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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Last Updated:
2024-12-20 06:12:34
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The Clay Connection CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
ANTHONY’S POV“You know, you guys’ on-again-off-again relationship is way worse that Blake and Susan’s.”Blake frowned and looked at Dante. “I never had an on-again-off-again relationship with Susan.”“Uh, yes you did,” Dante countered. “From the summer of tenth grade up until you started dating that hot chick in freshman year.”“Excuse me,” I said interjecting, “That ‘hot chick’ happens to be my little sister.”“Which is exactly why the bromance between you and Blake is weird.” I blushed at the word he used. I know he didn’t mean anything by it, but I still felt a little bit giddy that the relationship I had with Blake would be described as a bromance by none other than his friend who also participated in torturing me for years.We were all seated in the cafeteria – Blake, Dante, Anderson and my humble self. I was so surprised when I saw Anderson and Blake walking up to me together, laughing like they were old friends. Turns out, Anderson and Blake bonded over some mean joke they pla
Last Updated : 2024-12-23The Clay Connection CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
BLAKE’S POVIt was so unlike me to hum, yet it was all I could do the morning of the match between our school and NCH.I was so happy yesterday when I found out that Anthony won. Even though I didn’t exactly see it and thanks to the absence of the cameraman I had assigned the task of capturing every beautiful moment I couldn’t ever see it, I was still very proud of him and I was certain he wasn’t going to disappoint today either.“You look happy,” Crystal said as we loaded up the trunk of my car with two coolers of beer and a shit ton of chips for the after party. Even though Anthony, Crys and I wouldn’t be able to make it to the party because of the little pre-Halloween dinner our moms had planned out, I still felt obligated to contribute to our little celebration. Dante and Luke would take it off my hands after the game later on.“That’s because I have an autographed basketball with my name on it and it’ll be mine in less than three hours.”“Don’t you think you’re being presumptuous
Last Updated : 2024-12-24The Clay Connection CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
ANTHONY’S POVNever have I ever been so confused in my entire life!As we sat down round the dinner table that was set up at our backyard, I couldn’t help but notice the nasty glare that Blake kept sending my way. He was so pissed after the game that I didn’t even have the guts to look him in the eye. Now I may be wrong, but I had a feeling it had nothing to do with me actually losing the game and had everything to do with Michael’s proposal. That was exactly what confused me.You see, prior to that little chat we had at the end of the game, Michael and I had never spoken to each other before. He has had more interactions with the ants that occasionally trudged up and down the court in school than he has had with me since I knew of his existence. The only people he paid any notice to when we had a match together were Blake and his posse. Hearing him say that he thought I was gorgeous and then going ahead to ask me out was just weird and as shocking and terrifying as pineapple on pizza
Last Updated : 2024-12-26The Clay Connection CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
BLAKE’S POVMy girlfriend was sulking. As a good boyfriend, I should fix it and make her feel better. Instead, I was sulking and not talking to Anthony because of his audacious decision to betray me so openly.“Honestly, man, it’s like you guys are in a relationship,” Dante said. I was picking at my fries in the cafeteria during lunch on Monday. I haven’t spoken to Anthony since last Friday’s dinner that ended sourly.“I’ve told you before to stop saying shit like that, Dante!” Luke scolded him. His face was contorted in the most disconcerting facial expression he could muster. I didn’t even have it in me to reprimand him for being such a homophobe.“But it’s true. Just last week, they were all buddies and now Anthony is having lunch in the Clay Room. It had something to do with him losing that game, right? Did you give Michael your sneakers?” They both peered at me intently. At the mention of Michael Tema, I lost whatever little appetite I had left.God, this was frustrating me! I co
Last Updated : 2024-12-28The Clay Connection CHAPTER TWENTY- SIX
ANTHONY’S POVI sat by my desk in my bedroom trying so hard to understand the calculus homework we were given. I wasn’t dyslexic or anything, but the more I stared at the page, the more the letters and numbers seemed to float out of it. I was getting frustrated and frankly speaking, my brain wasn’t processing anything anymore.I grabbed my headset after shutting my book tight and got in my bed. Then I played Paper Rings by Taylor Swift, closed my eyes and tried to imagine Blake…I mean Michael and I dancing to the song.I was only deep into the beginning of the second verse when I felt someone breathe down my neck. Startled, I flung my eyes open only to come face to face with the beautiful smiling face of my sister’s boyfriend.“What the hell, Blake? What are you doing here? How did you get in?” He was laughing at me like it was the funniest thing in the world to witness someone freak out by an intruder’s presence.“You gotta stop asking me that question, Anthony. I’ve told you before,
Last Updated : 2024-12-30The Clay Connection CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
