"What are you thinking about choosing?" Cassidy sipped from her iced coffee.
It was just me and her this morning, just two close friends. I was actually glad it was just us, rather than having to deal with the oh-so-talkative Rylee, Julianna with her loud laugh, Miguel and his childish antics, and Lance with his annoying gorgeousness.
God he's such a distraction.
"Hello? Got something more important to think about?" Cassidy waved a hand in front of my face.
I blinked quickly and looked at her.
"Oh.. No." I shrugged.
"Anyway, I was thinking the animal rights club- you know how good that looks on a record." She nodded with a swoon.
"I'd think you were going to join the baseball club.." I took a bite out of my ham sandwich, crusts off like always.
"Baseball isn't a club, it's a sport. Plus, it's recreational, I have to play off campus, Mirwell doesn't host it." She shrugged.
"Ah." I nodded, looking back to my ham sandwich.
"So?" He cocked a brow. "What about you?"
"Oh.. I don't know." I shrugged. "Maybe something dance related.."
"Yeah, you've always been really good with the whole 'shake my body' thing."
"Shake my body?" I cocked my brow with a smirk.
"Yeah, you know- shaky shaky." She shuffled in her seat.
"You're such an idiot." I rolled my eyes with a soft laugh.
"Maybe acting? You're always really good at being dramatic."
"I'm just going to pretend like you didn't say that." I chuckled along side her.
"Musical theatre's always a good choice." She shrugged.
"I've never been good with the performance thing.." I sighed.
"An even bigger reason to do it! You'll get out of your shell a bit more, make some new friends." She tilted her head with a smile.
"New friends?.. What's wrong with my current ones?" I tilted my own head.
"Nothing, those ones are super awesome. I'm just saying some side groups to hang out with if me or.. Miguel aren't around or something. Just some quick replacements." She shrugged.
"Replacements?.. You know I could just make some friends while doing something else like.. Reading a book in the library which is coincidently the same book that a girl across the table is reading?" I proposed.
"You do realize that the odds of that happening are very very slim, and not because of the fact that your idea of making friends is very clique- but also because the books you read kinda.. Suck."
"What? No they don't!" I protested.
"Calvin, you read novels and series set and aimed for 14 year old audiences. Your choice in books blows." She laughed aloud.
"Whatever." I crossed my arms.
"So? What'll it be?" She leaned her elbows over the table to watch me closely.
I thought for a moment.
A little known fact about myself. I'm very flexible, mainly in my legs. It's why I was one of the only guys who could do the splits both ways in high school, and also a leaning factor in the reasoning behind my severe case of bullying.
I'm also a slightly experienced dancer I guess. If dancing to radio music on towels while mopping the floor of my childhood kitchen and dining room at the ages of 5-9 counts as experience, then I'll take it.
I was a weird kid.
"Fine. Musical theatre." I huffed.
She clapped her hands. "I'm coming to every one of your shows!"
"Sure you are." I sighed.
She grinned and took another sip from her coffee.
*****
"Oh, golf club for sure." Julianna laughed. "The second I saw the posters, I was first on that list."
Julianna had joined us on the walk back from the cafe after we had run into her by chance. Most of the students were all hanging out on this street though, this was a main event train for everyone to come after exams and for holidays, just for fun. I'd be lying if I said it was impossible for us to meet up with the whole rest of the group here.
"You've always been good at swinging clubs at people." Cassidy laughed.
"So what are you choosing Cal? And don't say nothing because one club, sport, or team is required each year at Mirwell for graduation."
"Musical theatre." I replied blankly, pocketing my hands into my jeans.
"Ooo, exotic." She grinned. "What about you Rylee?"
We all looked up to see Rylee and her boyfriend in line for lettuce wraps at a nearby stand.
"Oh, hi guys." He smiled her bright smile, waving.
"Sup." Eric, her boyfriend, responded.
"What were you asking?" She pushed her acrylic nails through her long blonde hair.
"What club are you going to join?" Cassidy asked.
She looked up at Eric in thought.
"I don't know. Maybe some kind of fashion club."
"Is that even a thing?" Julianna laughed.
"It better be." Rylee rested her weight to her right hip. "It was good to see you guys, but this line is really getting long and people are going to start thinking you're part of it."
"Right. See you around Ry." Cassidy waved and headed past for us to follow.
"God you guys walk fast." Miguel huffed, jogging up beside us.
"Miggie!" Julianna hugged around him.
What did I tell you.
"Hey Miguel." Cassidy smiled. "What are you going to do for the clubs?"
