Chapter 14

"Hey, Collin, what you drawing?" Collin looks up to see Amber smacking her gum trying to see his sketches.

"Umm... nothing much. I'm just sketching random stuff, nothing too hard."

"Oh... well, it looks like you're trying to draw a person. Who are you drawing?" Collin hesitates, he almost answers Matthew but he knows that if he answered that she would get weirded out. He sighs and finally puts his pencil down.

"No one in specific, all I know is that I'm trying to draw a teenage boy." Amber finally turns back around and pays attention to the teacher Collin is completely tuning out. Collin continues drawing, practicing eyes since it was one of the features he had the most trouble with. He would draw them but he wasn't satisfied with how he drew them. He wanted to incorporate more details, add the details he just felt were necessary to be satisfied with his work. At the end of class he draws them, they look like they actually belong to a person but they didn't remind him of the person that was giving him so much inspiration. As he heads to his next class he sees Matthew and tries to hurry so Matthew won't see him but it's too late. Matthew runs to catch up to him and grabs his wrist to stop him. Collin stops, he sighs and can feel light blush going to his cheeks. He keeps looking straight to avoid Matthew's eyes.

"I have to get to class Matthew. I can't stay here and talk to you all day." Collin tries to keep walking but Matthew holds his wrist harder to prevent him from leaving.

"Collin are you okay? I need to talk to you." Collin finally gives up and turns around to face Matthew's green eyes.

"I'm fine. What do you want to talk about?" Matthew's eyes seem to be staring right into Collin's to find out what he's feeling.

"I want to talk about us," Matthew says looking down at his shoes to avoid Collin's blue eyes. Collin debates whether to talk to Matthew now or later and finally decides that his second-period class isn't important. Collin debates whether to talk to Matthew now or later and finally decides that his second-period class isn't important. Collin grabs Matthew's hand and starts dragging him towards the janitor's closet. Matthew's confused about where they are going but doesn't question Collin. Collin opens the door and pulls Collin in quickly and shuts the door before anyone can see them going in. As Matthew is about to question Collin, Collin pushes Matthew against the wall. Matthew is taken by surprise and is out of breath by the sudden quick movements from Collin.

"Umm... Collin? What... what are you doing?" Matthew feels nervous about how close Collin is to him and finds it hard to breathe in such a small tight space. Collin gets closer, Matthew tries backing up but can't since he was already pressed up against the wall. As Collin inched closer and closer, the more his stomach seemed to do somersaults.

"Don't worry I'm not going to hurt you." blush rises to Matthew's cheeks because Collin's word seems to be cold air down his spine giving him chills. Their lips were only a centimeter away if one of them leaned in their lips would be touching.

"Are... are you going to kiss me?" Matthew asks to whisper, feeling nervous about what Collin is going to say.

"I don't know? Do you want me to? If you want to kiss me you can but if you don't then just say so and I'll leave." Matthew didn't know how to feel, he was too nervous to even answer a simple yes or no. They had kissed before, twice even but for some reason, this situation felt different. He guessed it was because they were actually asking if they could instead of just going for it.

"I... I do but you? I mean are you sure?" Collin smiles and nods leaning into Matthew's lips. The kiss was slow but solid, it was meaningful and as time passed the more passionate it became. Matthew pulled back to take a breath of air and as soon as he did Collin pulled him back and continued to passionately kiss him. Matthew put his hand on Collin's hair, running his fingers through his hair deepening the kiss. While Matthew and Collin were distracted, Mrs. Skylars asked Jacob and Rachel to get cleaning supplies out of the janitor's closet to clean up the paint and confetti they used in their projects. The photography classroom was covered in confetti and the tables were covered in paint. Jacob and Rachel walked in the empty hallway towards the closet. Jacob opens the door and they see Matthew and Collin making out. Rachel clears her throat and both boys instantly separate feeling embarrassed at the fact that they were caught.

"Well we didn't mean to interrupt but we are here to get cleaning supplies." they both blush but nod getting out of the closet walking away as Jacob and Rachel enter the small closet. Matthew laughs a bit, blushing and smiling looking down at his feet as they both keep walking.

