He never aspired to a position of power, yet Geoffrey had been groomed for this life. Through he originally entered St Ignatius' all male atmosphere as a trio of gays like the reigning senior gays at the time, he now found himself the sole out homosexual of his class in his fourth and final year. It was unprecedented, really. The head queer, while fearsome, always had at least one - if not two - colleagues to help them rule quietly. And though Geoffrey knew of others his year he could confide in, none were ready to stomp the halls with him.
Confident in his sexuality and his slightly sturdy build, it still perplexed him that even in his last year his classmates would pull him aside to ask, “Hey, are you gay?” purely out of ignorance. He knew he wasn’t the most flamboyant of his peers, but he assumed it would have become obvious after four years studying together. There were only 107 students in their grade, after all. Yet he brushed it off, knowing he had his conquest in his day.
Of course, that was the chief - but not sole - purpose of the yearly renewed queerdom. In a school full of hormonal teenage boys, there were bound to be questions, inquiries, and explorations. Throughout the years, Geoffrey and his peers discretely addressed their fellow classmates' sexual concerns in the secrecy of the preparatory walls, some finding the courage to join their ranks at the end of a senior year, others accepting a mouth was just a mouth. (This was before the days of sexuality commonly being accepted as a spectrum, particularly in the black community.) The second role of this society was to ensure that queer students and other queer individuals their peers would meet later in life would be respected and treated as equal. No stigma, all chill. Lastly, if the head gay chose to accept, they were to influence the politics and culture of the school as a whole. Some saw it important to be part of the school government directly. Others, like Geoffrey, preferred to work in the shadows.
Today, however, he had to address the first two missions directly. The Class of 2009, as a collective, had been a problem since they stepped foot on campus their freshman year. Now as sophomores, they felt new rambunctious energy as the Class of 2010 entered. These two classes saw new spikes in openly out and daring homosexual boys, eager to speak their mind in any situation despite the danger or the authority figure. Knowing he only had so many lieutenants in the Class of 2008, Geoffrey saw it imperative to hold a caucus of all the known gays by October of that Fall Semester.
With Mr Ness occupied with Water Polo tryouts and practice, Geoffrey sat behind his desk in the office looking out into the cafeteria. Ness’ office was a common meeting place for queer students, water polo players, student government leaders, and any upperclassman looking to lurk on campus after hours. It was a modest size, enough room for a couple of worn in couches and a small armchair to line the walls with another chair sitting opposite of his desk. Plaques, degrees, and photographs of alumni and former water polo teams hung from the walls. That afternoon, Geoffrey was joined by Navius - a junior gay - and Conrad - a bored senior.
“What time are they all getting here? You know I gotta leave for work,” Navius said anxiously, watching the clock and tucking his grey polo into his khakis.
Geoffrey adjusted his glasses, keeping his gaze fixed on his history textbook. “As soon as Lionel gets here, you can leave. You got bout ten minutes to walk across the courtyard; you’ll be alright.” Hearing Navius huff, he looked up. “Look, the problem is they do what they want as it is. And that’s fine. We don’t need to be an unified front. They just need to know the rules and respect them so we can all… well.”
“Oh, don’t be modest on my part,” Conrad cut in, picking out his hair. “It’s not like I don’t know. After spending the last year eavesdropping, my world view has been illuminated. If these walls could talk --”
“Exactly. And we don’t need the faculty having more concern than they already do.”
“Imagine if they were running around doing the same thing though.”
Geoffrey and Navius shot him a lowered-eye, raised eyebrow smirk.
Conrad adjusted his legs underneath him on the couch in a singular leap. “Okay, who the fuck did what? Tell me!” Noticing he was shouting, he adjusted to a whisper. “I mean, let me in. Please.”
As Navius started to open his mouth, Javon and Kyle burst into the room, Lionel following behind them. “I’m telling you, you gotta try the sushi,” Lionel said. “Even from the cafe, it delivers.”
“Raw fish tho?” Kyle questioned.
“You’ll slurp it right up, no hetero.”
Navius chuckled and shook his head. “Ya’ll too much. But that’s my cue. Good luck, Geoffrey.” Before the senior could get a word out, the student worker grabbed his backpack and slid between Javon and Kyle out the door.
