Autumn is a beautiful but pensive poem that falling leaves recite with great enthusiasm so that the world will remember them as they bid farewell to the world. Welcome to my anthology series. Welcome to EQUINOX.
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Finding your soulmate in your best friend is a happenstance that occurs for those least expecting it. Peter and Bridget were the lucky ones in that regard.
Though their relationship was strictly platonic, they always really understood each other. No words were ever needed for them to be in synch.
Everyone that saw them knew they were meant for each other, including Bridget's older brother Bryce.
Bryce was 4 years older than them. There were times Peter would catch him watching from a distance. He often wondered if Bryce resented him for being around his family so much.
Over the years, Peter and Bridget's interests diverged but they remained close. Peter would spend countless hours playing Super Smash Bros while Bridget would be in another room trying out different hairdos in the mirror.
"Do you need a partner?", asked Bryce, one day. Peter looked up, a little surprised.
"Sure, yeah....here", replied Peter, handing him a controller.
This would happen over and over again – Bryce playing video games with Peter – until eventually, it became their thing. Peter got to know Bryce better and better with each game they played. At one point, they were almost as close as him and Bridget.
So it was especially hard when Peter decided to come out to his friends soon after his 12th birthday. Bridget was amazing and supportive. But Bryce stopped coming to their game sessions.
It wasn't until a couple weeks later when Bryce popped back up, bringing with him the most recent Mario Kart, that Peter realized Bryce was actually okay with him being who he was.
They didn't talk about it. They just picked up right where they left off. Peter didn't mind this. He was just glad to have his friend back.
--
During the next few years, Bryce got busier - with sports and with girls. But he always managed to keep his Friday night ritual with Peter: video games, movies, and pizza.
They were sitting on Bryce's bed watching 'Fight Club' for the twentieth time when Peter felt an arm on his shoulder. Bryce was moving him out of the way so he could see the movie better.
Only, his hand stayed. Peter felt a little awkward but it also felt a little right. He conceded to himself long ago that he had a crush on Bryce but knew that nothing would ever happen.
However, Peter thought he felt a slight stroke of Bryce's hand against his shoulder. This is all in my head, Peter thought.
--
In high school, Peter felt really in his element. As a freshman, he found new friends and discovered a hidden talent for dance. He had even signed up for the school's dance competition, a knockoff version of 'Dancing With The Stars'.
Peter had just finished rehearsals one day when he bumped into Bryce in the gym. Bryce's teammate had bailed on him and he needed someone to train with.
