Crisco is for Sissies[M]

[TruthSayer]

"Look," Raa said, "I'm sorry about that, okay? I didn't mean for Taylor to come over here, and what she said was wrong. There's no excuse for it, and the next time I see Marcus, I'll tell him the same thing."

"Shut it, Hakesh," Julian said, then turned to his brother. "And you need to give the guy a break, Derrick. It wasn't his fault, it was Taylor's, and she's been dealt with. But right now, you need to get off your Seniors Suck bandwagon, and tell him about Marcus. I mean, really tell him about Marcus, and I think you know the reason why.

"Now, I'm going back to the courtyard. You two have ten minutes before the bell rings, so I suggest you get talking. Laters."

Raa watched his friend go with a feeling of abandonment, then turned to Derrick, hesitant. "Tell me about what?"

[Tammika]

"What the...?" Derrick flopped down in his chair, knowing it was an ultimatum from his brother. If he didn't explain, he would get it from Julian. He cut his eyes at Raa and sighed, shaking his head. He wasn't sure how much of it he should share, or how Marcus would react knowing the Raa knew everything.

"Okay whatever, Imma give you the short version. You want to know more and you want to remain friends with both me and Marcus you will ask him about the rest." He leaned forward and spoke quieter.

"First the obvious. Marcus is gay. Surprise, surprise. And for the record, I've been his friend since fourth grade, and no, I am not gay. Second, the buzz word that set him off, is the word 'thing'. He can't stand that shit, who the fuck would, especially how he was treated. I'll be honest, I don't understand the gay thing, but I do know this, if the first person that I ever had feelings for suddenly turned around and called me 'that thing' in front of roomful of people, but was still saying 'I love' and trying to get a little something in private, yeah, I'd be a little sensitive to it too." Derrick paused for a second. He wasn't finished but retelling it was already making him mad all over again.

"Marcus came out last year and started dating this guy, Eric Wilson, a punk on the tennis team for West Falls High. At the time he was a senior. The bitch graduated and is in college out of state somewhere. Either way he's not allowed in the same zip code as Marcus if he wants to stay out of jail or avoid getting his ass beat again." A smile accented the word again.

[TruthSayer]

The first emotion that hit Raa was something far deeper than pity. It blossomed within his chest like the pain from a gunshot, running across his shoulders like a shiver to lodge somewhere in his gut, making listening the rest of what Derrick had said after Marcus being called a thing nearly impossible to understand.

Raa had never, to his knowledge, been called a 'thing' in his life, but he was, in all intents and purposes, the adopted son of a gay man and his long-term partner. He understood the looks his uncle received, the stage whispers that followed Aban and Kendall like the plague, preventing them from publicly displaying a relationship that held more substance and strength than many traditional marriages Raa had seen.

"America is better, Raa," Aban-Badi said, "than Lebanon. But ignorance is universal."

"I am not ignorant," Raa said, a whispered benediction for himself alone that held more weight than a promise and just as much conviction as a prayer.

Raa stood up abruptly. "I've got to go. Thanks for telling me!"

"I am not ignorant," Raa said again, words coming out in a huff as he ran, throwing himself through the double doors that led into the main building of the school. He catapulted down the hall, taking a left mid-way toward the room number marked on Marcus' schedule as his next class. He had to grab the bright blue door jam of the classroom to stop himself from running passed it and nearly slammed into the wall.

He paused to catch his breath, chest heaving, and muttered to himself, "I am not ignorant, and I am not Eric Wilson."

He poked his head into the classroom just as the bell rang, eyes locking onto the teacher as he pulled out the same grocery list he had used early that morning on Dr. Jameson. "I have a note from Dr. Jameson that Marcus Davenport is needed in the office."

[Tammika]

The bell had rung and the teacher had yet to call the class to order. One of the newer teachers this year, didn't miss a beat in acknowledging the request from Raa. "Davenport, Daven port.." The attendance list in hand she mumbled as she scanned it, pen in hand, searching for the name.

"I'm right here , Mrs. Shaw." Marcus shoved his hands in his pockets and made his way to the door. Blank eyes raked across Raa only a slight blush giving away his cold front.

"Uum, here, take this handout in case it takes a while. It explains everything we're going to be discussing today." Every class had similar handouts and this one would be added to the pile filling his backpack, once he got it back from Derrick. A barely visible nod was his only response as he closed the door behind him.

An announcement on the bulletin board across the hall became his focus, not able to look Raa in the eye. "Grocery list?" A smile crept up on him. He turned and headed down the hall a ways so as not to make his teacher suspicious should she glance out the door. "Or you didn't want to go potty by yourself?"

[TruthSayer]

Raa suddenly felt his conviction waver, his tongue sticking the roof of his mouth like it had been glued. He didn't know what he expected when he saw Marcus- it certainly wasn't for the junior to run into his arms declaring undying love, but it also wasn't the cold persona Raa instant equated with cold rejection.

