The Outside Lines (boyxboy) - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Nathan's POV
I noticed someone coming through the door. It was a shirtless dude wearing only a pair of baggy shorts and running shoes. He was ripped in every corner of his body, not like bodybuilder level or anything, but rather someone who hits the gym very frequently. He paused at the doorway watching in what looked like disbelief? Just as quickly as I blinked I could feel myself being tackled, my body tumbling to the ground.
"What f*** do you think you're doing?" He hissed, grabbing me by the collar as he sat on top of me, pinning my body to the cold wooden floor. "Who the hell do you think you are?!" He growled. I laid there, looking at him dazed.
"Axel, stop!" Lauren yelled back at him. "It's not like that!" She tried to clue him in, but he was already too worked up, ready to attack. At that point I figured out he was Lauren's boyfriend. I felt like I probably could've thrown him off of me, but in case there was any chance that I couldn't I didn't want to agitate him further.
He lifted a fist, preparing to sink a punch into my face. "Oh yeah? What makes you so sure of that? Did you not see him with his hands all over you?" I could see him visibly bite into his lip. This was certainly drawing a lot of attention to us. I could tell some people were hoping for a brawl, while others were more worried. The whole situation was super uncomfortable, this large shirtless dude sitting on top of my stomach, ready to attack with half the house watching. His sharp and sudden movements on top of me weren't helping me keeping myself contained.
"He's gay, okay!" Lauren revealed, throwing her arms in front of her, frustrated.
Axel went silent, looking back to me, dumbfounded. I averted my gaze, my face probably noticeably red.
"If anyone deserves to be jealous it should be me with the way you're straddling him like that." She said, glaring at him.
He quickly sat up looking back and forth "Sorry bro." I could tell he was embarrassed. After an awkward moment of nothing happening, as if all time had frozen over, Axel extended a hand helping me up off the floor.
"You know I really really like you, but sometimes you just go so far that I'm not sure if it's worth all of this." She lectured him. He sat there like a sad puppy who got caught going through the trash.
Ray chimed in "Damn boys. Sometimes I wish my daughter was a lesbian." He muttered under his breath. Axel and I watched him, eyes widened in silence, Lauren rolling hers.
"You're the second person he's tackled, and certainly not the second to have conflict with." She told me.
"I'm honestly really sorry. I swear it!" He apologized again.
"It's alright man." I assured him offering a partial smile. I was more relieved on how no one made a big deal of my sexuality, they just went with it. These were the type of people I assumed would've taken the most issue with it. Though many of them probably weren't within hearing distance, especially with the loud country music blaring from every corner of the room.
Axel and I made small talk about fitness and the like, him noticing I was also on a jog by my appearance. I didn't stay for too much longer, I had things I still needed to do at home.
Noah's POV (Sunday)
My parents' suspicion continued to grow realizing I hand't hung out with Taylor in a long time. I spent my morning watching videos on the internet, and most of my afternoon laying in the yard, doing absolutely nothing. I got a little sun burnt, feeling too lazy to put on sunscreen. My mother warned me but I didn't want to listen to her.
I spent the rest of my day tending to the family garden just to the right of our house. It wasn't anything massive but it still required lots of tending. Mom's growing at least five different types of flowers. I don't remember what kinds she said they were. And my father is growing kale, tomatoes, and snow peas. Half of it we don't end up eating, but I guess we just enjoy growing 'em. It's almost like a form of therapy. For me personally though, I just love the smells. I have this weird thing where I smell a lot of stuff, whether it be my pillow, my pits, or other people's clothing. My parents are always telling me how unflattering of a trait it is for me to have. Taylor hits me whenever she catching me doing it. I know it's weird as heck but at this point it's almost like a natural instinct.
"Great, now I'm thinking about Taylor again." I grumbled to myself, falling backwards onto the endless patch of grass.
"Noah, dinner!" My mom's voice echoed through the mostly empty yard.
"Coming!" I answered back.
I made my way inside and washed my hands in the kitchen sink before joining my parents at the dinner table. My Nan had already eaten and gone to bed so she wouldn't be joining us.
We were halfway through dinner and the room was filled with an awkward silence. That was unnatural for my parents. Normally they're busy talking about work or the little things they did during the day. Something had to be up, and it was making me uneasy.
And as if right on cue my father spoke. "So... is there anything... interesting, anything at all, you want to tell us at all Noah?"
I looked between my mom and dad nervously, still chewing. "No." I answered, only after a moment of hesitation.
"Look sweetie, we know something's up. You've been coming home with bruises all over your body, and it feels like... like you've been distant lately. We're worried about you." Mom expressed her concerns.
"Mom, I told you. My friends and I have started a little wrestling group. That's all." I tried to shrug it off.
