[Twice Featured Noteworthy Novel & Staff Pick on Tapas.io] ✔
[Previously featured on Tapas.io's LGBTQ+ Community collection] ✔
One night. That was all it took for Senn Reyes' life to change drastically--and permanently.
Senn Reyes is a seventeen-y...
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Saturday
It was getting increasingly harder to ignore reality as hours passed after his sexcapade with Julian. Not just because his conscience wouldn't let him have some peace. No, the party had been ended by cops shortly after he had left with Julian, yet Senn hadn't come home hours later. Aunt Tessa and uncle Dean had asked him numerous of times where he had been in those hours, but Senn had shrugged it off and replied; 'with a friend'.
Which wasn't even a lie.
But their questions, or Killian's weird staring weren't even the main reasons he felt like his face was shoved into his own secrets yet again; it was Avan, who had repeatedly sent him texts. Angry ones, for that matter. He was livid over the fact Senn had yet again disappeared from a party without a warning, and he was getting sick and tired of being ditched; this time without a clear explanation.
After all, last year it had been fairly easy to tell half-a-truth and tell his friend he had gone home with Julian because Julian was the only one who lived nearby. That lie, however, wasn't going to cut it; Julian lived too far away for it to work.
Not to mention neither Avan nor Lucas even knew Julian was back in town. And if they knew he was back in town and Senn jumped at the first opportunity to ditch them to leave with Julian, their anger would probably only increase.
Damage control was in order, but Senn knew Avan well enough to know he wouldn't just forgive Senn. He needed a viable explanation for his behavior, and blaming everything on the accident was getting pretty old, even to Senn.
Which was why, around noon, Senn turned to his magic-8-ball once again, and asked for its advise.
"Please, just be clear to me. Should I tell Avan the truth?"
He shook the ball with one hand while focusing on his chat with Avan on the phone.
Avan: It just pisses me off, because we thought you got arrested and Lucas hasn't closed his eyes the entire night because he felt guilty for asking you to come.
Avan: You know how it feels to find out you weren't even there anymore?
Avan: You really suck as a friend, u know?
Senn swallowed, turning back to the magic-8-ball without replying to Avan. He needed the answer first. And some part of him had expected—hoped even—it would yet again be indecisive about him coming out, but for some reason it decided now would be the time to take a decision. It was still vague, but Senn knew he needed to stop coming up with excuses.
Outlook good
Senn rolled his eyes, before he grabbed his phone and started typing a reply.
Senn: I can explain why, for real this time. Meet me at the river in 30?
Avan: this better really be it this time. I'll see you in 30.
