Dave smiled. He was in his element, talking about football and college football. It was a subject he knew a lot about and loved having the opportunity to talk about it. He loved talking to Azimio about football.

A sharp pang of sadness hit Dave then. His best friend Azimio hadn't spoken to him since they left his Dad's office. He missed his friend, but didn't miss hiding the secret from him anymore. He wanted to so badly to talk to him, to get him to understand, to lash out, anything. Dave very subtly shook his head, getting those remorseful thoughts out of his head. He had a job to do.

"It feels great. It really was a team effort and the McKinley Titans pulled through!" Dave heartily answered. Ryan smiled pulling the microphone back to his mouth.

"So, that touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter seemed to seal the deal for you guys?" Ryan asked. Dave knew why he asked this question, and decided to have a little fun with it.

"Oh yeah. Once I saw the free safety hanging towards the middle and ignoring the flat, it was easy to pick up single coverage. I just looped the ball where our wide receiver Robbie Dombrowski could catch it. Of course," Dave paused for effect, and to twist the knife a little, "it was a very difficult throw and I saw Robbie struggle a little to catch it, but it was a touchdown nonetheless."

Dave saw Ryan's smile falter just a little at the mention of his son's difficulty at catching Dave's game-winning touchdown pass, but recovered pretty quickly.

"Well," Ryan began, again with that fake smile, "the pass might've been a little underthrown, but it was a touchdown."

"Oh no. The pass was perfect." Dave said, a broad, boyish smile on his face. Matt didn't understand football, but he understood pissing contests when he saw them.

Ryan paused for a brief moment before continuing the interview. The cameraman was silent, filming everything.

"Well, congratulations Dave. You're state champions!"

"Thanks!" Dave then shook his hand.

"So, tell me," Ryan began, suddenly serious, "what's in David Karofsky's future?"

Dave's smile couldn't have gotten broader.

"Well," Dave began, "I'm trying to finish high school and then I'm off to the University of Missouri…..with him." Dave concluded, turning to Matt.

But Ryan's eyes never left Dave.

"So, what about Missouri made you choose them?" Ryan asked, eyes narrowed just a bit.

Dave returned his gaze to Ryan. Dave's smile fell just a bit.

"Well," Dave carefully began, "they have a solid business program. And, their quarterback is a senior. With improvement, I could become a starter." And then, Dave put his arm around Matt's waist, turning to him briefly with his smile intact, before returning his attention to Ryan.

"And, they have a liberal approach to football players of all walks of life."

Ryan very briefly glanced at Matt before returning to Dave.

"And, what do you mean by 'liberal approach'?" Ryan asked.

Dave took the moment to pull Matt closer to him. Matt genuinely smiled up at Ryan but didn't say anything.

"That means," Dave began, now smiling like a boy, "that they accept football players in all walks of life. And, I can bring him with me."

Dave smiled at Matt. Matt's blue eyes were shining, thanks to the early sunshine pouring through the hall windows, and the pure joy in his heart. Dave goofily smiled back, so proud to have this wonderful boy at his side.

"And who is this?" Ryan asked with a frown.

"This," Dave began clearly annoyed, "is Matt Saranity. My boyfriend."

Ryan's eyes shot up in mock surprise.

"You mean to tell me, my viewers, and the world that David Karofsky is gay?" Ryan eagerly and quickly asked. The microphone couldn't have shot quicker to Dave's mouth.

"Yes." Dave said proudly.

"Well, this is a news revelation." Ryan said. Then, quite suddenly, he turned to the camera. "That's right, everyone. David Karofsky, star quarterback for the McKinley High School Titans and soon-to-be freshman at the University of Missouri, is gay."

And with that, Ryan told the cameraman to shut the camera off. Ryan, without looking at Matt, Dave, or the cameraman, turned around and briskly walked down the hall without saying anything to anyone. The cameraman struggled to keep up.

Dave frowned and didn't say anything. Matt recognized what Dave was going through.

"Hey." Matt said softly. But Dave still said and did nothing, his gaze following the quickly retreating reporter and cameraman. His heart ached.

I'm still a quarterback.

"Hey." Matt said, a little stronger. Finally, Dave turned towards his boyfriend. Matt was almost overwhelmed at the sadness in Dave's eyes. If there was ever a moment that Dave needed him, this was it. In fact, Dave was shaking slightly. Matt couldn't tell if it was out of anger or sadness or both.

"You did well." Matt said supportively. Dave nodded.

Matt gently caressed the side of Dave's face. All around them, most students were in a rush to get to homeroom. The bell was about to sound and Matt knew time was of the essence.

