-Max-

Friday was nerve-wracking. Part of me was freaking out about the family dinner, and the other part was worried sick of Troy and Luke's date. I had no idea when I had turned into that overly worried guy, but I sure as hell wished I could just relax.

The day at school would've been a lot worse if Sky hadn't been there to repeat his new mantra, "Everything will go just fine – you'll see", every now and then. My poor beloved had a lot to bear that day when I was around, but he never lost his cool with me.

When the school was over and Sky, Troy and I were walking to the bus, I saw Luke there waiting for us. Well, for Troy. Sky nudged my hand, giving me a look that said we should give them privacy, while Troy looked at me like he was asking me to save him.

"Everything will go just fine – you'll see," Sky told him soothingly – for the millionth time.

Troy was doubtful, but I was absolutely sure he was just nervous and not wanting to cancel the date. If I knew him at all – and I knew him pretty well – he wanted to go out with Luke. There was just no other way he would have said yes. I wasn't sure if he had always been open to the idea of dating guys too, or had he just realized it was also a possibility, but I knew that if he didn't want to go out with a guy, he would have said so right there in the beginning.

Sky and I watched Troy walking to Luke and stopping in front of him. There was a short moment of awkward silence before Luke found the courage to speak. We were too far away to hear what they were talking about, but it was obvious it was about tonight. The conversation didn't even last long. Luke spoke shortly, and Troy listened quietly, keeping his eyes somewhere down on the ground. Troy nodded a couple of times without saying a word, and then Luke walked away after saying goodbye. Troy didn't return to us. He just stood there, watching after Luke.

I looked at Sky, who had a worried frown on his face, when he turned to look at me.

"Should we go talk to him?" Sky asked.

"I wonder what Luke said... Maybe Troy needs some time alone?" I asked, keeping my eyes on Troy.

"Maybe Luke canceled?" Sky spoke quietly.

That was certainly how it seemed, but I forced myself to stop jumping into conclusions.

"Troy?" I spoke his name loud enough for him to hear me, and he turned to look at us.

I took Sky's hand and told him to follow me to Troy, who was still standing there with a blank look on his face.

"What did he say?" I asked.

"He's coming to pick me up at six," Troy spoke with a weak voice.

"So... Is there something wrong?" I asked.

"No. Why?" Troy asked and looked at me with a frown.

"No? You just seemed... No, never mind," I stammered.

Those two were just so goddamn awkward. I had the feeling that their date would turn out disastrous just because they didn't know how to talk to each other! I saw Sky smiling at me, and he patted my arm – I was pretty sure he knew how frustrated I was. And I was frustrated! I had no idea why, but I guess I couldn't help my nature. I wanted my friends to be happy, and if their date would go badly, their friendship would probably end there too.

"The bus is here," Sky said. "Where's Luke? He'll miss it."

"He said he needs to get something from the mall," Troy spoke absentmindedly.

I looked after Luke, but I couldn't see him anymore. I then shook my head, trying to stop worrying about things I couldn't control. We followed the rest of the students into the bus. Sky sat next to me, and Troy sat behind us, being quieter than ever.

"So... How do you feel now?" I asked Troy when the silence grew unbearable. "About... you know..."

"I... don't... know," Troy spoke slowly, trying to find the words. "I'm freaking nervous but... It's normal, right?"

"Yes – it is normal," Sky said and turned to look at me sternly, like telling me to drop the subject already. "You don't need to worry about anything – I bet it's going to be awesome."

Sky was still looking at me when he spoke, even though his words were meant for Troy.

"If you say so..." Troy sighed, looking like he was about to throw up.

We didn't talk anymore until it was my time to get off the bus.

"I'll see you at six," I told Sky, and squeezed his hand.

"Can't wait," he said with a smile. "Although I could skip the part where our parents meet," he added with a chuckle.

"Me too," I sighed. "Bye."

When I stood up, I looked at Troy, but he was still deep in his own thoughts. I wanted to wish him good luck, but I didn't want him to think I thought he needed luck. Well, I didn't want him to know I believed he needed good luck.

I felt like a bad friend to even think things like that, but those two were just too awkward to even function right. As I walked to my home, I really wished that everything would turn out just fine for all of us.

