I manage to avoid Running into Owen again for the next few days. It's not hard really, I just have to become a total hermit and never leave my room. My parents don't seem to fazed by my sudden disappearing act, they just continue in with their packed schedules as per usual. The only people I see outside of my family  during the week are Ethan and Ady. My two best friends come over daily and we make camp in my bedroom playing video games, drinking and gorging ourselves on the unhealthiest of foods.

I realize that I had indeed technically accepted the job from Owen, but I have been avoiding meeting his calls in order to put off finally really agreeing to it. Now that I know that the man has some sort of intentions towards me I am deeply debating whether working for him is a good idea. I mean I barely have the ability to hold myself back in public spaces. Imagine being alone with him.....I mean oh my god. Even if he says he wouldn't do anything to me how can I trust him? How can I trust myself?

"Dude focus! your totally screwing us over!" Ethan growls as he violently slams his thumb into the controller. The plastic hums and vibrates as he shoots his gun at the opposing team on the screen with fervor. I shake my thoughts away and attempt to salvage our game but alas it's too far gone. The loosing screen pops up and Ady slams her fists down on my bed.

"Damn it Danny!" She growls shooting daggers at me. I press my hands together in an apology, hoping she doesn't smack me. An angry Ady is never a good thing. The girl has a punch as strong as a thousand men. The gesture seems to work as she just groans and rolls onto her back. Ethan stands up from his perch on my floor, abandoning his controller, and moves to sit next to Ady on the bed. I think it's pretty clear that they are done playing games with me.

"What's going on with you anyway? Your head is totally gone." Of course, Ethan is a lot more observant than we give him credit for. I watch as he pokes Ady in the side with his foot. She turns onto her stomach beating his foot away before turning her attention to me.

"Is it because you haven't been able to find a job yet?" She knows how much I had been searching. If only she knew the real problem. The extremely dark, handsome, and muscular problem. I shake my head bringing my legs up into my chair and swirling it around several times while trying to decide if I really want to talk to them about this. They are my friends right? They won't judge me. Will they?

" Ethan......Hypothetically" I start, carefully testing the waters with my words. I stop my circular motion to rest my uncertain gaze on the bed In front of them. Both of them raise their brows at my strange introduction but say nothing. "What would you do if an older man came up to you and said he was attracted to you?"

Ethan gasps dramatically bringing his hands up to his gaping mouth in shock. "Oh my God, some guy is trying to get in your pants!!" Ady pushes up into a sitting position. Suddenly she is a million times more interested in the conversation than she was a few seconds ago. I guess girls do like to hear gossip. Especially if it's as juicy and rare as what I'm proposing. I mean the gay population in this little town isn't exactly booming.

Her interest and Ethan's suggestive comment has my cheeks burning. I grab a pillow from my desk and chuck it at Ethan. He isn't fazed by the violence and simply catches the pillow and places it in the space in between his knees. If only it was made of metal, maybe then he wouldn't be so nonchalant about it. "I said hypothetically you asshole!"

"Yes Danny, but don't you know that whenever anyone says hypothetically in a situation like this it's never hypothetical?" Ethan shakes his head as if I have severely disappointed him. "Come on man you're better than that."

"Fuck you man!" I scowl at him and he grins rubbing his palms together.

"Well actually I'm more of a top kind of guy." Okay. I did set myself up for that one. Ady, having enough of his banter, slams her hand into the back of his head. Ethan yells in pain and clutches at his empty skull, but it's drowned out by Ady's demanding voice.

"Shut up and answer his question!"

"Jeez fine. You didn't have to hit me so hard" he whines giving her a glare. Ady rolls her eyes and gestures towards me signaling for him to respond. His dirty look digs into her person for a moment longer before he turns his attention back to me. Lord, please don't let him say anything stupid. "Well honestly I'm as straight as a pole so I would probably have to reject the guy. Although who can blame him for wanting someone as sexy as myself?" He grins and flexes his biceps at me. We should have known he would make a joke of it.

"Can you not take anything seriously?" Ady shakes her head at him before turning towards me. "Danny I think it hypothetically depends on whether or not you're attracted to the guy. I mean if you're even considering it doesn't that already kind of give you an answer?"

