The next day, I was walking to my first period class by myself with my headphones on. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. I stopped, pulled my headphones off and turned around. It was Patrick.

"Oh, hey, Patrick." I said, a little cautiously. I looked around to see if any of my friends were close. I looked back too Patrick. "Uh, what's up?"

"I didn't get to thank you enough for yesterday. That was really nice of you to stop and help me. Those two guys haven't left me alone since I started school here." he said the last part with a frown. I pulled at the strap on my bookbag, nervously. "Anyways, I wanted to tell you we're playing badmindton in gym today. Doubles. Did you want to be my partner?"

"Uh, you're in my gym class?" I said, a little shocked. He nodded. "I never saw you before." He looked down, a little hurt, and nodded again.

"Not many people do see me. I usually don't participate in anything." he said, looking at me with a sad look.

"Partners? Uh, sure." I said. I looked up and saw Joe, Andy and Taelor coming. "Uh, yeah. I'll see you eighth period." I said, walking away quickly to meet up with the others. I guess I looked confused or frustrated, because Joe elbowed me.

"You okay, man?" he said, with a concerned look. I nodded. I wasn't really. I didn't konw what it was about Patrick, but he had me feeling nervous everytime I thought about him. He was just a freshman. A chubby, short freshman. With a really nice smile. And a great personality. Wait, what? Get a hold of yourself, Wentz. I waved goodbye to my friends and went to first period.

******

Eighth period came faster than I thought. I spent most of class staring at the clock, wishing it would go faster. And it did. Somehow. I walked into the locker room and found my locker. I glanced around. No one was by my locker, but I could hear other guys at theirs. I pulled my gym clothes out of my locker and twisted them nervously in my hands.

"Hey, Pete." he said. I turned around.

"Hey, Patrick." I said smiling, a little to much, I think. I looked at him. He was already dressed out. "Where's your locker?"

"I don't have one. Coach Kirby said there weren't anymore." he said, innocently.

"There's one right here." I said, suspicously. Why would Kirby lie like that?

"Really?" he said, perking up. "I'm going to get my stuff." he said, and shuffled away. I pulled my shirt off and rubbed my lower stomach. I got a tattoo three days ago, and it was still sore. It was of this really sweet bat design I made. I quickly changed the rest of my clothes and waited for Patrick. He came back and threw his stuff in the empty locker next to mine. We started walking out of the locker room. "So what are we going to call ourselves? You know, our team?"

"Hmmm, how about....Green Jeans?" I said, smiling and hoping he would catch the joke. He did and we did the Green Jeans Run out to the middle of the gym. People were staring at us and laughing, but I didn't care, because I was having a good time. Coach Kirby took attendance and told us to get into pairs. Patrick and I went and got our rackets and birdie and headed for one of the nets. We stood there for a minute talking and waiting to see who we were going to be assigned to play. He put us against Kayla Burnette and Ashley Riley. He walked over to Patrick.

"You can beat some girls, can't you, Stumph?" he said, standing about three inches away from Patrick. I wanted to punch him, but then I would've got in trouble. Patrick looked at the ground and nodded.

"Ye-yes, sir." Patrick said. Coach laughed and walked away.

"Why do you let him do that?" I asked.

"Do what?"

"Intimidate you. Like you're nothing." I said. He just shrugged.

"Any day now, losers." Kayla yelled. I shot her a deadly look and started the game.

****

We ended up winning that game and three others and we were going to be in the class finals against TC Jennings and Shaft Stallings tomorrow. We walked back into the locker room and to our lockers. Patrick laughed.

"Dude, you were so awesome. 'You're such a freak, Wentz.' BAM! Birdie to the eye!" he stopped to laugh some more.

"Me? What about you? 'Oh, sorry. It slipped.' You hit him in the fucking knee with your racket." I laughed and looked at Patrick to see he wasn't laughing, but smiling at me. "What?" I said.

"Nothing." he said, grabbing his clothes. I shrugged and pulled my shirt off. I was sweaty, and I wanted a shower more than anything. I changed pants quickly and was digging for my clean shirt. I glanced at Patrick and saw he was staring at me. He looked to my face, and his eyes went wide. "Uh, uh. I'm sorry. Its, uh, you.....ummmmm."

"Its okay. I don't care." I said. I followed his eyes to my tattoo. "Oh, I got that a few days ago. Do you like it?"

"Its so cool. Did it hurt?" he said reaching over to me. Then he pulled back. "Sorry."

"Go ahead." I said. He looked at me, and then to my tattoo. He reached out and touched it. I pulled back a little, because it was still a little sore.

"Did that hurt?" he asked, concerned.

"Its sore." I said, looking right into his eyes. I looked away. I'm straight. I like girls. But there was something about the way Patrick's fingers brushed over my tattoo that was driving me crazy. I looked back at him. This time he knew I was staring at him. He smiled and I smiled back.

"Holy shit!" I looked up quickly at the end of the lockers and saw Shaft standing there pointing at us. "I knew Stumph was a fucking fairy, but Wentz? Come see guys." he said motioning for everyone to come see. Patrick backed away from me and I put my clean shirt on. Everyone came and was staring at us. Patrick started blushing. I grabbed my stuff and ran out of the locker room. Luckily, the bell rang for school to let out. I went to my other locker to get my skateboard, when I saw and heard Patrick running after me. I tried to hurry at my locker, but he got there while I was still getting my stuff.

"Pete." I ignored him. "Pete, stop it. You and I know nothing happened."

"But they don't." I snapped. I slammed my locker and walked towards the front of the school. I heard Patrick calling after me but I kept walking.

"Hey, man. Everything alright?" Andy came out of no where and said. I pushed passed him and walked faster past them all.

"Woah, slow down, Petey." Taelor said. I walked even faster. I ran to the alleyway and sat next to the dumpster.

"Pete." Patrick said. He came from around the dumpster and knelt down in front of me. "Pete, look at me." I did. He smiled at me and I smiled back. "There it is, tiger." I giggled a little, then stopped. I reached to Patrick's face and touched his cheek. I leaned up to him and kissed him, but then I pulled back.

"Oh, man. Patrick. I'm so, so sorry." I said. "I'm--" I was cut off by Patrick kissing me quickly on the mouth. "But I'm not gay." I said, when he pulled away. He smiled and nodded. And then I did something I haven't done since Cara Jones. I cried. Patrick held me and had a series of 'sshhh's and 'its okay's. I felt a little better.

-----------------------------------------------------
So there you go.