Chapter 6
Stephen
Another week has passed and even though I’m busier than ever with school and training, my mind is consumed with Donovan during any spare moment I have.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a crush like this, and it’s dangerous.
In a way, it’s lucky I’m so busy as it gives me less time to consider acting on my thoughts.
Even questioning him about being in a secret relationship was a step too far. Besides the fact that it would be wrong to ask that of him, I don’t have time for a relationship right now, even a secret one.
But have I been sneaking glances when he changes his shirt before bed… yes. Does it drive me crazy when he bites his lip while concentrating on a book he’s reading… fuck yes it does. Have I thought about him every time I’ve found a private moment to jerk off this week… maybe… okay, yes.
And I know he likes me too, and I’m not saying that in a conceited way.
Whenever I take my shirt off he can’t get a word out, I might have been changing my shirt a lot this week.
I’ve seen him watching me at other times too.
But what Donovan needs right now more than anything else is a friend.
He’s only just come out, and he had that horrible experience with Kyle, which still fills me with rage when I think about it.
Yes, he needs a friend, and that’s what I need to be for him, no more flirting, no more excessive shirt removing, no sneaking glances… friends. In fact, I need to help him make more friends, and I’ve got just the way to do it.
I swivel in my chair to face him. As usual, he’s choosing to read while lying on his bed instead of at his desk, it’s really not helpful to have him constantly tempting me.
“Do you want to go to a club tonight?” I ask.
“What?” he asks, looking up from his book.
“My friends, non-football friends, the ones I mentioned, Jamie and Max, they go to a club on Sunday nights. I’m usually too busy to go, but I could use a distraction tonight.”
“Oh, yeah, that sounds fun.”
“Okay, I think they usually head there for nine, so if we leave here at eight-thirty?”
“Sounds great,” he says, turning back to his book and biting his lip again.
Friends… he needs me to be a friend.
It’s a nice night so we decide to walk to Prism.
The club doesn’t have a strict dress code, but you need to be smart, so we’re both in jeans and button-up shirts, mine black and Donovan’s white.
Fuck he looks good, the shirt emphasizing his light brown skin and clinging to him in all the right places.
I’ve always had a thing for guys who are smaller than me, which isn’t hard when you’re my height and size, but fuck, Donovan is perfect.
“How long have you known Max and Jamie?” he asks.
I shake myself out of my wandering thoughts to answer him. “Since high school, but we only really grew close once we got to Winbrook. You’ll like them, they’re great, and they make a cute couple.”
“Oh, they’re together, I assumed they were friends?”
“They were, for a long time, it was a whole ‘friends-to-lovers’ thing,” I chuckle. “They kept dating and hooking up with other people, but in the end they realized the person they liked spending time with the most was each other.”
“I love that,” Donovan says, “I like the idea of getting to know someone before starting a relationship.”
“Yeah, me too,” I say, my voice soft.
I try not to let my brain focus on the fact that we have that potential, we’re slowly getting to know each other, and there’s clearly an attraction here.
“Will anyone else be out tonight?” he asks. “Or will it just be the four of us?”
“Another couple, Lisa and Riley, they’re fun and I think you’ll get along with them. Riley is non-binary and uses ‘they/them’ pronouns, just so you know in advance.”
“Thanks, Beth is always going on at me about pronouns, I know I need to pay more attention. I guess it was never something I thought about before.”
“Yeah, I think it’s something everyone needs to get better at. Riley’s very open though and loves talking about all things gender so won’t be offended if you ask questions.”
“Cool, although, judging by the volume of that music we won’t be talking much!”
I let out a laugh. He’s right, the club is up ahead, and the music is blaring from here. I stop walking when I notice he’s not keeping up with me anymore.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he nods, and his face breaks into a grin as he stares at the club in awe. “I’ve never been to a gay club before, and seeing it all lit up like a rainbow, it’s amazing.”
I chuckle, “It will look even better inside, come on!”
It doesn’t take us long to find the others, and I make introductions but it’s too loud to have much of a conversation.
Lisa signals that they’re heading to the dance floor via the bar, so we tag along.
It’s cocktail night and Jamie orders Pina Coladas for everyone.
Donovan seems a bit nervous as he holds the drink, but he takes a few hesitant sips and a huge smile crosses his face.