No. That's not the answer I wanted. I mean honestly I'm not sure what the answer I wanted was. If I am sexually attracted to him doesn't that mean I'm gay? But I cant be gay. What do I do? I obviously cant hang around him. It's too much of a temptation. That means that I can't accept that job. I really wanted that job. The frustration starts to build up in my chest, and it feels as if it will burst out of me like an alien baby any second now. Freaking Owen. He just had to say he's interested in me. If he would have just kept his damn mouth shut none of this would be happening. I could have ignorantly hung around the guy and we could have fostered a somewhat tense and awkward relationship where we only saw each other on the rare occasion. In an ideal world where Owen Price Is not gay There's no reason to worry about him coming on to me, and There's also no reason that I should worry about keeping my own actions in check. But alas, now that's all up in the air. He likes me and he obviously knows that I'm attracted to him in some way. That just opens all kinds of unwanted doors.

I must be looking extremely worried as I'm blundering through my tangled web of thoughts because Ady stands up from my bed and comes to my side. She kneels down in front of my chair and takes my hand in hers successfully grabbing my undivided attention. "Listen Danny. Ethan and I still love and accept you even if you're gay. You don't have to worry about judgement from either of us." The words, rather than making me feel better, somehow put me more on edge.

"It was a hypothetical." I remind her softly. I don't brush her hands away because somehow they are oddly comforting despite my situation. It's comforting knowing that these two would never ostracize me.

Ethan rolls his eyes from behind Ady's head. " Alright dude it's a hypothetical, whatever you say." He picks at a thread on my blanket for a second before looking up again with a mischievous grin. I already know he's going to say something stupid. "So how hypothetically studdly is the guy?" Both Ady and I groan. No matter how hard we try we can't escape his torture. "What?"he whines in defense, his hands innocently waving in the air as his shoulder shrugs. "Hey, I'm just curious what kind of guys you're into.....hypothetically speaking"

I don't offer a response. Instead I simply stare at him dryly. He sighs in defeat. "Fine don't say. Even if you don't tell me I'll just figure it out via my awesome deductive reasoning skills. Just you wait." The likeliness that Ethan could possibly figure out who my suitor is runs through my mind but leaves just as quickly as it comes. He's not that smart.

"Well regardless did you find a job?" Ady asks smoothly changing the subject.

I can't exactly say yes since I'm not sure if I should be around Owen after his confession. I mean isn't accepting the job in a way accepting his feelings? There's no way I can do that no matter how much I love Waylon's shop.

"No not really."

.....

Vibrations in my pants zap me awake with a quick start. Weighed down with sleep I role onto my back searching my pocket for my phone. "Hello?" I mumble groggily rubbing my face in an attempt to pull myself from my heavy stupor. Not having a job has really given me free reign to do whatever my heart desires during the day. Too bad everything has managed to become extremely boring. Sleeping is the only activity with any appeal.

"Danny are you sleeping?" My moms annoyed voice asks across the line. My muddled mind  instantly clears up. I shoot up to a sitting position pushing myself across my mattress. The curtains block out most of the sun settling the room in dim lighting making it difficult to know exactly what time it is.

"No of course not" I attempt to sound as truthful and awake as possible."I was just cleaning my room. It's super dusty." Great job Danny. Mom will totally believe that one. Dust is not the issue in this bedroom right now. My eyes scan the floor which is covered in clothes and wrappers from various junk foods shared between me and my friends over the last week.

"Since when were you one to worry about dust?" She snorts. I am given no time to respond to her question though. "Well anyways I need you to do something." I can hear people talking in the background. Business talk. She must have left a meeting to make the call. Risky move mother. Risky move.

"What?" A Cheetos bag grabs the attention of my foot, which pushes it around on the floor absently.

"I need you to pick up your brother from school. I was supposed to but my meeting is running a bit later than I intended." My heart begins to hammer in my chest and I can feel a slight panic settling into my body. She wants me to go where? To the school? She actually wants me to go there. Where that man is?

"Can't dad do it?" I ask with my hands grasping tightly to hope. Sweat coats the plastic case of my cellphone making it difficult to get a good grip. Come on dad don't fail me now.

"Your father had to go up north for the week. There's a big deal that needs closing." Mom sighs probably more than a little annoyed with me. "Just do it Danny. I don't ask you for much." I fight the urge to let my eyes roll back into my skull. Since when has she not asked me for much? She's asking me to sell my soul to the devil right now! If only she knew. "I have to go back to work. Don't forget." And with that I am left listening to the deathly beeps of an empty line.