BLAKE’S POVAnthony didn’t show up for lunch, neither did he show up to pottery class after lunch. I had a feeling a certain overrated member of the NCH basketball team had something to do with it. I was going to say something to him about skipping class to hang out with a boy who was most likely only spending that much time with him because of his vendetta against me, but he never showed up to the fixed pottery session Anderson and I planned for our assignment after school. We had less than ten days to get it all ready but we still hadn’t gotten passed molding the chess pieces.“He’s not answering,” Anderson said with a solemn look on his face. I have known Anthony for all his life and there was absolutely nothing he put before pottery. He loved playing with clay so much that he skipped our senior Prom just so he could spin wet clay around the pottery wheel. He even once pretended to be too sick to play a game just so he could go to some convention for potters! And it was a major game
Last Updated : 2025-01-02The Clay Connection CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
ANTHONY’S POVI haven’t felt so giddy in a very, very long time. Like ever-since-I-found-out-I-was-gay-and-I-had-a-huge-crush-on-Blake long. I had my very first proper kiss with Michael yesterday and it was heavenly!Today was Halloween which just meant Blake was most definitely throwing a huge Halloween rager after school. I haven’t spoken to him since he was in my room, asking me about my relationship. Well, now if he asked me, I’d just tell him about the new update.As I shut my locker, Anderson’s face popped up, giving me a fright. “Where the hell were you?”“Jesus, man, you scared me.”“You left Blake and I to mold tiny chess pieces so you could do what exactly?”“Hang out with Michael Tema,” I responded casually. Anderson froze like a deer caught in headlights.“You skipped school to hang out with Michael Tema of all people? How does Blake feel about this?”“You’re supposed to ask me how I feel about it. Why do you care what Blake thinks? He’s been nothing but an ass towards you
Last Updated : 2025-01-04The Clay Connection CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
BLAKE’S POVI was slowly but surely losing my mind.What the hell was I thinking touching his lips like that? And what was that question about?God, I felt so embarrassed I couldn’t even stay a second without cringing and screaming internally – and externally sometimes.When it was time to head over to Luke’s house for the party, I went to the house next door to pick up my girlfriend. I was worried and anxious about meeting with her brother again, but I willed myself to not look so bothered about it and act like everything was alright.“Queen of hearts?” I asked the moment I saw her. She was clad in all red with little cards sticking out here and there. She painted red hearts on her cheeks and tiny stars close to her eyes. Even her hair was red. She looked way too beautiful and I couldn’t help but smile at her, the uneasiness I felt earlier ebbing away.“Just yours,” she responded with a flirty smile and a wink. I laughed and kissed her.“C’mon. Let’s go.”“Where’s Anthony?” I asked l
Last Updated : 2025-01-06
Latest chapter
The Clay Connection CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
ANTHONY’S POV“Where the hell are we going to sleep tonight?” I asked Blake. We were in his mother’s car now, chased back in from how cold outside was. We didn’t carry coats or anything that could keep us remotely warm. I had never been this cold in my entire life.Blake turned to look at the back seat. “Looks pretty comfortable to me.”“Blake...” I started in a warning tone. I liked the car, but there was no way I was going to sleep in it. He smiled, a goofy grin and ruffled my hair.“I’m kidding. My grandparent’s cabin is a couple minutes away from here. Luckily for us, I am their favourite grandchild and so they told me the password to it.”He put the car in gear and a couple seconds later we were leaving the beach and on our merry way to his grandparents’ cabin.It was rare for me to feel as happy as I did then and I was scared to let myself feel that happy because I kept having this feeling that it would all be taken away from me. The last time I felt like this – this happy and f
The Clay Connection CHAPTER SIXTY
BLAKE’S POV I kept driving, not knowing exactly where I was headed, but knowing I was going to take Tony away from everything and everyone that could possibly hurt him. He was sitting so still and so quiet and his face was turned towards the window so he was staring out at the blackness surrounding us through the tinted glass. I wanted to reach out to him, to hold him and assure him that I was on his side and that I didn’t hate him or think any less of him, but I couldn’t. Once again, I was consumed by fear, fear of how he would receive me; whether he would feel pleased enough to take my hand in his without beating himself up so much for whatever happened and what Crystal said to him. Fear of what it would mean for me to take his hand in this situation. We drove on in silence for a long time. About forty minutes later, I pulled up to the snow-covered beach and parked my car there. I really felt the silence then and it burned my heart. “Tony,” I called softly. He stiffened but didn’
The Clay Connection CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
ANTHONY’S POVI don't know whose car I used but I found myself pulling up my drive way as if I had teleported there. I couldn’t remember how I got in the car and drove all the home but I did.My mind was completely blank, but at the same time it was filled with spiralling thoughts.My letter was found.Everyone knew I was in love with Blake, my little sister’s boyfriend.Blake knew I loved him even before we became friends again.Who the hell found my letter and taped it back together?Did that person know any more secrets of mine?“Tony!” The sharp, reproachful tone of my mother brought me back to reality that I so badly wanted no part of. I had somehow managed to get out of the car and walk up the little path that led to the front door.“Oh my God, Tony, what happened to you?” Her tone switched from reproachful to caring and worried in the blink of an eye. I had no idea how I looked, but I was sure it was not good since she was looking at me like a precious dragon egg that had crack
The Clay Connection CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
