Disclaimer: I still don't own it or them...blah blah blah...
A/N: I hope you continue to like reading this because I am enjoying writing it. Keep the reviews coming.
wolfie888: Thank you again for the reading and reviewing. I appreciate it.
aisha: I hope this was quick enough for you. Tried harder with the dialogue. I can't believe I forgot that.
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Chapter Four

Dylan pulled into Marco's driveway and shut of the car. "Are you sure you want to hang out? You've been rather silent."

Marco smiled, "You haven't been the most brilliant conversationalist either," Marco accused.

"Guilty as charged," Dylan said opening his door as Marco opened his as well. Marco led the way up the porch steps and into the house.

Marco gave Dylan a quick tour of the house that ended in the kitchen. For Marco, it seemed natural to hang out there. "You want something to eat or drink," Marco asked. "Sure, whatever is fine. I'm not picky."

Marco put a bag of popcorn into the microwave and pulled two Pepsi's from the refrigerator. He set the drinks on the island and sat on one of the stools watching Dylan. He was looking around the kitchen.

Dylan was amazed at Marco's kitchen. It was gorgeous. It had an old-world Italian design with marble countertops and terra cotta tile floors. The Tuscan style cabinets were beautiful. He could tell a lot of thought went into the design of this kitchen.

Dylan joined Marco at the island and sat diagonal from him. "You kitchen is amazing. Very homey."

Marco looked around as if seeing the kitchen for the first time. "Thanks. We had to remodel it for my noona. She would not step foot in here until it reflected a real Italian kitchen," Marco told him smiling at the memory.

"Who is noona?" Dylan inquired.

"Oh, noona is grandmother in Italian," responded Marco looking at Dylan once again. "I sometimes forget to translate it for people."

Dylan laughed at his almost sheepish expression. "Do you speak Italian fluently?" Dylan asked fishing for more information on the younger teen.

"Yes. It's the first language I spoke. I was taught English when I was 4, I think," responded Marco.

"That is interesting. I would have never known," Dylan responded clearly amazed. Marco laughed at him and shrugged like it was no big deal.

Marco got up and retrieved the popcorn, poured it into a bowl and set it between them on the island. They sat in silence idly munching on the popcorn for a few minutes. "This is awkward. Just thought I'd state the obvious," Marco said with a small smile.

Dylan laughed, "Yeah, considering we were fine last night."

"Well, we had a scheming Paige to aide us in talking. We did this one on our own," replied Marco. Dylan nodded in agreement.

"Where did you go to school before Degrassi?" Dylan questioned.

"St. Andrew's Catholic."

"Do you miss it?"

"Sometimes. I miss the curriculum the most."

"Why?"

"At St. Andrews, students are judged on their intelligence not their grade level. I have already taken all of the classes at Degrassi."

"You have? Does that mean you know Biology and Calculus?"

"Yes. Why?"

"You have become my savior. If I don't get my grades up in those classes, coach has threatened to bench me."

"Name a time and place, I'll help."

Dylan gave Marco a broad grin that stunned Marco. 'He is so cute. Ugh, I sound like a girl. He is cute, wait...no he is gorgeous.' Marco thought as Dylan continued to smile. Marco returned it easily with his own.

"What else do I need to know about you?"

"What do you know already?"

"You are Italian and speak it fluently. You are smart, which proves why Paige's grades are improving this year. You are Catholic, a soccer player, and responsible enough to be at home alone. What am I missing? You have to have some flaw in there."

"My parents hate it that I'm gay, does that count?"

"You can't mean that?"

"Oh, but I do. My mom is disappointed and my dad avoids me."

"When did you come out?"

"I came out to my mom almost 3 years ago. I didn't tell my dad until it started traveling through school. That was last year. I knew almost 2 years before I told my mom."

"Why do you think they hate it?"

"Mom cried when I told her. She was awkward around me for a while. Pa was angry. He yelled for almost three days straight. Then came the silence that was so deafening I could not stand it. I went and stayed at a friend's house for a few days. For a while, he would look through me. Act like I wasn't there. He started speaking to me again right before school ended last year. He still isn't comfortable with any of this yet. He took a job where it requires both of them to travel a lot. Mom says it's his way of dealing, I think he is avoiding me again. How did your parents take it?"

"Mom cried too. Dad went straight to silence and leaving the room when I'd enter. Mom accepted it. She is very cool with all of it now. She helped me get ready for my first date...don't laugh. Paige was confused but understood. She likes to take me shopping for guys at the mall. Dad handled it better when he realized I hadn't changed. That I was still Dylan, the hockey star and general pain in the neck. He also realized I hadn't turned into some stereotypical gay guy who is a neat freak and a wimp. He said he felt like he might be gaining another daughter. I laughed at him. He doesn't like to see me with guys still but he doesn't flee when I bring a date home."

