I’m in shock, unable to react as my hand shoots up to cover my eye.
Easton says nothing as he scrambles out of the treehouse and down the ladder.
It takes a moment for me to react. I crawl over to the window, watching Easton ride away on his bike.
As soon as he’s out of view, I sit back, my ass hitting the ground hard.
I fucked up. I fucked up big time.
Panic begins to consume me, overriding the pain in my eye and head.
Tears sting the back of my eyes as I wrap my arms around my legs. I bury my face in my knees and cry.
I should have known not to do that. Of course, he doesn’t like me like that. I let a little bit of hope fuck everything up. Almost ten years of friendship, gone down the drain just like that.
Once every last teardrop has leaked out of my eyes, a numbness takes over me, while I shove everything in my bag and leave the treehouse behind.
The bike ride home is a blur, I don’t even remember getting there or going up to my room.
I lock my bedroom door and throw myself onto my bed. I cry myself to sleep with thoughts swimming around my head.
I need to make this right. He knows I find guys attractive, so I’ll tell him I just wanted to know what it felt like to kiss a guy, not that I have feelings for him. We can laugh it off. It doesn’t have to be a big deal, right?
I can’t lose him. I’d rather have this stupid, one-sided crush, and it never goes anywhere, than lose him as a friend.
Sleep is rough, and I only manage to get a few hours, putting me in a shitty mood the next morning. I had to wake up early and sneak into my sister's room, in the pool house, to grab some makeup to cover the new black eye I’m sporting.
“Everything okay?” Mom asks.
“Yeah,” I grunt, pulling my hood over my head, trying to make myself small, so mom doesn’t try to get a good look at my face.
“Did Easton like his food?”
At the mention of his name, my heart clenches. I nod, not able to speak.
“Come on, kid!” my dad, Jax, shouts. “I’ll take you to school today.”
Grabbing my school bag, I say goodbye to my mom and head to Jax’s car.
“You okay?” he asks as we pull out of the driveway.
“Why is everyone asking me that?” I snap, not looking at him, eyes focused out my window.
“Okay then,” he whispers. “Not in the mood to talk. Got it.”
When we pull up to school, my nerves set in.
I need to go up to him, tell him I’m sorry, and that it’s not a big deal if we don’t make it one.
A wave of nausea hits me as I step into the school. Kids around me are loud, laughing, and joking around. I make myway down the hall to the lockers. Easton is there, and my stomach drops.
Now or never, Bennett. Deal with this now before it fucks everything up.
“Hey.” I stop next to him, my heart hammering in my chest. “Can we talk about last night?”
Easton slams his locker door. The look of anger and disgust in his eyes makes my heart sink. “There’s nothing to talk about,” Easton spits. “I’m not sure what the fuck you thought would happen last night, but I’m not a fucking faggot.”
My eyes widen, lips parting. “I–I’m...”
