Jumbo by Todd Young Page A

loyal to me — though of course I had too, until Jake.”
    “Dad—”
    “No, wait, Mitchell.”
    “Dad. He can move in. Don’t worry about it. Sure, he can move in, make out like he’s hired help. It’s fine with me, but really, Dad, I can’t talk about this anymore. I’ve got ....” Mitchell shook his head, determined not to cry. “I can’t .... Can we just leave the conversation there?”
    His father nodded and Mitchell got up quickly. In his room, he lay on his back, staring at the ceiling, thinking how strange his family, how strange the world, was.

24
    The following morning, Mitchell woke feeling unusually happy. He stretched luxuriously before the memory of yesterday crashed down upon him like a shower of breaking glass. The conversation with Luke. Mason. Hell, everything. He thought about skipping school, but supposed it would only make things worse. He would miss out on knowing what had happened, and would be left at home worrying.
    When he got to school, Tadd was on the front steps. Tadd put his hand up and said, “Mitch. Wait up.” Mitchell knew the two of them had gym together today, but he really wasn’t in the mood for Tadd now. What the hell did Tadd have to worry about — perfect face, perfect body, huge dick, popularity, money — hell, the guy had it all.
    “I was waiting for you.”
    “Yeah?”
    “Yeah. I got a call from Mason last night. He emailed me the conversation, told me all about it.”
    Mitchell stopped. They had just come through the doors and into the foyer and there were people everywhere. Tadd tugged him backwards into a classroom and closed the door.
    “I told him if he sends that shit to anyone, says anything about it, then he’ll have me to deal with.”
    Mitchell jerked his head back.
    “He’d sent it to Robby, but I called Robby as well. Told him the same thing. He wasn’t so worried about it, said he couldn’t even make out what you were saying.”
    “Oh.”
    “Yeah. So don’t worry, buddy,” Tadd said, wrapping his arm over Mitchell’s shoulder. “Like I said — I’ve got your back.”
    Mitchell didn’t know how to start. “Shit. Thanks, Tadd. I mean — I thought it was all over for me today. I thought I was ....”
    “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
    Tadd put his arms around Mitchell and drew him into a hug, holding Mitchell tightly against his chest. Mitchell recoiled automatically, pushing Tadd away. And then the two of them stood there, breathing heavily, looking at each other, their faces flushed. And there it was again, that look in Tadd’s eyes that meant — what? As though Tadd was wounded, as though he was hurt by Mitchell pushing him away. But why would Tadd want to hug him?
    Mitchell got a strange, sinking feeling. Were the notes from Tadd? Was that what it was all about? Was that why Tadd was being so nice to him? Why Tadd had ...?
    They stepped out of the classroom together, Tadd holding the door for Mitchell, and Mitchell suddenly felt that he had done something very wrong. He shouldn’t have pushed Tadd away from him the way he had. But could Tadd really be gay?
    Mitchell tried to catch his breath. His heart was pounding, and he shook his head.
    “You okay?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Nothing to worry about?”
    “No — thanks to you, Tadd. And really, I do appreciate it.”
    “Are we still cool for Saturday?”
    “Yeah. Sure, Tadd. Absolutely.”
    Mitchell walked away from Tadd in a daze.
    Someone called out to him. “There you are!” It was Luke, skipping up behind him. “How the hell did you get into the building?”
    “I came in a few minutes ago,” Mitchell said, and the two of them walked toward Mitchell’s locker in silence. When Mitchell opened it, Luke leaned forwards and began to speak in a low voice.
    “I was waiting for you, because I want to see — just to say. Yesterday, Mitch. I mean ... if this thing comes out ....” Luke turned around and glanced over his shoulder, “if you’re going to out yourself,