Tyler

“What’s up, my lovely couple?” Ana said when we met up at the skating rink later on.

Ana was a pro skater. And a pro archer. And a pro everything else. But, that was one of the reasons I loved her. She was my best friend, and everything about her was awesome. She was awesome. She was also funny, so she always made me forget about my problems by making me laugh.

“So, how about we start skating instead of sitting around like weirdos,” she said, grabbing my hand and Chris’s. They were playing 70’s disco music in the rink, and Ana was very much enjoying that fact.

“Come on, guys, get your groove on!” she shouted over the music. I laughed, and started to skate with her. Eventually Chris joined in, too.

“Okay, skaters! Now is the time for a couple’s skate. All you single Pringles off of the skating rink!” The loud intercom came on, sounding out the music.

By the time I looked over, Ana was skating away from Chris and I. I looked at Chris, a questioning look on my face. Should we skate in this couple’s skate? Should we expose our relationship in front of these strangers that didn’t even know us? I thought as anxiety rose within me.

Chris took my hand and we started skating together.

I looked over to the side bar and saw Ana standing there, waiting for the song to be over. She looked so alone just then. Right then and there, I vowed to find her someone she could date.

Then, I looked further down and saw something I wished I could un-see right away. Shane, was staring at me evilly. Great. Let the beatings begin, I thought to myself. Now that he knew he wasn’t about to let this piece of information slip from his fingers. He was going to use it against me.

Chris had seen Shane, too. He had a reassuring look on his face. I knew he would protect me from Shane. I also knew Ana would protect me, as well. She was tough like that. When the song was over, we all decided to just hang out and talk for a while.

Then, I spotted a good looking guy across the rink and got an idea. I got up, leaving Ana and Chris talking to each other while I made my way across the rink. The guy was alone, sitting in the corner. He had blue hair and a lip piercing, and wore one of Ana’s favourite band’s shirts.

“Hello,” I said.

“Hi,” he whispered.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Jessie,” he replied. Ana and Jessie, that sounded good, I thought.

“Are you gay?” I asked. He gave me a weird look.

“No, but I have nothing against people who are,” he awkwardly.

“Perfect,” I smiled. “Come with me.”

He stood up and followed me to the table where Ana and Chris sat with questioning looks on their faces.

“Jessie, Ana. Ana, Jessie,” I said with hand motions. I sat beside Chris as Jessie sat beside Ana. I could tell they were checking each other out. Then Ana noticed his shirt.

“Oh my God, I love that band,” she screamed. Jessie smiled. I could tell he felt better now. I could tell from the moment I saw him that he was the kind of quiet person that didn’t have many friends. I noticed it because I was exactly like that when Ana left.

“Yeah. Pierce the Veil is the best,” he said. Then they got talking and eventually forgot that Chris and I were there.

So, we said goodbye to them and left. It was getting late, anyways, and I needed to get home. We walked with our hands intertwined on the walk to my house.

“Well, at least you got her someone to hang out with. I mean, did you see the way they clicked?” Chris said.

I nodded. We stopped about a block from my house.

“I’ll walk myself from here. We have to be careful around my house,” I said.

He nodded; he understood I couldn’t risk my father finding out. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close to me as his hands looped around my waist. I brought his face to mine and kissed him softly, closing my eyes.

I waved at him as he walked away, then walked to my house. When I closed the door behind me, I saw my father sitting on the couch, a frown on his face.

“Where were you, son?” he asked. I didn’t know why he was asking; it wasn’t even 8 o’clock yet.

“Hanging out with Ana and Chris at the skating rink,” I said.

“Well, someone told me that you and Chris skated in the couples skate. Can you tell me why someone would say that, Tyler?”

I nearly had a heart attack. How did he find out? I didn’t think anyone who was at the skating rink went to our church. Then, it clicked. Shane. He was the only one I could think of who would do something like this. He wanted to make my life a living hell, and he knew my father was a preacher. It was perfect ammo.

“Well?” My father said. “Care to explain yourself?”

I had to come up with an explanation, and fast. Then, I got it.

“Ana was skating with a boy we met at the rink, and Chris and I didn’t want to stop skating, so we skated together. I didn’t realize it was so bad to skate with your best dude friend,” I lied. I saw his shoulders relax.

“Oh, good. I thought it was something else,” he took a sigh of relief. I gave him a fake questioning look.

“What did you think it was?” I asked, though I already knew. He was on to us, and I couldn’t get caught. I just couldn’t.

“To be honest, it’s silly. I thought you and Chris were actually a couple. I thought I was going to have to ‘talk’ some sense into you, if you know what I mean,” he laughed. I, however, was holding back tears. My own father would do that to me? This time, I didn’t have to fake a frown. I just put a disgusted face with it.

“Ew, I would never do that. That’s a sin, you said so in church.” I lied through my teeth. I had to speak quietly, afraid my voice would break, exposing everything.

“Well, I’m going to go to bed, son. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?” he said, getting up. He walked over to me and patted my shoulder before walking to his room. I let a single tear shed from my eye as his back was turned and walking away.

*****

Do you support the way Chris’s father reacted? Why? Why not?