Friday arrived before Mike knew it. He had finished his logo on Austin’s drum to everyone’s delight. As Austin played his beat, the chihuahua with a birthday hat in a black outline looked out onto the audience with the name “FRED” under it in red. Mike had to admit it looked great.

  He looked around for a place to sit with his old friends, Stanton, Chris, and Matt at lunch. He saw them sitting at a table with the more popular kids in his class. There was no room for him at the table. As he stood, he saw the three guys glance over at him and then look away. He was being frozen out of the group. His relationship with his old friends had suffered greatly since he started dated Rocco. He rarely hung out with them anymore. He didn’t really want to dedicate any time to them anymore given their backwards attitudes. They would certainly not approve of his relationship with Rocco.

  He found a table in the corner of the lunchroom. There was a kid sitting alone at the table. All the other tables were full. He couldn’t just stand and eat. Not being defeated, he walked over to the table.

  “Can I sit here?” Mike asked the guy.

  “It’s a free country,” the guy said unphased by Mike’s presence.

  The guy sitting at the table was vaguely familiar to Mike. He had seen this guy at his old junior high school. This guy may or may not have had classes with Mike. He wasn’t sure. He was a compact fellow, short and skinny. He had long brown bangs combed over his eyes and parted in the middle. He was wearing a toboggan hat even though it was still warm outside. He was wearing an oversized red flannel shirt and a huge t-shirt of a band that Mike had never heard of. His pasty white skin, tiny pink lips, and big blue eyes were the features that stood out the most to Mike. He smelled of clove cigarettes.

  “I’m Mike,” he introduced.

  “I know who you are,” the guy said and continued to eat his lunch.

  Mike picked up his sandwich and took a bite. He chewed his sandwich awkwardly and swallowed hard. His old friends peeked over at him a couple of times and laughed. Mike pretended not to notice.

  “Have we met? You look familiar,” Mike said trying to break the awkwardness.

  “Nah, we haven’t,” he had a thicker Southern accent than Mike expected since he looked like a skater punk. “I’m not popular enough for us to be introduced.”

  “I’m not popular. Certainly not today,” Mike murmured. The guy looked at Mike with his big eyes and laughed.

  “My name is Jared,” he said.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Jared,” Mike said and took another bite of his sandwich.

  “How come you’re not sitting over there with your friends?” Jared asked pointing at his old trio.

  Mike looked over at Stanton, Chris, and Matt. “They’re not really my friends anymore. Their just some dickheads I used to know.”

  “Falling out?” Jared asked.

  “I guess you could say that,” Mike said looking back at Jared.

  “What did they do?” Jared pressed for more.

  “They like to make fun of people that don’t fit their mold,” Mike said thinking of Rocco.

  “I find that hard to believe,” Jared said flatly. Mike looked at him surprised. Jared started to laugh which made Mike lighten up.

  “Yeah, imagine that!” Mike said sarcastically.

  “Who were they making fun of?” Jared said still chowing down on his lunch.

  “This guy Rocco I know from class,” Mike smiled thinking of his boyfriend.

  “The dude in the band???” Jared said surprised.

  “Yeah, you know him?” Mike asked.

  “Of course,” Jared continued to eat as he talked. “Well, not personally, but I know of him.”

  Mike was impressed at the reputation Rocco and his band had been acquiring.

  “What’s he done to be made fun of?” Jared asked.

  Since it was not really a secret about Rocco being teased, Mike let his guard down a little. Besides, he was starting to like this Jared kid.

  “People say he’s gay,” Mike carefully said testing the water with Jared.

  “And those guys call him things like queer or some shit like that?” Jared asked.

  “Yeah, some shit like that,” Mike repeated.

  “Fuck them,” Jared said, his mouth full. “They’re mindless sheep.”

  Mike chuckled. “Yeah, you could say that.”

  “He’s good at the guitar. I’ve also seen him at the park on his board. Mad skills. I could care less if he’s gay,” Jared said.

  “You’ve heard him play?” Mike asked.

  “Yeah, at that party. Great ass show,” Jared said.