"Look," Matt gently began, "this is going to be a hard day. We knew this would happen. Not everyone will accept us. Just know that I love you."

Dave wanted to be reassured. In truth, he was a little reassured. He took Matt's hand and held it, gently swaying it against his thigh. He loved it when Matt would caress his cheek. Dave momentarily closed his eyes, letting these simple, loving touches calm his aching heart.

"We should get to class." Dave said.

"Yeah."

But neither boy moved. They didn't want to move. They were both afraid of what the day would bring and Dave didn't want to be too far away from Matt in case something seriously went wrong. Acceptance isn't always given.

Matt sensed what was on Dave's mind.

"You know," Matt said, pulling his hand out of Dave's firm grasp, "I'm just a text or phone call away. If anything happens, which I doubt it will, I'll let you know."

"Promise?" Dave responded quickly.

Matt stroked Dave's cheek a little harder, a little more…purposefully.

"Yes." Matt said resolutely.

.

Dave was in home room. It felt like every single pair of eyes were on him. Nobody seemed to know how to approach him. They wanted to congratulate him on the game, but were shocked that Dave was gay. The homeroom teacher hadn't performed roll call yet, but the students were eerily subdued.

Suddenly, a freshman boy walked up to Dave. Dave turned to see the fragile boy standing before him. The boy, whose name Dave never got, looked at Dave sheepishly.

"Dave?" the boy asked quietly.

"Yeah?" Dave answered.

"Would you sign my program?"

Dave saw the boy holding the state championship program. On the cover was a photo of the previous year champions, complete with all the standard logos and script.

Dave smiled.

"Of course." Dave replied, a little smile on his face.

Dave started to reach into his backpack for a pen, but the boy held one out for him. Dave took it, opened up the cover, and signed his name, his jersey number, and this little phrase –

"David Karofsky. #11. Proud to be a champion."

When he finished writing, he closed the cover and handed both the program and pen back to the kid. The kid took the items and opened up the cover. When he finished reading it, his smile could've lit up the room.

"Thanks!" the boy eagerly replied.

"You're welcome." Dave responded, an embarrassed smile on his face.

Then, the boyish freshman turned around and left.

Damn, that felt good.

.

Lunchtime. Throughout the morning, Dave was confronted with silent, shocked stares. A student asked for an autograph here and there, but he wasn't bombarded like he thought he would be.

Looks like being gay is more important than a state championship.

Dave was bitter. He was a state champion. State championships don't happen very often. But, being gay and being in a gay relationship just aren't popular things in little Lima, Ohio. Dave frowned, rounding the corner of another hall, on his way to the cafeteria. As he got closer, he kept an eye out for Matt. He desperately wanted to eat lunch with him, just to make sure Matt was OK. Well, he also wanted to just be near Matt. Dave felt lonely. He was a state champion – a gay state champion. And the school didn't seem to care about his success, with the exception of a student here and there.

Just before Dave reached the cafeteria entrance, he heard a male voice behind him, calling his name. Dave turned around to see Coach Michael Ayres approaching him, smiling. Dave was relieved.

"Congratulations on the championship, Dave!"

"Thanks." Dave said glumly.

"What's wrong?" Michael asked, frowning.

"Everybody seems to be avoiding me like the plague. I mean, I've signed a few programs, but…"

Michael looked at him sympathetically.

"You know, Dave," Michael began, "I have to question why you and Matt came out the very next school day after the championship game."

And when Dave started to protest, Michael held up a hand to silence him. Dave relented.

"But, I understand. I couldn't imagine hiding that kind of a secret all my life."

Dave half smiled. He appreciated the coach's empathy, but it did little to soothe his disappointment.

"Look," Michael began, placing his hand on Dave's shoulder, "just understand that you are a state champion. These people here will be a distant memory. You're headed to Missouri, son. I know you're disappointed, but you'll soon realize that these people here don't matter."

Dave looked up into a pair of incredibly sympathetic eyes. Dave released the breath he didn't even realize he was holding. He was so grateful for Coach Michael Ayres. He wouldn't forget this moment.

"Thanks coach." Dave said softly.

"Go eat. I'm sure the team is waiting for you." Michael said, smiling.

"Oh, I'm not eating with them."

Michael looked at Dave with a questioning look.

"I'm eating with Matt. I just…wanna eat with him."

Michael nodded in understanding. Dave doubted the coach truly understood his motivations to eat with his boyfriend, but appreciated the sentiment nonetheless.

