Hoops & Hurdles
Heyo, who is ready for this chapter? Not me! Alright let's get on with it shall we...
Chapter 2 - Help Me, Help You
General P.O.V.
Today was the day, the day Marty finds out if he made the basketball team or not.
Marty very well thought he has the capability to do so, TJ did also.
TJ saw all of Marty's competition, sure he didn't pay that much attention, but his chances of making it were good.
A lot better than they were last year, and to top that there were no girls trying out for this particular team.
If Marty was not mistaken from what Buffy had told him, everyone of the girls that tried out is making the team, however the boys team can not accept everybody.
Badly, Marty wanted on this team so badly!
His heart thumped when he waited off to the side watching the other kids check the list telling who made it and who didn't
Many kids approached, some left with their chin up, others with their head hung down in shame.
Those kids Marty just assumed they did not make the cut, this lead to him believing his chances were higher of having his name as one of those names on the list.
He approached and his eyes scanned the list, there!
Right there on the list his name was on the list, he made the team.
Marty celebrated in his head and turned around be met by TJ who said, "Congrats!"
"Whoa you scared me," Marty told him making TJ chuckle to himself.
What was it about Marty that TJ loved so much, besides his physical always flushed rosy pink cheeks?
TJ said, "Sorry, anyways I had something I needed, well wanted to ask you?"
For some reason this made Marty's heart rise as he stepped over and off to the side walking along with TJ, "what is it?" he asked eagerly.
"Okay um, well this is happening, so I kinda struggle in math.."
Marty interjects, "oh yeah, Buffy told me all about it, some kind of learning disability right?"
That lying bitch! TJ thought, she promises she was not going to tell people.
"What the fuck? Buffy wasn't supposed to tell anyone about that, well now, just urgh." TJ said frustrated.
"Chill dude, it's no big deal, so what were you wanting to ask me? Help on your math, I would be glad to help with that, but isn't Buffy already your tutor?"
TJ answered, "sadly she is. I just didn't want people knowing."
"Yeah I hear you, I won't tell anyone, but for real TJ it is really fine. So?" Marty reassuringly told him.
"Okay back to the original thing, what was it? Oh yeah, so you know how we are doing gravitational stuff in science class, that involves a lot of big numbers, like I know how to do the problems, I just can't do them, the math part at least," TJ said, with his face now red, he felt vulnerable trying to confide in his only friend he felt getting help from.
He would have asked Buffy, but she is already doing so much with actual math class.
"Hm well I can help you out, we can have a study sess after school, you down for that?"
TJ felt so relieved that Marty was agreeing to helping him, "yes! That sounds great."
"In exchange I want you to teach me all your fancy dribbling moves," Marty told him with a slight smirk plastered on his face.
"Yeah totally," TJ agreed to Marty's terms.
Now Marty is on the basketball team and TJ can help him out if he needs any help, on top of that Marty will be helping TJ out in science, that is even more time he gets to spend with him.
After arriving at TJ's place, Marty picked up on a change of behavior from his normal attitude.
At school TJ was kinda like a jerk, but at home he seemed scared to slip up or do anything indecent with Marty around.
Before making it to his room that Marty was looking forward to seeing, what could only be TJ's mom stopped us, "now TJ remember the rules about boys up in your room."
TJ felt his heart skip a beat, he was terrified, how much of that could Marty figure out?
No way Marty could figure out exactly what she was talking about.
TJ whined, "Mo-aahm please!" followed by the shake of his head a big fat no with his finger pushing up against his lips shushing his mom.
Marty was left wondering what that weird exchange was all about, it almost seemed as if she was talking about no having girls up in your room, because y'all might be making out and junk.
But TJ has rules about boys in his room… that doesn't make sense.
Meanwhile TJ was cooling down hoping that Marty doesn't ask.
TJ doesn't wanna tell him that he is gay and his mom does not trust him alone with boys, when she learn that it is not easy getting a boyfriend, sure it was easy for her, but that was all due to the fact that she is a girl.
TJ is happy that he is out, and can act his normal gay self at home, around his family, he just wished his mom would understand to not say things like that when he has a guy over.
Or any person for that matter, more often than not he brought no one over in fear of what his mother might say.
Marty could tell that TJ did not enjoy that little ordeal with his mom, so he was polite and didn't bother to bring it up at all.
After a while of trying to make TJ understand, Marty realized that maybe there was another reason that TJ was failing.
It seemed like his own self doubt was getting in the way of his own success.
TJ threw down his book in a hot rage, "I can't do this!"
"Whoa there TJ, yes you can, you almost had it," Marty said sweetly, despite being overall frightened by TJ's rage.
"No I didn't, you did most of it, I'm too damn fucking stupid," TJ said with his anger turning into hot tears followed by a soft sob.
This broke Marty's heart seeing his crush calling himself stupid, and crying about it.
"TJ, please don't ever say that again," Marty said,
"Why the hell not, it's true isn't it? I'm just a big retard who can't even do some equations," he said exhausted.
"No! It's not true, learning is a lot more difficult for you than everyone else, and I'd say you are doing great with it."
"Well I can't do it, and I won't do it. I'm tired of trying I always fail, sorry for wasting your time, that's what happens with all my tutors."
Marty stood his ground, "Uh-un I am not leaving yet, this will not be a waste of time, once I teach you, everyone is capable of learning you are too, just it will take a bit longer, and that is fine."
TJ wiped tears from his eyes, and face asking, "Thanks, but why are you being so nice to me?"
