Eric's Pov:

I slammed my alarm off and got up. Today was gonna be a good day. I can feel it.

It may have something to do with the fact that it's the last day of the stupid three week detention. I'm also hoping that Mr Becker will finally just admit defeat and let me off the hook and convince the Dean that it was a huge mistake to make me his TA.

School's been the same. Boring and tedious. The only one I've told I was gay so far was John and believe it or not that really did set our friendship back on track. He stopped his homo rants and has relaxed a lot around me since neither of us has to hide anything from each other anymore. Kourtney and Daniel my other closest friends are still their certifiably insane selves.

I'm not still hiding in the rainbow closet I just haven't figured a way to tell everyone at once so I don't have to repeat myself four million times. I hate repeating myself. It's a major pet peeve of mine.

Practice has been fine and coach has been in a chill mood probably because Dean Becker was right we got some serious talent coming in with the freshies this year. Not nearly as good as me but they'll get there eventually.

Even if they don't, coach will still be chill with me. I walk on water according to him. I'm the son he never had and believe me if that stunt I pulled with his daughter didn't get him on my ass nothing will. Ahh it's nice to be so well loved.

Unfortunately the girls have gotten even more aggressive then they used to be and I'm not even exaggerating when I say at least three or four times a day I get hit on and the crap they're pulling is just getting more and more outrageous.

It's like some obsessive escalating game they're all playing against each other. Oh it's been months since anyone's landed a date with Eric. Let's see who can break him down first. Ughh is it any wonder I don't like chicks.

I was meaning to come out at school anyway so I guess I'll have to step that up. I just haven't found the right time to be like yo I hate girlie bits but love me some sausage!

The shock from my parents reaction has worn off completely and now it's just whatever. I don't even stress but I'm sadly still in a little funk. Not as bad as before but I still haven't bounced back to my regular self.

Oddly enough this little war I have going on with Mr Becker has been the most entertainment I've had. Thinking up new ways to bug him or screw something up has really been fun.

Except I think that sexy bastard can read minds or something because most times he figures it out, smirks and makes me fix it. Whatever I'll think of something to drive him batty.

I rushed through my morning routine and sped to school

I got out and made my way though the first two classes. I walked out to make copies and get his damn coffee with three sugars, two creams and no spit.

I looked around and nodded. Oh yeah that's what I'm talkin about.

I poured the cream in and grabbed the salt instead of sugar and poured a crap load in.

I set his coffee down and he picked it up still lecturing to the freshies about the lasting effects of the civil war and how without the country rebelling against itself so many freedoms we take for granted wouldn't be.

"That was the catalyst that set in motion so many peoples fight for equality." He raised his mug and took a huge gulp.

I watched as he gagged and made a face like he was gonna blow chunks. He turned around and glared at me.

"Was it too hot Mr Becker?" I asked innocently.

"What the hell did you put in it? Salt water?" He gagged again and I snickered quietly.

"Ummm maybe I accidentally grabbed the salt. They should really mark that better. I mean it looks just like the sugar. Both in a clear container and white and little crystals. Honest mistake." I said with a grin.

He rolled his eyes. "Mhhm" He faced his snickering class and cleared his throat.

"Back to the topic. In the matter of those wars they were justified in that, they were needed for the advancement or our society. Now in days we have ways to gain new laws, liberties and equalities without starting an internal war within our nation. We have lobbyists and special interest groups that campaign and gather politician's votes to make legislation pass."

That stupid girl that always flirts with me now raised her hand. "What's the point of lobbyists though? Can you give us an example of what they actually do? Is this going to be on the test?"

He looked at me with the 'idiot freshman alert' look and gestured for me to take over. That was part of the arrangement. When they asked a dumb question I had to be the one to deal with it.

Don't know why because believe me I've tested the man's patience these last weeks and he has plenty.

"Anti smokers lobbied for the surgeon general warnings on the side of the cigarette packs. Women's rights groups lobbied to get equal pay as men for equal work. Lobbyists have worked on the 'Green initiative' to make many products and companies more environmentally friendly with the hopes of eventually reducing global warming. More recently special interest groups have worked for state wide legalization for recreational marijuana use in Colorado. Gay rights activists also known as the LGBT lobby for states to legalize same sex marriages which has led to 9 states legalizing it. Take your pick."

She scrunched her nose and shuddered. "That's just wrong."

I chose to purposely misunderstand her. "You're absolutely right. It is wrong that any man and woman can go down to a court house and sign a few pieces of paper and get married but two men or two woman have to fight to have that same right in all the states but 9. America prides herself on equality and being ahead of the times but in reality we're behind many other countries in some aspects because closed minded people think they have the right to dictate to the masses. That's what lobbyists do, they use their unique skills to fight for equality and legislation that makes America better for future generations. "

Mr Becker clapped me on the back. "Well put Eric and that right there is why your rebellion to get out of being my Aid is not gonna work." He said with a smirk.

"Because I need a lobbyist to push through legislation to free me from tyranny?" I drawled sarcastically.

He shook his head and smiled. "No, because you're exactly where you need to be and doing an excellent job assisting with the freshies."

