The last of them

Seventeen. Senior year.

Dev and Cole had made it this far together, keeping their heads low, avoiding trouble where they could. Their friendship was a given, as natural as breathing. Some people didn't get it, how two guys could be that close without an ulterior motive. But Dev and Cole didn't care.

At least, not until that warm Sunday afternoon.

It started with a notification.

Dev was lying on his bed, scrolling through his phone, when his school's student platform pinged with a new post.

A gossip page. Nothing new.

But the second he saw his name in bold letters, a chill ran down his spine.

"Looks like Crestwood's favorite 'brothers' are more than just friends. Devan Calloway and Cole Bennett, lovers? We knew it!"

His breath hitched.

The comments were already rolling in.

 "I always knew there was something off about them."

 "LMAO they're actually dating???"

 "This explains why they're always alone together."

 "Bro, this is disgusting."

"Two fatherless boys? Not surprising."

"I wonder who's under"

The words blurred as Dev's grip on his phone tightened.

His room suddenly felt too small.

"Cole, check the damn platform."

He had barely sent the message before his phone vibrated with an incoming call.

"What the hell is this?" Cole's voice was sharp, cutting through the static in Dev's mind.

"I don't know," Dev muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Some idiot probably started it as a joke."

"This isn't funny," Cole snapped. "Do you see what they're saying?!"

Dev saw.

He saw everything.

The disgusting slurs. The mockery. The way people who had never spoken to them suddenly had so much to say.

"This is fucked up man" Dev said as he sat up on his bed. "My dads going to kill me"

Cole's breathing was heavy on the other end. "We need to stop this. We need…"

A knock on Dev's door cut him off.

Dev turned, his stomach twisting when he saw the shadow beneath the door.

His father.

The door opened without warning.

"What is this?" His father's voice was cold, controlled.

Dev barely had time to hide his phone before his father stepped into the room, holding his own phone. The gossip post was on the screen, bright and damning.

His father didn't yell. He didn't throw anything.

He just stood there. Staring.

"Dad, it's not what you think it is. I…"

"Is it true?"

The way he asked it, like he was already disgusted by the answer.

Dev felt something in his chest tighten. "What?… No. It's not true."

His father exhaled slowly, shaking his head.

"Then why do they believe it?"

Dev had no answer.

His father looked at him like a stranger.

"You know how this makes me look?" he finally said. "You know how this makes you look??!" He said again increasing the tempo of his voice.

Dev clenched his fists. "I didn't do anything Someone probably started that joke and thought it was funny."

"You didn't stop it either."

His father turned, heading for the door.

But then, just as he reached the hallway, he stopped.

"And I don't want to see that boy in this house ever again."

Dev's stomach twisted. "Dad, come on. Cole didn't…"

"I said what I said. I always knew he would cause trouble."

And then he was gone.

Cole Had It Worse.

Dev called him back immediately.

"What did your dad say?" he asked, voice hushed.

Cole didn't answer for a long time.

Then, finally… "Nothing. He just hit me."

Dev felt his stomach drop. "Cole…"

"I don't want to talk about it," Cole muttered. "I just want this to go away."

Dev wished he could promise that.

But the next morning, it was worse.

The School Halls Were Hell.

Whispers. Stares. Laughter.

Dev felt them all, even when no one was speaking to him directly.

But the worst part was the lockers.

Spray-painted. FAG.

Cole's locker was the same.

They stood there, side by side, staring at the vandalized metal doors, hearts hammering.

"They really did this," Cole whispered.

Dev clenched his jaw. "Yeah."

Then came the footsteps.

Jack Grayson. The last person they wanted to see.

"Damn, it's the lover boys" Jack drawled, smirking as he leaned against the lockers. His friends, Dan, Eli, and Chou flanked him, grinning. "Looks like everyone knows your secret now."

Cole's fists clenched. "There is no secret."

Jack feigned a look of disappointment. "You sure? 'Cause the whole school seems to think otherwise."

Dev forced himself to stay still. This was what they wanted. A reaction.

Jack leaned in closer. "Tell me, Calloway, how does it feel to be the school's biggest joke?"

Laughter echoed through the hallway.

Cole turned. "Let's go. His not worth our time."

They walked away, leaving the insults behind.

But Dev knew.

This wasn't over.

It was just beginning.

Confronting the Source, the head of the News club, Ian, he was in charge of whatever goes up on the school platform.

Dev and Cole didn't waste time.

They went straight to the News Club's room, the student-run group in charge of every major gossip post in school.

Inside, behind a desk littered with half-finished articles and stacks of old school newspapers, sat Ian, one of Jack's favorite minions.

The second he saw them, he smirked. "What brings you two lovebirds here?"

Dev slammed his hands on the desk. "What the hell, Ian? Why did you do this?"

Ian leaned back in his chair, stretching lazily. "Chill, man. The school needed some real gossip. Everything was getting boring."

Cole's voice was sharp. "You've ruined our lives because of your stupid joke."

Ian snorted. "What lives?"

Cole's fists clenched.

Ian let out a fake sigh. "Come on, guys. You aren't fun. The school will stop talking about it after today or two. Don't worry."

Dev's blood was boiling. "Take that post down, or I'm taking this to the vice principal. And I mean it."

Ian's smirk widened. "Have fun with that."

Dev froze.

Because suddenly, he remembered, the vice principal was Ian's uncle.

Ian shrugged, crossing his arms. "Do whatever you want. But this? This is gonna stick."

Cole grabbed Dev's arm. "Come on. We're wasting our time."

Dev took one last look at Ian, his smug expression, his complete lack of remorse before turning on his heel.

But as they walked away, Dev felt it in his bones.

This wasn't just a rumor anymore.

This was war.