A/N: Well guys, here it is, my mid-week update. ^_^

First off, I want to give a big shout out to TheBlackSnorlax. He has his own MU story here on FFN called MU The Freshman Years, which now has a sequel. If you're into mob stories and slash pairings with OCs I definitely recommend you give it a read. He's been a bit of an inspiration to me lately, and I'd appreciate it if you could all give him some props too.

Now, remember in my last chapter I mentioned a surprise? Well, for those of you crazy enough to still be reading this story, I want to give you all a big thank you for all the love and support you've shown me and Trust. So this is what I propose; a small gift from me to you. One chapter every day from now until Christmas day. Seven chapters in seven days. I've got most of them written out in rough, so I have no doubt I can deliver on this promise. I hope you all enjoy it. :)

And now that I've been ranting on for long enough, on with the story...

They had walked around the campus grounds for a little over twenty minutes now without uttering a single word to each other. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but it wasn't a warm one either. Randy decided that if anything was going to be settled between them, he'd have to make the first move.

"So, about that night…" he said, hoping it would lead Big Red into his explanation.

"Hm? Oh, oh yeah," the larger monster muttered.

It seemed Big Red had been lost in some kind of trance, deep in thought. Randy only hoped it wasn't to think up some kind of elaborate lie, although despite everything he didn't have Big Red pegged as the deceptive type.

"You mind if we find somewhere to sit first?" Big Red asked.

"Sure," he replied, gesturing over to a nearby bench. "How about there?"

"Perfect."

The two monsters took a seat on the bench and again silence befell them. This time, after a couple of minutes, Big Red spoke up first.

"Randy, first of all, I just wanna apologise for how I acted at the party. But you gotta know I don't have anything against ya for being bisexual."

Randy decided he seemed sincere enough, becoming guilty that he had in fact gotten the wrong impression.

"It's just…" he continued before trailing off. He paused to think for a moment, a slight frown appearing before he spoke again. "It's just that it brought up a lot of questions, y'know?"

"Um, no, I don't know," Randy chuckled, amused by the presumption.

Big Red chuckled too, realising how stupid that must have just sounded. "I'm sorry; I'm not too good at explaining myself. Why'd you think I'm so into sports? Can't write an essay to save my life."

"You know I could always help you with that," Randy said, smiling warmly.

"Oh no, you don't wanna be offering that. Any of the others in the house catch wind of it and you'll have five more essays added to your load," he said.

The two shared another laugh at this before resuming their previous silence. It was decidedly more comfortable now, the ice having been broken, but there were still more questions to be answered.

Randy studied Big Red for a moment, noticing how his restless body language indicated he was still nervous and that he kept glancing over at the freshman with an unidentifiable expression.

"So," Randy piped up. "What were these questions my sexuality brought up?"

"Oh, well, uh," he stammered, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. It looked as though he was trying to think of something to say before he sighed and slumped forward slightly, seemingly giving up on thinking up an excuse. "I guess… it got me questioning my own."

"Your own?" Randy repeated slowly, confused. Then it suddenly dawned on him.

Randy wasn't sure if this realisation showed on his face, but he soon figured it must have when it prompted Big Red to speak up again. "Yeah, it got me thinking. Now, it's not something new to me. I've wondered if I was gay or not before. It's just… something I preferred burying deep down instead of facing it."

"Oh, I see." It somewhat saddened Randy to hear his friend say something like this. "So, finding out my sexuality was kinda like… opening old wounds?"

"Something like that," he said before turning away again. "Y'see, all my life I've heard being gay is a bad thing. Now, don't get me wrong I don't believe a word of it, but it wasn't until I came here I heard a single good thing said about being gay. So when I first had the thought that I might be gay, I didn't wanna think about it. I didn't wanna be one of those monsters that got pointed and laughed at, shouted at, beaten up… I didn't wanna be seen as a bad monster."

He sighed before turning back to Randy. "You see, I've always been a pretty popular guy. I was happy with the way things were. So you can imagine, back in high school, I was under pressure to keep up the reputation I had. I didn't wanna go ruining it all just on the chance that I might be gay, because I wasn't even sure I was back then. I'm not even sure now."

