It was late when I got home. It always was. The house was dark. Everyone asleep. That was how I liked it. No one needed to know how late I was out. Or that I was out at all. As always, I flew in through my bedroom window, silent as the owl I was. I demorphed and threw on a bathrobe. I was hungry. There was no harm in sneaking downstairs and grabbing a bite to eat.

I walked out of my bedroom door and bumped into Tom. "Oh, Tom. I didn't know you were-"

He put his hand on my shoulder. His grip was tight, hard. He didn't want me running off. "Jake, we need to talk."

"Can it wait until morning? I was-"

"Out."

"I was going to say sleeping."

"Do you think I'm stupid, Jake?"

"Do you want an honest answer to that?"

His grip tightened. "Don't push it, midget," he hissed. He started pulling me downstairs.

"Geez, Tom. What's up?"

"We need to talk."

"What about?"

"About you."

"Yeah, I figured. What about me?"

"About where you go all the time. And who you're going with."

My blood started to run a little colder. Maybe he hadn't figured things out. Maybe he was thinking I was up to something totally different. Maybe he was just playing the role of a concerned older brother. Maybe he just thought I was mixed up in drugs or something.

Maybe Ax will get a joke.

He shoved me into a sitting position on the couch, then sat down in the chair next to it. "Jake."

"That's my name," I said quickly. No need to let him know I was terrified. Just make him think I was annoyed. I got up and walked towards the kitchen. "You mind if I make a phone call real quick?" I needed to let the others know we'd been made. Had to warn them.

Tom grabbed me and pulled me back to the couch. "Yeah, I do."

My mouth was dry now. I knew he knew. And I knew what would happen. First, he'd try to capture me. He's bigger than me. In this body – my body – I didn't have a chance. I'd have to morph. And when I did? He must have had a Dracon beam. He'd stun me, take me to the Yeerk pool, and then infest me. Or maybe he'd just infest me right here...

"Jake...I know what you are."

"Tired and annoyed?"

"I know, Jake. I know everything."

"You always thought you did." I tried to keep up the banter, tried to pretend. Tried to think of some way out of this. I always knew, didn't I? It was only a matter of time. It always was. A controller would have to figure it out eventually, living with me for so long. And yet, even though I knew it, I didn't have a plan. Not really. I'd have to hit him when he wasn't expecting it.

"Don't screw around, Jake," Tom hissed. "I know all about you. And Marco."

Marco. So he knew about Marco. That was to be expected. Did he guess who the others were? Cassie maybe. Rachel, probably. Tobias and Ax? Probably not. They were safe. But Marco, Rachel, and Cassie...I couldn't let them get taken.

Maybe he didn't know. Not for sure. Maybe he was trying to confirm his suspicions.

Or maybe Hork-bajir were already in their homes. Maybe they were already in mine. But wouldn't my parents notice... "Tom...where are Mom and Dad?"

"Out, Jake. I wanted to make sure we were alone."

That did it. I had to strike now. If I hit him by surprise, maybe I could take him. If I could get his Dracon beam, I could...I could get rid of him. Then I could warn the others. I had to act quickly.

"Don't worry, Jake. I won't tell anyone."

That stopped me. "What?"

"I mean," he went on, "It's really not my business, what you and Marco do together. I don't know how you'll tell Cassie, though. I just wanted to let you know that I know, so if you ever want to talk..."

Tom got up and started to walk away. It took a moment for me to realize what just happened. As he was walking back up the stairs, I finally managed to find some words to shout. "I'm not gay!"