The Secret

Chapter 3

Chemistry class ended. Danny and Connor went their separate ways at school. Connor was happy to have helped Danny with chemistry despite not needing it. He knew, but he was delighted. He thought about what Danny asked, helping him with Spanish. Connor was excellent at the Spanish language. He took classes in middle school and could help Danny with the homework. Connor was going to offer his tutoring services to Danny, regardless of whether he asked or not. However, choosing Spanish is even better than chemistry because of how beautiful the language is. Even when pronounced correctly, something meant to be mean could sound romantic, and he would try his best to see if he could use this as an excuse to kiss Danny.

Connor always finds Danny attractive, and he wants to do his best to make a good impression and find a way to talk to him. The bus was just a start, as were the lab partner and tutoring offer. Nobody had any idea Connor was gay; he enjoyed that fact but hated it, too. The only people who knew were his older sister, Kamryn, his mom, and the local priest, Father Marshall. And she promised never to tell a soul. Connor enjoyed the fact people knew he was not gay, but that also meant he had to keep up this charade of being straight. He had a lot of female and male friends. But he had to fake being straight around his guy friends, who still made fun of him for having a slightly more feminine personality despite his muscular physique due to being on the football team. But with his guy friends, he had to agree that a girl was 'smoking hot' to keep up appearances. Connor hated it, though, because he was hiding who he was. The one person he did not want to find out about Connor being gay was his long-time friend Mitch Donners. Connor knew that having him as a friend was a bad idea, and Mitch would eventually find out, but he needed to have at least someone to hang out with.

Connor walked down to the cafeteria for his lunch period. This was one of the few times he had to deal with Mitch during the day. He saw him first in Economics class, then lunch the next time, and then study hall at the end of the day. When Connor grabbed his lunch tray and went to his usual table, he noticed that Mitch was not there. He thought it strange because Mitch never missed lunch and always had a large amount of food on his tray. Connor sat down and looked around at his other friends.

"Hey, where's Mitch?" Connor asked.

"Wait, you didn't hear?" Connor's friend Alex said. Connor shook his head, indicating he knew nothing, "Dude, Mitch got suspended indefinitely. From what I heard, he might get expelled."

Connor looked on in horror, shocked by the sudden news. "What'd he do?" he inquired, hoping for answers and not speculation.

Another boy at the table said he heard that Mitch was bullying a kid in the locker room before gym class and said he'd make it look like the kid was forcing himself on Mitch. Making it seem the kid wanted to r*pe Mitch just to get him in trouble, "I also heard that it's possible Mitch was trying to force the kid to do something he didn't want to do, and that's why Mitch was going to play it off as if he were the victim."

Connor thought about it long and hard; who would Mitch have such a large grudge against even thinking of causing someone that much emotional pain? Then it clicked, "Hey Alex," Connor said, "Was the kid's name Danny Peterson by chance?"

"Holy sh*t, dude, I think it was. Why?"

"Because I have chemistry class with him. He's my lab partner. He seemed a little off when class started, but he didn't give me any explanation."

All the boys around the table were shocked. They all knew Danny was gay even though he did not openly express it, and they may have teased him for it, but Mitch took it too far. Trying to accuse someone of r*pe was messed up. God only knows how Danny must be feeling. Connor closed his eyes and thought about how afraid Danny was and probably still was. He never would have expected Mitch himself to be gay, although it would explain a lot and why he was so hellbent on making Danny's life a living hell almost every day.

*

The end of the day came, and announcements were made. Connor decides to walk home, but first, he stops by to visit Father Marshall at the church. The church was a few minutes' walk from the school. Danny had texted Connor about why he was not on the bus, and Connor said he had to see a friend quickly but would come by later for tutoring. Danny replied, saying okay and that he would see Connor later. When he returned the phone in his pocket, it started to ring. Connor pulled it back out and noticed it was a FaceTime request, and it was none other than Mitch. Connor did not want to answer the phone but knew Mitch would keep calling if he did not pick up.

"What do you want, Mitch?"

"Is that how you say hi to your oldest friend?" Mitch answered.

Connor rolled his eyes, "Dude, I didn't see you at lunch today; what the f**k happened to you?" he said, trying to see if Mitch would come clean or try to lie through his teeth like usual.

"I wasn't feeling well, so I went to the nurse, and she sent me home," Mitch explained. Of course, he wanted to lie and seem innocent.

"Cut the s**t, Mitch. I know about what happened between you and Danny." Connor stated. Mitch's eyes widened, knowing full well he was screwed, "What the hell is wrong with you, man? Why on God's green earth did you think of acting like that towards another person?" Connor angrily asked.

"Bro, you don't even know the whole story. You see, there I was getting ready, and suddenly that f*g tried to"

"WHAT THE F*CK! Dude, I know what you planned to do. I mean, come on, trying to play the victim while blaming someone for attempted r*pe. Mitch, some kids at school are making assumptions about this, so am I okay? And I don't think you'd be happy hearing them."

Mitch was curious, and Connor continued, "Dude, after this incident, some are beginning to think the reason you bully Danny so much and the reason behind this debacle is you might be gay, and this is a way of letting out your frustration and denial."

Mitch was fuming but could not get any words out. Connor hung up on Mitch and silenced his phone. He could not deal with Mitch's crap right now. Connor needed guidance about his situation and everything that was going on, and seeing Father Marshall was just how to get help.

Connor felt safe with Father Marshall, who had helped raise him since his dad was not in the picture. Connor knew this was the best place to go, and he thought that maybe one day, if things went well and Connor could actually come out and possibly start a relationship with Danny, he' would bring Danny to come to see Father Marshall and at least try to talk to him, to try and open up to him. Connor could see how closed off Danny was, and though he did not openly admit it, he was gay. Everyone knew it except possibly his parents, who would throw a fit and take him to see Father Marshall, regardless, to get an 'exorcism' because they would think he was possessed by the devil.

When Connor walked into the church, he went directly to the confessional booth. He could see Father Marshall's silhouette. He went into the adjoining space, sat down, and closed the door. The panel opened up in the middle.

"How may I help you, my son?"

"Forgive me, Father, but I need your guidance," Connor said.

"What is the problem, my child?"

Connor sighed heavily and bowed his head, "I need to help someone I love."