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God, who knew a fake relationship could be so complicated?
Even real relationships are complicated so forget about fake lol
“I guess I’m starting to see the appeal of having something real,” Bryson says. “Especially with the right person.” I swear he looks at me when he says that, but it happens so quickly that when he pushes the auditorium doors open, I’m left feeling like I imagined it. Like I saw what I wanted to see and nothing more.
When it happens, it happens.
What am I going to do with you? Bryson asks.
I’m not sure if he’s hit the emoji by mistake because he’s in a rush, but my heart hammers in my chest as I stare at the kissing-face emoji.
I wanna throw myself off a cliff!!!!!!
This is how I’ve lived my whole life—hidden and in the shadows. And the longer I stay here, the more tired I’m getting.
It’s a song about liking a boy for the first time. The song choice feels deliberate. I study the boy next to me.
“You know, I haven’t scored a hat trick since sophomore year,” Bryson says. “I think you may be my lucky charm.” “I should come to more of your games, then.” “I’d love that,” Bryson admits. “It was kinda cool knowing my boyfriend was there to support me.” He laughs.
“But it’s the first time I’ve felt this.”
“To answer your question,” Bryson says. “Yes, I think I might be.”
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!
“Oh, you’re still here.” She looks me up and down. “I hate to admit this, but I miss our morning altercations.”
I like her so much
I miss you, is that weird? I take a deep breath and decide to be honest. No, because I miss you too.
“Do you plan to still be dating me by then?” I mean it as a joke, but Bryson fixes me with a look, and when he answers, he’s dead serious. “Yes.”
I know that whatever happens in the future, I don’t regret spending this time with Bryson. Come what may, I’m all in.
Bryson laughs. It’s a sound so deep and pure that I want to bottle it up and keep it with me forever.
“Really?” I smile. I lean closer to him. “My boyfriend’s pretty cool,” I whisper. Bryson smiles, too. “Smooth, Sheridan. Real smooth.”
“I got to look cool in front of my boyfriend,” Bryson says. “That’s winning.”
He’s scary-looking, but the smile on his face isn’t at all. “You two make a very cute couple.” “Thank you,” Bryson says. “I also think my boyfriend is the cutest.”
But at what point do I start living for me? When do I get to do simple things that are meant to make me happy?
YES GO LIVE KAI
It’s tangible proof that Bryson Keller likes me. My eyes are wide in surprise, and there’s no denying the flush in my cheeks. Bryson’s eyes are closed as he pecks me.
“Seriously?” they ask in perfect unison. I smile. “Dude!” “Tell us everything.” And for the first time in my life, I do. I talk openly and freely to my best friends. And it feels so good. It feels just right.
I could cry!!! It seriously makes me so happy to see supportive friends!!!!!
“You’re every bit as much the leading man as anyone else. Never forget that, and remember that I like you just the way you are.”
I pull out my reimagining of Romeo and Juliet—a gay love story.
It may be a small act of bravery, writing a story like this, but it didn’t even cross my mind last week.
I lucked out when Priya and Donny became my friends.
“Bryson said he’d pick me up at six.” Almost as if it were planned, both Priya and Donny say “Ooh-la-la” at the exact same time.
Effortlessly hot. Bryson must catch me checking him out because he smiles. I blush and stand aside to let him in. “Cute,” Bryson whispers as he passes me by the door.
“I like punctuality.”
You were late every day till this week
“This ticket is fake.”
Hahahahaha Shannon lol
On this Friday night, we are just two boys kissing because we want to, because we like each other. And there is nothing at all wrong with that. Because love is love is love.
“You came?” His eyes are red, and so are his cheeks. It’s clear that Bryson’s been crying. I nod and sit next to him. “Of course I came. I was worried about you.”
Whoever says that boys don’t cry—or shouldn’t cry—needs to walk off a very short pier into a shark-infested ocean.
The grin on his face is wild and uninhibited. It is the smile of a victor. He throws his hands in the air and begins a victory dance that consists of a lot of hip thrusting and fist pumping. Watching Bryson Keller like this, I wonder if maybe I’ve won.
but end up blurting out, “I’m gay, Mom.” This isn’t at all how I imagined it. I’m not ready now. But maybe coming out is one of those things you can never truly be ready for because you can never truly know how anyone is going to react.
The only thing that’s different is they finally know that I like boys. It’s a small piece of me, and yet it is all they can see now. It is all they can focus on.
“What’s going on here?” Her eyes are wide as she studies us, but then her face breaks into a grin. “Tell me everything.”
“I think we’re now official official,” Bryson says.
Never before did I think cooking could be sexy, but watching Bryson work changes my mind.
Tell me about it
“She most definitely knows,” Bryson says. He sighs, but it doesn’t hold any fear or sadness or anything. It’s a simple Oh well. He leans down and gives me a peck on my lips before starting to stir the pot once more.
Cheers to this!!!!!!!!!!!
How will I face him at Thanksgiving or Christmas?” I blush at her words. “Oh. My. God,” Crystal says. “That is the cutest.” Bryson smiles. “I know, right?” “Kai, please forgive my children.” “We’re not that bad, Mom,” Bryson says. “We’re practically angels,” Crystal adds. “Whatever helps you two sleep at night.”
She looks from Bryson to me. “Did he lose?” “Yes,” we say at exactly the same time. Crystal clutches at make-believe pearls. “Oh, the drama … the scandal … the romance.”
Both of their sisters are so cool!!!!!
“Bring me back something nice,” Crystal calls out as we leave the kitchen. “No, buy your own.” “Rude!” Crystal shouts back. “You better sleep with one eye open tonight.”
He will be there if I call, when I call. I don’t have a Prince Charming on a white horse. Instead, I have one in a white Jeep.
“You can do this. Say what you need to say. It’s not healthy to keep stuff bottled inside.” “Are you sure you’re thirteen?” “Maturity has nothing to do with age.”
Yazz for the president!!!!!!
“I’m protesting,” Yazz says. “What?” “I don’t like the bullshit in this house, and I refuse to be a part of it.” “Language,” I say, but I don’t really mean the reprimand, because my heart is melting.
Anyone who thinks that homophobia doesn’t exist in this day and age has never been the gay boy standing in a boys’ locker room.
“It’s true when they say that children aren’t born with hate or prejudice,” Dad says. “It’s us who teach them those things. I’ll never stop being sorry to both you and Yazz, Kai.”
It was real then. And it’s real now. I’m using my wish now. I wish you were here. I miss you.
Romeo, Romeo, where art thou? I exit the house to find Donny and Priya standing next to the Quackmobile. “Your chariot awaits,” Priya says. She dramatically motions to the car. “What are you guys doing here?” “What do you mean?” Donny asks. “We obviously came to help our best friend get his man.”
“Also, tell Bryson that tomorrow we’re having a double date. We still need to judge him.” Donny sticks his head out the sunroof. “We also need to ask him what his intentions are with our sweet summer child.” “Please don’t embarrass me,” I whine. “I’ve been through enough this week.” “We would never do such a thing,” Donny says. “Never,” Priya adds.
