Chapter 77

“Hey.”

Jacky jumped, then smiled at Ryan, who had appeared at his locker. “Hi.”

“How was your weekend?” Ryan asked.

“It was okay.” Jacky made a face. “Cody made me go out with him and Nina and Haylee, only it was like a double date.”

Ryan raised his eyebrows. “Should I be jealous?”

“Nah. I managed to escape without her kissing me.” Jacky wondered if he should tell Ryan how Haylee had texted him Sunday morning to say I had a really good time last night.

He had responded with I had a good time too, but you know I’m gay, right?

Of course, duh!

But then she hadn’t texted anything after that. He felt like he had somehow hurt her feelings. Moreover, he was annoyed that Cody would pawn Haylee off on him, to keep her interested if things didn’t work out with Nina.

“How was staying at Lance’s?” he asked.

“Ugh,” said Ryan with a grimace of his own.

“Really? That bad?” Jacky hoped Ryan couldn’t tell how happy he was to hear it. Maybe in the future Ryan would turn down weekends at Lance’s house. “What happened?”

“Well, I—” Ryan glanced around then dropped his voice. “I, you know, told him about us.”

That got his attention. He blushed. “You did?”

That was all Jacky thought about for the rest of the day. Lance knew. Would he tell the other jocks? Were they going to pick on Ryan? Jacky watched Ryan at his lunch table even more closely than usual. Lance was definitely looking at him. Sizing him up. Jacky ducked his head whenever he caught Lance’s eye.

“Dude, where’s Nina?” Cody asked, collapsing into the chair beside Jacky.

Jacky shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“And where’s Haylee?”

“Really?”

Now it was Cody’s turn to shrug. “I don’t know, I felt bad after you yelled at me—”

“I didn’t yell.”

“—but I haven’t see her all day, and you know she’s usually all over me.”

“Maybe she took the hint. Figured out you were more interested in Nina.”

Cody sighed. “She didn’t even come to Subway yesterday.”

“Who, Haylee or Nina?”

“Haylee. She always comes to Subway when I’m working. I didn’t have anyone to talk to.”

“I don’t know what to tell you. Probably should have been honest with her.”

“Yeah.” Cody hadn’t even started unpacking his big paper lunch bag. Cody with no appetite? This was serious.

“Just a reminder, everyone!” Peyton announced at lunch. “Tickets for the winter formal go on sale Wednesday!”

The girls all looked excited, while the boys looked less enthused. Normally Ryan didn’t care one way or the other: he had always gone to the dance with Monica. This year was different. “It’s not even Christmas yet,” he complained. “The formal isn’t until January.”

“You going with Monica?” Matt asked.

“I don’t know,” said Ryan. “I don’t know if I can even go.”

“You can stay at my house if you need to,” Lance offered.

Ryan thanked him, even as he side-eyed his best friend. “Are you taking Stef?”

Lance shrugged.

“Looks like none of us have dates this year,” said Matt with a sigh. He shoved his sandwich in his mouth and took an enormous bite. “Maybe weshuh jusshaffa parrinstea.”

“What?” Ryan asked.

Matt swallowed, a process that took a few moments. “Maybe we should have a party instead.”

All eyes turned to Alex. “No can do, folks. Peyton’s heading the dance committee, which means I have to go, and all of you have to go, too.”

Ryan didn’t say anything. Not only did he not have a date, but he didn’t know if he’d have enough money for tickets even if he could work up the courage to ask Jacky to go to the dance with him.

The money thing was beginning to bother him. He had a saving account, but he didn’t want to start raiding it for spending money. He needed to find a job. A lot of the other boys at the home had jobs. If Ricky could somehow get a job, Ryan should be able to find something.

Once he had money, then he would ask Jacky to the dance. He would have plenty of time between now and then to come out to the rest of his friends, right?