  “You were there?” Mike was surprised again. He doesn’t remember seeing Jared there, but he wasn’t exactly looking for Jared.

  “Yep, crashed it. But so did everyone else,” Jared said still with his mouth full.

  “Man, I was there too!” Mike exclaimed.

  “I know, I saw you hanging out with Rocco,” Jared said shoving food in his mouth.

  “You did?” Mike asked.

  “Yeah, I think I saw y’all smoking pot out back,” Jared looked up from his plate and smiled.

  “Yeah, well,” Mike nervously laughed.

  “No worries. I didn’t think you were the type to get into herb. But it’s cool,” Jared said almost finished with his lunch.

  Mike found this conversation fascinating. “Do you know they are playing the skate park in a couple of weeks?” Mike asked.

  “No shit!” Jared exclaimed.

  “Yeah, October 12,” Mike confirmed.

  “I’ll be there for sure!” Jared excitedly said.

  “I’m helping them set up and all. I also painted their new band logo design on the drum,” Mike proudly professed.

  “Yeah???” Jared put his tray aside and looked at Mike. “I had no idea you were close to the band. I never would have thought you were into that stuff.”

  “People can surprise you. Besides I’m tight with one of the band members,” Mike said and shrugged.

  “Man, that’s cool,” Jared said impressed at Mike’s status.

  “Yeah, that’s the main reason I’m not friends with those assholes anymore,” Mike said pointing at the table of his old friends.

  “So, then, you’re tight with Rocco?” Jared asked.

  Mike felt very comfortable with Jared at this point. “Yep.”

  Jared paused for a moment. “Are you guys dating or something?”

  Mike looked up at Jared. This was a chance to be honest with a potential new friend. The bandmembers already knew about him and Rocco, why not this guy? “Yeah, we are.”

  “Cool, that’s really cool,” Jared said nodding.

  “Yeah, really cool,” Mike repeated. Jared was going to be alright. Mike had just met a new friend who accepted him for who he was.

  “I didn’t know you were gay,” Jared stated.

  “Well, I’m not totally gay but I’m not straight either,” Mike said.

  “Okay, I get it,” Jared nodded.

  “You do?” Mike was surprised.

  “Yeah, no labels, man. You date the person, not what’s in the panties,” Jared said.

  Mike burst out laughing almost blowing milk out of his nose. That was the most perfect way to describe his sexual attraction.

  “Yeah, exactly,” Mike said.

  “I’m down with that,” Jared said nodding again.

  “Really?” Mike was surprised at Jared progressiveness.

  “Never had the opportunity, but I’d give it a try,” Jared said.

  “You’re an okay guy. I’m sad I never bothered to get to know you,” Mike said finishing his sandwich.

  “Don’t be sad, we’re doing that now,” Jared smiled.

  “Yeah, we are,” Mike said looking at his tray. He didn’t want the rest of his lunch. The way Jared scarfed down his lunch and by the looks of his thin frame, Mike assumed that lunch must be Jared’s main meal. “You want the rest of my lunch? I don’t want it.” Mike pushed his tray over to Jared who gladly finished up the remainder of his lunch.

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  “So, who’s your new lunch buddy, Mikey?” Stanton teased as Mike left the school building. Stanton, Chris, and Matt stood outside by the door almost as if they were waiting to confront Mike.

  “Jared. We went to junior high with him, you know,” Mike said nonchalantly as he started to walk past the group.

  “You hanging out with the scum, now?” Stanton continued to tease Mike.

  “He’s not scum. He’s a cool guy if you give him a chance,” Mike said walking by.

  “Hey, what gives, Mike?” Chris shouted. Mike stopped and turned to the group.

  “What do you mean?” Mike asked calmly.

  “You’re hanging out with these weird guys now. You’re never around anymore. I thought we were friends,” Chris firmly stated.

  “We still are friends, but I guess you could say I’m expanding my options.” Mike continued to remain calm.

  “Dude, you spend all your time with that Rocco. Now, you’re buddies with Jared who you never knew even existed. Are you turning into a punk?” Chris started to raise his voice.

