Chad blamed it on the voice.
It couldn't be the taut muscles stretched across his chest that Chad caught glimpses of in the locker room, or the blue eyes that sparkled whenever they made contact with Chad's dull brown ones, or the hair that looked softer than anything that ever would've grown out of Taylor McKessie's head. No, it clearly wasn't physical attraction. It was all about the voice.
It was the reason he went to the spring musical four nights in a row. It was why he found himself humming and tapping his feet all through class. And it had to be the reason why he asked Ryan, ever so casually, if he wanted to go for a dip in the Jacuzzi and get away from the rest of the crowd the night of the wrap party.
Ryan treated the question like it was normal, and so the two average, red-blooded American boys went down the stairs and through the hallway in the cavernous Evans estate. Chad didn't have a bathing suit, so Ryan lent him one, only laughing when Chad asked if he could maybe borrow something that wasn't a Speedo. Chad felt like covering himself with his hands as they hopped into the Jacuzzi, Ryan flipping on the jets and handing Chad a Coke.
"You're the only guy I know who drinks Diet Coke," Chad observed as Ryan cracked open his own can of soda.
"I'm gay," Ryan pointed out.
"Right." Chad laughed, hoping he didn't sound too uncomfortable as he scanned the visible parts of Ryan's body, his tousled blond hair and defined chest muscles. Ryan was more lithe than muscular, but dancing had served him well, and, Chad thought, it definitely wasn't gay to think so.
"The musical was good," said Chad lamely.
"Apparently. Four nights in a row level good."
Chad, in a rare move, blushed and couldn't fight it off. If Ryan asked, he could blame it on the temperature. The temperature that seemed to be rising around him as he had more and more trouble looking away from the other boy.
"So, do I really sing that beautifully?" Ryan said, teasing.
"Dude, how'd you know?"
Ryan looked surprised. Chad was, too. Why had he said that out loud?
"You're just ... awesome," said Chad. "They should've given you more to do. I'd rather hear you than your sister any day."
"Thanks." Now Ryan was blushing, too, which made Chad blush more. Vicious circle, that. "Don't let Shar hear you say that, though."
"Never." Both boys laughed. Chad looked at Ryan. OK, maybe it wasn't just the voice. Maybe it had something to do with the body, too. But just those. Nothing more.
"So, heard you and Taylor broke up."
"Oh. Yeah. She's going to school and all, I'm staying here..." Chad paused, then added, "Besides, I'm kind of into someone else."
"Yeah?" Chad felt something brush against his foot. He looked down into the water. Ryan's leg was extended. Chad tried to ignore how hot he felt.
"Yeah. Probably nothing'll come of it, but it seemed mean to lead her on when she wasn't, you know, the one I cared about."
"And who is the one you care about?" Any bit of teasing had left Ryan's voice. It was the speaking voice, too. And the humor. And the way he made Chad feel just by saying something that could be construed as flirtatious somehow.
"Chad?"
And the eyes.
Chad was clumsy as he inched—footed? He was going pretty fast—over to Ryan. As soon as he was close enough, he leaned in and kissed the other boy. Any illusion that he was completely straight shattered as Ryan gasped into his mouth and quickly, enthusiastically returned the kiss.
"I think you already knew," said Chad, breaking it off and letting his face hover close to Ryan's.
"You could remind me," said Ryan, the tease back in his voice, and so Chad did.