He looked at the class and continued on with his lecture studiously ignoring the girl with her hand still raised to point out her views on homosexuality. Get a life little girl.

The rest of the day flew by with more of the same and it was already time to go to my last class. I went to my locker so I could grab my books needed for homework to knock it out during my office aid period. It's not like she'd let me actually do anything. I think she's trying to kill me with boredom.

I pushed John and Kourtney out of the way so I could open it and felt my temper flare. No fuckin way!

"You have got to be kidding me!" I snarled.

John leaned over my shoulder and started laughing. I grabbed a pen and picked the thing up and marched to the office. I walked into Dean Becker's office and inspiration hit me.

I flipped the lock in case she tried to come in before I was done and dropped the item on her desk.

I grabbed the school wide intercom and clicked it on.

"Attention everyone! Yo I said attention! As in listen the hell up cause I got some important crap to say. Will the owner of the red lacy thong that was dropped in my locker with.. Oh look how helpful! The hussy wrote her name and number on it. Will Rebbecca Shannauasy please pick up her crusty undies from the Dean's office. And since I'm already interrupting classes with this crap how about I play Dr Phil for the rest of you young ladies? First off stop walking around in hooker clothes. Have more respect for yourselves. If you don't respect yourselves how the hell are guys supposed to respect you and please for the love of all things holy will you all stop freakin hitting on me. No amount of make up, short tight clothes or disgustingly graphic sexual propositions will make me like you. I'm gay. Not bi not even a little straight. I'm here and queer and pretty flaming! So will all you chicks seriously back off cause I'm about two seconds from flipping out..... Oh shit the Deans here. Peace out losers!"

I flipped the lock and the Dean threw the door open. "Was that really necessary?" She growled.

I nodded. "Yeah I think it was. The sluts here are deranged and won't leave me alone! Hell I'm worried I'm gonna get raped by one of the freaks that puts her panties in my freaking locker that was locked!"

She looked at her desk and rubbed her temple. "I knew it was just a matter of time before you pulled some kind of crap here."

She sighed and walked around me to her desk. "Did you have to put it on my desk? I swear you are single handedly giving me grey hair and I'm not even thirty two yet." She whined.

I smiled and nodded understandingly. "Don't worry you don't look a day over thirty six!" I teased.

She glared at me and made this little frustrated growl sound that had me hiding my laugh. "That's it, Eric I'm kicking you out as my aid."

I fist pumped hell yeah at least I have one of my free periods back.

She smirked wickedly. "You'll be spending seventh period as Mr Becker's aid from now on. Have fun with that."

I shook my head and kicked my feet up so they were hiked up on the bottom of her desk.

"I don't think that's very wise Delilah. See I'm gay and now everyone knows and your brother is a young hot male teacher. If I spend three hours a day with him people are gonna think he's taking advantage of the poor confused innocent little gay boy."

She giggled and rolled her eyes. "Eric no body that knows you will believe that dribble for an instant. You're nothing close to being a confused innocent little gay boy. Besides we're half way through the first six weeks and all the elective classes are already locked in. Lucky for you that I'm pretty sure my brother will take ya on as a personal favor to me. Especially since I cant very well have you making those type of announcements whenever the mood hits. No matter how entertaining they are."

"Damn. Come on Delilah he annoys the crap out of me and thinks it's funny when I get pissed or when I start babbling and I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm retarded." I whined which made her chuckle again.

"He thinks no such thing, slightly goofy maybe but not retarded and for the record you know we all think it's adorable when you ramble and you forget to use the filter between your brain and mouth. Though I have noticed it's been more prominent the last few weeks. Any particular reason for that?" She raised her eyebrow and her grin became more pronounced.

I fought back the blush trying to make it's presence known. I was not about to tell the principal that her sexy baby brother who was also my teacher was the reason I was always flustered. Yeah that'd go over so well.

I shrugged and leaned my head back. "No idea what you're talking about."

" Hmmm, anyway I'll shoot him an email about your new arrangements."

I rolled my eyes but got up. "Yeah yeah whatever. Make my life more complicated then it already is. Next thing I know people are gonna start calling me the goody-two-shoes kiss-ass-fairy. All cause you're making me be an aid twice a day. Not cool Delilah. Anyway since it's last period and I have nothing to do here I'm gonna hit the gym and start working out before practice."

Her brows knitted and she dropped the joking attitude. "If you have any problems with students or faculty because you came out. I want you to call me right away or come up to my office. I mean it Eric we have a no tolerance policy for any type of gay bashing. Be it verbal or physical and I'm not going to play around and let that kind of crap fly in my school."

I shrugged but was actually kind of flattered she was so worried. I always knew she had a soft spot for me. It's plainly evident in the way she interacts with me but this was on a more personal level. Her eyes shown with sincere concern and it was a nice change from what I got from my parents.

"I doubt I'll have any issues like that. No student is ballsy enough to mess with me except maybe John but he already knows and he's not as anti-rainbow as he seemed. Plus all the faculty love me. Even you and I give you almost as much hell as I do your brother. I'm a hard guy not to love."