"Musical theatre, of course." He replied.
I smiled softly. At least I wasn't going to be totally alone.
"So is Calvin! You'll be theatre buddies!" Julianna expressed.
Miguel clapped his hands with a grin.
And you can only guess who was standing on the street corner.
Lance.
Along side Darrel, Taylor, and Vinny.
That tight black t-shirt clung to his broad shoulders so perfectly, incredibly paired with his skin tight grey denim jeans. Not only did the wonderful pair of pants outline his gorgeous legs.. But also that immaculately sized-
No I'm not checking him out. I was merely appreciating his.. Appealing structure.
Shut up.
"Lance!" Cassidy called out with a wave.
The boy glanced up from his friends to spot us, grinning slyly.
"Hey," He called out.
"What brings you to these here parts?" She laced through a Texan accent.
"Nothin', just hangin' with the boys." He shrugged, glancing in my direction. "Hi Sneakers." He smirked.
I waved quietly.
"I don't think you guys have met my friends?" He looked back at the trio a short distance away.
"Nope." Cassidy shook her head.
"Hey guys, come meet the group I was talking about!" He shouted over to the boy's.
They made their way over, giving Lance the chance to slide behind us all, wrapping his arms over all four of our shoulders to squeeze us close.
"This is Cassidy and Julianna, and this is Miguel and Sneakers." He introduced.
"Calvin, actually. Lance just has trouble pronouncing it correctly." I huffed, sliding out of his grip slowly.
"Ah. So you're the little guy that slapped Lancelot at the party! Man, I've never laughed so hard in my life." Taylor cracked up into an obnoxious laugh.
"Maybe he deserves a good slap every once and a while, you've got balls kid." Darrel replied slowly through a flat tone, less energetic than Taylor.
"Thanks?" I tilted my head.
"They're just being friendly." Lance shrugged.
"Hey Calvin, long time no see." Vinny smiled kindly.
"Hi Vinny." I grinned.
Vinny and I have always been cool. Never friends but never foes. It's a good way to be sometimes.
"I'm sure you know Taylor, the champion of the beach. He's good with any kind of board; surf, snow, wake, boogie, you name it. Also volleyball." Lance smirked. "This is Darrel, kinda reserved for a certain audience, but he's funny as hell if you get to know him. Total class clown." He cocked both brows smoothly. "This is Vinny, kinda the brains of the operation type of guy, total daredevil. I once dared him to throw a pack of firecracker's into the library during exams last year, and he did it without a second of hesitation. Almost kicked from campus. Don't get on his bad side, he takes karate."
Vinny punched his fist into his palm, enclosing it around his knuckles and bowed neatly with a smile, making us all laugh.
"What clubs are you guys joining?" Miguel asked.
"I was thinking the chess club." Vinny shrugged.
"Vollyball team." Taylor stuck his tongue out with a wink.
"Swim team." Darrel replied with a sigh, looking off at the sky.
"Lance?" Cassidy looked at him.
"Art club.." He muttered, scratching at his head before looking away.
"Ooo, getting into some Picasso shit huh?" Taylor laughed.
"I think it's cool." I piped up. "Arts cool."
Lance glanced my way with a small smile, giving me the chance to return it with my own.
It took us a moment to realize that everyone was staring at us.
"What?" Lance huffed.
"I know you're bi and all but seriously?" Taylor chuckled.
"Wh-.. Dude." Lance grumbled.
Cassidy gasped. "You're bisexual?" She asked quickly.
"No! I'm straight! Why does everyone think I'm into guys?"
"Because of how you look at Calvin." Taylor smirked.
"Ehm.. I'm standing right here." I huffed.
I hadn't even taken into account that Lance was bisexual apparently.
"Sneakers and I are roommates, we're buds. Right Sneaks?" Lance wrapped an arm around my shoulders, squeezing me close.
I coughed under his grip around my neck. "F-Friends." I stammered, squirming a bit.
"See?" Lance let go, allowing me to breath again.
"Being part of the LGBT community is nothing to be ashamed of. It's a blessing to have such a diverse group of people all together." Miguel swooned. "I'm gay, and proud to be. Course I can't find a boyfriend." He shrugged.
I looked away slowly, only to be grabbed by the boy as he tugged me close. Now they were just rubbing in the fact that I was smaller than all of them.
"Calvin here is gay too, he knows it." Miguel hugged me tight.
"What? No I'm not." I stuttered nervously. "I'm so totally into.. Woman. I can't get enough of boobs and.. Ass.." I huffed, trying to flex my non-existent muscles.
