Austin told me how much he liked hanging out with me and he didn’t want me to go. He didn’t say anything that sounded gay. He didn’t say he liked me; he didn’t admit to liking guys and his journal didn’t reveal anything to me. My only problem is that he says all these things knowing that I’m gay. Or, at least I think he knows.

“Do you know?” I ask. We’re sitting on the curb eating popsicles awating Shay.

“Know about what?” Austin asks. His brown curly hair moves as the wind blows past us. He green eyes looks lighter for some reason.

“That, well, that I like… boys,” I finally choke out. That is one of the very few times that it was hard to say that. There is a silence that worries me.

“I know,” He says normally. I don’t know why, but it angers me. He knew that, yet he said all these things. Unfortunately I don’t think before I speak.

“Then why? Why do you say those things?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You flirt with me, dammit!”

“Gabe… I—” Before he could finish, Shay arrives… with Jane.