Silver Lining

There he was. Atticus Jameson, looking perfect as usual in his lifeguard-red swim trunks sitting on top of the stand. He was so incredibly good-looking, it hurt! His sun-kissed shoulders were freckled and were proof of the hot summer we had worked through. This was our last day at the pool. School started tomorrow. Senior year.

Uh-oh, Atticus caught me staring. Even though we were both wearing shades, I still felt like he caught me so I quickly looked away. Great if he hadn't thought I was looking at him before, he did now.

Atticus and I had what you would call a 'tense' relationship. We had been best friends throughout our childhood because we were neighbors. We were there for each other all the time. Things started getting a little tense with our friendship freshman year of high school. I say tense, but what I really mean is our relationship became... nonexistent I guess is the right word.

Atticus really didn't have that great of a home life. His mom died when we were in the fifth grade. After that, Atticus's dad became an angry drunk. He never treated Atticus the same, I just assumed it was because Atticus and his mother looked so much alike. Both had green eyes and dark brown hair, although Atticus usually spiked his hair slightly. Things were so bad with his dad during that time I say he was probably at my house more than his.

Here's where things get a little tense. I have known I was gay since I could jack off. I realized I liked looking at cock more than pussy. My parents and I have a great relationship, so I figured that trying to hide it from them would not only be stupid, but hurtful to both parties. When I told them, they basically said "Okay." I know I'm super lucky on that end of things, so I won't pretend that I'm not. 

The thing is, while my parents were okay with it, we still lived in a small town. Not so small that everyone knows your name, but small enough that being gay would make your life miserable. Especially when the biggest demographic pertains to ignorant rednecks. But I digress. I wanted to keep my sexuality a secret atleast for a little while, unfortunately, there was a group of people that already suspected as much.

I love to swim (hence being a lifeguard), and when I first got to high school I though I would try out for the swim team. I was so nervous, so I quickly changed into my suit and got into the water so I could relax. The water has a way of doing that to me. Once I relaxed I got back out so I could get in line to go off the blocks. I swam great, I had guys come up to me and congratulate me on my swim, even the coach clapped me on the back. I looked across the pool to see Atticus on the blocks about to go in. He smiled at me and gave me a thumbs up while mouthing the words "Good job!"

The incident came when the coach said, "Great job, boys. Hit the showers!"

I felt my stomach drop. I had been so nervous about the try out that I didn't even have time to think of the boys changing around me into their suits. Now... the try out was over. Just thinking about the boys got me excited. At thirteen, your not exactly skilled at controlling yourself or your "little self". It wasn't long until I felt my suit starting to tent. I tried to quickly grab my towel. Unfortunately...

"Whoa! Look at the perv!"

One of the ignorant rednecks (who could actually swim) was pointing at me. His name was Ty. Ty was never that much of a friendly fellow; however, I wish he could have had some sympathy for me at that moment rather than being his usual, bullying self.

"He's covering up a boner! What a fag, no one wants you in here queer. Everyone hide your junk!"

Ty and a couple of other ignorant jocks made grand gestures to cover their groins up. My face was flushed with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. I started to feel tears well up in my eyes. I looked down so they would not get the satisfaction of knowing they had gotten to me. 

"Whatever, Ty. You're the one looking at his dick. There isn't much for y'all to cover up anyway."

I heard Ty sigh, now he was the one embarrassed. I looked up to see my savior at the moment, Atticus. He was smiling down at me and gave me a wink. I always felt safe around Atticus and it was because of moments like this.

I showered as quickly as I could in cold water, and thinking about my wrinkly grandma (for obvious reasons, of course." I got dressed and walked out of the locker room and into the commons area of the school where Atticus was waiting for me.

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

"Ty's an idiot. And an ass."

"Yeah, thanks for defending me."

"No worries, I just can't believe he thought you were gay!"

I stopped walking. Atticus kept on talking and walking until he noticed that I was no longer by his side. I had to tell him, but I wasn't sure if I was ready. I ultimately decided that he was my best friend and decided to know.

"Jeremy? It's okay, man, we all get wood at the worst times! Remember when I had to give that oral presentation last year and I was wearing athletic shorts? Not a good memory."

I smiled feebly.

"It's not that."

"What is it, Jeremy?" I could hear the worry in his voice now.

"Ty was right."

"What do you mean?" I loved seeing the quizzical look on his face. The way his brow furrowed was super hot to me.

"I am... gay."

"Oh."

Atticus's smile had faded. In its place was this vacant expression. That was the moment our relationship became "tense". It was that moment that I realized our friendship would never be the same.

Enough of memory lane.

I looked down at my watch. It was 5:30 pm, time to close the pool down. I blew my whistle in three short blasts to let everyone know that it was time to get out and start drying off. I needed everyone to hurry because tonight was the night. 

Every year the seniors at Viscount Peak High threw a party the night before school started. Was it completely irresponsible... Absolutely! Was it a party to have a lasting memory... Hell yes!

The party didn't start until 9, but I needed all that time to get ready. I had worked hard on my body for the past three years. Because of the incident on try-outs day, I felt inclined to decline my admittance to the team, to the coach's dismay. I had to come up with something else to keep myself in shape. I loved band, but playing the trombone (even marching for halftime shows) did not really provide the fitness level I was looking for. So in order to avoid another embarrassing incident, I just joined a gym. And it worked.

I would be putting this body on display tonight at the party.