This story is fiction. Any similarity to any persons living or dead is merely a coincidence. If you are not allowed by law to view this material, please do not do so. If you are under 18 years of age, please leave now. This is a love story between two barely under the age of 18 year old boys in high school. If that offends you, I apologize and ask that you not read any further. Otherwise, enjoy.
AUTHOR"S NOTE:Hey all, So I'm back. I know its been over a year since the last time I write a chapter, but I'm ready to get back into it. Please feel free to email me your reactions on writenowin@gmail.com or check out the tumblr I made for the story findinganotherlikeme.tumblr.com.
Chapter 26
Getting back a week long cruise is hard enough, not to mention the fact that the next month coming up was going to be hell. AP exams, proms, finals, and graduation of the class of 2010. It all just seemed so daunting to worry about. However, beyond that loomed a horizon of a glorious summer with Chris... or so I had thought.
I sat myself down in the chair in Mr. Grayson's office trying to relax during one of my free periods the first week of May, when I was rudely interrupted by a freshman bumping into my chair. I looked up with an annoyed look. He just smiled and walked away.
I looked toward Mr. Grayson at his desk and just mumbled, "Stupid freshman."
He chuckled and proceeded to look at his email, which was open on his computer. His face lit up in an instant and he turned back to me. "I have a phone call for you that I need you to make."
I looked at him puzzled. "What?"
He dialed a number on his desk phone and motioned for me to close the door. Then quickly lifted the receiver to his head and waited for the answer.
Someone must have picked up.
"Hello!"
Pause.
"I'm doing great how about you?"
Pause.
"Good, good. So like I sent you the other day, I would call you when he was sitting in my office so he is now."
Pause.
"Yup, here he is. I'll let you talk to him." He reached out the phone and put it towards me.
I took the phone still confused and said, "Hello?"
I heard a familiar voice come from the other end of the phone, "Hey Kyle! It's Brendan! How have you been buddy?"
My heart stopped beating hearing that it was only Brendan, the gay graduate Mr. Grayson had come speak to the school and also had introduced to me a few months prior. "Awesome actually! What about you? How is college treating you?"
"Good, good. Almost done. I have about another week here then I'm heading down to Washington D.C. to do work with the lobbyist/social justice non-profit I've been working with for the last few years."
"That's sick! What for?" I asked.
"Yeah I know it is. And gay rights and promotion of sexual diversity. We work on lobbying marriage laws and end of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Stuff like that, plus we run PR events around the city getting people aware that we are normal people. Kind of what I did at school, just on a bigger scale."
"Holy shit! That sounds like such a great opportunity!"
He chuckled. "You think? I'm glad because I just put your name in for a spot as one of our summer interns!"
"What!?!" I yelled.
Brendan laughed again. "Yup. Each summer the organization picks seniors in high school or freshman in college that are strong for the cause to come do internships with us. That's how I got started with it. So after a few years I have some pull and I threw your name in our application pool even though you're a little younger than normal. I think you'd be perfect fit for it."
"Oh my god. Thank you so much. It sounds amazing!"
"It will be, but first you have to get the job. So that's why I am contacting you. I need you to fill out the forms I sent Mr. Grayson, get a recommendation, and send me a resume in by the end of this week. Then it'll be about a week of processing. We'll select a few, do over the phone interviews, and then if your selected you'll be flown down here the week after you finish school!"
"Wow!"
"I know right?"
I thought for a second, "But Brendan, I don't know if I can."
"What? Why? It's an opportunity of a lifetime and if you pass it up you'll probably not get it again!"
"I know. I know. But Chris and me have the summer planned before he leaves for college..."
"Yeah I figured that, but let me reiterate... opportunity of a lifetime! The connections you will make will be so useful in the long run!" Brendan yelled into the phone. "Look just apply and then depending upon what happens and if you get offered the job then you can work on the love life thing later. Okay?"
I stopped. "Hmmm alright. I'll get those forms to you ASAP!"
"Alrighty and Kyle. I'll be pushing for you on my end. I think that you would really love this!" Brendan said. "But I have to go, so I'll text you later on in the week to check in!"
"Alright. Later." I hung up the phone and just looked at Mr. Grayson. He had a look of curiosity on his face.
"Soo..." Mr. Grayson said.
I gave him a half smile, "Let me see these forms."
All day I wrestled with the idea of going down to Washington for the summer and leaving Chris here; Brendan was right it was a great opportunity, but Chris and I were finally at a good place and in a few months he would be off to college. I decided I'd talk to him about it later once I got home from work.
My shifts at work were getting pretty gruesome and on top of that the amount of work I had once I left was insane. Only a few more weeks though. As I got in my car and started on the highway, I figured it'd be a decent time to call and talk to Chris. I gulped hard as the phone rang.
"Hey babe!" I heard his voice ring from the other side, "What's up? How was work?"
We talked for a little about the basic things then I realized I should just get it out. "Chris, so Brendan called me today."
"Brendan? Like graduated your school Brendan?" he replied.
"Yeah."
"Oh sweet! How is he?"
I laughed at Chris' enthusiasm. "He's doing great. Finishing up school and heading down to D.C. to work with an activist group down there."
"Wow. That's really cool. Gay rights?"
"Yeah. He's really excited. He's worked for them the last few summers and says it's an amazing experience. Which kind of brings me to the reason he called me."
I paused waiting for a response, but Chris said nothing.
"Which was he put my name in for an internship with the same organization. He thought that it would be a great opportunity for me to get my name out there and meet people and make connections. I just have to fill out an application and submit it..." I began to trail off just imagining the look on his face.
There was a brief pause then he said, "Kyle! That's sick! What an awesome experience that would be! Did Brendan say when you start?"
I laughed at his excitement, "Well like I haven't gotten it yet and there are probably hundreds of candidates...plus I'm not even sure if I want to be away all summer."
"Oh..." His tone dropped as he came to the realization of what I was saying.
"Yeah ohh is right. I wouldn't want to leave you especially for a whole summer. That's why I am not sure if it's worth it."
There was a brief pause. He was thinking how to respond, "Kyle don't worry about me. Or us. We can work around you being in D.C. This would be a great experience for you. I am not holding you back from that."
"I know it would be and I know you won't, plus I know we would be good. But it's still a lot. I still don't even know if I would like it."
"I know you. You would. But how about this. Just apply and see how it goes. If you ultimately end up getting it then we'll work it out then. Deal?"
"Deal," I smiled. "You're amazing. You know that. Love you."
"I love you too. Can't wait to see you in two minutes."
"Me either," I replied not fully processing what he had said. "...Wait! What?"
At this moment, I was pulling up to my house and found that my front walk way was illuminated. I did not bother to even pull into my usual spot, but rather dropped my phone and parked right in the front of my house.
I was awe struck. The walk way was lit up by fake candles all the way from the beginning to the porch. The white lights glittered in the night sky. Then on the porch there sat a big, white teddy bear holding a card board sign in its arms. I could not make out the writing so I slowly walked towards it. As I got closer I realized there were four letters and a question mark written on it...PROM?
I smiled. I just stared at it for a minute.
Then a voice from behind startled me as it said, "Sooo...?"
I turned around facing Chris, who was standing there with his arms outstretched. I could feel my smile widening as I stepped towards him.
"Well...I was kind of hoping this guy I really like would ask me. He's kind of my boyfriend, but...I guess you will do."
He laughed and stepped towards me pulling me in his arms. "For real though?"
I looked up into his eyes and gave him a kiss on the lips. "I would love to Christopher!"
"Good, because I wouldn't want to share my prom with anyone else."
AUTHOR'S END NOTE: writenowin@gmail.com