Tarlos Short Stories

Dinner, friendships and fear

I didn't know why I was standing in front of Carlos's door. I remember leaving the house that I share with my dad and just going for a walk until I ended up here. I stood there for a few minutes, contemplating if I should knock on the door or just walk back home. I knew that he would open the door the second he saw me, we were friends after all, and he did have a major and obvious crush on me, but I didn't want him to do that if he was busy. I chose to knock anyway and hope that he wasn't busy. "Hey TK, what brings you by?" It was hard for me to remember what I was planning on saying once I saw Carlos standing in the doorway. 

He was wearing a green t-shirt that fit him perfectly and an apron along with a pair of loose jeans. "Hey Carlos, are you busy right now?" I didn't know how I had the ability to speak so clearly. "Please come inside TK, and no I'm not busy I'm just making some tamales right now." I walked into his condo while trying to ignore the way my stomach flipped when he said tamales with a slight Hispanic accent. "I just wanted some company tonight and I didn't know where else to go." I knew that saying it like that wouldn't be the best way to keep him around but maybe that would be for the best. 

"Well I'm glad to be the last option for you." His words shouldn't have hurt like they did, my heart didn't get the memo though because it still felt like someone ripped it out of my chest when he said that in such a bitter tone. "I didn't mean it like that, what I meant was that I wanted your company tonight. My friend Paul was just dumped by his girlfriend because he's trans and I don't know how to help him." I took a seat at the table while Carlos went to go and get us both some food from the kitchen. He came back with 2 plates of tamales and brown rice that looked delicious. "I'm sorry to hear that. 

I just don't know how I'm supposed to help you with that." He sat down across from me and I could see the sympathy in his big brown eyes. I started eating just so I wouldn't have to look him in the eye anymore. After I swallowed the first bite I looked up at him and told him how I felt. "I just feel so helpless right now, you know?" I lowered my head into my hands only to see a pair of large, strong, tanned arms wrap around me and startle me for a second. I was startled because I couldn't remember the last time someone held me like this, it felt nice. 

"How about we take him out to an LGBT club tonight? Help him meet someone new who won't judge him for who he is?" "Do you know any good ones?" "Yeah I do and I can take y'all there if you'd like?" I was beyond shocked that he was actually willing to do that for a person he'd only met a couple of times. This man was too good for this world. "You would really do that for him?" "I'd do anything if it helps you not feel helpless."