What was wrong with him? I love you, he said. Not to be a faggot, but I love him too. Like a brother. James is my best friend. Oliver's thoughts were racing. He must be kidding. Of course he's kidding, we're not fags. We used to throw stones at them. They're weird. They're- they're wrong.
"James, what are you on? You're making it sound like you're gay or something." Oliver forced a laugh.
"Oliver, I am." James looked to his feet shuffling the hay on the ground.
They were in a barn a mile or so away from the school. James had told Oliver to meet him there after class Thursday night. He had told Oliver there was a surprise there for him. The barn, a rusting red and white chipping off at the corners, had been a part of Cloud Haven Academy's old animal rescue shelter. The boys would get payed for working there. Sadly, it closed after an outbreak of rabies and one of the boys caught it. The parents were furious and demanded it be closed.
"What?"
"I'm gay, Oliver. I like guys. I like you," James said. "And I know you think it's wrong or a sin or some shit but it's not! It's fucking not."
"Dude this isn't funny. Cut it out. You're not gay. I've known you for my entire life. You had your first kiss with Sandra and you liked it. You had sex with four girls in 8th grade. You're not gay."