"That is good, I guess. You know the funny thing; the person I have the most support from is the one I thought would never understand. My noona. She has been great about it. She hasn't treated me any differently than she always has."

"See, I have Paige and you have your grandmother. Unspoken support that comes from a selfless love of family. I was put into therapy after I came out, can you tell?"

"I recognize the speech. I was too."

"Parents are clueless but they mean well."

The boys laughed at that thought. Yeah, they both knew their parents thought they were helping but it never helped. Talking about their feelings to a stranger was not the way to go about dealing with being gay. Talking to their family would have helped more.

It was nice; the quiet understanding of knowing someone else had been through the same thing. Marco looked at Dylan in a whole new light. He was no longer just the gorgeous golden boy of the hockey team, but now he was the friend who shared so much of the same past. Marco grinned at him, "How did the hockey team take it?"

"I knew you were going to ask. Some freaked out at first, some were confused and others felt threatened. They got over it when I continued to play with the same ferociousness as always. Some are a little weirded out by having a gay guy in the locker room but those are the guys that are too afraid to say anything. My friends have been great, once they got used to it."

"That is cool. What about the soccer team?"

"They are cool with the fact you are gay. I made sure of it."

"Thanks, I think. How did you do that?"

"I told them that you being gay doesn't matter. That you should be treated the same way they treat me, only nicer. They have a tendency to forget that I'm gay."

"Okay. How did the soccer team find out?"

"Chad heard it from his girlfriend, who is in one of your classes. He told us in study hall today."

"Word travels fast. Who is Chad?"

"He's harmless. He's one of my best friends and starting left wing on the soccer team. Which position are you slotted for? I wasn't aware we were missing anyone?"

"You weren't missing anyone. Coach Armstrong saw me play for St. Andrew's and when he heard I was transferring, recruited me for tryouts. I play left inside forward. What position are you?"

"Left fullback, looks like I will have an interesting view this year."

Dylan smiled slyly and Marco laughed.

"Do me a favor and keep your mind on the game. I wouldn't want anyone to blame me because you are being an idiot."

Marco looked at the clock on the opposite wall, "Oh. Are you staying for dinner?"

"Sure. Why?"

"Because I have to start on it soon if I want to eat at a decent time. Dinner is an elaborate affair at my house, fair warning."

"You can cook?"

"Yes. Since before I could even reach the stove."

Marco started to pull things out of the refrigerator and put them on the counter. Then went to the pantry and did the same over there. Dylan was watching in awe at the ease he showed in the kitchen.

"I hope you like pasta primavera because that is what I have been craving all day," Marco stated simply.

"Yeah, it's fine," Dylan said watching him as he chose a knife carefully.

"I know I am helpless in a kitchen but is there anything I can do?"

Marco looked over his shoulder at him, "Actually, yes. There is a thing of pasta in the freezer; will you get it out for me? I make fresh pasta every couple of months and freeze it."

Dylan got up and walked to the freezer, pulled out the pasta and set in on the counter, "Anything else?"

Marco laughed, "Since you are hopeless in the kitchen, no. I am fine. Keep talking though, I can do more than one thing at a time."

"What should we talk about?"

"You."

"What about me?"

"Your past with guys. I am curious, seeing I've never dated before."

"Well, there have only been a few dates. One serious relationship and one mistake. A couple of dates that have turned out to be just that, dates. What do you want to know?"

"Have you ever asked anyone out?"

"Yes. The asking went ok. I didn't sound like an idiot. The date was the mistake. We were supposed to go see a movie but ended up at his house alone. Before the movie was even halfway over, we were in bed. By the time the movie ended, we did too. I see him at school, hell he's in 2 of my classes. We don't speak at all. It is better that way."

"That sounds brutal. What about dating? Is it weird?"

"No weirder than dating a girl. You ask someone or get asked, go on some lame date, hope you have enough in common to keep the conversation flowing, and if all goes well you might get a good night kiss. There have been a few of those for me. There has been a couple that did not make it past the first date. I remember one should have died before even starting the date."

"How awkward for you. Nothing in common?"

"Nothing. He hates sports. Doesn't like to read or anything. He was boring."

"That sounds recent?"

"Right before school started. It was my first date since Charles. I've seriously been considering retiring the dating scene until college. I am having second thoughts though."

Marco smiled slightly, "Oh yeah, why?"

"The dating scene has opened up a little. Might try and get this new guy I found out about."

"Is he cute? Would I like him?"

Dylan laughed at Marco's antics. "No, I don't think you'd be interested."

Marco smiled brightly while he continued to cut up the vegetables for the pasta. Dylan watched him run the knife through them with confidence. "I would have cut myself by now," Dylan said standing next to Marco.

