Hello Dear Readers! Ready for some seriously honest conversations? We pick up where we left off, with AJ, Gavin, Michael, and Jacob leaving the Hummel home in Lima and heading back to school. Enjoy!

~oOo~

Two hours later, AJ pulled his car into the student parking lot at Dalton. The sun had just set and shadows engulfed the campus in the gloaming. True to form, Michael and Jacob picked up their Star Wars conversation moments after leaving the Hummel's driveway, which kept them entertained in the back seat. AJ and Gavin spent the two hour trip to school in a conversation that was easy and comfortable. Even in exiting the car and walking towards the building, the Star Wars conversation continued. AJ and Gavin hung back a bit.

"Do you think they'll be able to wrap that up before graduation? Do they know they only have two years to prove each other wrong?" Gavin asked.

"Ha!" AJ said. "I'm pretty sure they'll just keep talking around each other. Heck, I can see them, two little old men, sitting in rockers on the front porch of a retirement home still trying to convince the other that he's wrong." AJ followed that up with his best imitation of Michael and Jacob arguing, in old man voices. Gavin laughed so hard he started to choke, which lead to AJ smacking him on the back and then cracking up himself.

Gavin threw an arm around AJ's shoulder and said, "Dude, you've got to stop making me laugh like that or you're going to kill me!" Immediately, he withdrew his arm and looked at AJ. "God, I'm sorry, man. I didn't mean to…oh crap." Gavin took a step away from AJ and covered his forehead with his hand.

AJ stopped walking, looked at his newest friend and said, "What?"

"My arm…I didn't mean to…I mean…shit!" Gavin whispered.

A second later, AJ realized what was going on. "Ooooooh! Okay first, language, sir! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" Gavin removed his hand from his forehead and looked at AJ with a grin.

"Sorry about that."

"Second, your arm was just fine where it was."

"Really? Because I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. The lines get kind of blurry when I'm involved sometimes. I don't want you to think I'm…"

"Gav, shut the hell up," AJ said.

"Language, sir. Do you kiss your mother…I mean fathers with that mouth?"

"Touche," AJ said. "Look, I'm probably the last person you need to worry about when it comes to being yourself, so relax, okay? Besides, you're making me uptight, so knock it off! Now, since this is officially the last night of summer, because beginning tomorrow night, we have to worry about morning classes, what do you say to a movie night? I've got a bajillion movies. We can ask my darling Neanderthals to join us as well. What do you say?"

"Sounds great. Where do you want to meet?" Gavin asked.

"My room, nine o'clock?" AJ returned.

"I have a stash of snacks my mom has no idea I brought along. Care to indulge?" Gavin asked, grinning.

"Totally. I've still got some Daddy B brownies hidden away. If we eat them, we must be discrete," AJ added. "I'll grab milk from the kitchen." By this time, they'd reached the front door of Dalton, where they signed in and made their way to the Junior dorm. "See you in a few," AJ said, as they parted near Gavin's door.

~oOo~

"Well, we just invited Josh and Kevin over to play poker, but thanks for thinking of us," Michael said when AJ asked if they wanted to do a movie night.

"No worries. I'm sure we can watch a movie in Gavin's room. Do we need to have a little refresher course in betting during poker? We don't want a repeat of last spring's end of the year game. Jacob?" AJ said, looking at his roommate. Jacob's lack of experience in Five Card Stud cost him a fair amount of the money his parents sent to travel home for the summer, and they were not thrilled to have to send him more.

"Naw, I'm good," Jacob said, smiling at AJ. "We're only betting pennies this time."

"Brilliant plan. Okay, I'll be down in Gavin's room if you need me," AJ said, as he quietly pulled a box out from under a pile of Dalton sweaters on the top shelf in his closet and left the room.

~oOo~

Moments before nine, AJ approached Gavin's door, just as Gavin prepared to leave for room 208. "Hey! I thought we were watching in your room?" Gavin said.

"Change of plans. Michael and Jacob are hosting a poker party and believe me, you don't want to be part of that hot mess. Is it okay if we watch the movie in your room?"

"Of course!" Gavin said, stepping back inside the room. "Sorry it's kind of a mess."

AJ looked around and smiled. "If this is your definition of a mess, we need to have a talk, boy!" Gavin pulled his laptop from his desk and turned to find AJ sitting on his bed, his back against the wall. In front of him were ten different movies of varying genres. "I wasn't sure which movie you'd want to watch, so I brought all kinds."

"Wow! You have quite the selection. Not many people I know like this many genres of film," Gavin said.

"Well, once you meet my dads you'll understand. I've watched everything from old musicals to mysteries the old horror flicks to romcoms. One of my dads is not too jazzed about action movies, but my other dad loves them, so I've watched those too," AJ said. "So, pick your poison."

"I love this one!" Gavin said, choosing A Knight's Tale, with Heath Ledger. "It's kinda sad that he died so young. Is this one okay with you?"

"This," AJ said, smiling, "is my go-to. It is quite possible that this movie will be on my all-time favorites list for the rest of my life. A Knight's Tale it is!" AJ removed the DVD and handed it to Gavin.

Snacks were arranged, the overhead light was put out, and the movie began. AJ and Gavin sat side by side, shoulders barely touching. Silently, they watched the beginning of the movie. Just as they got to the part where William trains to disguise himself as a knight, AJ realized that Gavin was very still. Moments later, his breathing deepened. As AJ looked to his left, Gavin's head fell and landed on AJ's shoulder. Tiny snores were next, right in AJ's ear. He chuckled, and went back to watching the movie.

