Creative writing was a great way to let the kids express themselves while at the same time, learning valuable critical thinking and problem solving skills. It also helped build their vocabulary, taught them how to outline a story, and introduced them to the world of criticism. All while being able to write about their emotions or whatever they wanted.
My man was kind of brilliant.
As Hunter explained the assignment to the class, I took out my phone and scrolled through my messages. Austin sent me a picture of him and Beth wearinglove is loverainbow bracelets. I texted back that they were nerds, but amazing friends and I loved them.
Jennifer emailed me about going on some late-night talk show to talk about my coming out experience and how I’ve been since then, which I replied to and said ‘no thanks.’ I didn’t want to make it any more of a spectacle than it already was; I only wanted to focus on my last year with the Raptors and enjoy it.
Then, I saw the text from William.
William:You’re welcome, BTW. You’re still all over the news.
Me:U really expect a ‘thank u’for what u did?
William:I did you a favor. One we both benefited from. You’re now the hottest out and proud athlete, and I got a promotion. Plus a book deal.
Me:If ur book deal has me as the subject, you’ll need to rethink that. I didn’t press charges against u for outing me to god and everybody, but if u continue prying into my life, I will make sure u never work at another magazine—or anywhere in publishing—again. Got it?
William didn’t message me back. He was probably hiding with his tail between his legs like the coward he was.
My threat was based in fact, and he knew it. I knew a lot of people in the industry, and hereallydidn’t want to fuck with me. There were loopholes he could jump through to still write his book—one that more than likely mirrored his article about being with me, but probably involved more explicit detail—and I wouldn’t be able to legally do much on that front.
But as for his reputation? I could ruin that with just a few phone calls.
Not that I’d ever admit it to him, but I actually was thankful for what he did. When it happened, all I’d wanted to do was kick his ass. But now that I’d had a chance to calm down and the media had stopped freaking out over it so much, I was able to appreciate the freedom it had given me.
I no longer worried about people finding out I was with Hunter and the uproar it’d cause. I could just beme—completely and freely.
“Mr. Walsh, Corbin is on his phone,” one of the students said, causing me to almost drop said phone.
The whole class turned around and looked at me, most of them with impish grins on their faces. The little jerks.
“Mr. Taylor?” Hunter said, uncrossing his arms and walking toward me down the aisle of desks. He held out his hand. “Hand it over. I’ll return it at the end of class.”
“You can’t be serious,” I said, gaping at him. When he wiggled his fingers, I sighed and placed the phone in his outstretched hand.
Some of the students snickered, and I stuck out my tongue at them. I mean, if I was being treated like a child I might as well play the part.
Once Hunter was back at the front of the room, he continued where he’d left off in his lecture, but he met my gaze over the heads of students, and the side smile was impossible to miss. He was enjoying this a little too much.
That’s fine. I’ll just show him who the real teacher is later.
And with that thought—of me bending him over his desk and fucking him senseless—I had to shift in my seat and look away. It was two o’clock, so there was only a little over an hour left of school.
Phoneless and bored, I nudged Joel’s back, who was sitting in the desk in front of me.
He flipped around with a droll look.
“Can I have a piece of paper and a pen?” I asked, feelingwaytoo much like I was back in high school. I’d always been the kid who forgot his shit and had to borrow it from others. Well, more like pester the hell out of Hunter until he gave me one of his.
Joel tore a sheet from his notebook and retrieved an extra pen from his backpack before handing them to me.
Daniel hadn’t been the only one to treat me different since the coming out incident; Joel had too. He wasn’t as angry as Daniel, but he certainly wasn’t as easy-going as usual. It made sense, though, seeing as to how they were best friends.
“Thanks, man,” I said.
He nodded before facing ahead.
Focusing on the sheet of paper, I wrote at the top:
