Chapter 1

Steve hated math. Everyone knew that. His mom, his teachers, and his friends.

Steve loved Darren. No one knew that. Not his mom, his teachers, or Darren.

Darren was the only reason Steve went to math class. Steve found comfort in knowing that Darren would be one seat in front of him one row over; the perfect view. It was never obvious that while the students in the class watched the teacher rambled on about triangles and formulas that Steve was watching Darren.

Steve tapped his pencil on his desk the eraser bouncing off the blank piece of paper that should have notes scribbled across the lines. He was more focused on his best friend who scribbled notes down in a hurry hoping not to miss anything.

Steve chuckled to himself as he watched Darren. Darren was always the smart one. He never missed a class, always took notes, and aced all his test. Darren was a nerd and Steve loved that about him. The only thing missing was black rimmed glasses. A smirk formed on Steve's face when he thought of Darren in glasses.

Steve was soon knocked out of his day dream when Darren turned around almost immediately making Steve drop his pencil.

Darren: *whispering* Hey, do you want to sleep over tonight?

Steve: Yeah!

Steve said it loud enough for the entire class to look his way, including Mr. Hartman.

Mr. Hartman: I'm glad you're excited about the math homework Steve but lets keep the volume down please.

Darren shook his head and smiled before turning around to finish writing down the assignment. Steve's cheeks blushed pink, not because of the embarrassment, but, because Darren's smile always found a way of making him blush. Steve never could explain the power Darren had over him. All he knew was that every time Darren was around his knees were weak, he always tripped over air, and he had butterflies. He didn't even mind the thought of insects invading his body as long as the person putting them there was Darren.

After the bell rang everyone hurried and gathered their belongings to make a quick exit. Steve shoved his books into his bag and threw it over his shoulder racing to catch up with Darren. Steve stopped dead in his tracks when he reached the hallway.

Steve hated Becca. Everything about her down to her short skirt, Steve couldn't stand. Becca had a way of making the dancing butterflies drop like bricks in Steve's stomach.

That's exactly what Steve felt like at that very moment watching Darren and Becca say goodbye. Steve crunched up his nose in disgust as Becca kissed Darren and rushed off with her friends. It never changed seeing him kiss her. It didn't get easier, it didn't even dim a little. It was always that same gut wrecking feeling. If you really could turn green with envy, Steve would be broccoli. Darren walked over with a goofy grin plastered on his face.

Darren: Ready?

Steve: As ready as I'll ever be.

The boys walked out of the school and headed in the direction of Darren's house. If he could Steve would reach out and take Darren's hand in his. He would be the one to kiss Darren and not that tramp Becca. The boys got inside and raced upstairs throwing there bags on the floor.

It was like any normal sleepover. Video games, scary movies, pizza, pop, junk food, and more video games. They even prank called houses around the neighborhood. This was the life, the life Steve wanted. With Darren he could be himself, he was safe. Darren's parents were strict but Steve liked that, he wished they were his parents. He liked staying with Darren because just like math and Becca, he hated home. He rarely saw his mother and when he did, she was drunk. To make matters worse she would be to busy with her number of suitors. Some of his mother's boyfriends were decent and would even include him, then there were the other ones. The drunks, the ones that took pleasure in disciplining him.

Steve dropped the remote and looked at his cell phone 2:00 am. He then looked over at Darren who was lightly snoring sprawled out on his bed. Steve smiled and got up from the floor and sat on the bed. Darren was perfect. Steve crawled next to Darren and laid next to him. Steve curled up close to Darren and nestled his head into the crook of Darren's neck. Steve breathed him in and lightly kissed his neck. Darren didn't move. Steve lifted up and ran his fingers through Darren's brown hair then brushed his cheek with his finger tips.

Steve wasn't sure what it was but something had come over him. Maybe it was the 6 mountain dews or all the junk food but Steve got an idea, a dangerous idea. Steve got up and slipped out of the bedroom. He was looking for something, rope. All he found were jump ropes that Darren's little sister had in the closet in the hall.

Darren's eyes fluttered open. He tried to move but he couldn't the more he moved the tighter the ropes on his wrists and ankles became.

Steve: Oh, you're awake.

Darren: What's going on? Untie me Steve!

Steve: I can't do that.

Darren: Your scaring me!

Steve: I'm scaring myself, but I have to do this.

Steve leaned down and kissed Darren. Darren pulled away.

Darren: What are you doing? Get off of me!

Steve: Let me explain!

Darren: No! Let me go or I'll sc…

Steve threw his hand over Darren's mouth. Darren struggled under Steve.

Steve: Darren!

Darren stopped and looked at his best friend. Steve could see the fear in Darren's eyes. He felt bad, he hated seeing Darren so upset but he had to do this, even if it meant Darren never forgiving him.

Steve: It's taken me almost 2 years to say this but I love you and I need you to do this for me. Just give me 1 minute and I swear it will be over. Please?

Darren slowly nodded his head and Steve moved his hand replacing it with his lips. Darren didn't move but something inside of him began to tick, and he liked it. Was he really enjoying kissing his best friend? Staying stubbornly still Darren didn't move but when Steve starts to movie his lips, he cant resist to start moving his lips in sync with his. Steve started to feel curios about Darren's actions. Was Darren just playing along so Steve would keep his promise and untie him? Yet Steve took this as an opportunity, Just for a second so he could pretend that it was real.
Steve decided it was time to come back down to earth and face the consequences of his actions.

Darren: Steve? Untie me. Now!