Did you catch Monday's blog post feature of this month's Classic Author story, My Jump Off by Nickolas James? There's something to be said for reading about flawed characters who have a real life and problems they might not handle like you would want a character to do... since real people and real life so seldom follows a script. And that's just what this story has going for it. I picked this month's featured excerpt for that reason as well. You can really see the 'teenage drama' and the self-involved focus Jarred has even as you want to reach into the computer and smack him upside the head for being an idiot. Or maybe that's just the mom in me, lol. 

I mean, I could end it with an argument. That wouldn't be hard at all considering the fact that he had been picking them all day with me.

There's something else, though, that Phillip doesn't know about. Actually, it's someone else. More to the point, it's Andrew Stout. He wasn't out, and neither were we. But gaydar works in mysterious ways, and mine was definitely on point with him. He was cute, like Phillip, but he was a boy scout. I met him in front of Food Lion selling popcorn for his troop. We started talking, and before I knew it, we were making plans to hang out.

Of course, I kept this from Phillip because he would get ferociously jealous, and I didn't need that then. Just in case my gaydar was off, I needed to wait. But as soon as I got to his house, I knew he was gay. We sat on the couch and watched a few episodes of Will and Grace out of his box set of the complete first season. Then we went into his room to listen to CD's. I was shocked to see that he had a Pansy Division CD in his collection. That was it. I knew right then and there. So I came out to him.

Since then, we've been secretly hooking up whenever Phillip goes to his goofy choir practice, which I think totally sucks. I guess the good thing about Andrew is that for now, he's content just to see me. He never asks me for more time, or for me to show him more affection. He doesn't expect gifts from me on Christmas or Valentines Day, and he doesn't mind doing whatever it is I want to do. What I really appreciate though, is how content he looks when we're cuddling. He has this cute sigh that I can't describe, and the way he bats his eyes my way completely melt's my heart.

As I walked out of the store to hand Phillip his Slur-pee, I realized that breaking up with him might not be an option right now. It might turn around on me instead. Andrew just got out of the passenger side of a Jeep at the gas pumps, and he's walking toward the entrance that I'm walking out of. Even worse, he's smiling at Phillip.

"Oh, shit," I say to myself as I try to dip right so he doesn't see me. It's too late.

"Hey you," he said as soon as he spotted me. It doesn't help that Phillip's looking and listening as he greets me.

"Hey, Andrew," I said, trying to remain casual. "What's up?"

Just then I hear Phillip clearing his throat as he approaches us, reaching out for his Slur-pee.

"I'm just here with my dad getting gas," he answered. "I've got to get in there and pay. Talk to you later?"

"Sure," I say nervously. "I'll give you a call."

"Who's this?," Phillip suddenly interrupts

"I'm Andrew," he answers for me as I feel my stomach rising up into my throat.

"Do you go to our school?," Phillip asks.

"No, I go to Princess Anne," Andrew replies

"How do you two know each other?," Phillip asks suspiciously.

"We're just friends," Andrew says, looking nervous. Thank God he's still in the closet and probably think's I am too. "We go to the same church."

Good lie.

"Oh," Phillip says non-chalantly as he shrugs his shoulders. "I'm Phillip, Jarred's friend."

"Cool," Andrew replies. "So, I better get inside. Talk to you later, dude."

"Alright," I say.

That was a little too close for me. I guess I may have forgotten to mention Phillip when I was getting to know Andrew, but when I'm with him, I want to forget about everything else in my life except feeling good about who I'm with.

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