Waiting For You

Chapter Twenty-five

"I love you more than I have found a way to say to you".

~Ben Folds

Hunter

"There's no need for us to also celebrate Valentine's Day," I moaned at Calla, who was wiping the sweat off her forehead. "Not when our anniversary is two days before it".

"Does your soulmate agree on that?" she asked me back and sat down on the bleachers next to me.

"Well, we didn't talk about it but..."

"So, you don't know how he feels".

"Why have a special day to celebrate love? I didn't get it before and I still don't," I snapped back. My friend shook her head and he rested her elbows on the seat behind us.

"Damn, what's up with that?" Beth said, appearing to my left, practically out of thin air. "I was talking with my friend just now, you know, Alex, and he said almost the exact same thing," she went on shaking her head.

"Oh, really?" I questioned and turned to give a pointed look at Calla. "Her friend, Alex, agrees with me," I told her. She glared at me and turned to Bethany.

"Did you want to tell me something?"

"Eh, yeah, you see I won't be able to play in the game after the one this Saturday," she replied awkwardly.

"That's like a month away..." Calla said frowning.

"Yes, but it's going to be mine and Don's one-year anniversary and we are going to be throwing a little get together..." Calla couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Fine, but inform Sebastian too". The girl smiled and headed off. A few moments later Calla turned to me again. "What do you plan on doing tomorrow?"

"We were thinking about it yesterday when he came over, and he has been talking about getting another tattoo. So, we decided on going and getting one each".

"Hold up! You, mister I-Judge-Every-Piece-Of-Art-I-Come-Across, are going to get a tattoo? What are you going to get?"

"I was thinking of getting the pride flag in separate six lines here," I told her and showed her the inner side of my right wrist, where I remembered the old cuts on my mother's arm. Calla blinked at me, her expression suddenly turning sad.

"Hunter..." she whispered and pulled me in a hug. "I bet it will look great," she told me.

I hugged her back, thinking back on the day I told my parents I was gay. My mother had actually teared up by my bravery.

***

The next morning came and it was our anniversary. After school, Alex came and picked me up, since his tattoo artist, who was also a friend, lived in San Francisco.

"You still haven't told me what you're getting," I whined at him.

"You'll see soon enough," he replied. I rolled my eyes and fell back on my seat. "Did you tell your father about this?"

"Does it matter?" I asked him, looking at him with the corners of my eyes.

"Eh, no... but still. Fuck, he must think I'm an awful influence. From Aurora dyeing her hair, to you getting a tattoo..." Alex muttered, shaking his head and smiling to himself.

"Relax," I said, laughing, "I told him and after I explained what I wanted to get. He didn't mind". He bit his lip and let out a deep breath.

"Yeah, are you sure about it though...?"