Acid

"Is Ashley your boyfriend?"

Chapter 16

Nicholas led Eva on their walk on the greenfield. Their parents disappearing slowly.

"So, Evangeline, how are things?" he asked. He sat on the manicured grass and patted next to him for Eva to sit next to him. She sat.

"They could be better," she answered honestly. She looked down, she let another boy slip through her fingers like sand.

"How so? What's troubling you?" Nicholas asked. Eva perked up a bit, he actually has feelings? Unlike all the other guys her parents have tried setting her up with. Nicholas had a nice, clean haircut with the sides buzzed a little, and brown thin framed glasses.

"Oh you know, what every other girl my age is having trouble with; boys," she said. He nodded and reached into his pocket.

"I can relate," he said.

"You can?"

"Yup," he said, he fished out a pack of Marlboro cigarettes out of his pocket. He offered Eva one.

"No thanks, I don't smoke," she denied. He shrugged and lit himself one.

"What's the name of the guy driving your hormones crazy?" he asked. Eva coughed on his cigarette smoke a bit.

"His name is Ashley," she told him. Saying his name made her feel a feeling she's not used to, "what's the name of the girl driving you crazy?"

"His name is Ryland," Nicholas said, taking a drag.

"His name?" Eva asked, shocked. Nicholas slowly nodded.

"You're gay?" she asked. He nodded again, blowing out smoke.

"I know, hard to believe right? How can a kid like me who has everything be gay?" Nicholas said, putting air quotes around the word everything.

"Do your parents know?" Eva questioned. He gave her a what do you think look.

"IfI did they'd disown me probably," Nicholas said as he laid back on the grass. Eva did the same. The freshly-cut blades poked her back.

"Isn't it a sad way to live?" Nicholas asked, "Not being able to let people know who you really are."

They both looked up at the blue, cloudless sky.

"It is sad..." Eva said after a moment, "I have a question, Nicholas."

"Shoot."

"If you can't let anybody know, then how come you told me so easily?"

"Because I knew you'd be able to relate."

"Oh," Eva said.

"So is Ashley your boyfriend?" he asked.

"No, I wish... Is Ryland your boyfriend?"

"No, I wish."

"Does he know your feelings?" Eva asked. Nicholas blew out grey smoke.

"No, unfortunately. I haven't worked up the balls to say "Hey man I think you're cute I'd say no homo but I am a homo" to his face," he told her.

"You should just tell him."

"Pshhh. Like it's that easy. Does Ashley know your feelings?"

"Erm, I don't know," Eva said to him. He got up to ground his cigarette. He stretched his hand to Eva to help her off the grass.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"I don't know, let's get something to drink, where do you wanna go?" Nicholas asked Eva.