Jackson had been right. Danny had made the team and after a couple of practice sessions, he became almost as good as Jackson. He began to make friends though not at the speed Jackson was going. Soon Danny saw very little of Jackson and he began to hear whispers as well as outright jeering from his teammates. Some of the boys called him Jackson's ugly shadow and Matt was relentless in his pursuit to humiliate and isolate Danny. Around this time, Danny began to notice he wasn't like the other guys. Jackson and the other boys on the team started talking about an interest in some of the girls while Danny sat in silence unable to agree. Everything keep building for Danny until one day when he was walking home from practice and noticed he was being followed. Matt and his goonies were right behind him laughing as they sped up to Danny. He turned a corner and quickly realized he was in fact, cornered.

"Matt..." Danny said softly. His heart was racing.

"Where's your protector?" Matt asked with a snide look on his face.

"Look, I don't want any trouble..." Danny put his hands up in protest and to show Matt he was desperate to leave.

"See? I don't think I can do that." Matt and his friends walked closer to Danny and that's when he began to panic. Just then, Jackson turned around the same corner and upon seeing his friend in distress, he ran right over.

"What's going on here guys?" Jackson asked with concern in his voice.

"Just taking care of a little problem." Matt responded. Jackson's fists balled up and Danny placed his hand on his friend's shoulder to calm him down.

"And what seems to be the problem?" Jackson asked through his teeth.

"Look, I know Danny is your buddy and all, but he needs to be taught a lesson. We can't have guys like him on the team..." Matt and his friends took a step closer to Danny and Jackson which really was not a smart move as Jackson became visibly upset.

"What are you talking about?" Jackson was visibly agitated and not going to back down any time soon.

"He's gay." one of the guys said matter of factly.

"Why does that matter?" Jackson shook his head.

"Because we don't want to be around that dude!" Matt responded.

"Jackson its okay, I understand." Danny spoke up for the first time since Jackson showed up. His soft voice calmed Jackson for a moment before getting him fired up again.

"No." Jackson said sternly.

"What do you mean no?" The guys looked at Jackson dumbfounded.

"I mean if you want him gone cause he's gay then you'll have to get rid of me too." Without a single moment of hesitation, Jackson turned around and pulled Danny into a kiss. It was a simple one. Their lips locked and Jackson pulled Danny's body close as he pressed his soft lips against Danny's. The boys looked at Jackson in shock and after a minute turned around and walked away. When they finally disappeared, Jackson let go of Danny and grabbed his backpack.

"You didn't have to do that." Danny said. He meant it too. Jackson was a great guy but he didn't have to do that.

"You're my best friend. It's the least I can do." Jackson smiled. Danny was shocked. He had no idea he was Jackson's best friend. He knew they were close, but he had no idea Jackson thought of him in that way. They walked together back to Jackson's house talking about random things. Danny was glad that Jackson seemed to accept him regardless of who he likes or what the other kids think. He found it weird though that there wasn't even a question about it from Jackson. He guessed that Jackson simply didn't care about the details because to him, Danny was just a great guy and his best friend.

That wasn't completely true. Jackson was SUPER curious. He wanted to know everything. When did Danny know? How did he figure it out? How long has he been struggling with this? Most important of all, did he find Jackson attractive? All the girls in their class did so it would only be natural for Danny to feel the same. To be honest, Jackson avoided talking about it because he was afraid of the answers. What if Danny knew all his life but didn't trust Jackson enough to tell him anything? Worse of all, what if Danny didn't find Jackson attractive? I mean come on, Jackson thought at one point while they were walking back to his house. Danny HAS to find me attractive. At least a little.

Over the next couple months, Jackson kept an eye out for his best friend. Everyone seemed to embrace and support Danny. There were no whispers, no dirty looks and no problems among the kids. Soon it was summer and Danny and Jackson spent a crazy amount of time together. They took turns sleeping over at each other's houses so much that Jackson had a drawer for Danny and Danny had room in his closet for Jackson.

It was a hot summer morning when Jackson had suggested they go camping in his backyard. Danny came over that day excited and fully prepared. He brought his sleeping bag, some snacks and even a first aid kit. Jackson provided the tent, Capri suns and a lantern for the night. They spent the day doing various outdoor activities in order to cool off like bike riding in the neighborhood, swimming at the local pool (Jackson's mom had insisted that they get their pool redone so it was out of commission for the boys) and some light lacrosse. By the time both boys had showered and cooled down, it was dark out. Jackson went to set up the tent and Danny helped him bring out the supplies.

They climbed into the tent and snuggled into their sleeping bags. Jackson told Danny scary stories he remembered reading and Danny tried his best to recall episode summaries he read on the T.V. from various shows. Hours passed by before Danny let out a yawn and said good night to his best friend before pulling the sleeping bag up to his neck and falling asleep. Jackson stayed awake and stared at the stars through the mesh top of the tent. He took a look at Danny and smiled. It felt so good to have so much fun with his best friend. He fell asleep at some point and didn't wake until he heard some rustling. He opened his eyes and saw that Danny sleeping bag was open and his friend was gone. Jackson sat up and looked out the tent to see Danny talking to a figure. He saw them exchange a quick kiss before Danny turned to go back into the tent. Jackson quickly went back into sleeping mode and closed his eyes as Danny slipped back into the tent.

