Thank you to all the reviewers...still fewer than I had hoped. Hmmm...how to get readers to review without threatening. Positiveincentives maybe? Lots of Marco and Dylan chemistry in this chapter and the next...so when I know people want the next chapter, I'll post! (I guess it's a veiled threat)...

Thanks especially to Missmiamya, Adamoslilcowgirl, and luvluv (again!) all who I know are avid Darco readers and writers and have taken time to review more than once.

Enjoy chapter 4! It's long and yummy (in my humble opinion):

Chapter 4: Rainbow Crush

Marco had given in - it was official. He had a crush. A constantly distracting, heart racing, body tingling, sometimes wanting so much it hurt, can't concentrate crush, on Dylan Michalchuk, who also happened to be one of his closest friends. This could definitely complicate things.

"Just go with it, Marco. Let yourself feel for once," Ellie had said to him. So he was. And it was amazing and terrifying all at the same time.

'Can I actually let myself believe that this could actually happen?' The thought was still so unreal. But he was at least letting himself think it.

It had been more than a week since the night out at the club, and Marco had unfortunately spent the weekend studying for his math test at Jimmy's with Spinner. But on Tuesday he was high - not just because he aced his test, or because it was Tuesday (ie. soccer and group with you know who), but because he had finally had the courage to confront Spinner and his inane discomfort with his 'gayocity'. The whole thing was pretty hilarious, actually. Spinner had decided that Marco had a 'man-crush' on him! Yes, on Spinner. If there was one guy Marco was not attracted to…

"Ellie! I've been dying to talk to you since the weekend." Marco pulled her to the side.

"Something happen with Dylan?" Ellie asked hopefully.

"No, no. Not about that. It's Spinner…I think he's coming around. You see, he thought I had a crush on him-"

"On HIM! Please...You're into;"

"blondes - but with blue eyes, curly hair, built body, total six pack, hockey player-types," Marco smiled sheepishly, "I know. But anyways, Spinner somehow mistook himself for that person. So I told him that he was so wrong…well, actually I told him that his shoes don't match, his hair was so last year, he smells, and oh yeah, that he's not even that cute…And believe it or not, I think that I pretty much saved our friendship."

"No way! You rock, Marco….I mean just because you've been crushing on someone-"

"Crushing on who?...anyone I know?" Dylan suddenly appeared from around the corner, and was now looking very amusedly at Marco.

The blood rushed to Marco's cheeks, "Sort of…yeah, well…just someone."

Dylan's eyes sparkled but he decided not to press him, much to Marco's relief.

Marco could never wait for the 3:30 bell on Tuesdays. Today was their first game and Marco and Craig ran excitedly out to the field to start warming up. With the whistle, the game began and Marco focused his excitement and nervous happiness on the game. Kick. Dylan kicked the ball to Craig. Kick. Back to Dylan.

"Dylan – I'm open!" Marco yelled.

Kick. To Marco… to Craig. Score! One to nothing for Degrassi with only five minutes left to play.

"That was fantastic teamwork – Dylan, Marco, Craig," the coach was beaming, "You won the game. The play was a great example of why it's important to pass. Great job, guys."

After the compulsory round of pats on the back and high fives, Dylan and Marco made their way to the changeroom to get ready for the group. "So we worked pretty well together today, eh?" Dylan smiled.

"Yeah," Marco mused, "Guess we work pretty well together."

"Are you flirting with me?" Dylan remembered Marco's sheepish question to him after their first practice.

"By now, Dylan, I know you don't mind…'cause I'm always flirting with you," Marco smiled and sighed. 'But I wish I could tell you that it's so not enough anymore…'

Luisa was beaming when she came into the group that night. She immediately pulled Marco aside, "So…? What's up?" he asked interestedly.

"So…..I did it. I asked her out."

