Read Online Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez - Free Book Online Page A

“No,” he sighed. “I’m just trying to figure things out … to decide what I want. That’s all.” She studied him for a moment. Mascara smeared her cheeks, giving her eyes a bruised and frightened look. She carefully uncrumpled the tissue from her fist and spread it onto her lap. Then she grew quiet.
    He decided to keep talking. “I know I should’ve said something before now—” She raised her hand to stop him. The fearful look was gone from her face, replaced by one of bold resolve.
    “I’m sorry.” He leaned forward to kiss her.
    “No!” She blocked him with her arm. “I don’t want to be around you while you figure things out!” The force of her words made him wince.
    She must have realized it, because her tone softened. “I don’t mean it like that. What I mean is …” She shook her head. “Maybe we should take a break for a while.”
    He hadn’t expected that. He’d expected her to get upset—to cry, maybe hit him—but he never thought she’d tell him to blow off. She was proposing exactly what he wanted—some space apart. Only now he wasn’t sure he wanted it.
    She crossed her arms and looked out the window. “I want to go home.”
    “Maybe we should talk some more.”
    “No! I don’t want to. There’s nothing else to discuss.”
    Jason drove her home, angry at himself for the mess he’d made and angry that Debra had told him off. When he parked in her driveway, she got out without kissing him.
    The following week, he got back an algebra test with a bold red F on the front. Mr. Perez spoke to him after class. “Coach Cameron asked me how you’re doing.”
    Jason collected his books. The last thing he wanted was a lecture, but Perez kept talking. “You’re a good kid, Jason. I like you. I want to help you, but you need to decide what you want. You want to study, or you want to screw off?” Jason slung his backpack over his shoulder. “I’m not screwing off.”
    “Hold on.” Perez put up a hand. “Is there anyone who can help you at home? Your dad?” What a joke. “We don’t get along,” he told Perez. “A nd my mom doesn’t understand this stuff.”
    “Is there anyone else who could help?”
    Jason remembered Kyle’s offer. But … what if Kyle got the wrong idea?
    The following afternoon he stopped by Kyle’s locker. “Hey, you got your braces off. Looks good.” He wished his own teeth looked that good. But his old man would never pinch over a single dime for his teeth.
    Kyle flushed red and cracked a shy smile. “Thanks. How’s it going with you?”
    “Okay. I start basketball practice next week—every afternoon except Wednesdays. It makes it hard to keep up my grades.” He waited, hoping that Kyle would get the hint.
    Kyle slid his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I can help you if you want.” Jason knew he should make it clear that he only wanted math help—nothing more. But he didn’t know how to say it. Instead he agreed to meet Kyle at the flagpost after school the next day.
    A ll day Wednesday he chewed his nails and debated whether to go through with it. He half hoped Kyle wouldn’t show up.
    But there he stood by the flagpost, glancing in one direction, then another, nervously playing with the bill of his cap. When he spotted Jason, he broke into a huge smile. “Hi!”
    Whoa, Jason thought, calm down. “Look, all I want is help with math, okay?” Kyle’s smile disappeared. “Well, sure.” He scrunched his eyebrows. “What do you mean?” Jason kicked the ground. “Never mind.”
    They didn’t talk much on the walk to Jason’s house. Every once in a while he glanced over at Kyle. He had never really taken a good look at him before. His eyes were hazel, and his wire-frame glasses gave him a teddy-bear face. His hair was a honey color and hung down in bangs from beneath his cap. His shoulders were broad for such a thin guy. He remembered Kyle telling him he was on the swim team. He had a body like a swimmer—long, firm, and