Read Rainbow Boys for Free Online Page B

fter they finished the application, Kyle walked over to the mirror and stared at his teeth. “What do you think he’ll say when he sees me without braces?”
    Nelson peered into Kyle’s aquarium. “Who?”
    “Jason, who do you think?”
    Nelson sprinkled some fish food. “Oh. Him.”
    “You think he’ll notice?” Kyle asked.
    Nelson shrugged. “He’ll probably just grunt—that’s how jocks communicate. One grunt, he likes it. Two grunts—”
    “Shut up.” Kyle noticed a zit on the left side of his chin. He squeezed some acne cream onto his finger and rubbed it into his face. “He says hi every time he sees me now. He didn’t before.”
    “He probably has memory lapses. Sports injuries. Brain damage.”
    Kyle threw the tube of cream at him. “Shut up, I told you.” He ducked as Nelson threw the cream back at him. “I wish I could talk to him more, but he’s always with someone.”
    Nelson nodded. “Herd mentality.”
    “If you don’t shut up,” Kyle said, “I’m not telling you any more about him.” Nelson ran to him and knelt down. “Oh, no, not that!” He clasped his hands together in supplication. “Hit me, beat me, call me a queen,” he screamed. “But don’t stop telling me about Jason!” In a dramatic gesture he pressed the back of his hand to his forehead. “I’d just die.” He spread his arms out as though crucified and then flung forward, wrapping himself around Kyle’s legs.
    Kyle bent over to push him off. “You’re really a dick, you know that?”
    Nelson clung tightly around Kyle’s ankles, tackling him onto the carpet, and they rolled around, each trying to pin the other, until Kyle climbed on top of Nelson and held down his wrists.
    Nelson smiled. “See? You could beat up Jack Ransom.”
    Kyle rolled off of him and retrieved his cap. He didn’t want to think about Jack Ransom. He lay back on the carpet, catching his breath and staring at his model of the starship Enterprise hanging from the ceiling. “Do you think he’ll ever come back to a meeting?”
    “Huh?” Nelson rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow. “Oh … we’re back to him.” He shrugged. “Who cares? Invite him. See what happens.”
    Kyle turned to him as Nelson sat up.
    “Don’t look at me that way. I’ll behave if he comes back.”
    Kyle returned his gaze to the ceiling. “So, do you think he’d come if I asked him?” He folded his arms behind his head, and his T-shirt rose up across his midriff. He noticed Nelson staring at him. “What are you looking at?” He pulled his shirt down.
    Nelson’s eyes darted away. “Nothing.” He got up and walked over to the mirror. “I’m thinking of getting an eyebrow ring. Only I can’t decide which side to get it on.” He already had three rings in his right ear and four in his left. A s he stared in the mirror he suddenly screeched.
    Kyle sat up. “What’s wrong?”
    Nelson frowned. “My roots are starting to show. Blond and green. Makes my hair look like layered Jell-O.” They studied for a while, until there was a tap on the door. Kyle’s mom, who had come home earlier, leaned in the doorway. “Supper’s nearly ready. Nelson, you want to join us?”
    Nelson shook his head. “Thanks, but I better get home. It’s my turn to cook tonight.” A t dinner Kyle’s dad remarked, “His hair is green.”
    “So?” Kyle crossed his arms. “Maybe I’ll dye my hair blue!”
    His mom tugged her ear. “Honey”—she passed the potatoes to his dad—“Nelson’s a creative boy.” His dad held his hands up in defense. “It was only an observation. Forget I said anything. How was school today?”

    “Fine.” Kyle thought about the GSA and what MacTraugh had said about telling his parents. But how could he come out to them?
    Maybe after dessert. No, better after his calculus homework. Together he and his dad usually breezed through problems, but tonight neither of them could get the answer for one particular problem to