Page 9 of Lace

“It isn’t just about you! It spreads. He starts in on you and encourages his buddies and they branch out, and we have first year students—who aren’t grown men, by the way—battling thugs and not having anywhere to turn.”

“So, what the hell do you want me to do about it?”

“Be there for them. Be there for this Mitchell kid when he comes to the Council and asks for space to do his show. Because he will. Because kids like him expect us to help them.”

“I’m not on the Student Council.”

“But Levi is, and you’re his boyfriend. Everyone knows that, and if you’re there…” He paused. “Well, you’ll get all that.” He waved at the flyer. “You understand this. Him. What he’s fighting against. It isn’t just a fashion show. It’s his mark for the class and he’s going out on a limb to prove something. That takes guts and he could use all the support we can give him.”

“You going to walk down the runway in his skirts?”

Angel shrugged. “If I have to. If we can’t find people who will actually look good in them to do it”—he met Caleb’s gaze—“like you. Look…” He got up and took the pop can that Caleb was crushing into a squashed mess. “I know it’s a lot to ask. But you know what Shank is like. You know he’ll be all over this, and the only way I can think of to deal with that is to show him his shit is not going to fly except in his own face, right? Because if hecan’t get to you, he’ll just turn on some tender first year kid, and someone has to stand up for them. There are more assholes on this campus than just Shank.”

“Thank you.” Caleb spun away and jammed the coffee basket closed. “I wasn’t aware.”

“Look—”

“No, you look.” Caleb whirled and pointed a finger at Angel’s chest. “I have been dealing with this shit since I was five years old! Fighting this battle every time I step out the door, so don’t you—Mr Star Athlete, captain of the basketball team, Student Council President, engaged to your dream girl—tell me how to deal with it!”

“Hey!” Levi chose that moment—when Caleb’s chest had begun to tighten, his breath becoming too short—to bull his way back into the room. “Caleb?” The coffee pot clattered onto the desk and Levi gripped Caleb’s shoulders. “Cally?” he whispered, leaning close. “You okay, babe? Need your puffer?”

Caleb shook his head. “I’m… fine.” He pulled in a deep breath between words. “Fine.”

“You should go,” Levi suggested, looking over his shoulder at Angel.

“I’m sorry. I just…”

“I know. Just… not the time.”

“Okay, okay.” Angel raised both hands in front of him. “I thought… hoped… sorry, Caleb.”

“‘S fine.” Caleb tried to sit as Angel shuffled out of the room, but Levi turned his attention back and kept him on his feet.

“Cally, where’s your puffer?”

“Bag.” Caleb nodded at his backpack sitting on the floor beside the desk.

“Just hang on a sec. Stay on your feet for one minute.” He pushed Caleb’s shoulders against the top bunk, straighteninghim out and somewhat clearing his airways before he rifled through Caleb’s bag to find the inhaler, which he handed over.

After a couple of puffs on the nasty contents, Caleb felt his airway open up again and he nodded at Levi, still hovering close and concerned. “I’m okay, Lev.”

“I should kick his ass, or something.”

“No.” Caleb sighed. “You shouldn’t. Wasn’t his fault. Just…” Caleb shook his head and sank into the chair behind the desk, poking at the ledgers once again. “Not his fault.”

Three

Three weeks passed. Caleb failed an accounting exam, got into it with his uncle about how he wasn’t applying himself, and had uncomfortable conversations with just about every Student Council executive member that left him feeling guilty about repeatedly saying no.

Only Levi didn’t pressure him about the kid’s fashion show, and that, in its own way, was a pressure on his soul he didn’t want to think about. The thought that his lover wanted him to have nothing to do with strutting the fashionable but feminine men’s wear down the catwalk burned around the edges of his heart. He didn’t want to get too near that flame.

Instead, he finished the song tumbling around in the back of his head and hoped when he played it, Levi would hear what Caleb felt in the music.

“You’re awfully quiet.” Levi smoothed a bit of hair off his forehead and Caleb shifted, rolling to rest his head on Levi’s shoulder.

“Mm.” Caleb had to scrunch his knees up and press his feet against the footboard to be able to lie like that, but it made it easier for Levi’s arm to fit around his shoulders. Once again, hislover was mostly naked and flushed and playing with the buckle of Caleb’s belt lying across Levi’s thigh. Caleb hadn’t had the presence of mind to get rid of his jeans when Levi had dragged him into his dorm room and pushed him down on the bed. It was a ploy to get his mind of his failing grades and he knew it. He wasn’t about to argue with the tactic.

“Just thinking,” Caleb told him.

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