"Because I know that you can do this, I believe in you," Marty told him honestly and truthfully.
"Since you are willing to put in the effort to teach me, I will only do what's right, and put in the effort to learn. Even if I don't believe in myself."
"That's good, however you should believe in yourself, you are great, I wish you could see that, you're not dumb, you're far from it."
This made TJ realize his crush was not giving up on him like his past teachers and tutors had, he was being so nice, he couldn't even cry if he wanted to anymore.
Marty made him feel that good, they gave it another shot, kept at it, and eventually Marty made a breakthrough.
That breakthrough being that TJ was starting to understand, "and who said they couldn't do it?" Marty inquired.
TJ wholeheartedly giggled, "me, but to fair I really thought I couldn't do it… thanks for believing in me, it means a lot."
Marty wished TJ could be this polite and gentle all the time, why was it only know away from school he was seeing this side of TJ.
"Hey TJ?"
"Mhm?" TJ hummed.
"About earlier, what was your mom talking about, the rules of having boys in your room?"
Marty had to ask the question he couldn't stop thinking about it, although TJ wished he had never heard his mom ask that question.
He was not thrilled his mom had said that or that Marty was bothering to ask about it.
TJ told him, "oh nothing, just my mom being her usual self."
Marty raised a eyebrow, "is that what she will say if I ask her about it?"
"Stop! You wouldn't dare, please don't, I'll tell you," TJ sighed and went on, "so you know how a overprotective mother won't let her daughter have teenage boys stay in her room with her?"
"Yeah?"
"It's just like that, here…" TJ stopped there hoping he did not have to go any farther, and Marty would just understand.
Not wanting to ask if he was gay or something Marty asked, "what are the rules she mentioned?"
"Oh you don't wanna know," TJ tried convincing him.
"Oh, but I do, it's why I just asked, so come on tell me?"
TJ wondered, is Marty really not getting it?
TJ closed his eyes then opened them again, and he began, "it's just dumb stuff like no kissing…" TJ's voice trailed off.
"That's ridiculous your mom should let you kiss whatever boy you want."
TJ quickly asked, "WannaBreakTheRule?"
Luckily Marty did not catch that, "What'd you say?"
"Nothing!"
"Oh no no no, mister you said something," Marty said creeping closer to TJ who was getting nervous.
"Can I just tell you something else, something I'd like to tell you, now that you um kinda know, in case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm gay?"
What, so he was not just kidding, he was serious, "fine, tell me," Marty said hiding his extreme excitement.
TJ let out a heavy breath as a drop of sweat ran down his side, "I like someone in this room."
Marty asked, "is it me?" almost nervous like which scared TJ, maybe TJ should have seen it coming that Marty wouldn't like a guy gushing over him.
"No, silly it's me, I like myself, like have you seen how great I am?"
Marty didn't buy it, "are you sure, early you were calling yourself dumb?"
"Yeah I'm sure," TJ stated.
"Well that's a shame, I'm sure the other person would like you back."
TJ flipped out, "are you for real?"
Marty just nodded his head, he has not came out to anyone, as whatever he is, pansexual he thinks it is, he is not too sure.
"Okay, okay I lied it is you, oh my gosh I can hardly believe this, I could just, I could just… kiss you."
Marty simply said, "hmm, as nice as that sounds, you can't, remember your mom's rule?" killing all of TJ's excitement.
"Fuck my moms rule, a guy actually likes me back," TJ said still overjoyed apparently Marty had not killed his excitement.
Marty made a plan, "how about this, you get this next problem right, and we can break some rules."
TJ didn't wanna believe that Marty was serious, "you're seriously never going to make me wait?"
Marty nodded his head yes, if his cheeks were not already red, they would be.
TJ groaned and got right to work on the problem to get it done.
He slowed down rather quickly he couldn't get it wrong, he wanted this kiss so badly.
If Marty was being honest, even if TJ got the problem wrong he would still allow for a kiss, TJ was not the only one desperately wanting it.
A little while later while Marty was getting antsy preparing for his first kiss with a guy, TJ finished up the problem, and said, "done," sliding the book over to Marty for him to check it.
It wasn't even a second, and Marty said, "looks good, now kiss me already sexy."
Before TJ was able to argue about the his answer to the problem, he was kissing his first boy.
Oh boy did it feel great TJ thought, he always knew he wanted this, and it was even better finally getting it.
Marty thought about how great it felt, but his parents, would say it's wrong.
When Marty pulled away TJ asked, "did you call me sexy?"
This embarrassed Marty, "uhh, yeah," said flinching.
"Great I'll just call you adorable, also you didn't really check the problem, did you?"
"Nope."
TJ asked, "Well could you, that is kinda important."
"Yeah totally," Marty answered, checked the problem, and looked up smiling at TJ, not because they had kissed, but because he had gotten it right, "you got it right," Marty told him.
"Alrightly, looks like someone owes me a kiss," he said with a smirk.
"You already had yours."
"Well come get another," TJ said with his cocky attitude back, "I know you want to."
"I do," Marty admitted, and TJ took this lead this time for the kiss, and when they pulled back his mom was waiting for him in the doorway.
"TJ Kippen, what was rule number one?!"
Flustered, both boys were, getting caught kissing one another, TJ told her apologetically, "sorry mom."
End Of Chapter 2
Well that turned out a lot better than I expected, I actually had fun writing this whole study session. Now I need your input, how was it? Reeet! Cya next chapter, which sadly won't be for a while cause of dumb school related stuff.
~ Banana