“Well,” Javon smacked his gum and plopped his in the chair angled in front of the desk, crossing his short, slender legs, “you called for the gurls--”
“--and the gurls! Have arrived!” Kyle spun slowly with his arms above his hands flourishing out. Dizzy from even that he sat in the chair closest to the door. Lionel, looking to keep things casual, opted to sit next to Conrad. They exchanged smiles.
“I guess asking for every single one of ya’ll to come was too much?” The lowerclassmen shrugged. Geoffrey closed his eyes and channeled Bernard who had come before him. “Listen, you know I love ya’ll - and pass this on to ya’ll friends - but ya’ll need to dial it back.”
“Uhn-uhn. I refuse to dim my star just because you’re boring,” Kyle snapped.
“First of all, lil boy, that’s not what I was talking about. Secondly, Brady and em used to stomp down these halls in full geish and heels. So learn ya history.” He took a moment to readjust himself behind the desk. “I’m talking about outting these boys ya’ll be messing with. We don’t do that.”
Javon sucked his teeth. “Yeah, I hear you, but these niggas be tryna pop off, and I’m not gonna let them talk to me me any kinda way. They wanna try me, I’mma come for them.”
“But see,” Lionel chimed in, “you gotta be strategic. Like, boom, a dude I messed with tried to play me in front of his friends last year. So I read his dusty ass twists. He ain’t have much to say after that.”
“Why I feel like I know who you talking bout?” Conrad felt Lionel elbow his ribs.
“I guess,” Kyle said. “But that don’t feel as satisfying.”
Geoffrey polished his glasses. “Trust me, it will. Just don’t embarass them too bad if you want them to keep finding you after school. Otherwise some of these men aren’t gonna figure themselves out til college or worst after they knock some poor girl up three times.”
“Okay, point taken, bitch.”
“Don’t call me bitch.”
“What up, bitches!” Silas burst into the room with two other water polo players following behind him. “Fuck ya’ll talkin bout in here? What up, ‘Rad?”
“Shut up, Silas. What are ya’ll doing here anyway? I thought ya’ll had practice.” Geoffrey swivled in the chair to check the calendar behind him.
“Nah, it’s just tryouts today, and I ain’t the captain so we waiting til they done.”
“Mmhmm.” As he turned back towards the door, through the space between the intruders, he spotted Trey in the cafe. “Excuse me for a second.” Manuveuring through the crowded office, he slipped out.
“So what, are we dismissed?” Javon called out to him.
“Yeah, we’re done. And Silas, don’t take my seat.”
His 6’5” friend had a clever response, but Geoffrey didn’t hear him as he glided to Trey who busy filling his water bottle. His wavy caesar hair shimmered in the sunlight coming through the glass doors, his sienna skin well moistured. He wore a t-shirt and athletic shorts that hung loose every where but his posterior, which at the moment mesmorized Geoffrey. Snapping back before being caught, he greeted his friend.
“Oh, yo, what up, G?” Trey smiled as he released the button to the fountain. “Did you want to get in on this?”
“What? No. I just… wanted to make sure you remember he have that history quiz tomorrow.” He amazed himself.
“That’s why I’m glad I got a spot next to yo smart ass in class. Bout to be cheatin than a mothafucka.”
Geoffrey rolled his eyes. “Or you could just study.”
“Nah, I’m bout to go practice some lacrosse drills.”
“Ya’ll aren’t even in season.”
“Grind never stops, knahmean. But if you’re here after I’m done, I’ll catch you for some notes.” Trey started making his way out the door, flashing his smile as usual.
Geoffrey hoped he had positioned himself out of Silas’ view to avoid ridicule. From the looks of it, it seemed most of the gays had cleared out of Ness’ office. As he started to make his way back, he noticed Conrad leave and pause at the cafe exit leading towards the computer lab. The afro’d lad cracked his neck and peeked behind him before carrying on his way. Having no real desire to reclaim his seat, Geoffrey followed him at a distance. The halls remained quiet as they each softly stepped, only noise of opening and closing doors echoing. Around the corner from the computer lab across from the bottom of the steps were double doors leading to the back stairwell and the closed gift shop. And one more door that was rarely used that led to the prayer room. Ensuring no one was behind him, he checked the doorknob: it was unlocked. He opened the door to find Conrad casually sitting on a pillow. He closed the door and locked it. This was discretion.
Word
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