"Yeah- no." Cassidy shoved me into Julianna. "He's been out since high school, practically. He used to look at all the seniors with the cute little face of his."
To my horror, she began to mimic my facial expression. Like I said before, I was a weird kid in elementary and high school- so whenever I saw a cute guy, I used to do this strange.. Grin. Almost like the grinch. So awkward.
And Cassidy was imitating it.
They all laughed, causing me to blush an even deeper shade of red. "Alright, they get it.." I muttered.
"Then the little blush would come-" She described.
"Alright!.." I shouted with a sigh. "Yes, I'm gay.. Why does it matter?.." I grumbled, looking at my feet.
"Aww- it was just a joke Calvin." Taylor laughed again.
"Well it hurts my feelings!.. I didn't get to choose whether I like girls or not.. So stop making fun of me!" I shouted, generally towards Cassidy, before heading past them all and around the corner.
"Well.. That turned.." Vinny blinked.
"I'll go talk to him." Lance started off after me.
"I think he really was kinda sad Cass." Rylee watched Lance go.
"It's Calvin. He'll be fine." Cassidy sighed.
I leaned over the metal railing of the boardwalk bridge, watching the artificially created river, run through the campus park, the same river that runs into the little lake on the other side of the park with the cherry blossom tree beside it.
"I told her to stop.. But she just kept going.. In front of everybody.. None of them knew.. And now I have to assure all of the guys that I won't hit on them or whatever.." I mumbled to myself.
I talk to myself when I'm angry or sad. It helps me cope.
"I know. It sucks when friends don't listen to you." Lances voice startled me.
I nearly jumped out of my skin. "Jesus!.. Lance!.." I groaned.
"Sorry.. Scare you?"
"You think? God.." I shook my head and faced forward to the water again.
He leaned beside me, watching the river flow quietly as we just stood in silence.
"Cassidy was just kidding you know.. She didn't mean to offend you."
"Well she did. None of them except her and Miguel knew that I was.." I hesitated on the word, looking down.
"Gay.. I know." Lance nodded, before fading into silence again.
"Are you grossed out?" I looked up at him.
"That you're gay?.. Course not, never.." He shook his head. "I know some people that are gay too." He looked off towards the group all waiting and chatting near the end of the street.
"Well.. Add me to your list.." I sighed. "I get it if you don't want to be friends with me anymore.."
Lance chuckled, before laughing out loud. "No way. You're stuck with me now." He ruffled my hair, making me smile.
"Thanks.."
"You know, if you really lean into the deep side of the chances.. If we never.. Kissed that Friday.. We wouldn't be where we are today. I'd still be that asshole getting drunk every night and coming back to the dorm to pass out.. And you'd still be that little uptight control freak."
"Excuse me?" I looked up at him, causing him to laugh.
"Not anymore but.. Maybe a little bit." He smirked.
"Shut up." I shoved him away weakly with a grin.
"I've never had a friend like you before Calvin. You're a good one to have. Very special." He looked at me. "Hot for guys or not, I'll always think of you like that. My best friend." He smiled softly.
I looked up at him with a sheepish grin.
Best friend..
"Into guys and girls or.. Both.. I'll always call you my best friend too." I nodded.
"Now where did you hear that?" He cocked a brow with a smirk.
"Taylor said you were bisexual! I'm just saying, it's okay with me." I shrugged.
"Wow." Lance smiled before shaking his head. "Well, maybe.." He muttered.
"Aww, you're the hottest boy at Mirwell university and you're into guys and girls." I laughed.
"Hey, I said maybe-" He chuckled.
"That's not a nooo." I laughed.
"So you think I'm the hottest guy here then huh?" He shifted the aim to me with a smirk.
"Well yeah, you're like.. An 8."
He gasped. "You think I'm only an 8?"
"Well.. Maybe a 10.." I mumbled with a soft blush.
"Ooo, you're blushing."
"What? Who? No I'm not." I crossed my arms.
"You think I'm hot huh?" He crossed his own arms.
"Well.. I did see your.. Thingie.. I guess it was okay.."
"You saw my dick?" He laughed. "Oh yeah-that's right!.. Liked what you saw?"
"Now you're just rubbing it in." I huffed with another mild tint to my cheeks.
"I love rubbing things in." He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, tugging me off the rail.
"Course you do." I rolled my eyes with a smile.
"Come on, Sneakers.." He grinned, walking me off down the bridge.
"Stop calling me that." I huffed.
"Never.."
——