Icing on the Cake

~5~

The elementary school was only one block away from the high school in our town. Sometimes after school, Calum and I would walk over to the elementary school and go to the playground. There’s something strangely therapeutic about being on swings as a teenager.

That day was a day that Calum and I did that. We talked about a lot of different things. We talked about Michael and Ashton going to prom together. We talked about who he would go to prom with. We talked about if he or I would go to prom at all.

“There’s always next year, too.” Calum said. “Senior prom is a bigger deal than junior prom.”

“It’s true.” I said. “But I still really want to go.”

I hadn’t realized that it had been over two hours since we got there. The sun was sinking, and the sky had turned pink.

“I have something I need to tell you.” I said. I tried to just rip off the band aid, jump off the high dive. Fear washed over me.

“Okay.” Calum said, almost cheerily.

“This is something I’ve thought about for a long time, and I’ve never told anyone. I’m afraid to tell anyone.” I felt a tear start to form, but tried to stop it from falling. “But I need to tell someone because it’s eating me alive.”

“Alright.” Calum responded. “What is it?”

I tried to speak the words, but it felt like there were hands around my throat. I barely was able to choke out the words. “I’m…gay.”

Calum didn’t say anything. His facial expression was blank. I immediately regretted saying what I said. Did I just ruin my friendship?

“Is that it?” Calum asked.

“Well…yeah?” I responded.

“Okay. I mean, I don’t really care.” He said. “I mean, it’s not that I don’t care, but it doesn’t bother me, like, at all.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Really. Why would it bother me?”

“I don’t know, I mean…I don’t know.”

“I fell bad for you. I mean, your parents being the way they are, and you’ve kept all this bottled up. Does anyone else know?”

“No. That’s the first time I’ve ever said those words.”

“Awww, I feel special now!” Calum gushed.

I laughed a little, but I was shaking. I was so relieved that I was nervous. It was a weird feeling, but I was shaking. Chills were still going through my body. It was getting a bit chilly without the sun, but it wasn’t super cold.

“I don’t know why, but I’m still shaking.” I said. I pulled my hoodie over my arms.

“I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through!” Calum said. “Come here!” He opened up his arms, and I placed myself with his arms around me.

“You really are shaking.” Calum said.

“Are you hungry?” I asked.

“I could eat.”

“Want to get food somewhere?”

“Always.”

Notes

Awwww, Calum! (This makes up for all the times I've antagonized him in other stories.)

Thank you for reading, I will see you all soon with a new update! Mwah! :D