Hey everyone, sorry for the long wait. I am working on an original project right now, which is why updates might come very slowly for the moment. Thanks for sticking with the story though!

Chapter 8

It was interesting, to say the least. Why had Penguin asked about gay sex? Was it really just consideration for those who might need it one day, like he said? Or was he himself gay? He had not denied that, after all.

Killer kept looking at him a little longer than necessary, maybe, until he noticed Penguin looking back at him. He quickly turned his head to face the board again. Why did Penguin look at him? What if he had found out that Killer was gay and had asked it for him? No, that couldn't be, right?

Killer didn't dare to look around again to check if Penguin was still looking at him. But he did feel his eyes on his back the remainder of the biology lesson. Especially when the teacher started to explain sex between two men and between two women. He felt like the whole class was staring at him, even if he knew there was no way they could know he was gay.

Killer tried to act as if the explanation of the teacher couldn't interest him much, but at the same time, he listened carefully to what he was taught. Even though he knew the very basics of gay sex, he had never bothered to look up anything about it, and the teacher could actually tell him a thing or two he didn't know yet. The teacher looked very awkward while explaining all these things, however, even more awkward than when he had been explaining the straight stuff.

Both students and teacher were relieved when the talk was over, and they resumed their regular biology lesson.

"Peng, Peng!" Shachi came racing towards him when he had just left his math class on Monday. Most people ignored him, but Penguin noticed that Killer, who walked a few steps in front of him, looked up to follow Shachi with his eyes for a second or two.

Shachi seemed to notice it as well, as he quickly shut up while taking the last few steps towards his friend. "I'm sorry," he whispered as soon as he'd reached Penguin. "I'd forgotten you two have math together."

It was obvious to Penguin that Shachi wanted to say something that Killer couldn't hear, so without another word, he led him to a quiet corner near the canteen.

"Have you heard?" Shachi said with a grin on his face and still a little too loud.

Penguin chuckled. "I don't think so. What should I've heard?"

"Killer and Bonney broke up," Shachi announced.

Penguin's eyes widened, and his heart skipped a beat. "Really? How do you know?"

"People talk," Shachi explained. "And I listen."

"But, are you sure? Why would they break up?"

"I don't know, who cares? Point is that Killer's single again. But if you don't believe me, let's go see if they're still eating each other's faces or not." Shachi nudged towards the canteen.

Penguin entered the canteen and immediately looked at the corner where Killer and his friends usually hung out. The person he was looking for was indeed there, talking to Heat, but also to Bonney. Penguin's heart sunk. "They're still talking as if nothing's wrong…"

"Yeah, but they're not kissing…" Shachi quickly dove towards the only free table left in the canteen and Penguin followed him. "And they're not even holding hands or anything."

"Shachi, who did you hear it from?"

"I think it was Margaret who said it."

"Who did she hear it from?" Penguin asked skeptically while keeping an eye on Killer. As far as he knew, Margaret wasn't close with either Killer of Bonney.

"How should I know? Maybe from Bonney, they talk sometimes." Shachi laid his hand down on Penguin's shoulder. "She sounded certain of it, in any case. I think you should believe it."

"Why, so I can get my hopes up and then have them crushed even harder?" Penguin sighed. "It doesn't matter anyway. Even if they broke up, the chances of him liking guys are slim and even if, that still doesn't mean he'll like me."

"You're right," Shachi said sarcastically. "Why would anyone like you? You're a terrible person."

Penguin couldn't help but smile a bit. "Right?"

Shachi shook his head. "You just need a plan."

"A plan?" Penguin gave his friend a deadpanned look.

"Yes, you can't expect him to fall for you if you don't seduce him."

Penguin raised his eyebrows, but before he could say anything, Shachi continued.

"I mean, of course you can expect that, but the chances will be bigger if you do your best to seduce him."

"Yes, because I'm the seducing type." Penguin rolled his eyes. "What is your plan, should I come to school in my tight leather pants and lift up my shirt a little to show some skin when he's looking my way?"

Shachi smirked. "That could work."

"I don't have leather pants."

"Can't you borrow your dad's?"

Penguin shivered when he thought back at the moment he found those black leather pants in his dad's closet, and he now regretted telling Shachi about it. He was only glad he had never seen Law wearing them, but at the same time wondered in what situation he did wear them. It was probably best to not think about it too much.

"Listen, I'm not gonna make a fool of myself in front of him, or anyone, for that matter," Penguin said. "I'm not even sure he broke up with Bonney, and if he did, it's still very likely he's straight. So, let me just admire him from afar, it will go away eventually."

