It was the day of my birthday, and as I had decided, I wouldn't even set foot in school. I stayed home, went to the pool to get some swim time in, and managed to squeeze in a workout. I was getting everything ready for the small get-together.
Michael had confirmed that he would be staying the night and would get a ride to school with me tomorrow, so I had to make sure I had extra stuff ready. It was only going to be a few of us at my house—nothing big. The grill was ready, and the food was prepped: just the basics—burgers and hotdogs for a grill out.
Kadin and a few of the guys who could make it, including Scott and Stiles, were coming. Scott and Stiles had both been a bit standoffish with me, but I think that we were still friends at the end of the day.
Once they started to arrive, I turned on the grill, and we just hung out and chatted about what was going on in everyone's life. The guys knew that I lived by myself and asked if I could host the after-party for any time we did well during our meets.
"Hey, Mars," Kadin said, flipping a burger. "Since you've got this great setup, do you think you could host our after-parties whenever we do well at our meets?"
I paused, considering it. "I could, but there have to be some ground rules."
"Of course," Kadin nodded. "What's on your mind?"
"First, I'm not hosting any grand parties. If you guys want alcohol, you need to bring your own and have designated drivers. I'm not going to be responsible for having drunk drivers on the road."
"Fair enough," Kadin chimed in. "Safety first."
"Second," I continued, "clean up after yourselves. I don't want to deal with a huge mess the next day. Everyone pitches in to make sure the place is spotless before they leave."
"Got it," Kadin said, nodding. "Anything else?"
"Yeah, one more thing," I added. "No uninvited guests. I don't want random people showing up and causing trouble. If you want to bring someone, ask me first."
Kadin grinned. "You got yourself a deal, Mars. Thanks for being cool about this."
"Sure thing. As long as everyone respects the rules, we'll be good."
Sometime later, I heard my phone ringing, and I knew it would be Noah calling to wish me a happy birthday. I went inside to answer the call, away from the music and chatting.
"Hey, Noah! How's it going?" I answered, a smile spreading across my face.
"Happy birthday, Mars" Noah's voice was warm and full of cheer.
"Thanks, man. It's been a good day so far. Wish you could be here."
"Yeah, I know. I'm really sorry I couldn't make it. Our parents didn't want to make the late drive home from your place."
"I get it, Noah. No worries. You being here in spirit is enough."
"So, how's the party going? Who's there?"
"It's pretty chill. Just Kadin & Michael, a few of the guys from the team, Scott, and Stiles. We're grilling burgers and hotdogs, nothing too crazy."
"Sounds like a good time. Just remember to save me a burger next time," he chuckled.
"You got it. We'll have to catch up soon. "
"Definitely. Anyway, I just wanted to call and wish you a happy birthday. Have a great time with the guys."
"Thanks, Noah. Means a lot. Talk to you later."
"Take care, Mark. Bye."
"Bye, Noah."
I said my goodbyes and rejoined the guys outside.
Everything was going great when I heard someone pulling into my driveway. I opened the door and took a step out to get a better look. It was Charlie, and my face went blank.
He exited his car and started to talk. "Hey, Mark, I heard you got a party going! Just thought I would stop by and invite myself."
"Don't call me Mark; it's Markus. Mark is for people I like. And you know damn well it's just a small get-together for my birthday."
"Ah, come on, buddy. You're gonna exclude one of your teammates?"
"Yes."
"Just let me in, man. Hang out with the guys."
He went to push past me, but it was easily stopped by my hand on his chest.
"Look, man, leave. I don't want you here, and you know I will get the sheriff here if you insist on trespassing."
Charlie scowled, clearly frustrated. "Fine, whatever. Enjoy your lame little party." He turned and stomped back to his car, revving the engine loudly before peeling out of the driveway.
I watched him go, making sure he was really leaving, then re-entered the house. I found Kadin by the grill, flipping burgers.
"Hey, Kadin," I said, shaking my head in disbelief. "You'll never guess who just tried to crash the party."
"Who?" Kadin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Charlie," I replied. "He just showed up uninvited, acting like he had a right to be here. I had to tell him to leave."
Kadin laughed. "Typical Charlie. Always pushing boundaries. Glad you handled it."
"Yeah, me too," I said. "Last thing we need is him ruining the night."
The rest of the party went smoothly. We ate, laughed, and shared stories. As the evening wore on, the guys began to leave one by one, thanking me for hosting.
After everyone had left, I started getting everything ready for Michael to spend the night. I set up the pullout couch in the living room and made sure he had fresh sheets and blankets.
"Alright, Michael," I said, patting the bed coach.
"You're all set. Need anything else?"
Michael hesitated, looking down at his feet. "Actually, Mars, there's something I need to tell you."
"Sure, what's up?" I asked, sitting down next to him.
He fidgeted with the edge of the blanket, clearly nervous. "I... I've been wanting to talk to you about something for a while, but I didn't know how to say it."
"Hey, it's okay," I said gently. "You can tell me anything. We're friends, remember?"
Michael took a deep breath. "I've been getting picked on. Not just at school, but by some of the guys in my class found out that... they're... they're threatening to out me. I'm gay, Mars, and they're saying they'll tell everyone."
I felt a surge of anger but kept my voice calm. "Michael, if they out you, I'll come out as bi. Sure, the team has an idea that I'm not straight, but I'll make it public. We'll stand together. I'll make sure that they get more shit then they expect "
Michael's eyes welled up with tears. "You'd do that for me?"
"Of course," I said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You're not alone in this. We'll face it together."
Tears started streaming down Michael's face.
"Thank you, Mars. It means a lot to me."
"You're welcome, Michael," I said softly. "Now, get some rest. We've got school tomorrow."
He nodded, wiping his eyes. "Goodnight, Mars."
"Goodnight, Michael," I replied, giving him a reassuring smile before heading to my own room.
I watched him settle in before heading to my own room. As I lay in bed, I couldn't help but think about how tough it must have been for Michael to keep that to himself for so long. I was glad he trusted me enough to share it.