Inkognito

inkognitowrites@yahoo.com

The alley smelled like wet socks and broken promises, exactly the kind of place secrets went to get mugged by the truth.

Shawn didn’t even get a chance to enjoy Jason’s hug before Kenny grabbed him, yanking him away like a mom snatching her kid from a suspicious-looking ice cream truck.

“Well, well,” Kenny sneered, his voice dripping with the kind of glee usually reserved for Marvel movie villains. “Didn’t know you swung that way, Shawn.”

Andrew grinned like someone who actively chose not to prevent forest fires. “Bet Darren’s gonna love this,” he said, glancing toward the alley’s mouth.

Right on cue, heavy footsteps on asphalt announced Darren, who looked like he’d just raided the corner store and was late for a nap.

“What’s this?” he asked, as if he were commenting on the weather, not walking into a live episode of Gay Panic: The Alley Edition.

Andrew puffed up like a balloon full of secondhand drama. “Your little bro was just making out with that guy over there.”

He jabbed a thumb at Jason, who looked like he was about to Hulk out.

Darren blinked. “Okay… and?”

Andrew frowned, the hamster working overtime as his gears screeched and sparked. “And he’s gay.”

Darren squinted at him like he was trying to figure out if he should call the ASPCA to rescue the hamster. “Yeah, and I like spicy chips. What’s your point, Andrew?”

Kenny jumped in. “You’re not pissed?”

“Nope.”

“But your brother’s—”

“If you’re that obsessed with Shawn being gay,” Darren deadpanned, “maybe you should ask him out. I’m sure he’d let you down easy.”

The silence was so awkward you could hear Andrew’s confidence deflate, while Kenny's mouth fell open just enough to catch flies.

Darren shrugged and pulled out his wallet like it was just another Tuesday. “Anyway, you got any bud on ya? High time for me to re-up.”

For a moment everyone stood there blinking in unison.

Shawn looked scandalized when he finally spoke. “You’re not even surprised?”

Darren looked over with a raised brow. “Bro, you’re not exactly subtle.”

Silence.

“I just thought—” Shawn began.

Darren waved him off. “Don’t get all Lifetime movie on me. You happy?”

“I… yeah.”

“Cool.” Darren tossed him a pack of gum. “That's all that matters.”

He turned to Kenny and Andrew. “You two gonna quit being weird and sell me some smoke or what?”

Neither said a word.

Slowly, Kenny pulled out a small Ziplock of pre-measured weed and handed it over. Darren took it, passed him a few bills, and nodded. “Great. Thanks, man.”

And with that, Darren strolled out of the alley like this whole scene had been nothing but a minor inconvenience.

Jason sidled up to Shawn. “That… was iconic.”

 

The apartment door creaked open as Shawn stepped inside, Jason trailing behind him.

The faint scent of weed hit immediately, mingled with the unmistakable tang of spicy chips. From the living room came the glow of the TV and Darren’s voice, flat and lazy.

“Yo. You pick up any milk while you were out? I forgot again.”

Shawn stared. “You're seriously just… sitting here?”

Darren kept his eyes on the screen. “Isn't that what a couch is for?”

“You walked away from a whole moment!”

Jason plopped onto the beanbag chair. “Are those pigeons wearing hats?”

Darren cracked open a Mountain Dew and took a swig. “Apparently it’s a government program. Hats have tracking chips. Can’t trust anything with wings, bro.”

Shawn marched over in front of the TV, flailing with all the urgency of someone who’d been carrying a secret like it was a cursed ring. “You knew I was gay and didn’t say anything?”

Darren lifted his glassy-eyed gaze to meet Shawn’s. “What was I supposed to say? ‘Hey, bro, I know you're gay. You can stop playing hide and seek now?’”

“I agonized over this!”

“I didn’t.” He grabbed the chip bag and shook it like a maraca. “Want one?”

“No! I want an explanation!” Shawn demanded. “Dude, you acted like you found out I left the fridge open, not that I kissed a guy!”

“Nah. An open fridge means less money for weed. And snacks,” Darren said, crunching down on a chip. “That would piss me off. You kissing a dude doesn’t cost me shit. Unless you do it with the fridge open.”

Shawn looked skyward like he was ready for the universe to take him. “So that’s it? You knew and you just let me spiral?”

Darren gave a loose shrug. “You needed time. I gave you time. You done spiraling?”

Shawn opened his mouth. Closed it. Then he glared at Jason, who was now snickering openly.

“Whose side are you even on?” he snapped.

Jason held up his hands in surrender. “Both. Darren’s got the chill. You’ve got the drama. I’m thriving.”

“Unbelievable,” Shawn muttered, crossing his arms as he sat stiffly on the couch.

Darren turned up the TV volume. “Shh. They’re about to reveal how toucans are part of a shadow government. Bird just ain’t the Word, man.”

Jason leaned over and stage-whispered to Shawn. “He’s not even high enough for that to make sense, is he?”

“Nope.”

“Impressive.”

Darren licked chip dust off his fingers and sat back with a satisfied sigh. “What can I say? I’m an open-minded, modern gentleman.”

He immediately followed it with a burp that echoed off the walls like a foghorn in a shipping yard.

Jason wheezed a laugh, nearly rolling out of the beanbag.

Shawn rubbed a hand through his hair, the adrenaline finally wearing off and leaving something else behind: embarrassment.

A little sadness too.

It had taken him so long to be ready, to imagine the worst, to steel himself for rejection and then Darren just… hadn't played along.

“Why didn’t you ever bring it up?” he asked quietly.

Darren’s tone shifted, softer now but still matter-of-fact. “Wasn’t mine to bring up. You weren’t ready. I figured you’d get there.”

Shawn looked down. “I guess I was hoping for a reaction. Yelling, freaking out, something. Just so it’d feel as big out loud as it did in my head.”

Darren scratched his cheek. “Yeah. I get that. But it didn’t feel big to me. You're still the same you either way.”

They sat in silence, the sound of cooing pigeons filling the background.

“Love you, bro,” Darren added, bumping Shawn’s foot with his own. “Even if you’re dramatic.”

Jason sniffed and cleared his throat. “Are we doing a group hug now, or…?”

Shawn wiped his eyes before anyone could see. “Absolutely not.”

“Thank God,” Darren yawned.

Jason nodded solemnly. “Then I shall hold my feelings in. Like a man.”

Darren crunched another chip, Jason sank deeper into the beanbag, and Shawn finally let out a deep breath, like the weight he’d been carrying just… slipped off.

The TV blared something about birds being drones.

Darren pointed. “See? That one’s wearing sunglasses. You tellin’ me that’s natural?”

Shawn rolled his eyes.

Then he smiled.

Maybe… the truth didn't have to hurt so much after all.