Adam

All my life, I did what my dad expected and wanted me to do. Throughout the ride home he lectured me on the importance of staying "with my own kind." What the hell did he mean by "my own kind?" I sat there quietly, clutching the car door's handle, nearly throwing myself out of the car with every nagging word he said.

Once home, I ran to my room. Pacing back and forth, I only thought about Simon, reimagining him picking the chocolate out of my hair. No one had ever made me feel like he did.

In homeroom, he sat next to me and he didn't avoid me. In fact, he talked to me.

"What are you doing talking to that loser?" D.J., finding me at my locker.

"What are you talking about?" I replied even though I knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Simple Simon," he said. "You've been talking to him all day."

"It's a free country," I said, walking away from him. "I can talk to whoever I want."

"Hey, Durgin, are you a...?"

I was expecting him to say the f-word, but I turned my head, staring hard at him. My eyes told him "don't you even dare say it."

Maybe that look gave it away. It was hard to keep up with the charade.

Defying my dad, I went to Simon's house after school when I was supposed to be hanging out with Chase.

"What are you doing?" I laughed as Simon hung upside down, his head dangling off the bed.

"Letting the blood rush to my head," he said.

"Why?" I laughed.

"Just because."

Lying on my stomach beside him, I admired his skin that was unusually soft for a guy. He didn't budge as I traced his Adam's apple with my finger. He giggled as I ran my finger up it and over his chin. Unexpectedly, I planted a kiss on his chin. Frozen, he swallowed hard.

"You missed," he said, sitting up abruptly.

"What?" I said, not sure what he meant.

"You missed," he said.

Smiling, he kissed my lips lightly. I didn't hesitate, kissing him back. I'd kissed lots of girls before, but none of their kisses felt like Simon's. Why? Because I was gay.

"Do you sing?" I asked, inches from his lips when all Simon wanted to do was kiss me again, judging by the yearning look in his eyes.

"Do I sing?" he repeated my question.

"Friday night...there's this dance...and I'm supposed to go with Valerie Orsini."

The head cheerleader, Valerie asked me to go with her weeks ago. It's not like I could have said no. I started to think differently. As Simon and I kissed, I devised this plan to let everyone know who we were. By "we," I meant me and Simon.

"I don't go to school dances," he said. "They're so lame."

"Yeah, I know," I agreed. "But it wouldn't be so bad if I went with you."

"You want to go to the dance with me instead of Valerie? What does that have to do with singing?"

"I thought maybe we could do a duet."

"A duet?" he laughed.

"Yeah," I said, proceeding to tell him my idea. His cheeks turned bright red.

"I don't know if I can get in front of everyone and..." he said, but I interrupted him with a kiss. "But then everyone will know."

"That's the idea," I said.

After lots more kissing, Simon reluctantly agreed.

Simon and I discovered we were pretty good singers. After lot of practicing, come Friday, we were ready. I was actually looking forward to it.

Just as the band showed up, I asked them if they were willing to do me a favor. Yes, they were willing.

"Are you sure about this?" Simon asked. He was so cute when he was nervous. My insides were shaking, too, but I hadn't been more sure about anything in my life.

Everyone applauded like crazy as I walked on stage, but their applause came to an  immediate halt as Simon trailed behind me.

"This song is dedicated to my boyfriend," I announced, my voice noticeably shaking over the microphone. Simon stood a few feet away at the other microphone. I reached over and squeezed his hand, hoping he didn't mind that I called him my boyfriend.

Simon glanced over his shoulder and at the band.

"You got this, guys," the bassist said to us.

The drummer counted to three, then simultaneously Simon and I started:

What's with these homies, dissing my girl?
Why do they gotta front?
What did we ever do to these guys
That made them so violent?

Woo-hoo, but you know I'm yours
Woo-hoo, and I know you're mine
Woo-hoo, and that's for all of time

Oo-ee-oo I look just like Buddy Holly
Oh-oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore
I don't care what they say about us anyway
I don't care 'bout that

Don't you ever fear, I'm always near
I know that you need help
Your tongue is twisted, your eyes are slit
You need a guardian

Woo-hoo, and you know I'm yours
Woo-hoo, and I know you're mine
Woo-hoo, and that's for all of time

Oo-ee-oo I look just like Buddy Holly
Oh-oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore
I don't care what they say about us anyway
I don't care 'bout that (x2)

Bang, bang a knock on the door
Another big bang and you're down on the floor
Oh no! What do we do?
Don't look now but I lost my shoe
I can't run and I can't kick
What's the matter babe are you feeling sick?
What's the matter, what's the matter, what's the matter you?
What's the matter babe, are you feeling blue?

And that's for all of time (x2)

Oo-ee-oo I look just like Buddy Holly
Oh-oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore
I don't care what they say about us anyway
I don't care 'bout that (x4)

At the abrupt ending, I pulled Simon to me and kissed him full on his mouth. Even though I surprised him, he kissed me back.

Holding my hand, we faced the audience. Some applauded, others stood there in stunned silence. As Simon and I took a bow, more people applauded, whistling and cheering.

In the back of the audience, I saw a tall man stumble backwards on his way out the door.

"Was that your dad?" Simon whispered.

"Yep," I said. "Did I forget to tell you he was a chaperone?"

"Yes, you did," he said.

Smiling, I pulled Simon to me and kissed him again.

Boy, was I glad I was having dinner with my mother tonight. I wondered if my dad would ever speak to me again. That was a story for a different day.

Word count: 1149
Total word count: 5000