Chapter Three: As Long As Your Mine
Fender came running out of Patterson Park completely confused by what had just occurred: He was not exactly sure why his best friend had just made a complete scene in front of the entire sophomore class over him going to kiss his new girlfriend. Was IQ in love with Lou Ann? Did he want to steal Lou Ann from him because he wasn't going to allow that no way, no how. Fender spotted IQ walking quickly down the street up ahead: "Hey!" he exclaimed sprinting up toward IQ. IQ swirled around, he had taken his glasses off his face and his eyes were wet with tears and his face was red. "What the fuck was that, man?" asked Fender looking IQ up and down noting the look of his friend. Fender walked closer to IQ: "What has gotten into you, man? You're acting so strange." he said moving closer to IQ in a threatening manner. "If you think for one second you can steal Lou Ann from me then your sadly mistaken, because I—" Fender got interrupted by IQ's voice in a whisper: "I don't want Lou Ann." Said IQ with hesitation in his tone as his eyes averted Fender's gaze.
"Then what is your problem, IQ. I mean why did you just scream right before I kissed Lou Ann, if you don't want Lou Ann, why would you not want us to kiss." said Fender standing across from his best friend, he was confused, if IQ didn't like Lou Ann, then why he would object to them kissing was beyond him. IQ looked up from the cement and felt himself turn completely red in the face as he listened to Fender talk: He couldn't just come out and say he was falling in love with him, that would be too weird. IQ looked at him for a moment and then slowly began to speak: "I don't know." He said with a mere shrug of his shoulders, his eyes avoiding him.
"IQ, what does that even mean?, your making any sense, you don't want Lou Ann, then why would you--- Tammy!" Fender said pointing a finger at IQ, "that stupid bitch put you up to this didn't she, I mean come on, she was mooning over Sketch the entire time we were going out, and gets all offended when I decide to go out with someone else." He said thinking he has found the reason IQ did what he did: "Why would you help me ex-girlfriend, you're my best friend and best friends don't do that to each other." Fender said looking at IQ as he noticed him not looking at him again. "Will you fucking look at me?" He said walking up to him and making him look at him by lifting his chin to look into his eyes. IQ felt the sudden rush of warmth as Fender's hand touching his chin, he wanted so badly to smile and enjoy the moment, but he knew that was wrong, he needed to suppress the emotions that had caused the sudden outburst at the hop.
"I have to go." IQ stammered as he slowly pulled away from the warmth of Fender's hand apprehensive to leave the warmth behind. Fender looked at IQ and sighed: "Must you always run away from your problems, we need to talk about this!" Fender said following IQ as he attempted to get away. IQ turned to look at Fender and he couldn't do it anymore, he couldn't suppress it anymore: "What do you want from me, Fender. I, I can't talk to you about what I'm feeling because you'll just think I'm a freak and never talk to me again." IQ said as he stood crossed arm in front of his best friend. "What the hell are you talking about, IQ? I just don't understand why you didn't want me to kiss Lou Ann." Fender said completely confused now by his friend's dramatic actions. "Do I need to spell it out for you, I. I've fallen in love with you." IQ finally letting out the words that he had suppressed deep down and then covered his mouth with his hands. Fender looked at IQ with a shocked on look on his face, had his best friend just said what he thought he said? He was... in love with him? IQ looked at Fender and shook his head and turned away: "I knew it, you think I'm a freak, and you'll probably stand back and laugh at me like everyone will come Monday at the show." IQ said as he felt Fender's hand on his shoulder. IQ's eyes met Fender's and he noticed something he had never seen in them: understanding.
"Fender, what is it?" IQ asked looking at him and feeling his dark eyes stare into his blue ones. Fender touched IQ's face with his hand and smiled: "IQ, do you know how many girlfriends I've had." Fender said looking at IQ with a soft smile. "Hundreds, if you count all those ones from middle school." IQ said not wanting the feeling of Fender's hand on his face to ever stop. "Well, I have something to confess. I never loved any of them, not a single one. Do you know why?" he asked with a soft smirk. "I. I don't." stammered IQ feeling the rush of being in such a compromising position with his growing crush. "Because, it's been you I've always felt for." Fender said as he slowly leaned in close to IQ's ear and whispered: "And now, it's coming true." Fender said as his lips touched IQ's, sending a shiver down IQ's spine. IQ let the kiss shiver his entire body and kissed back, but then pulled away: "But Fender, if that's true, why would be going out with Lou Ann?" IQ asked confused by all the new developments. "Because, IQ, I can't not have a girl in my life, people talk, and then rumors would spread and I'd be ruined you know how it is; I have to keep up appearances." Fender said fixing the collar on his jacket. "If I was dateless, then people would talk. So I put up this front that I'm a complete ladies man, when really ladies are not what I want." Fender said moving closer to IQ. IQ pushed him back: "I will not do this, Fender, I have fallen for you, but I refuse to sit back in the closet and wait for you to follow me out." IQ said turning to walk away and freak out about the feeling of his lips and Fender's linking.
"IQ! Wait, please." Fender said placing his hand on IQ's shoulder: "I don't want you to be upset with me, ever since we were kids, I've thought about how handsome you were and how intelligent you were, but that wasn't how I was suppose to act, so I hid behind a mask, and I can't just let the mask fall off and reveal who I am, it would destroy my life." Fender said pleading with IQ: "Don't leave like this, we can be together, but I just can't do this in public." Fender said as he hoped IQ would understand. IQ turned to face Fender and sighed: "I won't sit idle while you make out with every Council girl, and then come over and make out with me." IQ said looking at Fender and touching his face with his hand: "I just can't do it." IQ said turning and walking away, giddy and excited to have Fender now on a string. Fender watched as his best friend, and secret crush walked away from him leaving him completely speechless.