Oh my god. Ohhhhh my god. How is this possible? I've been working my ass off to avoid this guy and now with the press of a button all of my efforts are trashed. You would think if being gay is like a sin or whatever God would stop putting me in these precarious positions.  Sitting on my bed I debate whether or not I should order Ethan to pick up Eli. It's a hit or miss idea. I can hear him giving me shit already. No. If Mom asks Eli he'll totally sell me out. Not intentionally of course he's just too little to understand. I'll just have to go. But first I'll make sure I'm as unattractive as possible. Gay guys aren't attracted to gross straight guys right? Well at least Owen wouldn't be. The guy is literally as clean and sleek as stainless steel. Filled with a whole lot of panic I strip off my jeans leaving them pooled on the ground. What would be a gross alternative? Across the room my dirty pajama pants are shoved into the corner. Perfect. Finally, I pull on one of my paint stained T-shirt's and give myself a look in the mirror. I mess my hair up a bit with my hand and stand back to look at my masterpiece. Yeah that looks pretty lack luster doesn't it? My phone reads 3:00 PM notifying me that there is a half hour until Eli gets out. I push on my shoes and grab my keys from my desk heading reluctantly down the stairs.

Unable to bring myself to go to the school I find myself doing anything to avoid going. In the end I decide to drive around town a bit not that there is all that much to see. Still my eyes drink in the local sights as I steer out of the town limits towards the lake. It really is quite the scenic, calming drive despite the air being somewhat frigid. It is especially nice since it has been ages since I've been able to visit the lake. The only thing that would make it better is if the sun was boiling down and the glistening surface wasn't sub zero degress. Getting out of my car I find myself walking on the shore my boot barely pokes at where the water meets the land. My breathe solidifies itself in front of my face in a little puff of hot air. Dipping my legs into that water would be amazing. Besides doing art, swimming at the lake was one of my favorite past times. There was not a day that Ethan and I wouldn't go waste time on the small beach of the lake, sunbathing, and playing soccer or throwing a Frisbee back and forth. That was a time where my life seemed to be in order. Well as in order as it could be as a teenager. Really, the only reason I had agreed to go to law school was because I had no idea what I wanted to do. My parents had never been very supportive of my art, they looked at it as more of a hobby and so i did too. There wasn't much fight on my part when they pushed me into going to their Alma mater. Maybe I should have thought about it more back then. Maybe that would have stopped me from getting into this ridiculous predicament.

The walk back to my car is relaxing. The air isn't as cold as it was last week and the sun shining above the trees gives hope of a warm summer despite the subtle chill. However, it's only when I'm settling back into my car that I realize that maybe I had procrastinated at the lake a little bit too long because after taking a careless peak at my dashboard I see a sharp 3:50 staring back at me. Holy shit. Eli was supposed to get out at 3:35! Of course this would happen to me. Of course it would. My tires screech against the pavement as the car is forced to make a u turn and head back towards the town border as fast as it can. At least the "avoiding Owen" tactic worked right? That's what the goal was the whole time. Still Eli is now an unfortunate casualty. He's probably just sitting outside on the curb crying his little heart out.

At least that's what I thought. But when I pull up to the curb there's no one waiting. The parking lot is still littered with teachers cars. My heart stops beating so quickly with the realization that Eli is probably not laying dead at the side of the road somewhere. The only problem is now I definitely have to go into the classroom. So much for trying to avoid Owen. I turn off my car and wearily head into the building. In order to avoid being seen by the demon secretary from hell I find myself using my superior stealth skills. AKA tiptoeing. My stalker doesn't even notice me, she's to busy filing her talons, as a result I arrive safely at Owens door. Anxiety builds up in my gut as nausea washes over me. I'm certain i'm going to release the contents of my stomach all over his art covered door. You're fine Danny. Don't be so nervous. He's just a teacher...a really fucking attractive teacher. A fucking attractive teacher who is attracted to you. My pep talk really isn't helping me so with fervor I force my thoughts away and a nervous breath. It's fine I'm just going in then out. It will only be a second. I let out a totally zen breath before reaching out and grabbing the cold knob in my hand.

As soon as the doors open I hear the joyful shrill tones of my brothers laughter. "No that's not right!!!" He giggles and my nerves seem to evaporate. At least until a deep smooth chuckle accompanies the chiming laughter of my brother. My face immediately heats up at the sound and my hands instinctively clench.