Later that week, Killer was one of the first to enter the classroom, and so he had plenty of choice where he wanted to sit. He was kind of glad they didn't have assigned seats for most of the classes, because he didn't feel like sitting in the same place every time. In most classes it didn't matter that much, because people mostly sat in the same chairs every time anyway, but not at biology, for some reason. He chose to sit down one row from the back.

The classroom slowly filled, and Killer was occupied by his own thoughts until someone sat down next to him. When he looked to see who it was his heart skipped a beat, and then started to beat twice as fast.

He looked around the classroom and saw there were plenty of other seats to sit in, which Penguin had not chosen. "What are you doing?"

Penguin gave him a charming smile, which Killer couldn't believe was genuine. "I'm just sitting here. If that's okay with you."

Killer looked away, but he couldn't really say he minded. "If you have to." He saw that their teacher looked their way, probably thinking of their last fight, and wondering why Penguin would sit next to him as well.

The whole 50 minutes that followed, Penguin said nothing to him, but instead seemed to be paying attention to what the teacher was saying. Killer couldn't say that of himself, as he was incredibly distracted by the presence of Penguin next to him. Why had he decided to sit there? Did he like sitting near to him? Or was he looking for a fight again? It didn't seem like it, since Penguin didn't do anything to provoke him. But if it was the latter, Killer wasn't about to indulge him. He didn't want to be called to the principal's office again, so he wouldn't get angry so easily this time. He would just deal with anything Penguin had to say like a normal person, who wasn't trying to hide the fact that he was attracted to guys.

Killer had no idea what the teacher had been talking about when the bell rang for a five-minute break. But he did immediately notice it when Penguin turned towards him.

"So, is it true that you and Bonney broke up?" Penguin asked him.

Killer raised an eyebrow. He had not expected that question. "Yeah," he answered honestly.

"Why?" Penguin looked at him, and Killer forced himself to look back.

Even though his first response was to tell Penguin it was none of his business, he decided to choose other words. "Why do you care?"

Penguin shrugged, but Killer could swear he was blushing. "Just curious. Since you were so quick to defend your relationship only two weeks ago… You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, though."

Killer couldn't look at him anymore as his heart kept beating faster. "Well, I just wasn't that into her anymore," he said, shrugging, trying to come across as if he dumped girls every week. He hated himself for it, because he hated guys who acted like that; as if a girl was only there for their amusement and they could just dump them when they were bored with them.

"Oh," was Penguin's reaction, followed by a short silence. "So, are you into anyone else at the moment?"

Killer scowled at him. "Weren't you going to worry about your own love life instead of mine?" he said, annoyed, even though he didn't want Penguin to stop talking to him. "You said you could get a girlfriend if you wanted to, so, how come you don't have one?"

Penguin looked him straight in the eyes. "Well, maybe that's not what I want right now." After that, Penguin turned his head away from Killer.

The teacher started to talk again, but Killer could only stare into the void. What did Penguin mean by that? Why would he not want a girlfriend? Or at least not right now? Maybe he would want one later? So, it couldn't mean that he was gay… could it? Maybe there was just something going on in his life which was the reason he didn't want a relationship right now? But the way he said it almost sounded like there was something else he wanted right now. Killer was driving himself crazy with thoughts like that. Until there was one final, frightening question that came up in his head; what if Penguin liked him?

Killer immediately shook his head, while trying to calm down his rapidly beating heart. No, his thoughts had drifted too far. Penguin had made it clear that he thought Killer was unlikable. And that only made it easier for Killer to maintain his heterosexual image. If Penguin actually liked him… that would mean Killer had to decide for himself if he actually did like Penguin like that or not. Fortunately, he could just ignore his heart right now because Penguin hated him anyway. Or at least disliked him. There was no possible outcome of them ending up together – and thus of Killer having to come out of the closet – so, he had nothing to worry about. Yes, he thought Penguin was cute, but that didn't mean he actually liked him. He wouldn't have to worry his feelings would get him into trouble.

Deep down, Killer knew he only fooled himself.

Penguin stared at the teacher in panic. What the hell had he just said to Killer? What if Killer would find out now? He was pretty smart, he would figure it out sooner or later. And obviously, Killer didn't return his crush, so he had totally made a fool of himself. Stupid Shachi had gotten into his head and given him the idea that he stood a chance. If Killer came to the conclusion that Penguin liked him, he would probably out him and make fun of him in front of the entire school. Penguin could already see it happen.

He wished the ground would just swallow him up.

TBC...