Well, I finished work! Yes! Actually, I finished last Wednesday…don't kill me! I haven't been able to work on anything because I just got back from a mini-vacation…but, enough excuses. I'm gonna update my stories like crazy because I'm going to start school soon…and I'm gonna be really busy, I'm a SENIOR!

On with chapter 4?

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Chapter 4: Confrontation and Suspicions

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Dash stared at the two of them. He certainly wasn't expecting this. Calm down, calm down…there's gotta be a good explanation for this. Cut Fenton some slack…You were late. Dash told himself. Still, Kwan shouldn't be all over him like that! He looked at Danny's frightened expression and then at Kwan's surprised one. He fought the urge to kick both of their asses.

"I'm going to ask one more time…What the HELL is going on here?" Dash asked irritably.

"Dash, it's really not what it looks like-" Danny began.

"Yeah, we were playing catch and I threw it too hard at Danny, and it hit him in the stomach-" Kwan continued.

"And then he came over here to check up on me…" Danny finished, biting his lip. "But I'm okay now," he said, pushing off of Kwan to stand up, "and that's all…"

Dash stared at the two of them skeptically. "…Whatever. I'm going home." He glanced at Danny and saw a pained look in his face, and turned around. Whatever…I don't want him anyway. "See you around, Kwan. I'm going to kick your faggot ass when Monday comes around, Fenton."

"Dude, don't be like that." Kwan snapped, getting up. "Danny didn't even do shit to you…why do you always have to be-"

Dash could no longer hold his anger in and his fist collided with Kwan's jaw. Kwan shakily got up to his feet and wiped the blood that trickled down his mouth. "Bitch move, Dash."

"Heh." Dash replied smugly. "Why are you getting so defensive over Fenton? What, do you love him?" He taunted, laughing. His laugh was cut short as Kwan made his way over to him. Getting ready to defend himself, he bent his knees and held his arms up. Kwan does some sort of Martial arts…and I do boxing. This should be interesting…

Danny, however, quickly got in between of the two men. "Come on guys, there's no reason to fight." Dash noted that Danny was pushing himself against Kwan. So, he already cares for Kwan more than he cares for me…He snarled as he grabbed the back of Danny's neck and threw him to the ground.

"Stay out of it, Fenton." He snapped, facing Danny. "You'll get yours-" POW! Right in the kisser. He thought, moving his lips around. He hated that metallic taste blood had…spitting it out and cracking his neck, he faced Kwan. "So, I guess we're even now."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"You guys, please…" Danny was on his feet again, and tugged on Kwan's arm. Please, can we just go?"

Since when did he have such an attachment to Kwan?

"Feh, whatever. You two can be fags together, I don't care." With that said, he turned his back on them and began his walk home.

Danny quietly trailed behind Kwan. This is all my fault…He looked at Kwan's staggering form and his guilt tripled. He was hesitant to break the silence that engulfed them, but he figured he should…it was his fault, after all.

"Kwan, I'm re-"

"Don't, Danny. You don't have anything to apologize for." He barked. Danny flinched at his words. A few more moments of silence passed.

"…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just…Dash is such an ass…and you take it! Why?"

"…Because he's bigger than me…he would only hurt me more if I snitched. Besides…There's no real reason to. I mean, he doesn't hurt me that badly…" He flinched and gripped his chest.

"Does it still hurt from when I threw the football at you?" Kwan asked apologetically, turning to face him. "I'm really sorry-The ball didn't hit your chest…"

"Y-yeah…it's just…I still have some bruises there from Dash…you know, from a few days ago…" If anyone bothered to look closely, they'd notice the bruises all over my body…Dash, why do I still like you?

"Danny, why don't you say anything? Don't you parent's notice?"

"No…not really. It's not that they're bad parents!" He added quickly, seeing Kwan's expression. "It's just that…I hide it from them." Kwan sighed and Danny but his lip, hesitantly taking a few steps toward him and looked up at the taller teen. "You still have some blood on you cheek." He took out some Kleenex from his pocket and reached up and dabbed the blood away. He blushed when he realized how close they were. "Sorry…" He mumbled.

"…Nah, it's okay." He replied softly. "Hey…we can still hit the Nasty Burger…if you're up to it."

"…sure. That sounds…nice." Danny smiled up at Kwan and Kwan grinned back. I don't care if I was supposed to hang out with Dash today…I'm not going to think about it now…not when…Kwan cares enough to spend time with me.

Sam leaned against the tree, taking deep calming breaths. And here I thought I'd have to kick some ass…Her heart was still pounding as she slid down the trunk. She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. Closing her eyes and biting her lip, she thought about what just happened, and her 'stunning' conclusion. So, Dash is jealous…that much is obvious. He thinks Danny and Kwan have something…and I can't really blame him. It was almost like they were flirting…but-! And this part crushed her- The reason why Danny was so eager to see Dash…was because he likes Dash. Meaning Danny is gay, or at least bi.

A few seconds passed as she tried to wrap her mind around it, feeling the world crash around her. Meaning Danny doesn't like me…and never could. She closed her eyes again and hit the tree. There's no doubt about it. It makes sense. It all fits so perfectly. Why else would he be so…She slowly got to her feet and dusted herself off. Whatever…if he's gay…then at the very least I won't lose to Dash. She blinked back the tears that threatened to spill down her face and felt a lump form in her throat. God, I need to talk to Tucker about this…I don't know what to do.

