Between the Lines - 5. Chapter 5

As Roger pulled the car onto the main road, he glanced over at Cal, who was fiddling with his phone.

“So,” Roger began, his tone casual, “Jeremy seems nice. You two getting close?”

Cal looked up, his face still a little flushed from the afternoon sun. “Yeah, he’s a cool guy. New kid, you know? Figured I’d help him out—show him the ropes a little.”

Roger smirked, his eyes briefly flicking from the road to Cal. “Uh-huh. Is that all it is?”

“Dad,” Cal said, groaning but laughing. “It’s not like that. He’s just a friend.”

“Sure,” Roger said, his smirk widening. “But you like him.”

Cal hesitated, then shrugged. “I mean, yeah, he’s great. We get along, and he’s easy to talk to. But I don’t think he knows… you know, about me. And honestly, I'm not sure about him either.”

Roger nodded, his expression softening. “Have you thought about telling him? Or even asking him? You've never been one to shy away.”

“I don’t know,” Cal admitted, leaning back in his seat. “It’s not like I’m hiding it or anything—I just don’t want to make him uncomfortable, you know? What if he’s not okay with it?”

“Cal, you’ve got a pretty good radar for people,” Roger said. “From what I saw, Jeremy doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who’d freak out about something like that. But you’ve got to go with your gut. If it feels right, then tell him. If it doesn’t, then don’t.”

“Yeah,” Cal said, looking out the window. “It’s just… I don’t want to mess things up. He’s the first real friend I’ve had in a while who doesn’t feel like he’s just skating by, you know? He actually listens.”

Roger smiled. “Sounds like you’ve got a good one there. But remember—friend or something more, it’s not about rushing things. Just be yourself. If Jeremy’s worth it, he’ll get it.”

Cal grinned, his shoulders relaxing a little. “You’re so full of wisdom, Dad. Should I be writing this down?”

“Hey, don’t knock it. You’ll miss my sage advice when you’re older,” Roger said with a laugh. “Seriously, though—don’t overthink it. Just enjoy the friendship. The rest will figure itself out.”

Cal nodded, feeling a little lighter. “Thanks, Dad. And thanks for picking me up today. I know Mom’s nail appointments are, like, sacred or whatever.”

Roger laughed. “Yeah, well, the things I do for you kids. Speaking of which, I think you owe me a burger next time.”

“You’re on,” Cal said, grinning as they drove toward home.

As the car cruised down the quiet streets, Cal leaned his head against the window, the hum of the tires on the pavement a steady backdrop to his thoughts.

Jeremy doesn’t seem like the type to freak out about me being gay. Dad’s probably right. I mean, he’s been cool about everything else—me switching classes to match his, coming over to his house, hanging out.

But still, there was that sliver of doubt.

What if it’s too much too soon? What if he feels like I’ve been hiding something?

Cal sighed softly, glancing at his phone where Jeremy’s name sat in his recent messages. I don’t even know if he’s into guys. What if I say something, and it makes things weird?

It wasn’t like Cal to overthink things, but Jeremy was different. The kid had this quiet, unsure way about him, like he was still trying to figure out his place in the world. It made Cal want to stick around, to show him that he didn’t have to go it alone.

And what if I want more than just to be his friend? The thought hit Cal like a punch to the gut, and he sat up straighter in the seat.

“What’s up?” Roger asked, glancing over briefly.

“Nothing. Just thinking,” Cal replied, shaking his head.

Roger chuckled. “Uh-huh. Thinking about your ‘friend,’ I bet.”

“Dad!” Cal groaned, but a grin tugged at his lips. His dad always had a way of seeing right through him.

He turned back to the window, watching the rows of houses blur by. Jeremy’s a good guy. He deserves someone who’s honest with him.

Cal leaned back in his seat, pulling his cap lower over his face. If the timing’s right, I’ll tell him. For now, it’s just nice having a real friend.

The thought stuck with him, lingering like a tune he couldn’t shake. Jeremy wasn’t the first friend he’d made—he had his skate crew, his brothers—but there was something about Jeremy that felt… different.

Maybe it was because he understood what it was like to feel a little out of place. Cal hadn’t always been part of a group. He’d learned to keep things light, to stick to skating and school, because the heavy stuff scared people off.

Back when his parents divorced, everything had fallen apart. His mom had worked two jobs just to keep a roof over their heads. She’d been amazing, but she was hardly ever home. And his dad? His dad had spiraled, lost in the bottle, unable—or unwilling—to fix things.

It wasn’t until years later that his dad finally got sober. By then, it was too late. Mom had remarried, and life had moved on. I can’t blame her—she deserved happiness, and Roger, my stepdad, was a good guy. My brothers were awesome - they took care of me. I was never treated like a step-brother… they never once used the word “step” in a sentence. Everywhere we went, I was always their little brother. Even when I came out in my early teens, nothing changed. I was still their little brother, maybe they were more protective of me now but they were always there for me.

