Expecting Tragedy

Chapter 1 Part 1

Let me start out by saying that all things end in tragedy. You'll die with regrets, your career will end, and you will be wronged constantly throughout your lifetime. In all of this, love is no different. Life is not a movie; no billionaire is going to fall for you, no one is going to chase you through the airport to say they love you, and a prince will not save you from your tower of terror. Everything is doomed to failure from the start. These exact words were the ones that rang in my ears at the time of my tragedy. I was sitting in the my family's van with my sister sleeping in the back seat and my parents talking to each other up front. All the while I was dealing with the tragic fate that had just befallen me.

14 Years Earlier

Around this time is when it all started. My name is Tyler and I was born in Fort Worth, Texas. I don't remember a lot about it but apparently Texas was heaven and a haven at the same time according to my dad. Around this time I was about 2 years old and my older sister Kim was about 7. It was there where I met him, Tony. He's about two years older than me and his parents at the time were our neighbors. So when my parents and his used to hang out we were thrown together to play while my sister watched TV. It was then that we became friends. At the same time my mother Maria, had been having problems with being away from her hometown in Colorado and being away from her parents. With this in mind my father tried to console her and convince her that Texas was her home now. For the time being his consolation seemed to be working. Until one day, without telling my father, she took my sister and I, put us in a car, and drove us off to her hometown to live out the rest of our lives back in Pueblo, Colorado.

Eventually my father found out and chased her back to Colorado to talk things out. Consequently, we ended up leaving our life in Texas behind in exchange for Pueblo's hell on Earth.

I don't remember anything about it because I was so young but I'm sure that if I had a greater knowledge of the situation that I would not have missed Texas as much but... the people we left behind.

12 Years later

Around this time we've lived in Pueblo for 12 years, and every minute of it has been the hell I imagined. We still go visit Texas once in a while, but not as much as I'd like to. Around this time school just let out for spring break and my friend Tiana and I decided to take a trip to the mall like we usually do in order to get our plans in order and talk things over. Pueblo's mall is the smallest and most disappointing you'll ever see, but it's the only thing in this town that is even an ounce of fun for everyone so we prefer to spend most of our time here. She and I usually walk through it catching up since we don't see each other often due to the fact that we go to different schools.

"So what are you doing for Spring Break," she asked.

"Oh you know the usual... hunting elephants, "I responded.

She nudged my shoulder, "Come on, I'm serious. You're going back up to Texas for the zillionth time aren't you?" She said smiling.

I nudged her back, "Okay first of all I think I've been there only about three – four times since kindergarten, and second of all if you know what I'm doing then why did you ask?"

She directed me to Charlotte Rousse and began to look at clothes while I pouted and proceeded to assist her to no avail.

"Because I'm getting a little antsy waiting to see how things with you and Tony go. How does this look," She said gesturing to the light teal scarf on its hanger.

"Um I'm pretty sure you wear scarves in winter and what do you mean you want to see how things turn out with me and Tony?"

"Wow you're gay and you can't tell the difference between a regular scarf and winter scarf. That's kind of sad," she said holding a yellow one up to her neck while staring at her reflection in a column mirror, "and come on we both know that you've had a crush on him forever, and you two look cute together."

I took the scarves out of her hand and set them on the rack, then spun her around towards the shoes, "Can you look at these like a normal girl and I do not have a crush on Tony. He's like my brother, and you've never even seen us together so how could you know if we look cute?"

She took some white slippers off the shelf spun back around and handed them to me, "How do these look." I examined the shoes for a few seconds, "Yeah these look good, they'd go with that teal shirt you have, the white string jacket, and some jean shorts," I blushed for a second and mentally slapped myself for that comment then groaned, " UGHHH, can we please get out of here! My gay powers are starting to activate and you know that being feminine is a real turn off for me."

"Of course, as soon as a pay for these," she said taking the slippers out of my hands and starting towards the register, "And don't worry. Your secret fashion sense is safe with me. Besides you're far from being feminine, you're one of the most masculine guys I know."

I started to take out my wallet to pay for the shoes but since Tiana likes to be a strong independent young woman she wouldn't let me.

"By masculine do you mean dorky," I asked.

"Tyler," she said grabbing my shoulders and shaking me a little, "you are hot, don't forget that. I mean you're already 5' 9" and you've got nice dark brown hair and eyes to match. "

I grabbed her shoulders the same way and scoffed, "Uh yeah right, besides I don't need to be attractive when I don't need a boyfriend. I've got you!"

She brushed my hands off and walked into Pac Sun, "Um, no you do not have me. I'm your EX-girlfriend remember." We first met in elementary school and after some note-passing while the teacher wasn't looking we became boyfriend and girlfriend. Then we broke up because we were too young and later I realized I was gay and by that time she had become my best friend.

"Besides, as your EX-girlfriend I just want you to be happy, and Tony seems to do that for you."

"Who says tha-, "I started.

"Oh please, don't even try to counter with that. We both know that he makes you happy. Remember the last time he came down here and you two watched that Disney Show Mash up Special and had a bet about who could go the longest without having to go to the bathroom or that time you went down last year and watched Jeff Dunham all night together on the couch with the same blanket?"

"Okay okay I get it he makes me pretty happy, and I'm surprised you remembered all of that stuff since it was a few years ago."

"Well I'm not your best friend for nothing dear," she replied, "Now are you ready to admit you have feelings for him or do I need to keep going."

I rolled my eyes then dwelled on the matter for a few minutes. Do I really have feelings for him? I've never really thought of him like that. "I'll get back to you on that," I answered ,"In the meantime, are you ready to go? It's almost six o'clock."

"Yeah I'll call my mom, but I mean it Ty he really strikes me as that fairytale ending you've always wanted in your love life, " She said as she began dialing, "especially since you were a little freaked out that time you two had to share a bed together."

I felt my face heat up and I might have turned red at that remark, "Stop paying so much attention when I tell you stuff!"