One Night to Change His Life

Chapter Two

            "I'm not gay!" Elijah blurted. Landon scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. If he wasn't gay then why did we... His thoughts trailed off. Elijah realized the confusion upon Landon's face, "I don't even remember what, and if, we did anything." He said more calmly this time, but his nerves were on edge.

            Landon sighed, confused himself. "The things we did last night beg to differ." He stated simply and watched Elijah's red cheeks visibly drain of their color. His mouth fell open like a gaping fish. Elijah considered asking, but in all honesty, he was happy he didn't know.

            Landon could see by the reaction that Elijah was confused about his sexuality, even if he didn't know it himself. Landon had never seen Elijah with any girls before, so it was possible he was gay, especially after the night before. He still never thought of the possibility that Elijah was, in fact, gay. Landon always had a crush on Elijah when he saw him randomly at parties, but he never let the crush become something more because he thought Elijah was straight.

            In Landon's eyes, Elijah was more than attractive. He was shorter and smaller in size, but his eyes... Landon loved his innocent hazel eyes. He had always wanted to run his fingers through Elijah's sepia-colored and curly hair as his kissed his small pink lips. And he did, the night before. It was like a dream to Landon, a dream come true. He was still pinching himself to wake up for it to have never happened.

            Elijah had to be confused; there was no other explanation for it. Elijah did enjoy himself the night before, the sounds coming from him proved that to Landon.

            "I think you're confused," Landon squinted from the sunlight in his eyes.

            "I'm not confused, I'm not gay," Elijah gritted his teeth and ground out.

            Landon sighed, "you're also in denial." Elijah scoffed and took a sip of his drink. Landon watched as the straw was brought to his lips, his cheeks sucking in slightly and his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. Landon licked his lips and turned away. "Just..." Landon paused, "think about it Elijah." With that Landon got up and walked away from Elijah, hoping it wouldn't be the last time they interacted.

            Elijah scrunched his face at Landon's retreating back. He sure did have some serious thinking to do.

            A few days later...

            He was driving himself insane. Elijah Cruz could not get Landon Shaw's forest-green eyes out of his mind. Elijah couldn't any part of Landon out of his mind. Everything he did, he thought of Landon. He questioned if he was really gay or if it was just Landon that had him riled up. He could just be attracted to Landon and not all guys, right?

            His mind was too clouded for him to even try to look at other people to figure it out. Everywhere he went on campus, he looked for the forest-green eyes. When he didn't find them, he moved on to the next pair that also wasn't his. He never once saw Landon of the three day period since he saw him last, until that moment. There was Landon, before Elijah, in all his glory.

            Landon was standing on a small brick wall, using it so the group of people could see him properly. He held a megaphone to his lips, talking animatedly into it while waving his arm around. You could see the strain on the vein in his neck; whatever he was talking about he was passionate about. He wore light blue jeans, sandals and a rainbow-colored t-shirt, which Elijah couldn't see what the words were. Elijah stood back and watched as Landon gave a speech and people cheered at his words.

            "...Rick Sanitorum, if elected, he'd be taking gay rights ten steps back instead of moving us forward! And we want our rights, don't we?" He paused while everyone cheered in agreement. "He had tweeted on March 12th," he urged with a paper now in his hands, "that 'an unborn child is a human life, and like everyone of us, worthy of basic dignity, respect, and protection!' Yet, as he says that, we, as homosexuals, are not worthy of his rights and respect!" He shouted now, "Even though, we are people too. We are human as well!"

            Elijah was entranced by Landon's passion that he didn't even seem to focus on the words Landon was shouting. Elijah bit his lip and continued to gaze as Landon smiled while people cheered.

            Landon jumped down off the wall and people began to pat his back and shake his hand. They crowded around Landon, hoping to speak to him, to tell him their story and struggles. Landon wanted to help each and every one of them that had been bullied for their sexuality. He wanted to make a difference. His rallies, his protests, his speeches, that was what he was made for.

            Elijah continued to stare, hoping to catch his eye, but he knew with all the people it would be impossible. Just was he was about to turn and walk away, Landon's eyes gazed into his. His breath caught in his throat and nervousness erupted in his stomach. Did he have feelings for Landon?

            Seeing Elijah at his protest to keep Rick Sanitorum out of the political office, gave him a feeling of glee. He was ecstatic that Elijah was there to hear his speech and his passion. When Landon caught Elijah's eyes, he desperately wanted to get away from the people and talk to him. When Landon looked back over to see if he was still there, Elijah had taken a seat on a bench with his eyes casted downwards. Landon knew this meant he wanted to talk. He politely thanked the people and made his way to Elijah.

            He sat down next to him, a smile still plastered on his face from the rally. Elijah still had his eyes cast downward and didn't move. Elijah took a breath, knowing that Landon had been right about him.

            "You were right," Elijah's voice was small and barely heard over the chatter from the rallied students. Elijah looked up to Landon, fiddling with his fingers in his lap. Landon raised an eyebrow at him; his happy smile no longer there and instead, a serious expression. Elijah sighed in defeat; Landon was forcing him to say it. "I'm confused." Elijah rolled his eyes and looked away.

            "It's nothing to be ashamed of Elijah. Everyone gets lost at some point in their lives." He reassured Elijah that he wasn't alone.

            "You can call me Eli," he told him randomly. Eli was the nickname that everyone called him, his family at least. Landon nodded in content that he was on a nickname level with him. Elijah was debating whether or not to tell Landon about his feelings, about how he finds Landon attractive. He took a deep breath and turned his body to face him. "I'm not saying I'm gay..." he trailed off and bit his lip again with nervousness.

            "But...?" Landon chuckled and Elijah looked down.

            "But I know I'm attracted to you," he mumbled lowly. Landon knew Elijah didn't see it, but his face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. Landon covered it quickly. "I just was never interested in girls and it never crossed my mind that I might be attracted to guys." He blew out a breath of air and shook his head, "this is weird."

            "No, it's not. You're trying to figure it out, it's not weird." Elijah fiddled with his hands again. "Look, maybe I can help you out..." An idea formed in Landon's mind and he smiled at Elijah.

            Elijah attempted to return the smile, but dreaded whatever Landon may have thought of. "How?" He questioned hesitantly.

            "We'll test it out," He said and stood up. The sky had darkened to dusk, and the sounds of laughter was the only noise they could hear. Landon knew of a party that night and knew of a certain girl that would help him out with his maddening plan. He smirked at the thoughts in his head and turned to Elijah, who looked at him expectantly. "Well? Are you coming?" Landon asked and held out his rather large hand to help up Elijah.

            Elijah took it without hesitation, much to Landon's happiness to feel his warm skin again. "This should be interesting." Elijah grumbled as Landon dragged him away.