BLAKE’S POVThe moment I stepped into Crane Hall with my midnight blue tuxedo looking like the most handsome man on earth, while heads turned and whispers followed, I knew I had made the biggest royal fuck-up of the century!It occurred to me while Claire was yelling at the sales girl yesterday who didn’t get my pants size right that I was forgetting something. It was only now, after I had popped a gum ball in my mouth, kissed the daylights out of Anthony right before Claire, Dante and Luke arrived and ridden in the limo my friends rented that I remembered what it was: I had a girlfriend and she was not aware that I was going to show up tonight.“Oh my God! Babe!”Months earlier, I would have loved this greeting. It would have upset me greatly if she hadn’t approached me like this and kissed me so passionately that I forgot we were in the presence of others. I would have most especially loved it if she had done it in front of Tony just to piss him off even more. Now, I couldn’t wait f
The Clay Connection CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
ANTHONY’S POVIf my heart had the ability to detach itself from my veins and arteries and pop right out of my rib cage, I’m sure it would have done so by now from how hard and fast it was beating.As Claire and I raced towards the Lindells garage, the only structure in their once glorious mansion that seemed to be still intact, I couldn’t help but smile so much and be so pleased with myself – and of course Anderson – for coming up with such a brilliant idea!“Blaakkkeeee!!!” Claire sang as she banged on the garage door. I wanted to tell her to quiet down but then remembered my parents weren’t home, so I joined her in her madness. He opened up a few seconds later, looking at the both of us with wide eyes and a startled expression.“Okay, Claire I understand cause she’s crazy, but you? Wanna alert my parents all the way in Sterling Hotel that I’m not suffering and dying alone in solitude like they wanted?”We ignored him and pushed passed him into the cozy garage. His garage bedroom was
The Clay Connection CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
BLAKE’S POV“Hey.”Words could not express how happy I was to see him.The garage door closed softly behind him and I was hugging him in record time, enjoying the warmth his cold body brought me.Right after I hospitalized Gary, the school called my parents. My father had to return back to the country while my mother, contrary to how I thought she would react to my behaviour, ended up fussing over me. Gary’s father was highly infuriated by my actions and he wanted to send me to jail, but then my mother called my grandfather, who was by all right more powerful and influential than the mayor, so I was suspended from school, banned from the dance and was under house arrest by my father who came to that agreement with Kieran Mitchel, Gary’s father.That was three days ago. Three days without talking to anyone or seeing anyone because my phone, laptop, tablet and game system were confiscated. Three days without being able to peep through my window to look at Anthony because my bedroom was
The Clay Connection CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
ANTHONY’S POVI knew following him was a big mistake the moment I stepped into the EL. It had an eeriness and coldness about it that had nothing to do with the desertion of the place and the weather.Gary’s eyes were unsmiling and his entire demeanour was unwelcoming, but when he asked to speak with me, I never imagined it would involve anything more than speaking.“I can’t believe you, Tony. I really didn’t think you were like the rest of them,” Gary said to me. His words confused me. I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about and I told him so.“One minute you’re giving googly eyes and the next you’re ignoring me and talking to someone else. You know, I didn’t want to believe it when I heard Blake say one time that you were a serial crusher, but I started to observe you and I noticed how you fell for every guy who so much as looked in your direction.”I blushed really hard in embarrassment. It was true that I crushed on almost everyone, but to be fair, it wasn’t like I wante
The Clay Connection CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
BLAKE’S POV “We are so not dressing up as waitresses to the dance just because a freshman said so.” Claire and I were in the abandoned pool house skipping class. She was previously at the library, but she said she got kicked out for unruly behaviour so she came to find me during History. Mr. Cornell was so worried when she told him that my mom had fallen in the bathroom and was in the ER that he let me go without even thinking twice. “I didn’t expect you guys to,” I said lowly. “Honestly, I don't even feel like going to the dance anymore.” Since my mother came back and dropped that bomb about divorcing my father, I haven’t been the same. I keep thinking back to how I was so much like my mother, leading someone on when I had absolutely no interest in them. At least my mom was brave enough to tell my dad she didn’t want to do that anymore, whereas I was picking out dress colours and matching corsages and even renting out limos for a school dance with the person I didn’t want to go wi
The Clay Connection CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
ANTHONY’S POV“She did what?” Claire screamed. I looked around the library where we were in, praying that we wouldn’t get nasty glares from people around us.“Not so loud, Claire. Jeez.”Claire and I had come to a sort of understanding, that understanding being that I didn’t hate her as much as I did before now that I knew she had zero interest in Blake and she wanted to make me her little project by every means necessary. She was obsessed with Blake and I getting together, and while it was nice having someone on my side for once, it didn’t quite sit right with me especially since Claire was loud and outgoing and blurted out whatever was on her mind, like what she did just now.“Your sister is a real bitch, do you know that?”I grinned, liking how mad she was on my behalf even though I knew Crystal had every right to behave the way she did. She was, after all, Blake’s girlfriend while I was the one trying to come between them. If I were her, I would have told my mother I was dating hi
