Boy meets face card
The October chill of the North Pacific blew over me like the cool air from a lover. I stood in the middle of campus as the people passed by, hoping for just a moment of his time. It had been a few weeks since Peter had kissed me. In that time, he had successfully avoided me. I was determined, nevertheless, to speak with him. We had to sort out what was going on between us.
“Are you still hoping to run into lips?” Kade asked from behind me.
I turned around with a chuckle. Kade stood there in his tight light blue denim jeans and plaid shirt. His hair blew in the wind like something out of a movie. His plaid button-down shirt hugged his arms and chest. My friend’s body was developing along nicely. The jeans he wore hugged his thighs and crotch. They made his bugle look heavy.
I scanned him over quickly and raised an eyebrow suspiciously at him. “Are you stalking my whereabouts?”
He smiled and answered, “Maybe. It’s only because I wanted to see if you were going to the Omega House Halloween party. We can go together, that way we don’t look like two lonely lame asses who can’t get dates.”
“Despite that being exactly who we are?” I asked him with a smirk.
“Exactly,” he answered. “I won’t tell if you won’t tell.”
I rolled my eyes and, exasperated, “Fine. Whatever you say.”
Kade smiled at me for a brief moment. His smile faded as he looked past me. “Here comes lip service.”
I spun around and spotted Peter just a few feet away. He was laughing with a group of guys. His eyes landed on me, and his laughing stopped. He seemed to become very uneasy. Kade leaned in behind me and whispered…
“I’ll leave you to it.”
I looked back over my shoulder. Kade was already walking away from me. I turned my attention back toward Peter. I was nervous to speak with him. I had waited weeks to have a conversation, and suddenly my thoughts were gone, and I felt a lump form in my throat. He knew I wanted to talk. He told his friends he’d catch up with them later.
They walked away. He waited until they were gone, and then he made his way toward me. With each step he took, I felt my anxiety flare up, and this ball of sickness settled in the pit of my stomach.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” I said as I stupidly waved my hand. “You’re a hard person to catch up with. I’ve been wanting to speak with you for weeks now.”
“About what?” He asked as he shifted his backpack from one shoulder to the other.
“You kissed me,” I blurted out. “You kissed me,” I said, softer, “and it felt amazing. I felt things, and I guess part of me just wonders if you felt anything.”
I blew his breath as he looked around. “I kissed you because I wanted to help you. You were spiraling about your sexuality again, and I wanted to help.”
“Help?” I asked him. “Help how? How do you think that helps? I like you. I moved across the country to be with you.”
“Did I ask you to do that?” His question came out with so much force that it shook me to my core. “I didn’t ask you to do anything. We fucked, Emory. It was good, but it was sex. I have a boyfriend.”
“I know you have a boyfriend. I see him. You had a boyfriend, and I had a girlfriend. I was honest, and you led me on. It was my first time with anyone, and it mattered to me. You matter to me.”
“Will you listen to yourself?” He shouted. “You sound like a crazy person right now. I’m not your boyfriend. I was wrong for kissing you. It was a friend helping a friend.”
“A friend? Since when have you been a friend? Peter, I’m not stupid. I know what I felt. You were hard.”
Peter threw his hands in the air. “I’m a sexual guy. My cock gets hard if the wind blows. It doesn’t mean I want to date the wind. You have to get over this idea of you and me being anything more than what we currently are.” His frustration was evident, and his words were laced with poison for my heart and feelings.
“You know what, maybe I am stupid or maybe even a little bit naive, but I know deep down inside you felt something. You feel something for me. You’re just too much of a coward to admit it. Maybe it’s because you’re scared of change. You’ve been with Sam a long time. Maybe it’s something deeper. Whatever the case is, just know I’m not going anywhere.”
Admitting how I felt made me feel empowered. I was not going to give up on Peter. I quickly wrapped my arm around his neck and pulled him in. Our lips touched, and as I began to kiss him, he didn’t fight it. He opened his mouth and began to kiss me back. His tongue brushed against mine, and for a split second, I had him.
