Free Quiet Storm, Season 2, Episode 6 (Rising Storm) by Julie Kenner

to mend fences, so fingers-crossed it went smoothly and they could all be tight again.
    “Hey,” Luis said, as he and Mallory approached the table.
    “So, I was thinking we should let Lacey talk first, okay?”
    “Sure,” Mallory said, glancing at Lacey, who caught her eye and nodded.
    Jeffry frowned. Something didn’t feel quite right, but before he could ask, Lacey started talking.
    “Well, the thing is, we kinda already made up.”
    “You already made up?” Jeffry looked between his friends. “Then why are we here? I mean, I want to hang out again, but why the big production?”
    Lacey swallowed, looking distinctly nervous. “You know how I came over and apologized yesterday?”
    “Um, duh. That’s why we’re here.”
    “Yeah, well, I tried to do that on Sunday. I went to your house, and I wanted to avoid Uncle Sebastian, so I went to the backyard figuring I’d go to the door by the media room, but you weren’t there.”
    Jeffry could feel his face start to burn and his heart start to pound in his chest.
    “And then I heard someone in the pool house and so I—”
    Jeffry held up his hands, stopping her. He opened his mouth to say something, but what? That she mistook what she saw? That he wasn’t gay?
    No way.
    He was gay, and he’d been burying that part of himself for too long. No more.
    Well, not to his friends, anyway. He was still scared to death about his parents finding out.
    “Jeffry,” Mallory said gently. “It’s okay. That’s why we’re here. To tell you we know and we’re cool with it.”
    “With what?” Jeffry asked, because he just had to be certain.
    “Come on, man,” Luis said. “Lacey saw you kissing Scott.” Jeffry breathed a sigh of relief that Lacey had showed up earlier rather than later, when she’d have seen more than just kissing. “You’re gay. That’s cool.” He lifted a shoulder. “Half the girls in school are gonna be damn disappointed, but it’s cool with us. Honestly.”
    The air around Jeffry suddenly felt less oppressive, and each breath he pulled came easier.
    “Really? Then why this song and dance? I mean, this seems like an intervention.”
    They looked at each other and then at him. “Because Uncle Sebastian and Marylee are going to freak when they find out. And we wanted you to know that we’ve got your back.”
    “Always,” Mallory said.
    “Hell, yeah,” Luis added. “So was he the first or have we been clueless forever?”
    “He was the first,” Jeffry admitted.
    “Well, good for you,” Luis said with a wicked grin. “A college guy.”
    “Asshole,” Jeffry said, but he was smiling. “You guys really are the best. And I guess you all owe me and my sex life a big thanks, don’t you?” He laughed when they all looked confused. “Come on, two days ago you weren’t speaking. Then you see me with a guy and we’re all besties again.” He flashed a superior smile. “I really do have some awesome superpowers.”
    “Asshole,” Luis said, but he was laughing, and the girls soon joined him.
    “But what are you going to do about your family?”
    “I’ll probably tell Brit. But my parents and Grams? Honestly, I’m not going to do anything. I’ll be in college in a year, and then I’ll either tell them or they’ll figure it out. Until then, I can just focus on school. But I’m not going to date. Not guys, and definitely not girls. I can just be the guy who studies a lot. But I’m not going to be a hypocrite.”
    “What about Scott?”
    At that, Jeffry frowned. “I like him a lot. I mean, I don’t think we’re gonna run off into the sunset and get married or anything, but I’d like to see him more. I just—I just don’t know if it’s a good idea. I mean, you guys are right. If my parents find out...”
    “But he’s in College Station, right?” Lacey asked. “You could visit him there and your family would never know.”
    “Actually, he wants me to go to Austin this Saturday. There’s a charity event at a gay