A/N: In the first chapter Connor is 29. Jude is 28. Colleen is 9. Sam is 15. Kourtney is 4 and Misty is 16. It has been fifteen years since the day Connor moved to LA. Just wanted to clear that up because someone asked.
Jude (age 16, July before Junior year at Anchor Beach)
All I could think about was saying goodbye to Connor earlier as I sat in the porch swing on my porch. Something had seemed off all month during his visit. He seemed distant at times almost as if he wanted to forget about me and was just spending time with me out of obligation. I knew I was probably just reading too much into it. I had to understand we both had lives separate from each other now. What I didn't understand though is why it hurt so much that he would rather go back to LA for football practice than spend time with me.
Maybe I was just being selfish. I was proud of him for making the varsity football team. It was something he really loved and when he had made the team he was one of only three freshmen who did. He had been so excited when he called me to tell me. He had even joked about me become a cheerleader so he could date the captain of the cheer squad. That was never going to happen though. I had never been able to go to a game he played but I was planning to change that this year. I had my driver's license and could now drive myself to LA. My moms had already said I could go as long as I took Jack with me.
Jack had become a fixture in my life. He was one of my only friends besides Connor and Taylor. Taylor had a big crush on him. He led her on all the time but something wasn't right about that situation. He told her he wasn't ready for a relationship but he flirted with her all the time and she ate it up. I had never seen her act that way before. When I met Jack it was right before Connor was left to live in LA. He seemed really cool and we had started hanging out. Connor acted like he was jealous of Jack, no matter how many times I tried to explain to him we were just friends and Jack wasn't gay. Connor's reasoning was we were just friends at first too. He was so insecure sometimes it pissed me off. Almost like he thought I was going to cheat on him with every guy I talked too. I still didn't get him sometimes.
I looked up to see Jack pull up in Mike's Mustang. Since Mike had his foster license and A.J. had moved away he took in Jack a few years ago. Jack seemed finally happy with Mike and it made me happy to see my friend happy. He hadn't been so happy when we first met. I watched as he got out of the car and came up the steps. He sat beside me on the porch swing and I tried to smile at him.
"So Connor's gone?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said back.
"Oh sorry I missed him," he said.
I could tell by his tone he really wasn't sad he missed Connor. He and Connor tolerated each other for my sake. I wished my boyfriend and my best friend would get along better. I knew I couldn't make them like each other and I wanted to be able to spend time with them both. The only time they got along was when they were playing video games together.
"Why is he so jealous of me?" Jack asked.
"Does he have reason to be?" I asked. It came out of my mouth before I could think about it. Jack had never made any indication he liked me for more than a friend. Nonetheless he got a strange look on his face and I wanted to take the question back.
"No offence but I think Connor is hotter than you," Jack said back.
"So I should be jealous?" I asked.
"No I'd never try to still your boyfriend. Remember bros before hoes," he shot back.
I laughed when he said that. "Wait so are you saying you're gay?"
"No I'm pansexual," he replied.
"Let's go in and play some video games," Jack suggested after a long silence.
Two months later… Sept. of Junior year
I sat in the stands of the football stadium at Connor's school in LA between Jack and Connor's mom. The game was boring to me partly because I had no idea what was going on. People were jumping up and screaming all around me but I eyes were focused on how good Connor's butt look in the tight pants. He was standing on the side lines with his back to us. He had his helmet off and he was all sweaty. His hair was wet like he just got out of the shower.
He turned around and looked right at me as he smiled and waved. I couldn't help the big grin that spread across my face as I waved back. A few girls behind me giggled and I rolled my eyes. I looked over at Connor's mom and she smiled at me. I smiled back. I knew there was something underneath that smile. It was like she was trying to tell me something but didn't want to say the words.
"God number 13 is handsome as fuck!" one of the girls behind me said.
"Too bad you're not his type," another girl informed her.
"What does that mean I am every guys type," the first girl said.
Jack and I both smirked at that.
"Trust me you're not his type. Look Lacey I know you're new here but I thought you would have heard by now," one of the girls said.
"Heard what?" Lacey asked.
"Lace, Connor Stevens does bat for our team," one girl giggled.
I turned to look at them and let them know I heard their conversation. I wasn't sure if they actually knew me. if they weren't friends of Connor's they had no idea who I was or that I even existed. I had to smile as the Lacey girl stared at her friends like she had no idea what they meant.
"Lacey he's gay!" the girl to her right said.
I turned back around to see that the game was over. Connor's team had won 32 to nothing. We made our way down the stairs and I noticed the same girls were still behind us. The Lacey girl just would not let it go. She thought her friends were lying to her.