*****

My parents and I arrived at Sky's home ten minutes before six. I was getting nervous, even though there shouldn't have been anything to worry about. It was just a dinner between two families. My parents were dressed up in their finest clothes, and they hadn't let me be an exception. I had my shiny shoes, black dress pants with a blue dress shirt, and a black jacket. At least they hadn't made me wear a tie, but they had forced me to tie my hair in a bun at the back of my neck.

"Stop fiddling it!" My mom commanded when I tried to find that one tiny lock of hair that was trying to get ripped off my scalp by the bun.

"It's pinching my head," I muttered back to her, while my dad pressed the doorbell.

"Just let it be," Mom whispered, and then the door was opened.

"Hello!" Sky's mother greeted us with a wide smile. Her husband was standing right behind her. "Come on in!"

Once I was in, I spotted Sky in their living room with his brother. My parents were too busy shaking hands with Sky's parents to notice how I slipped away from them and joined Sky and Freddy in the living room.

"Hey," I mumbled and sat next to Sky, and squeezed his hand – I didn't feel comfortable kissing him when our parents were around.

"You look handsome," Sky smiled and touched my bun lightly. "You look like a rich soccer player."

"Football," I corrected with a smile. "Soccer is for actors. You look great too."

Sky really did look amazing. He had black jeans that looked brand new, and he was wearing a dark-blue dress shirt, just like me. His blond hair was neatly combed on the left side of his face, framing his beautiful eyes. His brother Freddy had a similar outfit, but his shirt was purple.

Sky leaned against my shoulder. We were still holding hands, but we were hiding them in between us. I stared at him for a long while without saying a word, while the adults were talking loudly, laughing at each other's jokes, and just making a big fuzz in the entrance hall.

At some point, I noticed Freddy smirking at us. Sky saw me looking over his shoulder, so he turned around to see why.

"What?" Sky asked slowly, looking suspicious.

"Nothing!" Freddy chuckled. "I just think you two are a cute couple."

Sky squinted his eyes, and now he was definitely suspicious. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing!" Freddy repeated, but even I grew suspicious. "Okay – fine – if you must know, I have a gift for you two," he admitted.

"What?" Sky asked with a frown.

"Yeah – I saw it in the mall and I thought of you guys. I just had to get it for you," Freddy said and stood up. "Wait here – I'll go get it."

Sky turned to look at me and shrugged. Our parents were making their way into the dining room, still talking and giggling loudly. It seemed like our dads were talking about football, and they supported the same team, so I was starting to feel comfortable. It looked like they had a lot in common, so I didn't expect any hiccups.

Then Freddy returned to us with a wide smile. "Here," he said, and gave Sky a small, gift-wrapped box.

Sky stared at it for a moment, and I knew he was touched.

"Thank you, Freddy," he said with a smile. "You didn't need to get us anything."

"Oh, no, no – don't thank me," he said modestly. "And I think it is my duty as a big brother to give you guys this. Think of it as my way to welcome Max to our family," he said, speaking the last words directly at me. "I think you both will enjoy it very much."

Sky gave him a happy smile before he started to open the gift. I watched while he unwrapped it. Sky moved away the top layer and stopped to stare at the black box inside the wrappings. It had text on it.

"'Premium Max, super stud?' What is this?" Sky asked, and picked up the packet and turned it around. "Premium quality cond– FREDDY!"

Freddy burst into hard laughter and ran, while I blushed like never before. Sky stood up and was about to run after his brother, but then he seemed to remember that he was holding a big pack of condoms in his hands, and all our parents were just in the next room.

"MAX THE SUPER STUD!!" We could hear Freddy's laughter coming from upstairs.

"Freddy! What are you yelling? We have quests!" Sky's mom shouted at her son, and we could hear her walking to the door of the dining room.

Sky and I had only two seconds to hide Freddy's "gift" under the cushions before Mrs. Jenkins stepped into the living room.

"What on earth is going on over here?" Mrs. Jenkins asked. "Why are you so red?"

"I – it's – we..." I stammered without knowing what to say.

"Freddy pulled a prank on us," Sky said and pointed upstairs. "He's such a jerk."

"Oh – well, you know how he is," Mrs. Jenkins said with a shrug. "Don't mind him. Dinner is ready, so you two should join the others in the dining room. I'll go get Freddy."

