Pride

1

"I couldn't ask him!" My eyes widened in horror at the very thought, and Chris sighed in annoyance.

"And why not? You obviously have liked him forever, and this is the perfect opportunity just waiting to be seized."

"What if he never planned on going anyways? What if he is against the idea of gay pride?"

"He had a rainbow painted on his face yesterday!"

"That could be entirely unrelated."

"Bullshit, Luke. What other reason would a sixteen year old guy have for painting a rainbow on his face the first day of June?"

I had to admit, there really weren't that many other options.

"Okay, so maybe Nolan supports the gay community, or," I added when I saw his mouth open furiously, "maybe he just happened to be a part of the community. That's still doesn't mean that he even has considered me, or that he would want to be anywhere near me during the pride parade."

"Oh my god! Are you really that stupid?" Chris gave me his most judgmental look, blinking slowly as he waited for me to let his question sink in. Chris was gorgeous. His flawless makeup certainly helped, but I'd seen him without it plenty of times and could still say the same thing.

He was so openly gay that I was sometimes jealous. I mean the dude had a rainbow backpack he wore to school. A rainbow backpack. To high school. Fortunately for him, and for me, we lived in a very open minded area, and Chris was able to exist exactly how everyone in the world should be allowed to exist. Exactly as they are.

"He totally likes you!"

I snorted, and Chris shot me a reproving look.

"If he liked anyone, it's you, Chris. He's always talking to you."

"That's because you always freeze up around him. So naturally he doesn't want to make you feel worse about already looking bad, so he starts talking to be to cover for you."

"I do not always freeze up around Nolan!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!"

"Good, because he's walking up to us."

I turned around so fast that my chair tilted backwards, and it was only through swift adjusting that I was able to keep my balance and not fall flat on my face in front of Nolan. Because he had been walking towards us, is it as Chris said, his tall figure making a beeline to our table.

The second I saw him, it was like a switch had been flipped inside of me. My limbs became stiff, my lips unsteady, and my heart was beating so loud it was a wonder the whole cafeteria couldn't hear it.

I had, indeed, frozen at the very sight of him. His dark hair always combed back perfectly. Athletic figure, played down by dark jeans and t-shirt that somehow still showed off the muscles in his chest and arms. Apparently playing basketball paid off.

He didn't look like your average sixteen year old. I, on the other hand, looked exactly like one, with my unruly hair, awkward stick figure that barely boasted five feet-four inches. The occasionally pimple scattered across my face only added to the look, and my low self esteem. Compared to me, Nolan was a god.

"Hi, Luke. Chris. Mind if I join your table?"

"Hey, girl! Of course we don't! Sit down!" Chris shouted to the whole cafeteria, while I was trying to remind my brain and lips how to form words. Nothing doing, I settled with glaring at Chris for being so outrageously extra.

"Thanks, Chris." He glanced at Chris for a moment, but his warm smile was directed at me. I looked down at my food quickly, a faint blush creeping up my cheeks. He probably felt the need to make me feel like I was included in the conversation.

"Any plans for the month?" He asked us both, but seeing as I was focused on my food (I stuffed my mouth as soon as he finished talking so I wouldn't have to answer, Chris spoke up.

"Well the parade, of course! Planning my outfit might take a good part of the month leading up to it. You're going, aren't you?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." His green eyes sparkled as he grinned at Chris, who in turn glared at me as of hoping that his eyes alone could force speech from my lips.

"Can't day I've given the outfit much thought though. What about you, Luke? You going?"

A direct question. No avoiding that. I bought a little time but drawing out the chewing and swallowing of the last bite of my sandwich, but that only takes so long, and Nolan's green eyes didn't leave my face the entire time.

"Well, since it's happening only a few blocks from where I live, I suppose I will."

"Oh...great." He sounded disappointed with my answer, his smile faltering the slightest bit.

Chris was making gestures with his hands behind Nolan's back, urging me to take the conversation further, but being the chicken I am, I chose to ignore him.

"I know it's only a small parade compared to so many out there, but I still find it so important. I'm so glad out town is having one."

I felt like the first part of that was directed towards me and I blushed deeper. I didn't like the thought of Nolan being disappointed in me.

"It's the quality that counts, not the quantity." Chris reminded him, batting his long eyelashes, and Nolan laughed.

"That's very true. Why even if the parade was just you and I, Chris, it would still be worth it. More than worth it."

Being left out of that bothered me a little, but I had been the one to act disinterested in the whole thing to begin with. I decided to zone out their conversation, until finally Nolan decided to leave. It was only when he on the other side of the room that I felt like my normal self again. I could talk and everything.

"I'm such an idiot!" I buried my face in my hands, leaning my elbow in the table.

"That you are, babe. But don't worry. There's still two weeks until the parade. That's plenty of time to ask him. You've just got to try one of these times."