A Straight Guy's Guide to Being Gay

Chapter 16

Theo wasn't surprised that he got a call from Mike Saturday night. He was sprawled across his bed, a fleece-lined blanket draped over him, and trying to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Becky had suggested that he should read it a few years before, and he finally decided to listen to her. He was surprised at how hooked he got. After the first few chapters, he was immediately captivated. He'd watched the movies, and while they watched, he would hear Becky and his mother making little comments about how it was different from the book. He was shocked as he realized how powerful words were, how they were just letters formed together to create sound and then pieced with other words to create a sentence that you could read in your head and play out what was really happening. Like the book was coming to life.

He felt bad for ever telling Becky to get her nose out of a book and face the real world. He wished he knew that every time someone was reading a book, they were in a different world, just not the one that anyone else inhabited. And it was fucking magical. No pun intended since Theo was reading a book about a wizard.

He more felt the buzzing than heard it. There was vibration coming from under his left arm, and he went to grab his phone. The screen showed his contact photo of Mike: Mike drunk and sleeping on Theo's couch. It was a hilarious memory. Mike had come to Theo's house in the middle of the night, drunk, and asked to stay so his parents wouldn't find out. Theo's mother had come to the door, too, wondering who the fuck was at the door at one in the morning. She got one look at Mike and backed away.

"I'm going to pretend I have no part in this so Lisa and Bob still let Mike come over," she had said sternly.

Mike had tripped and fallen, almost knocking over a fragile vase, and finally toppled onto the couch. His mouth had hung open and he started to drool. He was also muttering things under his breath, and while he was trying to sleep and sober up, Theo was rolling on the ground clutching his stomach. He was red in the face, trying to conceal his laughter, but drunk Mike was the absolute best.

In the morning, Mike had woken up with a bad headache, but he wouldn't stop thanking Theo for letting him stay. It really wasn't a big deal, and Theo was sure that Mike was still a little drunk, but he told Theo how much it meant to him. Theo was reminded then of how lucky he was to have such great friends.

"Hello?" Theo said into the phone, his voice a little scratchy from little use.

Mike began to speak but stopped. Theo could sense his awkwardness through the line.

"Hello?" Theo said again. Mike was usually never at a stop for words.

"Hey, man. I mean— Can I still call you 'man?'"

Theo laughed. "Dude, why couldn't you?"

There was a bit of silence. "I don't know," he said finally. "You're gay so I don't know who you— what you—"

"Mike," he said coldly. "I'm still the same person as I was before I came out." Theo never thought about how his friends might treat him differently. He didn't think they would since none of them are homophobic. In fact, they all had gone to a pride parade last summer with Justin's mom's. It was super fun. Though Theo would hate to admit it, he was glad that they ran into no one from their school. He supposed he shouldn't care. Especially now.

"I know, I know. But it's weird, you know? I didn't ever think that you were— and that's not to say that you are faking it, but..." Mike sounded worried.

Theo sighed. "You're all good, dude. I'm just being defensive. It's not fair for me to expect you all to go along with it with no questions." He scratched the back of his neck. "I guess I was just tired of being in the closet for so long?" It wasn't meant to be a question, but it came out as one. Either way, Mike didn't answer it. He just started to talk about the latest news with Madison and how they went on a super romantic date. Theo was still trying to get used to the fact that his closest friends all believed he was gay. It wasn't a horrible lie, but it still felt wrong.