Too Perfect to Be True

Will watched the crowed of students rush into the front doors of the school. He was 18. “One more year.” He thought to himself. “I can do this.” After spending the summer in LA living independently and trying to score modeling and acting jobs with much older peers and friends, he wasn’t thrilled with returning to high school. 

“I hate high school kids, Page.” He had told his best friend on the phone the night before. “They’re so oblivious to what’s actually out there. I have so many fake friends. I have to put on a completely different façade at high school.”

“Well then, why don’t you just come out?” Page asked. Page had been Will’s best friend since 3rd grade. 
“This is Wisconsin Page, that wouldn’t go over real well. And besides, I don’t want to be known a ‘Gay Will’. I hate labels, and that’s what high school is all about.”
“Yeah, I guess.” She said disappointed. 

“I was so happy in LA, Page. I had guys gushing over me. I have never felt better about myself.” Will said. He was only open to a few people at the school: closest friends and a few people who had unfortunately found out through rumors of hookups. Will was by no means completely innocent. He had had his fair share of hookups and lost his virginity to an actor in LA who was seven years older than him the past summer. 

And now he stood before the doors of his mid-western high school, watching the new group of freshman cower under the upper-classmen’s shadows. He had already heard people call each other “fag” twice since he began approaching the building. Culture shock was a very poor way to describe what he was feeling. Will was by no means “unpopular” at his school. Everyone liked him. There was no reason not to. He was incredibly nice, talented, friendly, and good looking. His facial features were striking but he was by no means “well built”, he was just thin and satisfied with his body, he just never found “pumping iron” very enjoyable. Girls still wooed over him though. He dressed extremely well and was very clean cut. He sang and acted. If you examined stereotypes, you may have thought Will was gay…but for the most part he acted straight. 

Will stopped at his locker and threw his car keys and sunglasses into the metal cubby. As he turned a rush of bright blue football jerseys flew by him. He got a few nods from some of the players as if to say, “what’s up man?” Again, no one truly had a problem with Will at school. He got along with almost every “type.” As the players passed his eyes fell on someone he had tried hard to forget about the past summer. Jacob O’Hare. Jacob O’Hare was perfect, undeniably so. He had a perfect body with a perfect face and perfect bone structure. Jacob’s face incredibly handsome and beautiful and still incredibly unique and striking. He was an 18 year old junior but looked as if he were a junior in college. He looked much older than any of his senior teammates. Not only did Jacob have the looks and the tan, but also he had the perfect personality to match. He was incredibly genuine and would never hurt a fly. He was the school’s star quarterback and the schools star artist. No one had ever-frustrated Will more than Jacob. He simply couldn’t believe that people like this actually existed. He was as envious of Jacob as he was completely in love with him. As Jacob passed, Will struggled not to stare. He couldn’t help it. It was as though a movie star had just passed him in LA. Jacob noticed and smiled mildly as he walked by. Embarrassed and even more frustrated, Will struggled to stay on his feet, feeling his face turn a dark red.

“You’re pathetic.” Said Page appearing out of nowhere. She had seen the entire scene and known of Will’s feelings for Jacob since Will himself had felt them. “You really think no one will find your drooling obvious?” She laughed.
“Fuck you.” Will said with humor pulling out his schedule. He leaned in and gave Page a kiss on the cheek. 
“Oh that’s how you cover it up!” She joked.

“I’ve said hello that way since we were before.” He opened his schedule and she opened hers. “Two classes together. Perfect.” He said. 
“Yeah but its not me you really want in your class.” She laughed. “Say hi to Jakey for me.” She said quietly before skipping off to her first period.
Of course she was right. And as the day went on, Will found himself incredibly disappointed to find that Jacob was not, in fact, in any of his classes; Or at least not initially. 

It was during his sixth period nearly a week later that Jacob appeared in the doorway of his Statistics class. 
“Hey I transferred in here. I was in Ms. Alexander’s class but she had too many students.” He said to the teacher. Will’s heart raced.
“Oh right, uh, sit down, you have this book?” The teacher asked pointing to his textbook.
“Yeah.” Said Jacob, sitting at the empty seat two seats up and diagonal from Will. Will realized that passing statistics may not be as easy as he had hoped. 

The semester went on and the second semester began as well. It wasn’t long until Will began to count the days to Spring Break. He didn’t know what to think of Jacob. He wanted so badly to say, “he’s a brilliant artist! He must be gay!” but that would be a nasty stereotype and could easily be countered with the fact that Jacob was the star quarterback of the high school. 
“He smiles at me a lot in class.” He told Page at lunch one day.