Later, just before the final scene, Gavin's head shot up and he looked around, confused. Looking at AJ he said, "Oh crap. I fell asleep and it looks like I used your shoulder as a pillow." A tiny puddle of drool was on AJ's sweatshirt. "Sorry about that. I should have told you that I tend to conk out during movies. It's the big joke at home. When we go to the theater, my friends call it 'Gavin's $10 nap.' Then they argue over who has to sit next to me and be the human pillow," he said. "And the other thing is I tend to…"

"…snore!" AJ said, grinning.

"Oh god," Gavin said, blushing.

"I dunno. I thought it was kind of funny," AJ said.

"I wasn't very good company, though."

"No worries. I'd offer to watch another one with you but I'm guessing the results would be the same?" AJ asked.

"Sadly, that is most likely so," AJ said. "We can still eat snacks. I never fall asleep while I'm eating!" Gavin said, like a true teenage boy. Out came the contraband snacks that were smuggled from California, as well as the brownies that were smuggled out of room 208. The boys fell into easy conversation again and discussed everything from music to soccer to the upcoming school year.

"I sure miss my friends at home," Gavin said. "I didn't think it would be this bad! No offense! I've had a great time with you and Michael and Jacob, but…it's just…you know."

"Here's a question for you," AJ proposed. "Don't answer if I'm overstepping. Do you have a boyfriend at home?"

Gavin got quiet and stared at the opposite wall. "No. I haven't had a boyfriend. It's just never been something that has happened. I know some other guys my age who are gay, but we're just friends. None are really my type, I guess. What about you? Dating anyone?"

"No, no one. I don't know, in the past I haven't felt the need to get serious like that. I have lots of friends at home and we usually just hang out in a big group. And here, same," AJ said. He stayed silent for a few minutes, as he thought about his life and where he thought he'd end up. Gavin interrupted with his own question.

"So, turnabout is fair game. I have a question for you. Don't answer if I'm overstepping," Gavin said, smiling. AJ caught the reference to what he'd said earlier and grinned.

"Shoot," AJ said.

"I'm not getting a bead on you, AJ, so I'm just going to be blunt. Boys or girls?" Gavin asked, turning to look at his friend.

"Boys or girls what?" AJ answered, a sly look crossing his face.

"Come on, you know what I mean."

AJ sighed and turned to look at Gavin. "I've thought a lot about this. Growing up in my family, you can imagine that all kinds of options have always been totally fine and acceptable. My dads spent my entire thirteenth year trying to 'figure me out' and every time I brought a boy home or a girl home, they grilled me. I know they were just trying to keep the lines of communication open, but who wants to talk to their parents about this kind of stuff?" AJ grinned and continued. "I guess it comes down to this for me: it seems like the person is most important, not the gender. I'm not sure what that makes me, besides weird. There have been times when I've found myself attracted to boys and then other times, I experience those same feelings for a girl."

"So, no labels, huh? I don't think that's weird at all. In fact, it seems very thoughtful to me" Gavin said.

"Yeah, no labels. It may seem thoughtful, but it sure feels confusing lots of the time."

"I think that's reasonable. Thanks for answering, by the way. I appreciate it. And thanks for not freaking out."

AJ picked up Gavin's hand and said, "Pssht, it takes a lot more than that to freak me out." Gavin looked down at their linked hands and looked back at AJ.

"Is this okay?" AJ asked, raising their hands. "I'm kind of a physical person. Sorry if this makes you uncomfortable." AJ attempted to untangle his hand from Gavin's.

Gavin held on to AJ's hand and said, "No! It's fine. Totally fine."

~oOo~

On the last curfew free night, AJ announced to Gavin that he should probably get back to his room. They tidied up the snack mess and gathered AJ's movies into a pile. AJ stretched, yawned and said, "Wow! I'm really tired." He twisted from side to side, trying to loosen his back muscles.

"Well, AJ Hummel-Anderson, this was fun and I hope we have many other movie nights in the future," Gavin said.

"Yeah! It was fun. You're so easy to talk to and you are a nice break from the hyperactivity in 208!" AJ said, smiling. He held out his arms and Gavin walked right into them. The hug they shared was warm and genuine. It also lasted a little longer than the typical friend hug. Years later, if you'd asked both boys what they remembered about that hug, they'd both say that they remembered taking in fragrance of each other's cologne and they'd both say that the hug felt familiar, almost too familiar between people who'd only known each other for a few days.

"Good night Gavin. Thank you for being the best host ever…even if you fall asleep on your guests," AJ said, releasing Gavin enough to look at his face.

Gavin blushed. "Sorry about that! I'll try to remain awake next time, but no guarantees. Maybe if I set up a coffee IV drip, you know, a constant stream of caffeine entering my system?"

AJ laughed. "That might just work!" He let go of Gavin, repressing a surprising desire to hug him again. "Sleep well, Gav. See you tomorrow."

"You sleep well too. And thanks again. For everything," Gavin said. Gavin closed the door to his room and leaned his back against it. He looked up at the ceiling, not sure what to feel.

As Gavin's door closed, AJ's back found the hallway wall. He knew that he needed a few minutes to sort things out in his brain before returning to Michael and Jacob. With neither knowing what the other was doing, the boys smiled to themselves at precisely the same moment. Gavin changed into his pajamas and crawled into bed. AJ quietly made his way to his room and did the same, this time without waking his roommates. Both boys drifted off to sleep, thinking about each other.

~oOo~

Aren't they the cutest boys ever? Would Michael and Jacob make you crazy if you had to live with them? It's a good thing AJ adores them!

That is all for now! Thanks for reading and have a great day!

GirlFromTheWest xxoo