"What it's not? Why?" Owen asks my brother and I can hear them moving around as well as the distinct sound of paper rustling.

"Because Danny's favorite color is red not orange." My heart jumps at the mention of my name and the desire to peer over the little wall that is blocking my view to see what exactly they are doing is almost unbearable but my nerves hold me back.

"Oh yeah?" Owens voice pauses. God I want to look at him. "You seem to know a lot about your brother Eli." he starts again just when it seems like the silence will go on forever.

"He's my bestest friend!!" Eli cheers.

"Really? So you must know what his favorite food is." What the hell is he doing? Is he grilling my brother for info? I can feel a hint of annoyance at the mans round about covert method of operation. However, simultaneously I find myself deeply flattered. He actually wants to know what my favorite food is?

"Mhmm Danny really loves chicken alfredo.  When mommy makes it he almost eats the whole pot." What the heck no I don't! Way to make it sound like I'm a freaking whale Eli! Embarrassed I cross my arms over my chest as if it will somehow block out the awkward situation in it's entirety. I should have just left Eli here, he seems like he's having a ball anyways.

"I see." The room is filled with silence once more and this time I seriously debate whether or not to reveal myself but Owen speaks up once again. "What about that guy your brother hangs out with. The blonde one?" My heart jumps up into my throat. What is he doing? Why is he asking my brother about Ethan? Mr. Price aren't we getting a little to involved now?

"That's Ethan. He's pretty funny. Him and my brother used to take me to get ice cream every weekend. Then we would go to swim at the lake. When we went there they would always wrestle around in the sand. Ethan always wins though. He is way stronger than Danny." Wow. My brother really isn't doing me any favors right now. Oh yeah Danny's a pig, and he's weak. Total boyfriend material. Not that I want to be Owen's boyfriend.....because I don't. I'm straight.

"Does Ethan go over to your house often these days?" Owen asks. I can't help but feel like he's fishing for some type of information....but what is it? Why is whether or not Ethan hangs out with me a important topic of conversation? I mean when is Ethan ever an important topic of conversation?

"Ethan comes over almost every day. But it's cold now so we can't go to the lake to swim. He mostly just goes into Danny's room to play." Alright that's enough of that. We can't have Eli revealing my whole personal life to this guy. I wrap my fist onto the wood of the door to signal that I'm here,  then I open and shut it to maintain the illusion of just having arrived.

"Sorry I'm late Eli" I say as nonchalantly as I possibly can. When I turn the corner I nearly laugh at the sight of Eli covered in finger paints. He's got a little apron covering his clothes but the material didn't do much to protect his face, hands, arms and hair. He is literally covered in the rainbow.  My laugh dies down when a tall muscled shape turns to look back at me. Owen has a few streaks of red paint on his face, and although the look is laughable on my brother....on Owen it's somehow extremely sexy. A strange heat pools in my gut my cheeks heat up again. God how can I control my body when I'm near this man? I mean look at how ridiculously attractive he is. Not to mention the way his eyes are searing into me. It feels like he can see through my clothes that's how intensely he is looking at me. However, it only takes a second and he looks away from me. It's almost as if he's avoiding eye contact or is disappointed in me. I know I shouldn't but I feel like a guilty child.  I don't even know what I did, I literally just walked in. There has been no time for me to royally fuck up anything.

"Eli why don't you go wash up" he says softly to my brother. Eli nods and skipping excitedly he takes his painting over to the back table to dry. The picture is of Me, him, and who I can only assume is Owen all holding hands and standing in front of the school. I quickly look away from the embarrassing picture, turning my attention back to the older man as he once more addresses my brother. "Eli go to the restroom by Mrs. Martins classroom, the one here is broken." Eli gives Owen a mini salute and then runs out of the classroom.

As soon as Eli is gone Owen begins to clean up the paints putting them all into a tote. He doesn't say a word to me and keeps his back turned the entire time. Maybe he's upset because I'm late? Should I apologize? "Uh..." i rub a hand against my neck trying to work up the courage to speak. "Listen Mr. Price, I'm sorry for being late." He doesn't look at me, instead he grabs the paper plates full of the wet vibrant splotches and walks over to the trash can. "I know you probably have better things to be doing than watching Eli"  There's a long silence where he walks over to a cupboard and silently opens it before abruptly turning his gaze on me.

"You've been avoiding my calls." His voice is as hard as rock as he lays his sinful eyes on me in an accusatory gaze. How can I still find him so fucking hot when he's clearly upset with me? He is literally pissed, and yet my body just wants to touch him...to be touched by him.

