Burning love

Chapter 2

Sam's last period class was gym. It was his least favorite, and it would mess up his hair and remainder of his clothes. He sighed and prepared for class, heading into the gym locker room. A few guys that knew him turned around, eyeing his tights. He wondered if they could spot the large bulge. He changed quickly without meeting anyone's eye and went into the gym for the first day of class.
Their coach, Mr. Rodriguez was a large man, tall with a long belly hanging from underneath his short shirt. Sam averted his eyes as he announced they would be playing basketball. He groaned. This was his least favorite sport, and he hated the way everyone would sigh when he was handed the ball or had to make a shot.
Everyone began running laps to prepare, and Sam heaved a large sigh. He was near the very end of the crowd of runners, barely keeping up. He looked up and he was almost last. Surprisingly near the end was Kris. He fought back his shock, and then a surge of joy. He wasn't alone with this horrible class, and maybe something with Kris would grow. He tried not to be too hopeful.
"Hurry up," Kris called back at him, already ahead. Sam smiled and jogged again, already huffing and puffing. The air had been knocked out of his lungs, and as he ran near the end, the rest of the boys were already standing and listening.
"-And make a line, boys." Mr. Rodriguez called and everyone clumped in two different sides. The ones on the left began taking off their shirts, and the ones on the right remained the same. He stared lightly at the shirtless guys just as the teacher gave him a look. He hadn't heard which side was on, so as soon as he saw Kris among the shirtless he pulled his off and walked toward them.
"Other side, so it's even." The teacher yelled. Sam. sighed and walked over to Ryan's side.
"Can you play?" Ryan asked Sam with a serious question in his eyes. Sam shrugged and that told him all he needed to know.
"You probably suck, so just stay out of our way and we're cool." He nodded to his friend and Mr. Rodriguez blew the whistle and they were off.
Kris was nervous because he knew he could be good, if they gave him a chance. But they didn't and now he had to walk slow up and down the court. He saw Sam doing the same and wondered if he was just as annoyed. He watched the game intently and thought every moment of when he could hop in.
"This sucks," Sam said, coming up to Kris.
"I know! I wanted to play."
Sam nodded his head, thinking the exact opposite.
One of the boys, some blonde one with a pimply face threw the ball to Ryan and it slipped right by its fingers. Kris and Sam who were both standing a bit away from the net saw the ball bounce from Ryan's grasp. Kris felt the sudden impulse. He had a chance and went right for it. He dove for the ball and held it anxiously, his team shooting him worried glances. Sam was nearby and even though it didn't necessarily concern him, he grabbed at the ball from Kris. Kris was momentarily distracted by Sam's proximity to him. He pushed up against him and clawed for the ball. Sam took it and dribbled until he headed for the net. Kris swiped at the ball again and his hand accidentally latched somewhere else.
It was just for a second, but he reacted and stepped back, letting Sam attempt to shoot the ball, and it went in.
"Good job," Ryan clapped Sammy on the back. Kris looked down, knowing he wouldn't hear the end of this. He thought back to grabbing Sams...never mind.
Gym passed without incident, and Sam kept thinking of that moment without fail. He changed in the lockers and couldn't help but meet Kris's eye. Something about them both being half naked made him self conscious.
****
The next week passed by quickly for Kris, filled with meetings with Jana and work and trying his best to avoid Sam. He didn't need him clouding up his seemingly ordinary life, and did best not to talk to him. Sam was clearly gay. What message was that sending that he was hanging around him?
He only had to look out for gym, and he was usually easy to get away from since they were always running. Sam was constantly in his head, he didn't need to see him in person too.
Jana was picking him up today, and he was happy he could be distracted by her chatty personality and mostly harmless conversation. He packed up his gym things and hurried to the parking lot, where she sat in her red Jeep. Her parents definitely spoiled her.
He didn't notice Sam barely keeping up behind him. He was calling after him  and Kris tried to ignore him in vain. He'd reached her car and had hopped in, giving her wide eyes.
"Let's go," he said trying to rush them away. He would avoid Sam by any means necessary.
"Not even 'hi'? Not even 'thanks for giving me a ride'?" Jana said, irritated. "I'm not your chauffeur."
Sam had reached the car and offered Jana flashed winning smile. She smiled a bit too seductively at him, maybe trying to make Kris jealous. Little did she know, Sam was more competition for her, not the other way around.
"Hey, Kris can I talk to you?" He said brightly. Why, Kris thought. He hadn't been rude or anything had he? Maybe rushing to the car and ignoring him hadn't been the best plan. Kris nodded and got out of the car. He looked back reluctantly at Jana, who seemed confused.
"What?" Kris said once they were out of earshot.
"Are you ignoring me or something?" Kris couldn't help but think this saddened expression on his face looked sweet and made him feel the least bit guilty.
"No," Kris said. It sounded fake. "I-uh, did you want to be friends or something?"
Sam's felt something in his chest skip a beat. "Sure."
Kris smiled, then remembered Jana siting in the car.
"I don't have...many friends right now, you know?" Sam said lightly. Kris wondered briefly why Sam was telling him this. He felt bad, and maybe that was why he did what he did.
"You want to hangout or something?" Kris asked suddenly. Sam's face lit up. "Not now, I'm with my girlfriend."
Sam nodded. He told cris his number and put it into his phone quickly. He wondered what this looked like to Jana. He smiled one last time at Sam and hurried back to the car.
"What was that?" Jana asked curiously.
"Uh. We have a class together, he was asking me something."
"You got his number?" Jana's brow wiggled. She laughed. "Gay."
Kris laughed half heartedly. "He needs homework answers, so."
She nodded and started the car.