Right Uppercut

Chapter 9

“I mean, I love it, just…” Mitch trailed off, looking at his reflection before meeting my eyes in the mirror. “Does it make me look fat?”

I was really struggling to contain my laughter. After school, Mitch hung out with me at the hardware store before we went back to his house for dinner. After we ate, he pulled me upstairs saying that he had something super important to show me that he needed my opinion on.

“Well, it definitely doesn’t make you look fat…” I began, trying to hide the smirk on my face. “I just don’t know if it suits you.”

He turned back to look at himself, smoothing his hand over the porcupine sweater his Grandma Maggie sent him in the mail that day for his birthday, which was actually four months ago. Grandma Maggie has a mild case of Alzheimer’s, but it hasn’t affected her knitting, proof being the porcupine sweater Mitch was currently obsessing over.

“Mags is just so creative,” he smiled and turned to face me from where I sat on the edge of his messy bed. “I didn’t know I needed this sweater until she sent it. I’m truly blessed.”

If someone who didn’t know Mitch overheard him, they’d probably think that he was being a sarcastic asshole about an unwanted gift from his grandmother, months late for any special occasion. But, my best friend is not that kind of person. He says he’s never received a bad gift, mine being the best, of course, even though I recall one Christmas giving him a pack of pens and a Betty Boop snow globe.

“I just love sweaters.” He pulled the sweater off, revealing the white t-shirt he wore underneath. “I think I’ll wear it tomorrow.”

I rolled my eyes, but I was proud to call him my best friend because he was so confident. I admired him, a large part because of his self confidence.

He fell back onto his bed and sighed deeply. “I don’t know how models do it. I can barely try on a shirt and then change back into regular clothes without needing a break.”

“You are so overdramatic,” I shoved him playfully. “You know you would love the attention.”

He looked like he was mulling over my words before finally agreeing. “Yeah, you’re right.”

I laughed and fell back next to him. “Obviously,” I smirked. It was quiet for a moment after that. “What’s on your mind?”

Mitch sat up and sighed, avoiding my eyes. “I have something to tell you.”

His voice was serious, which alarmed me, making me sit up as well. “Okay…”

He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, standing up. He began to pace in the small space between his door and the dresser. “I don’t know how to say it. I guess I just have to blurt it out, right?”

He was talking more to himself than me, so I stayed quiet, straightening my back so that he knew he had my undivided attention.

“Okay, so,” he began slowly. Had his tone not been so serious, I would’ve picked on him for taking forever to just spit it out. “I haven’t told anyone this and it’s been killing me to keep it from you, my best friend, for so long.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked, concerned.

“Nothing,” he assured me. “Daphne, I’m gay.”

The air felt still after he finally said the words. It wasn’t from shock, though. Half of me wanted to laugh out loud and the other half knew that I should comfort him, somehow, even though he didn’t look upset.

I listened to the part telling me to laugh.

“You’re kidding right?” I asked, chuckling. I saw his face tighten, but I wasn’t done speaking. “Mitch, you tell me all about these attractive boys at school. You have jeans skinner than anything I would every try on. You give me fashion advice, not that I apply it. You just fell in love with a porcupine sweater, for crying out loud!”