Mark's POV

It's midnight, and I'm unable to sleep. I've been staring at my ceiling for 3 hours. I've been doing this every night ever since Tony kissed me. Here, in my room.

It feels kinda weird, for me to be a guy and have another guy kiss me, but at the same time... I kinda liked it. His lips were sweet and warm. The way he wrapped his arms around my waist was so comforting. I'm not supposed to like it, but I did, which was why I'm confused. Which was why I try my best to say away from him until I could understand these feelings.

I don't know what to do, I don't know who I should talk to about this. Everyone I know is homophobic, and talking to Tony about this would probably not make things better. The only other person I know who isn't homophobic is Megan, Tony's mom. But would talking to her about this be worth it? And how could I approach her without Tony around?

Ohh I get it, if Megan is off and Tony goes to the beach, I could talk to her then. I smile and nod to myself, I'm so clever. I sit up on my bed, staring out the window. The night was so calm, why aren't I? I look at the moon and stars. I never really took time to look at them. They're so pretty and relaxing, almost makes me want to go back to sleep, until I saw something move. It looks like a person, walking. The person stops, looks in my direction, and comes closer.

I back up, and attempt to close my window, until I saw who it was. Nick.

"'Sup dude." He greeted as he came to my window.

"Hey, whatcha doing up and walking around?" I asked.

"I was just walking to calm myself down."

"Ohh ok." I saw something on his leg. "What's that on your leg?"

"Oh, just a bag of frozen peas. I tripped and fell over some trash cans, then...... found this frozen bag of peas and used it on my leg."

"Oh really?" I was not buying this. "You found the peas, completely frozen, in the middle of the ground, at night?"

"Yeah dude..." We were quiet for a while. I still wasn't buying it. There's no way there would be a bag of peas on the ground. And if there were, they would've be as frozen. He broke the silence, knowing that I could tell he was lying.

"Ok, ok, promise you won't tell anyone?"

I nod. He sighs. "Ok, I was walking to calm myself down, then I tripped over some trash cans, in front of the fag's house. Then HE gave me this bag of peas for my leg."

I slowly nod. "He helped you out, huh?"

"Yeah. He's not a bad kid. He let me in so I could rest a while, then we talked personal stuff. He actually pretty cool, we need to hang with him more often, who cares that he's gay?"

"Yeah, exactly." I said without realizing that I said it. My eyes widen after I said it.

He chuckled. "Don't worry, he told me that you guys are best friends. And I have nothing against that. You're pretty lucky for that. You don't have to act like a bully to him anymore, well not in front of me."

"Well, we got into an argument after he kissed me, and I'm not sure whether to avoid him or not."

"You shouldn't have to. How was it like? To kiss another guy?"

I thought about it for a while, then said, "It was weird, but it also felt nice, I guess? To be honest, I kinda want to do it again, just to be sure."

"Ohh ok then." He chuckled a little.

"What about you and Lily? How are y'all?"

He sighed. "Still haven't asked her out yet. Should I ask her before or after the tournament? Which would be better?"

"Umm... maybe before. Ya know, so she could be cheering her new boyfriend on." I smiled, nudging his arm with my elbow.

"Yeah true, that would be nice. Well I'm gonna go, good luck with life."

I laugh a little. "You too." I waved goodbye as Nick walked off. I closed my window and thought about what Nick told me. Even though he's cool with Tony, do I have to be? We still have kids like Kyle, Lily, Lola and a lot more who still can't stand him. I lay awake for a few minutes before dozing off.

*****

The next 3 days were just surfing, surfing, and more surfing. Eat, sleep, surf, repeat, that kind of thing. Now today is the day for the tournament, I couldn't be more excited and anxious. Even though I haven't seen Tony in a while, he still came to the tournament. Maybe he practiced surfing somewhere else, who knows?

Just yesterday, they told us that the tournament this year is gonna be singles, which meant that we have to surf and gain points on our own, rather than with a partner or group. I'm kinda thankful for that, because I don't want anyone getting in my way, not trying to be mean.

The tournament starts at noon so that gives us all morning to warm up, clean up our boards, and stuff like that before the big tournament. I get up and at 'em at around 8. I ran a mile, did push ups, and swam for a good 15 minutes to warm myself up. After I was done, I see Tony doing the same thing I was doing, the running, push ups and swimming, but he was doing it a little less than I did. Like he'd do it, gets tired and rest, then gets up again, while I did it nonstop.