She waited until her breathing evened out before picking her phone up and calling Tucker. "Yeah, it's Sam. Can I come over? We need to discuss something…it's about Danny."

Jazz sat in her room, staring out her window. Danny's been gone for a long time… I wonder what he was in such a hurry for? He was so down yesterday…Her eyes narrowed as she remembered how bruised and battered he was. That stupid Dash…who does he think he is? Why doesn't Danny ever report him? She rolled her eyes. Because of his damned pride. And because of his little 'secret'. Jazz had known for quite some time about Danny's sexuality, but she couldn't let him know. When he's ready, he'll tell me. There's no reason for me to make him uncomfortable. Still, why'd he have to fall in love with Dash of all people?

She jumped when her phone rang. She was so deep in her thoughts, she completely forgot about the outside world. "Hello, this is Jazz speaking." She answered politely, all traces of her surprise gone.

"Hey Jazz, it's me…Danny." She heard her little brother reply.

"Oh! Danny, are you okay? I was getting worried! It's getting dark, and we haven't heard from you since you left…how are you feeling?"

"Um, I'm fine. Listen, I'm gonna be hanging out with my friend-"

"Sam?" She interrupted.

"No-"

"Tucker?" She tried again.

"No, Kwan."

Silence. Kwan…isn't he one of Dash's friends? "Danny, you're not hanging out with Dash too, are you?" Don't get your hopes up Danny, at most he's bi-curious. He doesn't deserve you.

"No…just Kwan." She could hear the nervousness in her brothers voice, and knew he was telling the truth. He's probably blushing right now…

"Oh, I see. Just the two of you. Like a date?" She teased. I can still tease him about his sexuality, right? All sisters do…he shouldn't suspect I know. Right?

"No! It's not a…" He answered defensively (and loudly too). "Date." Danny finished, much softer than before.

"I know, I'm just teasing you! Well, I'll tell mom and dad…just be home at a reasonable hour, okay baby brother?" Jazz cooed.

"Yes, Jazz. Thanks."

Beep. This call has been disconnected. She mused to herself. Kwan, hmm? Well, Danny, this one…I'm not sure I approve, but he's much better than Dash.

"Mom! Dad!" Jazz called, walking into the living room. "Danny is going to be a little late, he's hanging out with some friends."

Maddie sighed. "I wish he told us that himself…but at least he called someone. And I suppose it's good he's out of his room, he's been locked up in there for such a long time."

"Yeah, it's good for his man-development!" Jack agreed, beaming. Jazz smiled and turned around, retreating to her room.

Oh Dad, if you only knew how true that statement really was…

Kwan watched Danny as he put his phone back into his pocket. "You have to call home?"

"Y-yeah." Danny answered, embarrassed. "I mean, they just want to know where I am…I don't need to ask permission to do things…" He bit his lip and shifted his gaze, avoiding Kwan's eyes.

"You don't need to be so…" He paused, searching his brain for the right words. "So guarded around me. It's okay to act like…yourself." He picked up a fry and bit into it. "I mean, it sounds hard to believe because I'm a popular kid and I've bullied you before…but-"

"No, I know. You're a good guy." Danny cut in. "Not too many people would stick up for me like you did…" His smile dropped. "I mean, I'm so weird and-"

"Nah, I think you're cool." Kwan interrupted. "You're not weird…just quiet. And most people aren't used to that." Why am I so interested in getting Danny happy now…? It didn't bother me when Dash bullied him before…why now?

"So…just out of curiosity…are we friends now?" Danny asked, snapping Kwan out of his thoughts.

"Hmm? Oh! Yeah, sure. You're cool with me, Danny." Kwan grinned at the other teen. Friends with Fenton…I don't think anyone will see this one coming. But he doesn't deserve to get beat up by Dash…he's a fucking ass hole. "Why do you take all the shit Dash does to you?" He blurted out, remembering their previous conversation. "And tell me the truth!"

Surprise was evident on Danny's face, and he didn't answer. Shit, boundaries… "Hey, dude, you don't need to answer that…it's none of my business. It's just that…you don't deserve that kind of crap…you know? I just-"

"I don't know why." Danny answered, smiling sadly. "I just can't bring myself to tell anyone…well, anyone who can do anything about it." He wrapped up his trash and picked up his tray. "Hey, are you done? I'll take the trays…" When Kwan nodded he picked up his tray as well and dumped it. "So…should we head home now?"

"…Sure." So quick to change the subject… Grabbing his keys they made their way over to Kwan's car. The ride wasn't too long, after all, Danny's house was only a few minutes from the Nasty Burger. Kwan slowly came to a stop in front of Danny's house.

"It was fun hanging out with you Fenton." He said quietly. "Let's do it again sometime."

"Yeah…it was. Thank you, it was fun." Danny closed the car door and was about to make his way over to his door when he stopped. "Oh…and thank you. Not just for hanging out with me…for defending me. I really appreciate that." He smiled at Kwan and turned around, entering his house.

That smile…that one was different than the ones he gives everyone else…this one…was real.

Well, there we go! I hope you all enjoyed that…review, please?