She stared off for a second but looked back at me with a strained smile. "I'm sure you're right but on the off chance that you start getting treated differently come see me. Some people suck and that wasn't a gay pun. I sincerely hope that's not something you have to find out. Any more then you already have with your parents." She said softly.

"Ehh they weren't exactly warm fuzzy parents before I came out so it wasn't that much of a shock. I'll be okay no matter what happens. If my parents' total disregard for me didn't break me nothing will. So no more worrying about me, you'll emasculate me and I'm not cool with that." I said playfully at the end.

She smiled a real smile. "You remind me so much of my little brother Seth when he was your age."

I smirked. "cause I'm hot right. Yeah I get that, you and Mr Becker are some good looking people. Your parents passed on some bad ass genes." I said wiggling my brows making her roll her eyes but grin.

"Alright enough joking around. I'll be making sure you actually go to my brother's class tomorrow so don't even think about skipping or I'll hunt you down and drag you there by your ear." She warned.

I smirked "Yes ma'am. You kinky little freak beast." Then literally ran out before she could do anything about my smart mouth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was in the weight room doing lifts when the bell rang. Practice didn't start for another 30 minutes so I kept going.

After a few minutes people started piling in and I got several weird looks. Eh no biggie I just announced that I was gay. I'm pretty sure this was a normal reaction.

John, Daniel and Kourtney strolled in and the semi packed weight room went silent. I guess they were all curious about my closest friends reaction but I think most specifically they were wondering about John's. His homo rants were well known.

They walked up and John smirked and clapped me on the back. "Awesome way to come out Tinker bell. Seriously fuckin great. You got's some serious juevos! Plus how funny was the crusty pantie crack." He sat down next to me and started lifting weights.

I looked at Daniel and Kourtney for their reactions but they seemed chill.

"Yo." I said giving them a head nod.

Daniel rolled his eyes and flipped me off. "Testing the waters to see if we're trippin? You should know us better then that. The only thing that pisses me off is you told that fuck-nut over there before us." He sat down on the floor and leaned back with his hands supporting him.

Kourtney stomped to me and threw herself in my lap. Almost making me drop the weight I was lifting. She squished my cheeks together and kissed my fishy lip.

"You suck! Couldn't you have waited until I got me a piece of this sexiness? OOOOh do you have a boyfriend? Ohmigohhhd are you a boy/boy virgin? You better not have lost your butt V-card and not told me." She said narrowing her eyes then crossing them and sticking her tongue out.

I grinned and gave her a tight one arm hug and cooed to her. "I do on occasion suck. I never would have hooked up with you even if I was straight cause you're too good a friend for me to dick down. No boyfriend at the moment. We broke up a few months ago. Not a virgin of any kind. And before you ask. The answer is no I'm not gonna go into any more detail then that." I smirked at her pouty face.

"Awe, but I spent the last fifteen minutes coming up with questions about you doing the spunky monkey with some hot guy. I was gonna put it in my spank bank for later." She pouted and I set the weight down and tossed her over my shoulder and started jumping up and down like crazy.

In between giggles she asked. "What the hell Eric?"

I sat her down on my bench and thumped her head playfully. "What? I was just trying to shake some sense into your weird ass."

She stuck her tongue out at me and started to say something but the weight room door was thrown open roughly and we all turned to the sound of hit slamming against the wall.

Coach stormed in and right up to me. "Stevens why the hell aren't you out on that damn field?" he yelled. It took me a second to get over the shock of him acting like that. Coach has never acted that way towards me.

"Sorry Coach. Practice doesn't start for another ten minutes and I was getting some resistance and strength training in before I went out."

He looked at the four of us and rolled his eyes. "Looked like you were goofing off to me. If you're not serious enough to actually dedicate yourself to the team maybe you should step back and let someone more suitable have your spot."

I gaped at him. "What the hell does that mean? I've been nothing but dedicated for the last four years!" I yelled.

John placed his hand on my shoulder and Coach glared at the connection. He snorted. "I shoulda figured you were the one that turned him."

John laughed and flipped him off. "Suck it you prehistoric bigot. I'm just his friend."

Coach inched closer to me and his already red face reddened even more. "If you want to stay on my team you better have your ass out there doing suicides in the next four minutes." He growled at me.

He turned back to John. "Next time you mouth off I'll have your dumb ass booted off the football and baseball team."

I walked out and John stormed out with me. "You better report that shit. He straight up acted an ass. The Dean needs to know that fucker has an issue with you now."

I shook my head. "Nah I don't think that's what it is. He didn't say any gay hate shit. He must be pissed about something else. It's probably just a coincidence." I insisted, trying to sound like I believed it.

I really wanted to give him the benefit of just chucking it up to a random bad day.

He looked back to where coach was watching us walk across the quad to the track field. "No I've seen that look. The senator gets it when he goes on a homo rant. Just watch your back cause I have a feeling he's gonna give you hell."

"Dude this is coach we're talking about. Whatever's pissing him off will blow over and he'll go back to thinkin the sun shines out of my ass."