Randy offered a small, reassuring smile. "But you know things are different here, right? You can be whoever you want to be and still be just as popular. Monsters don't seem to be as shallow here."

Big Red snorted. "That's a pretty big assumption."

"Prove me wrong."

The larger monster was visibly surprised by Randy's persistence. "You sure are a hopeful kind of guy, aren't ya?"

"I like to give monsters the benefit of the doubt," he shrugged.

"Didn't see a lot of that for myself," he countered with a wry smirk.

Randy chuckled with a slight edge of embarrassment. "Yeah, sorry about that. I guess I really did overreact that night. It's just, well, I really care about you Big Red. So when I thought the worst, I just… I just…"

Randy trailed off, seemingly too upset to continue the thought, and he even had to hold back tears that threatened to fall again. Big Red reached an arm around him, pulling him into a hug much gentler than Randy had ever known from him.

"Hey, don't worry about it," the larger monster said with a large grin. "You thought what you thought because I did what I did. We've cleared it up now, right?"

Randy met Big Red's gaze with a smile of his own. "Yeah, I think we have."

They broke the hug and simply basked in the warmth of the realisation that their friendship was back on track.

"So… you said you're not really sure," Randy spoke up. "About your sexuality, I mean."

"Oh, yeah, well… I guess maybe I am, if I really think about it. I mean, I've never really been attracted to girls before, but I can't really say the same about guys."

"So you've been attracted to guys then?"

"Thinking back on it, I think I probably was back in high school too. I just thought it was some kind of… I dunno, confusion before. But, yeah, I think I could definitely say I've been attracted to guys since high school."

Randy chuckled slightly. He was seeing another side to Big Red, not the loud, boisterous, larger-than-life monster he'd come to know, but the more timid, unsure side of him. Randy had to wonder how many monsters actually got to see this side to him, and if he was in fact one of a privileged few.

"So, do you think you'll perhaps, y'know..?" Randy trailed off, emphasising the last part to imply his point.

"Come out?" Big Red finished for him. "I dunno. It's a big step. I haven't told anyone besides you."

Randy was both shocked and touched by this. "So, not even your parents know? Or the other guys?"

The red monster shook his head. "Nope. I dunno how my folks would react, or the guys. I don't wanna make them feel uncomfortable. They might not wanna stick around if they find out their president's gay."

"Don't say that," he reassured. "They'll be fine with it, I just know it."

"How can you be so sure?"

Randy opened his mouth to answer, but promptly shut it. There was no way of knowing, really. He then thought of a way to find out. "Do they know about me?"

Big Red shook his head again. "They did ask about that night, a lot, but I didn't tell 'em anything. Y'know, in case you didn't want me to."

Even during the tension of that night at the party he was looking out for Randy's best interests, and this only touched the freshman more. "OK, well here's what we'll do," he began with a wide smile. "I'll come out to them first. Then we can gauge by their response if it's a good idea for you to do the same. How does that sound?"

The plan sounded ridiculously simple, almost as though a child would have suggested it, but it was honestly the best Randy could think of. Still, it did seem to have its desired effect as Big Red grinned wide, looking almost impressed with the reptilian monster. "You'd really do that for me?"

"Of course," he said. "You just wait and see, it won't be a problem with them at all. They won't see you any differently, trust me."

"Well, if you're sure," he chuckled nervously.

"Is there a party going on tonight?"

"Yeah, but we got about half an hour before it starts."

"So we've got time to tell them now then?"

"You wanna do it now?!"

Randy shrugged. "It's as good a time as any. Look, Red, this must have been playing on your mind for way too long already. Don't you wanna just get it off your chest now?"

Big Red sighed. "Well, yeah, I guess."

"Great," he cut in, making sure his friend didn't have time to think of an argument against it. He stood from the bench and gestured towards Frat Row. "Come on then, let's do this whilst we still have the time."

The large red monster let out a chuckle. So many years he'd been worried about this and yet Randy was acting like it was no big deal. He couldn't help but feel reassured. "Sure, let's do it!" he said in his usual booming voice.

The two walked their way over to the JOX house with a renewed sense of confidence, an arm around one another as they once again simply enjoyed being in each other's presence.

"Heh, I'm thinking this is gonna be the best one yet," Johnny said as he stirred the pot on the stove.

