Tommy POV

The rumors were true. Adam looked so comfortable on the stage reciting the Mad Hatter's lines in our production of Alice in Wonderland. When he was finished, a silence settled over the class for a few moments before the applause erupted loudly.

I saw Adam meet eyes with Eli, who's mouth was dropped open in shock. He smirked in satisfaction and then turned to Mrs. Robles to see what she thought of his performance.

She walked up the stage steps, no sort of emotion showing on her face. Adam's smile wavered a tiny bit, but then it got even brighter as Mrs. Robles turned her back to the students and spoke to him quietly.

She then turned to our class, a smile almost as big and bright as Adam's gracing her face, "Okay class, now that we've found our main character, the Mad Hatter, let's continue yesterday's class discussion about what we are going to do about the costumes."

Eli spoke up then, "Wait Mrs. Robles! I thought you had given me the role of the Mad Hatter, you already made Clare our Alice."

Mrs. Robles held her smile as she replied to Eli smoothly, "Clare may be Alice, but Adam's clearly the best choice for the main role. Do you have a problem with that, Mr. Goldsworthy?"

Eli clenched his jaw before answering, "No ma'am, Mrs. Robles."

"Okay then. Now, about the costumes, I'm open to any design ideas you all have," Mrs. Robles said, turning her attention back to the rest of the class.

Several hands shot into the air at this statement, mine included. She gestured her hand towards me, "Go ahead, Tommy."

My sensitive ears picked up someone whispering at the back of the room, "Oh no, the fag has an idea," followed by hushed snickering. From his place beside me, Adam shot a glare towards a corner of the room, having heard it too.

The snickering stopped and, with a look at the raven-haired's face, I was DAMN glad I wasn't on the other end of that icy look in his beautiful eyes.

"I was thinking we could stick more to the Victorian styles used in the original books AND in that movie by Tim Burton. We could find stuff like that at thrift stores and other places and bring them back here to modify it."

Mrs. Robles smiled, "That's a great idea, Tommy. I like it." I smiled at her praise, shifting my long, blonde bangs out of my face.

Mrs. Robles called on another student that said, "I'd like to add on to Tommy's idea."

I didn't hear the rest of what she said because Adam gave me a sideways, one-arm hug, followed by a heart-melting crooked smile.

"How'd I do? Did you see Eli's face?" I nodded in response, eager to see how happy he would get, "You were amazing."

He kept his hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently, semi turning his attention back to class, "You were right Tommy."

He absentmindedly leaned against me, his hand remaining on my shoulder. I became very self-conscious, remembering what had happened between us last period.

I shifted my bangs back to cover my face, and hopefully the furious blush I felt crawling up my face, from Adam.

He was about half a foot taller then me and had broad shoulders and a feminine face. He was insanely beautiful, had breath-taking pale blue eyes, and the voice of an angel.

Adam was, in a word, perfect.

I guess he realized where he was and what he was doing because removed his arm from around me, stopping long enough to lightly trail his fingers down my arm,leaving goosebumps on my skin.

I looked up at him through a blonde curtain of hair to see him grinning at me, "What's with that look, Tommy?

I shook my head and turned away as I felt my cheeks heat up again, "Nothing." I heard him chuckle and mumble something softly under his breath that I couldn't make out.

I shut him out of my mind and payed attention to Mrs. Robles again.

"Thank you students. This just might be the best performance yet! Tomorrow for class, I would like each of you to bring in something you have or something from a store that you believe we could modify for our use. There is 15 minutes left for class, but for now your all dismissed."

Some students grabbed their stuff and headed back to the classroom, but most of us stayed in the auditorium. Adam and I sat on the edge of the stage, just talking about music.

"Adam, we'd really like to have you as our singer. 'Course you'll need to audition first, though I'm sure you'll get it. So whataya say?" Adam was thoughtful for a second before he said, "Sure Tommy."

I smiled, truly happy that I might be able to spend even more time with Adam. "We usually meet in the choir hall because Dr. Siobhan doesn't care and she has her off period next." Adam nodded, "Okay, that's fine."

At that moment, Eli and Clare walked down the aisle towards the stage, "Well, I see you've made a friend, Lambert. Are you gay too? 'Cause if not, I'd be careful how you act around him 'cause he could take a liking to you."

I sighed inwardly and rolled my eyes, 'Here we go.'

Adam jumped off the stage and got right in Eli's face, "Just because Tommy's gay, doesn't mean he's automatically gonna like me like that. Besides, we're just friends, that's all."

I couldn't help feeling a twinge of sadness when he said 'friends' like our kiss last period didn't happen, though I knew he was just saying it because he doesn't want people to know he's gay.

"So I'd appreciate it if you minded your own damn business. I can handle myself, thanks."

Eli shot me an ugly look and said, "Fine then. Don't complain when that faggot flirts with you and kisses you. You're the type of guy he goes for, trust me."

He walked up the stage steps, Clare following. She turned to Adam, smiling gently, "I'm glad I'll be able to work with you, Adam. You're a natural." Adam smiled brightly, "Yeah. Me too, Clare."

"Clare!"

All three of us looked backstage to see Eli by the curtains, glowering at us. "I'd better go. It was nice meeting you, Adam."

She turned on her heel and followed Eli backstage, disappearing behind the curtains.

Adam looked at me then, "What did he mean that I was your type? How does he know that?"

I didn't answer right away because my mind was flooded with images of me and Eli when we were best friends, practically inseparable. That was before I knew I was gay. Before I misinterpreted our friendship and kissed Eli.

"Tommy? You okay?" I didn't realize I had spaced out, nor that tears were threatening to spill from my eyes until Adam gave me a worried look.

I shook my head, clearing my tears and the memories away, and cleared my throat, "It's nothing. Just a huge misunderstanding between me and him. I'll tell you later."

A bell sounded throughout the auditorium and I stood up, "C'mon, it's time for you to meet the rest of the band."

I took Adam's hand, and lead him back to the choir hall.