Dereck's Pov:

"Ready for this? We can always wait. Don't rush into this for me." He said as we sat in my car waiting to walk into school.

That's right it's Monday morning and we're gonna stop sneaking around. I might have backed out a few days ago. But telling our friends was liberating even if one did act like a jerk. Going out on our date and holding hands without worrying if someone saw totally sealed the deal.

"I'm good." I gave him a quick smooch and we got out.

When we walked into the building all eyes zeroed in on our clasped hands.

We ignored the stares and walked to our locker. Our friends came up and evil eyed anyone still gawking.

Ariel jumped on my back and kissed my cheek. "I cant wait until we're in laws. Now give me a piggy back ride beee-yotch!"

Vin lifted her off my back and set her short self down. "Sorry. He's isn't giving anyone rides." He said patting her head when she pouted.

"Not even you?" She shot back and he blushed so she stuck out her tongue and winked at me. "That's right darling, make that boy work for your disco-stick!"

Vin saw a few girls staring and he waved. "Anything we can do to make this more entertaining for you?" He asked sweetly. A girl that looked vaguely familiar nodded and her friends pushed her forward.

She smiled at us. "Can I cash in that favor you owe me?" She asked Vin.

He smiled and looked at me. "It's up to him."

"What's up to me?"

She bit her lip and stuck out her hand. "Hi I'm Lisa and I have a few classes with y'all. But we've never actually talked until Ariel wanted my seat. Anyway I was wondering if I could get an interview for the school paper."

"Why would you want that? For the sports section?"

She laughed and shook her head. "No as a feature. You two coming out is big news and I'd like to write your story."

"Why? It's really not that interesting? Wouldn't you want something more I don't know, news worhty. Wait that was last montj when you talked to Vin. How'd you know we were together?"

I wasn't opposed to it. I just really didn't understand why she wanted our story. The bell rang to go to first period.

"We can talk in the library and I'll get y'all a pass to class." She offered.

We sat down at a back table. "Last month I was coming out of the photography class and saw you two kiss. I'm not gonna lie. I thought about taking a picture and doing an article. Scoop of the year kind of thing but I'm not that mean. So when Vin said he'd owe me one. I asked if he'd give me an interview when y'all came out."

"I appreciate that but I still don't understand the reason for a story. I mean yeah we're gonna be the topic of gossip for a few days but news worthy?"

"You have no idea just how important it is. Did you know that the school has a fairly large number of gay students that are too afraid to be themselves because they feared being bullied from faculty and students alike. That those people have actually set up a fan club that has been rooting for y'all since freshman year. They set up a facebook page and everything. All of it positive and hopeful. They even had friendly bets about how long it would take you two to kiss."

Vin snorted. "Seriously, we've been walking around having a stalker fan club? All dissecting everything Dare and I ever said and did. Was there any creepy crap like peeking in our windows or going through our trash?" He looked kind of annoyed.

I elbowed him. "Be nice. I think it's sweet in weird way."

Lisa nodded. "It really is set up just to show support. You two were their inspiration. I've even posted comments on it. You two are top of the class academically and not only on several sports teams but captains. You're good looking and popular and until you're pissed off about something you're fairly nice people. Face it boys you've become role models for the gay community. You being open will give others the courage to stop hiding and hopefully the story will be able to set the record straight. Because let's face it. By the end of the day there's no tellings what'll be said. Also some people may think twice about bullying when they see that we're not any different from them."

Well when she said it like that, kind of makes it hard to refuse. "I'm in. But I cant guarantee that I'll answer everything. Some things are private."

She smiled. "Thank you so much. I promise to do my best on the story. Just pick a place and time and I'll be there."

The day flew and it was already lunch. People had been okay. They looked and whispered but nobody gay bashed or anything. We were sitting at our table holding hands and watching as Lisa asked our friends about their reactions and thoughts.

I buried my head in Vin's shoulder when Ariel said a particularly embarrassing thing. Vin flicked a fry at her. "Off limits pipsqueak."

I felt a shock of cold and jerked forward just as Vin yelped. There standing in all their pissed off glory we're Alissa and Tara. They had thrown a bucket of cold water on us. B*tches.

Wow. that's all I could think. Just wow.

Then the screeching started and I flinched. I swear I felt my brain start bleeding. Is there a special class where they teach all girls when they're little how to do this? Cruel.

I couldn't make out what they were screeching and they just kept getting louder and louder. Trying to out psycho each other. They would make a good couple. Both pretty and crazy and crazy loud.

"You two should date. Y'all are perfect for each other. A match made in the mental ward." Vin declared watching them as if they were interesting bugs under a microscope.

I looked at Vin and we bust out laughing. I stood up and shook like a dog to get some of the water off.

"Thank you for the shower ladies. I sincerely appreciate your thoughtfulness. However, I already had one today. So all you did was waste one of Earth's precious resources."

Alissa stomped her little high heeled foot. "I cant believe you cheated on me with a dude! We had something special!" She screamed at me.

I groaned. Not this crap again.

"I didn't cheat on you with Vin" The circle around us gasped before I could finish. People whispered and started shooting Vin sympathetic looks.

