Busted - 1. Chapter 1

I knew I was in deep shit.

My hands trembled as I stared at the large piece of green clay that had been meticulously sculpted into the end of a curled ponytail.

I gulped hard as I pressed the piece back against the clay figurine of the Japanese digital pop star in front of me. Even if I glued it back together, the seam would be evident to my best friend's keen eyes, and my panic continued to rise.

Jeff had worked on this sculpture from scratch for months, sparing no detail in recreating the likeness of Miku's rare SOLWA figure, even capturing the illusion of her hair morphing into liquid near the bottom.

"Why'd I have to go and touch it?" I hissed, trying out different ways to attach the broken piece without revealing any visible fracture lines.

"Ryan?" Jeff's twin sister, Jess, called out behind me. "What are you doing in Jeff’s room?"

I turned around, stealthily concealing the broken piece behind my back. I was annoyed that my reflexes only kicked in after I was already in trouble. Some of the guilt must have shown on my face because Jess frowned and craned her neck to peer behind me.

The Miku figurine was placed on a mini bookshelf behind me. Jeff's messy bed was to my right, and his laundry basket overflowed to my left. However, the hard gray and cream tiled path between us was completely clear of debris.

Jess let out a weary sigh. "You don't have to be scared. It's okay," she said.

Oh, great. I was so busted.

I felt like my life was flashing before my eyes—more specifically, my entire friendship with Jeff, crumbling away from childhood to that very moment. The mischief in Jeff's dark eyes had always been a constant throughout the years, as had his unwavering loyalty and support. I remembered when he grew out his wavy hair to emulate Jason Momoa and the time he plotted with his sister to bleach my hair after we'd partied too hard and I passed out. I'd woken up looking like a Targaryen, but it had all been good fun.

Those good times would soon come to an end the moment Jess tattled on me.

"I didn't mean to," I started to confess, but Jess cut me off.

"It's true," Jess said. "He just hasn't been able to come clean about it."

"Come... clean?" I asked, feeling confused. Were we not talking about my egregious mistake?

Jess walked over and reached behind me, grabbing something to my right. The bright pink cover wasn't nearly as surprising as the title of the book she held in her hand: *Yay! You're Gay! Now What?: A Gay Boy's Guide to Life*.

I had been so focused on the Miku figurine that I hadn't even noticed it.

A wave of relief washed over me. Jess hadn't been talking about the broken figurine at all; she was referring to the gay book on Jeff's shelf.

Wait, since when did Jeff have a gay book on his shelf?

My blue eyes widened as I stared at the cover, letting the title sink in.

"Seriously? When did Jeff start questioning his orientation?" I asked.

The shock in my voice gave Jess a confused look, but just then, Jeff walked into his room.

"What the hell is going on here?" he asked.

I startled, dropping the clay piece in my hand. Jeff's sharp, dark eyes glanced down at the broken hairpiece, darted over to the book in his sister's hand, and then back to my guilty face. A cold shiver ran down my spine as his dark eyes narrowed.

"Did you just break my Miku sculpture?" Jeff demanded.

I ducked my head, lifting my hands in a gesture of repentance. "Dude, I am so, so sorry!" I pleaded. The fact that my best friend was questioning himself came second to the realization that I had ruined months of his hard work. "I'll do anything to make it up to you!"

At the same time, Jess confessed, "I thought he guessed after seeing this! Please forgive me, Jeff!"

Jeff's stance shifted as he placed one hand on his hip and rubbed his temples in frustration.

"I was going to tell him sooner or later, Jess. It's not your fault," Jeff admitted as he glanced her way. "Can you give us a moment?"

The brunette quickly nodded, placed the book back on the mini bookshelf, and dashed out of the room so fast that one would think she was the one who had broken Jeff's Miku masterpiece.

I bent down to pick up the broken pieces. My shame increased when I realized that another fracture had formed during the fall. Now, I held two broken pieces of the figurine's hair in my hands. I couldn't even look Jeff in the eye as I placed both pieces into his outstretched hand, then clasped my hands behind my back with my head lowered.

"Are you really more upset about breaking Miku than the fact that I'm gay?" Jeff asked.

I lifted my head. Instead of the anger I expected, Jeff's expression was guarded, though I noticed a hint of fear in his eyes.

"You're my best friend," I replied carefully. "Why would it matter what your preference is?"

Jeff turned away to place the broken pieces on the shelf. With his back to me, he responded, a hint of annoyance in his voice, "Ryan, it matters when my preference is you."

I felt two things at once: the sensation of a rollercoaster dropping and blood rushing to my face. My mouth opened and closed a few times as I struggled to find words—any words—much less the right ones to say.

Was I thrilled, or was I flattered?

Both?

"Both," I muttered aloud, surprising myself with my own realization.

"I'm sorry, what?" Jeff asked, finally turning around to face me. My response barely made sense, even to me.

"Erm," I stumbled, then cleared my throat. "I meant to say 'me too.' My preference is you, dude."

Jeff studied my face for an uncomfortable length of time. "You're not just saying that to get back in my good graces after what you did to Miku, are you?"

"I wouldn't do that!" I retorted immediately before thinking it through. "Wait, you're right, I would do something like that. But I'm not doing it this time! I promise."

Jeff let out a snort, his expression softening as he placed both hands on his hips and shook his head. "You're such a dolt, but I wouldn't have it any other way."

The relief I felt then was so intense that I couldn't help but grin like an idiot. "Does this mean you forgive me for what I did to your sculpture?"

"I will if you allow me this," Jeff said as he moved closer and kissed my lips.

I had experienced many first kisses before, but this one felt like being swept off my feet. We had kissed innocently before—on the top of the head or a rare kiss on the cheek—especially when we were kids. I couldn't remember how old we were when we stopped doing that and just settled for quick pats on the back or light hugs.

We were both dolts to have ever stopped.

"If I'd broken her whole head, would my penance have involved heavy petting?" I asked as he pulled back.

"If you'd broken her whole head, your penance would have involved heavy spanking," Jeff admitted with a smirk, flicking my forehead with a finger in warning.

As I stared at the broken pieces of green clay on the shelf, I couldn't help but imagine that punishment and blushed at the very thought.

That's when I knew I was in even deeper shit than I was before.