Tyler sat in his bed, reading the assigned pages in his history book. The four had gotten back to school right before their fifth period, drawing, and Tyler managed to get the things from his locker he knew he had missed. The reading had been assigned the day before for tomorrow so he was good there.

It was a little after five and since his father was at the station, Tyler was planning on making mac and cheese for dinner after he was done reading but his plans were changed when he got a text notification. He set his textbook down and picked up his phone instead, unlocking his phone reading the message.

Jenna
Hey what are you doing right now?

Tyler quickly typed back. The two had exchanged numbers the day before at church and had texted a little but not much.

Tyler
Sitting at home bored out of mind and doing homework

Jenna
Can I call you?

Tyler
Sure

A second later his phone flashed with an incoming call from Jenna, as predicated. He answered it and held it to his ear. "Hey."

"Hi," she replied, a smile in her voice. "My momma's at the station with your dad 'nd mine's at a company dinner thing. Do ya wanna come over 'nd hang out? I feel weird bein' here alone," she laughed nervously. "I can make dinner too if ya haven't already eaten. Ya can bring your homework too if ya need ta."

Tyler smiled. He didn't feel as if he was doing something he wasn't supposed to if he ended up going to Jenna's like he did when Brendon has invited him places. Granted, the morning they had spent together was amazing but Tyler felt good about going to Jenna's.

However, the smile quickly disappeared when he realized he couldn't get there. "I don't have a car. I ride the bus to and from school."

"Hm..." Jenna paused. "What's your address?" Tyler provided the requested information and waited for Jenna to continue. "Good news! You're a seven minute walk from me. That is, if ya feel comfortable walkin' over here."

"And are you sure I can bring my homework? I kind of have a lot and I don't wanna bore you by being studious the whole time."

Jenna laughed. "Nah. It's alright. I have ta write a paper for my English teacher anyway."

"Okay," Tyler smiled. "Give me a few minutes to get ready and I'll see you soon. Text me your address."

"Will do. See ya soon, Ty."

"Bye."

Tyler set his phone down and began collecting all the things he knew he'd need to get his homework. He slipped his shoes and jacket on since it was a little colder today before grabbing his backpack, phone, and house key and leaving the house.

The walk to Jenna's was fairly short and he was grateful for Google Maps because he wouldn't have been able to remember all the turns he'd have to take to get there. Once he turned onto her street, however, he was shocked.

It had to have been the nicest street in Scarlettesville which was a heavy contrast from all the run down places he's seen since he'd lived there. It wasn't anything special, a middle class neighborhood, but it was a change of pace and it was nice for Tyler.

With a smile on his face, he bounded the steps and pressed the door bell. The brunette took a deep breath but it came out ragged and he ended up coughing instead.

He shrugged it off and waited patiently for Jenna to open the door. A second later the door opened and the blonde smiled at Tyler. "Hey, come in," she moved aside so Tyler could enter.

"Do you want me to take my shoes off?" He asked.

"That would be great," she nodded. "Ya can leave 'em right there," she pointed to a pile with a few other pairs of shoes. "I started dinner. It's just grilled cheese I hope that's alright."

"Yeah, that's fine," Tyler assured. "Your house is nice."

"Thanks," Jenna beamed. "Ya can leave your bag on the couch 'nd come ta the kitchen with me."

"Okay," Tyler did as told before following his friend into the other room.

"So," Jenna began as she laid a piece of buttered bread down onto the pan. "How was school?"

"It was fine, thanks for asking Mom," Tyler joked resulting in Jenna laughing.

"Sorry for tryin' ta make conversation," she rolled her eyes playfully as she set a piece of cheese down next. "What homework do ya have?"

"History and math. History is just reading and I'm ahead with math so it shouldn't take me long to do since it's just a worksheet. How far are you on your paper?"

"A paragraph in," she giggled. "I'll get it done though. It's jus' so boring," she added, laying the final piece of bread on.

"What's it over?"

"Censorship in media."

"Like in Fahrenheit 451?" Tyler asked, raising an eyebrow as he referred to the book he had to read earlier that year in Louisiana.

"God, no," Jenna shook her head. "I hated that book."

"Good. I hated it too," Tyler laughed.

Jenna finished making the first sandwich and made another one before bringing them both over to the table.

They made conversation while they ate and Jenna cleaned up (she insisted she didn't need help) while Tyler went to the living room to get started on his homework. He was sitting on the couch with his history textbook in his lap when Jenna came back in. She picked her laptop up off the coffee table and Tyler saw she was on a google doc. She didn't say anything as she continued typing and the room was silent other than Jenna typing and the occasional flip of the page.

Tyler finished reading and grabbed his math worksheet out, already done with a few problems. He began doing problem six when Jenna let out a soft groan. "Are you okay?" Tyler asked, concerned.

"This stupid paragraph doesn' make any sense and I've retyped it like four times," she huffed.

"Do you want me to read over it? Sometimes it helps to have an extra pair of eyes," he offered.

"Sure," Jenna handed him the laptop and Tyler began reading over it. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her bite her lip and he didn't know if it was in a seductive or anxious manner but he prayed it wasn't the first one.

He continued reading and highlighted one of her sentences. "Right here," he started. "You should change the wording a little. I think that's what's messing up your flow."

He looked over to see Jenna nodding slowly. "Okay, gotcha," she took her laptop back and stared at Tyler for a moment. "Thanks."

"Of course."

Neither of them looked away and Jenna began to lean in slightly. Tyler had only just had his first kiss today but he knew for a fact he was not into girls and he didn't want to lead his newfound friend on. He pulled back and his eyes involuntarily widened. "I can't."

"Oh," Jenna blushed, probably due from embarrassment. "'M sorry I shouldn' have assumed. Ya probably have a girlfriend or—"

"I'm gay," Tyler blurted. His eyes widened even more as he realized he had just outed himself. "Oh, God. I shouldn't have told you that. I'm sorry," he stood up and began collecting his things.

He was in the middle of throwing his history book into his bag when Jenna grabbed his hand, stopping him. He looked over, feeling his body fill with shame and dread. The self-hatred was coming back despite what Josh had told him earlier. However, when he saw Jenna give him a small smile he relaxed a little bit. "Hey, it's alright," she assured.

"What?"

"I don' care if you're gay," Jenna laughed slightly. "Most of the people here do care but 'm one of the few that don'."

Tyler let out a sigh of relief. "You don't?"

"No! Of course not! Ya love who ya love and ya can' help it," she shrugged. "'M sorry for assumin'. I thought ya were givin' me signs but I guess I jus' read inta it wrong."

Tyler shook his head. "I'm sorry if you thought I was giving you signs. I didn't mean to."

"I know," Jenna smiled. "Ya don' gotta leave yet. I don' hate ya."

Tyler smiled as well, sitting back down. "Thank you."

"Don' thank me. It's not right ta judge people for things they can' control," she said simply. "Now, will ya please help me with the rest of this essay?"