The Perfect Romance [boyxboy]

Ch. 7: Clueless

I wait as Kyle goes outside to make a phone call to Kayla. He says I can’t know what we’re doing today, it’s a surprise. So I’m left to wander around his kitchen, looking at pictures of his family and him in hung on the walls. They look so happy together in each of the pictures. I can’t help but smile a little in thanks for that. I don’t want him to have to deal with the same stuff I’m going through with my parents.

Kyle walks back in at this point, with a cheesy grin on his face and the phone in his hand. I chuckle at how cute he looks, and walk over to plant a kiss on his lips. He gladly accepts, deepening the kiss and wrapping his hands around my waist. But then I pull away.

“Don’t be such a tease!” I jest.

“You know you love me. You just can’t resist the epic win that is Kyle Iris.” He counters. I blush, since it’s the truth; he’s the best thing that’s happened to me. Ever.

“So when is Kayla going to be here?” I ask Kyle. He opens his mouth to answer when a car horn honks. That answers my question, at least! We both laugh and head out front to meet up with Kayla.

“So, where to, boys?” Kayla inquires. I always forget that she can drive…

Kyle leans forward and whispers in her ear. She hits the gas. I also forgot that she drives like a maniac.

After three minutes tops, we arrive at what appears to be… A giant shopping mall? I look over at Kyle, slightly confused. What could we be planning to do here?

“It’s time to get you a new wardrobe! And maybe a few surprises in the process…” Kyle says, winking. Is he serious? He knows I'm penniless; all the family’s money goes toward just enough necessities to keep my parents alive, and of course, their alcohol.

“Kyle… You and I both know that I can’t afford a piece of candy at Walmart, much less a whole wardrobe of clothes…” I sigh.

“Who said it’s you who’s supplying the money? Think of it as the birthday gifts no one ever gave you for all of your other birthdays. See, it’s all good!” Kyle says as we walk. My jaw drops for the millionth time this week at how amazing Kyle is treating me. Just as we enter the first store, American Eagle, Kayla asks to speak to me alone. I wonder what she needs.

“Okay, I'm going to be blunt with you; I don’t trust you one bit. I know you jocks love to do some shitty stuff to GLBT people, and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if this is all just a ploy to mess with Kyle. He says you guys have kissed, but I know he sometimes goes off into his own little world and makes things up. So unless you prove me wrong, I'm only playing along for Kyle’s sake. Got it?” Kayla says sternly. I just nod in agreement, not wanting to cause a scene in the middle of the mall. That would embarrass Kyle, which is not acceptable.

I walk back over to where Kyle is browsing some shirts, holding up two and looking back and forth at them, like some celebrity would when choosing an outfit for the red carpet awards. I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist, nuzzling his neck with my cheek. He smells like good cologne. He turns, smiling, and I use the opportunity as a chance to give him a kiss. He gladly kisses back, and we keep kissing before Kayla decides to break it up.

“Alright you two, stop gnawing on each other in public, it’s embarrassing.” Kayla says with a chuckle. I hope she understands my position now.

I look back to Kyle to see him blushing slightly. I just smile, at the moment lacking a better way to show my love for his every aspect.

“Sooooo… which of these shirts would you like best? I don’t have a preference, as longs it’s you who’s wearing it.” Kyle said, holding up two nice shirts. I can’t help but take out the price tag and read it.

“65 dollars for a single shirt?!?!?” I exclaim, shocked at the price. There’s no way I'm letting him pay that much for a just one shirt, as nice as it may look.

“Yeah, so? My parents said my limit is 1,500, so it’s not that much out of the budget… is there a problem?” Kyle asks, noticing my concerned look. There was no way I’m letting him spend 1,500 dollars on me alone. I sigh, feeling guilty for letting him do this. It really isn’t necessary, and besides, I'm used to being poor, so this is a drastic change for such a small time frame.

“I can’t…” I say, looking into Kyle’s eyes, feeling tears starting to well up in my own. I’m not used to being spoiled, and this is definitely spoiled by my standards. I don’t know which would be worse: accept the gifts like a selfish brat, or refuse and make Kyle feel bad.

So at this point, I do the only thing I’ve ever been good at; I run. I don’t really pay any attention to the stares of passersby as I let my tears fall and my feet move, I just want to get to a place where I can be alone. I just keep running, even when I hear Kyle shouting in the distance.

I run out of the mall, running and running towards my destination until I get a cramp, at which point I slow to a jog, then eventually to a walk of shame. At last I end up at my goal; Kyle’s tree house.

I curl up in my sleeping bag and bawl my eyes out until I fall asleep. My last thought is of Kyle’s look of pure sadness as I was turning to run from the mall. One more tear falls, and my mind shuts down.