Maybe he had been wrong. Maybe his stupidity in approaching Marcus with Taylor close enough to interfere had been the recipe for disaster Raa feared.

America is better, Raa heard again, as clearly as if his uncle were walking beside him, than Lebanon. But ignorance is univerisal.

Raa felt his face go hard, determined, the fluttering in his stomach fading to a distant discomfort of nerves to which he refused to fall prey. He grabbed Marcus' arm and pulled him into the nearest room that wasn't a classroom, and nearly gawked at the irony that it was, in fact, a male's restroom. He pushed on each stall door, watching them spring open, and was satisfied there were no prying ears to overhear their conversation.

Turning to face Marcus, arms crossed over his chest, he said, "You are not a thing. Taylor is an idiot and a bitch and if she thinks that about you, then she thinks it about my uncle and Kendall, and I will not live with that. Ignorance is universal, but I am not ignorant.

"And on top of that, I am not Eric Wilson. I do not play with people, I do not shove people into the closet when it's not convenient for me, and I do not talk about people behind their backs, especially when they actually mean something to me.

"I do, however, have a temper, though I swear I will never strike you. I will mess up and say the wrong thing. Hell, I'll probably even hurt you from time to time. But I'll feel like a dick afterward, and I will apologize when I'm wrong, I'll even bring you flowers, if that's what it'll take for you to forgive me."

Raa took a deep breath, eyes demanding, stance defensive as though he expected to get punched. "So?"

OOC: I am so curious as to how Marcus will answer that, lol! Or if he even knows what Raa is saying, because that was confusing in my own head!

[Tammika]

Marcus was startled at being pulled into the bathroom of all places but couldn't resist a smirk at the irony of the situation. Hands shoved in his pockets leaning against the cold tile wall he waited as Raa checked the stalls. A smart comment fought its way to the front of his mind but he held back picking up on how serious the other was acting. He bit his tongue and waited. Halfway through Raa's little speech Marcus relaxed some. He was relieved to learn that him being gay was not a big issue but he still felt embarrassed about how it all came out to Raa.

On instinct he rolled his eyes at the mention of Eric Wilson, an act to hide the fact that his stomach still lurched at the mention of the guy. More so from being made a total idiot by him than by any lingering feelings for him.

Flowers? He didn't know whether to laugh or be even more embarrassed. He liked the idea of getting flowers from Raa, but was not going to tell him or anyone else that.

"So what? What do you want from me? What is this a proposal of marriage?" Nervous laughter echoed in the room. There was something buzzing in the pit of his stomach. He felt trapped somehow. He had no desire to be mean but he did need time to think and all this was coming at him too fast. It wasn't his intention to be mean but he was afraid he was coming off that way.

"Look. I am aware that you are not Eric. I don't know what they told you but I'm fine okay? Though feel free to get me out of class anytime." His sarcasm died hard.

He moved off the wall and leaned on the sink making a face in the mirror before hopping up on the counter. His legs swung as he looked down at his shoes. He hesitated before he continued, but finally spoke up, curiosity nudging him. "Your uncle is gay?"

[TruthSayer]

Raa nodded, glad to find some familiar ground to stand on; his confession, for what it was, had rattled him deeply. The image of Taylor dressed in a Cinderella white dress and tiara, surrounded by brides maids dressed in garish bubblegum pink that had popped into his head at the mention of marriage didn't help, either.

"Aban left Lebanon when he was twenty because of it," he said, leaning back against the wall abruptly enough that the leather on his jacket slapped hard against the white subway tile behind him. "It's not... an accepted lifestyle among Muslims."

[Tammika]

"It's not an excepted lifestyle anywhere as far as I know, but that sure as hell doesn't change they way I am. Nor what others think of me."

Marcus didn't have a clue what else to say. There were a million questions in his head with the number one being Did you dump that looser girlfriend and do I really have a chance?! But he was suddenly shy. Though he admitted Raa was not Eric the fact that he still made him feel the same way as Eric did when they first met, all nervous and giddy, he was having a hard time keeping it all sorted in his brain.

He thought back to earlier that morning and laughed. "You thought I was a girl."

[TruthSayer]

Raa's face flamed a shade of red it had never before been subjected to as every single part of the bathroom suddenly became much more fascinating to look at than Marcus.

"Well, ehm..." Raa coughed, hand going to the back of his neck in a nervous gesture. "Honest mistake? I mean... When we bumped into each other, there wasn't a whole lot of time, and it was a bit confusing, and..." He looked at Marcus, eyes slightly accusing in a way he wasn't sure he could define. "And guys aren't supposed to be beautiful, anyway."

