Hello, my ducklings :3 I'm so sorry about the cliffhangers! I know you hate them so goddamned much, so I'll try to stop my need for cliffhanger as much as I can! They're just so... suspensive *evil laughter*

TWENTY-FOUR

-"What are you doing here?"- I asked with a threatening voice at the last person I wanted to see right now.

She giggled and began flipping her hair, -"Oh, you know, riding elephants."

I began to crack a laugh at how stupid that sounded, but I swallowed it and glared at her, -"Well then, ride off."

She giggled again, -"Isn't it obvious, you dummy? I came to see you!"- She opened her arms and began walking towards me.

I shoved her arms away roughly, -"Fuck off."- I growled.

She gasped dramatically with an oh-so-devastated face, -"Is that how you treat ladies?"- Her faced changed into an evil grin, her eyes sharp at me, -"It's no wonder you don't have any girlfriends."- She laughed, empathizing on 'girlfriend' too much for my taste. She was insinuating something.

-"Cut the fucking act and spit out whatever you have to say!"- Rage spilled out of my mouth like saliva. Her voice was becoming more and more annoying…

She jumped back, arms high with her mouth like an 'O', -"Ohh, I'm so scared! Help me mommy!"- She began to sob.

-"Honestly, that's the exact same thing that's gonna be written on your grave if you don't fuck off."- My fist balled. If she kept this up…

She gasped dramatically again, -"Oh mommy, there's this gay trying to man up and threaten me li-"

I snapped and launched at her. I gripped the collar of her shirt, exposing her breast even more, and pulled her closer to me, our faces really close. She faltered and tried to get free, -"Listen, I don't care if you're a woman or not, but I won't hesitate in punching the fuck out of you and your stupid glamour attitude, you bitch. I'll rip off your blonde hair and heck, it may make you smarter,"- I growled and my grip on her collar tightened. If someone, like a teacher maybe, saw me like this, I was in real trouble. Who knows, maybe it's her plan, but I was too angry to care: I wanted my words to carve on her oh-so-beautiful skin, -"You don't scare me and whatever you throw at me, I'll swallow it and shit it on your pretty face, so you better shut the fuck up."

She stared at me wide eye and mouth gaped, but suddenly, she grinned and laughed out loud, -"Yeah right, like you could do me anything, you coward!"

I tch-ed and pushed her away, -"Get the fuck away and ride a building."- Oh, she didn't know me at all.

-"Why? You don't want me to ruin your perfect moment with your boyfriend?"- She began to toy with her hair, -"Admit it already, Jean. You're gay! Everyone knows already!"

I tried to swallow the many thoughts of possibilities to shut her up and they weren't good. Other than that, I wasn't surprised that everyone knew I was "gay". I had no idea if the video Kat showed me was on YouTube or not and if the other one was erased. At this point, I didn't give a flying cow, but even so, it scared me; knowing that everyone is aware that you're gay, mocked for a lifetime, what I thought I'd forgot will happen all over again… it sent shivers down my spine. I couldn't take that…

-"I'm not…!"- I began to shout until Marco appeared from behind her. My overprotective attitude towards him floated.

He looked at me and then at Trisha, confused, -"Uh, Jean…?"

I walked over to him, grabbed his arm and dragged him away from her, but not before I heard her laugh, -"Of course, I'll leave you two alone so you can grow wings."- I didn't know if she left or if she stood watching us flee. All I knew is that if she spoke again, I was definitely in trouble and I didn't wanted Marco involved. Besides, if I did get in trouble, I wouldn't be so lucky to escape like last time.

Above all, if Marco saw me hitting a girl… I wouldn't look good, but he knew I'd hit anyone for him.

Marco and I ended up in one of the halls. It was deserted since most students were on class, but I still looked around… just in case, -"Jean… what was that about?"- He asked me worriedly. He knew about my issues with Trisha.

I was still holding Marco's arm. I looked down at it and my face heated up again. God, what's wrong with me?! I was just holding his arm, what the heck?! I slowly let go of it and scratched my neck, -"Uh, um… it's nothing."

He gave me a skeptical look.

I stared at it for a moment and Kat's words suddenly filled me 'Be honest or you'll end up hurting yourself and others'; I definitely didn't want to hurt Marco any more than he probably is now and I was sure he wanted me to be honest. I took a deep breath, -"I almost got in a fight with her. She, erm, was talking too much."- Fuck…!

-"About…?"

-"About…,"- I gulped. My forehead was soaked with sweat as I tried to spell out the words, Ahh, come on! –"A-about… us."

He looked at me for a few seconds and blinked, -"Us?"

My cheeks were burning and I looked away as the memories of yesterday's events surfaced, -"Y-yeah… you know, the library… someone recorded us there. I'm not sure if it's on YouTube."