"What! And…"

"And we're going to a movie on Thursday night! Right before Cory's party on Friday night...I am keeping my voice down 'cause we're here but Marco, I am so excited…"

"Do you think you'll kiss her?" Marco was a bit obsessed with the idea of kissing at the moment.

"Ahhh – I don't know…but I hope so….kissing a girl! Can you imagine…"

"Actually yeah. Been there, done that…it's not all it's cracked up to be," Marco teased.

"Very funny," Luisa rolled her eyes, "What about you, Marco? Don't you think it's time you took some action with this Dylan situation?"

"Yeah,…I think it's time HE took some action. I mean, we're always together, we flirt, lots of touches, but he hasn't even tried to kiss me…I don't know, maybe he just sees me as his friend, his younger brother..."

"Please Marco, trust me…most people are not interested in steamy slow dances with their younger brothers…You can take action too, you know."

"Me? No way…he is so less terrified of all of this than me. If he wants me, all he has to do is ask…or act."

"Suit yourself, hunny…But I'm the one with the date."

By the time Cory's party rolled around on Friday night, Marco had been thinking about what Luisa had said to him all week. The truth was that he wanted Dylan to ask him out. He wanted to know that Dylan wanted him…So what if Dylan would walk by his locker at least five times a day, drive him to soccer, drive him home from soccer, eat lunch with his friends, call him, text him, e-mail him…friends do all those things. He had never tried to kiss him, and for Marco that was still a big red light.

But Luisa had done it. She had asked Anna out. And by the end of the week, with Marco's frustration mounting, he decided that something was going to have to happen. He just wasn't sure what yet.

The gang was hanging out in Cory's moms' basement, when Luisa and Anna walked in, holding hands. "Hey guys," they were beaming, "Cory, how cool is it that you have lesbian moms!" Luisa was effusive.

"Yeah," Anna added, "I was wondering how come your parents were so cool with you having all these gay kids over and then I realized…that is so inspiring!"

Marco discreetly pulled Luisa to the side, "So?...it obviously went well…"

"Yeah…so I got my first girl kiss," she giggled, "and you were SO wrong, Mr. Del Rossi…it was so hot!...and I am reallyhappy,…and now it's your turn, Marco...what are you going to do about Dylan?"

"Umm…I haven't quite figured that out yet."

Just then James turned around and gently put his arm around Marco. "Marco sweetie, come on over here so we can talk."

"Okay." Marco looked confused.

"Marco hunny, I've been overhearing your conversation with Luisa,"

"You have?" Marco looked worried.

"Yeah. Don't worry…my lips are sealed. But listen, I've known Dylan a long time and all the signs are there. He wants you, sweetie…He just doesn't want to intimidate you…"

"Well it would be nice if he'd let me decide what I'm afraid of," Marco sighed, "But anyways, I've already decided that I want to do something…I just don't know what to do, how to bring it up, what to say…"

"Now here's where I can give some advice – trust me, hunny, talking about sex, inevitably leads to…"

"I'm not talking about jumping into bed with him, James!"

"No, of course not. But if you want to be kissed…trust me, bring up the topic…see where it leads." Marco's mind began racing.

"Now go get your man!" James encouraged.

'I can't believe I'm going to do this…I am usually not quite so calculating,' Marco mused to himself. 'But desperate times call for desperate measures…'

The party was getting full and the basement was hot, or was it just Marco's nerves? He finally knew he had to get some air, but he hoped he wasn't going to be alone.

"Hey Dylan."

"Hey sexy."

Marco couldn't help but smile despite his task at hand, "Hey. I'm pretty hot and was going to get some fresh air in the back. Do you want to come?"

"Sure. It's totally hot in here."

First step successful.

They sat down on the bench in Cory's lovely little city garden, slightly turned in towards each other. Marco noticed that their knees were touching. 'Sigh. Here goes.'

"So Dylan. Luisa and Anna, eh?"

"Yeah. It is so great…I'm always so happy to see gay kids in the group hook up,…especially when it's so clear they belong together."