I flush and look down at the floor trying to avoid looking into his eyes lest he notice how messed up I am. I should have known he would be pissed about me avoiding his calls. It didn't really occur to me that I would actually have to see him again at some point no matter how hard I tried to avoid it. I mean we live in the same town. "Uh....yeah about that-

"Bring me that box of paints." He cuts me off with his strong order and I don't even realize that I'm obeying him until I'm standing in front of him with the paints clasped tightly In My hands. Jeez teachers have skills. Or maybe it's just him.

He takes the box from my hands and disappears behind the large closet door for a moment. I take this small amount of time to think about how I'm going to explain my obviously purposeful ignoring of his calls. Oh yeah, you know I don't want to be near you because you like men. Or how about, I'm afraid I'm going to jump you if we're in the same room for an extended period of time. I mean fuck just these past five minutes have been taking their toll on me.

Before I have a chance to think of another witty explanation for my rudeness, a strong hand grabs my wrist and jerks me forward and behind the closet door. My breathe is knocked out of me as my body is shoved back against the contents of the closet and I let out a slight gasp of shock scraping at the inside of the closet door for stability. I look up just as Owen places a hand onto a box next to my head encapsulating me in his arms. Our eyes meet and I flush at how close our bodies are, I can literally feel the heat rolling off of him. He smells like some sort of spicy cologne that has my stomach turning over in delight and I can't hide the deep inhale that I take. His eyes analyze my face closely as he watches me suck in his scent. Could I be any more embarrassing? "Why have you been avoiding me?" He asks and his voice has taken on a more gentle tone then it had a few moments ago, but his eyes are flickering back and forth from my eyes to my mouth rapidly as if he doesn't want to miss one tick of my features. Attempting to avoid his intense looks I throw my gaze to the ground but find myself just staring at his pelvis. We are obviously too close right now.

"Is it because of that Ethan kid?" The sound of my best friends name sounding violent on his tongue has me looking up in confusion.

"What does Ethan have to do with any of this?" The annoyance is extremely clear in my voice and I can only hope it translates clearly to the older man.

Owens eyes stroke down from mine to my lips and I attempt to turn away from him but there isn't much room for anything right here. "Eli says you two are really close. Wrestling around, hiding away in your bedroom..."his voice has a suggestive lilt to it that is music to my ears. Seriously if my ears could orgasm they would be doing so right this second. Of course the implication of his comment isn't lost on me.

Trying my best to appear annoyed, and not like I'm shaking like a leaf in anticipation, I roll my eyes. "Listen.  You're getting your information from a six year old. He isn't exactly a scholarly source if you know what I mean." My hands press against some boxes at my sides avoiding contact as much as possible. God knows what would happen if I touched him. Already the desire to press my fingers into his pecks is painful to hold down.

Owen smirks and my heart picks up several beats. God this man is a real problem, he's going to give me a heart attack. As I'm thinking this Owen's hand moves from where it's pressed against the box behind me to stroke my face. "Actually, I find that six year olds can be ten times as honest as adults." He fingers my jaw stroking the edge gently. "So. What's your relationship with Ethan?"

"Ethan is my best friend. He has nothing to do with this. I told you already I'm not gay!" I say with as much reserve as I can muster. I reach up brushing his fingers from my face, even though I feel somewhat regretful for it.

A wave of realization washes over the man's face and his expression melts into a knowing smile. "Ah so that's what it's about." He leans in closer to me his blue eyes alight with mischief. "You're avoiding me because of what I said at the party." His haughty expression is getting on my nerves and the desire to smack his face is strong.

"Listen" I start to say but am cut off by Owen as he seems to move in closer if that's even possible. His head dips down to inhale in the nape of my neck. "I-I'm not g-g-gay" I stutter as his nose presses against my flesh and his warm breathe sends goosebumps rising up on my skin. Instinctively my hand reaches up and clasps the front of Owens sweater tightly. My body tenses up so much that I'm pretty sure I can feel the strain in every single one of my muscles.

