Liam
As soon as he batted those pools of honey at me, I was done for. How could I resist the captain of the football team when he was in begging mode? Wait, so Asher was struggling with his schoolwork? I’ve seen him in class, he never used to get poor grades.
Wonder what changed this year? Oh, well. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of time to find out while I tutor him. I rounded the corner to my house and pulled into the driveway, thinking about Asher and why he would possibly come to me when he had a girlfriend who was just as smart as I was. Hmm.
Stop it, Liam! He’s straight!
On top of keeping my GPA to an acceptable level, I now had to worry about helping Asher keep his grades up. Would I be able to do it, though? I’ve never had to tutor someone before and now I would be alone with a guy who makes me so nervous I could barely think… A guy who stands by idly while his friends are abusing their peers.
Did Asher honestly think that by not taking part in the bullying made him innocent? He’s just as guilty as them because if he really wanted to, he could stop the abuse. He’s the fucking star quarterback. They would listen to him no matter what. Would things be different now, because I was helping Asher?
I need to stop overthinking. Getting out of my car, I run up to my porch when I suddenly feel something hard and wet hit my face.
“Faggot!” Laughter, then more wetness hits my face as a car speeds away. I remove my glasses with blurred vision and a long sigh escapes my chest. The smell of raw egg had me gagging, so I ran towards my door before anyone could see my shame.
Guess that answers my previous question then.
Today was… worse than others. It’s funny because Dale, Brock, and Matthew came to me last Spring Break to experiment, and yet at school, they acted as if being gay was disgusting. I know they were probably not gay and leaned more towards the bi side of things, but still. The fact that I was nothing more than that cut deep.
I cannot wait to move out of this damn town. Just a few more months, Liam. Stick it out and spit in their faces when you leave this town.
It can’t be helped, I guess. What the hell was I expecting, exactly? That everyone would start treating me like a normal person just because the star quarterback asked for my help? Oh, that’s right, no one is even supposed to know I’m helping him. Sighing, I open my front door and make a beeline for my room.
Why did I have to be so damn proud of my sexuality? If I had kept it hidden, they would all leave me alone. But then again, when I kept it hidden, my mental health was in a serious decline so I need to stop being such a drama queen (pun not intended) and suck it up. In just a few more weeks, I will leave this fucking town behind and start a new life. Screw these backward-thinking folk.
Ew, though. I need to get out of these clothes before my mom gets home and sees my shame. She’s a doctor and always working long hours at the hospital, but sometimes she pops in for an hour’s snooze then heads back to work. This was one of the reasons my father left, or so he says - I looked him up a few months ago and he’s remarried with a kid. Yeah, men can be assholes.
Turning on the shower, I strip off the egg-scented clothes and when I turn around to gently remove my glasses I get the shock of my fucking life in the mirror; a swollen and bruised nose, and blue underneath both my eyes. Gah, how am I going to explain this to my mother?! She’s going to freak! Wait, wait - volleyball. We had volleyball for PE and I got socked in the nose. She’ll believe that. Hm.
I get into the shower, intending on scrubbing this god-awful day away when my mind drifts to Asher again. Ugh, why did he have to be so damn sexy, though? Was there some sort of manual God followed when he made quarterbacks?
Damn it, I would have to seriously get my hormones in check when he’s over here from tomorrow. Just because half his team mates are in the closet, doesn’t mean he swings this way as well.
Ah, a boy can dream, though.
After I finish up in the shower, I throw on my comfort sweats and a t-shirt before running towards the kitchen for a snack, then get back to my homework.
“LIAM!” I hear my mother shout before I walk into the kitchen and I couldn’t help but smile; she was home already and probably wanted coffee, I could tell. I walk back to her room and knock once before peeking in.
“Yes, mother dearest?” I ask her in my best put on British accent.
“Oh, be a doll and make your mummy some coffee, please?” She asks, returning my jest in her own put-on accent. This was our thing. It was silly, but it was ours. I giggle, “Coming right up, mom-“
“WOAH WOAH WOAH!” she exclaims when she sees me and jumps out of bed, ripping open her bedroom door all the way. She takes my face in her hands and my heart drops. Fuck, I forgot about the bruises.
“Where did this come from? Do I have to make a scene at your school?” She asks, and I feel completely mortified!
“Oh, my god mom, NO!” I cry out and walk backward. “It happened in PE, volleyball.” The white lie slips out easier than I expected. She frowns and takes a step backward, crossing her arms.