"Yeah, me too! And Luisa told me that she got her first girl-kiss…she said it was amazing…and it got me thinking,…can I ask you something?"

"Yeah," Dylan's interest was peaked, "Of course."

Marco breathed nervously, "What was your first guy-kiss like, Dylan?...I'm still waiting for mine," Marco quickly gave Dylan a shy smile and looked down.

"My first kiss?" Dylan looked sheepishly at Marco.

"Was he hot?"

"Well…yeah. Definitely. If it's going to be your first kiss, it should be someone you really want….so yeah, he was hot…I think of it like there are 3 levels… and they were all there,"

Marco leaned in, listening.

"The first is the first guy-kiss. The amazing feeling that you are finally getting to experience what it actually is to be gay. And how awesome it is….The second is the first kiss level. The feeling that anyone can have when it's their first kiss. You know,…sexuality for the first time. And it feels so good. The third though really is the best level – the I'm kissing this person who I totally want. I guess that can happen to anyone…especially when you've been waiting a long time for someone," Dylan's face was now only a few inches apart from Marco's own, his eyes had that serious look again and there was a question behind them, as if maybe Dylan was actually figuring Marco out. "So you've been crushing on someone, eh?…" Dylan asked.

Marco sighed to himself in frustration. Was Dylan this clueless? Was he not going to bite? "So Dylan… you really haven't figured out who...I mean who I have a crush on?..." Marco insinuated.

Dylan leaned in leaving only a breath between him and Marco, "Well…I was hoping…" And then, Dylan leaned in, and Marco closed his eyes as Dylan gently covered Marco's lips with his. Marco let himself go, softly opening his mouth, and as Dylan pulled away, playfully running his teeth along Dylan's upper lip, not wanting to let him end the kiss.

Marco and Dylan just looked at each other for a moment.

"So you figured it out," Marco shyly smiled up at Dylan, beaming and flushed.

Dylan smiled. "I was hoping after all this time…and wow. That was hot," Dylan ran his finger along Marco's arm, "how did I do?...I mean, was that first kiss material?" Dylan was also flushed, as the space between them decreased.

"Well, it was pretty hot," Marco admitted, "but I think I definitely need more practice…" He leaned in as Dylan's hand moved up to his face, brushing his cheek, as their mouths met. Dylan opened his mouth slightly, gently running his tongue along Marco's lips, before slipping it tentatively into Marco's mouth, touching his tongue, before ending the kiss.

Marco and Dylan just stared at each other until Dylan broke the silence. "So I hope you like chicken teriyaki."

Marco looked confused and giggled, "Sure. I like chicken teriyaki."

"Because that's what I'm cooking you tomorrow night for our first date," Dylan smiled.

Marco gave him his adorable sheepish smile, "Are you asking me out?"

"It's about time…don't you think?" Marcojust leaned over and kissed him.

Marco's heart was still flying when he got home that night. He and Dylan had decided not to tell the group until Tuesday and had just sat talking, holding hands, punctuated with soft, tentative kisses that Marco couldn't get enough of. Before he got into bed, he turned on the computer, hoping for a late night text message from Dylan. No such luck tonight but that was okay. He would just e-mail Ellie to call him first thing in the morning. But he had new mail.

From: dylan.michalchukdegrassi.ca

Subject: You

Hey Marco. Sorry I couldn't text you – I have early practice and I have to be awake tomorrow 'cause I'm cooking dinner for a date tomorrow night. Wish me luck!

By now you know that I'm not normally a sap, but for some reason I wanted to write. So - just wanted to let you know that I can't wait for more of tonight….not just because the kiss was perfect (which it was), or because you're a great kisser (which you are. Beginner's luck? No…just talent), but because despite my usual confidence, I've been too shy to tell you that this is what I've been wanting all along.

Now we know which one of us truly has guts. See you tomorrow, sexy. (yes, still flirting). Dylan