10 years old

Tyler gasped as a shoulder collided with his own, sending his books flying out of his hands as he hit the wall.

"Watch where you're going, fag!" He heard a voice yell out.

Tyler blinked his eyes in an attempt to keep the tears that were forming at bay. He slowly began to collect his belongings. He knew the first day of fifth grade would be rough, but he didn't think it would be this rough.

When he gathered his belongings back into his arms, they were slapped down again by one of the eighth graders.

"Oops, you dropped something," The blonde boy snickered as his friends watched.

"Did you know he's a fag?" One of them asked.

The blonde boy gasped in fake shock. "Oh my! I never would've guessed!"

Tyler bent down to pick up his books, thankful that they couldn't see how hard he was fighting back tears. Tyler openly came out as gay last year. His mom told him there was nothing wrong with it, so he didn't know why everyone was being so mean to him.

The blonde boy grabbed the front of Tyler's shirt, making the small boy stand back up as his books slipped back out of his hands.

"You're nasty," the boy spat. "A fairy like you doesn't deserve to even breathe the same air as me."

"Hey!"

The boy dropped Tyler. They all turned to find a livid Josh.

"Leave him alone!" Josh yelled, stomping towards them.

"Why're you sticking up for this queer? You into guys too?"

"That 'queer'," Josh quoted, "is my best friend."

"Wow, I'm so sorry," the boy said sarcastically.

Tyler trembled as he reached back down to pick up his books again. He was glad Josh had hit a growth spurt and stood a good 5 inches taller than Tyler, being 4 foot 11. The boy's still stood much taller than Josh, but were more intimidated by him than they were by Tyler.

"Take back what you said," Josh demanded, fists clenching at his sides.

"Why? What're you gonna do? Hit me?" The boy and his friends busted out in laughter.

Without thought, Josh reached out and his fist collided with the blonde's face. The laughter turned into gasps as the boy blinked at Josh, bewildered. He held his jaw in his hand.

The boy spun on his heels and speed walked away, his friends following behind him.

"You didn't have to do that..." Tyler said softly. He felt guilty for some reason. He didn't want Josh to get in trouble because he couldn't stick up for himself.

"Don't worry about it. They're assholes," Josh swore, making Tyler's heart flutter.

"Since when do you swear?" Tyler couldn't help but ask.

Josh shrugged. "They just make me so angry. I'm actually flabbergasted at how insecure they must be."

"Flabbergasted?" Tyler questioned, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"It means really surprised."

"Oh. You're super smart. And sweet."

"Sweet? How?"

"For sticking up for me."

"Do you think what they said is true?"

Tyler avoided eye contact with Josh as he stared down at his books. He brought his shoulders up in a slow shrug.

"'Cause if you do, then I guess it's true about me too."

"What?" Tyler asked, finally looking up into Josh's deep brown eyes. He couldn't contain the hope bubbling deep inside him.

Tyler knew he was gay in second grade, when all the boys talked about which girls they wanted to kiss, but the only person Tyler wanted to kiss was Josh. He'd never felt attraction towards girls his whole life, but he loved Josh with his whole heart. He would do anything for the boy.

Tyler obviously was terrified to tell Josh this. He thought Josh would hate him and stop being his friend.

"I'm gay too," Josh shrugged nonchalantly.

"You are?!" Tyler's smile practically consumed his whole face.

"Yeah, I've never liked any girls. But I've liked a guy before."

"Who?" Tyler urged, wiggling his eyebrows in a suggestive way.

Josh laughed and shook his head. He leaned against the wall next to Tyler, ignoring the fact that they were late for class.

"Nobody," Josh lied.

"Tell me."

"Do you like anybody?"

Tyler nodded, a pink hue spreading across his speckled cheeks.

"You tell me first."

"But I asked you first."

"You came out first," Josh argued.

"How about we say it at the same time?"

"Okay."

"One, two, three, you!" They said in unison.

Tyler felt his cheeks heat up even more. Josh bit his lip to hide his wide smile.

"You like me?" They simultaneously asked, resulting in them laughing.

"Yeah," Tyler spoke through his smile, sure Josh could see his heart beating out of his chest.

"Yeah," Josh repeated, gazing into the shorter boy's eyes.

"So..."

"So I guess I should ask if you'll be my boyfriend, right?"

Tyler giggled and shrugged once more.

"Well, T, will you be my boyfriend?"

"Duh, of course!" Tyler's pudgy cheeks began to hurt from how hard he was smiling.

Josh pulled Tyler in for an awkward hug, considering their books were caught in between them.

"How long have you liked me for?" Josh asked.

"Second grade," Tyler admitted, shoulders shrinking in embarrassment when Josh laughed.

"Hey, don't feel bad, T. It's cute. You're cute. I've thought you were cute since last year when you came out. That's when I realized, oh man. I'm gay too."

Tyler chuckled.

"So why do you like me?" Josh questioned.

"Because you're smart, and I feel comfortable around you. I can be myself. And you're really cute and funny. You're super kind and sweet. You've been faithful to me, when we haven't even been dating."

"Oh," Josh responded, cheeks a light shade of pink. He had no idea Tyler felt this way about him.

They fell into a comfortable silence. Tyler felt completely the same around Josh, but also totally different. He knew Josh in and out, there was no change there. The only difference was now Tyler could hug Josh, they could cuddle and hold hands, maybe even have their first kiss together sometime. Tyler was giddy with excitement.

"We should go to class," Josh suggested.

"Can I hold your hand?"

Josh switched to hold his books in his right arm as his left hand reached out to Tyler. Tyler laced their fingers together as they took off down the hallway.