But when mom saw that dad was stable, working again, and truly sober, she’d encouraged me to reconnect. Give him a chance, she’d said. If it weren’t for the alcohol, mom and dad would still be together. She still loved him, but it wasn’t the same love she felt as when they first got married.

It hadn’t been easy. Dad had regrets—a lot of them. About how he’d treated us. About drinking. About everything. But in time, they’d patched things up. Now, without hesitation, I was proud to call him “Dad.”

He glanced at Roger, who was humming along to some classic rock station. His stepdad was a good man too. Someone who’d stepped up when things were tough. And while it had taken time, Cal had learned that it didn’t have to be a competition.

Family wasn’t always perfect, but you stuck by them. And friends? The real ones—they were family too.

But Jeremy didn’t feel like someone he needed to skate past or keep at arm’s length. He felt like someone who might actually understand.

Cal smiled to himself, a small grin tugging at the corner of his lips. Jeremy didn’t know it yet, but he was already part of that circle.

The weeks that followed made it clear.

We were inseparable. With Cal’s schedule being almost identical to mine, we spent a lot of time together—between classes, at lunch, and even after school. But as the weather cooled and outdoor chores became less demanding, I also found myself branching out. In the classes we didn’t share, I’d made a few other friends.

The next few months flew by. School kept me busy, and it was crunch time—end of the semester, with exams looming.

One of those friends was Karen. She was sharp, funny, and incredibly organized—the kind of person you wanted in your corner during exam prep. She’d organized a study group for our class, and we met in the library during lunch or after school.

It was one of those afternoons. I was sitting beside Karen, the two of us bent over her color-coded notes, discussing a particularly tricky section.

“Wait, so you’re saying the main theme isn’t about power, but control?” I asked, frowning at the highlighted passage.

“Exactly,” Karen said, pointing to the text. “See how this ties back to the ending?”

I nodded, impressed by how clearly she broke it all down.

As I glanced up to process it, I spotted Cal standing at the edge of the table. His skateboard was tucked under one arm, and his expression was… off. Almost like he was annoyed.

“Hey, Jer,” Cal said, his tone light but his eyes fixed on Karen for a moment before flicking back to me.

“Oh, hey! What’s up?” I asked, leaning back in my chair.

“Not much,” he said casually, stepping closer. “Just finished practice and thought I’d swing by. Didn’t know you were in here.”

“Yeah, just going over some stuff for exams,” I said, motioning toward Karen’s notes. “Karen, this is Cal.”

Karen smiled and waved. “Hey, nice to meet you. Jer’s talked about you a lot.”

“Has he now?” Cal said, raising an eyebrow as he glanced at me.

I felt my face flush. “Well, I mean—He’s been really helpful with skating, teaching me how.” I said quickly, trying to deflect.

Cal smirked but didn’t say anything. Instead, he dropped his board onto the floor and leaned on it, his eyes drifting back to Karen. “So, you’re the genius behind these notes?”

Karen laughed. “I don’t know about genius, but I try. Jer’s been keeping up, though—he’s pretty sharp.”

I shot her a grateful look, but Cal’s expression didn’t change.

“Well, don’t let me interrupt,” Cal said, straightening up. “See you later, Jer.”

“Wait, you don’t want to join us?” I asked, surprised.

“Nah, I’m good,” he said, already walking away. “Catch you after school.”

I watched him leave, confused.

Karen tilted her head. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I said quickly. “He’s probably just tired or something.”

But as I packed up my stuff later that afternoon, I couldn’t shake the way Cal had looked at Karen—or the way he’d looked at me. I won’t see him until the end of the day now, we’re not in the same classes today.

Sitting in the car later after Jen came to pick me up from school, I replayed the moment in my head. Was Cal jealous? Of Karen? Or was it something else?

No, that’s ridiculous. He’s not gay.

Still, there was something in the way he’d looked at me, like he was trying to figure something out. Then again, maybe I was just overthinking it. I’d done that before, jumping to conclusions about someone only to be wrong.

But what if I wasn’t?

It was easier to tell myself it didn’t matter, that Cal was just being protective or annoyed I hadn’t invited him to the study session. But deep down, I wasn’t so sure. And that uncertainty? It was enough to make my stomach twist.

Karen and I wrapped up studying, and before I knew it, it was time to go home. I packed up my books and headed outside, glancing around the front of the school. I hoped to catch Cal and the boys, but they were nowhere in sight. They must’ve gone to the skate park already, I thought, trying not to feel disappointed.

With no one else around, I sat down on the steps, scrolling through my phone while I waited.

A car horn beeped, and I looked up to see Jen pulling into the parking lot. Right on time.

I was a little sluggish getting into the car. Jen noticed right away. Of course, she would—being a nurse meant she picked up on the little things. It could be good, sure, but sometimes it was the last thing I needed. Especially when I was trying to stay on the down low about something.

“Jer, is everything okay?” she asked, her tone soft but probing as I buckled my seatbelt.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied quickly, not meeting her eyes.

