Debriefing
It’s been a few days since Miles and Hobie went out to get ice cream, and it’s finally time. Gwen and him have been too busy with school to really talk privately outside of classmates ears. But now it’s a Friday after classes and they have a whole weekend of time to do the inevitable.
Debriefing.
“Okay so, how’d it go?” Gwen grinned.
“Pretty good- great actually. It wasn’t awkward like I’d thought it’d be.” Miles softly smiled. “He even held my hand.” Miles whispered, like it was scandalous or something. And if they were in the 1900’s, it probably would be.
“What!? Wait hold on- start from the beginning.” Gwen said excitingly as she got comfortable on his bed, she already knew this would take a while so might as well get situated.
“Okay so, I get there right? Talk a little, then suggest going to the ice cream parlor-“
“Like you should’ve done in the first place?”
“Yes, but that’s not the point. That was a different me. Completely in the past.” He sighed.
“Anyways as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, we walk over there and get to the block where it’s at right? And then I glance around, looking for the spot and the find it. But before I can say anything he grabs my hand and fiddles with my pointer finger until he makes it point at the place. Is it just me or is that??” He says excitingly as looks at her for confirmation.
“Nope, definitely not you. That’s like- the epitome of hints. What did you do after?” She nodded eagerly. After?
“Uh, nothing? Was I supposed to do something…?” He said uncertainly. He feels like he’s said something wrong.
“Dude.”
“What?”
“Not to be mean, cause you’re not ACTUALLY one but, you’re an idiot.” She smears her hand across her face in frustration as she glares at him. “You should’ve reciprocated! You know how awkward it must’ve been for him?”
“Uh… no?” He said awkwardly and he really thought about it. Maybe she’s right. “He didn’t look like anything was wrong though, plus he’s always kinda touchy. How was I supposed to know that that’s enough of a hint to actually act on it?!” He groaned.
“By using your brain??”
“You’re hopeless.” Oh great, now she’s using Ganke’s line.
…
Wait a minute- that isn’t her voice.
“Ganke?” Gwen looks down from the bunk to see said boy sitting down on his bed, reading a Marvel comic. “We thought you were sleeping.”
“I was, but whatever this is, is way more interesting,” he shrugged. “You mean making fun of me right?” Miles said sarcastically. Of course he wakes up right when there’s something to make fun of him about. It’s like he got a sense for it is something.
“Basically, yeah.”
“You’re the worst.”
“Love you too. Mwah mwah.” Miles scoffed playfully as he looked back at Gwen. “Okay let’s move past that for now, you can make up for it the next time you see him. What happened next?”
“Nothing really, we got there ate and oh! There’s actually two things that stuck out to me. He paid for me, for one, and I forgot why but I got a little close to his face and he started getting all flustered,” Miles chuckled. “I was super confused when it happened, cause like? He’s always super touchy so I didn’t know that it would bother him so much.” Gwen stared at him wide-eyed and after a few seconds he started to get worried. “What?”
“Miles, he likes you.” She said confidently as a big grin splashed on her face. “He likes you Miles!”
“Huh?” He said befuddled. Hobie likes him? “What are you talking about?”
“Just think about it, he paid for your ice cream-which friends usually don’t do unless their rich or something, especially if you asked him to go- purposely held your hand when he definitely didn’t need to, and got all super flustered when you got close to him. That isn’t platonic behavior Miles.” She said, grabbing his shoulder and staring at him, trying her hardest to get through to him.
Oh.
Oh.
“Oh- oh my god. Gwen, he likes me.” She vigorously nods as he immediately lights up.
“He likes me- ow!” Miles tries to sit up but quickly remembers that he’s on the top bunk, hitting his head hard on the ceiling. “Pfft- you okay,” she laughs. “Yeah, the pain doesn’t matter right now. Hobie likes me!” He laughs, flopping onto his bed.
“What do I do?” He sighs happily, as much as he wants to immediately text Hobie right now, it’s not that simple.
“What do you mean? Tell him that you like him back.” She groaned. “Yeah dude, that’s pretty much the only thing you could do now.” Ganke said absentmindedly, more worried about his game than anything.
“I mean, of course I’m gonna do that but, before and after I come out to my parents? I don’t really feel like keeping secrets from them.” He sighed. Keeping stuff from them never ends well. Like for example, when he first started graffiti. They still don’t approve of it, but if he ever sneaks out the house, they feel better knowing he’s with Uncle Aaron and safe than out on the streets doing who knows what. Plus, it made him feel guilty. When he was 13 he promised his mamí -really promised- that he’d tell her when he even thought about dating. Not even who the person is or anything, just letting her know he’s “out on the scene” or something. He really valued that promise though, it’s one of the reassurances that keep him from crying everytime he thinks about coming out.
Back then, she told him she didn’t care who he dated. That should include boys right?
“Oh, I didn’t think about that. I just thought you already had, like me.” Gwen’s shrugged. “You should get it over with before Thanksgiving though, your family is staying at your house for a while after that right?”
“Yeah, only my cousins though. My titi’s and tio’s will be going back to a few days before. The only adult staying will be my abuela.” He shrugged. “Well still, the longer you wait the longer you’ll either have to keep you and Hobie a secret or not tell him.” She said seriously. “If they are negative about it, your cousins and abuela could be the same. Better to gauge the damage before they show up, you know?”
“I guess… I’ll tell them before then.” He said nervously, hands shaking. Thanksgiving is next week, and his family is coming over a whole day before. So… he only has 4 days.
“Matter fact, I’ll go over and tell them tomorrow.” He said, still nervous but determined. He doubts his parents wouldn’t support him, but if they do…
He’ll cross that bridge when he gets there.
”Alright, if you’re ready. Just be careful, okay? Now continue, what happened next?” She grinned.