"Shut up!" I snapped at them.

I focused back on Alissa and ignored Vin's laughter beside me. Jackass. He would find this funny.

"Look I tried being nice but you really aren't getting it. So let me break it down for you Barney style. I didn't cheat on you because we aren't together. Never were and will never f*cking be. You're a few sodas short of a six pack! There is nothing special between us. The only thing I did was pull your drunk ass out of a toilet so you didn't drown and I'm sorry if in your eyes that means something but it doesn't! I barely know your name Alissa. So back the hell off. Because I'm really starting to lose my patience with the mental routine."

Vin cracked up and panted out. "Her. Name. Felisha. HAhaha"

I shrugged. "What the f*ck ever. That just proves my point."

I looked back to where she had been and she was gone thank you baby Jesus. The Crazy Lady has left the building.

Tara waved her hand. "Hello, still here and still waiting on an explanation." She demanded looking at me.

I shook my head. "Don't look at me. I have a rule to only deal with one mental patient a day. As you just saw I filled my quota. Besides you banged him not me. So whatever shattered delusional fantasy you had is not my problem."

"Not mine either." Vin said and grabbed his bag to leave.

She blocked our path. "I want answers." She demanded with her hands on her hips.

He smiled. "I want world peace. Looks like we're both shit out of luck."

"You owe me! You blew me off for him the other day. Ughh I should have known you were into him. When we were dating last year. You always picked him over me. You always went running when he called, even when we were in bed! You hardly ever came over because you were always with him. You even broke up with me because he didn't like me. Now I understand. He was jealous of your feelings for me. I was a threat to him. I probably still am. That's why he never let's you out of his sight. He even guilted you into convincing the principal to give you the same schedule. He knew you would come back to me." She yelled passionately.

I threw my hands up. "Why does everyone assume I am the gay genie that turned you?" I asked exasperatedly.

Seriously WTH.

He pulled me to him and whispered in my ear. "Cause I'm Dare-sexual." He breathed and chuckled when I shivered.

"ANSWERS NOW VINCENT!" She roared. He smiled and his eyes lit up with that glint. Oh hell.

"Fine" He said nicely.

He jumped on the table and whistled. "Just making sure I got everyone's attention. Even though most of you were already watching the soap opera called My Life. Tara would like some answers. But she's a Drama Wh*re. So instead of having to have this same scene every few days I'll tell you all so if she forgets y'all can help remind her. Thanks"

He looked at Tara and she was beaming. She really does get off on drama. "Still want your answers?" He taunted.

"You owe me them after everything you've put me through." She did this noise that I think was supposed to be a sob but sounded like she farted out of her mouth.

"Okay. Hope this makes you happy." He raised his voice and started talking to the crowd. "As I'm sure you've all heard by now. Dereck and I and together. Friday Tara made me an offer and I refused. She kept on and kissed me. Which pissed off Dereck. I pushed her off and I even told her I was gay. Which resulted in a slap and an even more pissed off Dereck. My baby seems to be protective of me." He grinned at me then went back to his speech.

Oh sweet little new born, tiny 8 pound baby Jesus. This is gonna take a while.

I sat down next to Ariel and propped my feet on the table.

"He really should join theater club" She said shaking her head at his theatrics.

"No, he'd only become more of a drama queen" I hissed.

"Now let's get real. Dare pointed out to me that we had a certain reputation. Sl*t was the word he used. I guess he was right. We did tend to bounce from girl to girl a lot. If we hurt any of you I am truly sorry. We never meant to. But to be fair we always made sure that you knew we hooked up but weren't into relationships. That brings me to Tara and her unfortunate inability to understand English. See she seems to think that because we hooked up three times last year that we were dating. Even when we agreed each time that it was just a quick lay in a dark corner at some party. So to answer her questions." He took another deep breath and continued his monoluge.

"First off we never dated, we screwed. Since we never dated we could never break up since there was nothing to break. I owe you absolutely nothing for blowing you off the other day. I haven't even spoken to you since the last time we hooked up. So of course I wasn't gonna ditch my boyfriend to get a sub-par blow j*b. As for me always jumping when he calls. That is probably the only thing you said that was actually true. It's not a surprise or even something that started when we started dating. He was never jealous of you, of anyone. There wasn't any reason to be. We've been eachother's number 1 since the crib. Nothing will ever change that."

He watched me when he said that and I give him a thumbs up and tried to keep the blush away. "Nah it''s so cute how whipped he is!" Ariel whispered.

"He is not. Now Shhh I'm listening"

"Dare had nothing to do with me setting up my schedule the way it was. I did it. Because it's as simple as this, I wanted to. Just like us spending so much time together. Neither of us guilts or manipulates the other into doing anything. We've just always liked doing the same things."

He looked at his watch. "That's all I gotta say about that. Lunch is about to be over. Just one more thing. Stop assuming that Dereck turned me. That's not what happened. My awesome sexual magnetism flipped his switch. Peace!" He jumped down and sat on my lap.

"Drama wh*re" Ariel fake coughed.

I snickered and he gave a grin. "What can I say. I'm just that cool." He drawled with a carefree shrug.