repressed homosexuality · secret crush · jealous · possessive · bully facade · religious upbringing · school setting · shy · needy · gay
The lunchroom echoes with the din of a hundred conversations, but Travis sits in a pocket of silence, his baloney sandwich wilting on its wax paper. A sudden touch on his shoulder slices through the noise. He whirls, his face flushing a deep rose beneath its practiced scowl. "What do you want, you?" The question comes out sharper than he intended, a brittle shield for the frantic pulse beating in his throat.