DellaSteffon
Daniel Lopez was quite the kid, despite where he stood. Despite his family stood.
Perched in the downsides of town, living among one of the nooks in downtown California, Daniel had always been shades of flames contained in a jar. And when puberty came in with its sharp claws, Danny already knew it deep down...that he was gay. Before his sixteenth birthday, he came out to his parents. Both his parents were catholic. And they might have oozed of love, unfortunately there wasn't much of an acceptance that prevailed. His mom, Lucía, was sterner. Didn't kick him out, yet a few grudging comments were slipped. So, Daniel looked elsewhere-high and low.
And in the search for elsewhere, he found out who he was.
That's why he fit in with his friends, the ones who didn't mind breaking a rule or two. Or ten. Smoking, sneaking out, partying, drinking, wandering into places they weren't supposed to be. It was a rebellion that felt necessary. He was half Salvadorian, half Mexican and entirely American; straddling three cultures, somehow always feeling slightly out of place each, despite being completely open. Himself.
Then, Atharv Das.
Dios mío, Daniel didn't know who he was with him around.
Atharv was also, quite the kid-despite where he stood. Despite where his parents stood.
Perched in the upper sides of town, living in one of the higher class suburbs, he had always been sharp like a wineglass finally starting to crack at its base. And when puberty came in with its sharp claws, Das already knew it deep down inside...that he wasn't gay. Well, that's what he first tried to convince himself. He was smart, humble, disciplined, polite, impeccably mannered. The list went on. And gay? Come on. That didn't fit anywhere, did it?
AD was told to tutor Daniel. Next thing you know, Danny's falling for those remarkable eyes of amber. He'd asked Atharv Das out when his grade shifted from an F to a C.
Next thing you know, Atharv...managed a yes.
Well, uh...something like that.