Fourteen years later, I'm invited back to Blue River High School. As I'm driving over there, I feel my anxiety kicking in. It's been far too long since I've been here. As I park in a shady spot underneath a tree, I shut my eyes and take deep breaths. I count to ten in Spanish to help me focus.

"Uno, dos, tres, Cuatro, Cinco, seis, siete, Ocho, Nueve, Diez," I mumble. I'm calm now, and I cut the ignition. Harriet and Kai walk up to me and wave at me. As I get out of the driver's seat, I wave back at them. We walk up to each other, and there is an awkward tension between the three of us.

"You're a bit pale, Michael," Kai points out as he feels my forehead for signs of a fever. Harriet shows me the reviews of my coming-of-age and fantasy stories. They're pretty popular in Blue River, but they're still gaining popularity in other states. I smile and laugh, getting a bit of color back. Kai smiles and we walk into the school.

"Luca has yet to arrive," Harriet tells us as we head to an empty classroom to talk. I go pale again and we sit down. Kai notices and stops Harriet from continuing to talk. They look at me and I count to ten again in Spanish to calm me down. I take a deep breath and tell them what Luca had done to me on my seventeenth birthday.

Harriet hugs me and Kai has murder written all over his face. He stands up and paces the room. "I . . . Am going . . . To kill him," he says, fury lacing his voice, his voice even. That scares me. Harriet asks me why I didn't tell them fourteen years ago.

"Luca said that he would make my life a living hell if I told anyone," I admitted shamefully. They look at each other and Kai hugs me now. I hug them back, apologizing for how I acted immediately after the incident that scarred me. They forgive me and we walk out of the classroom. Luca arrives as soon as we're walking down the hallway.

Kai taps me on the shoulder and whispers, "kiss me and I'll kiss back." I nod, kissing him gently. His lips are soft. Kai kisses back and Luca looks shocked to see this scene as soon as he walks into the school. Harriet claps, trying to either not fangirl or laugh.

He storms off and we break the kiss. My cheeks turn a bit pink as his cheeks turn red. Harriet bites her lip, squealing quietly. We walk into the auditorium and sit down in the middle. Luca sits in the far back. More people come in as Kai and I hold hands.

I suppose that this makes Kai and I a couple now. He did say he was bisexual fourteen years ago. Now he's gay and proud. I'm gay and proud. I wonder what our wedding will be like.