Peter pulled away from the kiss. He lightly shoved me away. He stood there with his nose flared and his eyes slightly widened. I smiled at him and at my actions. I turned and walked away. It was his turn to stand there looking like a deer in headlights.
***
Kade laughed out loud as I told him the story. He thought it was pretty bold and badass of me to leave Peter high and dry after kissing him. It was just the two of us at the table. Kade finally stopped laughing, and his eyes met mine. We didn’t speak. We just stared at one another. It was almost intimate, but it wasn’t that. It was comfort and trust.
Kade exhaled and said, “I’m really glad we met. You’re making my college experience so much better.”
“Same. It’s weird, like we just met some weeks ago, but I feel comfortable around you.”
Our gaze seemed to deepen as we expressed our appreciation for one another. I couldn’t explain it, but Kade just mattered to me. The moment between us was quickly interrupted by Eli slamming their books down on the table.
“This day can fuck off,” they said as they blew hot air. “Please tell me you two will be accompanying me to the Gucci House Halloween Party in Portland.”
Kade and I exchanged a bewildered glance at one another. Then we both burst into confused laughter.
“What’s funny?” Eli asked. They were clearly not amused by our laughter.
“Nothing,” I answered. “What is Gucci House and when is it?”
“It’s only the most elite place for queers to gather and mingle. We, of course, need fake IDs. I’ve already taken care of that. So, this Saturday we’ll be twerking our asses in our costumes. I’m thinking we could do a play on Britney, Madonna, and Christina’s VMA performance with our costumes. I’ll be Madonna.”
Eli tossed us our fake IDs. I picked mine up and examined it. I looked legit, but I also wasn’t an expert in the field of fake IDs. Kade slid his ID into his pocket. I followed his lead and did the same.
Kade nervously chuckled. “That sounds fun and all, but we’re actually going to the Omega House Halloween party this Saturday.”
“Why?” Eli asked. They sounded appalled by our answer. “No self-respecting queer would be at that straight boy's cesspool of male toxic masculinity.”
I rolled my eyes and blurted out, “Yes, they would be. I had my gay awakening with Peter at one of those parties.”
“Yes,” Eli began, “and look at you. You can’t go a second without mentioning that cheating, perfect hair, good dick, swinging fucker. He screwed you up for life. You need this more than anyone.”
“Fuck you, Eli. I’m not going to your damn party. I hope you go and find someone who is willing to give you some good dick. God knows you need a good fucking. Maybe you’d be less of a bitch.” I stood up and walked away from the table.
***
That night, I was in my bed, bored. Jacobi was out with a girl he had met in his math class. Kade was deep in some homework. I had nothing to do. I logged back into the hookup app that Eli had first put me on. I went to my messages and saw that the guy I had been chatting with previously was online. I sent him a message.
I’m back.
Bout time. Where’ve you been?
Around. Life got a little mad.
Hate when life be a bitch. You lookin'?
Was I looking? I wasn’t sure. I think if anything, I just wanted the conversation.
Not entirely. Maybe at some point. Does that make you mad?
Nah. I’m curious about you, though.
Really? I’m so inexperienced.
So, I could just corrupt you? LOL
LMAO! Maybe!
Good to know. Any plans for Halloween?
The Omega House Party.
Nice. I have to log off. Can we do this more often?
I’d like that.
Cool. TTYL. Night.
Night!
I closed the app with a smile on my face. That short interaction left me feeling giddy and bubbly inside. I searched for something to watch, and that’s when I discovered Pose. Before I knew, I had binged the entire first season., I put the phone down and turned over in bed, and went to sleep. The rest of the week went by in a blur. Before I knew it was Saturday night. Kade and I decided to do a theme duo. We went with the Greek gods. He was dressed a Zeus, and I went with the more dark side and picked Hades. We did white, black, and gold togas styled short with boots.
