Below The Radar

Oh no, the new promo it looks like Cyrus is going to come out to his first guy. I'm so excited, and with Jonah's severe panic attack, I'm sure it will be his vest friend that he comes out to. Jesus christ I can't even contain my own excitement. On with the dwelling that is this chapter.

Chapter 7 - Easily Difficult

~•~ Recap ~•~

Jonah & Marty had a mutual exchange of blowjobs. TJ feels he is losing his friends to their romantic partners. All he wants to do is give up, meanwhile Cyrus tries to get to the bottom of the Amber & Jonah pretend dating scheme.

~•~

Jonah was nervous about going out tonight. It was a date after all, why shouldn't he be a little worried? Jonah dressed semi-formal with black jeans, and a dark blue button-up shirt. He felt, and brushed his hair once more standing in front of his mom asking, "how do I look?"

"Over the top for a bowling alley," she responded breaking into a light laugh at the end.

"Great, lets go," Jonah told her as they headed out the door. The day was late, and they already ate dinner. They drove down the roads with headlights on that didn't seem to do much.

"So who is it that you're going out with again?"

"Amber," Jonah told her. The crazy part was he was somewhat revolted by having to say he was dating her despite having actually dating her in the past.

"Didn't she cheat on you?" his mother asked.

"Yeah, classic Amber gotta love her," Jonah responded playfully.

"Hhn," she exhaled loudly. "It'd be nice if you got with someone who didn't worry me. I don't wanna see you get hurt again. Also maybe a girl a little younger would be nice."

"Uh," Jonah started, "I'm not sure how to respond to that."
"Try telling me, okay mom I understand."

"Kay I understand, now you have got to stop worrying so much about me," Jonah told her. "I'll be fine," he practically whined at her. She turned for a quick moment admiring what a handsome young man he was becoming. She supposed with his maturity that she wasn't all against him dating older women. It just bugged her how older women tended to take advantage of him because he's younger, and can get tricked into doing things easier.

When Jonah got dropped off, he was the last one to arrive. Amber, Andi, and Marty were already there waiting on him. The three waited on Jonah while he got his bowling shoes holding them in one hand, while Marty said, "hold my hand babe?" Jonah looked over at Andi, and Amber to see where he got the hand holding idea from.

It was nerve wracking for him to think about all the people that are there to see him holding hands with another boy. Jonah's free dangling hand didn't have much of a choice when Marty ended up grabbing it without consent. "Sorry my hand's a little sweaty," Jonah told him.

"Why? Are you nervous?" Marty asked him lightly squeezing his hand as they got lead down to their lane they rented.

"Yeah a bit," Jonah shamefully admitted to him.

"It's fine there ain't much people here, and besides it's not like we recognize anyone here." Marty released Jonah's hand when they had gotten down to the very last lane that was against the wall. Jonah sat down to take off his shoes, and put on the ugly bowling shoes. Jonah hated how long the shoe laces were, it made him wonder who in the world decided that these shoes need laces this long.

Amber sat in the captain's chair putting their names into the game while Andi sat on the end of the bench closest to her, while Marty sat in the middle of Andi, and Jonah. Before the game got started they had to go, and retrieve bowling balls that were an appropriate weight for them. Jonah ended up lifting a heavy ball with both his hands giving to Marty saying, "bet you won't bowl with this one."

When the heavy black ball was placed in Marty's hand he nearly dropped it on his toes not expecting it to weigh so much. "Alright, take it while I find you one," Marty told him passing the ball back to him. Jonah didn't have as much trouble as Marty did with the ball making him figure out that he may have more upper arm strength than him. Although if it was leg strength, Marty would definitely have Jonah beat by a long shot. Marty found a bright pink ball that was nearly solid, and had tiny little holes for the fingers. "Found it," Marty said turning around presenting the ball to Jonah. They took their balls back over to the ball return, and sat them down on their side.

The other lane next to them was empty meaning that they didn't have to share the section, for now.

