Zac and Ben walked into Ben's apartment, holding hands. They parted briefly for Ben to unlock the door and they went inside to find Ben's mother sitting on the couch watching a soap opera. She was in her late thirties with unnaturally blonde hair pulled back into a tight updo.
"Mom?" Ben asked. "What are you doing home? Isn't it Monday?" Ben looked back at Zac and he nodded.
"I have the morning off, sweetie," she said. "Oh, is this your new boyfriend?"
"Uh�sort of," Ben said. "This is Zac."
"Hi," Zac said, waving.
"We'll be in my room," Ben said, grabbing Zac's hand and pulling him towards his room.
"Nice to meet you, Zac." Zac waved again and was pulled into Ben's room.
"Geez, Ben, what was that about? You didn't even let me get to talk to her," Zac said. Ben gave him a look. "What? Am I not allowed to talk to her?" He sighed and sat down on his bed. Ben's room was nice. It was a lot smaller than Zac's, but that was because the apartment was smaller. Ben had a single bed while Zac had a queen, but Zac had doubts that all of Ben's things would fit in here with a queen sized bed.
"She's just usually not around when I have someone over. She's kind of embarrassing."
"Oh, and my mother isn't?" Zac asked.
"Sit down," Ben said, patting the spot on the bed next to him. Zac felt a little uncomfortable being alone with Ben in his room and sitting on his bed, but considering there was nowhere else to sit, he sat down. Ben took his hand again and Zac sighed. "Is it still weird?"
"A little," Zac said. "I mean being in here alone, sitting on the bed�"
"We're not going to do anything, Zac," Ben said, rolling his eyes. "It's still too early for that." Ben squeezed his hand. "Are you okay?" Zac nodded. "Good." Ben kissed him. Zac smiled a bit and allowed himself to be pushed back down on the bed, the first time that had ever happened. He was so used to being the one in charge, it was weird to feel someone else on top of him instead of being on top of someone else. He didn't mind it though as he allowed his hands to run up and down Ben's back much like girls had done to him in the past.
Just kissing Ben was a completely different experience. It was a bit rougher kissing another man, a little more rugged, but it was still the same concept and he liked it. Ben's tongue was just as soft as the rest of them, and with his eyes closed, Zac felt at ease. He liked reaching up and stroking short hair on the back of Ben's head instead of the long, flowing mess that usually got in the way.
"Ben, I'm going to the store and�oh my God." Ben and Zac immediately stopped kissing and Ben looked over. He groaned and sat up, pulling Zac up with him. "I'm sorry."
"What, Mom?" he asked.
"I was just going to the store and I was wondering if you needed anything."
"No, Mom, I'm fine," Ben snapped.
"Well, then, never mind," she said, and turned to leave. "Oh, and Ben, honey, don't forget that you've got school tomorrow." She left. Ben hunched over a little.
"Ugh," he said. "I forgot about school."
"Me too," Zac said.
"I don't know anybody," Ben said. "I mean I've been here a few months but we got here after the school year ended."
"Where'd you say you were going?"
"Winfield."
"That's where Nix goes," Zac said. "I'm sure he's got a lot of school friends that he'll introduce you to." Ben shrugged. "Oh, don't be so worried, they'll like you."
"And what makes you think that?" Ben asked.
"Well," Zac said. "I like you."
"Great, Zac, now why don't you just tell that to everyone there?" Ben cynically asked, throwing in a hee-haw arm swing for emphasis. Zac gave him a look. "I'm just nervous." Ben looked at the time. "Oh my God, it's two o'clock and I don't even know what I'm going to wear." Zac laughed. "It's not funny!"
"It is to me," Zac said, smiling.
"I bet I have nothing either," Ben said, opening his closet. "I didn't even go back-to-school shopping this year, I've been trying so hard to fit in." Zac watched, amused, as Ben looked through his clothes for something to wear to school the next day. If they hadn't been making out a minute ago, Zac would definitely know Ben was gay now. "You know, when I was in Denver, everyone in my elementary school went to the same middle school, and then we all went to the same high school. I had the same friends for twelve years and then all of a sudden I come here and I don't know anybody."
"Well you have friends now." Ben turned around.