  “Maybe I am,” Mike stated.

  “Maybe you’re turning queer,” Stanton added. Mike started to feel the blood rush to his skin in anger.

  “Don’t say that,” Mike replied in as even a voice as he could muster.

  “Maybe you are! Maybe Rocco is your boyfriend,” Stanton chided in a sing-song voice.

  “You’re a dick,” Mike said and started to turn around.

  “Not so fast, Mikey,” Stanton shouted. “You think you’re better than us now that you are becoming some enlightened alternative dude?”

  “That’s not the case at all,” Mike stated.

  “Then, tell me. Why are we no longer good enough to be your friend?” Stanton approached Mike. The others followed.

  “It’s not that,” Mike said backing away.

  “Then, what is it? Tell me. What’s so fantastic about these new friends of yours?” Stanton kept at it.

  Mike snapped. “What’s so fantastic is that these new friends of mine accept everyone for who they are. They don’t care what you wear or who you hang out with. They are genuine.”

  “Oh, Mikey and his boyfriends are genuine,” Stanton mocked.

  “Yeah, so if I want to hang out with better people than you’ll ever be, what’s it your business! You never gave a shit about how I’m feeling or what’s going on with me!” Mike started to approach Stanton.

  “How you’re feeling? It’s all about your feelings now? My God, Mike, you are turning gay,” Stanton exclaimed.

  Without thinking, Mike’s most animal of instincts took over. Mike clenched his hand into a fist and gave Stanton a right hook square in his jaw. It was such an impulsive action that he hadn’t realized what he had done until he saw Stanton fall back in shock. His fist pounded with pain from the impact of his punch. Stanton put his hand over the spot on his jaw that Mike hit. Mike stood his ground ready to punch him again. Chris ran up to Mike and grabbed his shoulders.

  “What the fuck, Mike?” Chris shouted. Mike snapped out of his altered state, but he was still boiling angry.

  “I’ve had it with you guys. Fuck you all and the horses you rode in on. Don’t ever talk to me again,” Mike said and stormed off to Joe’s car. Mike paid no attention to the crowd that had stopped and watched the interaction. He paid no attention to Chris yelling for him to wait. He paid no attention to Stanton yelling “you faggot” at him. He just wanted to get out of the situation as fast as he could. He just wanted to be alone to ice his aching hand.

  “What happened to your hand?” Mike’s dad asked. His hand was starting to bruise.

  “Nothing,” Mike said changing his ice bag.

  “Don’t tell me that. That was no accident,” His dad was a large beast of a man—Joe clearly inherited his genes. “I’ve thrown a few punches in my day. I know what happens to a fist that’s thrown a punch.”

  Mike looked down at the carpet in the living room afraid to tell him the events of the afternoon. He was mostly embarrassed that he resorted to violence. He felt that Stanton needed to learn a lesson, however. If that’s what it took, then so be it.

  “I hit a guy,” Mike confessed and rubbed the hand.

  “Why?” his dad asked looking at Mike with both disappointment and concern.

  “He was being a jerk,” Mike quietly said.

  “What was he doing?” his dad pressed on.

  “He was calling me names,” Mike did not really want to talk to his dad about this afternoon. However, it seemed unavoidable.

  “What names was he calling you?” his dad asked.

  “I don’t want to get into it, Dad,” Mike just wanted to lay in his room. He wanted Rocco to come over and comfort him.

  “I want to get into it. Look at me when I’m talking to you,” his dad continued. Mike looked up at his dad. “What did this guy call you?”

  “He called me gay,” Mike answered after a few moments of contemplation. “Well, actually, a slang term for that.”

  “And you hit him because of that?” His dad was not angry, but Mike could tell he was displeased.

  “He just kept at it. He’s such a jerk,” Mike stated.

  “Was this some random guy?” his dad asked.

  “No, it was Stanton,” Mike confessed.

  “Isn’t he your friend?” his dad’s displeasure turned into concern.

  “He was,” Mike said and looked at the floor again.

