"Oh jeez mom, hurry up! I'm gonna be late!"

"Oh put a sock in it Blaine. You're just going over to the Lynn's house not attending a white house dinner"

I rocked back and forth on my heels watching as my mom stood there waiting for the pie she made in the oven. She always had this habit of making something special whenever I'd say I'll be going over to Ryder's place. School ended like 2 hours ago, that's around the time I told her I'd be staying at my best friend's house for the weekend and that's how long she has kept me home just because of her chicken pot pie.

Ding

The alarm she set on her iPhone finally rang and she turned down the oven. With a mitten on her hand, my mom took out the pie and set it on the table.

"Does this mean I can go now?" I asked looking at the clock and seeing it was already a quarter to 6.

"Yes dear, but you have to wait for the pie to cool off, wouldn't be as long maybe a half hour?"

An hour later, I was holding the stupid pie while I rang the doorbell to Ryder's house. It was already dark out and I was kinda upset that just because of this pie I'd already wasted time staying at home doing nothing when I could've been already doing stuff with my best friend. I looked around me and saw the night lamp posts were already on and there was a chilly breeze in the air. I sighed. So much wasted time...

The door to the house suddenly opened and it was Mrs. Lynn who greeted me.

"Well hello there Blaine." She smiled as she planted a kiss on my cheek.

"Good evening Mrs. Lynn, for you, mom made it" I said as I handed her the pie.

"Oh thank you! Beth is always such a sweetie... Come inside dear, I think Ryder is upstairs in his room." She said her brown eyes twinkling with delight. Mrs. Lynn disappeared into the kitchen and I took that as a queue to invite myself in. As I went for the stairs, Harvey, Ryder's dog, passed by and woofed at me.

"Hey there Harv" I patted him on the head before ascending the stairs with him following me behind.

Reaching the top step, I hear Ryder cuss out loudly. Wondering what had happened; I proceeded to his room and found Ryder on his computer with his headphones.

"Hey Ryder" I said tossing my bag on his bed. He didn't say anything. The guy was too preoccupied that only when I stood right beside him and put an arm on his shoulder to lean down, he finally realized I was there.

"Oh, I didn't know you were here already" he grinned sheepishly for a second at me before shifting his eyes back on to his monitor. He was playing League of Legends, no wonder he was too busy. "See that? That was epic Artie"

"Artie?" I asked.

"Yup, I'm on Skype right now with him and Sam" he said without peeling his eyes off the game.

"You're playing with Sam?"

"Yup, he's playing ADC, Artie's in the jungle." He explained. I didn't care so much about Artie but I was surprised to find out he was actually Skyping with Sam right now.

"Are you guys winning?" I asked peering closer to the screen.

"Yea we have a lead, 10 – 4, haven't died yet." Ryder said so smugly. He went on explaining how the player he was matched up on top couldn't compare to him but I didn't really pay attention much. I got reminded of my talk with Sam a couple of days ago and how he had said that he was surprised to find out that Ryder was my best friend. I wondered why hadn't Ryder said that to him?

I was watching Ryder play silently when suddenly the game froze and the 'Attempting to Reconnect' sign appeared on his screen.

"Wait... What the...? Ffffuu..!" Ryder suddenly yelled. "Mooooom! Did you touch the router cables again?!"

"No I did not dear, maybe it was your sister." Mrs. Lynn's voice called from downstairs.

"What... She's here?" Ryder asked more to himself. "Rebecca!" he yelled as he stood up from the computer chair and marched outside. I slowly followed him, but stopped by the doorway since he was just standing by the hallway.

"Rebecca! Did you mess up the internet?" Ryder called.

"So what if I did dweeb? It was running slow and I couldn't video skype with Hans"

"What the fuck did you do that for?! I was playing a game!"

"Ryder, watch your language young man!" Mrs. Lynn warned.

"Ugh! Just tell her not to mess with the internet, I'm doing something important!" Ryder was really getting frustrated as he raked his hand through his brown hair, messing it up.

"You call playing a stupid game important? What a loser, I can't believe I'm related to you." His sister sassed.

"Rebecca!" Mrs. Lynn warned again.

"What? It's true, every time he comes home from school that's what he always does. Play his stupid computer games." Rebecca argued.

"Well at least I don't stay on the damn phone 24 7 when I come home from my stupid college every weekend." Ryder said sarcastically.

