"Fits perfect, thank you!" I said
I was admiring my new tuxedo for my final school dance, it was black and had a black bow tie. This was the last dance of my school life, we were all eighteen and about to depart to college. Our school had rented this rather fancy place which was especially made for weddings and events of this type, so it was important that we all looked our best. The Girls normally went overboard by buying dresses costing amounts that could feed poor countries for about a year.
My date attended my school and we had agreed to go together at the beginning of the year. She's really pretty too, which is a bonus because I know we'll totally look cool. I'm glad we had set that up as no one knows that I'm gay. I'm sure they just have a feeling because apart from all my best friends being girls I have never been on a date with a girl! Its just one of those things you know. I'm pretty sure I confuse people, as I'm into sports and act straighter than some of the straight guys I know, girls are just easier to connect with (as friends).
Anyways, I was getting ready with all my Girl friends and my date was discussing the topic of this guy she really liked.
"Tonight is the night to have him!" She said fearlessly.
"Hah, everyone knows what happens at the final dance, Julienne," I winked and laughed
"Hey! that kind of stuff won't happen!! - actually it probably will and I'm excited." she laughed.
We all laughed and praised her for being ambitious. What I liked about my date (Julienne) is that we both had the same needs as each other, to get into the dance so we both looked like we had a date, and then just go our separate ways! The plan was perfection.
My Girls and I got a limousine that looked really fantastic it was a black Hummer that made us look like we were the shit! All the girls, Boyfriends and Dates looked really cute in their suits and I had to stop myself from looking too much.
I got a text from my friend Rick,
"Hurry yourself down here! - gotta tell u something - R."
Puzzled there was no time to think, we had arrived.
As we walked out onto the red carpet, all the Teachers and Parents, including mine (my Mother snapping pictures like a typical mother and my Dad looking at all of the teenage girls - pervert) were all there clapping and celebrating cheerfully. My friends complaining that we better get inside fast because of the winter air ruining their expensive hairdos.
"I'm going to see u in a couple minutes Jack, time for plan: 'Get my man' is now in play." she said.
She ran off with the girls for their "touch ups", when I got a tap on the shoulder.
"Well aren't you looking sharp tonight Jack!" He said
"Oh Rick! hey, thanks you're not to bad yourself, you clean up nicely". I said touching his shoulder and grinning.
I pulled away swiftly, forgetting it'll be too 'gay'. Rick was my best only man friend. We had the same interests sports, trying out new things and just overall connecting well. I met him around 2 years ago. We were together on the schools running team, not to mention I was quite into him, but he didn't know.
"Where's your date?" I said.
His face stopped smiling and became emotion-less.
"Yeah she's here, she's actually with my parents. We aren't talking". He said, looking uncomfortable.
"Want to go for a walk?" I spoke with a smile.
"Yes, I think that'll be great." he said.
We went out of the venue and walked the gardens, red and white roses perfectly trimmed filled the area.
"Wow, it looks like a chunk of heaven." I said in awe.
"But tell me what happened Rick, please tell me you're okay". I said more seriously, and much more concerned.
"I can't be with her anymore... She's so obsessive and just a rude bitch, but I suppose, it's my fault. I've changed and it was all fake from the beginning." - He sighed.
"Don't worry Rick I'm here for you! Do what's best for you, you can't live your life where you aren't happy." I said
By now we were sitting in the rose garden that was also a very high hedged maze, we were pretty much in the middle sitting on the bench and the sun was starting to set.
"You know its all a waste, forget this, I'm sorry I dragged you here." he said looking down.
"What are you talking about, its not a waste you're free". I smiled at him widely.
By now Rick started to cry, he got up and walked to the far left rose bush, and stood facing away from me. I was so puzzled, why are the tears and emotions if he didn't like her? This wasn't the easy going Rick I knew.
I got up, ran towards him and hugged him. He hugged me back tightly
"Hey its all going to be alright, just take it easy, tonight is our night to celebrate" I said, I looked into his eyes.
He lifted his hand to the back of my head and pulled me towards his lips. Our lips touched and I didn't pull back, I kissed him for about 10 or so seconds.
"And that?" I asked so confused.
But unfortunately hiding the fact that I loved it, see I have had a slight crush and by that I mean completely mesmerized by Rick he was everything I could ask for a strong jaw line, short dark brown hair, amazing athletic and built body and of course our personalities clicking, he was kind, gentle and just amazing. I was head over heals, but had to hide it.
He looked at me, tears streaming down.
"I'm sorry" he ran away into the maze.
"No comeback, please" I shouted.
I sat down, completely distraught, what just happened? Why did he run, what the hell is going on?
I ran uncomfortably with my tux, immediately back to the dance. Julienne was with her guy chatting him up, while my Girls were all chatting with some champagne.
I walked up to Ciera, my best friend and asked:
"Hey C, have you seen Rick anywhere?"
"Hey J, nope sorry, weren't you with him?" She said
"Yeah, he just disappeared" I said puzzled.
I walked back into the gardens, but nothing, Then I was in the parking lott, no one to be seen. I walked onto the bridge and spotted him! I saw him sitting on the chairs right in the back of the gardens. I walked over slowly.
"You don't have to explain, let me just sit here by you" I said.
He rested his head on my shoulder and held onto me until the sun set 20 minutes later.
"I don't know how to say that I'm a waste of life". Rick said
"Explain to me R, you know I'm your best friend you can tell me anything" I said reassuringly
"You've probably gathered that I'm Gay already, I'm a disgrace" he said pushing himself off me.
I grabbed his hand, "Don't you dare say that, you need a serious reality check if you think that you're a disgrace or anything else negative, you're mad! You are kind, generous and the only guy whose accepted me, for who I really am"
"What do you mean?" He looked at me.
"Me too, no one else knows."
I went closer, and kissed him, electrics through my body flowed along with the collective tears out our eyes as we kissed.
The band had just started to play a song, I got up.
"Care to dance man?" I reached out with my hand.
"Thank you" he got up taking my hand with his, his warmth felt like security.
We held on to each other for dear life, like at any moment something was going to rip us apart, but I knew now that we had both found someone where we could share our problems with.
The first song had ended and I checked my iPhone, 2 messages: Cierra: where are you?? And Mom: Dad and I left for your Grandparents, get home safely see you on sunday morning, and mostly just remember to have fun!
"Shit, the dance!" I looked at Rick, who was checking his phone too.
"Thank God She left, my Parents too, they went home."
"Rick, we better get back, they're going to wonder what happened to us" I said
I grabbed his hand and we ran to the dance, as walking in we let go.
What do you know? there was Julienne dancing with her man, I winked at her and she chuckled.
"Well finally! Where did you disappear to? You missed the intriguing speeches by our Teachers!" Cierra said sarcastically.
"Oh however, will I survive!" I rolled my eyes and laughed, "listen I think I'm going to go home early, Rick is feeling a little down, I think he needs some cheering up, I might take him to my place for a while".
