1-July Original-"Out of the Bag"

[ginnekomiko.livejournal.com]

Title: Out of the Bag
Prompt: July 1- He wanted to explain how people were never quite what you thought they were.
Series: Original
Words:415
Rating: T
Summary: In which Ralph changes his perception on the class bad boy.

Out of the Bag

“Hey, Ralph, what do you think of me?”

 The fair-haired boy looked back at the taller boy in the leather jacket. “What do you mean, Nate?”

“How do I seem to you?”

“Normal, I guess?”  Ralph’s voice wavered on the last word.

“I smoke.”

 Ralph shrugged, noticing the pack that hung out of one of the jacket pockets. “Some people do that.”

“My dad’s a deadbeat and my poor mom works two jobs. I know I shouldn’t smoke, but sometimes it’s the only thing that calms me down. I hate wasting the money, though.”

“Why are you telling me this, exactly?”

“I haven’t gotten to the most important part. Well, one of two parts, actually. And I’m saying this because you’re the leader-dude of the macho band. I think you need to know this. I like guys.”

“Oh,” was all Ralph could say.

 Nate smirked. “Cat’s got your tongue, I see.”

“Well, you don’t really seem the type, you know?”

Nate looked at him. “Being gay has a type?”

“That came out wrong!”

 So even the leader-dude could get flustered. Good. “The only real difference between you and me is I like guys instead of girls, but some of the others might not be comfortable with that. So, I’m going to play my assumed role of the bad boy with an attitude, but I figured I should tell you, just to be on the safe side. So tell me, did what I just tell you change your perception of me at all?”

“A little, but not much.”

“I guess that’s about as good as I can hope for considering. Don’t worry I’m not crushing on anyone or anything.”

“What was the second part?” Ralph asked.

“Never mind about that, leader-dude, let’s just say I know exactly who it is that you like so you can’t go telling anybody what I just told you!”

“You…. You can tell that?”

“Dude, it was obvious from the start. What did she do, stick you in the friend-zone?”

“No I’m the one who’s scared to take it forward.”

“Old friend?”

“And neighbor.”

“Tough break. Anyway, if you don’t want the entire tribe to know who you think about when you’re alone, you’ll keep your mouth shut about me, okay?”

 “Yeah, I get you. I don’t care if the other guys know, but don’t tell her, especially that last part.”

“Jeez, leader-dude, you couldn’t get more 50’s sitcom if you tried. You’re alright.”

“Thanks, I guess?”