Chapter 7
Donovan
When I woke up this morning, Stephen had already left for his morning training session.
I don’t know how he’s feeling about last night, but I’m still reeling from our kiss.
I’d been so caught up in the moment, I didn’t even think about Kyle to compare the two, not that there’s any comparison.
Stephen’s kiss was like something out of a romantic movie; it was perfect.
As for what’s going to happen next, I have no clue.
Was our kiss a one-time thing? I hope not, all I want to do is kiss him again, and keep kissing him.
He’d said a relationship was off the table, which I understand considering his circumstances, and I respect his decision not to come out.
He seemed worried about trapping me in another secret, but keeping secrets isn’t new for me, and if it means getting to know Stephen better, and having him as my boyfriend, fuck, I’d keep that secret till my grave. He’d be worth it.
I head to my first class of the day and I’m excited because it’s with Mr. Porter; he’s the main reason I came to Winbrook.
His special guest class this semester is about ‘Journalism in the Field’ and seeing as though it’s what I want to do with my life, it’s the perfect class for me.
I take my usual seat, ready to take notes, eager to absorb all the information I can from him.
After an hour and a half of discussing and debating risk assessments in dangerous locations, I’m completely wiped but also wired; this course has got me thinking about my future in a whole new light. The travel and the intensity of being a working journalist, it’s a lot.
“Donovan Gálvez, would you mind staying back after class for a quick word please?” Mr. Porter says, as the rest of the class pack up their belongings.
My heart starts beating faster, I’ve never been asked to stay behind before. Maybe I’m failing, he’s going to tell me a mistake has been made, that I can’t be here and need to leave the class, or worse, leave Winbrook altogether. Or maybe he’s disappointed in me because I’m not doing enough…
My hands shake as I finish packing my bag and head to his desk where he’s sorting through some papers. He waits for the last of the students to leave before he finally looks up.
“How are you doing, Donovan?” he asks, his face giving me nothing.
“Okay, I think… am I okay?”
He must hear the nerves in my voice because he quickly smiles. “This isn’t anything negative about you, you’re doing great in class.”
“Oh, phew,” I chuckle.
“In our staff meeting this morning, it was brought to our attention that there was an off-campus altercation, involving you, Stephen Choi, and Kyle Griffin. I just wanted to check in with you.”
“Someone reported it?” I ask. “Who?”
“It was Kyle’s father; he’s on the Parents’ Council so very involved with the campus.
And it wasn’t necessarily reported, just raised, and before you ask, I don’t know if further action is being taken or not.
I mentioned you were in my class and offered to be the one to speak to you about it.
Other members of staff are talking to Stephen and Kyle today. ”
“Oh, I see.”
He perches on the edge of his desk and folds his arms. “Do you want to talk about what happened?”
It’s been drummed into me since I was a kid that you don’t snitch; if you’ve got a problem, you sort it out yourself.
But how can I fix this? Kyle’s clearly got his father backing him, and it’s not like I can go to my family and explain what happened, so I’ve got no one in my corner.
The thought of Stephen getting in trouble because of this, because of me… I can’t let that happen.
“It wasn’t Stephen’s fault, he was defending me, he’s my roommate.”
“I see,” he nods, “and can I ask what he was defending you from?”
Fuck.
“Well, a couple of weeks ago, there was a… a thing between Kyle and I.” I glance up from looking at my feet to check he’s listening and not judging.
His face is calm and collected so I carry on.
“Nothing really happened with Kyle, we kissed, and then I stopped it because I became… um… uncomfortable, and I left.”
“Uncomfortable? Donovan, did anything happen without your consent?” he asks, his face suddenly serious.
“No, no, it wasn’t like that,” I assure him. “It was more my lack of experience that was an issue.”
“Okay, so what happened last night, with the altercation?”
“Well as you said, we were off campus, Stephen and I, there was a group of us, we were with his friends. Kyle appeared, and said something horrible about me, and Stephen reacted.”
“And this thing Kyle said, would it be classed as hate speech? Because you know he would be expelled for that, regardless of whether his father’s on the Parents’ Council.”
“No, it wasn’t racist or homophobic. He just… he basically called me a… a frigid virgin.” Embarrassment claws at my insides and I want to throw up, but the last thing I want is for Kyle to get expelled for hate speech, even if he is the world’s biggest asshole.
“I’m sorry you had to experience that,” he says.
“Unfortunately you’re right, I can’t report what he said to you, but that doesn’t make it any less hurtful and wrong on his part.
But I will vouch for both you and Stephen if this does get escalated and make sure decision makers know Kyle wasn’t an innocent party.
” He leans in slightly and lowers his voice, “I probably shouldn’t say this, but between you and me, if someone hurt one of my friends like that, I’d have punched them too. ”
I chuckle; glad he understands. “Thanks. I don’t want Stephen to get into trouble for this, he’s signed with the Warriors, and I’d hate for his career to be jeopardized because of me.”
“Well it wouldn’t be because of you; he was the one who reacted. Besides, he wouldn’t be the first pro-football player to throw a fist at someone who deserved it.”
“Fair point,” I say.