[Tammika]

Marcus laughed loud then covered his mouth afraid a teacher would hear. He blushed fiercely and chuckled behind his hand amused by how Raa slipped the word in.

"Beautiful, huh?" He watched him avoid eye contact and got the giggles all over again. "No, guys aren't supposed to be, but some are." He level a gaze a Raa and waited for him to look at him. He had loads more to say on that topic. Raa was a rather perfect specimen of male beauty in his opinion, but he didn't think now was the time for 'you're cute' exchanges.

[TruthSayer]

"It's not fair..." Raa grumbled as talking to himself, crossing his arms over his chest. "I mean, you wake up one morning, believing you've got everything sorted out, and the world makes sense, and then you bump into this guy that flips everything upside down. I mean, I wasn't gay when I woke up. I was perfectly straight and narrow, but Aban says that it's not a choice, it just is, so that must mean that I've always been gay, and just didn't notice it before?"

Raa tapped his heel back against the wall for a moment, silent in contemplation, before looking at Marcus, feeling entirely self-conscious. "How did... When did you figure it out? About yourself?"

[Tammika]

One meeting with him and suddenly Raa was doubting his sexuality? Somehow it didn't seem possible as much as Marcus would love to take credit for that. He was very skeptical. Raa didn't seem the type to play a trick this cruel on him, not with everything else that went on today so maybe...

"I don't know. When I was ten or eleven maybe. That awkward age where normal boys start liking girls, I fell head over heels in lust with my tennis camp counselor." He was about to go into detail about how beautiful the guy was when he realized he looked similar to Raa. Very similar. Marcus blushed at the similarities but moved on to his playing rather than a description. "He was awesome at tennis. The dude had a backhand that ruled! Always wanted to smash a backhand like him." He shrugged. "I guess I noticed it then, but never told anyone but Derrick at first. I'm not to sure about having everything figured out but yeah around that time."

[TruthSayer]

Raa blew air through his bangs, a thoughtful frown on his face. "I've... Taylor asked me out. And before that, Gloria Johessen threatened to beat me over the head if I didn't take her to a movie. And before that, I was thirteen and still completely not interested. Dating was always just..." Raa shrugged. "...expected. So I dated. But it always sucked! Always felt more like an job, an obligation. There's just..."

Raa paused for a moment, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "But when I think about you? I found myself ogling one of my best friends today just to figure out if was just something about you, or if I really am... And I was so absorbed in checking him out that I got beamed in the head with a football. I never get beamed the head with a football.

"But that doesn't mean I want to-" Raa swallowed, blushing again, the strength in his words dwindling to an embarrassed mumble, "-date him, or anything. But... I... With you, it's just..."

He frowned fiercely, arms pulling tighter against his chest. "Dammit..." he muttered, frustrated with himself, and kicked the wall again.

[Tammika]

"That's a lot of pushy females messin' with your head. No wonder you''re doubting what side you play. And ogling the Julian? Oh yeah, that so explains the epicness of that moment. Though him and Derrick are like brothers to me, I can honestly say he's ogle worthy." It was a relief almost to hear the nervousness in Raa's voice. It made what he was saying that much more flattering and believable.

He leaned his head to one side forcing his face into Raa's field of vision and nearly falling off the sink. "With me it's just what? You do realize we've only know each other for maybe four or five hours. Has my awesome aura effected you so quickly?" Marcus understood where he was coming from and was trying to make things seem less heavy.

[TruthSayer]

"Well, your awesome aura is captivating. Mine though..." Raa said, a grin making its way to his face as he struck a bodybuilder's pose, the flex of muscle lost beneath the jacket he wore. "Mine... Well, I'm just plain droll worthy."

Raa gave a little laugh, dropping the pose, and crossed the room, leaning his back against the skin beside the one on which Marcus sat, facing the rest of the room, and took a moment to wonder if hidden meetings in restrooms were going to become their thing.

"Honestly?" he said, scratching his nose. "I dunno what it is about you. I mean, I don't believe in... love at first sight... or anything..." Cue annoying blush. "But I do believe in being open to possibilities?" He shifted slightly, just enough to be able to see Marcus from the corner of his eye.

[Tammika]

"I'm gonna need that in writing so I can tell Derrick. He doesn't believe me. Says he's immune to my aura."

He did laugh at the pose, but he silently wished he wasn't wearing that stupid jacket or a shirt for that matter. In his efforts to gawk without appearing to gawk and going into another giggle fit, he lost his grip on the sink and slid off catching himself by his arm. He was now kneeling in front of Raa with a goofy grin on his face. The marriage proposal line slipped back into his head. "Loose the jacket and that pose would be extremely effective, in my opinion. That was enough to knock me off the sink. Just saying."

