Chapter 1: Early Party Malfunction

I groaned as I looked at myself in the mirror. I shook the water from my hair, much like a dog would, making sure my purple towel stayed on my hips. I know that purple is a girly color, but it's my favorite. I don't ever tell anyone, because they'll think I'm too feminine, but I'm not gay.

I'm skinny and have little muscles, which no one can see because I got them during the fall and it's now winter so I have to wear long sleeves or jackets. I stand at 5'10 and weigh 135 pounds, thus I'm not able to hide easily. I'd love to be able to just curl up with a book and stay in my apartment, but tonight is my friend Joe's annual Christmas party, so I have to go.

I took the blow dryer out and let the hot air hit my face at first, then moved it around the rest of my head and let my hair fall where it may. My hair is a dark brown color,with bangs that fall right above my eyes. I wish I could make them move all to one side, but then my fear of everyone thinking I'm too feminine hits me again and destroys that wish, since my hair is to my jaw.

The only thing I've let be feminine about myself are my eyes. They're a light blue with a speck of purple in them, due to my contacts. It's pretty weird that I could get a pair with just a speck in each one instead of the whole lens being purple. I only wear my glasses around the apartment, because they make me look like a dork.

I shook my head again before walking down the hallway to my room. I looked at the clock on my nightstand that read 6:30. Joe's party is in an hour. I took a pair of black pants out and a long sleeved black shirt to match. It stuck to me a bit, but I didn't mind. I slipped them on and looked down at myself. I smacked my head, feeling stupid for forgetting my socks. Laughing, I pulled out black socks, though I didn't know why I even matched my socks...maybe I am a dork.

Walking into the bathroom one last time to look at myself, I decided to just throw on my black tennis shoes and walk back to my room. I looked around for a bit, until I found what I was looking for...To Kill a Mockingbird...the book I had been reading since this morning. I grabbed it and ran towards the door, because the clock already said 7:00.

"Damn." I mummbled, looking around for my keys. The last thing I wanted was to be late with everyone staring at me as I walk in. I finally found them on the kitchen counter.

"Stupid." I growled at the keys, pissed at the fact that they would make me late.

I slammed the door shut, locked it, and tried not to trip as I sprinted down the hall to the elevator. In a panic, I pushed the button with the arrow pointing upwards instead of downwards.

"Ugh!" I yelled out in frustration, pushing the other one as well, feeling like a little kid who had pushed them both purposely, despite what their mother told them.

After what seemed like an eternity, the elevator dinged and the doors opened. I was hoping to be alone, but there was another boy, about my age in there. He looked like he had been crying, his blonde bangs sliding over his eyes to hide them.

All the frustration I had in me seemed to vanish, as I stared at the shorter boy before me. He looked to be about 5'6" and weigh a little less than me. His cheeks were flushed, although the rest of him was pale.

He looked at me with sad brown eyes and we just stared at each other for a moment. I could feel my sadness become iminate as I took a few steps into the elevator towards him. As soon as I did that, he started tearing up and lunged for me, wrapping his skinny arms around my waist and burying his face into my chest.

I couldn't help but wrap my arms around him in an embrace. I just felt he needed it as I turned my head to lay my cheek on the top of his head. He felt just like a girl as he tightened his grip and continued to cry. I really wish he would stop, because I hate seeing people sad.

I heard him start to calm down and his crying turned into sniffling as I rubbed my hand slowly up and down his back. I'm not sure why I felt the need to do this all to a stranger...to a guy... I'm not gay...am I?

"...Am...I...ugly?"

I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard the small voice whisper to me. The boy stared up at me with his swollen, puffy eyes and I stared back at him for a moment.

"Of course not...but you'd look more attractive if you weren't crying." I said, giving him a small smile.

He smiled back...it was the first one I got from him and knew that I had cheered him up at least a bit.

"My name is Seth and the reason I was in here crying is because my boyfriend just broke up with me." He said sadly, letting go of my waist and slumping against the wall of the elevator, letting out a sigh in the process.

"I'm sorry about that." I whispered, knowing how it felt to be broken hearted. My girlfriend of a year broke up with me about four months ago and I never knew why, but I never dated since.

"So, what's your name?"

I realized that he was staring at me from under his bangs and I just blinked for a second. I never noticed how light of a brown his eyes had gotten. His blonde hair went down to his shoulders and he wore a black see-through shirt with a black tank top underneath. His jeans drug on the floor, but I could see his black and white checkered shoes. Then I noticed something shiney and looked up from his feet to see his belt. It was black with a glittered 'M' in the middle.

"This is my boyfriend's...I mean ex-boyfirend's belt and if you could, would you please stop checking me out long enough to tell me your name...stranger."

I shook my head and looked up at him dumbly. He was smirking at me and had his hands on his hips.

"Don't look at me like that. I know you like this." He laughed, shaking his hips a bit.

"...I'm not gay." I stated, looking at him.

"That's what they all say before realizing that they truly are." He reached out his hand and grabbed my arm, adding "When you figure out you are,come to this room." He wrote a '402' on my hand and with that he walked out of the elevator.

"Wait!" I called after him.

"Yes?"

"My name is Luke." I said, looking at hm and his hure grin. I was too busy looking at him to notice that the doors were closing. I glanced up to see that the elevator was going down again.

"Goodbye...Luki."

I smiled,waving 'bye' to Seth. I liked my new nickname, I mean, everyone had shortened my name from Lucas to Luke, but never to anything that sounded...cute...

Wait, I just called something cute! I've NEVER done that before. I began to think about what Seth had said, shaking my head to push it out of my mind, as the elevator dinged to signify that I was on the ground floor.

I smiled despite myself, walking off towards the party, and deciding that the party might not be so bad after...even if I am gay...a little...

AN: How do you like my new story thus far? Things may be going a little too fast for you, but I promise later chapters slow it down. Read and Review!