All of the other RORs rolled their eyes at this as they gathered up the supplies they were taking to the party.

"You say that every time, Johnny," Chip groaned.

"Hey, this time I mean it," he chuckled.

"You say that almost every time too," Javier said flatly.

"Whatever," he muttered before turning back to the pot. He still felt this was going to be the best chilli he'd ever cooked and there was going to be nothing to deflate his thoughts about it.

Once sure everyone else had cleared the kitchen, Javier approached the ROR president, a slight smirk on his face.

"So, what's got you in such a good mood?" he asked.

"Just… thinking about how lucky I am to have friends like you guys."

"Oh? Why'd you say that?"

"Because it's true."

Javier rolled his eyes and chuckled slightly. "No, I mean what's got you thinking that now? We all know you consider us good friends, but you don't often voice it."

Johnny stopped stirring the pot, looking up to his friend for a moment. "Really? Huh, perhaps I should more often then," he said before resuming fussing over his chilli.

"Johnny, that chilli's been done for a full ten minutes now. What are you trying to avoid?"

Johnny sighed before taking the chilli of the heat and turning back to his friend. "OK, I'm trying to distract myself from thinking too much about this party. Y'know, because of what happened last week."

"Oh," he replied, realisation coming to him. "Do you think perhaps he'll be there tonight?"

"I doubt it," he said sadly. "Shame really, he never did get to taste my chilli. I don't think, anyway."

"So this is all about giving Randy a taste of your cooking?" Javier chuckled.

"Of course not, it's just… Well, I don't like to think of him feeling excluded, is all. I just wish that he and Big Red would kiss and make up already."

Javier laughed more now. "Poor choice of words, my friend."

Johnny laughed at this then. "Oh come on, like that would happen."

"Well, I dunno… Could explain a few things."

"Like what? It's not like Big Red's gay or anything."

Javier remained silent, but Johnny could've sworn he saw Javier's smirk widen slightly.

"No way," Johnny gasped. "He isn't, is he?"

"Well, I can't say for certain. But I think it's likely."

"Huh, wouldn't have been able to tell myself. And here I was thinking I had the most accurate gaydar on campus," he chuckled.

"I could be wrong though, so don't go telling anyone," Javier warned.

"My lips are sealed."

Johnny went about transferring the chilli to a suitable container to take to the party whilst thinking about this piece of potential information. "Still, you're right," he spoke up again. "If that's true it might explain that night pretty damn well."

"We can only hope the two get the chance to talk it out."

Johnny stopped in his tracks, eyes twinkling as though and idea was rapidly forming.

"No!" Javier snapped. "You can't interfere again. Just because you figured out what happened, it doesn't mean you know why. Let Randy deal with this one."

The horned monster sighed as he finished packaging the chilli up. "Alright, alright. But if they don't do it soon I can't promise I won't step in and do it for them."

"Then talk to Randy about it. Not right now, though, you've only just begun to sort out your own problems. But if it's that much of a concern, talk it out first."

"Yeah, that probably would be best." He then looked up to Javier with a wide smile on his face. "What would I do without you, Jav?"

Javier shrugged and smiled wide again. "We both know you'd have gotten yourself killed by fourth grade."

Johnny laughed. "True enough. C'mon, let's get going. Don't wanna be too late to this party."

Big Red and Randy walked into the JOX house to find the others making the final preparations for the party. They all turned to see who had come in and a buzz instantly generated amongst them.

"Randy!" they all called out, rushing to come and greet their friend.

"Hey guys," he chuckled, receiving a confusing mix of handshakes and hugs.

"OK guys, take five," Big Red told his brothers. "We've got something to discuss before the party starts."

"Is this gonna be about the party last week?" Percy asked.

"Yeah, you never did tell us about that," Dirk said.

"Guys, let us get to the couch first," Big Red chuckled.

The whole group made their way to the main living area, Big Red and Randy taking up the couch while the others took a seat in one of the many chairs dotted around the room.

"Well, what's this about?" Percy asked.

"I'll let Randy go first," Big Red said.

All eyes turned to the young reptilian monster who suddenly became very nervous. He took a deep breath before he spoke up.

