“You seem like a pretty social guy. Everywhere we went on Friday night people were saying hi to you.” Patton blushed slightly as he looked at Wes then back to his lunch. “At Soda Jerks that one girl said hi to you and was all excited to see you out on a Friday night. Is she in choir with you? Because she seemed to know an awful lot about you to the point that she was asking who was watching your sisters?”
Patton laughed. “Yeah. That was Natalie. She’s kind of a mother hen. She knows everything about everyone’s family and friends and has kind of made it her mission to keep tabs on us. She’s sweet.”
Wes nodded. Natalie had sure seemed pleased to see Patton. “What’s for lunch?” Wes asked, changing the subject and nodding toward Patton’s containers.
Patton shrugged one shoulder. “Over the weekend I looked into a few things. I kind of figured after our talk on Friday during PE that I just didn’t know where to start, you know? I know Mr. Dunlap said to just try to make a few small changes over time, but I wasn’t sure what to change.” Patton shrugged again, unscrewing the lid on the thermos-thing. “I guess I’ve always just eaten whatever I wanted and never really thought about what it was. It made sense, though, the way Mr. Dunlap was talking about eating things that give you energy and nutrients to feed your body instead of just being mindless about what you eat.”
Patton had pulled a plastic fork out of his sack and speared what looked like a piece of grilled chicken that he examined as he spoke.
“When I really thought about what I eat, and after talking with you, I realized that most of what I eat are carbs. Cereal, bread, pasta, crackers. The majority of it is processed and loaded with carbs. So I looked up a few alternatives and read that protein keeps you feeling full longer than carbs, and you even burn calories just processing the protein. It sounded pretty good to me. Thought I’d give it a try for a couple of weeks and see if I noticed any changes.”
“Wow. That’s cool. Good for you, man. Coach is always telling me to eat more protein too. Says I’m too skinny, and if I ever want to bulk up, I need more protein in my diet.”
Patton nodded. “Yeah, I read that too. Protein is weird. I had to google good sources of protein just so I would know what to eat instead of all the carbs.”
“So you brought some chicken and what else?” Grabbing the baggies, Patton held them out for Wes to see. “Cauliflower and baby carrots?” Patton shrugged. “I am impressed. Did you start this on Monday?”
“Yeah. I read about meal prep and just making a bunch of food on the weekend so when you need to pack your lunch or whatever for the week, everything is already ready. My dad and Tiffani said it sounded like a good idea, and they’re going to try it with me. I think they’re glad I’m finally doing something about my eating habits and are just trying to be supportive.” Patton stuffed the grilled chicken into his mouth and Wes couldn’t help but watch him chew and swallow, his own throat feeling a little dry watching the action. Who knew watching someone else eat food could have that effect on him?
“Anyway. We grilled a bunch of chicken on Sunday and have been eating more fish and we swapped out our ground beef for ground turkey.” He looked at Wes tentatively. “I’ve already lost four pounds.”
Wes’s eyes widened. “No shit?” Patton shook his head. “That’s great, man. Good for you.” Wes bumped Patton with his shoulder when in reality he just wanted to hug the guy. Patton looked almost relieved over Wes’s reaction but still seemed like he was expecting some comment from him.
That would never happen. In less than two weeks, Wes had seen enough of Patton’s character to have some very real respect for the guy. Just the fact that the simple speeches Mr. Dunlap had given them had been enough for Patton to want to go off on his own and make such a huge change for himself was amazing. Wes knew he needed to do something about his own diet if he ever expected to see any results, but he wasn’t running off and researching meal plans and then actually changing. He lacked any sort of motivation. Patton was quite the inspiring figure.
Wes watched Patton finish his chicken and start in on the veggies, all the while feeling guilty for the cheeseburger he’d just eaten.
“You think we could talk more about this?” Wes asked and Patton turned in his seat to look at him.
“More about what I’m eating?”
