KIDNAPPED.

I stared at him and for a few seconds, neither of us moved. My mind was screaming at me to leave. Just pick up the keys, walk out, forget this entire day ever happened but my feet wouldn't even move.

“You became gay because of me?” I finally asked. Kaelen looked at me, his expression unreadable as his hands moved, not caring if I watched or not.

“I don't know,” he muttered. “Maybe.”

“That's not how being gay works.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you just saying whatever?” He looked away and finally he got some decency.

“Because I've tried everything to hate you, Leo.” 

“Oh.” That sentence hit me harder than it should have. He tried hating me? But I tried hating him too. I swallowed and then continued. “And?”

His eyes met mine again.

“It isn't working,” he sighed. “Are you even gay? Be for real.” And that's when it hit. I've had girlfriends, celebrity causes…all girls but some dude just comes and shifts it all.

“No, I'm not.” Kaelen's eyes widen and he gets up to put on his clothes. I stand and watch. “What are you doing…?”

He doesn't respond. He simply walks into the bathroom and brings out my clothes, handing them out.

“Here.” I collect them unsurely.

“What's up with you?” He smiled and walked to the door.

“Get dressed. Remember we both have training.”

Then I remembered. Training, school, the way Darius watched helplessly as Kaelen took me away. I hurriedly put on my pants.

“Shit.” he nods and walks out first, leaving me to hurry alone.

When I'm downstairs, he's already in the car with a cigar in hand.

“You smoke?” he nods. “Hmm…that's rather interesting.” 

He tosses it out the windows and laughs.

“Let's get your ass to school.” And that was how he sped like he had intentions to kill us both. I clutched onto my back, struggling to check the time on my phone.

“3:40?!” 

Kaelen frowned.

“Sheesh…your training is 4, yeah?

“Yeah.”

“Same as mine.”

We looked at each other and he tightened his grip on the wheel.

“Put on your seatbelt.”

******

We got to my school at 3:49 which was crazy because the distance was a lot. I threw up out the window about three times, apologizing to everyone who saw it.

“Get down or your Coach will end you.” He was right. Coach would kill me if I didn't go in early. While my mind was fighting wars, he tapped the glass. “Hey?”

I blinked.

“Yeah?”

“I'll see you at home.”

“Oh…” I didn't quite get it but, “Okay.” And he drove off. 

“You done?” The voice came from behind, cold and tired. “You disgusting little piece of SHIT!” hands wrapped around my neck.

“Darius!!!”

“You bastard!” He bit into my hands. “I watched you get kidnapped! The fuck happened?!”

“Nothing! He was just taking me on a drive!” He released.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah…” he squinted, poking into my face.

“You don't look happy about it…” he slapped my cheeks. “But that's not my concern, Coach's not happy, so let's go asap.”

That's right. I still have training…

*****

Coach was already standing at the edge of the field when we arrived.

“Fools!”

“Late.”

“Sorry, Coach,” Darius said before I could even open my mouth. Coach's eyes moved to me.

“Leo, you especially. What the fuck happened?”

“Nothing.” Darius snorted beside me.

“Motherfucker just said nothing? This idiot got kidnapped.”

“Darius!”

“What?” He shrugged. “It's true.” Coach rubbed his forehead.

“This doesn't concern me. Both of you, warm up. Now.”

I jogged onto the court, trying to focus on anything except Kaelen. It didn't work…every time I ran, his voice came back.

"I became gay because of you." I shook my head because I know he's lying.

“Focus, Leo.” But then I saw him standing across…

Kaelen.

“...what?” Then I blinked and cleaned my eyes and he was gone. I paused to catch my breath. 

“What the—” Coach blew the whistle the moment we paused

“Fools! Five laps! Then defensive slides!” I groaned and jogged beside Darius again, bouncing the ball whenever I got the chance.

“Try not to get kidnapped again,” he muttered.

“Shut up.” After the warm-up, Coach split us into pairs for passing drills. I caught Darius's pass, spun around and drove toward the basket.

“Left!” I crossed over, ran past the defender and went for a layup.

SWISH.

“Again!” Coach yelled. I caught the ball, dribbled, crossover. Step-back. The three-pointer and—

SWISH.

For the first time all day, my head was quiet…after seeing wherever that was.

Then Coach shouted,

“Scrimmage!” And suddenly, I didn't want to think anymore but the memory of him standing there glued to my mind. I bent, my hands covered my face.

Darius walked back.

“You good?” I wanted to tell him…but won't he judge me? Won't he say I'm different and look at me weird? Because being interested in a man…isn't something I'd just announce like a birthday party. I stood.

“I'm fine.” 

“Boy, shut the fuck up.” He smacked my cheeks again. “Talk or eat it.”

“Ugh!” I placed both hands in my face. “I think I'm—” Coach's whistle interrupted.

“LEO!” He whistled again. “Your mother's here to see you!” I stood confused. My mom? My mother's dead. 

Then I saw her, Yvette. Dressed in casual clothes for the first time ever.

“Hi Leo…”

“Mom?” I walked closer. Calling her mom suddenly felt right as I looked at her playing with her fingers. “What's wrong…?” She laughed nervously.

“I didn't have anything to do at home…so I came to watch my boy play basketball…” she looked down like she was avoiding eye contact at all means. “Would that be a problem?”

“No no.” She looked up, her eyes beamed. 

“You're serious?!”

“Yeah mom. You can come anytime.” She hugged me, her hands wrapped around my back.

“You're such a wonderful boy.” but nothing she said mattered anymore because the figure I saw staring at me from the entrance couldn't be a memory…

“Kaelen?” I called out and he waved from afar.

“Just wanted to be sure mom was safe.” She turned, still holding me.

“Thank you, darling.” She waved too. “Get home safe.”

But I know he didn't just want to drop mom off…