"Noah, as sporadic and hyperactive as you are we all know wrestling is the last thing you'd find yourself doing." My father dismissed, breaking through my lie. I didn't know how to respond, I couldn't let them know what was going on at school. Another half-baked lie could dig my grave.
"We'd hoped you'd eventually open up to us about it but your're doing the exact opposite." Mom followed up.
"It's nothing, I swear it." I tried to assure.
"Lies don't look good on you Noah. You're making yourself look bad in the eyes of the lord. We taught you better." Mom shook her head, disappointment marked across her face.
"Noah, we're grounded you until you tell us what's going on." My father said sternly. As if my life wasn't already bad enough, now I'm grounded? I was on the verge of flipping the table and all of the dishes on it, but that wouldn't help me in any way.
"Phone." He said putting out his hand, wearing a blank expression. I watched his hand hoping he'd change his mind.
"It's either your phone or you allowance." He threatened. I was so frustrated. At least they were letting me keep my allowance...
I stormed off and locked myself in my room. It wasn't often my parents could make me so angry. I don't really ever get upset like this, it's almost scaring me. This past week as been a s**t show.
Nathan's POV (Monday)
A knock on the front door woke me from my deep slumber. A slight groan escaped me while I turned over to check the time on my old digital clock.
"Six-Twenty." I said to myself. Who could be at the door this early?
I pealed myself up off the sheets and trudged downstairs to the front door. A creak filled the living room as I opened it. To my surprise, standing there was Taylor. She seemed a little caught off guard. Just then I remembered I was in nothing but my boxers.
"Yo." She greeted, pressing past me into my home. I held the door for an extended moment, confused.
"Any one else asleep?" Taylor asked, scanning the dingy surroundings.
"My mom might be asleep." I nudged my head in the direction of her room while massaging the sleep knots out of my neck.
"Hold on, I'll be right with you. Let me put something on." I told her before returning to my room and grabbing a sleeveless shirt and a pair of gray sweatpants.
"Nice house." Taylor complimented, as she traced the edge of our dinner table with her finger.
"You don't have to lie." I rolled my eyes. A smile appeared on her face, but she didn't follow up.
"What... brought you here so early?" I asked her, still confused.
"I came to pick you up for school." She replied, turning in the opposite direction to continue her tour of the living room.
"Pick me up?" I repeated, only, as a question.
"Yup. I never did get your number, so I had to drive here to ask instead." She responded. "Buuuut since I'm already here, I'm taking you regardless."
"Oh... right. It's been so long since I've added anyone to my contacts I forgot that was a thing people did." I yawned still recovering from sleep.
"Breakfast?" I asked, pointing to the stove.
"Sure, you got any eggs?" She questioned.
"I think so." I replied, unsure.
"My mom hadn't finished breakfast before I left the house, so I'm starving." She explained, taking a seat in my mom's chair.
I went and checked the fridge and surely enough there was a dozen left.
I made her and myself some scrambled eggs with toast.
"Oh yeah, before I forget I should add you into my contacts." Taylor noted, speaking with her mouth half full. I gave her my number and cleaned the table after we finished.
"You're not going to school looking like that are you?" Taylor frowned, raising a brow.
"Right, I still have to get ready." I stated, realizing I was still in my sweatpants. I returned to my room once again and got out some of my new clothes before stepping out into the calm air occupying the neighborhood. I caught sight of the large storm brewing in the sky. I didn't bother bringing an umbrella though, it should be fine.
Taylor's car was parked just off the curb of the house. She got in and waited for me while I was getting ready. I squeezed my large self into the small car and sat my bag beside me.
"Alright we're off." Taylor said as she revved the engine.
"Whoa chill, my mom's still asleep." I said widening my eyes.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." She winced in realization.
"SORRY ABOUT THE NOISE MS. NIGHTASHADE!" She yelled out the window peeling the small car away from the curb, wearing a smug grin. I sighed. Mom still had plenty of time to sleep so I suppose it wasn't a huge deal.
The way Taylor handled this small car had my nerves up the wall. While she was relatively collected, the way the car was moving move me feel like I was on a roller coaster.
We pulled up to the school and arrived a little early. There weren't many cars about.
"We have some time to kill. I have a football in the back, wanna play?" Taylor asked as we stepped out of the small car.
"When you said you weren't into jocks I assumed you weren't into the whole sports thing as well." I said, confused.
"Well you assumed wrong." She shrugged. "I mean, I'm not going to put the game on TV and yell at the screen but I enjoy playing casually." She explained going over to the back of her car and popping the trunk. I made my way over and saw that it was filled with an assortment of things. A blanket, an old pizza box, a tire pump, and an range of other stuff.
"Here we are." She pulled out the ball from the hoarding bin. "Go long!" She suddenly pointed in the opposite direction. I jogged backwards making some distance between us.
