Free Play Me, I'm Yours [Library Edition] by Madison Parker Page A

that.)
     
    Was Donovan asking him on a date? Was this a joke? The poem had traveled all the way around the circle. Everyone had read it. He was sure they were all looking at him, trying to gauge his reaction. He didn’t dare lift his eyes from the paper.
    Lucas blushed and fidgeted with his pen. Did he have to give an answer right now? In front of everyone? Did he have to answer these review questions? Donovan wasn’t even in their group!
    Despite his embarrassment, Lucas did his best to answer the questions.
    1. How do you think the author feels about this person?
Lisa: He wants to do the nasty.
Zach: Impersonal.
Diana : He likes him.
Lucas: I didn’t think you liked me very much.
    2. Based on the poem, what else can you infer about the person?
Lisa: He’s afraid of vampires.
Zach: Nothing. It’s all about the author, not the subject.
Diana: He’s gay.
Lucas: You make me nervous.
    3. What is your overall reaction to the poem?
Lisa: You should at least buy him dinner and a movie first. Don’t be so cheap.
Zach: No one wants to hear about your kinky fetishes.
Diana: Lame pickup line. But you get bonus points for delivery. Score!
Lucas: I’m surprised you wrote about me.
    He really was surprised. Donovan had obviously planned this in advance. He’d put time and effort into it. Lucas felt flattered, even if he was painfully embarrassed. Especially by some of those comments. No one had ever done anything like this for him before. Did Donovan like him like that?
    When Lucas found the courage to look up from the paper, everyone in the group was gawking at him.
    Donovan wore a sly smile. “What do you say?”
    “Okay.”
    As soon as Lucas said it, Zach jumped out of his seat and yanked his desk away. He turned in his paper, grabbed his backpack, and stormed out the door.
    Lucas stared at the empty doorway, a little stunned.
    “Forget him,” Donovan said. “If he doesn’t like queers, that’s his problem.”
    Lucas blushed, uncomfortable at hearing himself referred to like that. Donovan was right, though. If Zach didn’t like him, there was nothing he could do about it.
     
     
    D ONOVAN grabbed a table near the back of the coffee shop and sat down to wait for Lucas. He smiled as he thought about the stunt he’d pulled in English. Of course Lucas had said yes. Donovan had pulled out all the stops. He’d written poetry, for God’s sake. And it had taken him far longer than he cared to admit. But this was important. Donovan pulled out his phone.
    Donovan: waiting for L
    Trish: be nice
    Donovan: butt of course
    Trish: i mean it. don’t scare him away
    Donovan: you mean with my enormous cock?
    Trish: omg do i need to chaperone?
    Donovan: calm your tits, i’ll be nice
Trish: you better or i swear i’m not bringing you to alex’s party
    Donovan: what if he doesn’t want to go?
    Trish: then i’m leaving you home and going stag
    Donovan: bitch. fine i’ll convince him to cum
    Trish: watch your mouth. he’s sensitiv e
    Lucas entered the coffee shop, then stuffed his hands into his sweatshirt. He looked around, shoulders hunched.
    Donovan sighed. Why was Trish trying so hard to set him up with Lucas? Could she not see how pathetic he was?
    Donovan walked over to him and said hello.
    Lucas smiled. “Hi.”
    “You want something to drink?”
    “Yeah, okay.” Lucas stared at the menu board in confusion as they waited in line. “I’ve never been here before.”
    “Do you drink coffee?”
    “No, not really.”
    Jesus, a coffee virgin too?
    “What can I get for you?” asked the perky barista.
    “Grande skinny mocha,” Donovan said, then turned to Lucas.
    “Um… I’ll have… um… the same.”
    Donovan paid for the drinks, then led Lucas to a table.
    “So you and Trish have become friends, huh?” said Donovan.
    “Yeah. She’s nice.”
    “Mhm. And persistent. And accepting. And, what was it?” he teased.
    Lucas chuckled. “Yeah. I didn’t know who else to write about.”
    “Hmm. What about