Super Rich Kids (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 20: Understand That I Am Here

*No current Casting for Joey Parker*
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Accepting separation and constant adaption. A complex concept that felt more like losing a part of me, rather than finding a new sense of self. Leaving Los Angeles was supposed to be good for me... for us. But so far, the only prominent thing in my new life is the absence of a certain green- eyed boy. 

I am learning how to live without him, while remembering every second that we spent together.

Sleeping is impossible without Abel. Somehow I find myself missing his flailing limbs, soft snores, and unbearable body heat. Normally a person would find intense discomfort in a similar sleeping arrangement, but it might have been my only gateway to a comfortable night.

I find myself thinking about him more than ever, wondering what he is doing or if he is mourning the loss of affection as much as I am. Or if maybe he is coping perfectly-- keeping busy and continuing his life at an easy pace that is much faster than mine.

It was inevitable that while we were away, things would change. After the few days of constant phone calls and texts and after the promises that we would talk every single day and never hang up the phone mad at each other, reality settles down. It's the moment of realization that some days we won't find time to talk on the phone, and in heated moments and fits of annoyance the 'end call' button is a likely escape.

Reality wasn't friendly with me. It was harsh and it left a bitter taste on my tongue. I didn't like the sudden changes in my life. I wanted nothing more than sweet lips and sweet words from a very sweet boy. And I would voice that, tell him how much I missed him and he would always smile at the camera, a soft upturn of the lips that displayed his sadness. "Stop being a rich kid Al, you can't always get what you want." He would joke lightly, but I could catch the undertone-- a translation for 'I miss you too.'

I tried to find a constant in my new life. Something stable that would fill in the blank spaces that Abel used to occupy. A week of endlessly spending money on crap I didn't really need grew old and I realized what I was missing.

I desperately needed friends, a task that would have been easy for fifteen year old me. But now I have lost that drive-- the urge to have contact with anyone out of my inner circle of family and close friends. I was too complicated to make new friends. It seemed easier just being alone, but somehow I managed to attract one person anyways.

Joey Parker was only supposed to be my driver, but after spending too much time in the car with him he inevitably became my friend. Rather, he forced his way into my new life and demanded we should be friends so our car rides weren't awkward.

Joey wasn't like any friend I have ever had. He marveled at my home, and expressed his jealousy over my nice shoes and clothes. He didn't believe me when I said I had never had a job in my life, and he couldn't understand why I was "always so sad" when I had so much to be happy about.

He was strange. A happy person who lived in a happy home with a happy family, yet he marveled at me like I had something special that no one else did. Money, I have money, but I have yet to find permanent happiness in that.  

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"Happy birthday to you!" I sang to the slightly lagging image of Abel on the screen of my laptop. "Happy birthday to you!" He was laughing, probably because I rarely sing but he enjoyed it anyways. "Happy birthday, dear Abel!" I hit the keys of the piano dramatically, just to hear him giggle and see him blush. "Happy birthday to you!"   

"Thank you loser." His pink lips shifted into a happy smile, blowing me a kiss that I pretended to catch and safely place in the chest pocket of my shirt. Conveniently close to my heart. I pat the pocket, watching him shake his head. "You're such a nerd."