--
It had been a week since they'd found out about Dustin and Hunter, and the tension hadn't lessened at all between any of them. It had only gotten worse.
Dustin sat outside on a bench, staring out over the grounds of the Academy. Sensei had offered him a teaching position there, but he hadn't decided yet if he would accept it. It was a great opportunity, one he couldn't take lightly and never thought he'd be given, and he knew he'd really enjoy it. But there was one problem.
Shane and Tori were also offered positions.
He sighed in frustration. "It wasn't supposed to be like this," he said quietly, knowing it sounded childish. But he couldn't help feeling that way. Sure, he'd pictured it going that way, even worse, but in reality he never thought it would really turn out that way. They hardly even gave them a chance to say anything before deciding they couldn't accept that.
He never would have thought they'd be like that. Looking back, they'd never seen so . . . narrow-minded, before. He could understand them being bothered that neither he not Hunter had said anything before, but was that really a reason to be so angry?
Dustin shook his head. He was just being intentionally naïve. They weren't hurt that they weren't told, they were disgusted by what he was. Plain and simple. He was the hurt one.
He heard footsteps behind him and turned around to see Tori coming toward him. He frowned and watched her, thinking about walking away but not moving. Maybe she had thought things through, and changed her mind . . . Dustin stood up as she met him. "Hey Tori," he said, offering a smile.
She gave an attempt at returning it, but it didn't really work. "Hey Dustin."
He looked at her for a moment, wondering what thoughts were going through her mind, what she thought of him now. Even if she'd thought things through, would she ever think of him the same way? "So," he began hopefully. "What's up?"
Tori paused. "Uh, nothing much. I heard about your offer from Sensei."
"Yeah, pretty neat," he said.
"You don't sound too thrilled," she said.
An immediate deja vu went over him as he thought about his conversation with Hunter a week ago. Things had sure changed since then . . .
"Dustin?"
He snapped out of his thoughts as quickly as he entered them. "Sorry. Just thinking."
"So, you gonna take the job?" she asked.
Dustin looked at her a moment, noticing the way she was watching him. "No, I can't."
"How come?" she asked.
He gave her a look, not missing the relief on her face. "You don't think it might be a little awkward?"
Tori glanced away. "I guess." She took a breath. "I have to go."
"Where to?" he asked, knowing there was no place. She paused and he smirked. "That's what I thought."
"Look, Dustin," she said. "I'm sorry I got a little freaked before, okay? It's just that—"
"What?" he cut in. "Look, you've been ignoring me for a week now, and it's not like I didn't hear what you told the others. You can't accept it, right? That's what you said. So what are you trying to do here?"
"I—I don't know," she said. "I thought maybe . . . I could make things better, somehow. But I can't, and now I don't know what to do."
"Make things better?" he repeated. "You can't change anything, so what do you think's gonna change any?"
"I don't know," she said again. "Dustin, I'm sorry it had to happen like this, but . . . I just can't do this."
He looked at her, feeling a lump forming in his throat as he tried to understand what she was saying. "Can't do what?" he asked quietly.
Tori looked away, but her gaze was steady as she turned back to him. "Dustin, why didn't you tell us?"
"I already answered that," he said impatiently. "But you know, as worried as I was about telling all of you, I never thought you'd really be like this. You're mad cause I'm not who you thought I was, but you're not who I thought you were either. I really believed you'd at least try to accept me for who I am."
She shook her head. "I just can't, okay? I can't help it. I came here thinking I might be able to accept this, but it isn't going to happen. I just can't believe you're . . . gay. I'm sorry, but it's just wrong."
Dustin clenched his jaw, trying to keep his usually cool emotions in check. "Look," he said calmly. "Tori, please don't end this. After everything we've been through, something like this can't possibly end our friendship, right?" He looked at her carefully. "Right, Tori?"
She looked at him. "You're wrong, Dustin. Our friendship means a lot to me, more than I can say, but it just can't be the same anymore."
"Because I'm gay?" he asked. "Do you realize how lame that sounds?" Dustin closed his eyes a moment, and then looked at her. "You know what? This is so screwed I don't even know what's up. You can call me if you have something real to say, until then, I don't care." He brushed by her, walking away.
--
Hunter watched Dustin leave from a while off and sighed to himself. What had Tori said to him? He felt anger stirring in him. He couldn't believe how they were treating Dustin. Hunter had always had a thicker skin, more willing to believe the worst, but Dustin was so open and trusting, and these were his best friends. It hurt him more than it did Hunter.
He shook his head. He hadn't wanted to tell them, maybe that would have been for the better. He was glad Cam was there for them, though it surprised him, and of course he always knew his brother would, but what was it costing them all? Blake was losing Tori, he was losing two of his best friends, and they were all losing the way things used to be. And who knew if their relationship would even survive through it all.
Was it worth it? Would he really be happy with how things were at the end of all this? Even if he and Dustin lasted, how could they ever really be happy? And who was he to think Dustin would even stay with him?
He frowned. He couldn't start thinking like that again. Dustin wasn't like everyone else, he really cared. He wouldn't leave him, this would last, Hunter had to believe that or he would ruin it on his own. Just because of what happened before, that didn't mean it would again. He just had to trust Dustin.
Hunter took a breath and started off to catch up with Dustin. If they were going to get through this they had to do it together. And he had to be sure Dustin knew he was there for him, no matter what happened with the others.
He jogged and caught up with Dustin, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Hey Dustin, wait up."
Dustin stopped and looked at him, obviously upset. But a small smile formed, barely reaching his sad eyes. "Hey, what's up?"
He paused. "I saw you talking with Tori. Are you okay?"
Dustin shook his head. "I can't say I am. I'm sorry."
Hunter frowned. "For what?"
Dustin shrugged. "For not being okay, I guess."
He held back a smirk, shaking his head. "Dustin, I don't expect you to be. I'm sure as hell not." He smiled a little. "Everything will be okay."
"No it won't," Dustin said quietly.
Hunter put a hand on Dustin's shoulder, squeezing it. "What did she say?"
He sighed. "Nothing much. Just that what we're doing is so wrong and she can't accept it. Something about wanting to make things better." He looked at Hunter. "There's nothing I can do to make her understand. It's over, she says she can't do it."
"I can't believe she's doing this," he said quietly. "Have you seen Shane lately?"
Dustin shook his head. "I hadn't seen either of them before Tori came up to me just now. Man, I wish she'd just left me alone!
"Shh, Dustin, calm down," Hunter said. He looked at him carefully, knowing how he felt. "It's okay. Look, why don't we go to my place and hang out? Get your mind off things a little."
He paused, but nodded. "I don't know if that's possible, but I'll try."
Hunter smiled. "Good, come on then." He took his hand from Dustin's shoulder and they started walking. "You know we haven't really gotten to spend much time with each other yet."
"Yeah, it sucks," he said truthfully. He took a deep breath. "You know, Hunter, no matter what comes of all this, it was worth it."
Hunter blinked, looking at him in surprise. "Really?"
Dustin nodded. "Yeah. For me, anyway."
He reached over and squeezed Dustin's hand quickly. "Don't worry, we'll get through this all right." He wished he couldn't believe himself, but that wasn't important.
Dustin smiled a little and they continued on.
--