"I can change that," she began. "All I need is some time alone with him."
"He has a boyfriend. Some guy who lives in San Diego," one of Lacey's friends said.
Jack nudged me in the side with his elbow and Connor's mom smiled at their conversation. We made our way to the field house to wait for Connor. Connor's mom dropped us off and said she had to go because she had work early in the morning. Jack and I stood there as Lacey and her friends approached us. Jack smiled at them. He was always so comfortable around girls but I had to admit even though I was gay they made me nervous.
"Hey your cute, I'm Lacey," she said to Jack.
"Jack," he said giving her a flirty smile.
"And Jack who's your friend?" she asked running her finger down my chest.
"This is Jude," he replied.
I just stared at her. five minutes ago she was into Connor and now she was trying to move in on Jack. I watched as guys started to come out of the field house. Some guy came up behind one of Lacey's friends and hugged her. Her face let up as he did and she laid her head back on his shoulder. I spotted Connor before he saw me. it had been a month since I saw him and he looked so good. He was talking to a guy I recognized. I had met him before and I think his name was Wilke. That was just what they all called him because his last name was Wilkinson.
Connor made eye contact with me and headed my way with Wilke right behind him. When he got to me he kissed me right there in front of everyone. I knew it was common knowledge Connor Stevens was gay around his school, but he was the quarterback of the football team and popular. So no one thought anything of it. Unlike me who was I nobody at Anchor Beach and got teased on a day basis for my sexuality.
"So you bringing lover boy to the party Stevens?" Wilke asked.
"Will I'm sure as hell not letting him out of my sight, so I guess he has to come," Connor said as he pulled away from the kiss and put his arm around my waist.
I looked over at Lacey who was staring open mouthed at me. I gave her a look like that's right bitch that's my guy you were talking about. She looked away finally turning her attention back to Jack. I had a feeling Jack was getting lucky tonight if he wanted too. I looked at Connor as he had a conversation with Wilke and another guy I didn't know. I also knew Connor wanted to get lucky too. He had been trying the whole month he was there this summer. I just wasn't ready and I told him know several times during his visit.
"Well babe let's go," Connor said.
"I'll ride with Jack," Lacey announced.
I smiled at Jack and raised my eyebrows. I reached in my pocket and handed him the keys to my car. As we walked away Connor held my pinky with his. Ever since that night in the movie theater it was how we always held hands. At his car Connor opened the door for me which always made me smile. I got in the car and Connor went around to the driver's side and got in.
As we pulled out of the parking lot he put his hand on my thigh. I thought about this party we were headed too. I had never been to a party. I had never even been invited to one back home. I had heard about the epic Friday night parties around school and I knew if this party was anything like those parties there would be drinking. I was never I big drinker and I realized I wasn't sure if Connor was or not. I had never seen him drunk before or even drink for that matter besides a glass or two of champagne at his dad's wedding when he had snuck a glass for us. He had ended up drinking his and mine too because I didn't like it.
"I love you," Connor said out of the blue.
"I love you too," I said back.
We stopped at a red light and Connor leaned over and kissed me. His hand traveled further up my leg and his tongue slipped into my mouth. We were so lost in the kiss we didn't noticed when the light turned green. The truck behind us honked and Connor pulled away flicking off the person behind us. I looked at him shocked.
"It's Wilke don't worry. I'd know that monster truck anywhere," Connor said as he accelerated.
Once we got to the house where the party was, we got out of the car. Sure enough the truck pulled up and parked behind us. Wilke got out and laughed as he approached us. Connor leaned up against his car and pulled me close. I felt his hard on brush against my leg and knew the kiss had had the same effect on him it had on me.
"Dude were you seriously just making out at the red light?" Wilke teased.
"Yeah, jealous?" Connor teased back.
"Hell yes! But if I had a cute little piece of ass like Jude I'd do it too," Wilke admitted.
"Wait your gay?" I asked.
Wilke smiled at me and winked. "Why you gonna dump Stevens for me?"
Connor's arm tightened around me possessively. "Not a chance in hell Wilke."
We started walking towards the house and Wilke still hadn't answered my question. Connor looked at me and said loud enough for Wilke to hear, "Yes he's gay and he's a manwhore."
A/N: There are hints everywhere about who is who in the first chapter. If you're paying attention it isn't hard to figure out. Sooner or later I will have to reveal it though because as we get further along in the story their jobs will be important parts of the story. So what will happen at the party? Any predictions?
