Who Cares Who Wins? (boyxboy)

Chapter 50. Guilty By Association.

"And we all know who that is don't we?" Markus interrupted him. "Alexander Morgan! Our very own resident fairy. Trevor was right about you two all along. Being roomed with him was so convenient, wasn't it?"

I was just about to make my presence known and challenge Markus when Cliff answered him. "It's up to you Markus.... If you, or anyone else, don't want to play in the same team as me then you'll just have to find another team, won't you?"

What the fuck? Why didn't Cliff say something? How could he let Markus say that without answering.

I stood, dumbfounded, as Bradley waded in with Leo in support.

As Markus passed me he pushed me out of his way. "You fucking rice eating queer!" He hissed and then spat in my face as he left the room.

I wasn't shocked by the verbal abuse. It was the fact that he had spat at me that had stunned me.

"So who is it.....? Who's your boyfriend?" The question distracted me from the mixed emotions that I was desperately trying to contain and understand.

"Does it matter?" Cliff's dismissive answer cut through me like a hot knife through butter. I knew I really loved him and at that moment it mattered to me. I needed to hear him admit, out loud to everyone present, that he really loved me.

Cliff was suddenly standing in front of me. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to hear you being honest and owning up to who you really are....,  and long enough to know that I was foolish to think that you would ever own up to loving someone like me!" I could feel myself losing control. I felt like bursting into tears as my thoughts were being pulled in all directions. I knew I unequivocally loved him. I needed to be loved, unequivocally, in return. Was it wrong to seek the perfect love in such an imperfect world? Was I being foolish to think that's what I had found?

I turned away to leave the room.

He dropped the sandwiches and snatched at my arm, stopping me from leaving. He pulled me into a hug. "If you want me to come out and publicly say I love you, I will," he said quietly in my ear. "It wasn't my place to out you. If I had known you were there I would have looked to you for your approval first."

I wasn't aware of the crowd that had gathered around us until I heard Leo cough.

Cliff instantly pulled out of our embrace. "Sorry guys.... I could tell Xander was upset by what Markus said."

"Wouldn't you guys be better off making up in your room?" Bradley quietly suggested. "Not sure your secret is a secret anymore."

Cliff looked at me and smiled. It was a smile that answered all my doubts and fears. It was the smile of someone who really loved and understood me. The smile of someone that was prepared to publicly acknowledge that love and was ready to face whatever challenges being in a same sex relationship might bring.

I smiled back.

"Benedict?" Cliff called out as he twisted his head to look at the crowd around him. "You asked me who my boyfriend was earlier. It's Xander. Alexander Morgan. I take it that you don't have a problem with that?"

🍞🥚🥞🍖🍔🍟🍕🍤🥖🧀🥓🍗🌭🥙🍣

During early evening Prep I walked with Cliff as we followed Bradley and Leo down the stairs and outside to the waiting, chauffeur driven, burgundy coloured Range Rover Elite in the car park.

Their suspension had not been rescinded. They were suspended until the new term began after Christmas. Not as severe as permanently being excluded but severe enough to reflect the seriousness of the assault on Toad, Kasper and Fabian.