So I'm not sure that I should continue this story because it seems that only about 5 people are reading it. I'm not sure what happened to all the reviewers from my other story, but if you're reading (and even if you hate this story), please let me know! This could likely be a 10 chapter story but I'll stop if it's not being enjoyed! I can definitely be influenced by reviewers so please tell me what you love and hate...

Here's chapter 6 - please R and R!

Chapter 6: Ordinary World

"Hey Marco – you up for a coffee?" Craig asked as they walked into the changeroom after soccer practice on Tuesday.

"Can't tonight – I have the group…And Dylan and I haven't told anybody about us yet," Marco grinned, "But anyways, maybe we can hang out this weekend."

"Sure. Sounds Cool….Marco? Hello? What are you looking ...oh." Craig laughed, as he saw Marco make eye contact with a freshly clean Dylan walking out of the showers with only a little white towel around his waist. Of course there were like ten other guys in the same attire, but Marco seemed only to be distracted by this one.

"Hey Dylan," Marco was tomato red. Dylan's perfect body suddenly had endless possibilities and Marco was staring, picturing Dylan,..and him,.. with chocolate body paint. Yum.

But this was soccer – and the guys change room. And soccer was strictly business.

"Hey Marco," Dylan's eyes sparkled, as he watched Marco quickly make his way to the other end of the changeroom.

On their way to the group, Dylan and Marco agreed to wait until the circle to let people know what was going on with them. Dylan had something up his sleeve, Marco could feel it, but he was willing to take the risk. If there was any context where hefelt totally confident in his gayocity, this was it. They made it in just as the circle was gathering, much to Marco's relief. He knew that James and Luisa would pounce as soon as they saw them.

"I'm James. Still gay! And the week…well, my mom asked me if I was dating anyone. Now don't y'all get excited because the answer is sadly no. BUT this is the first time my mom has ever approached the topic of me dating someone." Excited sounds of support from around the room.

Dylan's turn. "I'm Dylan. Definitely gay…So the week…" Marco cringed, bracing himself, "well," Dylan looked mischievously at Marco who was sitting on the other side of the circle, "not too much going on," Luisa and James sighed in disappointment, "except that I did finally find out, first hand,…that the new gay guy at school is a damn good kisser-" Dylan smiled widely, relishing the reaction.

"No way!" Kendra, the butchy, friendly group leader jumped up looking right at Marco. Mortified Marco just buried his head in his hands. , "it's about friggin' time! Holy cow!" Her excitement was infectious, as the group, all beaming, clapped their hands.

James shook his head at Dylan, "You bastard! Trying to trick us into thinking it was still the same old…well, hunny, I think I speak for all of us who've been here this last few months when I say hallelujah!...And to quote the famous genie – I think I'm going to just die ofNOT surprise!"

"Yeah…so…my news is that I'm with the sexy brown eyed guy sitting over there, " Dylan continued the torture, "and um…sorry Marco…forgive me?" Dylan flirted.

Marco sat shaking his head and blushing as the group of course all turned their eyes to him.

"So I'm Marco…and I guess any of you who haven't been here before already figured that out," Marco rolled his eyes, "So anyways, I'm gay,…and my news from the week is, well, …that it's pretty awesome," Marco let the excitement that hadn't calmed inside him just boil right over, and he smiled his adorable smile from ear to ear. "And Dylan…you can make this one up to me later," Marco rebutted suggestively, getting an impressed and flirtatious nod from the blonde across the circle.

The night ended with Dylan parked around the corner from Marco's house, and two teenaged boys steaming up the car windows. "I thought that only happened in movies for effect," Marco laughed as he drew his initials on the window.

"No..it actually happens in real life," Dylan leaned over drawing a heart around Marco's initials. Marco looked at the heart and they both cracked up laughing, as Dylan climbed on top of Marco, pressing his lips against his.

Marco was getting a bit restless at school. On Wednesday, like Monday and Tuesday, Marco had barely seen Dylan, except of course their usual Tuesday after school routine. But that was after school, not school. There had been one hello in the hallway, a nice smile, and a small tap on the shoulder in the cafeteria before Dylan went to sit with his own friends.

"Ellie?" Marco complained, "what is up with him?...I think I used to see him more before we were dating. Now that he knows he can have me, he doesn't think it's necessary to hang out with me anymore?"

"Come on, Marco. It's been three days…if you want to be with him, why don't you just go sit with him? He's probably just trying to give you space, trying not to overwhelm you like always," Ellie reassured.

"Yeah, well, once again he should let me decide what overwhelms me…I don't know, it makes me nervous. What if he doesn't want his straight guy hockey friends to know about us?"

Ellie just shook her head.

