Rushing to his American History class, Milton heard someone call his name. He turned around and saw the sassy lunch lady, whose name always escaped him. She waved him over.
"Shouldn't you be in class?" she asked with crossed arms and a knowing grin.
"Um… uh…" Milton stuttered.
"Okay, listen up. You help me clean up the kitchen for the rest of the hour and I'll give your teacher a note saying your absence was excused. Got it?" The agreement was struck and Milton followed her into the kitchen. Their main task was spraying down the lunch trays so they could be reused the next day.
"You seemed off today, Milton," the lunch lady began. "I notice stuff like that. You guys think I'm just in the background, but I know what's going on. Let me guess, boy problems?"
"Boy problems?" Milton feigned indignation.
"Oh honey, c'mon now, don't even try that. You're here and you're pure queer." She replied. "It's that hot one, isn't it, what's his name—"
"Jack?" Milton asked instinctively.
The lunch lady laughed. "Gotcha," she said, "that's the one your heart's set on." Then she placed her hand on top of his. "Don't worry, I'm not going to blab. My nephew's gay so I get it. I get what you're going through." Then she resumed stacking the clean trays, and the two did not share any more words.
After the dismissal bell rang, Milton headed to his locker. In the hallway, he saw Kim and Jerry looking pissed off about something.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Look!" they both shouted. On the opposite end of the hall, Jack was talking to that girl Donna who all of the Warriors but Jack seemed to hate.
"What a skank! She thinks she can just strut around in tiny skirts and high heels," Kim complained.
"Kim, her skirt's the same length as yours," Milton observed.
"Oh really, Milton? You're going to take Donna's side?"
"I didn't mean it like that—" Suddenly Jack approached and their argument would have to be put on hold.
"Donna wants to know why my friends hate her." Jack said. The other three exchanged glances. Then he cracked a smile. "Only kidding. But seriously, the looks from over here are pretty obvious."
There was silence until Jack spoke up again. "I gotta pee." Milton said he did too and they went into the bathroom together.
At the urinals, Jack unzipped his jeans and started wizzing. "What's Kim's problem?" he started. "She won't even admit to having a crush on me and she gets upset when I talk to other girls." Milton, trying to see as much of Jack's dick as he could without being caught, gave a one word affirmative answer.
"And Jerry too," Jack continued, "it's like, really man? Why do you even care? I know I'll miss them in Japan, but I kind of just need a break, you know?" Milton nodded. "Except you, Milton. You're not like them." He flushed the urinal and went to wash his hands. Milton was too nervous to pee. Then he regained his courage.
"Want to spend the night at my house, Jack? Just us. My parents love you and would be happy to have you for dinner. We'll play Xbox all night and escape this girl drama. How does that sound?"
Jack thought for a moment and then flashed his million-dollar grin, which had melted countless hearts. "Sounds good, Milton." He said while drying his hands.
"Oh, ask Eddie too." He added. Milton agreed but was secretly upset. He wanted a night alone with Jack.
"Hey, Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"Your fly's undone," Milton pointed out. Jack blushed and fixed it.