"Yeah, but do you have any idea how scary that is? I'd been best friends with the same kids for twelve years and all of a sudden everything's gone. If it hadn't been for Jayden who knows what where I'd be. I'd probably still be sitting here on my ass all day with no friends doing absolutely nothing."
"How exactly did you meet Jayden anyway?" Zac asked.
"I went to the store and I ran into him," Ben said. "Literally."
"Really?" Ben nodded.
"Yeah," he said, smiling. "I turned a corner and ran right smack into him. We fell on the floor, apples and oranges flying everywhere�it was actually kind of funny. We started talking, he invited me to a movie with everybody and we were okay together so I just kept hanging out with them."
"Did they know you were gay when they met you?"
"Well considering five minutes after I met everybody I said, 'Oh my God, Nix, you're got the most gorgeous eyes' I would say yeah, they did." Zac smiled.
"Yeah, Nix does have nice eyes."
"See? I'm not the only one who thinks so." Ben turned back to his closet. "Zac, I have nothing to wear!"
"Why don't we go back to my place? You can look through my stuff. I've got a lot of clothes."
"I love those jeans in your CK ad."
"Then you can wear those."
"Score." Zac got up and they walked out of the room. On the way, Zac saw a familiar poster on the wall and paused. "What?" Ben asked.
"No way," Zac said. "You like Feeling Left Out?" Zac pointed at the poster.
"You've heard of them?" Ben asked, amazed that Zac had even heard of the band. Zac nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Yeah! I love them!"
"So do I!"
"Man," Ben said, shaking his head. "We have a lot more in common than I thought."
"Yeah, we do. We both like FLO, we both order the same thing at Panera, our birthdays are a week apart�"
"We both like that Coldplay song," Ben added. "I made you realize that you liked martinis."
"And you're a fan of my music."
"Why, Zac, I think I'm falling in love with you." They both laughed. "Wait, what's your favorite color?"
"Blue," Zac said. Ben looked disappointed. "What's yours?"
"Green."
"I like green," Zac said. "It's my second favorite."
"And blue's mine."
"Hey! That's something," Zac said. Ben nodded. "And it would be kind of boring if we had everything in common. I mean, what would we ever fight about?" Ben shrugged. They left the apartment and went downstairs to Zac's car. Ben had never been in Zac's car and was obviously impressed.
"Oh man this is a nice car," Ben said, running his hands along the smooth dashboard. Zac started it up.
"Yeah, it's just a little thing I like to bring out on dates," he said. "You know, just to impress."
"Impression made," Ben said. Zac smiled.
When they arrived at Zac's house, it was obvious that Zac was nervous to bring Ben there. Ben noticed immediately. "Zac, I'm just over to borrow some jeans. I'm not your boyfriend; I'm just a friend." Zac nodded. "I know it's uncomfortable for you but it will get better over time. You just came out last night, I don't expect you to be one hundred percent okay with this."
"But I want to be," Zac said, looking over at Ben. He shut the car off and pulled the key out of the ignition. "I don't want to be uncomfortable and everything."
"And soon you won't be. Let's just go inside, okay?" Zac nodded and got out of the car. Ben followed him into the house where his mother saw him come in.
"Oh, Zac, there you are," she said, walking up to Zac and Ben. "I was looking for you earlier." She looked at Ben. "Nice to see you again too, dear. Ben, is it?" Ben nodded. "I don't think we've been formally introduced. I'm Diana Hanson." She put out her hand and Ben shook it.
"Benjamin Fletcher."
"That is such a classy name, don't you think, Zac?" Diana asked.
"Yeah," Zac said. "It is. We'll be upstairs."
"Okay." Zac and Ben ran upstairs and into Zac's room. Zac closed the door behind him and locked it, just in case anybody wanted to pop in (which they did often).
"All right, those jeans," Zac said. "I think they're in the closet." Zac opened the closet and Ben almost gasped. Zac looked back at Ben, who was in utterly glee at seeing how many clothes Zac had. "You are so gay, Ben."
"What? You've got a hell of a lot of clothes."
"Well when you have a job like mine, you're not really supposed to wear an outfit more than once," Zac said. "And they're not all my clothes. Some of them I stole from my brothers and never gave back."
