Despite All Obstacles Part V

Found Brothers

After school, the band happily practices for its next home game.

After band practice, Shortcake has to leave because her parents arrived. Before we both go home, bro and I stay in the music room, sitting at the front row. The band always has to sit in the front or bottom row.

"You were sent to the office for Matthew? Is that allowed?" bro asks, confused.

I look down and slowly shake my head. "Yeah. He wanted to talk."

"Oh. When I heard your name from the announcement, I thought you were in trouble."

"The first time we thought I was in trouble. It was either apologize to Patricia for putting her on the spot in the cafeteria or miss out on my next band performance. It was hard apologizing to someone who deserved to get called out."

"True." We nod our heads. "But that was funny, though."

I suck my teeth, that's Matthew's thing. "Her nosy self."

I make bro laugh at me when I said that. "Dang, Patt. I see some black in you."

"Yeah, whatever." I get caught off-guard. "I just think it's weird that Matthew would...." I still can't picture this, "screw Barbara. Did I hear her, right? Was she lying just to impress me? I just can't picture it happening."

"Anything's possible, Patt. Anything," bro says, also can't believe it deep down. I sigh.

"I have a confession to make," Gracie's not the only one at fault.

"What is it?" Bro asks me. I sigh, again. She'll be upset with me once I spill this.

"Gracie and I had our first kiss," I confess. Bro looks at me shocked, the same look from music in this same classroom, right after I've told him about my first gay dream.

"What?!" He quietly shouts.

I nod to him and look down, "Yeah."

"Why didn't you tell me after you two kissed?!" Bro happily asks, like he's proud of me.

"Because it was a secret between us. It didn't really mean anything. We were curious, and had our first times making out a little," I confess some more.

He playfully rubs his eyes with both hands and drops his mouth like a cartoon character. "Really, Patt?! I should be mad at you, too! You sly dog, you!" He excitedly shouts quietly and lightly nudges me. I swing to the side a little.

"When did y'all kiss?" He asks, curious.

"After we've hung out, which turned to out to be our second date. It was after the game got forfeited. At least I wasn't late," I say.

"Awww. That's all right. Shortcake and I knew you two might've done something. We didn't think it was just a kiss. So, that rumor Patricia made turns out to be true. Well, partly true. I've never made out with a girl before. I'm still waiting for that day." He's really eager for it.

"But you and Shortcake had your first kiss," I reassure him.

"But it was only for three seconds. It was ingenuine, since we're just friends. It was for a game too. So, I won't count that as a kiss," he sadly says. I hold onto his shoulder.

"Don't worry, bro. You'll get there," I reassure him again. He smiles and gives me a hug. I hug him back. I look at the open door to make sure no one sees this, since everyone still thinks we're gay, thanks to Brandon. I quickly let go. We're quiet for a moment.

"Hey, Patt." He gets my attention. "After we won our last game, Matthew didn't seem so happy as we thought." I get confused.

"What do you mean? He looked happy. He sounded happy." I'll need bro to elaborate.