Date: Fri, 20 May 2022 10:16:00 +0100 From: Andrew Passey Subject: Coming Out Part Eleven (Young Friends) "So we're on for this Saturday if you're still up for it!" Jamie said coming over to me in the lunch queue on Monday. "Oh great! I need to check with Mum but it shouldn't be a problem," I replied with a smile. "I've got to go and find Danny but no rush on letting me know, I'll keep my diary free!" Jamie walked off and Jorge, who was in the queue with me, looked at me suspiciously. "What was that all about?" "Um, I am going over to Jamie's to watch Marvel films and have a sleepover this weekend." "A sleepover!? You barely know him, what's he up to!?" Jorge seemed annoyed and I wasn't sure why. "What do you mean what's he up to? I've had sleepovers at your house and at other friends for years!" "Yes but I'm your best mate, you two are barely friends!" "That's not true! We've got to be good mates recently. Anyway I thought you liked him?" "I do but I'm just...worried about you. What if he's expecting something in return?" "What do you mean? It's just a sleepover, what sort of thing could he possibly expect?" I asked as we took our lunch trays and sat at a deserted table in the corner of the canteen. What if he expects you to..."Jorge looked around to see if anyone was watching,"...do this to him!" He then did the wanking sign. I blushed bright red and assumed he was joking but he still looked concerned. "Why the fuck would he expect that!?" "Well...you know...he knows you're gay." "So do you, so does Olly, so does everyone! Next time I sleepover at yours are you expecting me to do that to you?! "No of course not!" I sighed, I knew why Jorge was acting as he was but it was frustrating. I thought I better lay down some truths, " "Look I know you're looking out for me and that's really nice of you. But honestly we're friends, he's a really nice guy and nothing untoward will happen. I can't not live my life because people know I'm gay can I?" "No but...just.....be careful that's all." "I will be! Now, let's talk about something else. How's things going with the guitar lessons?" This diverted Jorge from me and Jamie and I smiled as he talked enthusiastically about the guitar. I was glad we weren't talking about his concerns anymore. I guess if you're best mate can't look out for you who can but at the same time he wasn't my Mum, he wasn't in charge of me. And talking of my Mum..... "Saturday? We have no plans but that doesn't mean it's a yes to the sleepover," She said as I helped her serve dinner. "Why not then? We're good friends!" I was confused as to why she would have a problem. I know she had only met Jamie at my party but she seemed to like him. She'd never expressed doubts about sleepovers before. "I don't know Sam... he's older than you." "Only by a year!" I interjected. "Even so, it's...what if he tries to take advantage of you?" "What do you mean?" I asked, my heart sinking as I felt deja vu from my conversation with Jorge earlier. "Do you need me to spell it out. He knows you are gay, maybe he wants to...." "Oh god Mum no!" I interrupted her before she could say anything more. "He's just a friend, he's got a girlfriend and even if he didn't we're just friends. I had friends before I was out, I've got friends now people know. Seriously Mum, am I supposed to lock myself away forever just because I'm gay!" "Sorry sweetheart. I know I might seem overprotective but it's my job to protect you." Tom then came in and I told him what Mum had just said, "Mum it's fine, Jamie is a lovely boy. I know we both want to protect Sam but he's got to live his life still. Let him go, Jamie will look after him, you have my word." Tom to the rescue! Mum acquiesced after this although I knew she wasn't totally happy. It was all such rubbish anyway, Jamie was straight, I might have lied that he still had a girlfriend but the whole thing was crazy. If I wasn't going to be able to go around to boy's houses now people knew I was gay then my life was going to be very restricted. And what about agency for me? This idea that I would just allow myself to be "taken advantage" by any boy who wanted to was crazy. Admittedly I'd love something to happen between me and Jamie but that wasn't on the cards. So despite Mum's reticence the sleepover was on. I headed over to Jamie's on Saturday afternoon with my overnight bag feeling pretty excited. His younger brother Jacob excitedly welcomed me when I knocked on the door. It seemed he took an instant shine to me which definitely helped my ego before Jamie told me that he was like that with all of his friends. "I think when you're ten years old, any older boy is someone to be impressed by. Not that you aren't impressive obviously! Let's put your bag upstairs and I'll introduce you to Mum and Dad." His parents were painting the spare room so I couldn't shake hands with them but they seemed nice enough. Jacob buzzed around us excitedly asking me lots of questions about myself, "Do you have a dog? Have you got a girlfriend? What about a cat?". His enthusiasm