Shay Rogers has avoided going back home to Alabama because he fears running into his high school lover, Dwayne Sayles. Because of Shay’s reputation as an All-American straight stud, he tried to keep his love for Dwayne secret. Shay’s fear of his friends and family finding out about him ultimately led to his breaking up with Dwayne. However, when the invitation to his fifteen year high school reunion arrives, Shay’s friend convinces him to go, with her as his fictitious girlfriend. Within moments of meeting again, the long-dormant feelings between Shay and Dwayne are rekindled, but so are Shay’s fears. Is Shay finally ready to embrace the chance of happiness by living openly with Dwayne, or will his need to hide the truth about himself win out yet again?

Class of '03

He tried to imagine what it would be like to be out as gay here among the people with whom he’d grown up, and for them to know that handsome, stud jock, Shay Rogers, was actually a gay man and in a relationship with another man. He looked back at Dwayne and those who were with him. Ashamed, Shay realized he couldn’t bear to be associated with them here at home. In Boston or Colorado, anywhere where his identity as a gay man had been his only identity, it would be no problem for him. But here? No.


He could not explain why, but the idea of coming out here was something that made him recoil. He hoped it wouldn’t be a deal breaker for Dwayne. But why should it be? Hadn’t that been the way it’d been back in high school? Dwayne had accepted it then, why shouldn’t he now?


Chapter 23