Technicolor

1. Oz

An afternoon in the spring wasn't complete without a dark and cloudy sky that started pouring down right as I was trying to rush to class because I knew I'd be late if I didn't run. I was a freshman in college and had survived the first semester but second semester was kicking my ass and being late to my precalculus class with an extremely angry and strict professor was not on my agenda for the day. But looking back if I hadn't been rushing maybe it would have changed everything.

I stepped into a big ass puddle that sent water splashing all over me.

"Damn it!" Someone exclaimed behind me and I turned in horror as I realized I must have splashed the person behind me and I slipped and fell on my ass.

"Oh, fuck me," I gasped in surprise and looked up at the guy that immediately bent down and gave me his hand to help me up.

"Shit you got us both wet and you haven't even bought me lunch," he joked with a half smirk and I swear the fucking rain clouds disappeared right then and there. As I looked up at this beautiful stranger with a half smirk and a mole near his lips on his left side of his face that I suddenly had the urge to kiss softly I felt like my life of black and white and all the shades of gray had ended and I was now seeing in color. I finally understand how Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. He had a dark blue beanie on that hid his hair but some messy strands of it came out and I could see the dark brown of it. He wore a cardigan that matched his beanie and he had a bright yellow shirt on underneath it. The sun seemed to shine down on him and the yellow shirt caught my eye. It was like he carried all of the light and color I'd been missing. His beanie had a rainbow embroidered on it and I raised an eyebrow. Could he be?

I took his hand and he helped me up and I felt like he had reached into the depths of my soul and had yanked me out. Even when he helped me stand up I couldn't let go of his hand. I looked down at us holding hands in disbelief and then he cleared his throat and reality came crashing back and I flinched as I let go of his hand and felt my heart break because surely a guy like him couldn't be into other guys and if he was he couldn't be into me and if he was it was simply not true.

"Dang you get me wet and you wanna hold hands." He added and laughed at his own joke and that should have annoyed me but for someone that seemed to bring out the sun I didn't mind.

"I am SO sorry." I mumbled out. He shrugged and smiled even bigger.

"I'm teasing. It's fine. I was just rushing to class and it's my fault. I should have been here earlier since it's the first day I'm actually required to be in class but I got busy doing other...stuff and well I should still head to class. I'm probably gonna be late now for sure." He rambled and I could have listened to him talk forever.

"Yeah, of course right. I know how it is I'm late to class too. Sorry!" I said and he smiled again and waved as he started to walk away and I watched him walk away and thought what if I never see him again?

"Hey!" I blurted out and I couldn't believe myself. What the hell was I doing? This wasn't who I was? Most people didn't even know I was gay. Not that that meant much since I had very few friends and the ones from my hometown knew but that was another long unwanted story.

"What?" He turned back and looked at me.

"What's your name?" I asked as I walked towards him to make the distance shorter.

"Eric." He said. Eric like my favorite Disney prince. I had no chance in hell of not falling for him.

"I think you're beautiful, Eric." I said knowing that I'd probably never see him again and then he seemed like he was uncomfortable or confused before he smiled the warmest smile a stranger had ever given me. A smile that took me in its arms and made me feel safe.