"Alright that's enough you two! Dinner will be ready in a bit, you two stop fighting or I'll take away the internet box again." Mrs. Lynn said before disappearing again into the kitchen. Ryder glared at his sister who just rolled her eyes and strutted off.

"Chill out bud, it's just a game." I tried to calm my best friend down as he grumpily stomped back to his room.

"Grrr... You don't understand Blaine! We were winning , we had it in the bag and we were clashing and... GAHH!" Ryder kicked the computer chair and it wheeled past the room.

"As I said... just a game"

"Ugh... you just... don't get it, nevermind..." Ryder hopelessly clicked on his mouse repeatedly and I just sat on his bed watching him. When he didn't say anything after a few minutes, I took it he didn't want to talk so I decided to just do my homework on Algebra.

I pulled out the worksheets from my bag and got a start on them. Ryder made some comment about being no fun and I just told him off saying I wouldn't let him copy my answers which shut him up apparently.

A little while later, Ryder started apologizing and I thought for a second he was talking to me but looking up, he had his eyes on the computer. I guess the internet was back up for him.

"I'm really sorry guys, my stupid sister turned off the internet..." Ryder started explaining. Pausing from my Math homework, I went over to Ryder and took my initial position beside him.

"Hey can you put them on speaker?" I asked.

"Why?" Ryder asked.

"N-no reason, nevermind" I backed out feeling a little embarrassed and honestly why did I want Ryder to put them on speaker? I sighed and got back to the homework which I surprisingly finished in good time, wasn't sure if all my answers were correct though.

Ryder gave a huge sigh and I looked up and saw that he was already turning off his computer. He got out of the chair and jumped on the bed, lying beside where I sat.

"Done playing?" I asked.

"Yea, Sam needed to go and Artie would've loved to play again but he had to go eat dinner first." Ryder said as he grabbed a pillow and covered it on his face. Not long after that, Ryder's dad came home. Mrs. Lynn called us all for dinner and Ryder and I both got downstairs and gathered around the dinner table where his sister and his parents were already there.

After saying grace, everyone got seated save for Mrs. Lynn who set the meal on the table. She even put out the Chicken Pot Pie that my mom made which she thanked me once again at the table. Mr. Lynn gave a weary smile at me and said "Bless Beth's heart, always so thoughtful"

One of the things I enjoy when I have sleepovers with my best friend is his mom's cooking. Don't get me wrong my mom doesn't cook horrible or anything. It's just I guess, Mrs. Lynn's cooking was just really really good and I would always tell her that after every meal.

Tonight she made some kind of creamy chicken stew with carrots, potatoes and mushroom which she said was called "Cream Chicken" with a smile. I told her it was really good and she thanked me for the compliments I never fail to give.

Halfway through the meal, when Rebecca was already busy with her phone, Mr. Lynn cleared his throat and asked. "So boys, how's school?" I turned to look at Ryder who had a mouthful of food and in turn just mirrored the look I gave him before turning back to his dad. "Fine" we both said in unison.

"So, any girls you boys interested in?" Mr. Lynn smiled

"Robert!" Mrs. Lynn said chastising her husband.

"Oh come Martha, they're not 8 anymore, the boys are in high school these things are bound to happen"

"Not 8 anymore but still having sleepovers like they are" Rebecca muttered under her breath but no one reacted to it

"Any one Blaine?" Mr Lynn asked. I thought to myself, I did have my eyes on someone, but that someone was not really a girl. I decided to keep quiet about it and shook my head

"Oh come on, there's gotta be someone at school that you have your eyes on"

"Um… not really, but Ryder does" I blurted out in an attempt to divert the attention away from me and I managed to, everyone turned to Ryder

"Oh really? You never told me anything about it Ryder, who is it?"

"Uh… no, nobody" Ryder denied to my surprise

"Oh come on son, tell us who is it"

"Well whoever it is don't bother, because she's not gonna like you when she finds out that you're a loser" Rebecca quipped getting a frown from Ryder. Both Mr and Mrs Lynn told Rebecca off asking her to be nice to Ryder.

"Who's my boy head over heels for huh Blaine?" Mr. Lynn turned to ask me instead.

"Oh..." For a second, I thought to myself that this would be the perfect opportunity to take revenge on Ryder for not mentioning me to Sam. Hah, sorry bud but this is nothing personal. "Ryder really likes my friend Marley"

"Marley eh?" Mr. Lynn smiled and Ryder just glared at me. Mr Lynn went on explaining about young love and a bunch of stuff saying how he was back then in high school and all the girls he dated which of course Mrs. Lynn didn't take a liking to.