Kade and I entered the Omega House as “No Broke Boys” by Disco Lines was blasting. We were both excited for the night. There were some people in costumes and others without them. Kade instantly pulled me to the dance floor, and we just started laughing and dancing.
“I hope I kiss someone cute tonight,” Kade said as we danced.
“I’m sure you will. You’re a catch, Kade.”
He smiled. “You think so?”
I nodded my head. Kade was such a cutie. Any guy would be lucky to have him as a boyfriend. He was wholesome and a little bit country. It was sweet and hot. “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift began playing. He broke through the crowd with his magnetic charm. He dressed as a modern-day sexy Phantom of the Opera. He had the classic half-mask, fitted tux jacket, no shirt underneath, and slim black pants. All eyes turned and were on him.
He moved past them with no care. It was something to behold. The way he moved was like he floated in the air. His dark, wavy hair bounced with his movements, and yet not a single strand of hair was out of place. Seeing him like that, I understood why Peter kept picking him over me. Sam was just spectacularly breathtaking. He walked right over to me.
He smiled, “Cool costume. Hades, right? I love Greek mythology.”
“I like your spin on the Phantom. Where’s Peter?”
“He’s around. He decided that costumes weren’t his thing this year. I wanted to speak before the night got a little wild.” He turned his attention to Kade. “Hey, Kade.”
“Hi, Sam,” Kade spoke with a bit of delight in his voice.
Sam flashed a smile at me once more. He turned and walked away. Suddenly, all the fun I was having was gone. I knew then there was no way Peter would leave a guy like Sam for a guy like me.
“Let’s get out of here,” Kade said as he held his hand out for me.
I took his hand. We made our exit and headed for the place we should have been the entire time. Nearly an hour later, we walked into the House of Gucci party. There was a mix of techno and house music blasting. We looked around the party for Eli.
Kade spotted Eli in the corner alone. Eli had still come dressed as Madonna. We walked over. Eli spotted us. They tried to hide the excitement of seeing us. I, however, could see it in their eyes. There was a little bit of sparkle there. The three stood there silently, glaring at one another.
I knew Eli wasn’t the type to just accept an apology. Actions would be required. “Heated” by Beyoncé began, and I saw the perfect opportunity. I had recently discovered Pose and had been inspired by ballroom dancing, or voguing, as they say.
I began to back away from Eli and started giving a hand performance. The moment Eli saw my gesture, their entire disposition changed. Eli smiled and began to duckwalk. Right there in the back of the room, we did spins and dips together. Kade cheered us both on.
Eli and I both sang, “Your face card never declines, my God. Eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it. Mmh, yummy, yummy, yummy, make a bummy heated.”
We partied our young queer asses off! Hours later, we were back on campus. Kade and I were walking down the hall to our room.
Kade asked, “Are you okay? I know you were hoping to see Peter.”
“I’m fine,” I told him as I stood in front of my door. “When I saw Sam tonight, something clicked. Even with half a mask on, you could see his charm and beauty. I knew then Peter would never leave someone with a face card as beautiful as that.”
I turned and unlocked my door. I opened it. Jacobi was not in the room. Kade cleared his throat, and I turned back around toward him. My friend looked like he had something on his chest that he needed to get off.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Nervous, but fearless,” he breathed.
“Oh,” I exclaimed.
Kade looked down at the floor and then back at me. He shifted on his foot. “Emory, your face card never declines to me. You’re tens across the board.”
I smiled from the shock of things. “What? You’re kidding, right?”
“No,” he answered.
Kade quickly closed the distance between. He wrapped his hand around my waist and drew my body to his. I could feel my heart begin to race. It felt like it was going to burst. Kade leaned in and pressed his lips against mine. I closed my eyes and kissed him back. Before I knew it, we were kissing each other. It was deep, ferocious, and hot. He pulled away.
“I guess I got to kiss a hot guy tonight after all,” he said.
“And we’re not done yet,” I told him as I pulled him into my room by his arm.
I closed the door. The night was ours. It was time to see what could happen between two lonely friends with face cards that never declined!
TO BE CONTINUED
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