Something Like Thunder (Something Like, #6)

by Jay Bell

What was once thought lost can still be recovered. The past can be a gateway to the future. I do this for love, with love. -Marcello

Nathaniel sat back down. “There’s someone else?” Kelly laughed. “There’s only you.

“Should I go?” the girl asked. “I can finish cutting it some other day.” “No way!” Caesar said with a laugh. Then he looked a little more shy. “Nathaniel, this is my girlfriend, Steph. Steph, this is my Nathaniel. I mean my tutor. Nathaniel. Uh.”

“It must suck having to say goodbye each time.” “I try to minimize that by being antisocial.” He laughed at himself. “I always have at least one friend or I’d go crazy, but there’s no point in getting too attached.” “How long have you been here?” Caesar asked. “I mean, will you be moving again soon?” “Why? Will you miss me?” “Yeah.” Caesar returned his attention to the screen. “I would.”

How did two people go from being strangers to meaning everything to each other? How did anyone bridge that gap?

“His name was Jace.

:'(

He and Rebecca had gone halfsies on the couch, which had set them back hundreds of dollars. He considered the couch carefully, then took off all the cushions and shoved them in the car, because fuck her.

Nathaniel studied Kelly critically. “Have you gone soft on me?” Kelly snorted. “No. If Jason ever puts the moves on someone I love again, I’ll break his damn fingers. Then I’ll drive him to the hospital myself, because I really do like the guy.”

more. “Kelly said he was going to a dog park, that’s how. Seems weird. Why would you bring your dog on a date?” “He’s the chaperone.” “Aren’t chaperones there to make sure nothing fun happens?” “Yeah. And it’s not a date. I’m not interested in your brother.” Royal looked up at him. “Your loss.”

“All of us have an undeniable urge to be loved and to give love in return. In that regard, you can’t do much better than a dog.”

“It doesn’t hurt so much anymore,” Kelly mumbled. Then he pantomimed peeling something and pressing it to his chest. “Band-Aid. You’re my Band-Aid.”

“I didn’t mean what I said,” Kelly slurred. “Go to sleep,” Nathaniel whispered, not having a clue what he was talking about. “I don’t love William more than anyone else. Only back then.” “That’s fine,” Nathaniel said reassuringly. “Now sleep.” “I love you more than him.”

Basically I told the world I was gay, and it replied with a half-hearted shrug.”

We either die alone, or we die in the arms of the person we love most.