was infectious and I felt really happy to be there. Eventually Jamie shooed him away with a promise we'd play a board game together in a bit. We sat in his bedroom and played on the PS4 while we chatted. "Has the bullying stopped at school?" Jamie asked me while we played FIFA against each other. "Mostly, I suppose there's always going to be a few Neanderthals who will try and make my life hell but in general things are miles better than they were. It's definitely thanks to you and the others that things have gone better." "That's good but you shouldn't have to put up with any bullying. It's not fair for you to take shit because of your sexuality. I wish the boys who insult you would realise that." "Yeah but it's the world isn't it. Gay people, black people, trans people, anyone who is seen as different gets shit. Maybe it's how the people at the top stay in power, always finding a new enemy to blame!" "Get you Sam being political! Mum and Dad would approve, they're heavily involved in the local Labour Party." "Oh cool, do they.....um....do they know I'm gay?" "Yeah, I told them about you after your first meeting of the SPB. They made me promise to look out for you but I would do that anyway. It's nice to have you over Sam. My friends are great but sometimes some of them can be a little bit too alpha male for me! So great that you were allowed to come over. Even if it means we have to watch Marvel films!" "Well Mum almost didn't agree to it, she thought you might try and take advantage of me!" Jamie blushed which surprised me, "Oh god really?!" "Yeah but me and Tom told her not to be so silly. I told her you had a girlfriend. That seemed to help:," I said even though I knew he'd split up. "Not any more Sam! She sort of dumped me but I'll be honest, I was pretty pleased to get out of it. She was a bit too much hard work for me. I like a quiet life." "Me too, although being outed at school doesn't necessarily add up to that!" "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger Sam! Although I often think people who say that haven't really had to face anything too bad. But you grow and learn through bad times as well as good. Fuck, I sound like a talking self help book!" I giggled at that and we finished our game before Jacob came in wanting to play FIFA as well. After a few games we played a board game together before we had dinner with his parents. They were nice, Jane was a teacher, Jon ran his own business that seemed to bring in a fair bit of money. Jane, Jon, Jamie and Jacob. A lot of Js! Jane and Jon were really interested in my experiences at school and looked delighted when I told them how great Jamie had been for me. Whether or not they took a shine to me I had no idea but they were both warm people who clearly loved their sons. After dinner me and Jamie started our Marvel project and so we watched Iron Man 1 which Jamie admitted was "Pretty good!". Then we got ready for bed, Jamie got into his double bed and I slept on a blow up mattress on the floor. We chatted for ages about all kinds of stuff, films, sports, and friends. Not girls though, what would be the point of that as Jamie knew all about me liking boys. "It's been great spending time together Sam, I'm glad you could sleepover," Jamie said as our conversation started to die down. "Thanks! It's great that you invited me, particularly as I'm not in your year. I know most boys in Year 10 wouldn't want to hang out with a year 9." "Well more fool them! As I said before there's not much difference between fourteen and fifteen year olds! Just a bit bigger body wise usually and a bit older, not necessarily any wiser though!" I was glad the light was off so he couldn't see me blush at the mention of "bigger body wise". I'm sure he didn't mean it but I couldn't help but think about how big his dick was. I'd so love to see him naked but then again just imagining it was super exciting! "I guess but thanks anyway, making friends with you has really helped me get over all the bullying. I couldn't have done it without you," I said softly. "No one should have gone through what you had to, I'm always here to look out for you Sam. You're such a special boy, never forget that." "Special needs maybe," I said with a slight giggle, uncomfortable at such a nice comment. Maybe I didn't think of myself as I should have done. Praise made me feel awkward, like I didn't deserve it. "Don't say that!" Jamie replied slightly sharply. "You ARE special. You're kind, sensitive to others, thoughtful, there's a reason everyone on the football team thinks you're great. It's because you ARE great, never forget that! If you don't think you're great then no one else will!" My ego swelled at this so I just simply said, "Thanks, but you're also great!" "I know, I'm absolutely fucking amazing! Never forget that either!" Jamie's comment had us both giggling and that was pretty much the last thing that was said before we both dropped off to sleep. The sleepover had been loads of fun and I was hoping for many more over the coming weeks and months!