"If practice makes perfect then I am damn near perfect," replied Marco.

"So, how serious was the serious relationship?"

"I was hoping you'd forget."

"As I told you last night, it takes a lot to make me forget."

"Charles, the pizza guy, was a senior my Grade 10 year and he took an interest in me. We started dating close to the end of the year. He took me out on dates, romantic ones, fun ones, whatever he felt like doing. Then he told me he loved me and I thought it was real. I slept with him. I continued sleeping with him. I loved him. He was my first love, so it felt right. Then I walked in on him and well, you know the rest."

"Ouch, again. That had to suck."

"Yeah, that's an understatement. It sucks now, back then it hurt."

Marco looked at Dylan, seeing the pain in his eyes quickly switched topics. "So how long does it take for Paige to get ready in the morning?"

Dylan laughed at him. He knew what he was trying to do and was thankful; it was getting too heavy in the kitchen. "I'm not sure. She is up before me and it still takes her another 30 minutes after I do get up."

Marco continued to sauté the vegetables and wait for the water to boil for his pasta. He threw a loaf of bread into the oven to warm it up. Dylan watched his every move; it was done with grace and ease. 'This must be what I look like on the ice. Confident, moving with ease, and going by instinct,' Dylan couldn't help but think.

The boys chatted about friends and school until dinner was finished cooking. Marco set the table and brought the food over to the table. The teens sat down and Dylan looked around the table in shock.

"Everything looks amazing. If I hadn't seen you cooking this, I wouldn't have believed it," Dylan said with awe.

Marco blushed deeply, "Thanks. This is nothing big. I threw it together."

Dylan shook his head at the younger boy, "Don't under estimate yourself. I don't know anyone else who could have done this without a phone."

Marco laughed lightly, "I hope mine is better."

Dylan took the first bite and sighed, "This is better than anything I have ever had before." Marco's smile got bigger before looking down at his plate.

The boys ate in relative silence. After they were done eating, Marco started cleaning the kitchen. He was loading the dishwasher when Dylan started to speak again.

"How did you figure out you were gay?"

"That is a funny story. I was playing doctor with a girl I have known my entire life almost and it did not cause any of the feelings the other boys were talking about. However, it was her twin brother that elicited those feelings. It was an odd day for revelations."

Dylan tried to hide his laugh but it wasn't working.

"It's okay. You can laugh, it is pretty funny."

"How old were you?"

"11."

"I didn't figure it out until I was 14."

"We Catholic school kids are advanced."

Dylan laughed out loud this time. "I knew about Catholic school girls, I didn't realize it was true for the guys as well."

Marco chuckled and shook his head. 'The boy is hopeless. Cute, but hopeless.'

Dylan looked at the clock this time and did a double take. He could not believe that it was almost 7:30. He had homework he needed to get done and a test to study for before tomorrow. "I have a Calculus test tomorrow and some bio homework to do. Do you have time to help me now?" Dylan asked with a flirtatious grin. He was hoping Marco would take pity on him.

Marco nodded, "Go get your books." When Dylan headed out of the kitchen, Marco smiled broadly. 'I think he is interested. This could be a good thing...' Dylan entered the kitchen again a few minutes later, book bag in hand.

"Let's go upstairs and study. There isn't anywhere comfortable to sit down here." Marco led the way up the backstairs to his bedroom. Dylan looked around the room again. He glanced in here when Marco brought him around on the tour but didn't have enough time to actually look at it.

The room was neat and very orderly, unlike Dylan's. Marco had two bookshelves full of books and soccer trophies. He walked over and started skimming titles and the trophy plaques. 'Hmm...Shakespeare, Homer, Salinger, Hawthorne, Hemingway, Tolstoy, and Steinbeck...all the classics. These have definitely been read over and over by the look of them. There are five MVP trophies, three high scorer trophies and what...nine championships. Wow! He must be amazing on the field. Hell, he is amazing off the field...whoa, where did that come from? Dangerous thoughts approaching.'

Dylan turned and looked at Marco, who had taken a seat on his bed. "Do you know you are probably the smartest person I have ever met?"

"Why do you think that?"

"Look at your books; they are well worn, showing they have been read repeatedly. They are all the classics, most of which I have heard of but never dreamed of reading. I mean, Walden by Thoreau and the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer, and I am a little worried about how many times you have read 'The Prince by Machiavelli'. Planning on taking over the country?"

Marco laughed at him. "I read when I can't sleep. No, I don't plan on taking over a country. I have read most of these books for school assignments but I do enjoy them. They give me a sense of a time that I will never know."

"Let me guess, you have read War and Peace."

"Twice."

"See, you've got to be the smartest guy I have ever met."

"Thanks. Now shall we get on with the homework?"

