Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez Page A

times.
    Nelson tore the paper in half, then ripped it again and again and again.

CHAPTER 10
    Jason stared at the 88 on his quiz, the highest algebra grade he’d ever gotten.
    Perez patted him on the back. “Congratulations. Who’s helping you?”
    “Kyle Meeks.”
    Perez nodded. “Good choice. Kyle’s a bright guy. Keep it up.”
    Jason stopped by Kyle’s locker and high-fived him. “Can you believe it? Look at this.” Kyle gazed at the paper and smiled. “See? You can do it.”
    “Yeah, with you. Can you come over this weekend?”
    Jason felt someone tug on his arm. He turned to see Corey. “Come on, man. We’re going to be late for practice.”
    “A ll right,” Jason said, turning back to Kyle. “Sunday afternoon?” They agreed on two o’clock as Corey led Jason away.
    “Doesn’t he hang with Nelly?” Corey whispered.
    “So?” Jason shrugged. “He helps me with math. Thanks to him I got an eighty-eight.” He waved his quiz to show Corey.
    “Yeah?” Corey said. “What’s he want in return?”
    “Hey. Lay off. He’s a friend.”
    “Take it easy,” Corey told him. “A ll I’m saying is be careful. You know how people talk.”
    “Doesn’t bother me,” Jason said, though he knew Corey was right. To be honest, it did bother him. It made him angry that school had to be this way. Couldn’t he have a gay friend without people assuming he was gay?
    Jason wished Corey hadn’t seen him with Kyle. During practice he lost the ball twice and missed his foul shots. What was worse, the assistant coach from Penn State was visiting. Each time Jason messed up, Coach Cameron shook his head.
    When the sports bus dropped him home, Jason heard his parents arguing all the way from the driveway. His dad’s voice had that slur—
    he’d been drinking.
    “You don’t like how I treat him? Maybe I should just move out. Then you’d be happy.” Jason knew his dad was talking about him. He bit a fingernail and opened the kitchen door.
    His dad leaned against the kitchen counter, a beer bottle in his hand. His mom sat at the table reading one of her self-help books, titled The Courage to Change. She looked up as Jason came in. “Hi, honey. How was practice?” He bent over and kissed her cheek. “Okay.”
    His dad grabbed a paper bag off the kitchen counter. “You left your trash in my truck.” He threw the bag at Jason.
    Jason caught it. “Sorry.” He tossed the bag into the trash.
    His dad pointed his bottle at him. “That’s the last time I warn you. Use my truck, then clean it. Hear me?”
    “No, I’m deaf.”
    His dad slammed his bottle down on the counter and raised the back of his hand to smack him.
    Jason stepped away. “Keep your hands off me.”
    His mom stood up, spreading her arms between them. “Would you both stop it!” Jason stared at his dad and his dad glared back, curling his lip and muttering, “Pansy.” He finished his bottle and opened the refrigerator. “There’s no more beer?”
    His mom glanced at Jason, then at his dad. “I didn’t buy any.”
    “You forgot my beer?”
    “I didn’t forget.” She opened her book again. “I’m not buying you any more beer.” His dad flung the refrigerator door closed and grabbed his truck keys. “Then I’ll get my own.” His mom closed her book. “You shouldn’t drive.”
    “I wouldn’t have to if you’d bought my beer.” He turned and stormed out of the kitchen. The front door slammed, shaking the house. A fork fell off the counter. Jason picked it up.
    Outside the kitchen window the truck started and backed out of the driveway.
    “A re you okay?” Jason asked.
    His mom leaned her head into her hands and nodded silently.
    Jason put his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry.”
    “It’s not your fault. I keep hoping things will get better. Sometimes they do, then …” She trailed off with a shrug.
    Things never got better, Jason thought. The fights only got worse. Things would never improve so long as he remained