Kennedy is King

by Cameron James

  I watched the door for a few minutes, ensuring he’d actually gone, before standing and opening my wardrobe. Stephen leant on the side, looking remarkably cool.

  “Sorry?” I attempted, he smiled.

  “Lock me in a wardrobe again and there’ll be consequences.” He said, I nodded sucking on my bottom lip as I did.

  “I fully believe you.” I said, he laughed. “Want to go to a Halloween party?” I asked, his expression was confused.

  “Football team, remember?” he asked, I smiled.

  “Halloween.” I said, “costumes, remember.”

  I made sure that I went to see Otis, after the second Orchestra rehearsal of the week. He seemed pleased to see me, then he began to laugh, shaking his head at me.

  “My boy, what on earth did you do?” he asked as I followed him around the orchestra room, watching him collect the sheet music.

  “Fell off a bike.” I said, he laughed.

  “So, the rumours are true.” He said, I nodded solemnly. “Who is he?”

  “Oh my god.” I moaned, he laughed as he put the sheet music into his briefcase. “You’re just like Harrison, why can you tell that?”

  “Well,” he said drawing it out, as if trying to think of a way to tell me without offending me. “Harrison and I were eighteen once, and I presume, like me, he did something stupid to get a boys attention too.” He nodded.

  “What was your stupid thing?” I asked, he smirked.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

  I sighed.

  “Did you get the boy?”

  “Yes.” he sounded cheerful, “I did. Did you?”

  “I think so.” I frowned at him, he laughed then took a seat, so I sat opposite him. “I’m sorry.” I said, he shook his head, I sighed. “I am.”

  “About what?”

  “Competition is coming up, as is the Christmas showcase. I’ve fucked up.”

  “No, no boy you haven’t.” he said softly. “Not at all. It’s October, you’ll be using your elbow again by November, you can still do the showcase, and still destroy Goldstein. You’ve just got a little bit of a break before that.” He smiled. “I know you’ll be fine; I know you’ll know your part and you’ll perform it well. I’m not worried.”

  “Aren’t you?”

  “No.” he smiled. “Use the next few weeks to get to know the boy you did this for.” He said nodding, “you’ve got a perfect excuse.” He added amused, I smiled. “I’ll expect to see you back mid-November. No exceptions.” He smiled. I smiled back.

  I of course took Otis’ advice. The theatre, always met and rehearsed at the same time as the orchestra. It was just a done thing; I presume the choir also met at the same time and I was surprised that the football team didn’t.

  Not disappointed, at all, because it meant I could keep Stephen all too myself for the two hours my room was accounted for, just surprised, so I asked.

  “When does the football team rehearse?”

  He laughed, almost as if I’d told the best joke of my career.

  “Rehearse?” he repeated, I nodded because yeah. “We train.” He said slowly, “Saturday and Sunday morning.”

  “For real?” I asked, he nodded softly.

  “The school doesn’t really care about us, remember. They won’t let us train during the week, I don’t know why there’s some bullshit excuse somewhere, but we train on the weekend.”

  “That must suck.”

  “Would you go to orchestra rehearsals on a weekend?”

  “Yeah.” I said without hesitation, he smirked.

  “Because you enjoy doing it.”

  “Well, yeah.” I added, he let that hang there. “I get it.” I said, he laughed.

  “I love it, and it kind of works best, it means I can actually do my homework, because otherwise I just wouldn’t and would use football as an excuse. Right now, I’m using you as an excuse.” He said cheerfully, he stroked over my eyebrows when I frowned at him. “Don’t worry. I’m joking.” He said, I didn’t really believe him and he could definitely tell.

  So, he smiled. It was cheerful and childish.

  “You’re so easy to wind up. It’s beautiful.” He said, I sighed, he kissed me once. Soft and light, holding my chin in his fingers, then he smiled at me.

  “Your favourite colour is orange.” I said, Stephen laughed, as he sat opposite me on my bed, we were playing an intense game of Snap! It hadn’t started off intense, but my God had it developed into an intense game.

  “Yeah.” He laughed, “it’s bright and nice.”

  “Bright and nice.” I mocked, he scoffed hitting my knee.

