Chad opened his mouth, but then quickly shut it.
"Chad?" Ryan pursued his lips together tightly.
"I can't say it. I've never been able to." Chad continued on.
Ryan quickly made his way to Chad, kneeling in front of him, doing as he did earlier, bringing his eyes to meet his.
"If I can say it, you can say it. Even if it's just to me." Ryan insisted.
Chad let out a sigh.
"Ryan, I'm gay." he said.
"I'm gay." he repeated himself.
Ryan smiled, letting go of Chad's chin.
"How long have you known, Ry?" Chad asked.
Ryan didn't even notice Chad's usage of his foreshortened name.
"Since I was 13." he replied.
"How did you know?" Chad asked.
Ryan didn't reply.
"Ryan, don't go closing yourself on me, now." Chad chuckled.
"It was during gym class. When I," Ryan began, closing his eyes, "first saw you in the showers."
Chad's eyes widened.
"Wh-wh-wh," he stuttered.
"When I first saw you naked, in the showers." Ryan finished for him.
Chad found himself blushing, despite the creeped out feeling he got.
"Good to know I'm attractive." he teased.
Ryan chuckled, glad to have it out in the open.
Chad leaned against the countertop, resting himself on his shoulders.
"And for you?" Ryan asked.
Chad shrugged.
"I don't have a particular moment where it became clear." he replied.
Ryan nodded.
"But I guess, if we're being honest, I wouldn't be lying if I said you had something to do with it." Chad continued on.
Ryan let out a choked laugh.
"Pardon moi?" he questioned.
"Ryan, you're gorgeous. I always thought any girl would be lucky to have you." Chad said quietly.
"Me? Chad, I'm a pasty toothpick." Ryan exclaimed, throwing his hands out to the side.
Chad pulled himself away from the counter and poked Ryan in the ribs, into which Ryan giggled.
"That, Ryan, is muscle. You're not a toothpick. Pasty, maybe, but it's endearing on you." he pointed out.
Ryan raised his eyebrows in question.
"Not that I would know." Chad corrected himself, blushing.
After Ryan glowered at him, Chad chuckled.
"Fine! I peeked once during gym, okay?" he exclaimed.
Ryan grinned at him.
"Like what you saw?" he asked.
Chad licked his lips subconsciously.
"Can't say that I didn't." he replied, realizing that he had stepped closer towards Ryan, so close, that their foreheads were almost touching.
Ryan cocked his head to the side.
Suddenly, Chad couldn't help himself, and his lips were upon Ryan's, kissing him fiercly, slipping his tongue between the younger boy's lips, fighting for control against Ryan's tongue.