“God you’re obsessive! Will, he’s straight he has a girlfriend, and lot’s of people smile at you, you make jokes all through class.” Page said.
“Yeah but I heard he hasn’t had sex with his girl friend! And, you should see the way he smiles. It’s different. Trust me.”
“Well, I think the fact that you think about this so much is kind of sad. You need to let it go. Will, I thought you were over stupid high school stuff like this anyway.”
“You don’t understand Page. This isn’t just some crush. I can’t even think when I look at him, or hear him talk, or see him talking to other people. He’s so brilliant. He gives me a feeling I can’t even describe…I didn’t even know a feeling like this existed.” Will said, as sincere as ever.

“Alright Romeo, go get some air. I gotta get to the library.” Page said grabbing her lunch bag. She turned and put her hand on his wrist. “You really like him don’t you?” She asked.
“Yeah I do.” Will said.
“Well, you can’t let it get to you. I don’t want you to have false hope.”

Will lost his car keys constantly. It was an almost everyday thing for him. He would play with them in class and then spend his last period going back to each classroom looking for them. It was on the day before spring break that he was never happier that this occurred. He checked his science class and had no luck so he decided to head out to the portables across campus where he had his history class. It was a long walk and he was dreading the fact that he had to do it. When he reached the other side he saw a group of the jocks standing by his history classroom. They separated and only one of them was left standing there. It was Jacob. He was leaning against the wall as if he was waiting for someone. Will felt his knees go completely weak. He tried to swallow but the lump in his throat was unbearable. He decided not to look at Jacob and simply walk by. 

“What, no hello?” He heard suddenly. It couldn’t have been Jacob. Sure they talked but were they really on greeting terms? Will turned. Sure enough Jacob stood there smiling waiting for an answer with his eyebrows raised.
“Uh…Oh god sorry, Hi!” Will yelped. He cringed at himself. Trying hard not to loose it.
“What are you doing here still?” Jacob asked.
“I, ha, I lost my keys…my car keys…for driving…my car.” Will wanted to crawl into a hole and never leave.
“Shit man! I hope you find them. I gotta talk to my teacher, just waiting for her to show up.”
“Cool.” Will said…allowing an awkward silence between the two of them.
Jacob laughed, “Go find your keys.”

“Right.” Will said and turned quickly.
Will practically ran into the classroom. His teacher smiled at him “Keys?” he asked. Will nodded and looked around his desk. There was nothing. He didn’t want to have to walk back outside again if Jacob was still there. What would he say this time? More importantly, how stupidly would he behave? However, he decided to brave it and opened the door back outside. Jacob was still standing there but this time he was talking to his teacher. He intimidated everyone. The look on the teachers face was that of immense envy as he struggled to focus on discussed Jacobs grade. Will smiled and tried to slink by. Jacob stopped him.

“Hold on.” He said to his teacher, “Hey Will.” Jacob yelled after him. Will shuttered hearing his name called out by Jacob. “Did you find your keys?” He asked.
“Na, But I’ll be fine.” Will said. 
“I’ll give you a ride home.” Jacob told him. Will’s heart sank.
“What?” Will asked.

Jacob turned to his teacher. “I’ll give you the paper tomorrow, I swear.” The teacher smiled and said okay. Jacob turned back to me and laughed. “That paper’s a week late…that guys such a push-over.”
“Right, yeah, um I really don’t need a ride.” Will said.
Laughing Jacob said, “What’s the matter with you man, you afraid of me or something. C’mon it’s not a big deal at all. You don’t have a car to drive home.”
“I’m not afraid of you!” Will yelped.

Jacob gave a confused pause. “Well…good.” He smiled and began to lead Will to the parking lot. Will passed Page on the way, who simply stared and tilted her head like a confused dog. Will shrugged to her when Jacob wasn’t looking.
Even Jacob’s car was perfect. It was a black re-painted, re-modeled old ford truck. 
“Nice car.” Will said to Jacob sitting in the passenger seat. He felt numb. Everything was happening so fast.
“Thanks. My dad and I fixed it up.” Jacob said.
Will laughed, “Of course.” He said.

Jacob looked confused, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing…I just…I mean you do everything…you’re like, Mr. Perfect or something.” Will couldn’t believe what he was saying.
“Rrrright.” Jacob responded turning the ignition. “Um, yeah I really don’t get that. I mean I don’t try to be.”
“But you are I mean you do like everything! And perfectly too!” Will said, his frustration was coming out in the tone of his voice.
“Well sorry it offends you so much.” Jacob frowned.

“No, No I didn’t mean it that…” Will started.
Jacob cut him off “Where do you live?” He asked sharply.
“96 Jackson street.” Will said quietly.
For a moment it was silent. Then Jacob broke back in.