Fifty Shades of Dove and Grenade

Childhood Friend

"Well, what was she like?" I ask, suddenly curious.
"When I was in school, I was the only gay kid. Everyone made fun of me, except for her. She was my only friend."
"She seemed nice." Jordan shared.
"She was. She was the nicest person in the world." He sighs, gently hugging Allissa. "I wish I could see her again..."
"Maybe FaceBook her." I suggest.
Sunshine is painted on his smile "Maybe I will."
His smile suddenly fades. "However, I don't remember her last name. Since she got married, that is."
"What was her maiden name?" Curiosity creeps in my vocals.
"Pentzer." He responds simply.
Jordan and I gasp.
"My maiden name was Pentzer." I answer, shocked.
"But, she can't be you. Can she?" Phil sounds just as shocked as I am.
A memory of a boy suddenly flashes before my eyes. He's laying on the ground, dirt smothering his cheeks and coating his clothes. His tears leak into the soil, turning it to mud.
There's distant shouts of "Faggot!" and "Kill yourself!"
A burly brunette shoves the crying boy even further into the dirt.
"What're ya gonna do, gay boy?" He laughs, with the others chiming in.
I march over, infuriated by the injustice.
"Leave him alone!" I shout to the crowd "At least he's brave enough to be himself!"
The crying boy smiled as I helped him up.
"Be careful not to get too attached to him, Randi. He's gay!" The brunette laughs.
"So what?!" I glare at him "I don't care if he's gay or not. He's just as human as everyone else!"
I assist the crying boy as we walk away from the ocean of taunts and offensive names.
A few minutes later, the boy whispers "Thank you."
"No problem." I smile "By the way, I'm Randi. What's your name?"
"Phil." He answers "Why did you defend me?"
"They weren't treating you right, I can't stand witnessing injustice and not doing anything about it." I answer, his bloody lips spreading into a smile.
Another memory flashes before me.
This time, Phil and I are eating ice cream on the curb. We're laughing and smiling in faint sunlight.
"That's hilarious!" I laugh "Hey, Phil?"
"Yeah, Randi?" He smiles, his tongue attacking the strawberry cone.
"Do you want to be friends?" I ask.
"Aren't we already?" He snickers "But yeah!"
"Oh." I proceed to laugh as my chocolate ice cream skates down my tongue.
A few years later, Phil and I were in his mom's kitchen.
"Just tell her." I whisper "Besides, what's the worst thing she can say?"
"Ok." He looks intensely into my eyes.
He proceeds to inform his mom that he's gay. Her facial expressions range from shocked to sympathetic to angry as more information spills from his mouth like oil.
When the words run out, her hand raises up, it looks likes she's going to slap him. His eyes shut tightly, her hand moving closer.
However, it lowers to his shoulder. A blazing smile, and a sunny chuckle emerge from her.
"I've always wanted a gay son!" She smiles, pulling him and I into a hug.
"Are you serious?!" I ask, shocked by her unexpected response.
"Of course I am, Randi dear." She smiles "I'll always love Phil. No matter what he is."
Our high school graduation appears in my brain.
"Promise you'll come back to visit!" I smile, hugging Phil.
"Trust me, I'll be ok." He answers "Los Angeles had better be ready for Phil Prinston!"
I laugh, but deep down, I'm going to miss him.
"Thank you, for being my friend." He whispers, hugging me as if the world was going to explode.
"You're welcome." I blush back.
Memory after memory of Phil and I are cassette tapes, replaying my brain, until Phil asks "Randi?"
I blink "Yes?"
"Are you ok?" Concern reflecting in his eyes.
"Is your last name Prinston?"
"Yeah, why ask?" He looks at me like I'm crazy.
"The day you were beaten up in fourth grade, did a girl defend you?"
"Yes." He responds, his eyes still flashing concern "That was my friend, Randi."
"Well, what if I told you that I was Randi, your childhood friend." I breathed, staring at Phil.
He's silent for a second, digesting the information.
A few heartbeats later, his cheery voice rings "RANDI!!!"
He's a puma, lunging towards me, his arms snake around me tightly.
"It really is you!" He smiled as I hug him back.
"Yeah, it is." I answer calmly "I missed you, Phil."
"I missed you too, Randi." He whispers, not noticing Jordan smile behind him.