His eyes widened, -"And in the bathr-"

I didn't even let him finish. I shook my head and bit my lip, -"I-I… don't know."- I was honest, because really, I wasn't sure if someone recorded us on the bathroom.

-"Oh,"- He dimmed a little as his gaze fell, -"I'm really sorry for the trouble I've-"

I interrupted him again, -"No… I should be the one apologizing,"- I took another deep breath and spoke, here goes nothing, -"I shouldn't have said any of that, it was wrong and none of it was my intention, really; I just…,"- I looked straight at his eyes, full honesty ahead; I wanted to make sure Marco can forgive me, I wanted to set things straight and make everything to how it used to be, I still wanted to be his best friend, -"… I got really scared and panicked when I saw the manga. I've never seen one before like that…"- Heck, I've never seen a normal manga in the first place.

I didn't know what else to say to him, because I didn't want to enter into that topic. My stomach swirled just thinking about it. Now, I felt like running away. I was so stubborn that I couldn't accept the reality. I wanted to forget that, no matter how much I really enjoyed it… because it was wrong. Above anything, I still wanted to be Marco's best friend.

I was scratching the back of my neck while biting my lip and looking away. Marco stared at me for a while, but before he spoke, I gripped his shoulders and looked down, -"I'm so sorry, Marco! It wasn't my intention to touch you like that, I swear! I… I don't know what happened to me, I can't explain it!"- It all slipped from my mouth without effort. I was just so desperate for his forgiveness, -"It all went too fast and I just… wasn't myself! It's so hard to-"

-"Jean,"- He interrupted me and I looked up to meet his eyes, -"It's okay… I understand,"- How could he understand when I didn't make any sense? –"I'm not mad at you for what you did and I don't regret it either,"- What is he saying? That he liked it… just like I did? –"I know it's hard for you to accept all this, but-"

I interrupted him, not wanting to hear any of that, -"But Marco, we've been tricked! Somebody made all that up, the manga… everything!"- This again, Jean? I asked myself, because I just figured that maybe it was all just me getting real crazy. In the manga, I saw our names written, but they weren't actually there, so why not the same situation on the video too? Maybe I just heard those voices in my head and now I'm trying to prove something that's probably not real. In the end, it was all because I didn't want to accept that I'm the one who caused all this, I didn't want to accept I'm gay and that I had deep feelings for Marco, because at least I'm sure that's real and not just a thing of my mind; what I felt whenever I was near Marco or touching him… was damn real. My mind couldn't control that. My heart did, -"Someone's trying to make us look bad in front of the whole school! If I find that guy…!"- I couldn't stop talking though, my stubbornness taking the best of me.

When Marco gave me his doubtful look, I knew he didn't believe me either, but he did want to -"Jean, I don't think…"

-"It's true!"- I squeezed his shoulders and the electric shock seized me, -"I heard it at the end of the video! Someone mentioned a guy… I don't know who, and that the plan worked! It was something like that!"- I was trying to make myself believe I wasn't the one to cause all this, I wanted to believe it was someone else's fault… deep within me though, I knew I was speaking nonsense.

Marco stared at me for a moment before placing his hand on my shoulders and gestured me to sit down. I sat beside him, -"I… I don't know what to think… it still doesn't change the fact what you did back then. You're not making any sense, it's so… unlike you."- His face filled with worry.

Boom, in my face, because I needed it and when it came from him, it actually hurt, -"But I…,"- I looked away and shut tears out as I stood up. Great, I was about to abandon him like last time,-"Look… I'm sorry about all this. I didn't want to bother you with all this… mess."- A huge knot was forming on my throat.

Before I could leave, I heard Marco stand up and my heart warmed. I actually yearned for his comfort, -"Wait, Jean, don't leave!"- He quickly reached for my arm and turned me around. When he did, he tripped over me; my back landed on the wall behind me with a thud as he landed on top of me. He gasped, but that didn't prevent him from speaking, -"I know this is hard for you, but you have to accept all this. Remember when I said 'you really don't know'… in the bathroom? Then, you told me tell you."

I was trying to settle us straight, but I was having trouble, since I'm the only one struggling. Marco didn't seem to care about the unique position we're in: he was literally over me, if it wasn't for my body, he'd fall already. I was the one leaning on the wall, trying to keep my legs steady to support Marco. Dammit , we were too close. I still nodded to him… yeah, I did want to know the real reason he felt so insulted when I said those things about gays.

He looked straight at my eyes, -"Well… can't you see and figure it out?"

What…? Was it supposed to be obvious? My mind was so dumb these days that even I- wait… it crashed into me when I looked back into his eyes, those honest and passionate eyes, telling me something and I got it. Marco, he… liked me, more than a friend, since way back. My eyes widened as I put the pieces together. It obviously explained many things, why he felt so insulted when I said all those things about gays… he was one! Once again he didn't tell me anything. How could I be so blind?