I lean close so he can hear me, close enough that I can also feel his hair stroking my cheek.
“Good?” I ask.
“Delicious!” he says, standing on tip toes to reach my ear.
I laugh, and nod towards the dance floor where the others have found a spot. “Wanna dance?”
He nods and lets me guide him through the crowd.
I’m not known here as I’ve not been often, and Donovan is brand new, so we both turn heads.
People are probably wondering if we’re together, or if we’re available; so many guys are checking out Donovan and it makes my chest feel tight.
He could easily meet someone, kiss them, even hook up.
The thought makes me feel physically sick; I want more than anything to pull him to me so everyone knows he’s mine, but I can’t.
We dance as a group, laughing when one of us does something silly, and cheering if we do something particularly impressive.
Max is notorious for pulling out the robot dance moves and not doing a good job of it.
Whereas Jamie is a dancer so makes everything look amazing, he treats the dance floor like his own personal stage.
But together you couldn’t see a happier couple, except maybe Lisa and Riley.
They don’t flaunt it as they’re not big on PDA, but the way they’re always checking in with each other, making sure the other is okay, they’re gorgeous together.
Donovan’s face must be hurting because of how much he’s been smiling and laughing, it’s amazing to see.
From everything he’s said, this is probably the first time he’s ever been in a room where he can look around and feel safe, see other people who are like him enjoying themselves and having fun.
Everyone deserves that and it makes me feel good to know I’ve helped him find this.
As I’m watching him, his smile suddenly vanishes and I’m immediately on high alert. I look in the direction he was facing and see the cause of his distress… Kyle. I gently grip his elbow and bring him closer to me.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
He nods and gives me a smile, but it’s weak, not like the one he’s had all night.
“We don’t have to stay, we can leave if you want,” I say.
He shakes his head and leans in. “No, I don’t want to leave because of him, it just caught me off guard.”
“Okay, stay close to me though, and if you want to go at any time, just say.”
We continue dancing with the others, but the mood has shifted, and I hate that Kyle has made Donovan feel like this. That’s two first experiences he’s tainted now. I’m trying not to let my anger build, but every time I think of them alone in his room my blood boils.
I was annoyed when Kyle hurt Jamie and Max, but something about him hurting Donovan is making me furious.
Whenever I’ve seen Kyle on campus this week, laughing and joking with his friends, it’s taken everything not to stride over and say something.
But it’s not my place, so I’ve stopped myself, but now I’m wishing I had.
Riley signals that they need air, and it sounds like a great idea, so we follow to the outdoor part of the club. There’s no music here, and it’s got a much more relaxed vibe.
“Are you having fun, Donovan?” Riley asks.
“Yeah, this has been great,” he says, “a perfect first time in a gay club!”
Max and Jamie chuckle as Lisa says, “And hopefully the first of many more!”
We all lift our drinks in a toast.
“What’s the special occasion?” Kyle’s voice invades our bubble, and I turn to see him standing alongside us.
“Nothing that concerns you,” I say, not in the mood for any of his bullshit tonight.
“Oh come on, Choi. Don’t be like that, I’m just trying to be friendly,” Kyle says with a smile, though it’s anything but friendly. “It sounded as though you were celebrating Donovan’s first time at something?”
Donovan flinches next to me so I stand a bit taller and broaden my shoulders. “I said it’s nothing that concerns you.”
“Yeah, you’re right, virgins don’t interest me, especially when they’re frigid.”
I don’t even think, my fist connects with Kyle’s face, something cracking on impact. Blood gushes from his nose and onto his shirt as he lets out an angry scream, “You broke my fucking nose!”
Donovan
“Yeah, you’re right, virgins don’t interest me, especially when they’re frigid.”
Kyle’s words feel like a hit to the stomach, but before I can fully process them, his head jerks and blood gushes from his nose. Stephen turns to me, shaking out his hand… Holy shit, he punched him.
“You broke my fucking nose!” Kyle screams.
I instantly go into flight mode and as the bouncers make their way towards us across the courtyard, I grab Stephen’s hand and pull him along with me, running away and leaving Kyle in a bloody mess.
I lead us through the mass of writhing bodies on the dance floor and out of the entrance.
Once in the street, Stephen pulls me to a stop.