Tyler aimlessly clicked through channels on the TV, as he sat on the futon, which doubled as his bed. Kelly Gannon sat in the kitchen eating lunch, while she stuck her nose in a book. She had stopped home in the middle of her work shift at the library.

       Kelly and Greg's living room had become Tyler's makeshift bedroom for the past few days while he had been staying with them. Tyler's life had become stagnant and boring. Since he started living there, he had not attended school because he feared having to explain his initial absences to the school faculty. With nothing else to do, he simply sat around the apartment.

       He had already been struggling through his feelings of sadness and anger from being rejected by his parents, and with nothing else to occupy his time or thoughts the whole situation was becoming more than tiresome. He wondered how Kelly and Greg felt about his being there. They had only offered to let him stay the first night. They must be just as tired of his being there, although they had not yet made any mention about his leaving.

       Tyler had been able to feel more at ease in their protective sanctuary. They had been kind and considerate. At first he had been stubborn and did not communicate too much with either of them, but he was beginning to relax with his new friends.

       He continued to switch from channel to channel, but decided he should try to make some conversation with Kelly. "So do you always stop home for lunch during work?"

       "No, not always," she answered while still reading her book. Tyler could see into the open kitchen over the bar. "Sometimes I just need to get away. It's nice to leave for even a little while."

       Tyler felt a bit guilty. "I hope I'm not bothering you during your alone time."

       "Nyah."

       Tyler felt closed off by her short answer. He considered for a moment whether he should still pursue their conversation or just let it die. "When will Greg be back?"

       "I'm not sure. Didn't he tell you?"

       "No."

       "When did he leave?"

       "This morning, after you left for work."

       "If he left that early, then he's probably only staying the day with Anthony. He should be back sometime tonight."

       "Does he stay overnight at Anthony's a lot?"

       "On average about one or two nights a week, or Anthony stays here."

       "Is Greg gay?"

       Kelly put her book down. "Of course he is. You sound like you weren't sure."

       "I wasn't. I mean, I thought he was. But he never really said."

       "So you figured it out?"

       "Well, I only met Anthony the one time. I didn't see them kiss or anything. But there just seemed to be something between them, like they're an item."

       "No kidding. I'm glad your gay-dar was working and I didn't have to be the one to tell you about the birds and bees."

       "Gay-dar?" Tyler asked.

       "Oh, you don't know what gay-dar is? Why haven't your people written a manual yet? Lord knows it might help straight people learn a few things as well."

       Kelly stepped up to the sink to rinse her lunch dishes. "Ok first lesson in Homo 101, though you should have gotten this from someone else, such as Greg. Gay-dar is like radar, but is the ability to sense other people who are gay. " Kelly packed her lunchtime reading material back into her workbag. "I'm surprised Greg didn't tell you."

       "He's been really nice to me, like you have. But he doesn't really talk to me."

       "Greg not talking - that's unusual."

       "Well, he talks, but... I don't know. He's always kinda' joking. He doesn't say anything serious."

       "I think it's Greg's way of dealing with things." Kelly leaned against the kitchen doorway and scratched her elbow. "You have to admit, you haven't talked to us a lot, either."

       "I guess."

       "I think it's Greg's way of drawing you out."

       "Is that why he brought me home?"

       "What? Because he's gay?"

       "Yeah."

       "You can ask Greg that." Kelly stood with her workbag slung over her shoulder. "If you're asking if he picked you up because he's a slut trying to get you to bed, I think you know that's not true."

       "Oh, I know that." Tyler thought Greg to be considerate and caring, certainly not to have alterior motives. Besides, Tyler considered him to be too old. Greg was at least twenty-six. "I just can't believe I didn't see it."

       "I assumed Greg would have already told you." Kelly rested her hand on Tyler's shoulder. "This is a lot for you to deal with." She turned to walk toward the door.

       "I guess."

       "Give Greg a chance. Through all his joking there's bound to be some good advice in there."

       "Ok."

       Kelly turned back before opening the door. "You going to be ok?"

       "Yeah."

