I Had To

Prologue

Colton's POV

Why do I feel like I'm drowning?

I quickly ignored that thought and tried to think of the sweet sensation of sleep.

It's getting worse! I can't breathe!

I quickly sat up on my bed, gasping for air until my eyes gazed on Elliot, my little brother, — he's 15, not so little anymore — who was holding a cup of water in one hand, and his phone that I'm assuming is recording me. He was sitting really close to me and I can tell he's holding back a snicker.

Now that I think about it, my nose hurts like absolute hell.

Assuming Elliot did some horrible prank on me (again), I give him a glare that I know he gets scared of.

"Were you putting water up my nose?!" I shouted with as much horsepower as I can get my tired voice to become, grabbing the cup of water and putting it down. With my right hand, I grabbed his ear and twisted. He yelped in pain and dropped his phone between us.

"Okay okay okay! It's a prank Cole it's a prank!" He shrieked as I kept twisting, enjoying the lovely sound of what I call justice. I let go for just a second to ask, "I could've died you donkey, was there any reason why you were actually in here?"

"Yeah, Ry - is in - the kitchen," he said softly while sniffing in between his sentence.

"Oh my god, you're going to cry again? You should be used to me wanting to get justice from your literal death traps." I rolled my eyes and chuckled, then flicked Elliot in the forehead. I got up and was walking to my door until he said, "At least I made you laugh. And I'm only crying because my ears are aching!"

"What do you mean? About making me laugh?"

"You look so nervous all the time because first day of school is tomorrow now, so I wanted to cheer you up."

Now Elliot isn't the most affectionate person, but his intentions are always good and cares for the people he loves. And he was right, I was getting anxious for the new school year. I rarely get upset or scared, but the start of every school year was always an exception. It's scary! What if I don't have any friends in my classes? What if Riley didn't have me for any class? I walked over to Elliot who was now sitting near the foot of my bed, and hugged him. "Thank you for caring for me little bro, but don't be taking my role for you, I'm supposed to do that!" I ruffled his hair and helped him up as he kept saying sorry about the prank.

He's a dumbass, but he's a caring one.

As we walked downstairs, I can hear my childhood best friend Riley, and still my best friend to this day, chatting and laughing with my older sister, Lily. She saw Elliot and I walking towards them and gave me a shit eating smirk. She always thought that me and Riley would get together in the future, but she doesn't know about my secret. Everyone else knows, heck even Elliot knows, but I never got the chance to tell Lily myself. I mean now or never am I right?

Who am I kidding? I've said that so many times, how is today any different?

"Said what so many times?" Asked Lily.

Was I thinking out loud?! Oh my god, it's now or never for real this time!

"Oh yeah I have something to tell you," scratching the back of my neck and chuckling nervously. "Im just gonna say it, I'm gay."

She looked at me for a solid 10 seconds, with an expression that I couldn't figure out, and then she burst out laughing.

"Of course I know! I've been trying to get it out of you for so long!" I was dumbfounded, how did she even know? I mean everyone else knew even though I didn't tell them, so I guess there's just something about me that screams gay. Before I knew it, I started laughing as well. Maybe I shouldn't be so nervous about this school year, what could go wrong?