Amber, and Andi returned back a little while later both carrying the same exact lightweight green balls. "Hey would it be fun if we combined our scores at the end, and compared them at the end to see who the better bowling couple is?" Andi asked.

"Sure," Marty said. "I'm up for an good competition."

"Same," Jonah said nodding his head not realizing yet they Marty, and him had sabotaged their own team by giving each other balls that are not right for them. Amber, and Andi had went first followed by Marty, and Jonah. The balls were so light with Andi, Amber that they could essentially fling them down the lane. Andi had gotten seven of the pins down her first turn, and Amber eight.

As for Marty when he went up there with his heavy black ball he held it with both hands, and rolled it down the middle of the lane ever so slowly. "Wow," Amber said applauding as the ball was taking it's time going down the lane. She wasn't even sure if it had enough momentum to make it all the way to the pins. Slowly, but surely it made it down there plowing through the center leaving four pins, with two on each opposing side. His second shot ended up going down the same path hitting down zero pins. As for Jonah he nearly hurt himself by sticking his fingers in too far. He meant to release, but the ball didn't come off till seconds later making it fly up into the air, and hitting the arrows on the yellow lane with a heavy thud that send waves of thunder like sound.

Jonah squinted his eyes when the ball had struck the ground, he was expecting the lane to shatter like ice on a frozen pound. He was relieved to see that the ball had done no damage, but he had however gotten the attention of several surrounding people who gave him a stink eye. Jonah made his second pitch much faster not sticknig his fingers in as deep, and getting off the stage as fast as possible. It was embarrassing making all that ruckus with his ball while others who actually knew what they were doing tried to bowl.

When Jonah sat back down next to Marty his mind went to some unwanted thoughts. The corners of Jonah's mouth curved upwards while his mind replayed the time he gave Marty a blow job. It felt strange seeing all the others in the facility with him, not a single one besides Marty knew that he sucked his dick before. It was their little secret that he all of a sudden couldn't get his mind off of. It stayed that way for a few more rounds of bowling until Natalie, and Walker approached their section sitting on the other side using the lane next to them.

"Fancy seeing you here," Natalie greeted Jonah.

"Who's that?" Marty asked him on Amber's behalf.

"Natalie, a ultimate friend of mine," Jonah told them.

Walker recognized one new face that he had never seen before, and introduced himself, "and I'm Walker." The other girl he had seen before at the Spoon, but he wasn't familiar with her name yet. He was hoping to pick it up later when one of them used it. "So is this a boyfriend vs girlfriend game going on here?" the dark skinned gentleman had asked.

"Mhm," Amber said nodding her head, "that's exactly what this is." Andi pulled her bottom lip in using her teeth trying not to lose her composure at the obvious lie that Amber was feeding them. Marty was doing a very similar tactic trying to keep a straight face as to not raise any eyebrows. The two of them disappeared getting bowling balls, and adding them the ball return, before putting on their shoes, and entering their names into their scoreboard.

The end of Andi's game was drawing closer by the time the other two had started their game. "So are you two a couple?" Andi asked. Before she was given her eyes were drawn to some brightly colored sneakers under the bench. She had never seen any shoes like them before, they must have been customized by Walker. First it was her, and then Buffy, now others. Maybe even other girls before herself.

"Yeah," Walker said leaning over, and kissing Natalie for show. Natalie then jumped out of her seat grabbing her shoes.
"Oh, and you have got to see these shoes he made for me, they are absolutely to die for? Aren't they just the best?" she asked.

"Sure," Amber sarcastically said letting out a little snort in her quiet laugh. Natalie frowned, and stuck her shoes back under the bench.

Natalie then said, "I'm still trying to figure out which two of you are dating who?"

All at once Andi pointed to Marty, and Amber at Jonah saying, "him." While Jonah pointed at Amber, and Marty at Amber saying. "Her." After Marty realizes his mistake he quickly pointed at Andi, and said, "whoops I meant Andi. I'm dating Andi," he said reassuringly trying to play it off cool.

