Seth grew up in a small town in the middle of nowhere. It didn’t help that he found other guys attractive. Seth is a 5’4” tall, 112 lbs. adolescent guy and the leader of the football team. But none of that mattered to him if he couldn’t be true to himself. He hated to hide that he found guys attractive, but he knew what would happen. A kid in the freshmen class the year before came out and that kid was harassed to no end. It got to the point where the boy was singled out in everything he did. At the home coming dance the entire school voted him homecoming queen and laughed at him.
But the fact of the matter is, Seth found his best friend, Will very attractive. He thought about coming out to his best friend on a daily basis but he and his best friend were the main people to harass the other boy that came out and he was afraid of that wrath turned on him. Even his family would disown him or send him to a residential treatment center if he ever told them his little secret. But what is he to do? Deny himself happiness, pretend to be straight and date girls for the happiness of others. That would never fill the void in his soul that told him he was gay.
Seth went about his day in a daze as he was thinking about his predicament. Just as he left his last class of the day, he was startled by Will.
“Seth what’s on your mind?” Will asked.
“What do you mean?” Seth asked Will.
“I mean, you have been abnormally quiet today what’s going on?” said Will as they walked out towards the bus back to Seth’s house.
Seth pondered for a little while, wondering if this was the opening he had been waiting for. The silence dragged on for many minutes, which was long enough for Will to know that something was bothering Seth.
“Look Seth you know you can talk to me about anything? It doesn’t matter what it is, I am here for you.”
“I don’t think you could understand this one Bro. I don’t think anyone would.”
They both walked in silence for a while. When they got on the bus they sat in their normal seat. They didn’t speak of the subject until they got off the bus at his house. When they got off the bus Seth saw that his parents were gone. He headed upstairs to his room as Will followed him.
When they were sitting in Seth’s room, Will decided to approach the subject again. Will didn’t know what was bothering him, but he was damn sure he was going to find out.
“Look Seth, I don’t know what you meant when you said I wouldn’t understand. But I want you to try me. I won’t judge you if that’s what your worried about.” Will stated.
“Will do you remember that boy last year that told everyone that he’s gay?” Seth questioned Will.
Will squirmed uneasily in his chair. “Well, yeah why do you ask?” Will said.
Realizing that this was the moment that he had to tell his best friend he was starting to get nervous. “Well, what would you do if you had a friend come out to you that they were gay?” Seth asked uneasily.
“Well, I might feel uneasy about it, but in the end I would like to think that I was accepting of it, why???” Will sat patiently.
“Would you hate the person to the point you would make his life a living hell?”
“I believe I already answered that Seth. What is this all about anyways?” Will Demanded.
“Well……. I have wanted to tell you this for a while now but I wasn’t sure what you would do……” Seth started.
“Get to the point; trust me I won’t get upset. I am your friend and always will be.”
“Ok, but remember your promise when I am done with this. Will I like guys, I have for a while now and I feel empty because I had to hide it.”
Will sat there uneasily, not knowing how to react to this statement. He did promise not to be upset, but that didn’t mean he knew how to take his best friend telling him that he’s gay. What would he do, this is his best friend of sixteen years. They had been friends since they were born pretty much and Will never expected to have this conversation with him.
“You hate me now, don’t you Will?” Seth asked the question that was hanging in the air.
“No I just never thought I would be having this conversation with you bro.”
After the day when Seth shared the true him with will they didn't have time to talk much about what was shared. With exams on the way and state finals close at hand their time was spent apart. They would see each other passing in the hallway but their mind was always somewhere else.
When exams and state finals were over with though, things went on as if nothing happened. One day Will decided to bring the shocking statement back up to Seth.
“Seth, when did you know that you like guys?” Will asked sincerely.
“I guess I have always known……” Seth trailed off absently.
“No I mean actually knew. As in you had no doubt in your mind and nothing could change it.” Will pressed on.
“well….. It was a couple of years ago. I don’t know why I all of a sudden started to notice guys and their bodies. That’s why I stopped taking showers after gym class. I didn't want to be like that boy last year.” Seth explained.
“I guess my next question would be have you ever had a crush on a guy in school?” said Will.
Seth sat quietly for a while. He sat there contemplated whether to tell Will that he really liked him or not. After a long pause Seth decides that he’s been honest so far with Will and he didn't get mad.
“Will this might creep you out a little but I have to get this off of my chest. I have really liked you for quite some time now will and I know that nothing would ever happen….. But I need to be honest with you.” Seth proclaimed.
Will sat next to Seth, uneasy with the turn of events. Seth picked up on the uneasiness in the air and decided to try and change the subject to no avail.
“You caught me by surprise there by telling me that but it’s not unexpected I must say. I have caught you looking before but out of respect I didn't say anything.” Will said.
“What do you mean Will?” Seth exclaimed.
“well…… I am bisexual and I have caught you looking at me for some time and I just ignored it. I didn't care but you should me more discreet about it. Everyone on the football team has noticed once or twice how you lok at me.” Will said.
Caught by surprise not only by the fact that his best friend knew he was checking him out but also by the fact that he was telling him that he was bi and didn't mind.
“Seth the reason I am telling you this is because you were nice enough to tell me that you were. I like you as a friend and find you attractive but I don’t like you as a boyfriend.” Will told him.
Sitting in the same room as the first talk they sat there till Seth’s parents got home. Then they helped with dinner and after dinner, Will decided it was time for him to head home. They didn't see much of each other that summer because they’re families went out of town for a family vacation.