“Alright,” he stands and collects his bag. “That’s all I wanted to talk to you about, keep up the good work, and please, stay away from Kyle, he doesn’t sound like someone you want to get tangled up with even more.”
“I will,” I say, “thanks again.”
Stephen
Monday always feels like a long day; first day back after the weekend off, early morning training, a full day of classes, followed by evening practice.
And the entire time all I’ve been able to think about is my kiss with Donovan.
I’ve still got that voice in my head telling me I shouldn’t have done it, that it’s not fair on him, but fuck am I glad I did.
It took everything not to press him back onto my bed, cage him in and kiss him all night long.
But with the drama that had gone on earlier, I needed to keep a level head about something, and follow my brain instead of my…
well, cock. Which was very much on Team ‘Keep him on your bed and kiss him until he forgets who he is’.
Fuck, he tasted so sweet, like the Pina Coladas he’d been drinking but also something inherently him.
I can’t wait to kiss him again. I know I need to give him time to think things over; if we start something up I’ll be asking a lot of him, to keep us a secret, on top of the one he’s already hiding and trying to break free of.
Is him saying no the right thing to do… probably.
But am I hoping beyond hope that he says yes… absolutely.
I should be back at the dorm already, but Coach Jenkins asked me to stay behind to talk, this had better be something quick and easy to deal with. He barrels into his office, filling the space with his frame, before crashing into the chair behind his desk.
After letting out a sigh, he looks at me. “Do you want to play for the Warriors, Choi?”
“Of course,” I say, wondering why he’d ask me such a question.
“Then why the fuck are you going around punching people?”
“Oh…” I look at my hands, not able to meet his angry glare.
“Oh. Really? That’s all you’ve got to say for yourself?
” He sighs in exasperation. “Look, I know you hate to hear it, but you’ve got such a brilliant opportunity in front of you.
And like it or not, you’re a role model now, to young kids and high school players everywhere, who rarely see themselves represented in this sport. ”
“I know,” I murmur.
“Role models don’t punch people!”
“Coach—”
“I know, I know, the guy deserved it, I heard the whole story. And no, nothing is being officially reported so you’re off the hook, this time.”
I let out my breath. “I know it was stupid; it happened so fast I didn’t even think.”
“And I can understand that, someone says something awful about your friend, it’s natural to want to defend them.
But you have to remember that your every move might be watched and scrutinized, even more so once the season starts and people see you with the team.
So you need to start thinking before you act. ”
“I will, Coach, I promise. I don’t want to mess this up.”
“Good, see that you don’t. I’m proud of you, I hope you know that.”
“Yes, Sir.”
The truth is, I wouldn’t be where I am today without him, and I owe him so much.
“Alright, get out of here. See you at training tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow, Coach.”
His warning runs through my head as I make my way back to the dorm. He’s right, I need to start thinking, smartly, which probably means I shouldn’t be thinking about kissing Donovan as soon as I get back to the dorm… but I’m absolutely thinking about it.
Donovan
I’m midway through changing when Stephen walks in; I’m basically in sweats and nothing else. His eyes darken as he looks at me across the room, before locking the door behind him.
“Hey,” I say.
“Hey.”
“Is everything okay with the whole Kyle situation?” I ask.
“Mr. Porter asked me to stay behind after class and wanted to know about it, I know I shouldn’t have said anything, don’t snitch and all that, but he said someone was going to talk to you and I panicked because I didn’t want you to get in trouble…
so I told him you were defending me and I even told him what Kyle said, which was mortifying…
but I think he understood. He said he’d fight your corner if it got escalated—”
“Donovan—”
“Shit, you got in trouble didn’t you… oh my god, are you expelled, or off the team? Did the Warriors call? Stephen, I’m so fucking sorry, this is all my fault—”
“Stop talking.”
“What? Do you hate me…”
He chuckles, stalking towards me. “No, Donovan, I don’t hate you. I need you to stop talking because I’m going to kiss you now.”
“Oh… you want to kiss me again? I wasn’t sure when I woke up this morning, I didn’t know if it was a one-time thing or—”
He reaches out and collars my throat, no pressure, but fuck me is it hot. He pulls me the rest of the way towards him and rests his forehead against mine.
“This okay?” he asks.
I nod and he grins before kissing me, and he doesn’t stop.
Not when he lets go of my throat and holds my face in his hands, not when he leads me to his bed and lays me down, caging me in and pressing his body into mine.
It’s the first time I’ve felt another guy’s hard dick against me and holy fucking shit, even through our clothes it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever felt.
He eventually breaks our kiss, pushing up so he’s resting on his hands above me.
“I’m sorry,” he says, “I’d planned to talk to you first, but you looked so hot in just your sweats, and you’re so fucking cute when you ramble, I couldn’t help myself.”
“You don’t have to be sorry, I know we need to keep this a secret, and we will. I’d never want to do anything to hurt your career. Honestly, I’m just happy you kissed me again.”
“Good,” he smirks, “you’d better get used to it, because if it’s alright with you, I’m gonna be kissing you every chance I get.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Yes, that’s very okay with me.”
He buries his face against my neck and inhales deeply.
“You smell incredible,” he says, his voice deeper.
“So do you,” I whisper, as he lowers his body and kisses me again.