Arthur Sakho

We were learning a new group choreography. We wouldn't be performing it this semester, but next semester would be here soon and it was good to have something prepared to perform shortly after the semester starts.

When class was over, I retrieved my water bottle and took several swallows. Danny and Sam stood close to each other as they drank from their own water bottles. I didn't think anything had started between them yet, but it was clear now that they were both interested in each other. Alice's eyes lingered on the three of us. She gave Sam a small smile when Sam met her eyes, but then Alice quickly left without looking at either me or Danny.

"I wish she was a senior already instead of a sophomore," Danny said quietly. "I don't want to have to deal with another two years of this."

"She'll get interested in another guy and move on soon enough," Sam said.

"But then we'll have to suffer through her gushing about them," Danny said unenthusiastically. The three of us retrieved our things and slowly moved out of the room. Danny and Sam continued talking. I pulled out my phone to see if I had any messages from Trevon. I didn't but there was one from Eva. I said goodbye to Danny and Sam. When I got to my car, I opened the message.

Eva: Are you bringing your boyfriend home for Thanksgiving?

I hadn't even spoken to Trevon about Thanksgiving. That probably meant we were going to our own homes though. We needed more time before meeting each other's families.

Me: I haven't spoken to him about it, but probably not.

I sent Trevon a text.

Me: I'm on my way home. Want to come over?

Tall Dark and Handsome: Yes. I'll bring food.

Me: Bring the turkey wraps I like.

Tall Dark and Handsome: Ok.

When I got home, I took a quick shower. There was another message from Eva when I came out.

Eva: Don't just assume. Ask him. I'm thinking of bringing someone.

Me: You have a boyfriend?

Eva: Why assume? Maybe it's a girlfriend.

Me: Is it?

Eva: Maybe. Guess you'll have to find out. Ask him. Mom and I need to know how much food to prepare.

Me: I'll ask.

My doorbell rang. When I answered, Trevon stood there looking as tall and handsome as ever. I couldn't help but smile. "Hi."

"Hi," he said. "I brought food." He held up the bag. He followed me into the kitchen.

I got us plates and drinks.

"Are you going home for Thanksgiving?" I asked after we had each taken bites of the turkey wraps.

"Yeah, why?"

"My sister was asking if you were going to come for Thanksgiving. Too soon, right?" I thought he would agree with me right away, but he paused with the wrap lifted halfway to his mouth and a thoughtful expression painted on his face.

"Should we meet each other's families?" he asked. I wasn't sure if he meant we should just wait a little bit, meet each other's families for Thanksgiving or if we should never meet each other's families. That last thought made me feel uneasy.

"Maybe not for Thanksgiving," he said, "I don't think I can get out of Thanksgiving, but maybe we could arrange something for Christmas. Maybe I could go to your parents' house for a week and you could come to mine for the next."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You don't want to?"

I was on my feet and rounding the table before I realized it. "I want to," I said and squeezed onto his lap. He smiled and wrapped his arms around me careful to keep his turkey wrap from spilling on me.

"Then, let's arrange it," he said.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned in to kiss him. He pulled back before I could take the kiss deeper. I frowned at him.

"Finish eating," he said.

"Oh yeah. I forgot." I got up and went back to my seat.

When we were finished and had cleaned up, we went into the living room. I pulled out my homework while he pulled out a book to read. I was almost finished when my phone rang. The caller i.d. said it was Scott.

"Hi, Scott," I said. "Any progress with that guy from your night class?" I asked before he could even say hi back.

"Hi," he said. "And yes."

"Oooh. Tell me." I set my homework down and pulled my knees up to my chest. Trevon's eyes rested on me. His book rested in his lap.

"We met for dinner a few times as friends before class," he said.

"Okay," I said. That could be good or bad. It could just mean the guy wanted to be friends, but maybe he was interested.

"And then one time we agreed to go to the movies," he said.

"As a date or friends?"

"Let me finish," he said.

I sighed. How could he expect me to not ask questions. "Fine," I said.

"Our hands brushed while we waited in line for popcorn. I waited for him to pull his hand away, but he didn't so I left my hand there touching the back of his."

I squealed. That was a good sign. Trevon motioned for me to tell him what was happening. I waved him away. My focus needed to be on the story.

"Then we got the popcorn and went into watch the movie."

"And then you both went to get popcorn at the same time and ended up holding hands," I said.

"Are you going to let me tell the story?"

"Okay, sorry. So what happened next?"

Trevon leaned in to hear. I let him because I liked being cheek to cheek.

"Our hands did not touch in the popcorn," he said. "But our fingers did brush on the arm rest and neither of us pulled away. Then he got bolder and held my hand."

I bit my lip so I wouldn't squeal again. "Then what?" I managed to ask.

"Then I took him camping and we had sex."

I couldn't stop my squeal this time and I jumped to my feet. "Really? You aren't teasing me are you. Because that's not something you should tease about."

"I'm not teasing," he said excitedly. "I finally got some action."

I hopped on my feet unable to contain my excitement for my friend. "So you are together then?"

"Well, we haven't officially talked about it, but I've taken him camping twice now. It's getting colder and colder though. We might need to find some other place to go."

Trevon stood and tried to lean in to hear the conversation again, but I couldn't stop moving.

"He's okay with you not being out?"

"We haven't really talked about it, but I don't think he's out either."

Trevon's phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the caller i.d. He moved away from me and answered it. "Hi, Aley."

His expression changed extremely quickly from its pleasant calm to a mix of anger and worry. He sat heavily on the couch. "Okay," he said, "do you want me to come home?"

"Scott," I said, "I'm going to go now, but congratulations and keep me updated.

"Okay," he said.

I hung up before he could say goodbye and went and sat next to Trevon. This didn't feel like one of those moments where I could demand he let me talk to his friend or have him put it on speaker phone so I stayed silent. I put a supportive hand on his thigh. His entire body was taut as if he was ready to spring into action at any moment.

"But I can if you need me," Trevon said. There was a pause before Trevon ran a hand over his hair. "I can't believe this is happening. I thought Jason was in jail."

Jason? It could only be the same Jason from when they were in highschool. Whatever was happening, it wasn't good.

"Then how did it get released?"

I squeezed his thigh just to show my support. He glanced at me and tried to thank me with a smile, but it faded quickly.

"What are you going to do? Is there some way to get it taken down?"

He sighed. "Okay, that's good. Are you going to be okay?" His arm wrapped around me and pulled me in close to his side. "I can go home if you need me." There was a slight pause before he said, "To be supportive." He squeezed my shoulders. "Alright. Let me know if I can help in some way. Hang in there."

He hung up and hugged me tightly.

"The video got released?" I asked.

I felt the movement of his nod directly next to my head.

"The entire video?"

He nodded again. "It would have been better if this had happened to me or Vincent. It would still have been hard for us, but I think it's even harder on him. I hate Jason so much."

"He's in jail though right? How did it get released?"

"He doesn't know right now. He told his lawyer so his lawyer could get it taken down. The lawyer was going to tell the police so they can further investigate. It's just a matter of waiting now."

"Are you going to go home now?"

"No. He told me he has Mateo to support him now and I shouldn't miss school. I think I should go home for Thanksgiving now more than ever," he said. "Let's talk to our families and arrange something around Christmas."

"Alright," I said.