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Ryan closed the door of the final kennel he would clean that summer. The slim sixteen-year old boy breathed a sigh of relief. It had been fun at his summer job, feeding the dogs, walking them, liaising with owners for dropping off and picking up their dogs for short holidays (usually), but he hadn't really made many friends and it was really tiring work. He was actually quite looking forward to going back to Westerville High School the next Monday as a junior.
He hadn't seen his friends much over the summer as they had either got jobs and were busy like him, or had gone away on holiday or summer camps. I wonder if they'll recognise me on the first day! Ryan mused, smiling slightly to himself. My hair has got so long, I was going to cut it but it looks like the longer style is quite fashionable now, maybe I'll just get it neatened up at the hairdresser's at the weekend. The colour has got quite a bit lighter now, too, from all those long walks with the dogs every day. I've definitely toned up my stomach and arm muscles with all the exercise walking dogs and cleaning kennels too.
The redhead poured the bucket of dirty water down the drain and rinsed out the cleaning brushes under the tap. His fine, straight red hair fell into his eyes as he worked. Once he had cleaned all the implements and put them away, he washed his hands thoroughly, cleaning all the grime away from under his nails. Well, I definitely won't miss the smell of so many dogs in one place.
He walked down the corridor and did the usual mandatory safety check around him to make sure no dog was free before opening the door to the main reception area and stepping through it quickly, locking it securely behind him. He went over to the main desk where a kindly middle aged woman was looking over the register of dogs housed there currently.
Ryan caught her attention. "That's me finished then, Julie. I'm going to head home now." He smiled. "Thank you for giving me the job here, I really have enjoyed working with the dogs, and you, of course!"
Julie chuckled at his faint blush. "It's okay, everyone loves spending time with the dogs more than the people when they work here! Anyone would think they're trying to hide away from other humans or something!" She pointed out, not too subtly alluding to her much voiced opinion that Ryan was too shy for his own good.
Ryan rolled his eyes good-naturedly at the motherly woman. "Don't worry about me, I have plenty of... well, a couple of good friends at school. They've just been busy like I have over the summer and we haven't really managed to catch up."
That's not strictly true. Ryan thought. Lisa and Charlie were my two good friends until they got together. Now they're just "Lisa and Charlie" without me. I sometimes wonder if Charlie used me to get to know Lisa better and now I hardly see Lisa since she is always at his house. Maybe they will have gotten over that initial intense relationship stage and they'll both have more room in their lives for me when we get back to school? Or maybe there'll be some new students I can get to know?
Ryan realised he had been off in his own little world when he saw that Julie had turned away from talking to him and was dealing with a customer. She gave him a smile and a wave as he gestured that he was going to leave and he headed out the main entrance, retrieving his bicycle from around the side of the building and setting off for home.
When Ryan got home he was surprised to see his sister's car in the driveway.
Megan was a few years older than him and she was just about to start her final year of college, majoring in fashion design. I hope nothing's wrong. Ryan thought to himself as he parked his bike. She's supposed to be already on her way back to college to move her stuff back into her room before courses start on Monday.
Ryan got on really well with Megan, despite the age gap and different sex. They would watch films together, chat about school, celebrity crushes (often the same person) and their absolute favourite past time was shopping together and going for a sandwich lunch at their favourite coffee shop whilst talking over their purchases.
Megan was the first person he had come out to as being gay when he was fourteen and she had been completely unsurprised and best of all, very supportive. She had encouraged him to tell his parents when he was ready, and had been there for him when he did.
His parents had been quite surprised initially. They were not homophobic, a couple in their closest friends, Richard and Patrick were together, they just hadn't suspected that Ryan was gay at all. His Mum had later explained that she had probably never guessed because she just thought he shared his sister's interests in fashion, film, shopping and music, simply because they were so close and he looked up to her. Also, as she pointed out, interests in those things didn't exactly mean he had to be gay any way. i certainly don't 'scream' gay. That's not always a bad thing in Ohio. He thought to himself.
Megan's passionate interest in fashion was shared by her younger brother, who had an increasing collection of his favourite accesory - hats. It wasn't like there was any particular need for so many, he just loved them and used to wear them while practicing songs for glee at home. I should count them some time! I bet there's at least twenty! He laughed at himself.