"So, um, guys, I've got something I need to tell you all."

The group remained silent as they looked between Big Red and Randy.

"I, uh, I wanted to tell you all that, uh…" He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly; this was actually harder than he'd initially thought. Big Red gave him a pat on the shoulder, smiling down on him reassuringly. "I wanted to tell you that I'm… bisexual."

The group simply stood there, not moving or saying anything. Their expressions didn't change either. Big Red and Randy just exchanged puzzled looks; this wasn't the reaction, or lack of, that they'd been expecting. Just then, a couple of chuckles could be heard before the whole group burst out laughing.

"Oh wow, shocker!" Percy said whilst laughing.

"W-Wait, you guys already knew?!" Randy cried. "H-How-"

"Oh come on, Randy," Dirk butted in. "We've seen the way you keep ogling Johnny at our parties. How could we not know?"

"What?!" Randy's face instantly flushed a deep crimson as he began floundering slightly. "A-Am I really that obvious?!"

"Dude, the only way you could be any more obvious is if you'd have been making moves on him," Percy said, rolling his eye.

"O-OK, then," Randy said, still incredibly embarrassed. "Kinda deflates the mood."

"I didn't notice," Big Red muttered lowly.

"Aw, don't worry about it Randy," Baboso said. "It's not like we think any less of you. I mean come on, Johnny is hot. If any of us were interested, we'd be all over him too. Well, except Big Red that is."

Big Red and Randy both snapped their attention to the spotted blue monster. "Wait, what did you say?" the red monster gasped.

"You didn't think we didn't know?" Percy said in disbelief. "You're our fraternity president. How could we not?"

"Oh, well, I guess…" If it weren't for his red skin, Big Red would surely have had a blush to rival Randy's. "When did you guys figure it out?"

"Not long after we first met you, really," Dirk shrugged.

"But I wasn't even sure myself until now..."

"Well, we were!" Percy chuckled. "Sorry big guy, we didn't mean to mess up your big 'announcement'. But honestly, we thought you had other news for us."

"What other news?" Big Red asked, baffled.

"Well we thought you were gonna tell us you two finally hooked up."

"What?!" Randy and Big Red exclaimed in unison, slightly shuffling away from each other.

The others all roared with laughter again. The two monsters weren't sure whether to be annoyed, relieved or amused.

"What gave you that idea?" Randy said, finally managing a chuckle.

"All the signs were there," Percy pointed out. "Big Red never takes a shine to someone as quick as he did with you."

"That doesn't mean I like him that way," Big Red huffed.

"Oh, well excuuuuuse me," he laughed. "I was just sayin' what we were all thinking."

"Why didn't you guys say anything before? About any of it?"

"We didn't want you to feel embarrassed about it all," George said.

"Well I'm embarrassed now!"

"Clearly!" Dirk chuckled.

Once the laughter died down, Big Red attempted to regain control of the conversation. "Anyway, now that that's out in the open, even if it already was without my knowledge," he muttered while rolling his eyes, "that's the reason why Randy was upset when he left the party last week. I found out he was bi and I… kinda didn't take the news as well as I should've. He probably thought I was homophobic or somethin'."

"Oh, that explains it," Baboso said. "Well don't worry Randy, you're in good company here. We don't care if you're straight, bi or gay. You're our brother first, ain't no changing that."

"Yeah," everyone else said, agreeing with the sentiment.

"Thanks guys," Randy said, smiling wide as his eyes again threatened to well up.

"Oh no, don't go crying," Percy chuckled. "We don't do mushy crap here."

The others laughed, Big Red and Randy included this time.

"Right, well come on guys, we got a party tonight!" Big Red suddenly roared, to which everyone else cheered. "Let's make this a night to remember!"

"Hell yeah!" Percy cried out. "We're gonna blow the roof off!"

"I wouldn't be surprised with the music you guys play," Randy chuckled.

"Hey, no dissin' the music!" Baboso snapped playfully. "That's my playlist you're messing with."

"That explains a lot."

The others all laughed at this before returning to the tasks they were finishing off previously. Both Big Red and Randy almost forgot why they'd been so apprehensive to begin with. They were certainly in good company with the JOX brothers, and they wondered why either of them even questioned it to begin with.