Trick or Treat Chapter 7 (Patreon)

All characters engaged in sexual activity are 18 or older.

Asher

I used to like coming to church on Sundays. There was just something so peaceful about sitting in the pews with Mom and Matthew while listening to my dad give a passionate sermon. But that was before Dad kicked Matthew out of the house for not living up to his expectations and his ‘Christian’ way of life. To be honest, even though it’s been four years since that happened, the peace never came back. Now, I just want to hide in a corner and hope that no one tries to talk to me because that’s the last thing I need after everything that’s happened over the past couple of days. 

Percy texted me after I kissed him to ask if we can talk, and like the coward I am, I’ve been ignoring him. It’s not that I don’t want to talk to him; I do. But I still don’t know what this all means. And it doesn’t help that I can’t stop thinking about it either, like the way his lips felt or the way he tasted when his tongue danced with mine. Something so wrong shouldn’t feel so right. Right? 

Unfortunately, my attempts to be left alone fall apart when Matt decides to sit all the way in the back, right next to me. He nudges me with his elbow and whispers, “Hey, I’m glad you’re not locked up in your house.” 

I grunt before glancing around to see if anyone is eavesdropping. Thankfully, all the old ladies most likely to be nosy are sitting towards the front today, and the chatter from everyone else while they wait for my father drowns us out. “Surprisingly, I didn’t even get grounded.” 

Matt blinks at me. “Really? I would have thought that your dad would be freaking out about you fighting.” 

“Me too. But apparently all he cares about is stopping me from being friends with Percy.” 

Matt’s jaw drops open. “You’re kidding! He’s your best friend! You can’t do that!” 

I fidget with the cross around my neck, feeling the smooth metal on my skin. “I would have thought you would tell me to do the same thing.”

Matt scoffs and shakes his head. He’s looking at me like I’m an idiot who just asked if the sky is blue. “Dude, I know I like to play it up with your dad and shit, but you know I don’t care about that crap, right? To be honest, what Luke did was really fucked up.” 

Thanks to Matt cursing like a sailor, people are looking at us now, so I drag him by the arm, and we slip outside and don’t stop until we’re alone in the parking lot, away from anyone who can snitch on us. My heart is pounding, and it’s not from ditching church and possibly getting into more trouble. “What do you mean you don’t care?”

Matt crosses his arms against his chest, but something in his expression softens. “Ash, I’m talking about all this.” He gestures to the church behind us. “I don’t care if Percy’s gay. Hell, I don’t care that you’re gay either!” 

I feel like I’m about to throw up. “That’s not—I’m not—fucking hell,” I mutter, glaring at him. “I’m not gay, Matt.” 

He arches an eyebrow. “You don’t have to lie to me, Asher. I’m not a homophobe, and I won’t tell anyone either.” 

“Why would you think I’m gay?” I ask weakly, feeling like my legs are about to give out under me. 

He hesitates like he’s thinking about how much he should say. “Well, I didn’t at first. But then I got to know you and Percy, and seeing you two together over the years made me wonder if there’s something more between the two of you, and I was right.” 

“He’s my best friend. That doesn’t mean that I’m gay,” I say.  

“No, you’re right about that. Being his friend doesn’t make you gay.” I nod, and I’m about to try to move the conversation to a much safer topic, but then he says something that has me leaning against a car for support. “But I’ve seen the way you two look at each other, and after Percy got outed, it all finally made sense. You two love each other.”

I swear the sky starts to spin—the clouds whirling around me as if I’m watching a time-lapse instead of standing in a parking lot on a clear October day. I slide down against the car until my butt hits the asphalt, trying to steady my breathing. 

Matt crouches next to me, concern etched into his face. He pats my shoulder gingerly like I’m made of glass. “It’s okay if you’re gay, Ash. I don’t care, and frankly, no one should either.” I look at him, trying to suss out if he’s being genuine or if this is all just some cruel way to get me to say something that will blow up my life. But when I don’t give him anything either way, he takes a deep breath and keeps going. “Look, I should have said something on Friday when Luke outed Percy like that. It was wrong, and I’m sorry I didn’t have your back or Percy’s.” 

Something inside me breaks, tears falling onto my chinos, darkening the light beige material. My voice is hoarse when I finally whisper, “Thank you, Matt, but you’re not the one I have to live with.” 

His face darkens as he glances back at the church. “So fuck them, dude. If they can’t accept you for who you are, then they don’t deserve to be in your life. And if you’re worried about the Big Guy, I’m pretty sure He doesn’t care who you’re fucking.” 

I shake my head before letting it slump back against the Toyota I’m leaning on. “It’s not that simple, and you know it. I can’t just come out to them, they would never be okay with it.” 

Matt gives me a sad smile. “Maybe. But you also have a bright future ahead of you. You’re going to play football in college. Hell, you’ll probably make it all the way to the NFL, you son of a bitch. And once you’re out of this shitty little town, you can do anything and be anyone you want to be.”

“So only ten more months of this torture.” 

Matt chuckles. “Yeah, ten more months of this shit. But, Asher, you can’t abandon Percy. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you do.” 

I nod. “I know I can’t. I won’t. But I really fucked up, Matt. I kissed him and then left him all alone, and now I don’t know what to do.” Matt stands and extends his hand to haul me up to my feet. “I can’t go back in there,” I say, looking at the church looming over us. 

Matt scoffs. “As if I’d take you back there, bro. No, you’re coming with me.” He doesn’t wait for an answer and starts walking to where his car is parked. 

I jog after him to catch up. “Where are we going?”

Matt unlocks the car and grins. “To figure out a plan to get you your man back. And to get some food. I’m fucking hungry.”