  “Mike, what’s going with you?” his dad got up and sat next to him.

  “Nothing,” Mike felt a tear welling in his eye.

  “Something is up with you. You don’t like sports anymore. I’ve noticed you don’t go to sleepovers with your friends anymore. And now you punched a friend. That’s not nothing.” His dad put his hand on Mike’s back to comfort him.

  “I’m just…” Mike couldn’t find the words to say. “I’m just not into all that anymore.”

  “Is there a reason?” his dad asked.

  “It’s just that those guys are such idiots. All they do is make fun of people. They make people feel different and worthless. I just hate it…. I hate them!” Mike started to feel like he could talk to his dad like he talked with Joe.

  “Is that why you aren’t playing any sports?” his dad continued.

  “Yeah, I just don’t like sports like Joe,” Mike said.

  “Okay, that’s fine. We never expected both of you to be into sports. That was always for you two to find on your own. It’s totally fine if you don’t want to be on a team,” His dad said.

  “Thanks, Dad. I’m not like Joe. I don’t think I want to do that,” Mike looked at his dad, the tears in his eyes falling down his cheek.

  “You don’t have to be like Joe,” his dad said. “I just want you to be happy.”

  “I know, Dad,” Mike said and looked back at the floor.

  “You also don’t have to hang out with people you don’t like,” his dad said and ran his fingers through Mike’s hair.

  “I know, Dad,” Mike continued to look at the floor. Momentarily, he almost told his dad about his relationship with Rocco. The words were on the tip of his tongue. He was not ready for that right now. He may never really be ready—not right now.

  “I just want to be sure there’s not anything deeper you want to get off of your chest,” his dad said. It was as if he were reading Mike’s mind.

  “Like what?” Mike looked up.

  “Anything,” his dad looked at him. “You can tell me.”

  “Okay, Dad,” Mike said still unsure if he should just let it all out.

  “I know how much you are into art. I know we haven’t been very supportive of you in the past. If that’s what you want to do with your time, it’s fine by me. You’re talented with your art. It would be a waste if you didn’t do something with that.”

  Mike was surprised by this statement. It was not at all what he expected to hear from his parents. “Really?”

  “Yeah, really. I know you work at that art shop in town for lessons. I think you should take some more classes. Really get into it,” His dad continued.

  “You’d be alright with that?” Mike asked in surprise.

  “I would,” his dad replied.

  “I want to,” Mike said.

  “Deal,” his dad patted Mike on the back.

  They sat there for a moment in silence. There was a tension in the air that was noticeable between the two of them.

  “Is there anything else you want to tell me?” his dad asked looking at Mike.

  Mike was silent for what seemed like an eternity. His dad knew there was more but did not want to put words into his son’s mouth.

  “I’ve just been a different person since starting high school,” was the best Mike could come up with to break the silence.

  “I’ve noticed that,” his dad responded. “Mike, I want you to be honest with me, okay.” Mike nodded his head. “Why did Stanton say you were gay?”

  Mike could not speak when his dad asked. Perhaps it was that he wanted to tell his dad everything. Perhaps it was the events of the day. Perhaps it was his aching hand. Whatever it was, Mike started to cry uncontrollably. He sat slumped over sobbing. Sensing that he touched a raw spot, his dad reached over and held Mike in his arms as he continued to cry. His dad didn’t have to ask any more questions. Mike didn’t have to say anything else. His dad just knew he had not only hit a nerve, but he had also chipped away to the truth. Words were not necessary—he just knew. It made no difference to his dad. He loved Mike no matter what.

  “You think you can sneak over tonight?” Mike said into the phone receiver.

  “I just got back from practice. I’m kinda beat,” Rocco said.

  “I know. I really need to see you tonight,” Mike said almost pleading.

  Rocco paused for a moment. “Okay, I can be there in about an hour,” Rocco said.

