"Do you think my first kiss was with a boy?"

☆

The kitchen fills with silence at the expected, yet unexpected revelation, as it hits Bay's ears and consumes his mind. 

"You heard me didn't you?" Mark straightens up, with more conviction behind his words as he repeats them. "I said I like you…"

"I heard." Bay interrupts. He looks up at Mark. "Why are you saying this?" 

Mark chuckles with amusement. "Because I like you." 

"But why?" Bay repeats, his voice getting louder in the process. "Is this some kind of trick, like a trick the popular kids play on the nobodies, just for fun?" Bay can feel his body begin to boil with rage. He stands up, pulling his bag from the floor. "I knew you didn't really need my help."

"Wait. You've got it wrong. I mean, I did need your help… at first. Please let me explain." Mark tries to pull Bay back, but this time, Bay's resistance is stronger.

He turns around and pushes Mark in the chest, just enough for the other boy to take a step back. "Just stop, ok? I'm going." He heads for the door and without another look back, he is gone. 

Mark is left standing alone, his mind felt detached from reality. What had he confessed? Should he have said it? What would Bay do now? The last question causes him to act as he finds his feet follow Bay's footsteps. He heads outside to see the younger boy standing by the closed metal gate. "Bay…wait…"

"Just let me out….please." he replies, not daring to turn to face Mark, with whom he knew was probably standing right behind him. 

"Not until you listen to me." 

"Looks like I don't have a choice." Bay responds as he wonders how to get the gate open,  as he scans it for a handle, but finally admits defeat. 

"I meant what I said. I like you and I don't care whether you believe me or not. I did need your help with maths at first, but I liked your company. You're not like my other friends…" Mark shakes his head. "Please… You don't have to like me back. Just promise me you won't tell anyone." 

Bay turns his head to the side, just catching the outline of Mark in his peripheral vision.  "I won't tell if you won't," He utters. "Deal?" 

He can hear Mark exhale a sigh. "Deal."

"Ok, so let me out." Bay looks ahead to the closed gate, as Mark momentarily stands a distance to his side, lifting up a panel and pressing a button. The gate is released and Bay is quick to exit. He hurries down the street, not looking back.

Mark watches the other boy hurry away, feeling a new sensation within him, which he guessed was rejection. Something he often gave out, but rarely received. As the gate closes, he turns around towards the large but empty house. It seemed like the one chance of being his true self was in vain. Maybe he was better being behind the mask of his fake self. Mark Lester. The popular guy. Good looks, smart enough in class, wealthy family, the dream boyfriend, the friend everyone wants to have by their side. Not the Mark Lester who felt at his happiest by the side of a smart boy, talking about problem solving, and who he now realised he had a crush on.

***

"So, what do you usually get up to on a Saturday?" Lena looks across to Archie, her eyes fixed on his as she takes her lips to her straw. It made Archie feel strange and momentarily lose sight of the question, with him not being able to regain focus until she had retracted her lips. 

"I… I uh, just hang out with Bay. We usually go to mine because he has a busy house and then at least we can be alone."

Lena smiles to herself as she tilts her head. "Alone huh?" 

"Yeah, he has siblings who get in the way." Archie pulls his coke toward him, sucking on his own straw as he glances around the cafè, Bay would like it here. 

"Okaay." She laughs. 

"What's so funny?' 

"I've said it before. You guys have a friendship which is different from other friendships, but it's cool. I'm cool with it. I mean, if you've ever explored other avenues…"

"What do you mean?" Archie pulls his head back in hearing what she was saying to him." I like girls. I like you. You're my girlfriend." 

"Hey don't take it the wrong way." Lena holds up her palms in defence. "It's no big deal. Do you think my first kiss was with a boy? Jojo was my first kiss and that's cool and if you and Bay…" 

"We didn't, we don't." Archie interrupts. "We are just close friends. He's like my brother… Are we ordering food or not?" He pulls the cafè's menu out of its holder. 

She looks at him with raised eyebrows as she does the same. "Just trying to get to know you more. I thought you had an open mind." She mumbles under her breath. But it's loud enough for Archie to hear, as soon his hand rests upon hers. It causes her to look up. 

"I like you Lena." He leans across and kisses her on the cheek. "I've only ever kissed you. Got it?" He sits back once again and grins.

She catches the smile and matches it. "You are so cute. Ok. Let's order…'' She looks back down at the menu, whereas Archie's eyes remain on her for a moment longer. She was there right in front of him. All he had ever wanted, but his head was playing a slightly different reel. One of Bay, The image of him in front of his eyes right now. He wondered what Bay would choose. Probably something with cheese. But his friend had gone to someone else's house that morning. It was only some study practice, just with the popular boy. It sounded boring and wouldn't be as much fun as what he and Bay would get up to. 

And why did that even matter right now when he was sat opposite his girlfriend? Bay was just a friend after all, right?