The Cost of Love

Chapter 3: Gossip

"So on a scale of 1-10, how sexy is that Reese kid?" Claire asked blatantly. Her unapologetic attitude was something I always admired. If she wanted to say something she said it. 

"9" I said. "He's doesn't exactly look like my type but he is very handsome". I was never the kind of person to fall in love with a man's looks over everything else. 

"Your type?! He's sexy as hell! Don't tell me you wouldn't want to fool around with him at least once just for the fun of it!" 

I started blushing immediately. Robbie was my first and we were together for 2 years. I've never been the one night stand kinda guy but the more I thought about it the more I thought that maybe college would be a good time to not take things too seriously, at least in the romantic sense. 

"Yeah maybe you're right!" I said chuckling. 

We ate our lunch and gossiped for a bit. It's been a while and there were so many things for the two of us to catch up on. Our town was quite small; however gossip was no stranger to it. My best friend Adriana came up. Claire and I discussed our envy of her having been with her boyfriend, Josh, for practically 6 years now. It's funny how you always hear stories of childhood sweethearts but never actually believe it could happen. But if anyone could make it happen it was them. 

The next topic of our conversation was my story of coming out to my parents. Claire instantly started crying but managed to speak in between her tears.

"Aw that's just so beautiful!!! I remember when you told me! It was in our free period after Chemistry! You had just met Robbie in junior year and you were so nervous telling me” she said clearing up her tears.  

"Thanks!" I said. Claire was one of the very few people I told I was gay back in high school. Adrianna, naturally, was the first. Both cried with me when I told them. It seems to get easier with the more people you tell. I was always wary of who I told. As much as I loved partaking in the exchange of gossip I didn't necessarily like being a victim to its endless cycle.

“I remember that day too. Oh god…I was like a nervous wreck! I remember I always used to hyperventilate every time I was about to tell somebody. I don’t even know why I got so nervous! It’s not like I expected anything bad to happen at all. I knew you guys would always accept me no matter what” I smiled as I fondly reminisced of my high school days.

"I admire your courage! It takes a lot of guts to come out to your parents!" Claire said with tears still coming down her cheek. 

"Thanks!"

"Did you tell them about Robbie?" she asked curiously.

"Ahh no. I didn't feel like telling them that I secretly dated a guy for 2 years behind their back. Even going to such extreme measures to keep it hidden like making him climb in and out of my window so he could spend the night" I laughed "I don't think my parents would have appreciated that". 

She giggled. And we finished up our lunch. 

As we made our way to the next class my eyes were immediately drawn to Reese standing outside the building in which our class was. I guess Claire was too busy telling another story to notice but I couldn't seem to take my eyes off him. Claire was right, he was the epitome of masculinity and he was what every girl could possibly ever want in a dream guy. He was smoking what I assumed to be a cigarette and listening to music. What amazed me the most was his ability to seemingly detach himself from the world. He was just staring off into the distance, not even noticing the fixated stares I was giving him.

"Checking out your future boyfriend?" Claire giggled out. 

"Ahhh! Shush!!!! What if he heard you?!" I started freaking out 

"Look at him! He's in another world! He's so lost in his music and his uh....staring? He couldn't have possibly heard me!"

"Eh still. Let's keep it on the down-low. I mean YOU THINK HE'S CUTE TOO!" I laughed making sure to say it extra loud. She punched my arm and said "Very funny smart ass!" we both chuckled and walked into our class.