“Are you sure?” she asks, and I nod. “Yes, I promise it's nothing. Now, let me go make this coffee, or would you like to make your own since you’re out of bed now?” I tease, and she sprints back to her bed, hiding under the covers.
I shake my head and chuckle before heading back into the kitchen to brew her a pot of coffee. When I came out to her a year ago, she didn’t seem surprised at all. “A mom knows,” was all she replied with after wiping my tears away. She’s the best mom I could ever have hoped to get, and loved me regardless of my sexuality.
The town, though, treats me like a pariah, whereas they love her to bits. I don’t mind because I prefer being on my own, anyway. Who needs friends when you have a career to think about? Speaking of career, I intend to follow in her footsteps and walk the medical field as well.
When I was 5 years old, I saw her literally save a baby’s life and I haven’t felt the same since. She managed to flip the parents’ emotions from dread to happiness in the space of fifteen minutes, and I remember feeling pride right to my core. I wanted to do that too; I wanted to make people happy like that; I wanted to save lives.
My mother, of course, was proud of the fact that I wanted to be like her and guided me in all the right directions.
This is why I never allowed myself to fail. No matter how badly I got bullied and put down; my career and future are more important than some hick town and their bullies. And what do you know? I succeeded! Three major schools want me for full-ride scholarships, and you know what it made me realise?
I won. Despite the bullies, peer pressure, beatings, abandonment, and fear - I won and this town can fuck itself with a spiked dildo.
Gathering a coffee cup, sugar, cream on a tray and some cookies on a plate. I walk to my mother’s room and notice that she’s passed out again.
I chuckle, “Mother! Tea and scones!” I exclaim, and she nearly jumps out of her skin.
“Jesus Christ, Liam! Could you be any louder?!” she cries out and rubs her temples, causing me to giggle even more. I walk around and sit on the bed next to her and hand her the tray.
“Rough evening?” I ask, noting the dark bags underneath her eyes, and she nods.
“The worst so far, but I’ll be fine. We saved some lives, that’s what matters.” She says. We might live in a small town, but she works out in the city on some days as well. The casualty ward, more specifically.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself, okay?” I say and rub her shoulders before getting up and kissing her forehead.
She nods, “Love you, my Lee.”
“Love you too, mom,” I reply and head out to the kitchen for a snack before focusing on my homework. We might not have it all, but at least we had one another.
Liam “You’re tutoring the Asher Prince?” my mother asked me for the fifth time since I told her the newest happenings. What can I say? My mom is my best friend and besides, he might be here when she gets back from work at times. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea about us being alone in the house. “Yes, mom,” I responded, rolling my eyes while I shred chicken for the salad. “Shiiiit, he must be in real trouble to come to you,” she says as she takes a sip of her coffee. I look up at her with a frown. “Wait, what exactly is that supposed to mean?” I ask, feeling slightly offended at her words, but she only chuckles. “The boy is an Alpha male quarterback and probably a homophobe, yet he came to the only openly gay guy for help. I bet he told you to keep it a secret as well.” She says, and I am left dumbfounded at her answer. I look down and continue to shred the chicken, feeling embarrassed by her words. How do mothers do it?
Asher “Hit the showers!” Coach yells, signalling the end of practice. He’s been training us to the bone lately, but we all knew it was to prepare for the first game of the season between the Waterford Capitals and Mountford Rebels in three weeks’ time. To be honest, I’m pumped up about the game; it takes my mind off current things. “Y’all wanna chill at the diner this afternoon? I could fucking use one of Mamma Jane’s Capital’s right about now,” Brock asks as he stands there buck naked while we exit the showers. Mamma Jane’s was a popular mom and pop diner most of us frequented, and a Capital was a fully loaded burger exploding with carbs. It shows you how much football ruled this town; the local diner named a burger meal after our team. The majority of the guys were up for it, but I had my lie planned out already. “Can’t. My fucking dad has a tutor coming over later. The asshole is threatening my college fund if I keep on failing.” I say as I
Asher It’s been about a week since Liam started tutoring me, and yesterday I handed in my essay. I’m confident in what I wrote, but I can’t help thinking of my father’s taunt regarding my tuition. Knowing my old man would make good on his threat, I know this. As I said, I’m my father’s prodigy, not his son. “Mr Prince, please stay behind,” Mrs Williams calls as the lunch bell goes. “Fuck, what did I do now?” I think to myself as I grab my things, and I feel eyes on the back of my head, already knowing that it was Liam staring at me. As soon as the class empties, Mrs Williams gets up and walks towards me, then puts a piece of paper in front of me. I look down, and my heart stopped - it was my essay. B. I got a fucking B! I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry! When I looked up at Mrs Williams, she had a smile on her face. “Is Liam tutoring you?” she suddenly asks, and my heart jumps into my throat. How the fuck did she