"I'll have you know I'm pretty good at this." She informed.
"I wouldn't doubt it. You'll have to be patient with my lack of skill though." I warned her as I lifted both of my hands, ready to receive. I hadn't played catch in at least a couple years, so I didn't know know how well I would do.
She tossed the ball. I eyed it as it's arch cut through the sky. I readied myself and went for it. It made contact with my hands but fell to the ground.
"Wow, you weren't lying." She teased.
"Hey come on." I frowned, tossing the ball back to her. To no one's surprise her catch was flawless.
(Play the song)
We continued this for about ten minutes. My skill returned at a rapid rate and our tosses became more fierce. For looking so nimble Taylor surely had the arm of a gorilla.
Some time during those ten minutes Taylor turned on her car's radio so we could listen as we played. She suddenly froze in place after her throw.
"Hold on!" She halted our game. "I love this song." She said running over to her car once again. The mildly audible music playing from the car suddenly became almost deafening. She just about tripled the volume. I was worried her small car was going to explode it several pieces with the way the noise rattled it.
Taylor began head-banging to the rhythm, following up with a rhythmic strut towards me.
"Come on, join me." She prompted. I looked at her hesitant and then studied our surroundings. The school parking lot was beginning to fill with cars and other students. Some were already watching us like we were some kind of circus.
"Just let go. Trust me, you'll have a lot more fun if you don't care what others think about you." Taylor said, getting more into the music. You know what, she's right. The reason I looked up to her and Noah was cause they were so wild and carefree. Not to mention I was already dancing in public just a couple days ago.
"Screw it, you're right." I replied. I began shaking my hands like I was playing a non-existent drum set, or shaking maracas, with a goofy twist in my step. Taylor started doing the invisible rope, pulling me towards her. I swear, we definitely looked like an old couple on the dance floor. I wore a face splitting grin the whole time. She grabbed my hands and spun us around. At that very moment the storm welling in the sky broke, rain began to soak the ground and everything on it.
"Wooo!" I yelled at the sudden sensation of cold liquid connecting with my skin. Taylor was caught in a fit of laughter as we kept on dancing in the rain like the fools we were. it was honestly so much fun. We just let loose and broke out every dance move in our arsenal . We weren't doing anything crazy like break dances or flips or anything of the sort, but honestly, I was surprised by how not terrible we were.
Noah's POV
I woke up to thunder and stormy skies, but no rain. If the world could do one thing for me, just one, please let it rain. I love thunderstorms. Despite their chaotic nature, they help me relax.
I got dressed for school and made my way downstairs to greet my Nan, and ignoring my parents' "good mornings". I felt an overwhelming sense of pettiness welling in me today. I was going to ride it like an ocean. I just ran out of the house, no breakfast, no goodbye. Nan was so confused.
I sat by the bus stop, doing nothing but listening to my surroundings to pass the time since I was missing the extra part of me that was my phone.
I hear crickets chirping in the distance... or are they frogs?
I hear... the wind of the on coming storm dancing through the tree leaves above.
I hear... people playing and yelling somewhere not too far away.
I hear... my restless feet moving the gravel below me.
I did this for awhile until I finally heard the bus approaching the stop. I lifted my bag and got on when it finally halted.
"Hey pansy boy." Some guy from the football team teasingly greeted as I scoped out a seat.
"Piss off meat head." I bit, not turning my attention to him, still trying to find a seat for my bag and I. I heard gasping and murmurs filling the bus, no one expecting my response.
Next thing I knew I was being shoved into the seat in front of me like a brick being jammed into a wall. I squirmed to see the meat head towering over me.
"You think you can talk to me like that? I'm gonna kick your ass." He growled predictably.
"There'll be no fighting on this bus." The driver warned, sternly. The guy turned towards the bus driver's voice, wearing a look of anger and defeat. He returned his fiery glare back to me, prompting me to avert my gaze.
I sat there half expecting to be attacked at any second. The moment the bus came to a stop I charged off, not wanting to spend another second in the den of lions.
"Thank the lord." I celebrated, wiping the non-existent sweat from my pale forehead. I scanned my surroundings when I was a good distance away from the bus. It sounded like there was a rave going on somewhere nearby. Before I knew it I was suddenly being showered by the down poor. I was a little upset that I didn't bring an umbrella along, but to be honest I was more happy that it was raining than anything else.
I charged towards the school entrance seeking shelter from the down pour.
It felt like the whole world was suddenly in slow motion when my eyes laid upon Taylor and some guy in the parking lot. They were dancing in the rain, so carefree. My heart suddenly felt heavy... it felt, pained? Was it jealousy? Was it regret, or resentment? Was Taylor trying to replace me? My emotions had me so confused. I stood there in the rain, just a few feet away from cover,neither my mind nor body allowing me to move.