When their game had ended the boys had lost big time with a combined score of 136, and the girls with a score of 220. The way Walker, and Natalie seen it was that Jonah, and Amber had won by a little bit. "Congrats Jonah your team won," Walker said.

Walker had Natalie now watching the two of them as they did nothing. Jonah nervously put his hand up in the air, and Amber gave him a high five. "Wooh," Amber said unenthusiastically.

Marty, and Andi face palmed at the train wreck of a fake couple in front of them. There was no way that Walker, and Natalie would believe them as a real couple. "What?" Natalie asked. "What was that?" she then asked laughing. "I was expecting a celebratory kiss, and then you went for a high five. I give high fives to my friends."

"Oh...kay," Jonah said dragging the word out.

"Kiss damnit," Natalie impulsively said to them. Marty's heart stopped picturing his boyfriend being forced to kiss someone else, even if it was a girl. It didn't help that said girl happened to be his ex girlfriend.

"Why?" Amber asked for Jonah.

"Because you two just won, and you're a couple. Plus you two look really great tonight. Oo I know, how about a picture while you're kissing so you can remember your victory tonight. I can take it, and then send it to you."
"Oh no thanks, we're good," Jonah tried telling her before turning over to Marty with eyes saying, help me!
Natalie raised a eyebrow in suspicion. She then turned to Walker who asked, "what is going on here?"

"Nothing," Amber said. "Come on baby boy let's give them what they want," she added cringing on the part where she referred to Jonah as baby boy. Andi knew that Amber didn't have feelings for Jonah, so she was fine with watching them kiss. It was just keeping up their disguises as a fake couple.

Natalie got her phone out, and got the two of them in shot, while they both leaned in meeting in the middle for a light delicate kiss. This time around it was not like any other kiss they had before when they were dating. This time it felt wrong, like they shouldn't be doing it. They closed their eyes trying to keep it looking calm, and natural. When Natalie took the picture her flash was on, and they saw the flash of light through their eyelids knowing that they could stop now. When they parted lips Jonah faked a smile, and Amber wanted to wipe her lips clean. Despite her lips being spotless they now felt dirty.

Andi's initial thought was that seeing her girlfriend kiss her fake boyfriend wouldn't faze her. The churning feeling in her gut made her have a different thought. She was not okay with seeing that happen. Walker was able to kiss his girlfriend just fine, why wasn't she able to do the same with her girlfriend?

"There I sent it to you," Natalie said to Jonah, but not putting her phone away. She typed a little more on the screen before finally pocketing it, and getting back to their game. Marty, and them stayed to play a few more games of bowling. They had swapped out balls before going again. Walker finished his game winning when the others were only part way done with their second game. Walker announced that he was going to go get snacks, and the other five people joined him. They all took a break from the game to eat, and drink. They brought their drinks back down to their section with them, and continued playing. Jonah, and Marty had swapped out their balls with better ones hoping to beat Amber, and Andi this time. They ended up losing again, but this time not as bad.

Their third, and final game they had ended up winning, all thanks to Amber trying to show off. When Amber tried to do some cool pitch it ended with her getting a gutterball. Andi insisted that she go back to rolling the ball like she was earlier. Amber refused, and said that if she could make one that they would get back ahead. A little while later Amber gave up not accomplishing the strikes that she wanting to get. With the little rounds that they had left, it was not enough for them to catch up to Jonah, and Marty.

After the game was done, and they were tired out of bowling they went, and played some of the arcade games waiting for their parents to pick them up. Amber, and Andi were the first ones to go, leaving just Marty, and Jonah. Marty then asked him, "since you gave Amber a kiss, can I have one?" Marty then added, "please, no one is looking, just one quick one."

"As much as I love you, I can't. Just not right now, I'm not ready to do that in public yet. Hopefully you understand," Jonah told him.

Marty frowned, "yeah I understand. I get it. You're too ashamed to kiss your boyfriend in public. Have you ever thought how that makes me feel?"