My heart beats increased and my crotch when up again… slightly brushing his abdomen, responding to Marco's message. He noticed and his cheeks blushed while his eyes widened. My face burned and I couldn't part my eyes from his. Oh God, this feeling again… my hand began moving to his dick again…

I struggled desperately and he quickly stood up.

I scratched my neck and breathed heavily, -"F-for… real, Marco? Since when?"

His cheeks blushed as he smiled sweetly, -"Since we met… back at the drawing classes."

My eyes widened again. I swept off the sweat on my forehead. I took a deep breath. I gripped my chest, -"W-why didn't you tell me a-anything…? I mean, I've co-could… I dunno!"- I raised my hands in exasperation. I tried to look shocked and pissed, but honestly, there was a joy that wanted to overflow me. I kind of liked how Marco confessed, I felt warmth in my cold heart, I felt… special.

He chuckled and brushed his flushed cheeks with his finger. I figured that whenever he's nervous or super happy, he toys with his cheeks,-"Wouldn't it be weird if I did? I just thought I'd let you figure it out. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable or anything."

All the good emotions dimmed as I thought about this: me… gay? I have traces that I may be, but I… it's hard to accept. I had enough to think about in my head already and now this. It turned out that Marco did have feelings for me when I thought that I was the one developing weird feelings towards him. Above all, since we were little. Besides looking up to me like his hero for punching the crap out of his bullies, his best friend… he looked at me like someone he could… fuck or…? I dunno. The point is, he wanted something more than a friendship with me and how am I supposed to answer? He hasn't asked me anything yet, but still… I didn't want to hurt him…

I placed my palm on my forehead, suddenly feeling dizzy and strange, -"Marco, I…"- I tried to stop the thoughts from swirling in my head, but…, -"I don't know what to say… this is too much, I mean, I don't want to hurt you, but I'm not sure how I…,"- I bit my tongue in order to stop speaking. I felt like crying… I don't know why. My vision began to blur. My breaths got heavier.

I felt his warm touch on my shoulder, quickly soothing me, -"Jean… don't push it too hard. I… I understand if you don't feel the same,"- Why is he saying that when he knew it's the opposite? –"Just, take it easy. You've turned pale… are you okay?"

I was fainting and it suddenly became difficult to breathe, but the thoughts kept flowing.

Back there at the library… I hurt his feelings, with a deep, deep stake in the heart. I remember what I said about gays, that they were disgusting and were supposed to be restricted… oh man; I blew it, in the worst way possible. Dammit. Why was I so stubborn? Why was I a jerk? Like always, I could never shut my stupid mouth and now I had to pay the consequences. Kat was right after all… I definitely was unaware of what happens with me and the consequences… karma is a bitch.

I sank into darkness, but before I blacked out, someone held me tightly and called my name a thousand times.

I woke with an immense headache. I sat up and took a deep breath, running a hand through my hair. I gripped it. After I blacked out right in front of Marco, he took me to the infirmary. Kat was there and I didn't dare to look at her when I woke up. According to her, I was hyperventilating. She had that look that said 'I told you' all over it, but she kept quiet, so I supposed we had to leave it for the next meeting. After I recovered, I didn't see Marco, so I supposed he left early. Then, mom picked me up and now I'm here, at my room and unable to sleep.

I sighed and slumped back on my bed, but I kept rolling and rolling through the whole night. I kept having dreams here and there, but I couldn't remember them. In the end, I kept thinking about Marco and all that happened between us. Kat said I should stop thinking about things that panics me and rest, but I couldn't. Marco simply just… popped in my head just like that. I can't believe just how thing became like scrambled eggs. This is all messed up and I just couldn't sew it up no matter what. It all kept getting worse. When I thought things were finally patched up, something deteriorates it. Was my life beyond repair? Was it all just a mess?

I rolled over again.

Me… a gay? I never thought I'd end up like that or wait… was I gay before? I think this is the worst trial a man has to go through. I mean, this is impossible for me to work out. Since kid, you've always thought about getting the hottest girl in town and not a guy. Come on, law is like that; guys with girls, girls with guys. It's the normal thing everyone should follow, but I was beyond normal apparently. Everything that has to do with me is upside down and impossible to turn around. I wondered if my life could get even messier, because I had an awful feeling that this had just begun and again I wondered why I was still alive, because if I was someone else, someone different, I'd shoot my brain off.

So... whaddaya think? :D I got a little writer's block in this one, but I got over it ;)

By they way, when I wrote about Jean pulling out Trisha blonde hair will make her smarter, I didn't mean it! Please, don't feel offended! I have lots of blonde friends and they're all smart! In Trisha's case well... she's just stupid xD but not because of her hair! Forgive me if I offended you!

Anyways... is Jean reaaally crazy or someone did planned all that? Will he truly, finally accept his feelings towards Marco? Keep tuned, sexy people! B)