  “What’s your favourite colour?”

  “Red.” I said, his laugh was almost a squawk.

  “And you’re judging me for orange. Red is just a more intense orange.” He said, I shook my head. “It is, it so is.” He said gleefully, then “SNAP!” he stated, I sighed.

  “What do you want to do, when you leave here?” He asked, softly, his fingers drawing over my splint and my chest.

  “Like officially?” I asked, he nodded. “In a dream world, I’d love to just play my saxophone, whether its in a theatre pit, an orchestra, or a jazz club. Whatever, I want to do that.” I sighed. “Realistically, probably university then a life long office job in, I don’t know statistics.”

  “Is that what your Dad does?”

  “Father…. No.” I shook my head slowly, “he works under your Mum, actually.”

  “Your Dad’s an MP?”

  “Yeah.” I said quietly. “For her party to, I never knew how a man like that could work under a Prime Minster like her, but… I don’t know.”

  “You don’t like your Dad?”

  “Did you deduce that?” he laughed softly, tapping the side of his head.

  “It’s all up here.” He said, then shrugged, “and in my thighs.”

  “They are good thighs.” I agreed, because they were. “My Father isn’t the nicest man, he’s not abusive no. He’s a fine upstanding citizen who loves his wife, and is so proud of the crop of three sons he made.”

  “But?” Stephen could hear it hanging in the air, I sighed.

  “But he resents that we’re all gay.” I whispered, he sat up a little better, looking directly at me. “Harrison came out pretty young – I guess. I don’t know, I’ve always known Harrison would be with a guy so he must’ve come out when I was a toddler.

  Father was pissed but he couldn’t do anything, he had this family values reputation to withhold, and he was scared, because of Harrison’s HIV, he still associates HIV with being the gay disease. He was worried about how it’d all look.

  Cassidy has never not been flamboyant. He’s been the way he is since he was born and he owns it so, so much, but it was obvious that he was gay, and Father was angry because how did two out of his three sons turn out gay.”

  “You?” he whispered, I sighed.

  “He assumed I was straight. For such a long time, I guess I can come off as it.” I scrunched my nose at him, he laughed. “I came out to him when I was fourteen. I’d told my Mum when I was twelve, a passing comment that didn’t have much weight to it, but I had to tell Father, that summer we were fourteen, I just had too.”

  “Angry?”

  “Oh yes.” I said nodding, “so, so angry, but he’s never done anything. Harrison is married to a gorgeous man called Dom, and Father went to the wedding, and everything. He’s just quietly angry I guess.”

  “Huh.” He said, I looked at him. “Shitty huh.” He said, I nodded as he sat up at my side.

  “He can’t kick us out. Not really. It’d cause too much controversy, and Cassidy would tell everyone why in a matter of seconds, so he did the next best thing.”

  “Sent you to boarding school.”

  “Exactly.” I made sure I smiled, “it’s almost like he was in fact encouraging the gay. He sent us to an all-boys boarding school, like what the hell.” I said, he laughed happily. “Hey.” I said tapping his should
er, he met my eyes. “What do you want to be when you leave here?”

  “Ah.” He said softly, tapping my knees. “This is going to sound bizarre.” He said, “I want to be a firefighter.”

  “For real?” I asked, he nodded.

  “I always have wanted to be, it was a childhood dream and well, it can become a reality.” He bit his lip. “Or at least I hope it can.”

  “Huh.” Stephen said from his place on my chest. My arm was stroking his back, as he was lying on my right side, after a pretty awesomely long making out session.

  “Huh?” I repeated, a little sex stupid, because I was trying to tell my dick to calm itself down and go back to sleep because it wasn’t going to get anything – and that was okay. Like genuinely. That was okay.

  “I’ve been here every day this week.” He said looking up towards me so I looked down at him. “That’s interesting.” He said thoughtfully,

  “Interesting.” I repeated, he nodded.

  “You’d think I’d have better things to do.” He said, I laughed hitting his shoulder

  “Hey!” I said, he grinned stroking down my cheeks, then he jumped. I turned towards the door as he did.

