Dear Readers:

This story is about a relationship between two boys, yes, romantic relationship. Get use to it people, this is the twenty first century and I can write about such topics. I have seen a few other posters post Shelley/Amber stories, and I personally love them, and in the 60's there were gays, they weren't forth right, but they were there. And we can't deny them.

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Welcome to The Rhythm of A Brand New Day:

Chapter One: What Is This Feeling?

IQ was one of the quieter of The Council kids that came crashing through the door and caused a commotion all over Baltimore and gave teenage Baltimore the coolest tunes and the coolest moves, while driving the adults completely batty. IQ sat reading his history notes for the big upcoming midterm on the entire last part of the history text book they had gone over and over with so much detail, it almost made IQ's head spin. IQ glanced in front of him and saw Tammy hanging all over his best friend, Fender. IQ smiled as he looked at how happy the duo was, because rumors had been flying that Fender had someone on the side and IQ was worried, his best friend might end up exactly like well-known playboys like Link Larkin and Brad. IQ smiled as Fender made his way toward his dress table and took a seat next to IQ.

"So, you're really going to study hard for that midterm?" asked Fender giving IQ's book a quick tap and knocking it a bit from the nerdy boy's lap.

IQ looked up at his friend and smirked: "Hey, I can't just slack, you know my father and mother want the best for me." he said recalling all the discussions he had with his father about his future and how dancing on the show really wasn't much of a future, but IQ wanted to perform, it was in him like a piece of DNA or something.

"Oh well, I guess, you'll be going far then Einstein.." said Fender who popped in a piece of gum into his mouth as he continued to speak. "So, I think Tammy and I are kind of over." said Fender not sounding the least bit remorseful about what he had just said, despite having been with Tammy for almost two months, a Council record.

"But. Tammy really likes you, Fender, I mean, she's like crazy about you." said IQ who had not been attached to anyone, despite rumors he had once been linked to Shelley. The gossip of the Council was the downside of the fun, it brought down the fun by injecting non-related drama. Most of the girls on the Council lived for drama, but the boys tended to just do their own thing.

"Yeah, man, I know, but she's just such a drag to be around.." Fender said as he waved to Lou Ann, who seemed to be eyeing him from afar. IQ watched as Fender stood up and fixed the small creases from where he had sat down and smirked at his friend and walked toward Lou Ann. IQ felt an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach as Fender made his moves on the loud and loose Lou Ann: He took off his glasses and looked at himself in the mirror and thought about the possible emotions that could cause such a knot in his stomach: "Stress.." he said thinking perhaps he had been studying too hard., but that wasn't the case, he had been studying for hours and been making a lot of progress.

IQ ran through all the emotions from hunger to thirst and more, but none fit the description of his feelings, until he hit the word and it got caught in his throat: Jealousy. He was jealous, not of Fender, but of Lou Ann, Lou Ann for having Fender's attention, but how. How could this possibly be? Romantic feelings for the guy who had been his best friend since pre-school? "No, can't be." he said shaking his head and putting his glasses back on his face as he looked at himself in the mirror and then doubts slowly crept in, but no matter how hard IQ tried to shake them, the romantic feelings for Fender were spreading, and fast.

Fender looked back over at IQ and smiled at his friend, who seemed to be acting funny, but Fender knew IQ well enough to know that he had his odd moments, but he loved his best friend, they had been close since pre-school and shared everything from Boy Scouts to camping out under the stars, they had been through a lot and if Fender ever needed someone, he knew he could talk to IQ about it. Anything at all. Fender smiled and waved at IQ as he chatted up Lou Ann, who seemed eager to get Tammy's man on her arm.

IQ smiled at Fender, feeling his whole body begin to quiver when he saw Fender's smile, he was feeling almost nauseated by what was happening to him: He stood up and walked over to the bathroom and went inside locking the stall door and sitting on the toilet seat with his head in his heads and his glasses on his head as he rubbed his eyes and thought about all the swirling emotions he was feeling: Jealous of that skank Lou Ann, possible love for his best friend. "No, it just can't be." he said to himself as Fender's voice came into the room: "IQ, you okay?" asked Fender with concern in his tone.

"I'm fine." said IQ trying to hide the growing joy he had left Lou Ann to check on him. "I just needed a minute alone, I thought I might be sick." he said attempting to hide his true emotions.

"Well, don't get sick on me now, man. I need you. You're my best friend and what's a guy without his best friend." said Fender standing with his foot across the door of the stall where IQ sat shamelessly trying to erase the feelings in his mind. "Best friends forever, right, buddy." he said as he sounded so full of joy to have his best friend at his side.

"Yeah. Right." said IQ attempting to cover his tracks and sound normal, well, as normal as a guy falling in love with his best friend could sound.