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Chapter 5: The Announcement

Hunter and I are walking down the street, my hands shoved in my pockets. For now, we wonder aimlessly, but kinda in the direction of my house. Since we're in public, we don't touch. And that is really, really bothering me. I desperately want to grab his hand. Despite Shane's reaction, I've convinced myself that I still need to tell my family.

Hunter, Blake, Cam and I stayed at Ops for an hour after Shane's wordless departure and Tori's quick exit. Blake and Cam tag-teamed Hunter and I, trying to tell us that everything will be fine and that Shane just needs processing time. Didn't work. So they switched tactics and tried to take our minds off it by talking motocross. That didn't work either. We ended up leaving since it didn't look like Shane or Tori were returning.

And our exit led to our wondering. I don't want to go home, I don't want to face my parents and my sister, I'm afraid of their reactions. We get to the corner where we need to separate, and I curse the daylight. If it were nighttime, at least I'd get a kiss out of the deal. But not in broad daylight.

"You sure you don't want me to walk you to your house?" he asks.

Of course I want you walk me to my house. But then you'd end up coming inside and being there for the fireworks… So I shook my head.

"Better if you didn't."

"Call me," he says and I know it wasn't a request.

"Promise."

We stand silently, staring at each other. I take a cautious step back, then turn and slowly walk home. Once in the house, I can smell my mother's cooking. I go into the kitchen to see that she's got her back to me, hovering over the stove. And I can hear my sister's music, so I know she's home.

"Hi mom," I manage.

"Hi baby," she says, and she comes over to kiss my cheek. "How was your day?"

"Fine."

"Is everything all right, Dustin?"

NO! But I can't say that yet, can I?

"Yeah, why?"

"Your father's not too happy with you."

After swallowing the lump in my throat, I have to ask, "Why?"

"Your grades, honey. We got your report card today, and your grades dropped."

Could be worse.

"What?" she asks, looking at me.

Damn, I said that out loud. Here goes the innocent act. "Huh?"

"You said 'Could be worse."

I shrug. Inwardly, of course, I'm kicking myself. Tell *family,* not just mom. I try to leave the kitchen, but she blocks my escape.


"Now I know something's going on," she tells me, and in a flash she's gone from best-friend-mom to mom.

"I have something to tell the three of you…later."

"You've got a girlfriend?" she asks, her eyes wide…almost sparkling.

I glare a little, careful not to overdo it. Again, I try to escape. And again, it's no use.

"You didn't get a girl pregnant, did you?" she asks, her voice lowering.

"No, mom. This doesn't involve pregnancies."

And how much do I want to add That's among the last things you need to worry about with me.

She opens her mouth, probably to continue drilling me, but I see an opening and make a dash for my room. I think I say hello to my father, who's in the living room watching TV, as I race up the stairs. In my room, I lock the door and lie on my bed. I wish Shane would call, or come by, and tell me something. I can't stand thinking that I've lost my best friend. And I also know that I'm running the risk of losing my family.

I open the drawer to my bedside table and take out the strip of pictures from the photo booth in the mall. They're all of Hunter and me. Three look innocent enough for two teenage boys in a booth to begin with. The last is blatantly not innocent. We're kissing. That was week two into our newfound relationship.

Mom calls me for dinner, which means that my dad and Jessie are already in the dining room. I take my time going downstairs, and hesitate when I reach the doorway. Taking a deep breath, I go in the room to see my parents and Jessie all staring at me.

This cannot be good.

"Your mother tells us that you have something to share," my dad says.

I hate it when he gets into 'formal' mode. I can tell that theories have been discussed.

"It can wait until later," I tell them, wanting to at least get through dinner without issue.

"There's no time like the present," my dad tells me.

Oh, he obviously has no idea what I'm about to spring on them. But with three pairs of impatient eyes, I know I'll never get out of dinner with my secret intact.

"I have a boyfriend."