He was dying to try Ne-Yo's Let Me Love You with his latest hat purchase, a dark grey trilby, just like the singer's one. Depending on the assignment, maybe I can use it for glee club when it starts again, hopefully next week. I must remember to sign up on Monday, he mentally noted to himself. I can try to figure out some dance moves this weekend.
His thoughts turned back to his sister. He always hated it when she went off to college during term time. Still, there's always skype. He reasoned. She had also been spending a lot of time over the summer with her long-term boyfriend from home. He hadn't minded because he was busy at the kennel and he knew they had missed each other during term time. I'm glad she and Austin have lasted even though it was quite tough for them being so far apart at college. They've made it two years already, so I'm sure they'll be fine this final year, particularly as they'll have so much course work to do.
The redhead bounded up the steps to the house and let himself in, shutting the front door with a thud and heading straight for the kitchen where everyone usually congregated around the kitchen table for informal chats.
Sure enough he found his Mum and Dad there along with Megan and Austin. "Ryan!" Megan yelled and drew him into a tight sisterly hug.
"Hi Sis! What are you still doing here? I thought you'd have left by now?"
"We are about to leave, but we wanted to share our news with you all first." She looked really excited, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Mum, Dad, Ryan... Austin proposed! We are engaged!" She held out her left hand proudly, displaying the ring she had been hiding.
She was engulfed in a group family hug, kisses raining down on her. Austin was tugged into the middle too, laughing.
Megan continued once everyone had finally separated. "We are going to wait until next summer at least, so we can concentrate on finishing college first and look for somewhere to live together once we've graduated."
Ryan and Megan's Mum looked really pleased as she spoke "I think that's very sensible of you both. I can't wait to help you with any planning you need." Ryan listened as Megan and Austin talked excitedly about their plans and he promised to help with finding suitable venues and other things like dresses, flowers and the cake.
He sighed to himself. I wish it was that easy for me. Find someone you love, get engaged, everyone you meet is happy for you, get married, settle down, have kids, get a pet... Not likely any time soon in Ohio. I'd be happy to just find someone. He thought bitterly.
I really am happy for Megan and Austin though, they are great together and their love has already withstood time apart and distance between them. They really deserve happiness.
Ryan brightened up a bit with his next thought. Maybe there will be some new kids at school this year. You never know, there might be a hot gay new kid with a taste for redheads! He shook his head at his romantic daydreaming and carried on discussing wedding things with his sister until it was time for her to leave.
It was lunchtime on Monday and Ryan stood at his locker, putting away his books, ready to head for the cafeteria. He hadn't shared any classes with Charlie or Lisa yet and he was slightly puzzled as to why he hadn't seen either of them yet.
He had been right about there being some new kids at the start of term. There was a couple of silly looking gossipy girls who had immediately made friends with each other like long-lost besties. He hadn't even bothered trying to find out their names.
There was another new kid, Michael, who had made it onto the football team in what seemed like record-time. Ryan was quite tall so the new boy was a bit shorter than him, but he was very stocky and muscular. He had thick, short brown hair and was quite average looking, not hot but not exactly ugly either. Seriously, how can he have a letter jacket on his first day at school? They must have known about his transfer at the end of last term before the summer holidays. He thought. His inner musings were rudely interrupted by none other than the new football jock.
Ryan flinched as a loud voice boomed in the hallway, directed at him. "Oh my wizarding god! It's Fred freakin' Weasley! Or is it George? I can never tell you two apart. Where's your little sister, Ginny, I could do with a good f..."
At that moment Mr Turner, the mathematics teacher, stepped foot into the hallway from a nearby classroom. "Boys!" he shouted at the group of footballers, the newest jock, Michael, in the middle. "Kindly move along please and stop blocking the hallway." He yelled at them, but implicitly ignored the bullying, instead rushing off to start his next class.
The jocks sniggered loudly at Michael's taunting, laughing in Ryan's face. So, the new kid is trying to become top dog in the jocks by being a bully. Great. It's just my luck that it sounds like he can actually read, it'll be harder to deflect it with humour if he's actually quite intelligent. He certainly knows his Harry Potter.