I come to him after he got done swimming. "Nice job!" I said and patted him on the back. He spits up a little bit of water before nodding his head in response. We both stood there kinda awkwardly and quiet.

"Well, good luck in the tournament." He said, giving me a small smile.

"Thanks, you too."

He turned to walk away. I stopped him by grabbing his shoulder. "Wait." He turned his head. I take a deep breath and began. "I'm sorry about everything that happened this week."

He turned around. "Why are you apologizing? I'm the one who made this mess. I should be apologizing to you. Sorry by the way."

"I'm just apologizing so you don't think I'd hate you. After giving this some thought, I've decided to forgive you."

He smiled, then gave me a hug. After the hug, I came closer to him, and pressed his lips to mine, not realizing what I was doing. He seems to be a bit surprised too, because out if the corner of my eye, I could see his eyes widen, then slowly close as he wraps his arms around me. I wrap my arms around him, closed my eyes and deepened the kiss. I hear him moan a little bit, and that made me feel good.

We pull away from each other, both of our cheeks flush in a reddish pink color.

He smiles really hard, and so did I. "How does that kiss make you feel?" He asked, holding my hands.

I sighed in relief. "I feel great."

He blushed. "Me too. So, you're my boyfriend now?" He put his head on my shoulder.

I had to think about that. It kinda sounds a little weird, I was used to having a girlfriend, but never had a boyfriend. I blush a little at the thought. "Yeah, I'm your boyfriend now."

He squealed a little and I laughed. Then he looks at me in the eyes and frowned. "I just realized something. Your parents. Aren't they homophobic?"

I was quiet for a while, thinking about that, then I shook my head at the thought. "We'll be fine, as long as they don't know."

"But what if they do know?"

"Depends on them, if they change their mind and end up being ok with it, that's great, but if they kick me out, I could probably stay at your place."

"Aww." He hugged me again, and we never let go... for a long time. "I hope you win the tournament... babe."

I chuckled. "Same to you too... baby." I pecked his lips, then we walked around the beach, holding hands and talking about life for an hour or so. Then here comes trouble.

I see Kyle's car pull up a distance from here, and he, his girlfriend, Lily, and Nick got out. Well, Lola pulled Kyle back to the car so they could make out. Nick and Lily got out, holding hands, then they saw us and came closer. Tony tried to let go of my hand, I could tell that he was scared so I never let go of his hand, wanting him to be brave.

Nick looked at our hands, and smiled. I looked at his and Lily's hands and smiled. "Congrats man." I said to him.

"You too." He said back.

"That is so fucking disgusting." Lily shrieked, sticking her tongue out.

"Don't say it to them like that--" Nick started.

"No no, it's fine." Tony interrupted. "Her opinion is her opinion."

"Thanks, fag." Lily mocked. I wanted to fucking punch her in her god damn nose.

"Ok then, have your opinion, but at least be respectful towards them." Nick told Lily.

She rolled her eyes and tapped her foot. "Fine. Come on babe, let's go this way." Then she yanked him in the other direction. What does Nick see in her? Tony cringed at them too.

I laugh a little at Tony's cringed face, and pecked his lip. We smiled and stare into each other's eyes, then walked to his house until tournament time.

We chilled at his house for a while. Megan caught us holding hands and kissing, then she squealed and took pics. She also fed us some burgers that she made.

After we ate, Tony pulled me into his room and we both laid down in bed to let the food digest some. He holds my hand, pulled me closer to him, and pressed his lips against mine. I wrap my arms around him and kissed him back. We stayed like this for a while, then at 11, we had to get ready.

Tony gets his board polish from his closet. "You need some?" He offered.

I shrugged. "Yeah, a little bit won't hurt." So we went out on the porch and polished our boards a tiny bit so it won't be too slippery, then went out to the beach and prepared for the tournament.

*****

"Welcome to the annual Surfing Tournament folks! We have a lot of amazingly talented surfers out there and we wish them the best of luck!" The announcer announces on the intercom.

It was extremely loud, but that ain't gonna stop me. He started announcing the names off the surfers. There was a lot of applause when my name was called. I have to do my best to make it to the Top 3, and if I don't, at least I've done my best. For my fans.

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