How to escape your imagination

Chapter 3

We drive to Matthew's house in Simons SUV. I do think that Simon is incredibly cute but I can't stop thinking about Matthew. What if it's actually him? What if he doesn't even recognize me?

Simon looks back at me for a moment. "Hey Jonathan, are you alright?"
I nod quickly. "Absolutely!"
Bram raises an eyebrow and glances back at me.

"Your face is really pale man..."

I put my head in my hands.

"Jonathan, you aren't ok...what's the matter?"

I shake my head and look up again.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you...I know that for sure."
Simon grins. "We've been through a lot in the past couple of months, I would believe you if you told me that you saw a pig fly."

Bram laughs. I look out the window at the rain that was beginning to come down.

"Trust me, you would send me to a psycho ward."

Simon and Bram are dying with laughter in the front and I can't help but smile a little.

"I don't know Jonathan, try us!"

I feel slightly comforted by their words, but still feel as though I would lose all chances of getting back home. Then again, I had to lose Bram as a friend because I was literally stealing his boyfriend. As if God had answered my prayers, we arrive at Matthew's house and the conversation ends. We walk up to the door and stand in the chilling fall breeze waiting to be let inside. The music grows louder as the door swings open and reveals a chaotic party. I look around the house with Simon and Bram, me not quite sure what we are actually looking for.

"Leah!"
Simon shouts over the blaring music at a brunette leaning against the wall.

"Hey, you made it!" She pauses to glance in my direction.  "Who is that...?" She gestures towards me, talking as though I'm not here

"This is Jonathan, he's a transfer student from Alberta."

Leah nods slowly. "Hi, Jonathan."

I wave slightly.
"Hi."

"So, uh...where's Matthew?" I ask looking around. 

Simon smiles. "Someone's crushing...."

I glare at him playfully and look around for Matthew.

"So what if I am?" I stutter and Simon laughs.

"Don't be gone for too long, we're playing double spin the bottle soon."

I have no idea what that is, but it sounds risky. I walk away from the three of them and search all the rooms for Matthew.

"Where is he...?" I whisper to myself.

Almost as though the party read my mind I feel a tap on my shoulder. I spin around rapidly to see a boy standing behind me. Blue eyes, dusty blond hair, navy jean jacket with a white t-shirt underneath. This is not happening. It is Matthew. My Matthew. He smiles at me and I feel my cheeks get hot. Ok, don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic that the love of my life is standing before me smiling at me, but if he's here, then how the hell am I supposed get Simon to love me? I'm head over heels for this other guy, and now I have to go play some foreign spin the bottle game...?

"Hey..." Matthew says, snapping me out of my daze.

"Um, hi..." I reply quietly.

Matthew looks confused. "I'm sorry, but don't I know you from somewhere...?"

I shake my head quickly and Matthew looks elated again. "Oh, ok. I guess you just look like someone I know."

I do a victory dance in my head. He knows who I am...? I never thought he noticed me!

Matthew waves goodbye to me and stands up on a table.

"Alright, guys it's time for double spin the bottle!" 

Everyone whoops and cheers and boys pump their fists in the air. We all sit in a circle and the ground quivers as Matthew jumps gracefully off the table.

"Ok guys, here's how it works." Matthew smiles and pumps his fist in the air like a superhero.

"Any volunteers?"

Like a child, I subtly hide behind Simon. Matthew clearly sees me hiding because he grins and points in my direction.

"Come on now, don't be shy." He smiles at me, making me want to go to him.

I gingerly step out from behind Simon the Barrier and slowly make my way towards Matthew, earning the stares of everyone at the party, though nobody knew who I was. I stop suddenly beside the table and awkwardly step up onto it to join Matthew.

"Okay, here's how you play double spin the bottle." He grins at me with adorably perfect teeth.

"Basically its spin the bottle but drama edition. The bottle will spin twice, and you must pick between those people." He spreads his arms wide taking in the cheers and claps from the group gathered beneath the table.

"Let us begin!" Matthew shouts. Everyone sits in a circle on the floor, and it reminds me of when we would sit in circles on the alphabet mat in Ms. Robin's classroom. Back then, it didn't matter what you were. Back then, nobody in my class knew what gay meant. Now it's almost as though the word is poison. Matthew stereotypically grabs the glass ketchup bottle from his fridge and hucks it into the center of the large group that has formed around him.

"I got this baby from the THRIFT SHOP!"

Everyone laughs and I can't help but smile due to his unbearable cuteness. He leans into the circle and spins the bottle with a flick of his wrist. He looks at me with wide blue eyes and subtly smiles in my direction. The bottle does a couple 360's before finally landing on a blond girl with huge hazel eyes. She looks stunned and Matthew gazes at her expectantly. She hands the bottle back to him and he flicks it once more. It lands on Bram. Bram looks over at Simon who shrugs his shoulders and smiles. Bram grins and looks back at Matthew who is already moving towards him. The two of them meet in the middle and awkwardly make lip-contact with each other. The hazel eyed girl just nods slowly and wipes her face with her hands, nervously laughing it off.

"Hey, Jon, why don't you go?"

Matthew says after breaking away from Bram. He tosses the bottle at me forcing me to catch it and take my turn. I hesitantly set the bottle down in the center of the circle and all eyes are on me. The bottle spins. It moves around a little bit and finally lands evenly on Matthew. A silent victory dance takes place in my head as we make eye contact and he smiles warmly, showing no sign of embarrassment.

Please don't be Simon...I say to myself.

There are 25-30 kids in this circle...there is no way that--the bottle spins and stops. Guess who it stops on. Simon. You know that moment of climax in all movies where everything stops and stuff happens in slow motion? Yeah, that isn't whats happening right now. Right now my life is flashing before my eyes, and everyone is staring at me, waiting patiently for me to make my decision. Everyone is leaned forward just inches closer towards me, their eyes wide with excitement. I slowly crawl into the middle of the circle and stare at Simon and Matthew. Simon=get out of this nightmare, Matthew=kiss the love of my life. This is now a cringey romance novel where I have a big decision to make.

Simon gets me out of this mess and Matthew...you know what?
Screw it. I want my cringey romance.