and smiled at him, “Is this seat taken?” Danny asked. Connor shook his head and gestured for Danny to take a seat next to him, “thanks.” Danny stared straight ahead at the seat in front of him face beer red, “Hey, it’s Danny right? Danny Peterson?” Connor asked. Danny looked at him and nodded, “We’ve got 5th period chemistry together right?” Again, Danny nodded his head all the while gleaming with joy on the inside. “I noticed in the past you’ve had a little bit of trouble with it. If you wanted some help, I could be your lab partner” Connor suggested. “Yeah, that would be great” Danny replied. “And if you want, I could tutor you after school sometime to prepare for the next exam in a month.” Connor offered. Danny was blushing and he could not hide it. Thinking to himself that there was no way Connor Wilkes asked him to be lab partners, and to tutor him all in the same few minutes. “Yeah, that would be super” Danny responded. “Cool, here’s my number. Text me when a good time for me to come over would be.” Connor said. Danny said he would and then the bus stopped at the school. The driver opened the door and all the students departed. As Danny and Connor got off the bus Connor waved and told him he would see him 5th period. Danny said sure and after Connor turned and walked away he had the biggest grin on his face. “Whatcha smilin’ about f*g?” A familiar voice said behind Danny, bumping into him. Danny looked forward and saw his bully, Mitch Donners, “ I asked what your b*tch-a*s was smiling about.” “Nothing Mitch, I’m just having a really good morning.” Danny retorted. “Probably thinking about sucking off some dude and swallowing his c*m” Mitch laughed as he pushed Danny to the ground. His buddies laughed with him. Danny got up and brushed himself off, “Yeah, you wish. Probably wish it was you as*hole,” he said with a smirked. Mitch’s eyebrows furrowed and he grabbed Danny by the collar of his shirt “The f*ck you say to me…f**got?” Danny smiled. Mitch raised his arm and made a fist, indicating he was going to punch Danny in the face. Danny’s eyes looked past Mitch toward the school. Mitch turned around and saw the principal at the door. He let go of Danny and lowered his arm. “You got lucky this time Peterson” he said and then went inside. Danny heaved a sigh of relief and walked toward the school in time of the warning bell. The principal asked him if he was okay and Danny responded with a yes. The principal then closed the door behind them.