  “I’ll be waiting,” Mike said and hung up the phone. They had been getting together almost every night since Sunday. Mike was getting used to his nightly encounters with Rocco. He knew Rocco was tired and that he had to rest for tomorrow’s party. But, tonight, he really wanted to see his boyfriend. He just wanted to be in his arms—he wanted to feel Rocco’s heart and know there was another person in the universe like him. It had been a tough day for Mike. He just wanted to be comforted—nothing more. He wouldn’t be opposed to more, of course, but he was not searching for that right now. He just wanted to be with someone who knew all his secrets.

  As he waited, he pulled out his sketch book and started to doodle some random shapes. It was a little difficult now that his right hand was still hurting. There was a little bruising, but the pain had subsided substantially. There was now just a dull ache which did not hinder his drawing abilities.

  Before he knew it, the shapes started to morph into more intricate shapes. He sketched those more intricate shapes into a landscape. He kept pondering his conversation with his dad earlier. At least one of his parents now sanctioned his artistic endeavors. He never hid his art, but now that he got his dad’s approval, he could spend his time drawing without feeling guilty—without feeling like he should be doing something else. Art was now that something else he should be doing. It felt spectacular to get an official “ok” to spend his time drawing.

  He also felt the closest to his dad than he ever felt in his entire life. His dad knew about his feelings towards guys without saying the words. Of course, it would feel definitive if he said the words. That could come later. Right now, he felt his dad understood everything going on with him. He also felt that his dad loved him no less than before. He started to look forward to being more honest with his dad about his life and his relationship with Rocco. He looked forward to his dad’s acceptance.

  He looked at the clock. Rocco would pull up to his usual spot in about ten minutes. He wanted to do something a little different tonight. He put his drawing aside and grabbed his jacket. He put on Rocco’s hat. He left his light on and quietly snuck out of his room into the hallway. The house was silent. It was 11, and his parent were already in bed. Joe was out either on a date or hanging out with friends. He tiptoed to the back door and quietly opened it. He stepped onto the back porch. Once he was outside, he walked to the corner of the house to the side yard. He stayed in the shadows working his way to the driveway. He walked down the driveway to the main road. He wanted to meet Rocco.

  He waited on the side of the main road away from the house so as not to be seen. The air was crisp. It was no longer early fall when the summer heat still lingered. It was clearly an autumn night. There was a layer of light fog lingering over the field across from his house. He breathed in some of the cool air to clear his mind of the day’s events. As he exhaled, he saw headlights in the distance. This must be Rocco.

  As the car got closer, Mike started to waive his hands. The high beams flickered. The car pulled over. It was Rocco’s car. Mike ran up to the passenger side as Rocco leaned over to unlock the door. He got in the car. Rocco had the heater on which made the transition from the cool air comforting.

  “Hi,” Mike said getting into the seat.

  “Hi,” Rocco said a bit confused. “I wasn’t expecting you to be waiting by the road.”

  “I wanted to get out of the house,” Mike said and looked at Rocco.

  “Do you want to go somewhere?” Rocco asked.

  “Yes, please,” Mike said and smiled.

  “Where?”

  “Anywhere,” Mike immediately answered. “Wait, let’s go to that gas station we stopped after practice.”

  Rocco smiled crookedly and nodded. He made a U-turn and drove to the closed station. As it was the other night, it was closed and dark. He pulled into the same spot and killed the engine and lights.

  “Did something happen tonight?” Rocco asked.

  “A lot, but I don’t want to talk about it,” Mike replied and looked out into the distance.

  “Okay,” Rocco said. He placed his hand on Mike’s thigh. Mike looked over at Rocco. The two leaned into each other and kissed.

  Rocco pulled away leaving Mike a little confused.

  “What’s wrong?” Mike asked.

  “Not a thing,” Rocco said. “I want to return the favor.”

  Rocco dropped Mike off at the side of the road where he picked him up. He kissed Mike on the lips. Mike closed his eyes to savor Rocco’s kiss. He needed Rocco’s company more than anything tonight. Everything else was just icing on the cake.

  “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at 6?” Rocco asked as Mike got out of the car.

  “Reporting to work at 6,” Mike said and saluted Rocco.

  As Mike started to walk to the driveway, Rocco admired Mike’s backside. There goes your man, he thought.