Billy is everything Jamie isn’t: out, loud, and meeting lots of men. Jamie notices Billy’s been acting weird lately, and when he learns that he’s trying to catch HIV, it tests their freindship to the limits.
Publisher’s Description
Jamie’s pretty much your average gay teenager. He’s not out with his folks, he’s got a crush on a fellow high school athlete, and his life isn’t perfect. It’s a good thing he has his friend, Billy, to take his mind off things, and to show him that all things are possible.
Billy seems to be all Jamie isn’t. Billy’s openly gay, he has enough money to follow fashion trends, and he’s got dates all the time. Lots of them. With older men. When Billy starts acting weird and hiding things from him, Jamie’s whole life seems to tilt off its axis.
His stepfather, who has never been the greatest role model, escalates his behavior until Jamie dreads going home. His English teacher assigns him tutoring sessions with the object of his crush, the gorgeous track star Dylan. Jamie’s not even sure he can talk to Dylan, let alone tutor him, but it’s impossible to talk to Billy about it. Billy’s too wrapped up in a very dangerous game they call bug chasing: trying to catch HIV.
Learning about Billy’s risk-taking nearly shatters their friendship, and forces Jamie to look at the world in a whole new way. Can Jamie try to keep Billy safe and still stay on top of homework, a new boyfriend, and keeping his step-father in line?
Genre: Contemporary
Representation:
Gender:
Cis boys: Jamie, Dylan, Billy
Sexual Orientation:
Gay/Queer: Jamie, Dylan, Billy
Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Jamie, Dylan, Billy
Race/Ethnicity:
White: Jamie, Dylan, Billy
Disability:
HIV/AIDS
Trigger warning: ‘Bug chasing’ – intentional attempts to be infected with HIV. Homophobia.