“So, it’s those dickheads at school?”
I want to point out that some of the dickheads happen to be on his soccer team, but before I can type that out, another message comes through.
“I’m pretty sure dickheads describes most of the soccer team. I once brought up the jokes they make, and everyone teased me about being gay, too. I probably should try again. Sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I say. “I mean, the dickheads are a big reason for me staying closeted, but I think the bigger reason is my parents.”
“You don’t think they’d accept you?” he asks. “You don’t think they already know?”
I move to lie across my bed. “Maybe deep down a part of them suspects. And maybe they’d rather ignore that suspicion so that they don’t have to face that their son is gay. It’s funny, just today I was feeling down about that very thing. My mom and dad are eagerly awaiting any news of a girlfriend.”
“It’d probably be a huge shock to them to know that you have a secret boyfriend, right?”
“That’s the understatement of the year. What would your parents say if they found out you were dating a boy for the week?”
“I mean, my mom is pretty cool. Her younger brother is gay and everyone is fine with it. So I think she’d be perfectly fine with a gay son. As for my dad…well…we aren’t that close anymore, and I don’t know enough about him now to know how he’d react….And a part of me feels like he’s lost the right to have an opinion on the matter.”
I knew that Bryson’s parents were divorced, but I didn’t know the details. And before, I wasn’t all that curious, but now I am. Talking to Bryson Keller like this makes him more real.
“Sorry…if I shouldn’t have asked.”
“Don’t be,” Bryson says.
“How would Dustin react to knowing you have a boyfriend? Even if it’s only for five days?” I’ve never actually heard Dustin being homophobic, but then again, I haven’t really gone out of my way to spend time with him.
“Dustin’s really cool. Once you get to know him, he’s a lot different from how everyone thinks he is. He out of anyone has always been there for me, so I know he’d be there for me…if I was gay.”
I stare at those last few words: if I was gay. That’s the truth of the matter. Bryson Keller isn’t gay. This is all just a part of the dare.
“Makes sense,” I say. “Well, anyway, thanks for being my first-ever boyfriend.”
“Don’t mention it,” he says. “You know, I really can’t believe how different you are right now.”
“That’s because right now I can be whoever I want to be. The real me. I promise to try to be like this in person, too. I mean, I only have four days left.”
“Yes! Better make them count. I look forward to getting to know the real Kai Sheridan.”
“Don’t fall for me for real, Bryson Keller. I’m quite charming.”
“Hahaha. I’ll keep that in mind.” He pauses, then continues to type. “Is this your first relationship—real or fake?”
“I mean, I dated a girl before.”
“Really! Who? For how long?”
“Louise Keaton,” I say. “It was freshman year and it lasted less than two weeks.”
Bryson sends a series of laughing emojis. “So you have experience with short relationships?”
“Some would call me a master at them.”
“You’re funny.”
“Those of us who don’t look like models have to develop our personalities.”
“What are you talking about?” Bryson says. “You’re good-looking, Kai.”
“You say as an impartial third party?” I add a teasing-face emoji.
“Sure. That’s why you can trust my words. Besides, I’m a really bad liar. In part because I just suck at it but also because I hate lies. They can ruin things that were once perfect.”
“That was deep,” I say.
“I am a man of much depth. You should see my philosophy bookshelf.” He adds a nerdy-face emoji.
“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours….”
A stream of laughing-with-tears emojis follows. “Nice one. High five!”
I send him a smiley-face emoji and switch to the group chat with my friends.
Bryson’s giving me a ride to school tomorrow.
Priya: Why?
Donny: What she said.
Me: We need to finalize our assignment, and with his busy schedule, this works out better.
Makes sense, Donny texts. If he flakes, let me know. I’ll swing by.
See you at school, then, Priya adds.
I exit our chat and head back to Bryson’s message.
“I’ll take you up on that ride to school,” I say. “What time?”
“How does seven sound?”
“Great.”
It’s well past midnight by the time we both say good night. As I plug in my nearly dead phone to charge, I realize that I can’t fight the smile from my face.
I climb into bed and find that I can’t sleep.
Maybe it’s because for the first time in my life I’m actually fully awake.
8
I open my eyes with a groan. I stare up at my ceiling for a few unseeing minutes before rolling over for my phone. Scrolling through social media before I do anything else is part of my morning routine.
The first thing that greets me is a text message from Bryson—my boyfriend.
Morning. I’ll be there by 7.
So it wasn’t all a dream. The realization both scares and excites me. I check the time and notice that it’s just past six-thirty. School starts at eight sharp, so I have thirty minutes until Bryson arrives at my house. Only thirty minutes.
I scamper from my bed, race across the hall to the bathroom, and find it empty and waiting for me. Today I am the victor. While I’m in the shower, I hear Yazz knock at the door. The sound brings a smile to my face, and ten minutes later I saunter from the room, leaving a cloud of steam in my wake.
I pull on my school uniform and look for my blazer, before remembering that Bryson has it. All students are required to wear their blazers as they enter and leave the academy buildings. It’s part of the school rules. Mine being at the dry cleaner’s means certain punishment. I curse Louise Keaton once more, but this time I don’t curse Bryson Keller.