Marcus climbed back up on his perch next to Raa, purposely getting a little closer. While Raa looked at him with sly glances he turned to smirk at him full on. "It's starting to sound like a marriage proposal again Raakaa." he spoke in a sing song voice pronouncing Raa's full name again this time rolling the 'r'.

"I like possibilities. Possibilities as in you and me being more than just lab buddies? Lunch pals? Hmm?" He cocked his head to the side and gave him an evil grin. "You think you can handle me, and all my baggage and gay hater drama that follows me around?" He was half serious but the more he spoke out loud about it the more he wished it could really work out. How you like that Taylor? In your face bitch. You too, Eric.

[TruthSayer]

Raa, taken off guard as Marcus slipped, could do nothing but laugh at the sight of him, loud surprised laughter that echoed dangerously through the bathroom; he bit the first knuckle on his index finger to stifle it.

"If you want to see me without my jacket that bad, I guess I have to do what you say," he said, pushing himself away from the sink and turned to face Marcus fully, reaching up to the zipper pulled halfway up his chest. He pulled it down without preamble or flirting, hoping the blush heating his cheeks wasn't too terribly noticeable, and rolled his shoulders once the zipper was free, the heavy material of the jacket sliding easily down his arms, revealing the white tank top beneath. The color of the shirt clashed with his skin, making it seem darker and more exotic than it really was, but it was comfortable and breathed during the exertion of practice. He flexed again, muscles moving like silk as he drew his forearms up until his fists were level with his head, gave Marcus a wink and a grin, and dropped the pose.

"I can more than handle any gay haters that may come our way," he said, an almost anticipatory gleam shining in his eyes for a long moment before he shrugged, and bent to grab his jacket off the floor, tossing it over one arm. "But yeah, more than lunch buddies."

[Tammika]

Camp counselor, dark skin. Eric Wilson, tanned skin. Best friend, dark skin. The edibly delicious Raa, dark skin. Either I have a fetish or I'm trying to compensate for my uber paleness.

Marcus stared openly as Raa shucked the jacket. A blank expression frozen on his face and after a year of hiding his reaction to attractive males he nearly bit his bottom lip off. Damn. Don't touch Marcus just ogle. Camera...camera... "Camera! Dammit, Derrick has my cell phone. That was so wallpaper worthy." He nearly cried the words as Raa kept talking.

"'Our way' and 'more than lunch buddies'? Me likey, I can work with that." It seemed closer but not too close too soon. "Oh but don't think because I'm all cute and gay and shit that I won't pounce on your ass for stealing my food. Be prepared for a beat down. Just ask Derrick, he does have scars but not from nail clippers... okay yeah that happened too but, not like he says it did.

[TruthSayer]

Raa made a mental note to bring his own lunch from now on; previously, it had been Taylor who had packed both their lunches, declaring with a sniff that school food packed more calories than a Big Mac, despite the fact that he often burned more calories than he took in.

It would be nice to eat a double bacon cheeseburger without having to endure Taylor's glare.

"Do I want to know the rest of the story?" he asked, words hesitant.

"The only story you two should be interested in is the one told by your teachers in class," a feminine voice broke in from the doorway, effectively causing Raa to bite his tongue in surprise, gaze jumping to the slightly ajar door; just visible from his line of vision was what was obviously a teacher by her business-like attire, body primarily obscured by the door as she propped it open with the back of her hand, facing the hallway beyond. "Out here, now, gentlemen."

Raa threw a nervous glance at Marcus, pulled his jacket back on and zipped it nearly to his neck, and headed out the door.

[Tammika]

"Fuuuck!" Marcus whispered behind Raa as they both filed out of the bathroom. As soon as Marcus noticed it was Mrs. Fields, he had to bite the inside of his mouth to quit grinning. God please forgive me for the lie I'm about to tell.

"Marcus, I didn't expect this!"

"Sorry Mrs. Fields," Marcus dropped his head down I had some trouble at lunch today and Raa was just trying to calm me down. I know we're supposed to be in class but sometimes... it's just hard. Especially with... well you know... and it's the first day of school and it''s already started." From somewhere he conjured up the most pathetic voice and dejected face expression, fueled by the anger he felt earlier it was quite effective. Mrs. Fields was aware of some issues he had with a student last year and had let him sit in her office and bawl like a baby for an hour. A story he didn't want Raa to know about.

"Do you need to report someone, Marcus?" Her voice went from stern to compassionate and she cast appreciative glances at Raa.

"No ma'am. I think I can handle it. I don't want anyone getting in trouble because of me. I'm sure it will be okay." he shoved both hands in his pockets and stared at the ground.

"All right, but you two should get back to class." She glanced at her watch. "It's almost time for the next hour anyway." She looked at both of them. "The next time report it. Don't skip class and hold things like this in Marcus, you only protect ignorant people." Marcus laughed at the use of the word ignorant but turned it into a cough.

"Now go back to class. Both of you."