When Danny finally got himself back into his sleeping bag, Jackson turned to his friend and flicked on the lantern. "So what was that about?" Jackson asked with his eyebrow raised.

"Oh. Did I wake you?" Danny asked hoping to distract Jackson. No such luck.

"Who. Was. That?" Jackson asked again slower this time.

"No one. Just a guy." Danny said before turning bright red.

"So you're not gonna tell me who you were kissing?" Jackson sat up and Danny knew he was going to have to come clean.

"It's nothing. He's just a guy from out of town. I met him when my parents accidently got his parents mail and I went to give it to them. We're kinda seeing each other." Danny looked down. Jackson was so hurt. Why did Danny not tell him sooner? Was he being a bad friend?

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think you would wanna know about this kind of stuff."

"Danny, I want to know absolutely everything you're going through. We share everything right?" Jackson was being honest. He always told Danny everything no matter how small and he thought that Danny would do the same.

"I just thought it would be weird for you to hear me gush about some guy. Sorry." Danny knew Jackson wouldn't judge him. He just kept anything gay related a secret because he didn't want to drive Jackson away.

"That's okay. Really. Just know that you can tell me anything and everything okay? Seriously." Jackson meant it. Danny gave him a nod and he smiled. He gave Danny's arm a squeeze and turned to flick the lantern off. When he finally got comfortable again in his sleeping bag, he noticed that his short felt tighter. A sensation he had never experienced and felt very award to him. "Ugh!" Jackson let out a sigh of exhaustion before tossing and turning a couple times.

"What's wrong?" Danny asked.

"I can't get comfortable. My shorts feel too tight all of a sudden." Jackson answered before sitting up and flicking the lantern on.

"Oh that's nothing." Danny said as he chuckled.

"What are you giggling at?" Jackson asked his friend with a serious look on his face.

"Umm Jackson, you have a boner." Danny answered without even looking at Jackson.

"What are you talking about?" Jackson asked. He had heard the word before but had no idea what it was.

"Your dick is hard Jackson." Danny answered nonchalantly. It was like he was explaining math to Jackson. The other boy looked down and sure enough, Danny was right. He saw his shorts forming a tent of their own and he could feel his crotch tighten. He was getting uncomfortable.

"Danny what do I do?" Jackson wanted to go to sleep and this boner was not letting that happen.

"Get rid of it." Danny answered with a yawn. "I don't mind."

"What are you talking about?" Jackson asked again. Danny finally turned around to face Jackson and moved his arms out of his sleeping bag to prop himself up. Jackson looked like an angry puppy. He had no idea what was going on. Danny couldn't help but let out a laugh.

"You know, get rid of it?" Danny said slowly using hand gestures to que his friend. When Jackson gave him a blank stare, Danny let out a sigh. He moved his hand up and down around an invisible pole trying to get Jackson to get the picture.

"Oh." Jackson said. He felt so stupid. How could he have not known that when he heard Matt and the other guys talk about it? Danny smiled and got back into his sleeping bag before turning around again.

"Have fun." He yawned. Jackson flicked off the light and got himself comfortable again before trying what Danny suggested. He slid his hands into his shorts and wrapped his dick. His hands felt cold and Jackson could fell some pleasure as he gripped himself and began to stroke. He repeated the motions Danny had demonstrated for a few minutes but grew frustrated when his dick was still hard and keeping him from falling asleep.

"Danny!" Jackson whispered. He tried again slightly louder before hearing a groan come from the side of the tent where Danny was sleeping.

"What?" he asked.

"It's not working!" Danny didn't have to turn to his friend to see the face Jackson was probably making. He could hear the pouting and let out a sigh.

"What do you want me to do?" Danny asked sarcastically.

"Help me." Jackson said.

"I did! I told you what to do!" Danny closed his eyes again and just as he did, Jackson's hand shook Danny.

"No! Come on!" Jackson whined.

"What do you want me to do? Do it for you?" Danny asked. Jackson stopped shaking his friend and in that moment Danny knew he said the wrong thing. "No... No Jackson. NO!" Danny said. It was too late. Jackson had already won. He turned Danny over with a pull and Danny was facing Jackson's hard boner.

"Come on! It'll just be bros helping bros." Jackson said. Danny tried to refuse but Jackson pouted again and Danny let out a groan.

"Fine! I'll teach you how to do it." Danny said as he wrestled his arms out of the sleeping bag. Jackson smiled and leaned back as Danny reached out and took his friend's boner in his hand. He gripped it tightly and began to stroke. He looked straight into Jackson's eyes and talked him through what he was doing. Jackson listened to his friend's voice and not long after Danny had started, Jackson began to feel a buildup in his pelvis. He groaned as he thrusted forward into Danny's hand. He looked down and saw that Danny's hand was covered in a sticky white substance and that some of it was also on his thighs. "There. Now go to bed." Danny said simply as he wiped his hand off and went to sleep.

"Wow!" Jackson whispered as he cleaned himself off and went to sleep. When he woke up in the morning, Danny was already awake and eating some pop tarts outside the tent. "Thanks for that. Last night I mean." Jackson said. Danny smiled at him and handed him a pop tart. They sat there in silence and ate their pop tarts as the birds chirped nearby.