"So, who are you going to ask to the dance?" Minho asked Thomas, walking up to his locker.

Thomas only shrugged. "Wasn't going to ask anyone." Thomas admitted truthfully.

By now the two friends were in middle school together, and there was a dance coming up. Thomas didn't really like anyone persa. Sure, he found the occasional person attractive, but he just wasn't interested in anybody.

"I think I might ask Brenda." Minho said, as he leaned against the lockers.

And for some reason that made Thomas jealous. It wasn't like he had a crush on Brenda or anything, she was like a second sister to him. But yet the thought of the two of them at the dance together made Thomas' blood boil.

"Do you like her?" Thomas asked, trying not to sound too harsh.

But Minho wasn't very helpful, just shrugging him off. "Don't know. I mean she's cute."

Thomas rolled his eyes. "Yeah, she was cute in kindergarten too."

"What, would you like me to ask your sister instead?" Minho joked.

Teresa was two grades ahead of them, in 8th grade, while Thomas and Minho had just entered into middle school. Minho has always talked about how he has a crush on Teresa, but pretty much from day one she made it clear that she wasn't interested.

"You've been trying to get with my sister since you were still in diapers." Thomas joked. "It's not gonna happen."

"A man can dream."

"You're 12 years old, Min."

"Age ain't nothing but a number."

"Yeah, and if she were four more years older, it be illegal."

Minho snorted. "Always looking at the bad side of life."

"You like Brenda or not?" Thomas snapped.

"Woah there, Tommy." Minho teased.

"Don't call me that."

"Calm down. Why? You like her?"

"No." Thomas said. "It's just….you've never shown interest in her before, that's all."

"Well if I can't have Teresa then I gotta move on to somebody else, right?"

Thomas groaned. "This is going to be a long year."

Thomas couldn't figure it out. What was it about Minho that was making him so angry. He had every right to ask Brenda do this dance, who was he to try and stop him? But why did it make him feel so angry and hurt inside? Why did it matter to him? He shouldn't care about who he goes to the dance with.

"What's wrong honey?" Thomas' mother spoke as she entered into his room.

"Nothing." Thomas grunted.

"Oh honey, come on now."

Thomas sighed, sitting up on his bed. "Minho wants to ask Brenda to the dance, and, I don't know, it makes me mad, and angry, and, and jealous, but I, I mean I don't know why. He can ask whoever he wants to, right? And I know I shouldn't care, but I do, and I-"

"Wow, Thomas! Slow down." his mother interrupted him. "Sounds like someone has a crush."

Thomas shook his head. "On Brenda? Mom, you know she's like a sister to me."

"I'm not talking about Brenda." she said with a knowing smile. "I mean Minho."

Thomas just couldn't help it. He bursted into laughter. "Minho?!" he cried. "That's a good one mom." he said, wiping a few tears away.

"I'm serious." Thomas' mother said, causing Thomas to still. "Think about it. You don't want Minho to ask out Brenda, right?"

"Yeah, but-"

"Hang on." Thomas' mom said, holding out her index finger. "You don't want Minho to ask Brenda to the dance. So, for hypothetical reasons, let's say he doesn't. Tomorrow at school, he comes up to you and says he doesn't want to ask Brenda anymore, but instead he's going to ask…. I don't know, Sonya. How would that make you feel?"

Thomas was about to answer, when he stopped to actually think about it. How would that make him feel? To be honest, it wouldn't make him any happier. If anything, it would probably make him feel worse.

"But that doesn't make any sense, I mean, I don't even like boys." Thomas said.

His mother laughed, shaking her head. "You don't have to be gay to like boys Thomas." she said. "Besides, it's just a crush." she said with a shrug. "It'll go away."

Thomas groaned. "I do not have a crush on Minho!"

"Alright honey, if you say so."

"Mom!" Thomas whined.

"Okay, okay, I'll leave you alone!" she said, before getting up to exit the room. "Oh, one more thing." she said, turning to face her son.

Thomas sighed. "What mom?

"If you do….like boys, or if you were gay….you know I love you right?"

"Mom! Seriously?!"

"I'm just saying! You're my son and I love you and you don't have to feel ashamed if you-"

"Seriously? Leave! Now!"

"Fine, fine." she declared, closing the door behind her.

Thomas sighed in relief.

"I'm here if you ever need to talk!" she yelled from the other side of the door.

Thomas rolled over and screamed into his pillow.

A crush? On Minho? This is not happening. Thomas went from being angry and confused to being lost and confused. And embarrassed. But mostly, he felt….uncertain. Was he just in denial? Minho was like a brother to him...wasn't he? Thomas just hoped that whatever this was, it would end soon.

He didn't know what he would do if this turned into anything more than a crush.

Which he did not have.