“It’s okay. Just talk to me, please. Just until lunch is over and I have to go back.”
“Okay. Um, let me tell you a little about how the recording process works. Maybe this weekend I’ll bring you down to the studio and give you a tour.” Ru rattled on about equipment and processes Adam would probably never keep straight with seeing them himself. It really didn’t matter what he said, just that he was there, so close and somehow reachable, even though he was far away.
“Hey, I gotta go to San Diego tomorrow night. Should be back early Saturday, though. You gonna be okay while I’m gone?”
Adam was on his way to his new locker when the words jolted him out of his zombie-like funk. Ru would be gone only a day and a half, really, but Adam wondered if he’d go nuts by then. “You have to?”
“Yeah, have to meet with my producer and do a couple interviews. Maybe we can talk your parents into letting you come with me? You’d only miss a day of school.”
But even before Adam asked, he knew what his parents would say. Missing school was not an option. “I’ll be okay.”
“You still want me to pick you up after school?”
“Yes. I need to run. Like forever. And kiss you.”
“Okay, baby,” Ru said. “Adam, you’re gonna get through this.”
“I hope you’re right.” On a scale of the entire world finding out like Ru had, Adam’s life of high school shame didn’t seem all that large. But it didn’t hurt any less. He imagined the rest of his day was going to be brutal as people passed him in the busy hallway, and he wondered how long this would last. They’d have to get bored and move on eventually, right?
“I know I’m right. Now don’t you have French or something? Get going. See you in a few hours.Je t’aime.” Ru said.
Adam let him go with that final French “I love you” and made his way to class. At least the day was almost done. Unfortunately, Nate cornered him in study hall. But Adam had no patience for him at all. “Haven’t you done enough, Nate? I thought I told you to stay away from me.”
Bas watched from across the room, a huge question on his face. Nate seemed agitated. “Can I talk to you alone?”
“No.” Adam set out his assignments for the day, happy all he had were a few math problems. He was pretty sure he didn’t have the focus right now to do anything more intense.
Nate sat down in the chair next to him. “I’m sorry.”
“For telling the world I’m gay or for being an asshole to Ru?”
“Look, that guy just isn’t good news.”
Adam threw him a glare. “Continue that conversation and I’m leaving. Even if it gets me detention.”
Nate sighed. “I just came to say I’m sorry. I didn’t think Jonah was going to go and tell everyone. I just needed someone to talk to. If anyone’s bugging you, let me know.”
“Why?” Adam asked. “Why do you care? It’s not like we were ever friends. You just wanted to use me to help you get a scholarship. The rest of your dopey friends just wanted to smash my face in. Not really stuff that screams we’re BFFs.”
“I thought we were friends. I was hoping you’d come to the homecoming game.”
“I’m sure I have something else to do.” Though he really didn’t, since Ru was going to be out of town. But Adam would rather sit home alone than get teased at the Homecoming game.
“Please. You may think we were never friends, but you were the only guy who’s ever been real to me. You don’t look at me and tell me I’m great. You told me I sucked at running. You laughed in my face when I said we’d go to State. No one else has those kind of balls. It was nice not to be lied to.”
Adam frowned at Nate. Was his popularity all that different from Ru’s? Probably not, other than sheer scale. “I’ll think about it.”
Nate smiled. “Thank you. That’s great. I promise no one will bug you at the game if you come. I’ll even talk to the coach about having you sit on the bench. You can shout at me that I suck if I fumble or something.”
“I haven’t said I’d go yet.”
Nate gripped his hand and leaned in close enough to whisper. “I didn’t tell anyone that you were with that celebrity guy.”
Adam blinked at him a few times, trying to understand his meaning. “What are you saying?”
“I’m sure the media would have a field day with that. Probably have a couple hundred pounding on your door for interviews. Maybe some crazy fans too. I might make a few bucks selling some pictures I took…” Nate said casually.
“I say we’re not friends and you blackmail me?”