"Oh," Ben said. Zac continued to search through his closet for the jeans Ben wanted. As he was looking he felt Ben's arms slide around his waist. Usually this didn't work because all of Zac's girlfriends were at least a half a foot shorter than him, but he and Ben were the same height so when Zac looked back he was looking straight into Ben's eyes. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." After a quick kiss Zac was rummaging again and Ben sat down on the bed. "Here they are." Zac pulled a pair of jeans off a hanger and threw them over to Ben.
"Zac, your bed is so comfortable," Ben said, bouncing up and down slightly. "Can I take it home?"
"No," Zac said. "It wouldn't even fit in your room."
"True."
"Try those on. I don't know what size you are but we look about the same. They're kind of tight on me."
"Yes, I've noticed," Ben said. Zac almost blushed. Ben quickly changed into them and checked them out, while Zac checked him out. They looked tight, but then again they were supposed to be tight.
"Do they fit?" Zac asked.
"Yeah." He turned around. "How's my ass?"
"Very nice," Zac said, smiling. Ben smiled back at him and turned around to face him again.
"Do I look gay?" Zac almost laughed.
"Um, the limp wrist is kind of a giveaway." Ben quickly put his hand down. "Do you want to look gay?" Ben shrugged.
"I don't know," he said. "I mean, if it were a couple of days ago then yeah, I would, but now I'm not so sure. I'm not exactly looking for anybody right now." Zac smiled. "I don't know�what do you think?"
"Well Nix knows you're gay, and you're probably going to be hanging out with him for the most part, and after people start spending time with you I'm sure they'll be able to figure it out." Suddenly there was a thud at the door, causing the both of them to look over, and behind it Taylor cursed.
"Zac, why the hell is the door locked?" he asked. Zac walked over, unlocked and opened the door.
"Sorry," Zac said. Taylor came in, rubbing his shoulder. "Ben was just trying on some pants and we didn't want anybody barging in." Taylor looked past Zac to Ben, who waved at Taylor.
"Oh, for a moment I thought you had Bronwyn in here," Taylor said. Zac shook his head.
"No, Bronwyn and I broke up."
"When?!"
"This morning."
"Oh," Taylor said. "Wait a minute, aren't you the person Zac was bitching about last night?" Ben nodded. "What happened?"
"We stopped fighting," Zac explained. "What do you want?"
"Well can I be introduced first?" Taylor asked.
"Fine. Taylor, this is Ben Fletcher. Ben, this is my brother Taylor." The two exchanged polite formalities and shook hands. "Anyway, what did you want, my loving and dear older brother Taylor?" Taylor gave Zac a look.
"I was going to ask for my shirt back, but since you're wearing it, I'll let you keep it another day or two," Taylor said. Zac looked down at his shirt.
"It looks better on me anyway," Zac said. Ben nodded and Zac shot him a warning glance before looking back at his older brother. "Is that all?"
"Geez, be uppity," Taylor said. "Yes, that's all. Unless you have anything else that belongs to me." Zac shook his head.
"No, I don't think so."
"Are those my jeans?" Taylor asked, pointing to the jeans Zac had on.
"Oh, come on, Taylor, as if I could fit into your anorexic size negative five jeans." Taylor gave him a look. "No, they're not yours. They're mine."
"Fine. Nice to meet you, Ben. I'll see you later." Taylor left and Zac closed the door behind him, sighing. He locked the door again.
"Ugh," Zac muttered and looked at Ben, who gave him a comforting smile. "You look absolutely amazing in those jeans." Ben blushed.
"Thank you."
"You wear those and you'll have everyone staring at you. Even the straight guys will be checking you out."
"Stop it," Ben said. Zac smiled.
"Maybe you shouldn't wear those pants. I don't want any competition." Ben rolled his eyes.
"Like you have anything to worry about." Ben walked over to him and put his arms around Zac's waist again. "I'm with you now." Zac smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, you're stuck with me."
"I'd hardly say stuck." Ben smiled and kissed him as someone else ran into the door behind them.
"Zac, why is the door locked?"
"Maybe we should go back to your place," Zac whispered. Ben nodded.