Shrugging, Wes explained. “Yeah. More about what you’re eating, what you found out, what your plan is. Maybe, if you’d be willing, you could catch me up and we could do it together.” Wes watched Patton’s expression closely. He didn’t want to push it if the other guy was unreceptive to his idea. But he seemed curious and open so Wes continued. “Would you be willing to exchange numbers, and we could chat about it a little after school?” And… he’d totally just asked for the guy’s number on the sly! Wes had been wondering if he should get Patton’s number and now he had a totally legitimate in. Yes! Mental fist-bump!
“Sure.” Patton pulled out his phone and Wes’s jaw almost dropped. That was it? Here he’d been stressing and building up this weird moment in his head and all it came down to was a “sure?”
“Cool,” Wes said and casually pulled out his phone as well and that was that.
“So…” Patton hedged quickly glancing at Wes then away again. “This friend of mine wanted to know if you had plans for Homecoming.”
Wes drew in a quiet breath. Whoa. Was Patton fishing? Wes had had no indication either way about who Patton might like or be attracted to. Not that Wes was thinking of Patton as a potential boyfriend or anything. The guy had just quietly found a place in Wes’s little circle and begun to sprout roots. It wasn’t like they were all of sudden attached at the hip or anything.
Figuring Patton literally meant he really did have a friend who was interested, Wes decided to play it out and then he’d know for sure if Patton knew he was gay, and quite possibly, witness his reaction to learning the news if he really hadn’t known yet.
“No. Not yet.” Wes shook his head steadily, trying to play it cool. “Who’s asking?”
Patton shrugged. “You probably don’t know them. We have choir together.”
That was it? Why had Patton said “them?” “This person have a name?” Wes encouraged.
“Parker.”
Did Patton sound a little short-tempered? “Okay. Parker… Is this Parker a boy or a girl? Because in case you didn’t know already, unless this Parker is a boy, I’m most definitely not interested.” Patton’s eyes widened and he stared at Wes as a pretty pink hue tinted his cheeks. He swallowed and looked down at the tabletop.
“Girl,” he croaked and that was pretty much that.
Wes nodded.
Grasping for something to say to keep the awkward at bay, Wes quickly asked, “Are you going with anyone to Homecoming?” Patton’s gaze snapped back to his and he shook his head mutely. He looked back down at his forgotten carrots and before the moment could get away, Wes’s brain misfired again and he blurted, “You want to go with me?” Patton’s eyes grew to the size of saucers and his neck had to be getting sore from all the head-turning. Hurriedly, Wes went on before he lost his nerve, “I mean just as friends, of course. That way we don’t have to worry about finding dates or anything, and we can still go and be with our friends. Not that you’d have trouble finding a date or anything because you’re totally cute, and I’m sure there are lots of girls that you could ask. I probably wouldn’t be able to ask anyone, but if you didn’t want all that stress, we could just go as friends or whatever. And since Riley is taking Ty, it wouldn’t be awkward for us to go together, you know, since you need to buy the tickets in pairs and everything…”
Oh, dear lord... Please just let him die an immediate and painless death. Please, ground, just open up and swallow him whole or maybe just let him vanish from the Earth all together—anything but letting him suffer the utter mortification he’d just inflicted upon himself. Why was he so stupid, stupid, stupid?
Lowering his head into his hands, Wes groaned audibly. Patton bumpe
d their shoulders together, and Wes could feel them shaking with silent laughter. He refused to look at the other boy. His life as he knew it was totally and completely over. There was no coming back from his sheer stupidity. He would remember the embarrassment of this moment forever.
Patton nudged him again but this time with his elbow. With his head still in his hands, Wes mumbled incoherently and shook his head causing Patton to chuckle.
Wes felt the other boy lean over and somehow through his haze of humiliation, he heard, “I’ll go with you,” whispered into his ear. His heart thudded hard in his chest and with the sound of blood rushing in his ears, Wes peeled back one palm to peek at Patton. The guy was smiling, good humor and mirth shining in his eyes, and he nodded when he saw Wes’s eye seek him out.