*TRIGGER WARNING - POSSIBLE SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HOMOPHOBIC SLUR* Asher “It’s about fucking time the quarterback in you came out again. Good job, Prince.” Coach says and gives me a slap on my back. I feel a regained sense of unity between my teammates and me, something I hadn’t felt in a long time. We hit the showers, with the others talking bullshit while we get ready. Their shitty comments didn’t even phase me today; I felt fucking invincible. I leave the practice feeling refreshed and ready for the first time in weeks. My grades were up, and I got a booty call with my girl just now, Coach was happy with me - life is good! “Ready?” Fallon says as I approach my truck, and I nod. “Fuck, yeah,” I reply, taking her into my arms and kissing her. My dick starts to twitch at the feel of her body pressed up against me, and I squeeze her butt. It’s been a while since I got turned on by anything Fallon did to me
Liam It’s almost 6 pm, and Asher hasn’t been to my place or called to say he wouldn’t be coming today. Should I call him? I sigh and walk over to the kitchen window to look out for him, something I had been doing all afternoon since I got home from school. A smile teases my lips when I think back to what happened this afternoon. A guy from the swim team came up and talked to me; we exchanged numbers, and guess what? He’s bi! He admitted to having a crush on me but didn’t have the courage to talk to me until he saw me sitting by myself this afternoon. The guy had the most swoon-worthy green eyes, full, kissable lips and a body to die for. Ugh, what is it about jocks that just gets me so worked up? We were meeting up for a movie on Friday night, and who knows what could happen afterwards? 6:30 pm and I decided to give up on Asher coming. It’s weird, though. Usually, he would text me if he would be even ten minutes late, but now
Asher I can’t believe I just did that. What the fuck is wrong with me? I knocked into Liam on purpose just so I could piss him off, but that fucking Jason Adams only pushed my buttons more. If he had just shut up, I wouldn’t have gotten even angrier than I am now. Fallon leads me into the guy’s locker room and pushes me against the wall. “What the fuck was that all about, Ash?!” She exclaims, watching me with a disappointing expression. “You know, the reason I fell in love with you was that you weren’t like all these other fucking jocks in this school; you were kind and hated bullying. Now you’ve turned into your fucking friends!” I look at her, not even trying to deny that I had fucked up. “Don’t you think I fucking know that?!” I say without raising my voice, but the tone of my voice made her eyes widen in surprise. “I thought that after yesterday you would be over whatever slump it is that you’re in. I thoug
Asher I knew that I shouldn’t be here. I’m probably the last person Liam wanted to see right now, but I knew the longer I stayed away, the harder it would be to ask for forgiveness. His eyes narrowed when he saw me sitting in his lounge area; it was evident that I had been waiting for him. “Your mom let me in; she had to rush to the hospital about an hour ago and said she would be late.” “What are you doing here?” He asks me, ignoring my entire sentence. I get up and walk towards him, but he takes a cautious step backwards. His reaction hit me harder than I thought it would and proved something: Liam was scared of me. I sighed and wiped a hand over my face in frustration. “I came to apologize for my behaviour today, Liam,” I say and see the surprise on his face, then his eyes narrowed in suspicion again. “What’s the point in apologizing to me when you broke my boyfriend’s nose? Nothing you can say will justify what you did to me; the humiliation, you of all people, made me feel to
Liam After seeing Asher out, I ran to my room and shut the door behind me. I’m still reeling from what just happened; Asher Prince fucking kissed me. Every other jock who has come to me to experience the urges they’ve kept locked inside made it clear that no kissing would be involved. So why… What was that?! I sink to the floor and hang my head in my hands with my fingers tracing my lips; I could still taste him and feel the warmth of his body against mine. But then the image of Jason’s face pops into my head, and guilt immediately wells up in my chest. Oh.. oh no; I cheated on him not even one day after going steady. God, he cannot find out about this. I have to tell Asher not to mention anything, but then again, I doubt he would. The shock and disgust on his face after he pulled away from me was as clear as day. I don’t even think Asher knew what he wanted. “Liam, grubs up!” my mom shouted from the kitchen, so I took a deep breath before going out to meet her. She can’t know wha