Simon stared as he walk into the locker room and saw all the members of the team dressed in uniforms, leaning against the benches. "What the hell.." He raised an eyebrow. "Come on, you guys.. we have a game tonight."

"We need to talk to you, Si.." One of the forwards said uncomfortably. Simon blinked.

"Is this an intervention?" He asked jokingly.

"Well, sort of."

"There's a rumor going around school..."

"Uh-huh.." Simon tossed his shirt into a locker and waited, slipping his uniform on.

"Are you.. interested in guys?"

"I'm interested in playing so Coach doesn't have a stroke.."

"Are you gay?"

Simon choked and turned around. Chris cleared his throat and looked down, and as Simon looked at Mike, the boy shook his head and murmured "I didn't say a thing.."

"Look, if you are, it doesn't matter. You're still a good friend and a wicked ball player.. all we're saying is.. if anyone hassles ya, we got your back, okay?"

Simon smiled, feeling his heartbeat returning to normal. "Thanks, guys."

They nodded and smiled back. One of them laughed. "There's gonna be a mass suicide among the ladies.. let 'em down easy, Si.."

Not like I liked any of them anyway.. He thought, sitting down on the bench. "Well, that went..."

"Pretty well." Mike chuckled, patting Simon's hand. "Come on."

"No, I never got to finish.. I wanted to know if you wanted to go out sometime.. like.. on a date."

"A date?"

"Yeah.. you know. Sit around a table, eat food with forks and knives?" Simon raised an eyebrow. Mike cleared his throat.

"I don't..."

The coach opened the door. "Let's go, you two, if you're not out here in two minutes, you'll run laps."

"Yes sir." Mike practically ran out of the room, leaving a slightly bewildered Simon sitting on the bench. He shook his head and walked through the door, picking up a basketball and looking at Mike curiously, wondering just what was going on.



Simon shut the front door, tossing his backpack in the closet with a deep sigh. "I'm home." He called out, taking his shoes off and walking across the room to the kitchen, opening the fridge, his eyes scanning for something to eat.

His mother walked up to him, smiling, setting some groceries down. "Did you have fun at school?"

"...It was interesting." He muttered vaguely. "Look.. Can I talk to you and dad for a mo'?"

"Of course." She blinked, heading for the study where Simon's father spent most of his day. In a moment, they were sitting on the couch, watching Simon look nervously back and forth. "Simon?"

"Yeah, mum?"

"..are you on drugs?"

"No.. I.. I'm.." He sighed. "I'm..."

"An alcoholic?" His father supplied.

"No..."

"Your girlfriend isn't pregnant, is she?"

"I don't have a girlfriend.. I'm gay."

His parents stared at him for a moment, not saying anything. Simon sighed.. he now knew the true meaning of the words 'awkward silence'. Finally, his mother broke the silence.

"Well, at least it's not drugs."