Marco's mind was racing as he walked back through the hallway to his locker. "Hey Marco," Jimmy and Hazel briefly broke their infatuated eye contact.

"What's up, Marco?" Spinner and Paige holding hands on their way to class.

Random grade elevens engaging in serious tonsil hockey - right beside his locker! Yuck – is that really necessary? Marco glared as the couple hurried away to a corner. 'This sucks.' Marco had never really paid attention to just how much teenage romance surrounded him. In the closet, you choose obliviousness. Now he was suddenly acutely aware of all the touches, the kisses, the flirting, the eye contact. 'This school is so straight,' he kept thinking, 'whatever happened to totally out Dylan? Not when he's with me, I guess.' Marco sighed.

By Thursday afternoon Marco was frustrated. He had spoken to Dylan on the phone and they had agreed to go out on the weekend, but the locker walk-bys, the lunchtime hanging out, and overall school contact had all but disappeared.

"Look Marco, you've been moping around for two days. Why don't you call him on it?...it's not always easy to figure out how to act with a significant other in every context, you know….Talk about it." Ellie could sense Marco's resentment.

As Marco and Ellie walked down the stairs toward the chemistry lab, Marco recognized a set of blonde curls with his friends turning to walk up the stairs. "Here's your chance," Ellie whispered, "Hey Dylan."

"Hey Ellie," Dylan smiled, "Hey Marco."

Marco's frustration melted slightly as he smiled up at the warm blue eyes, "Hey Dylan." As Dylan approached the steps beneath Marco, about to pass him, Marco gently touched his shoulder, "Dylan?...umm, can I talk to you a sec?"

"Sure…go ahead guys, I'll be there in a bit." Dylan looked worried, "What's up?"

"So Dylan…you're totally out at school, right?"

Dylan looked confused, "Yeah…you know I am."

"So there isn't anyone at school that you wouldn't want to know that you're gay, or that you're dating someone?"

Dylan wondered where this was going, "No. Everyone knows…and all my friends know that I'm dating you, if that's what you're wondering."

"Really?"

"Yeah…really. Marco, what is going on?"

"Well, it's just that…well, I wanted to make sure," Marco stepped down to the step just above Dylan, "Because I've been waiting to do this all week." Marco leaned down placing a lingering kiss on Dylan's lips. Dylan smiled widely, shaking his head as the kiss ended. They were eye to eye.

"So I guess I'm clueless once again," Dylan admitted.

"Yeah," Marco chuckled.

"Let's talk after school, 'kay?" Dylan quickly kissed Marco as he made his way to math class.

"Okay."

"So what was that all about, Marco?" Dylan and Marco were sitting on the bench at the back of the school, "Or I guess I probably already know."

"Yeah. It's just that for the last few months, it's been so great spending time with you in school…the flirting…eating lunch together, you know…And now that we're dating, Dylan…I mean, excuse my language,…but where the hell have you been?"

Dylan laughed, " I know…I guess I was just being cautious again. Sorry if I got you worried. I just didn't want you to feel weird about being with a guy in school. I mean the group is one thing, but-"

"Straight world Degrassi is another," Marco finished his sentence, "Dylan, the truth is, this week, I was so aware of all the couples – Jimmy and Hazel, Spinner and Paige, random unnecessary PDA right in front of my locker," Dylan laughed, "but all I could think was that…well, that I want that too – with you. Well, maybe not the tonsil hockey, but the occasional peck on the cheek would be nice," Marco smiled, "I mean, what's the point of being out if I can't be out?...All that to say, I don't just want to be your secret lover-"

"Lover, eh?" Dylan flirted.

Marco smacked him, "You know what I mean."

"Okay, sexy." Dylan put his arm around Marco's shoulder, gently kissing him on the lips, and then lightly on the forehead. "I'll take you home."

Marco was buried in his chemistry problems, when an IM caught his eye.

IDylan: Trying to interrupt your homework with a virtual peck on the cheek…

Baddaboom: Work successfully interrupted…now just try that during school hours.

IDylan: I know. Point well taken…I've actually never had a boyfriend in school before, so it's a first for me too.

Baddaboom: So despite your experience (and skill, I might add), I actually do get some of your firsts, eh?... And did you just call me your boyfriend? Big smile.

IDylan: Actually, I just said that I've never had a boyfriend at school before…but if you're willing, well, I am… Hopefully the big smile means I didn't just freak you out.

Baddaboom: Dylan, you're hopeless…By now haven't you figured out that I'm not so easily freaked out? Sometimes nervous, and sometimes worried, I admit, but when you're open with me…I seem to just want more…So, umm…are we boyfriends?

IDylan: You bet.