"Jesus" Owen moans after taking an especially violent inhale of the hair at the base of my ear. "You smell like Swedish fish." His hand reaches back grabbing a fistful of my hair, pulling my head back sensually to bare my throat. I let out a small groan at the force at which he tugs my hair twisting my fist in his sweater even tighter. It's rough but not too rough, just enough to send electric shocks of pleasure through my body. He chuckles hotly against my throat. Clearly he knows what he's doing to me. He knows he has complete control of this situation. I can feel the moisture from his breath hit my skin and my nerves light on fire. A strained gasp escapes my throat and I finally realize how precarious this situation is, how close I am to just letting him do whatever he wants to me. Fuck it doesn't sound like a bad idea. No. Jesus Danny. Get a grip.

"St-stop. My brothers going to come back any second." I want the words to come out sounding strong, but instead I sound disheveled and confused. Well I am disheveled and confused...

"He won't be back for a while. I sent him to the bathroom on the other side of the school. No doubt he'll get distracted on the way."  Owen says this in between breathy brushes of his lips.  He's barely touching me. It's frustrating and satisfying all at once. I soon find that my eyelids are becoming drowsy from the pleasure and expectation of what this man is going to do to me. Panic hits.

"There are cameras!" I argue pushing against his perfectly honed abs as I remind him where we are. God why is he so sturdy? He's like a fucking wall!

"Why do you think we're behind this door?" He asks and his tongue finally leaves his mouth to taste my skin. The hot wet appendage travels to my jugular and takes a small lick...testing. "It can't see this corner clearly even without the door. We're fine." Clearly he liked what he tasted because his mouth begins to bite and suck at my flesh and I gasp. My brain and hands are unsure if I want to push him away or pull him closer, my hands clench and un-clench against his body taking fistfuls of his sweater. Fuck it feels good. It feels so good that's its bad.

"Stop! This isn't right!" I argue, more with myself than with him as I reach up to push his mouth away from where it's working. His stubble rubs against my flesh and I feel my lower region stirring in response to his sucking.  Owen pulls back just far enough to look into my eyes. His pupils are dilated and his lips are pink and slightly damp from his attacks.

"Fine don't be gay." He says it so easily that I feel my eyebrows crawl up my forehead in shock. "But you don't have to be gay to feel something for me. And fuck I know you feel something." With these words he pushes his knee in between my thighs against my arousal.

"Oh God!" I gasp throwing my head back violently. "Stop! Just Stop!" His knee moves away but he pushes his pelvis forward. I can feel him. Hard as rock in his work pants. Jesus did I make him like that? Fear mixed with arousal shoots through me but as soon as my body registers the panic Owen has already stepped away from me. My body feels slightly cool from the sweat that built up meeting the cold air. My dick is throbbing painfully in my pants. The man barely touched me and I'm already like this? It took five seconds! It took forever for me to get it up with a girl, and with this perverted teacher it takes nothing? Embarrassed, I drop my palms down to cover my bulging manhood.

Owen brushes a hand through his disrupted hair successfully correcting it and looking fucking sinful in the process. Then he reaches down and grabs his crotch adjusting himself unabashedly right in front of me. My dick pulses. Jesus this guy has got to be some sort of demon sent here to tempt me right? Owen doesn't look at me he just turns his gaze to the floor. I wait for him to speak too afraid to move from my spot lest I wake the beast again. Plus there is the issue of the friend in my pants.

"Listen." He says, still not looking at me. He takes a few more steps away from me and rubs his chin thoughtfully. I recall the way his stubble felt against me immediately. The way it scraped against my flesh seductively...the way my dick jumped in response. "I'm sorry.  I kind of lost my cool right there." He apologizes.

"Ya think?" My voice trembles. Owen finally looks up at me when I speak. His eyes meet mine and then travel down to my lips, my throat, and finally to where my hands are tented over my erection. His eyebrows crease, and he looks as if he's fighting himself.

"God you're just so surreal." He rubs his hands over his face like he's trying to force me out of his system. "I have never met anyone as beautiful as you." The way he says this has me somewhat embarrassed. If we're being honest I'm not that attractive. Ethan was always the most popular one between us. He had the athleticism, the body, the humor, and the big ass head to go with all of it. I, on the other hand, was average in every sense of the world. The only reason I was known in high school was because of the fact that I was Ethan's best friend. Hearing someone say that I'm beautiful somehow feels wrong. "I won't jump you like that again." He assures me, most likely taking my silence as fear. He pulls at the bottom of his sweater to give himself some air and the material rises and reveals the perfect muscles underneath for a brief moment before settling back down.