The redhead's gaze slid from Michael's across to Charlie, clad in his letter jacket, standing to the new kid's left. Charlie looked guilty but did nothing to make amends for his behaviour, he simply shrugged in a kind of "there's nothing I can do to help you" kind of way.
Ryan's shoulders slumped in disappointment and hurt. He struggled to not show any emotion on his face, clenching his jaw. So that's how it is. Charlie has taken away my best girl friend at this school and now that he doesn't need me to befriend Lisa he's going to side with a bully against me just to keep popular. Oh joy. Only half a day gone and school already sucks. Ryan flashed Charlie a glare and turned to finish with his locker, shutting it quickly. He wanted to get as far away from these assholes as possible.
The group of jocks jostled their way past him, when the last remaining new kid came striding purposefully to his locker, not realising the danger he was in. Michael nudged one of his cronies to get him to watch as he stuck his foot out and deliberately tripped Joseph.
The slim blond was already walking quite fast, so when his foot caught Michael's ankle he went flying, books scattering out of his grasp as he crashed into the nearest bank of lockers with a sickening bang. He had just hit the floor when Michael shouted over to him.
"Hey, watch it fairy! Mind where you're going next time, fag, or you won't be so lucky." He and his new friends howled with laughter as they turned back around and carried on out of sight.
Ryan rushed over to the new kid who was sitting on the ground, shocked. He was gingerly prodding at his face, trying to work out where the blood was coming from that was dripping into his mouth.
"Come on, you've got a nosebleed. I'll help you to the bathroom. Can you stand?" Ryan asked as he cupped the boy's elbow, waiting for him to try to get up.
Joseph looked up at Ryan and nodded gratefully, accepting his help to get up. The redhead quickly gathered the strewn books, shoving them under one arm as he guided the injured boy to the nearest bathroom. "My name's Ryan by the way. You're Joseph, right? I think we had English Literature together." Recognition flashed in the other boy's eyes and he nodded. He waited to speak until he had leant over the sink and spat out the blood that was in his mouth.
"Uh, yeah. That's me. Thanks for helping me, you didn't have to. I guess people have already decided I'm gay and the bullying has started straight away. I transferred from my previous school because I was the only one out there and things got quite bad. This is my last shot at public school - if the same thing happens here then my parents are going to send me to a private school. At least then the teachers should listen since they are paid to." He looked at Ryan through the mirror. "You know you can pretend we never spoke if you don't want to become a target too, just for knowing the only gay kid here."
Ryan had placed Joseph's books in a pile on the shelf below the mirror. He then collected some paper from the nearest stall and held it out to Joseph, waiting for him to completely finish talking before he replied.
"That doesn't bother me at all. Any way, I'm gay too." Joseph's eyebrows shot up in surprise as he held the tissue to his nose, stemming the flow.
Ryan continued. "I suppose people haven't really guessed my sexuality, so I haven't been a target for it yet. But that new kid Michael has decided to make me a target just because I look like the Weasleys..." Joseph rolled his eyes in sympathy, still holding tissue to his nose, "...so whether or not I'm seen with you won't particularly matter. Any way, my ex-friend Charlie knows I'm gay and he was in that group of jocks, so they'll know sooner or later."
Ryan and Joseph became good friends after that incident in the hallway and bonding over a nosebleed. Neither of the boys were physically attracted to the other, but they had similar interests and Ryan even persuaded Joseph to join glee club.
Apart from each other, the boys had no other friends though. Charlie had indeed told the jocks that Ryan was gay so now their favourite taunt was that they were Fred Weasley and Draco Malfoy and were in mad gay love with each other. Joseph didn't even look like the actor that played Draco, he was just blond.
Being taller than Joseph, Ryan didn't get much physical bullying, mainly verbal. Joseph wasn't so lucky, he was shorter and quite delicate physically and had to endure numerous locker slams, dumpster dives, swirlies and being tripped. His grades had started to suffer by mid-October and Ryan wasn't surprised when his best friend told him he was transferring schools, again.
And then there was one. Ryan thought, bitterly.
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