"Yes."

Marco got up and moved to his desk. Dylan took a seat next to him and pulled out his books. "Calculus first since I have a test." Dylan showed him what they were doing and where he got confused. Marco patiently explained where he went wrong in his equations. It was easily fixed and Dylan finally understood. Dylan did a few of the practice problems his teacher had handed out and got them right.

Marco smiled at how excited Dylan got by understanding his Calculus. It is the simple things in life that can cause that much excitement Marco guessed. "On to Biology?"

Dylan pulled out another book and flipped to the correct page. "We are studying mitosis. I am lost."

Marco sighed; he could not believe he had this to look forward to in two years, again. "Mitosis is the division of the nucleus of a cell resulting in two identical cells," at Dylan's confused expression, Marco explained it a little further. Dylan nodded his understanding.

"You don't understand it, do you?"

"Enough to pass the test and do the homework. That is all I was hoping for."

"Then you got your wish."

"Thanks to you. If I did this on my own, well, I won't think about that."

Marco laughed at him and then moved back to his bed. His desk chair was not meant for comfort, but it was effective in keeping him awake to get his homework done. Dylan moved and sat next to him.

"I have my first hockey game in a few weeks, do you want to go?"

"Sure. I'd like to see if you are as good as the rumors make you sound."

"Paige will set it up I'm sure. She always has a gang when she attends."

"Okay. Sounds good."

"I better get going. I am sure you have homework to do and I need to get home before Paige flips out."

"Okay."

Marco walked Dylan to the door. The two stood there for a minute looking at each other. It was like when they first met and saw something that drew them together.

Dylan couldn't help himself; he leaned down and placed his lips on Marco's. Marco was taken by surprise for a minute and then returned the kiss. Dylan's hands went to Marco's waist and Marco's went around Dylan's neck. The kiss only lasted a few minutes but it was long enough for Marco. When they broke apart, Dylan started to apologize and Marco laughed.

"It is okay. I enjoyed it as much as you did. Maybe more because it was my first kiss."

"Is this going to change...?"

"No, it isn't going to change anything. We're friends, for now."

"Okay. Well, good night."

"Good night, Dylan. See you at school."

Marco shut the door after seeing Dylan get into his car. Marco leaned against the door and shook his head. He could not believe what had happened.

'That was awesome. I never knew kissing could be like that. It was tentative, sweet, warm, and yet innocent. I know it was an accident and Dylan hadn't meant for it to happen but I am glad it did. I wish my heart would stop skipping beats like that. It has been doing aerial loops in my chest since I felt his lips on mine. Oh what lips, gentle yet firm...potential to be demanding. His hands gripped my waist like he was fighting for control. Of course, I just wanted to pull him closer. Oh, wow! I need to focus...homework to do.' Marco thought as he walked back up the stairs to his bedroom.

Dylan drove home with a huge grin that he could not get rid of no matter how hard he tried. 'All I have to do is make it to my room without Paige seeing me. I can do this. I didn't mean to kiss him. I'm not sorry I did it. It settles one thing in my mind, we have chemistry. It could be good between us. We have plenty to talk about and the physical attraction is there. For his first kiss, he did very well.' Dylan's musings came to an abrupt end when he pulled into the driveway. Paige was sitting on the front porch flipping through a magazine.

Dylan got out of his car and worked hard on not smiling. "How was your night, Paige?"

Paige looked up, "Boring and yours?"

"Fine. I am going to study now," Dylan managed to say without grinning like a fool.

"Night, Dylan."

"Night, Paige. Don't stay out here too long," Dylan said as he placed a kiss on her head before walking in the front door.

Paige looked at the door Dylan had just closed. She knew there was something different about him. She couldn't figure it out though. She hoped it had to do with Marco but wasn't holding her breath. She waited ten minutes before going into the house herself.

Dylan flopped down on his bed and sighed, 'That boy is awe inspiring. He's an enigma. He's got a way about him that I can't define but it draws me in. I don't want to let it go, whatever it is. He's cute, smart, funny, understanding and one hell of a kisser. Where did that come from? It snuck up on me. I bet he'd be better at other things. Damn, there is that evil side again. Make it stop.' Dylan shook his head to clear it of his inner demons and went to take a shower before going to sleep.

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Please review. I thrive on them and it prompts me to update quicker. They are worse than caffeine.

Kate: What can I say...I love you but that is a recurring theme here. I can't sing your praises enough. You are wonderful but really need to update the other story...the one I can't ever remember the title to. Just a suggestion! smiles--bats eyes

Feral's revenge: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Our chats have been lovely. I enjoy them so much I was almost late to the game on Sunday. I hope you enjoy the revision. Talk to you soon...I could continue but I'm afraid I'd be boring everyone.