And with that, she left us alone in the living room. I was so ridiculously happy she didn't ask about the prank. Once she was gone, Sky took a deep breath and turned to look at me.

"I'm so sorry," he said, like it was somehow his fault his brother had given us a box of condoms as a gift. "He's so immature..."

I stood up too and stepped in front of him. "Don't worry about it," I smiled. "He's just being a big brother."

"A jerk – that's what he is. And here I thought he was just being nice..." Sky muttered.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but... I think it was funny," I admitted. "It has my name on it and all."

Sky stared at me for a moment before he laughed and shook his head. He didn't say anything, he just hugged me shortly.

"I mean, I am quite a stud," I smirked.

"Oh my lord!" Sky laughed and pushed me lightly. "You're just as awful as Freddy!"

I laughed too and turned to look at the cushions that were hiding the gift. "What should we do about it?"

"I'll take it in my room, and–"

"Come on, boys!" Mrs. Jenkins spoke to us by the door. Freddy was standing behind her, smirking at us. "The food is getting cold!"

Sky's expression dropped when he saw his brother. "You are so dead," he articulated quietly to his brother when their mom wasn't looking.

Freddy didn't seem to be bothered at all, so I assumed it was just natural between them. I could tell that they loved each other like any other siblings did. I felt quite jealous of it actually – maybe my dad's drinking would have been easier for me to tolerate if I had a brother or sister by my side.

Sky waited for his mom to disappear into the dining room, and grabbed the box when no one was there to see it, and darted to the stairs when the coast was clear. I followed Mrs. Jenkins and Freddy to the dining room so we wouldn't be raising any suspicions.

I sat down next to my mom, and soon later Sky returned to us and sat down in front of me at the other side of the table. He was still giving Freddy nasty looks, but his brother acted like he didn't even notice him. Our parents continued their conversation about politics – of course it had to be about politics – and apparently, their values were a good match.

It was good to see that our parents got along so well. It would have been devastating for me and Sky if they didn't like each other. I listened to them with one ear, while keeping my eyes on Sky. He seemed to forget to be mad at his brother while we ate, and eventually he turned his attention to me.

I gave him a smile and moved my leg quietly closer to his under the table. I felt his ankle pressing against mine, and he left it there. We couldn't just hold hands, so it was a good alternative – I just wanted to feel his warmth, no matter how.

"So, Max is your only child?" Mrs. Jenkins asked at some point.

"Yes – and what a perfect boy he is," my mom said and patted my shoulder with a great big smile. "He has told me quite a lot about Skyler, too. He seems like an angel," she praised.

"That he sure is," Mrs. Jenkins said fondly.

"I bet you never thought of having a son-in-law," Mr. Jenkins chuckled. "As a father of two sons, I thought I dodged a bullet there."

"What do you mean?" my mom asked politely.

"Well, I was always grateful I didn't have a daughter to worry about. I mean, I thought I didn't need to worry about some jock coming to steal my baby girl's heart," Mr. Jenkins explained with a smile. Then he took a small pause and pointed at me. "I don't have a daughter, but there's still a jock in my house."

I laughed at his joke with the rest of them.

"Well – I can't say the same, since it seems like my future son-in-law isn't a jock," my dad bragged. "I heard mine wants to be a veterinarian – it's a respectful job."

"Ohhh!" Mr. Jenkins laughed. "I heard that my son-in-law will become an architect! I'm seeing a nice, expensive retirement home in my future!"

"Oh, dear God," Mrs. Jenkins chuckled. "They have the same, stupid sense of humor."

"I know," my mom giggled. "I do feel sorry for you, my dear."

"Likewise," Mrs. Jenkins smiled and raised her glass.

It wasn't easy to stop laughing, even though it was because of my relationship with Sky why they were having so much fun. The atmosphere was nice and relaxed, and I knew none of them meant any harm. It showed that they were cool about us, and that meant the world to me.

Sky, too, was laughing the entire time, and I couldn't stop staring at him. His eyes were sparkling bright, and his laughter was music to my ears, as corny as it sounded. But it was true. I loved him so much, and it felt truly amazing to know that everyone was happy for me.

For us.