The Path of Love

Chapter One

Riley looked up and noticed he was in a hilly meadow with his hand intertwined with another hand. He turned and saw his boyfriend standing beside him sporting one of his smiles that could melt Riley's heart away every time he saw it. Without talking, the two began walking into the never ending field, hand in hand, losing themselves in each other's eyes. After walking for what seemed like forever, Riley finally got the urge to tell Zane what had been on his mind for awhile. He looked straight in Zane's mysterious brown eyes and whispered, "I love-"

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. Riley was suddenly ripped out of his sleep by his alarm clock. He quickly cursed under his breath at his alarm clock for waking him up at the climax of his dream and turned over and slammed the snooze button. The teenage boy then proceeded to get dressed and go downstairs for quick breakfast before school.

"Well good morning my big star football player! I hope you have room for a huge breakfast because I made you one," exclaimed Riley's Mom as he came down the stairs to leave for school.

"Mom you are ridiculous sometimes," laughed Riley. "Although I would love to stay home from school and have a four-course meal with you, I have a test first period and I'm already running late."

"I am not ridiculous! What is ridiculous is how many touchdown passes you threw during Friday's game. Also, if you aren't going to eat here, you will take a plate to go, mister."

"Fine," stated Riley as he quickly shoved a serving of breakfast on a napkin and started to head out of the door.

"Oh wait Riley! What are your plans for this afternoon," Riley's Mom asked quizzically.

"Uhh..." Riley racked his brain for a reason for why he should be hanging out with Zane for the eighth day in a row. His parents were beginning to get a little suspicious of why he spent every waking moment of his life with Zane, and he just was not ready to tell his parents of his sexuality and his boyfriend. In fact, Riley did not think he would ever be ready to tell them. His Mom was a fragile woman with a strict Roman Catholic background, and she often talked negatively about gay people whenever the topic came up. His Dad was another story entirely. All Riley's Dad ever talked about was football, women, and how Riley was going to grow up to love both of them. His Dad was not as religious, but he has an absolute hatred for gay people. Just the thought of some words his Dad has said about homosexuals made Riley shiver in fear. So Riley continually scanned his head for a good excuse that he had not already used in the past eight days, but he could not think of anything. "Uhh... I'm studying after school with Za- Anya. Yep Anya and I are going to the library to get ready for our research project coming up," Riley said weakly. He hated to lie to his parents, especially his Mom, but the teenager felt as if he had no other choice. Both his Mom and Dad were already wondering why Riley and Zane spent so much time together, so he just needed to lay low for awhile and let their suspicions die out.

Riley's Mom looked at her son with a look of doubt in her eyes; however, she believed him and told him to have fun and be good at school. Riley then slid out of the door and made his way to school.

Riley was walking up the stairs that lead into Degrassi High when he heard a girl scream his name. He turned to see Anya running up to him.

"Hey Riley! How was your weekend? I tried to text you like a billion times, and you didn't respond to anyone of them!" She stopped talking and gave Riley the typical 'I expect a good reason why' face.

"I was busy… studying," the boy said with a smile starting to stretch across his face. He knew Anya would not buy the lie for one second.

"Yeah studying Zane's mouth and body is something you should have mastered by now." Both of the teenagers laughed. They continued walking towards their lockers and casually talking when a thought came to Anya, and her face lit up. "Riley!"

"What?"

"Zane's birthday is Saturday! What are we going to do? Do you have any plans?"

Riley stopped walking and looked at Anya with a serious face. "I don't know what to do Anya. I want to give him something so special that he won't ever be able to forget. Also, I want to throw him a huge surprise party, but at the same time I want to take him on the most romantic date possible. I'm so confused." Anya started busting out laughing, and Riley frowned at his best friend. "How is that funny?"

"Just because! Did it ever occur to you that you could do both and still give him the greatest present ever?" After Anya spoke, Riley felt like the biggest idiot ever. Whenever it came to Zane, his brain just stopped working sometimes. Even the thought of Zane just made his brain go into havoc. "So since you are having trouble even thinking straight about Zane's birthday, how about I come over tonight and we can plan out details for the surprise party?"

"Can we do it after I hang out with Zane," Riley asked with a hint of guilt in his voice. Anya shook her head and rolled her eyes, but agreed to meet up at Riley's house after his hangout with Zane.

"So what is that special gift you want to give your lover boy that he won't ever forget?" Riley did have an idea of what he wanted to give Zane. He has been thinking about it none stop for a couple of weeks now, but he really didn't want to tell Anya right there in the hallway because he knew she would freak out and scream with excitement.

"Well…-."

"Wait!" Anya screamed as she put her finger to Riley's lip. Riley looked at her, and she pointed to a certain someone walking up the hallway. Riley turned and looked at the approaching figure. He was wearing a sky blue v-neck t-shirt which illuminated his muscles and formed to his slim body. The boy had on the brightest, whitest smile Riley had ever seen, and he imagined that people miles away could see it. Riley's heart melted away, and his eyes focused on the black haired boy like he was the only person in the world.

Zane walked up and wrapped his arms around Riley locking him into a huge hug. Both boys lingered for a brief second to take in each other's scent, something they have both grown accustomed and addicted to. Zane broke the hug first and said hello to Anya.

Anya decided it was time to leave the lovers boys alone, and she needed to get to class. So she whispered to Riley that she would see him tonight at seven o'clock and said goodbye to Zane.

Zane looked at Riley with a puzzled look. "She surely left in a hurry. What did she whisper into your ear?"

"Oh nothing too important," laughed Riley. Zane just shrugged it off and kept talking.

"So are you ready for our date afterschool," Zane said with enthusiasm rising in his voice.

"Heck yea!"

"Good, but my parents are having people over right after school, so is there any way we could do it at your house?"

Riley sighed. He would love for Zane to come over to his house so they could watch a movie or two and snuggle on the couch, but he knew his Mom would be home. "Zane… you know we can't do that. My parents are already wondering why I spend so much time with you, and they barely like me hanging out with you as it is. They think you will corrupt me or something. I mean I had to lie to my Mom this morning and tell her I was hanging out with Anya afterschool. So for them to see us snuggling on my couch would not be a happy ending for either of us."

Zane was getting frustrated. He knew it would take time for Riley to come out, but with each passing day it was getting harder and harder to hide their relationship from Riley's parents. He really liked Riley and spending time with him, but sneaking around and always hanging at his house was getting to be boring and tiresome. "Riley, I know I said I would be patient and understanding of your schedule for coming out to your parents, but this is getting really hard to do. I mean you can't lie to them about where you go every day. That's so stupid, and eventually they will figure it out. What are you going to do then?"

Riley hated how Zane was right all the time, but he knew he was right. He couldn't keep lying to his parents, especially his Mom, about where he was going every day, but he also just wasn't ready to tell them yet. "Zane…" Riley pleaded with his voice, "I'm just not ready. That is a huge step for me, and I just don't know how they are going to take it."

"Of course it's a huge step, but your parents love you. They will accept you Riley; it just might take some time."

"You don't know that Zane! They are religious freaks," Riley stated with some anger in his voice. He hated to argue with his boyfriend, but he needed him to understand.

"Whatever Ri," said Zane as he turned around and walked to first period alone.