       "Tyler, both Greg and I want to help you. I know we've only just met, but we're willing to help you work through this. I know this'll sound cheesy, but let us be your friends."

       "Well, as cheesy as it is, I need friends."

       Kelly smiled. "Ok, I'll see you after I get home from work." She opened the door and left.

       Tyler sat back on the futon. "Greg is gay. I knew it."

       He folded his arms across his chest. He felt a pulse of warmth up his spine, exhilarated by the idea that Greg and Kelly really seemed to care about him. "I do need friends. Perhaps I'm luckier than I thought. Boy, I'll have a lot to talk to Greg about, when he comes home?"

       Tyler glanced around the empty room and sighed. He grabbed the remote. "Greg better get home soon - I'm talking to myself way too much!"

       Meanwhile, at a cafe in the Highland Square area of Akron, Greg and Anthony both leaned back in their chairs to make room for their food's arrival. "Could I have more water, please?" Anthony asked the waitress before she walked away.

       "God, I love this!" Greg stirred his soup, moving big chunks of potatoes, carrots, and zucchini. "Aladdin's makes the best chicken vegetable soup! And I don't usually like chicken soup. How's your lentil?"

       "Good."

       "What were you going to say when the waitress came?" Greg blew on his spoonful of soup.

       "I was just going to ask more about Tyler. How long has he been there?" Anthony stirred his lentil soup, mixing in the feta cheese.

       "A few days."

       Anthony paused as he watched the waitress return with the water he had requested. "How does Kelly feel about it?"

       "She's fine about it, I guess. Why?"

       "I was just wondering how she felt. I mean you brought him home, right? She didn't really have a choice."

       Greg looked up from his soup and into Anthony's eyes. "Don't worry. She's fine about it."

       Anthony felt Greg's gaze. It was as though Greg was trying to read his thoughts. "She's pretty understanding."

       "Well, she's concerned about Tyler too. I mean he has no where else to go, Anthony..."

       "I know the story," Anthony interrupted.

       "This isn't about your concern for Kelly, is it?" Greg rested his spoon in his bowl, while continuing to look into Anthony's eyes.

       Greg's staring made Anthony uncomfortable. He turned his face away from Greg. "What do you mean?"

       "Why don't you tell me?"

       "Huh?" Greg's probing made Anthony feel uneasy. "I was just talking about Tyler, making conversation." Anthony was not sure why he had brought up the subject. He wished he had not. He began to feel a little guilty.

       "Are you jealous?"

       "What?? What would I be jealous of?"

       "I don't know, Tyler being in the house? He takes my attention or interest? You tell me."

       "I wouldn't call it jealousy." Anthony did not think he was jealous of Tyler. He was irritated that Greg believed he knew what Anthony was feeling, especially because Anthony did not even know what he was feeling. Anthony was not aware that he was being motivated by jealousy.

       "What would you call it?"

       "I don't know. But I'm not jealous." Even if he was jealous, he certainly did not want to admit that Greg was right. Why did Greg presume to know what he was thinking?

       "Ok, you're not jealous." Greg put his hand over Anthony's. "Whatever you're feeling - Tyler is gay. He needs help. Call it internalized guilt because my coming-out process has been easier. Call it compassion for the underdog. I'm not exactly sure the reason why, but Kelly and I both want to help Tyler."

       Anthony enjoyed feeling the touch of Greg's hand as he spoke. He looked into Greg's face again.

       "I'm not sure what helping Tyler is going to mean. But I do know, right now he needs a place to stay. I hope that doesn't bother you. It has absolutely no effect on how much I feel for you, Anthony." Greg smiled.

       "I'm not jealous." Anthony insisted with a smirk.

       "Ok, already, you're not jealous. Do you accept that I still want you to be my boyfriend?" Greg squeezed Anthony's hand.

       "Yes." Anthony smiled. "But I wasn't jealous."

       "Fine. Finish your lentil soup, silly."

       Anthony felt better. However, he was still wary of Tyler's living with Greg. He would wait until he actually met Tyler, to decide if the situation really bothered him. Though he preferred that Tyler would soon be out of the picture, and he might never have the chance.