Sincerely

Cincere

"How'd you find out that you were gay?"

I pause halfway up the steps and turn around.

I stare at Lee, but he's looking away, his eyebrows furrowed and his hands fidgeting with his sleeve. He looks tense, and I can hardly tell if he's even breathing cause he's mad still.

"Um, what made you ask that?"

"It's just a question. Are you going to answer it or not?"

I blink and turn back around to keep walking, "I kinda always knew, I guess."

"You never even questioned it?" Lee asks, right behind me.

"I never felt like it was wrong, if that's what you're asking." I point towards the door on the right and Lee nods, "I had my first kiss with this guy named Jorge."

We walk in and I look around, taking in his room. Still dark, his bed is still made like it always was, his bookshelf is neat and full, his floor is clear except for his carpet in the center of his room. Only difference is there isn't a bucket of toys in the corner, or a train set halfway built on the floor.

Lee sets his bag down, "How old were you?"

I take a sip of my slushee, "Six."

"That fucking young?" Lee says.

"Young love. The best kind. It isn't unusual for little girls and guys to have their first meaningless pecks at that kind of age. Some parents even cheer it on."

"I mean...I guess so." Lee sits down on his bed.

I lean against his dresser, "When did you find out you were straight?"

Lee rolls his eyes, "I don't know, I just am?"

I shrug, "Same things goes for me. Straight isn't the default setting, y'know."

"I know that. I was just curious."

I sit down on the floor near his feet.

"Soooooo." I say

"What the fuck is it?" Leeon grunts.

"I was wondering-"

"Just spit it the fuck out."

"I could if you would let me talk." I glare at him. Well, at least I tried to.

I clear my throat, "Have you had any dating experiences?"

Leeon groans and flops on his bed, looking up at the ceiling, "Why the hell are you asking me this?"

"I told you about my first kiss."

"So fucking what?"

"So tell me yours. If you have one."

Lee is silent for a moment, then I hear him sigh, "I dated this one girl last year. We didn't last long because we were really different. She asked me out to prom, but I'm pretty sure she only did because I was alone and someone dared her to or something. Anyways, we didn't even last two months. And we never kissed."

He sits up and looks down at me, "Satisfied?"

I shake my head, "I need a name, dude."

"Why does that even fucking matter?"

"I told you Jorge's name."

"You were six years old, Cin. And he's across the fucking globe."

"He could be across the street for all we know." I can't help but crack a smile at his frustration.

Lee sighs through gritted teeth, "Her name was Summer."

I stand up, "No fucking way. Summer Benson? The one in the drama department?"