Love, Cyrus-(Tyrus)

Chapter 2

FROM: lemonboy918

TO: inaveil.ofgreatsurprises

DATE: Aug 20 at 4:35 PM

SUBJECT: RE: Hi

Dear Underdog,

Stuff, huh? Assuming, your stuff is the same as mine, when did you figure it out? I'm guessing not a soul knows about this piece. That's how it is for me. Also, I liked what you said about the underdog. I hope it's cool that I used it as your nickname.

Lemon Boy

FROM: inaveil.orgreatsurprises

TO: lemonboy918

DATE: Aug 20 at 5:32 PM

SUBJECT: When did you know

No, Lemon Boy, I haven't told anyone. I don't even have a reason why. I know my parents will be fine with it. They've had a few cases with gay kids that I've been able to pick up on. I know they'd understand. Jefferson's only other gay kid seems to be doing just fine. When Gus came out, no one even cared.

As for when I figured it out, well it was a few things... Like this dream I had about one my guy friends when we were in middle school. Hanging out with him was a little difficult once I realized I had a crush on him. He's a touchy-feely kind of guy. And being obsessed with P!ATD for more than just the music is another example.

Then there was my first girlfriend. She was cool, don't get me wrong. We had a lot in common. After she kissed me the first time, I pretended I was fine. But one night we were watching a documentary, I freaked out when she wanted to kiss again. I pretty much ran screaming from her house. Not my proudest moment.

How about you? How did you know?

Underdog

Plugging in my phone to blare Tegan & Sara, I pull out of the school parking lot to head home. I can't stop smiling. Underdog—simple and cute. Why didn't I come up with that? It feels like the obvious choice now. I shouldn't have over thought it so much. Anything other than Cyrus would have worked. I just wanted it to be a creative or witty name. Something to grip his attention. I couldn't decide in the moment.

The car comes to a stop in the driveway about twenty minutes later. Neither of my parents are home yet. I head up the stairs to drop off my books. I start to change into some sweats before I realize I have that stupid dinner tonight. I pause just a moment before I pull them on anyway. I'm not trying to impress anyone. Maybe it's the amped feeling I have from the first response from Lemon Boy or maybe I'm finally crossing 'Be a rebel' off my bucket list. Either way I'm doing it.

"Kovu! Here, kitty kitty. Dinner time." I call through the house as I jog downstairs to the kitchen.

I open the pantry and grab a can of Fancy Feast. Just as I'm pulling the tab open, Kovu sprints around the corner from the living room and pounces onto the island. I smirk knowing I should make him get down, but no one's home. I grab a plate to dump cat food onto. Kovu lurches for it before it's all on the plate. I scratch him behind his ears. He lightly growls but doesn't turn on me.

"Well, I'm headed to Jonah's. Don't burn the house down while I'm out." I laugh, heading out the back door.

Jonah only lives about a block and a half away. I head straight to basement side door. I'm greeted with Jonah and Buffy arm wrestling over the coffee table in front of a paused game of Assassin's Creed. I'd like to say this was an odd occurrence, but it truly isn't shocking.