  “Oh, not again.” He said quietly, I laughed as I sat up. “I’m hiding in the bathroom this time.” He said, then got off the bed and went into the en-suite. I laughed covering my mouth as the door opened.

  “Theo?” I said, then I frowned. “Are you okay?”

  “No.” he said softly, “migraine.” He added. “Had it all day, got halfway through rehearsal before I was sent back here.”

  “Baby.” I cooed at him, standing from my bed. He accepted the one-handed hug I gave him, almost collapsing into me as he hugged me back.

  “Myles gave out his invites.” He said, as he began stripping himself of his uniform. He reached into his blazer, passing me the little cardboard invite.

  “Halloween Masquerade.” I said, he nodded. “Black tie.” I let out a big deep breath.

  “I’m going to sleep. Okay?” he asked, I nodded.

  “I’ll be quiet.” I said softly, he mouthed ‘thank you’ to me, getting into his bed. He practically turned over and was asleep, but he had always been able to do that, and I’d always found it amazing and creepy, but mostly amazing.

  I sighed as I walked towards our bathroom. Opening the door and biting my lip as Stephen looked at me. I put my finger on my lips. He nodded, putting his own finger on his lips, then stepping out of the bathroom.

  He looked at Theo’s bed. He swallowed with an audible click so I shook my head, because he’d be fine.

  “He’s an abnormally heavy sleeper.” I whispered; Stephen laughed quietly as he followed me across the room. I kissed him once, daringly, then opened the door, he smiled as he stepped out of my room and continued down the corridor, turning back just before he stepped through the doors.

  He winked at me.

  ♕

  Chapter Ten

  Text Message 19:37

  Stephen: A Halloween Masquerade. How, original!

  Kennedy: I know, I know us Rich Kids and our unoriginal ideas. If it works, don’t change it x

  Stephen: What’s the dress code?

  Kennedy: Black-tie x

  Stephen: As in a dinner suit?

  Kennedy: Yes ��x

  Stephen: and I have two weeks.

  Kennedy: Yes! x

  Stephen: Okay, I might be able to do that.

  Kennedy: Let me know if you need anything. I’m a twin, means I have two of everything x

  Stephen: Ha-ha.

  Kennedy: Have a good rehearsal �� see you Monday? x

  Stephen: TRAINING and thanks! Yeah, about Monday.

  Kennedy: Oh? x

  Stephen: I’m thinking a change of scenery. We’ve been doing this a week and I’ve had to hide twice. As clean as your bathroom and your wardrobe (congrads on that) is, I don’t want to keep hiding.

  Kennedy: A bit cold for the football cage, don’t you think? X

  Stephen: Funny, my room however. That has a radiator.

  Kennedy: Your room? x

  Stephen: Yeah, the place where I sleep. I have one of those you know. Indigo Hallway. Room 205.

  I’d never been in the Indigo hallway. All things considered it wasn’t any different to my room on the Emerald hallway, it just had indigo features over emerald. I stood outside of 205 for a few seconds, about to knock, then I jumped as the door opened.

  Stephen jumped on the other side then laughed.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey.” I said quietly, he seemed amused.

  “Come meet my roommates.”

  “Your…” I swallowed, “roommates.” I said, he nodded taking my arm and pulling me in. I looked around the room there were three other boys in the room.

  Two were sat on one of the beds, near to the door, another across the room from them. They all looked at me when I came in. It terrified me probably more than necessary.

  “It’s okay.” Stephen said just to me, then he shook my arm. “This is Kennedy.”

  “No shit.” The one on the bed alone said, the other two laughed.

  “We know who Kennedy is Ste.” One of the two on the opposite bed said, I figured I blushed.

  “All hail the King, you know.” The second said, Stephen sighed obviously amused.

  “Adam.” He introduced me, the boy alone on the bed waved. “Scott.” He directed towards the one nearer to me of the two, “and Danny.” The one further. I nodded. “We’re all on the football team, so, striker.” He said nodding towards Adam, “defenders.” He said then he laughed as I nodded again.

  “King lost his voice huh.” Adam said, I looked at him.

  “Hey.” Stephen condemned softly; Adam rose his hands as if surrendering.