Eventually once dinner was over Ryder had to clean the dishes so I headed upstairs to his room first and readied my stuff on the mattress on the floor which I would be sleeping at. About 5 minutes later Ryder came in and started arguing with me, "What the hell man, why'd you tell my parents about Marley!"

"Why not? I mean they have the right to know who their son dates right?"

"I don't want them to know!"

"Why not? I mean, they are your parents they have the right to know"

"Whatever" Ryder said plainly and turned away to his computer, after a few clicks of the mouse he was in game once again except this time he wasn't talking to anyone. I minded my own business doing my own work and the silence between us kinda bothered me but not enough to initiate a conversation with him. Once the guy was done with his game Ryder began stripping his clothes down to his boxers while I bit my lip watching. I couldn't help it, my best friend had a physique that I admired, and secretly lusted for. Just his body though, I'm not into my best friend like that. Ryder tossed his clothes in the laundry bin and headed out side without saying a word to me

I didn't notice when he returned with a towel around his waist, his body wet and his hair drenched.

I swallowed a lump in my throat, liking what I saw very much. Next thing I realized is that I was staring at Ryder's bare ass as he took the towel off and searched for his pajamas in his wardrobe. I couldn't stop staring and I was sitting an erection in my pants already. Immediately I reached for my bag and covered my crotch to conceal the bulge in my pants. I pretended to be searching for something in my bag to distract myself to lose my boner but my eyes kept going to Ryder's naked body.

I admit it was kind of wrong to look at my best friend like that but then again, it wasn't like I chose to be gay right? Either way, I would never ever do anything that might ruin the relationship I had with Ryder and that may include lusting over him. I mean he has been my friend since pre-school, who knew 10 years later, that messy little kid I called my best bud would have a body that could get me hard.

Ryder's hard work at the gym really paid off for him. I couldn't stop staring at his big chest, his muscled arms, and his broad shoulders. I just kept telling myself he's your best friend. Stop it Blaine. This is wrong.

After Ryder got dressed in his jammies, he returned back to the computer, still not a word to me but by now I'd already accepted the fact that he was upset at me. I decided to just call it a night since there was no likelihood of us doing anything else together, so I got under the sheets and settled down.

I lost track of time but I didn't really fall asleep yet. I heard the computer shutting down sound and soon the lights were out too and the sound of Ryder getting in his bed told me he was gonna call it a night too.

"Blaine...?" he suddenly whispered in the dark.

"Yea..?"

"You still awake?"

"No Ryder, I sleep talking." I held back the urge to laugh.

"Oh... I, umm... sorry for getting upset at you earlier about the whole thing..."

"It's ok... I'm sorry I told your parents... it's just..." I stopped at the last second cause I was about to say he didn't tell Sam we were best friends and that would sound weird to him I bet.

"Just what?" Ryder picked up on my hesitation.

"Bud, I have a question" I said.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"I'm your best friend right?" I asked

"Of course man, I mean aren't I yours?" he asked.

"Yea you are but..." I decided there was no other way to find out than just confront him about it. "I was talking to Sam the other day and..."

"And?"

"It sucks Cooperman is coming back huh?" I changed at the last second.

"Yea it does... Wish Sam could stay, he's really cool" Ryder said.

"I know, maybe we could get rid of him?" I suggested, something that I've been thinking about for a while now.

"How?"

"Well I've come up with a few possibilities but we'll talk about it tomorrow k?" I say.

"Okay."

"Oh and Ryder..." I couldn't hold it in. I was curious why on earth had he not mentioned me to Sam before.

"Yea?"

"Speaking of Sam..." here it was, the moment of truth.

"Mm hmm?"

"Why... didn't you tell Sam I was your best friend?" I let out, immediately I felt my heart throb faster, wondering what he would say.

"Oh, I didn't think it mattered, I mean you said don't like him that much right?"

"Right..." I said coldly.

"Is there something wrong Blaine?" Ryder tried to ask.

"No..." I fake yawned. "I'm just sleepy I guess."

"Oh, okay... good night bud..." he says.

"G'night" I say back but in my head his words kept repeating over and over. It didn't matter. It didn't matter. It didn't matter.

It didn't matter.