A/N: I'm uploading this on my birthday so it's a bit shorter but I'll be working on the next part as you read this probably so enjoy for now! Also I'm 23 now... I'm old.

Chapter 5

Coming to Terms Part 1

"Homecoming..." Greg sighed as he saw some Sophomores putting up flyers for the upcoming game against their rivals, The Mushroom Kingdom Toadstools. And what comes with the big game? The homecoming dance.

The koopa knew he'd be dragged to the dance by Heather just to torture his already corrupted soul. The afformentioned koopa was currently hanging off his arm like a tote bag and gawking at the poster.

"We're gonna have so much fun!" In that moment, her voice was part banshee, part car alarm.

"You mean you are."

"Don't be such a wet blanket!" She chided him. "You'll get to check out all the cute guys trying to outdo each other."

"You're playing to my weakness and I can respect that tenacity." Greg sighed. "Fine... But I'm not dancing."

"One slow dance at the end of the night and I'll drop it."

Greg stroked his chin. At least it sounded reasonable. "Ok, fine. As long as no one stares at me."

She squeaked and hugged him tight. He rolled his eyes but hugged back whole heartedly. He was depressed, not heartless.

Greg thought to himself and honestly had no idea how he'd gotten out of going to certain dances even though he was vice captain of the football team. The excuses left his brain the moment he was excused from going.

She pulled away as the bell rang for 2nd period. "Walk me to class?"

"Sure." He held his arm it for her to grab. "Just not too tight please. I've got practice later."

They made their way down the hall, catching a few people's attention as they passed them including Roy. The purple shelled koopa grit his teeth and crushed the bag of chips in his hand into particles of what once was. He looked down at the mangled chip bag and felt his face twist into something that resembled confusion.

Why had seeing Heather caused such a rise in him? He wasn't gay. Well... He certainly thought he wasn't. Maybe he needed an outside opinion.

~ ~ ~ ~

During lunch, instead of sitting with Greg in the lunchroom, Roy went to seek out Darla and Hannah. He found them on the roof of the school sitting next to each other on a sturdy pipe. It looked like they were both neck deep in their phones.

"Did Kristie send you the invite to her party?" He heard Darla ask her girlfriend.

"Nah, she told me you got it so I didn't need it."

"Why couldn't she send you one too? I'm not your keeper."

Hannah turned to Darla and gave her a raised eyebrow.

"Ok I get it." Darla flashed her lover a smile and hugged her. "You're such a derp."

"Umm... Excuse me?" Roy coughed so he could get their attention.

The two girls stayed interlocked but turned to Roy. "Can we help you, Prince Quarterback?"

"Just Roy is fine." His eyebrows furrowed. "I wanted to ask you both something."

"We're gay, Roy. We're not interested in a threesome." Darla replied, rolling her eyes.

"Is that really how you see me?" He dropped his shoulders. "Never mind. This was a waste of all of our time."

Hannah smacked Darla upside the head. "Go ahead, Shades."

The prince rubbed the back of his head, but continued. "How'd you know you were in lesbians with each other? I mean love!" Roy caught himself.

"Why do you wanna know?" Hannah eyed him quizzically.

"I might be in lesbians with someone."

"You mean love." Darla corrected him.

"Isn't gay and lesbian interchangeable?"

The girls gasped. Hannah spoke first. "Two things. First, not in your case. Second, are you saying you have a crush on a guy?"

"Figuratively speaking, yes."

"Uh uh. We're not the type to gossip about stuff like this so spill." Darla was her fingers across her lips then flicked away an imaginary key.

"I... I don't know." Roy plopped on the ground in front of them. "I mean I have this friend and I used to see him as just that. But now I get all... happy when we're together and really angry when I see him with other people."

"Sounds like you're jealous."

"I don't talk feelings. This is new to me." Roy rolled his eyes. "Usually all I talk about are training, football and the occasional TV show or video game."

"Then it's a good thing you came to us." Darla went into her backpack and pulled out her laptop. "Ok, Question 1."

"Wait, did you just pull up one of those 'Are You Gay' quizzes?" Roy stood up, but Hannah grabbed the laptop.

"We've never had a guy to try this out on. Just roll with it and if it doesn't help we drop it."

Roy scratched at his arm. "It couldn't hurt I guess." He sat back down and crossed his legs. "Hit me."

~ ~ ~ ~

Greg sat with his other friends at the table waiting for Roy.

"Did he pass out in the hallway again?" Barron asked Greg.

"Doubt it. We'd have heard something about it by now."

"Maybe he got into a fight behind the gym again." Reggie added.

"Nah. He would've called me to tape it for him like he always does."

"You guys are really close." Fred's lips curled up deviously.

"I mean we're best friends." Greg's cheeks flushed red. "I don't see the problem."

"Think about it. You guys are basically co-captains of the team, you're always around each other and you tutor him every other day. Chances are if you were both gay you'd be banging."

"But we're not..." Greg swallowed the lump in his throat. He hoped they would drop it there.

"I dunno. I have caught you staring at Roy's ass before." Fred crossed his arms.

"We're just..."

"And didn't that poem in class seem a bit suspect? 'I saw you with that girl and my heart burst?"

"Guys... I'm not..." Greg's eyes bulged out slightly and his arms wrapped around his torso.

"Greg, are you ok?" Reggie leaned in.

"I'm... I'm not..."

"Dude, is the table getting hot to anyone else?" Barron inquired.

"I... I gotta go!" The grey koopa shot up and burst out of the lunch room.

"Greg!" His friends dashed off after him.

He took to the steps 3 at a time up to the third floor before ducking into the bathroom. He opened the handicap stall and locked it behind him.

"I'm... I'm... I'm..." He tried taking deep breaths but they all came out shaky. His hands clammed up, he could feel the atmosphere change, and he seemingly was alone.

He dropped to his knees and threw his head back, clutching it in his hands. His mouth jetted open and belted out a shrill cry. Fire began to erupt from every open hole on his face, scorching the walls.

Unlike when he usually used his powers normally, he felt as if the fire was eating him alive. He had no control over his power in this moment.

"I-AUUUUUUUGH! I-URRRRGH! I'M GAY! THERE!"

As the words left his mouth, the atmosphere seemed to shift back to normal. The fire went away and he crashed to the floor in a heap.

"I'm gay... I'm gay... I'm a fucking faggot." Tears streamed from his face. "I'm so fucking gay..."

A crash could be heard from above him, but he didn't have the strength to look up.

"He's in here! Shit, it looks bad. Get the nurse!" He assumed the voice was Barron, but it could've also been Reggie.

His eyes fluttered closed, meanwhile his inner fire seemed to be back to normal, a comfortable burn churning inside him.