“You sure? You seem… off.”

“I’m fine,” I said again, staring out the window.

“No, I’m not. Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you,” I admitted, glancing at her briefly. “Yeah, can we? I’m just… confused about something. I’d rather not talk to Mom or Ken about it.”

“Okay, there’s a coffee place close by. Let’s pull in there,” Jen said.

Have I mentioned how amazing Jen is? She just gets me.

We pulled into the coffee shop, and as we walked in, the scent of fresh coffee and baked goods hit me. Sugar, sugar, sugar! I needed that, along with a hit of caffeine.

“What do you want, Jer? Go ahead and order.”

“Coffee, black, and a chocolate chip cookie,” I said, eyeing the cookies in the display case. I needed comfort food right now.

Once we had our drinks and snacks, Jen led us to a small table by the window, far enough from others that we could talk.

“So, what’s up?” Jen asked, sitting down across from me. “I’m guessing guy trouble? And if I’m right, it’s all about Calvin?”

I blinked. “Yeah—wait, is it that obvious?”

“Kinda. So, talk. Start from the beginning.”

I sighed, then spilled everything: how I first met Cal, the heart picture in his locker, the conversation with Sam and the guys about Sammy, how I thought Sam was Sammy at first but realized they weren’t the same person. Then I told her about today—studying with Karen, how Cal walked in and just seemed… off.

Jen listened the whole time, nodding now and then but never interrupting. When I finished, she leaned back in her chair, taking a sip of her latte.

“Okay,” she said, “first thing: does he know you’re gay?”

“No,” I admitted.

“Is he gay?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, that’s a big part of the problem right there. If you don’t know about him and he doesn’t know about you, it’s bound to cause some weirdness. I totally get why you’d hesitate—it’s scary putting yourself out there. Nobody wants to be rejected, and it’s even harder for you since this is a new school and you’re still finding your footing. But let me ask you this: are there other gay guys at your school? Do you know?”

“There are a few,” I said. “They wear pride pins or bracelets.”

“And how are they treated?”

“Normally, I guess. Nobody’s said anything to me, and I haven’t heard about anything happening to them.”

“Okay, that’s a good sign,” Jen said. “It means the school’s probably chill about it. But let’s get back to Cal. What’s your biggest fear?”

I hesitated. “That I’m wrong,” I said finally. “What if he’s not gay? What if I tell him, and it ruins our friendship? And not just that—I’d lose the other guys too. I don’t want to mess everything up.”

Jen nodded thoughtfully. “That’s valid. But honestly, Jer, you don’t have a lot of options. You can keep playing it safe and wondering forever, or you can take a chance. If he’s acting weird, it could mean he’s into you… or it could mean he’s just having a bad day. But you’ll never know unless you ask.”

“I don’t know what to do,” I admitted, running my finger along the edge of my cup. “I like him, Jen.”

“So how did it go with Ryan? Your old boyfriend?” she asked.

“I just asked him,” I said.

“Okay, so what’s stopping you now?”

I sighed. “Nerves. I don’t want to be rejected and lose him. And I don’t want the other guys to think I’m weird.”

Jen leaned forward, her eyes soft but serious. “Baby brother, that’s always the risk when you put yourself out there. But here’s the thing—Cal doesn’t seem like the type to cut you off. When he came over to teach you how to skate and stayed for lunch, he was so laid-back. I doubt he’d stop being your friend, even if he’s not into you. And as for the heart picture with Sammy, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything romantic. It could’ve just been a joke or a goodbye gift.”

I nodded slowly, her words sinking in.

“If it were me, I’d test the waters,” Jen continued. “Ask him about something low-key, like a movie. You’ve watched gay movies, right?”

“Jen!” I protested, groaning.

“Not those movies, you idiot,” she said, laughing. “I mean, bring up something subtle. Ask him if he’s seen a certain movie or series with gay characters. Watch his reaction—it’ll tell you a lot. Or, if you’re feeling bold, just ask him directly when you’re hanging out. At least then, you’ll know for sure.”

“What if I’m wrong?” I asked, my voice small.

Jen reached over and squeezed my hand. “Then you’re wrong. But at least you’ll know, and you won’t have to keep torturing yourself. If he’s a real friend, he’ll stay.”

I looked down at my coffee. It was cold now, and I hadn’t touched my cookie. “Thanks, Jen,” I said quietly.

“Anytime, Jer. You know I’m always here for you,” she said, smiling. “And whatever happens, you’ll get through it. You’re stronger than you think.”

I wasn’t sure what I wanted Jen to say, but now I felt even more confused. I knew she was right—I should just ask. What’s the worst that could happen? I lose him as a friend? Lose the rest of the guys? But I never had any friends when I started school, so I could see it as starting over.

Still, I decided to watch him for a few days first. Maybe we could see a movie together, and I’d test the waters. We hadn’t really spent time alone since the BBQ, but with exams wrapping up and Christmas break coming, it might be the right moment.