"No, I mean yes," Jonah said. "Look I thought we were on agreement that neither one of us wanted other people to know about us."

"That was before, when I didn't know if I loved you," Marty told him. "It really hurt watching you, and Amber kiss. I know it's pretend, and you have no feelings for her, but still. I don't want to have to hide this." While saying the last word Marty grabbed Jonah's hand looking him the eyes.

"Okay, okay," Jonah said exciting Marty. "We can take it slow, like first hand holding, and stuff building up to other things like hugs, and kisses. Deal?"
"Deal," Marty said shaking the hand that he was already holding confirming the deal. Marty then released Jonah's hand checking his phone. "Oh my mom is here," Marty told Jonah realizing that he would be leaving Jonah all alone. "Actually do you wanna see if I can give you a ride home, since your mom isn't here yet?"

"Yeah," Jonah said getting out his phone calling his mom.
Marty then told Jonah, "my mom's cool with it." Jonah nodded taking in the information while his mother picked up the phone. It turned out that she had not even checked her texts to see it was time to pick him up meaning that she was still at the house. She allowed it. "So?" Marty asked as Jonah moved his phone away from his ear.

"She hasn't even left the house yet, so it's a yes."

When they walked outside it was now dark, and the headlights would definitely be effective. Marty took his mom by surprise by not sitting in the passenger seat, and instead sitting in the back with Jonah. "So how was date night guys?" she asked.

Jonah for a second there thought that she was implying that the two of them had went on a date together. "It was fun, although this stinker beat me, and Andi," Marty said.

Jonah grinned being called a stinker. Marty's mother than said, "I'm sorry Jonah do I know your girlfriend?"

Jonah cleared his throat, "no, she's a highschooler. Her name's Amber by the way."

"Now Marty, just because Jonah has a highschool girlfriend does not mean that you can have one," she told him. "When you get into highschool, then you can have a highschool girlfriend." Marty hoped that he didn't have to worry about that, and by the time that he was in highschool him, and Jonah would no longer be hiding their relationship from anyone. For the remainder of the car ride home Jonah held Marty's hand because it was too dark in the car for his mother to see them.

Cyrus was about to head to bed when he was browsing through his instagram feed. He came across a picture of Jonah, and Amber kissing. Angrily he sent the photo to Jonah with a angry filled text asking what he was doing. He then went on a rant calling Jonah out for having a boyfriend.

When Jonah got the text he was surprised by its long length. He then had spent the next ten minutes explaining to Cyrus that he was forced to do that by Natalie, who was the one who posted the photo, and tagged them in it. Cyrus had then remembered TJ, and quickly shot him a text trying to tell him to call him, so he could explain the photo before he saw it.

Unfortunately it was already too late. TJ was laying in bed, with hot tears building up in the corners of his eyes. He was angry, sad, and frustrated all at the same time. TJ glared back at the photo of Jonah kissing his crush. He then realized why it was called a crush. Seeing his crush had crushed his heart. The picture began to go out of focus as his hands trembled that held the phone. The tears fogged up his vision, and he didn't bother to wipe them away. His heart felt like was on fire. He couldn't take it any longer, he immediately through his phone across the room. It hit the wall before falling to the ground. TJ stayed in bed not caring if it was broken or not.

If this was how things were going to be, he didn't even want to have a crush anymore. He wanted his feelings for Amber to vanish. The jock rolled onto his stomach, and silently cried the night away.

End Of Chapter 7

Well this chapter ran on longer than I anticipated. Current thoughts on Marty, and Jonah's relation? Also any suggestions for who TJ could potentially end up dating? I would focus more on Lucas, and Cyrus, but seeing as Lucas is a original character, I don't want to focus much of any on them. I think next chapter I'll include the two of them doing stuff. Hoops & Hurdles is now finished, if anyone was wondering. Pretty sure Metcalf's Cannibal Farm will be the next one to get finished. Lastly if yins don't review I swear I will kill off TJ in any means necessary.

~ Banana