“You will?” He double-checked. Patton nodded again, eyes shining. “Not just because you feel bad for me and my lack of brain-to-mouth filter?” Patton shook his head, curling his lips in between his teeth to keep from laughing. “Good,” Wes finally said, lifting his head from his hands. “Then promise me we’ll never speak of this moment again.”
They both busted up laughing and the rest of their table looked over apparently just realizing how crazy they actually were.
Chapter 7
Sunday morning, Patton and Wesley had agreed to meet at Legend Lake for their first foray into exercising. The plan was that they would walk around the Sleepy Hollow trail, even though Patton knew Wesley would rather run, but he was being nice and taking the time to walk the trail with him until he could get his bearings. Then, after their walk, Patton was going to bring out his RC boat and teach Wesley how to drive it.
Patton was pretty excited if he were being honest. He’d learned a lot more about Wesley and the rest of their friends over the rest of the school week and when they’d all gone to the away football game Friday night, Patton and Wesley had talked non-stop about everything from which Harry Potter house they each belonged to, to Patton’s new eating plan and the way they thought they could support each other on their journeys.
Wes’s interest in Patton’s dietary changes made Patton feel like he finally had a really great ally and someone he could look to for help or to keep him focused. It was a really cool feeling to know someone had your back and was encouraging you every step of the way. Not to mention wanting to take what you’d learned and apply it to themselves, feeling a trust in you to lead them down the right path to their own self-improvement.
Their whole partnership had far exceeded anything Patton could have hoped for when their assignment had been handed down.
And now Wesley was going to help Patton with the physical side of things.
Patton pulled into the parking lot, already seeing Wesley standing on the sidewalk stretching, and he looked up and waved as Patton pulled into the spot next to him and parked.
“Good morning,” Wesley said as Patton got out of his car. “Nice and cool this morning for your first walk.”
“Morning,” Patton returned. “It is nice. I always love the mornings as summer turns into fall. Everything is so bright and calm. It’s just so peaceful. And trust me, coming from a split family of five kids, with four sisters under the age of eight, peaceful is heaven.”
Wesley chuckled, a bright smile lighting his face. “Well, I’m glad to help you get away, then.”
“Hey, listen,” Patton hedged, feeling a little embarrassed over what he’d planned to say. He fidgeted with his keys then shoved his hands into his pockets. “I know I haven’t told you before, but thanks for this. I’m not sure I would have had the courage to do this with anyone else, and I just wanted to thank you for being cool about everything. I know I’m overweight and will undoubtedly suck at whatever cruel and unusual torture you inflict upon me, but you never make me feel bad about myself and have been a really good friend in supporting me with my food thing. So, yeah. Thanks for that, and this.” Patton nicked his chin out toward the trail and was surprised when Wesley came over and side-hugged him.
“Right back ‘atcha, Patton.” When Wesley stepped away, Patton noticed a small shiver run through him. He was only wearing a loose tank top and running shorts so Patton figured he must be a little chilly. “Ready to stretch a little? Since we’re not running we won’t need to do too much stretching, but it’s always good to help your muscles get warmed up and get a little blood pumping before you just start out.”
Patton nodded and Wesley guided him through some quick and relatively painless stretches, and it became pretty clear from the onset that Patton was going to need some major work in that area. Wesley encouraged Patton to do a few simple stretches each morning as part of his wake up routine and over the course of a couple of weeks, said he would start noticing his improvements and little gains.
After about ten minutes, they hit the trail with a moderately brisk pace that Patton knew he’d never be able to maintain. They kept conversation to a minimum as Patton found just getting enough air into his lungs to be almost as laboriously difficult as keeping up with Wesley.
At about the halfway point, Patton panted out, “Wesley… Need to stop...” as he struggled to breathe.