"I'm not beautiful. I'm just an average guy." The words leave my mouth before I can stop them, and I instantly regret it. Lord knows I don't need to give Owen any more reason to open up a discussion with me. He looks back up at me with a raised brow, as if he's daring me to say anything else.

"Well, regardless of what you think you are, I'm attracted to you." He reminds me undauntedly before moving back to the tables where he and Eli were sitting when I first arrived. He picks up a wet rag and begins to wipe down the surface cleaning away the paint. "I just want you to realize that you're attracted to me too." It sure as hell sounds like he knows that I'm attracted to him. Hello asshole that's the problem! I think these words to myself with a semblance of relief as I feel my arousal go down. "Anyways. About the job. I expect to see you there Monday evening."

"I don't know if working together would be a good idea." The hesitance in my voice is clear as day as I finally shut the closet door that was the shield between our risqué behaviors and the old school camera that is mounted on the ceiling. Thank God it's not one of those high grade cameras that gets literally every angle. The sound of it shutting seems to echo in the silence of the room.

Owen is annoyed, and it's clear in the sound of the unimpressed sigh that he lets out as he rubs his forehead. "Danny I already apologized. I'm a grown man I can control myself." The comment seems as if it's trying to be reassuring but honestly it's not. For several obvious reasons.

I snort. "Yeah clearly. If jumping me in your classroom was any indication."

Owen stands up straight and throws his rag onto the table in exasperation. "Jesus Danny. I know I'm an asshole. If you don't want the job just say it and I'll forget I ever offered it to you."  I'm a little taken aback by his outburst to be honest. Maybe I pushed the man too far. Usually he's so carefree and kind. Eli chooses this awkward moment to come back into the classroom.

"I'm all clean Mr. Price!" He giggles flashing his hands at the man. Owen who was avoiding my eyes by glaring at the floor looks up and immediately his eyes soften. Is it weird that I find the way he looks at my brother incredibly attractive? My heart squeezes and it's painful but in an oddly good way. What would it feel like to have him look at me that way?

"Good. Your brother is ready to take you home so grab your coat and backpack." I can tell he's still annoyed with me because he avoids saying my name. Not only that , but when Eli has turned around to go to the coat hangers he completely turns away from me and walks over to his desk. He begins to shuffle through documents, picking up a red marker and sitting gracefully in his chair.  He draws some quick lines on the paper. The muscles in his shoulders appear tense and his eyebrows seem to have drawn into a perpetual furrow. I stare at him the whole time it takes for Eli to put on his coat and backpack. I wonder if he sees me staring. I know I shouldn't feel guilty but I do. I mean as alien as Owen seems to be sometimes he probably has the ability to be hurt right? He's such a nice guy minus the whole "I'm attracted to you" thing. Not that it isn't nice.....it's just incredibly inappropriate right? I mean my parents would kill me if they found out about my weird relationship with my brothers teacher.

Still....it's not like I was disgusted by his touch. Let's just say the guy knows how to seduce someone. If I was going to be touched by any guy it would totally be him. Jesus I'm so confused. Am I gay? Am I straight? One thing is for sure. I am super confused. The weight of my sexuality drops down onto my shoulders like a million pounds. Really the fact that I have the desire to walk over to his desk and wrap my arms around his shoulders means something right? I want to soothe his anger. I want to kiss away his annoyance and see him smile.

"Let's go Danny!" Eli says tugging on my hand. I nod and reluctantly follow him to the door of the classroom keeping my eyes trained on the man behind me. "Bye Mr. Price!" Eli shouts over his shoulder yanking me towards the door after him.

"Bye Eli!" Owen yells back. God. If I'm going to do something it's gotta be now. Eli pushes open the door and I go through a mental panic as I debate my next move. If I'm going to figure anything out about myself it should start at the art store with this man shouldn't it? I mean.....self discovery is important right? I'm already out the door but when I've made the decision I burst back into the classroom. Owen looks up at my abrupt entrance. His eyes lock onto mine like lasers and he bites his lip with a confused tilt to his brow. How can he look so sexy even when he's confused?

"Uh.." I hesitate rubbing my shoe against some nonexistent spot on the carpet. Owens brow raises and he slowly sets down the papers that were in his hands giving me his undivided attention. The embarrassment that I'm feeling is palpable as my mind works to push out the words. "Uh....I'll see you Monday" I quickly let out then book it out of the room before he can notice how red I've probably gotten. I think I hear a soft chuckle behind me as the door shuts.