With one final smile and congratulations, Michael turned and left. Dave watched him go for a little while before turning around and entering the cafeteria.

.

Matt was sitting in his usual spot. Dave came to a halt upon seeing him. He wanted to give Matt a quick once over just to make sure Matt had no signs of abuse or sadness. Once satisfied, he glanced at the jocks' table. Nobody saw him. So, he made a quick dash to his boyfriend's table. Matt was alone.

"Good. You're in one piece." Dave said, sitting down with a sigh.

"Told ya'!" Matt said with a big smile.

Dave smiled. He never got tired of his boyfriend's smile. Of course, that smile couldn't stop the anxiety Dave was feeling right now. Whispers and stares abounded in the cafeteria and the boys had to endure it.

A female classmate slowly walked by, state championship program in hand. She hesitated, looking at Dave. When Dave made eye contact, her eyes bulged and she quickly turned away. Dave frowned. But Matt smiled.

"Don't worry, Dave." Matt said, with a reassuring pat on Dave's hand. "She didn't deserve an autograph from the school's fabulous star quarterback."

Dave wasn't convinced, but tried his best to let it go.

"So, how was your morning? Anybody give you any trouble?" Dave asked, genuinely concerned.

Matt looked over at his boyfriend, crunching on a carrot.

"No. In fact, I think we made some headway with the jocks."

Dave's eyes widened. "No way!"

"Yup." Matt began, swallowing his carrot. "OK. Here's what happened….."

.

"…so Dude, is it true?"

Matt looks up from his book that he was studying for geometry class for third period where he is currently, as he feels little tiny pricks on his shoulder. He dismisses the pricks at first but they began to get on Matt's nerves. He then realizes someone is trying to get his attention.

Matt hadn't been in his seat for very long but he could already feel eyes on him coming from every which way. People were staring and whispering to each other, no doubt about him. It was a little- okay, a lot annoying but Matt stuck it out. He knew what he and Dave did wouldn't be easy but they did it. They had come out in front of the entire school and he couldn't be more proud of the both of them in that moment. People can stare and whisper all they want. Matt doesn't give a rat's ass. His and Dave's happiness is all that should matter to him and it does. Everything else negative is just background noise.

Matt shoots his head to the right where he sees Jamie Martinez, one of the jocks and one of only two Hispanic football players on Dave's team trying to get his attention by tapping Matt on his shoulder with his pencil, annoyingly poking Matt hard. Class had started but the teacher wasn't paying attention because she was helping another student. That was a good enough distraction for Martinez to get what he wanted to know in the first place.

"Yes Martinez it's true, if you're referring to what I think you are. Now can you stop jabbing me with that thing? Leave me alone, I am trying not to flunk this class"

Matt warns Jamie with a semi-serious glare. At this point he is irritated and knows what Jamie is trying to get at. He's not mad at Jamie for wanting to know something about his relationship because that was to be expected but he is mad at him for poking him a freshly sharpened pencil. The stabs hurt and Matt couldn't help the frustrating feeling.

There was no use in subtlety, and being subtle wasn't one Jamie's strong suits anyway along with not being the brightest light bulb in the bunch. Point was that Jamie wasn't very smart. All of this is about him and Dave. Everyone by now should know or are just learning that he and Dave Karofsky are, indeed, a very-much-in-love gay couple. It should be all over the school and all of Lima soon enough.

"Sorry, man… You and Dave are a couple?" Jamie asks. Matt is annoyed beyond belief but gives an affirming head nod to Jamie's question. Jamie acknowledges Matt's answer with a brief nod of his own.

"So, um…what did you get for #4 on the quiz?" Jamie asks while smiling sheepishly but he also seems like he wants to say more but doesn't. Matt can't help but smile back, shocked by Jamie's nonchalance about the truth. Jamie's cluelessness actually eased Matt's mind a little until some questions entered that weighed heavily. Wait, was that really it? Matt thinks. No hostile glares or homophobic remarks? No name calling, nothing at all? Matt was a little stunned at this and Jamie must've read his shocked expression because he says nothing and gives Matt a knowing smile. Jaime turns his attention away, not bothering to get the answer he wanted.

The rest of Matt's time in class was spent with Matt grinning from ear to ear knowing not everyone in the school were as much of a prick as Matt once thought. He was happy.

.

"And, I am happy Dave. Are you?" Matt quietly asked.

Dave looked pensive for a moment. Then, he looked up into Matt's loving, supportive eyes.

"God, Matt. How could I not be happy…now?"

The boys smiled. Half of their revelation school day was over. The other half was soon to begin.