Wesley immediately took his arm and led him to a boulder along the side of the path, crouching down next to him. “Better?”
Patton nodded, not replying with words.
“Okay. We’ll take five then continue on but at a slower pace. We don’t want to rest too long and let your heart rate drop too low. That’s when you lose out on all the fat burning you’re doing.”
Nodding again, Patton tried to slow his panting and Wesley encouraged him to take deeper, slower breaths, and when their five minutes were up, Patton felt almost ready to go again.
They took a slower pace on the second half and Patton found himself more able to keep his breathing under control with Wesley’s guidance. He was sweaty and sticky and generally a disgusting mess when they finally made it back to their cars.
After opening up the back, Patton used the towel Wesley had recommended he bring to wipe himself down and chugged half a water bottle in one go. When he looked back at Wesley, the boy was grinning at him with a huge smile on his face and hardly a drop of sweat to be seen. “What?” he asked self-consciously, holding the towel just under his chin.
“You totally did it,” Wesley said enthusiastically. “You just took your second step in making a huge change in your life.”
Patton wiped his face again then nodded as Wesley’s words sank in. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right,” Wesley said with a smug grin on his face. Patton flicked his towel at him and the two of them laughed.
They spent a few minutes decompressing and cooling down as Wesley walked him through another round of simple stretches. Patton knew he’d be sore later and probably for a few days to come, but he felt like he’d finally accomplished something. Like Wesley had said, he’d taken the first few steps in becoming healthier and making a change for the better. It was a pretty empowering feeling for someone who’d never experienced that before.
They each discreetly changed shirts, although Patton absolutely snuck a peek at Wesley when his back was turned and then Patton gathered up his boat, controller, and extra battery and they headed to Patton’s favorite launch point.
Patton had to admit, other than being embarrassed to be caught in Wesley’s admission earlier in the week, Patton had kind of suspected the other guy might be gay just based on the fact that he wore eyeliner and painted his nails. Not that straight guys never did those things, but more often than not, tight clothes, eyeliner, and amazing fashion sense meant the guy was probably gay.
It made Patton’s heart beat faster just thinking about it. Not that he’d ever expect anything to happen between them. Patton hadn’t even told his own family that he was gay, but just knowing how well he and Wesley got along, and that they were both gay, settled something in him he’d felt had been missing for some time. Maybe it was just camaraderie or the feeling of havi
ng something in common with someone he could be himself with, or maybe it was more, but whatever it was, Patton really liked it. He could easily see Wesley becoming his best friend.
Add in the fact that he was going to Homecoming with the guy, and Patton felt a sense of blossoming hope that Wesley might actually see Patton the same way. In a few short weeks, and by some chance pairing, Patton and Wesley had become friends, and somewhere in a dark, seldom used part of his mind, that Patton almost never allowed to see the light of day, lingered the thought that maybe, just maybe, in the distant future, he and Wesley could be more.
Those thoughts were only for him, though. His total lack of self-confidence and negative body image ensured he would not be vocalizing those thoughts out loud any time in the near future. Perhaps in a year or two, if he managed to shape up his body and mind, he might feel more confident to approach someone as good-looking as Wesley. Someone like Wesley would never be interested in someone like Patton.
As Patton set up his gear and explained the basics of the boat and how to use the controller, Wesley set the boat in the water. Patton demonstrated how to drive for a few seconds, just to give Wesley an idea of what to expect, then handed the controller over and Wesley cautiously set it moving.
As he was navigating the boat into more open waters, Wesley asked, “So how did you get into this? I assume you built this from a kit or something?”
“Kind of,” Patton responded since Wesley’s eyes were trained on the boat and he wouldn’t have seen him nod. “This is only one of a few boats I have, but it’s the one I like the best. I built it basically from the ground up; buying parts and pieces separately and using several custom modifications. The others are more or less from pre-assembled kits that I just fiddled with and tweaked the way I liked. This one is all mine,” Patton said with a hint of pride in his voice.
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