Rainbow High by Alex Sanchez Page B

chair close.
    For the next hour Kyle helped him with algebra, every once in a while finding himself leaning against Jason’s shoulder. He’d force himself to pul back, to concentrate on the math. But the next moment Jason would rest his knee against Kyle’s.
    When they finished the last equation and Jason turned to him, Kyle had to close his eyes to keep from melting. An instant later, as in a dream, Jason’s lips touched his, their tenderness putting to rest al of Kyle’s worries about the future.
    Losing al restraint, he pul ed Jason by the hand onto the bed.
    “What about your parents?” Jason said in a soft voice.
    “Who?” Kyle said, half joking and half in dazed earnestness. “Oh, yeah.” Reluctantly, he tiptoed to the door and quietly closed it. A thril coursed through his heart. He couldn’t believe he was actual y doing this.
    “What if they come up?” Jason whispered as Kyle lay back down beside him.
    Kyle pressed a finger onto Jason’s lips and kissed him. For a brief moment Jason resisted, but then relaxed into a kiss, tel ing Kyle, in a gravel y voice, “You feel so good.”
    Then they kissed passionately—their tongues touching, blood pounding, hands clutching as they pressed against each other.
    “This is getting too intense,” Kyle panted, about to burst.
    “Yeah.” Jason’s chest surged and fel , mirroring Kyle’s passion.
    But neither of them could stop—til a knock rattled the door.
    Jason scrambled from the bed. “Crap!” he cursed, springing to his feet.
    Kyle leaped up beside him. “It’s okay,” he told Jason, knowing ful wel it wasn’t. “Just a minute!” he cal ed out, smoothing the bedspread.
    Jason tucked in his shirt. “Your hair!” he told Kyle in a stage whisper.
    Kyle glanced in the mirror and patted his hair down. Trying to slow his breath, he opened the door. “Oh hi, Mom.” His voice squeaked out thin and false.
    “I thought you might be ready for dessert.” She held a tray of pie and milk.
    Though she wore a tight-lipped smile, her eyes, dark and troubled, darted between the two boys. “Kyle, can I talk to you a minute?” Kyle’s stomach clenched. He shot Jason a nervous glance, handing him the tray, then he fol owed his mom into the hal .
    “Honey,” she said in a strained tone, “could you please leave the door open?”
    “Huh?” Kyle tried to sound innocent, though he knew his face was betraying him. “Um, sure.”
    “Good.” She gave his arm a firm pat. “Enjoy the pie.”
    “Thanks,” he replied. Did she real y expect him to eat after that?
    “What did she say?” Jason asked in a hushed voice.
    Kyle handed him a plate of pie, trying to appear calm. “She wants us to keep the door open.”
    “Crap!” Jason punched himself on the leg. “You think she knew what we were doing?”
    “Al we were doing was kissing.” Kyle grabbed a plate and tried to eat, but his throat felt too dry to swal ow.
    Jason started pacing. “I can’t believe this. You think she told your dad? How am I going to walk past them now?”
    “Wel , as far as my dad is concerned, you can do no wrong. I think he likes you better than he likes me.” Jason gave him a sarcastic smirk. “I better go. We shouldn’t have done anything with your parents around.” Kyle didn’t want Jason to go, but he knew he couldn’t stop him. He fol owed Jason downstairs, wishing his mom hadn’t come up and scared him away. Why had she made such a big deal of the closed door? Didn’t she trust them?
    She and his dad sat in the living room reading—his dad in the recliner, his mom in the wingchair. “Leaving so soon?” she asked Jason.

    “Yes, ma’am,” he replied, keeping his gaze lowered. “Thanks for dinner. Good night, Mr. Meeks.”
    “See you at the next game,” Kyle’s dad said, and gave Kyle a reproachful glance.
    Kyle handed Jason his jacket. “Are you coming to the GSA at lunch tomorrow? It’s Ms. MacTraugh’s birthday.”
    “Okay,” Jason said, pushing