"Matthew? I... will you be my boyfriend?" Matthew looks up smiling and nods taking Collin's hand. It was a strange feeling but just couldn't get enough of it. The happiness seemed to consume Matthew leaving him with no words.

"So umm... are we going to tell everyone or are we going to keep it a secret?" Matthew thought about it, was he ready, and if he was when?

"I think we should hide it, not completely but leave subtle hints that we are together until we are asked.

"I think we should hide it, not completely but leave subtle hints that we are together until we are asked. I want to hide it until someone asks us about it if that's okay with you?" Collin nods, he couldn't believe that this was finally happening. The bell finally rang, announcing next period and Collin pulls Matthew in for one last kiss and pulls away letting go of his hand. The day seemed to pass much quicker and concentration was impossible for Collin as he kept recalling the best second period of his life.

Once Collin got home he felt a sudden urge to get the box from his closet. He went towards his closet taking the box out of the closet placing it on his bed. He opened it taking out all the photos along with the pocket knife. He opened the knife revealing the blade, should he use it? Why did he want the knife if he was happy? Then that's when the idea struck him. He ran downstairs and went outside towards the tree in his backyard. He got the dead branch off the grass that sat next to the tree. He sat up against the tree and pressed the blade on the wood carving it. He thought that if he wanted to cut then he was going to do it the safe way. He thought of Matthew's eyes, lips, his voice, everything that made Collin fall in love with Matthew.

He zoned out but although he had zoned out before this was something he had never experienced before. Once he zoned back in he saw what he carved in the piece of wood. He had carved Matthew's name on one side and the set of green eyes he was fascinated with on the other side of the wood. He smiled and went upstairs finally proud of being able to fight his urge.

"Matthew, why... why did you deny being gay for so long? I know we are not the most accepting people but one thing we hate more than homosexuals are liars." Matthew bit his lip and faced his mom looking down at her straight in the eyes as she sat on the couch drinking her tea.

"Mom... I... I didn't lie, I was molested but you're right. I did lie about one thing."

"What? What did you lie about Matthew?"

"I... I lied about not being in love with Collin. He asked me to be his boyfriend today and I said yes."

"Of course you would you faggot." Matthew turns around seeing his dad furious, red, and if they were in a cartoon he would have been steaming.

"Dad... I... I tried not to, I really did but something about him captivated me. I... I'm sorry I hid my emotions from both of you both but I was afraid of your reaction. I was afraid of what I was feeling for Collin. I was so afraid of this reaction. " His dad shook his head and left without another word having his mom follow after him shortly leaving him alone with tears. Time passed and it was finally Friday. Matthew had to show his art in front of every one second to last and Collin was going to be the last one to go up and show his art.

"I'm so nervous Charlie, I mean what will everyone think? I'm so nervous."

"Don't be. You and Collin will be great. Just wait and you'll see." After some time passed Matthew went up, finally after waiting for so long. He introduced himself and was nervous about explaining his piece. He removes the cloth covering his piece and a few people gasped.

"Well, I call this piece of art catastrophe. It shows true events that have happened in my life that have shaped me into who I am. The ones on the outside are pretty self-explanatory and easy to decipher but the center isn't as easy. In the center of the piece, you can see a set of blue eyes. What makes these eyes so special is that the person who owns this set of eyes has shown me who I am. To everyone here today at this time, I confess to every single person here that this set of eyes helped me discover something I didn't even know until I met this person. I am... I am gay and I am proud of who I am. Thank you." A few gasps escape the crowd but Matthew gets off the stage. Collin goes up nervous.

"Hello my name is Collin and today I will be giving you live art. I will be making a piece I call lover, I hope you enjoy." He takes a deep breath and gets to work. He had been practicing every single day for this moment. As he added the final touches he added the most important thing, the color of his eyes. Everything else was black and white to make his green eyes stand out. He signs it and backs up to show everyone his work. It's silent, a few mumbles and whispers erupt in the crowd.

"He is my love, my heart, my inspiration, and my savior. He saved me from death and saved me from eternal pain. This is my lover, my lover Matthew. Thank you." and with that Collin leaves the stage leaving everybody speechless. They confessed but only the future will show what everyone thinks about their relationship.