A Love Letter for the Dead

Chapter 2

“Hey, babe.” Leo said to me jokingly when he got to first block. I blushed slightly and debated telling him I was gay. Though everyone knew, Leo wasn’t here when I came out so no one had told him. I was concerned as to how he would react because I wanted to be his friend more than anything.

He was just so nice and cool. He had dark brown hair that he went to his eyes and a lip ring on the left side of his perfect mouth. His was blunt about things but was still nice and he flirted with everyone. He called almost everyone a cute nickname, but I think I was the only babe at the moment.

He always wore skinny jeans and button ups. Today was a red plaid shirt with a black tie, I remember because I thought he looked better than usual today. Not that he wasn’t always amazing, just today felt different.

After about a month of hanging out he started giving me rides home and it became an everyday thing. We hung out at each other’s houses and it felt like the best time of my life. I felt happy all the time, I wasn’t just content. And since we lived on the same street, I could see him every day.

 “Hey, Leo.” It took me a minute to reply because I was so… I don’t know how to describe how I felt. I loved him. I really did. That was the moment I realized me and it wasn’t something that faded in and slowly went from like to love, it was quick.

It’s hard to describe but I will try my best. People say love is something that grows, and for them maybe it was, but for me it wasn’t. It was like running as fast as you can into a brick wall that you didn’t know was there until it was breaking your nose. Although my nose didn’t break, this is still accurate.

Love hit me hard and fast and painfully. I, in that moment, couldn’t speak through the tightening of my throat. It was the feeling you get when you are the saddest you think you can ever be. I felt sad because I didn’t think he would ever love me in the way I did.

“My parents are gonna be out of town for the weekend, Tay. Wanna have a super rad slumber party?” He asked me with a crooked goofy smile and a small and almost inaudible chuckle. And once again I was blushing.

“Sounds good. Do I still have a few pairs of clothes at your house or do I need to get some from mine after school?” The teacher walked in the moment I finished my sentence so instead of answering Leo started to write me a note.

He tossed the note on my desk after a few moments of scribbling and then started to do the assignment we had.

“You probably still got some sleep pants and jeans at my place so don’t worry. You can just borrow some of my clothes. Maybe I’ll finally get you to wear some skinny jeans instead of those baggy things you call ‘comfy’ ;p”

I read the note twice and felt my face get hot. I lifted my head up and looked at Leo, who just stared back at me with a raised eyebrow. My face felt hotter but I nodded and at the end of the day we rode home together to his house. Once there we went straight to his room and started watching a horror movie he had been dying to see.

“Hey,” I said and turned over in Leo’s bed. We were sitting against the head board of his king sized bed like we did almost every day. “There is something I need to tell you,” I said in a more serious tone than necessary.

“Is it aids?” He asked in the same carefree way he handled everything. I laughed and I felt like I could tell him anyway and he would react with that same carefree tone.

“No,” I said while laughing. “I’m gay.” I said it bluntly while looking him straight in the eyes. He looked back at me and he didn’t seem fazed in the least. He still had the same crooked grin and bright green eyes. Nothing changed.