I walked down the sidewalks of a suburban neighbourhood on my way home from school with my headphones on blasting some classic George Harrison songs into my ears at almost full volume. Sound intensity was usually never a problem to me. I faintly sung to the lyrics of My Sweet Lord as the trees danced in the soft breeze around me looking at my surroundings taking in the natural beauty of nature but as I do I feel a hard tap on my right shoulder. I turn around to meet the friendly look of Charlie. I slip off my headphones resting them on my neck and pause the song. "Oh hey! Didn't see you there. How long... have you been following me?" I asked a bit curious yet nervous for some odd reason. "Long enough to hear you sing through Taxman, All Those Years Ago, and half of My Sweet Lord." He answered chuckling lightly to himself. "Tell anyone about that and I'll destroy you." I responded flustered as I jokingly slugged him in the shoulder. "My lips are sealed Ry." He said laughing even more. Great. Now my only friend knows that I like to sing. I know it sounds like an overreaction but I've never really been good with people knowing personal secrets about me. "I'm assuming you've followed me this far cuz your mom is letting you come over again hm?" I asked. "Yea. Pretty much. We have so much fun hanging out though don't we?" He responded with another question. "Well yea, we always do!" I said. Back in the first days of moving here I had no friends whatsoever. It was a complete fresh start and I was completely alone. Well, not until Charlie decided to so kindly introduce himself to me on that fateful day. Ever since it's like we've been brothers. Always sticking up for me when others wouldn't. At any cost. Yea, listen to me while I drone on about friendship and all that. As me and Charlie walk up the door of my house which still has Christmas decorations up, I hesitate to turn the knob. I totally forgot that I got sent to the office today. And that's never happened before. What will my mother say? I'm sure I can try to sneak by... No. I'll confront her about it like a rational person this time. I take hold of the knob twisting it opening the door with a loud creak. Suddenly I hear a voice across the room even before I enter the house.
"Oh hello dear! How was school?" It was my mom. One of the most surprisingly cheery people you could ever meet. Hell, you could tell her that she had terminal cancer and she'd still be happy. Neither age nor bad health could bring this woman down. "It was okay." I say as usual. "I got a call from the school today... care to explain what that's about?" She asked pondering all of the possibilities of what I could have possibly done. "Can I tell you later? Charlie decided to tag along so I don't want to be rude and not entertain my house guest!" I say over enthusiastically. She thought for a minute then came to a conclusion. "Oh alright. But I'm hoping it was nothing serious you hear?" She responded with a mildly threatening yet somehow comforting voice. I nodded without answer and went upstairs to my bedroom and opened the white wooden door. The walls scattered with various geeky and nerdy memorabilia. Star Wars, Marvel, DC, hell even Battlestar Galactica. You name it and I would be most likely already know about it. Charlie always liked to come to my house due to these things. It was one of the many things we had in common. I tossed my backpack beside my desk as I fell backwards onto my bed making loud creaks and making my stomach jiggle a little bit. Charlie poked at my midsection jokingly and said "you should really consider a weight loss program at some point. Before it's too late." I blushed a deep red instantly as I pulled back down my already riding up shirt and sat up. "Wh-whatever, all those programs are total crap anyways..." I looked away with a feeling of embarrassment. I assumed Charlie could see this as he quickly changed the subject. "Why don't we... play some video games! You got that new one what was it called again...." He trailed off waiting for my reaction as I got up from the bed standing up straight. "Oh you mean this!" I pick up a new copy of God Of War 4 from my desk with a look of triumph. We both look at each other with feelings of pure excitement as I insert the disk into my PS4. We waited a while for the game to install but the sheer hype kept us from boredom. Finally it downloaded as I booted up the game. A few minutes pass as we both find out with slight disappoint as it doesn't feature multiplayer. Charlie being the awesome friend he is decides to let me play while he watches. Minutes or even hours could have passed as I played through it with his eyes watching the screen intently pointing out anything I might have missed. Eventually Charlie decides to speak about something other than the game. "So... are you going to the dance this Friday?" He asked casually. Almost too casually. "Uuhmm yea... I got asked to go with someone.." I focused on the screen but my playing and speech pace slowed down. Charlie let off a faint smirk. "Oohhh by who may I ask, requested for you to go with them? Was it Stacy? Or even... no way did Jenna ask you out? You lucky bastard you!" He said with anticipation waiting for my answer. "Well.. no.... a guy... asked me out.." I looked away from Charlie lowering the remote fearing his reaction. "Oh.. oh! Wow Rylie way to go man!"
"Wait... what? Your not mad or ashamed or anything?" I asked beginning to look over at him feeling a hint of comfort. "Why would I be? Your sexuality has no change on our friendship whatsoever!" He responded with the joy of someone who just won the lottery "th-thanks Charlie... that means a lot." I say with a bit of a shake in my voice. "So who in particular asked you out?" He asked again but with even more excitement in his voice. "His name is Mason. Mason Rissian."
