The Secret

Chapter 2

The school day started slowly for Danny. He did not pay attention fully in his first few periods due to his excitement about being a lab partner with Connor. The first period was English. He was listening to his teacher talk about a novel by a prominent historical author. Danny could not remember who it was. Shakespeare, maybe. Harper Lee. He was too distracted to care. The second period was Spanish. Danny paid attention somewhat in class because he needed a good grade. It was a complex subject for him to learn. Danny thought he could get Connor to tutor him in Spanish instead. He was okay with chemistry and knew enough to get him by with a passing grade, but Spanish was his problem area. Danny thought about talking to Connor about it after class. Third-period history was the same as the first period; something happened to somebody in some year. The fourth period came and went without him noticing. The bell rang to signal that the period was over, and it was time for Danny's least favorite class. Gym, Or Physical Fitness, as it says on his class schedule.

He did not want to go to the gym; he just wanted to skip it every day and hide in the cafeteria until it was over. But it was a credit requirement to graduate. The part he hated most about was having to change in the locker room before and after class. Worse of all, Mitch was in his class and made it his mission to pick on Danny whenever possible during any team activities they did. He slowly went to the locker room, where the hell was about to unfold. He walked inside the room and saw all the other boys in his class getting undressed and into their gym clothes. Pants and shirts came off, leaving the boys nearly nude except for their underwear. He tried not to look, but sometimes it was unavoidable. Mitch and his goon platoon walked in. Danny had removed his shirt and attempted to put on his cut-off when Mitch shoved him up against the locker. Mitch laughed, as did his friends and some other boys, but a few rolled their eyes and returned to getting ready. The other boys finally went outside into the gymnasium while Danny finished getting ready. He thought he was alone but felt like someone was still there with him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that Mitch was the only one left. Danny became scared.

"So it's just you and me now, b*tch," Mitch said, grinning ear to ear. "You gotta know what's coming next."

Danny finished getting ready and started to walk toward the door leading to the gymnasium but was stopped by Mitch, "Mitch, please move. We both need to get out there, or Coach Wilson will make us run the entire period," Danny said.

Mitch stood his ground, "I don't care. That's nothing to me, but a skinny kid like you," Mitch said as he got closer to Danny's face, "Well, you'd be on the ground after the first lap." Though he was an a*s, Danny knew Mitch was right.

"Please get out of my way." Danny politely asked, trying again to move past the brute.

"Nope. I'll wait here long enough, keeping us both late for class. Then, when Coach Wilson comes in, I'll pretend you tried to force yourself on me. Trying to suck me off. You'll get in trouble, I'll look like a victim, and then your life, as you know, will come crumbling down."

Danny looked at Mitch in horror at his plan. The school did not take kindly to any s*xual acts to begin with. But being accused of r*pe would get him expelled and possibly imprisoned. Mitch's plan made Danny scared and angry. For what reason would Mitch have for such a heinous plan?

"Why? Why would you do that to me? What have I ever done to you?" Danny asked.

"You've done nothing except being a f*ggot. I've noticed how you sometimes look at me, and I don't want you to think about me like that. So I figured I would have to-"

"What the hell is going on here?" a voice behind them said. Both boys turned around and saw Coach Wilson in the doorway.

"Coach! Thank god you're here, Danny just tried to" And Coach Wilson cut him off.

"Don't give me that s**t, Donners. I heard the whole thing. Get changed and get your ass down to the principal's office." Coach Wilson demanded. Mitch tried to respond, but Wilson yelled at him, and Mitch hurried up and went to the office. Coach Wilson looked back at Danny, "Hey, are you okay, kid?" he asked sincerely.

"No. I don't know what Mitch's problem is. I didn't do anything to deserve that much hate." Danny said, eyes welling with tears.

Coach Wilson put his hand on Danny's shoulder. "Hey, if you want to stay here a little longer to collect yourself, take all the time you need. Let me know if you want to head to the library, and I'll write you a pass. I don't like seeing my kids treated that way," he grinned. Danny wiped his eyes and said he wanted to stay in the locker room a little longer before leaving. Coach Wilson nodded his head, then went back out, "Alright, ladies! Time to run some drills!" he exclaimed. Danny was glad there were people like Coach Wilson out in the world.

*

After gym class ended, Danny got back into his regular clothes. He was still reeling from the events at the beginning of the period, but he was also excited to get into chemistry and finally see Connor. He walked up the stairs to the second floor and headed to the chemistry room. When he walked in, Danny saw Connor already at a lab table, and he waved Danny over to have a seat.

“Hey Danny, how’s it going?” Connor asked him.

“It’s… it’s going.” Danny replied. Connor had a look of concern on his face. He wanted to ask Danny more, but he thought it best not to push the subject.

Chemistry class went as it usually did, but this time Danny had a good lab partner. He tried his best to pay attention to what the teacher was showing them, but he kept glancing over at Connor, who was a natural. Danny knew what he was supposed to do, although he enjoyed having Connor explain and show him exactly how to combine different chemical compounds to create a particular mixture. What he really wanted was help with Spanish. Danny saw a smile form across Connor's face and it made him happy to see Connor so happy.

I know he doesn't need help with chemistry. But how else was I supposed to get to know him?

Danny snapped back to reality. What the hell just happened? Was that, Connor? But he did not say anything. Danny saw that Connor's mouth kept moving and talking about chemical mixtures. Connor knew he did well in the class? And he offered to be lab partners just to get close? Next thing Danny knew, the teacher was saying for the class to put away their supplies and store their goggles.

The bell rang and all the students grabbed their bags and walked out. Danny and Connor walked next to each other on their way out.

"Hey Connor, I was thinking about something" Danny started.

"What's up?"

"I don't really need tutoring, with chemistry, I mean. But I was wondering if you could help me with another subject?" Danny asked.

"Sure thing, what subject are you having trouble with?" Connor asked, intrigued.

Danny told Connor he needed help with Spanish. Danny explained that if he did not pass the next Spanish test with at the very least a C, his mom and dad would not let him go to prom. Connor understood and said he was able to do that. He was fluent in Spanish. Connor told Danny that he could come by after school to help him and Danny said that would be okay. He would just need to inform his parents.

The two boys parted ways and Danny had the biggest smile on his face when suddenly he heard thoughts that were not his own.

Yes. I was wondering if he was going to invite me over to help him tutor something. If Danny hadn't asked me first I was going to offer it to him. And Spanish? That is a very romantic language and maybe, just maybe I could try and kiss him.

Danny's eyes widened when he heard his name. Those were not some random thoughts from someone, those were the inner thoughts of Connor! Could Danny read minds? What was going on with him today he thought. But he pushed that to the back of his mind and went on with the rest of his day, awaiting the end of school.