  “I always liked the King.” Scott purred at me, I laughed. “I just never thought it could happen to one of us. You’re officially a princess Stephen.” He said dreamily, Stephen gasped happily resting his hand on his chest before leading me to his bed.

  I sat on the end, as he sat at the pillows.

  “You all know what we’re doing?” I asked, they all nodded back.

  “Don’t worry sunshine.” Danny said as he stood from the bed, “we won’t tell anyone.”

  “And even if we did, who’d believe us.” Scott said, I wanted to nod because yeah no-one actually paid attention to any rumour speculation from anyone on any of the sports teams. Because no one cared, and even if my name got thrown into the mix, I was pretty certain everyone would just call bullshit on it, and ignore it.

  “And we ship it.” Danny said happily, I laughed.

  “Yes. That.” Stephen said as he moved down his bed, his arm over my shoulder tapping my chest. “How are we going to do this? Because we can’t do it in his room, not really. His roommates are a bit too unpredictable.”

  “I can fully believe that of Queen Cassidy.” Danny said with a sigh, it made me smile, he blushed.

  “So, you’re basically asking, how we’re going to help you get laid?” Adam asked, Stephen turned to look at him.

  “Yeah.” He said simply, I choked so he laughed.

  “You aren’t kicking us out, I have an issue with that.” Scott said, Stephen laughed as he turned to look at him.

  “I’m not kicking you out. I’m negotiating.”

  “Why don’t we just keep the wank rule.”

  “You have a wank rule?” I asked, Stephen nodded slowly.

  “Don’t you?”

  “No.” I said slowly, “we just, do it, or do it together.”

  “You’re… joking, right?” Danny asked, I looked at him almost raising my eyebrow at him.

  “He fancies the shit out of Cassidy.” Adam said, Danny gasped and threw his pillow at Adam with outrage.

  “He wants to masturbate with Cassidy.” Stephen teased, Danny hit him, the sound of his hand connecting with Stephen’s body echoing around the room.

  “He’s… your brother.” Scott said,
I looked at him. “Right? I mean, right?”

  “Yeah he’s my brother.” I said nodding,

  “And you do that with him?”

  “Yeah.” I said slowly, “I mean, yeah, it’s not sexual, not really. It’s just… fun.”

  “Huh.” Scott said, “would you look at that.” He said more to Stephen.

  “You couldn’t handle being in the same room as me, doing that.” Stephen said, Scott seemed to consider this.

  “What is your wank rule?” I asked, because curious and well, nosy.

  “The doors are magnetic you know?” Danny said, I almost frowned as he went into his drawer. “We all have one, and we just stick it on the door. It tells us what’s going on, and other people don’t really notice.” He said as he held the magnetic sign up to me, it was a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark in it.

  “You could just do that.” Adam said, Stephen nodded.

  “We won’t be here all the time.” I said quickly, “I mean, orchestra and theatre rehearsals are usually quite reliable.”

  “It’s your roommates who aren’t.” Stephen said, I smiled slightly.

  “True.” I said softly.

  “And when your arm isn’t in the splint anymore.” He added touching my arm, I almost gasped because I had forgotten that I’d go back to Orchestra rehearsal and the two hours we were currently using to be together, was going to disappear as if it hadn’t ever been there at all.

  “Oh.” I said quietly, Stephen stroked my cheek so I looked up.

  “Six weeks to figure this out, yeah?”

  “Yeah.” I agreed.

  “And I heard you invited him to a cool kid party.” Adam said, I looked towards him as Stephen laughed.

  “And I have nothing to wear.” He said dramatically, Adam smirked.

  We ended up sat on the floor between their beds. A few open bags of crisps between them as they spoke and recounted embarrassing anecdotes about Stephen much to my pleasure, and his displeasure.

  He, however, figured we were on good enough terms to leave us for the bathroom, so he did, standing and warning every one of them to be nice before hopping over everyone’s legs to get to the bathroom.

  The door closed.

  “You’re not how I’d ever expect the King to be.” Danny said, I rose my eyebrow at him as he shrugged. “I don’t know, I assumed you’d be uptight and a bit of a dick.”