“I didn’t know you and Farshid were friends,” you say before you can stop yourself.
You’re just curious, that’s all.
Cooper shrugs. “Yeah. We’re in orchestra together. And RC.”
“When did you join RC?”
You don’t know why you keep talking. Except this is the first time in forever that Cooper hasn’t run away from a conversation with you.
“Back in September, after… you know.”
Afterthe incident.
You wonder if Cooper’s queer and never told you. Or if he just wants to be an ally. Or if it’s all just so people would know he was different than you. Like how he dropped you as a friend.
That anger that’s never far starts simmering in your stomach. You’re about to call him on it when Brody pipes up.
“Isn’t RC the club for all the gays?”
Cooper bristles. You want to groan. You love the guy, but sometimes Brody can really stick his foot in his mouth.
“Rainbow Coalition is for everyone,” Cooper says. “I’m an ally. Lots of us are.”
Brody purses his lips. “Okay, but I bet it’s a good place to pick up girls, right? You can do the wholesensitivething they like. No homo.”
“No homo?” Cooper raises an eyebrow. “What are you, twelve?”
“Just making it clear,” Brody says. “Don’t want any gays falling in love with me.”
“I don’t think that’ll be a problem foranyone.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
You feel like you’re watching a tennis match. Brody’s taking thejoke way too far. Normally you’d try to stop him, but seeing Cooper all flustered makes you want to laugh. A little bit.
Then Brody puffs out his chest and steps toward Cooper. Maybe it’s gone too far.
“Guys,” you warn, but Brody keeps going.
“Hey, I asked you a question. What’s that supposed to mean?” He takes a step toward Cooper, but Cooper stands his ground.
“It meansno one, gay or straight or anything in between, is going to fall in love with a guy who smells weird and jokes about jerking off all the time.”
Brody’s face twists, and you step closer, you’re not sure why, but thankfully the whistle blows, sharp. You’re supposed to be playing basketball.
Some team you make.
“Sorry,” Brody tells you when you get another breather.
“What?”
“Sorry. I went too far,” he admits. “That guy’s such a faker, though. He acts like he cares about people, but all he really cares about is what people think of him. I remember how he ditched you last year.”
You fight back a smile. Brody was just trying to protect you. The way friends do. The way Cooper and Tyler were supposed to but didn’t.
You wish Marshall was in conditioning with you. So he could see this side of Brody. So he could understand.
“No worries, man.” You give Brody a light punch on the shoulder. “Thanks.”
