Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 20:32:23 -0600
From: Oliver R <cndoliver@gmail.com>
Subject: american in canada-chapter 3

This story is fiction. Any similarities with peoples living or dead are
purely coincidence. Please navigate away from this story if it is against
the law in our country to view this material. Moreover do not read if you
are under the age of majority in your state, province or country. Please do
not copy without permission.



	Ok so if you haven't already noticed, when I fall, I fall hard. I
mean Colby is definitely not hard to fall for but I've had this happen to
me one too many times. The last time I fell for a straight guy, he and his
friends found out. One day after school I was cornered. My hooded attackers
beat me senseless. The next thing I knew I was lying in a hospital bed with
a concussion, a broken radius in my left arm, a broken ulna in my right and
a couple of fractured ribs.

	The people I suspected of doing this were questioned about my
attack but nothing else was done. There wasn't enough evidence. That was
two years ago. I did my best to forget about it but now I was cautious not
to forget because there's that saying. What was it again? Oh yes it's those
who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

	I got home and laid in my bed and just sobbed. When it comes to
love, I'm probably the most unlucky person there is. I fall for people who
don't want me and I don't want the people who fall for me. Not saying that
people fall for me often. Mostly girls. Maybe I should start acting
feminine to get the girls to turn the other way.

	All I can think about is Colby. Big surprise there eh. I told
myself to forget about him. That he is just like those assholes in high
school. That now that he knew I was gay, he'd hate me. As much as I tried
to convince myself of this, it was useless. There was just something about
Colby. He was different from those other jocks. I don't know exactly know
what it was, he was just different. I cried myself into a fitful sleep with
dreams filled with Colby beating away at me with Amanda standing off to the
side laughing.

	I awoke suddenly. My mind was disoriented and my eyes stung when I
tried to open them. Then, the annoying ringing of my cell broke
through. 'Colby' flashed on the screen. I hesitated before I answered it.

	"Hello?" I answered nervously.

	"Oliver! Oh thank god you answered! Why weren't you at the game?! I
was worried sick that something happened to you! I've already called you
ten times! If you hadn't answered this time I would've gone down there to
look for you!" he said, obviously relieved I answered.

	<Silence>

	"Oliver? You there?"

	"Yeah sorry. What time is it?"

	"It's five. So why weren't you there? This doesn't have anything to
do with Amanda does it? Cuz if it does, I don't care if you're gay." he
asked sounding a little irritated. I wanted to cry right there, all that
worrying for nothing.

	"I'm sorry. It's just, I mean, when Amanda told me she told you I
was gay, I sorta panicked, so I left. She told me you looked upset. I
haven't had very good luck in situations with people like you. I didn't
want to risk it."

	"Did she tell you how I told her I didn't care? And what do you
mean people like me?"

	"I mean jocks."

	"Oh. So you thought I'd be an asshole to you."

	"Look I didn't mean to judge you like that but what the jocks did
to me in high school was horrible. I knew you weren't like them but somehow
Amanda made me believe you were. I guess I'm not as immune to her
manipulations as I thought I was."

	"I'm sorry, I should've called you last night when she told me
about.you know. I want you to know that I don't care if you're gay or
straight. You're probably the kindest person I've ever met and that's
saying a lot. I've met a lot of nice people." he said laughing. "So we
good?"

	"Yeah, we're good." I was so relieved I wanted to cry again. "Oh,
so how did the game go?"

	"We won, but I pretty much didn't do one thing right."

	"Ha ha ha. Why'd you screw up so much? I thought you were here on
scholarship." I said laughing, the serious mood dispelled.

	"Because when I looked up in the stands you weren't there. All I
saw was Amanda and that did nothing." I could hear his pout through the
phone.

	"Oh." That made my heart swell! "Well I promise I'll be at your
next game."

	"Good."

	After that huge mess Amanda made, the weeks just seemed to fly
by. The classes were excruciatingly long, the professors only saw us as
numbers and the labs were irritating. I know it sounds horrible but it
really wasn't. That's because Colby was there for all of it with me. He and
I were on the fast track to becoming best friends. Before we knew it we
were in mid October. With mid October came the added stress of studying for
mid-terms in a couple of weeks. Not only that but I was turning 18 on
November 2nd.

	October and mid-terms came and went. I invited Colby to one of my
friend's Halloween party. Nothing interesting happened.

	This year, my birthday fell on a Sunday. Sunday is not really a day
to get sloshed and wild but this time was an exception. This year, on the
first Monday of the month after mid-terms, the professors and instructors
of all the post secondary schools in Manitoba meet for a conference at the
University of Manitoba. So really, Sunday was like a Saturday which made it
prime sloshing time.

	I was never excited about being able to get into bars or clubs so I
just planned to have a small get together at my house with a few of my high
school friends and a few friends I met and Uni. And Colby of course. The
day after the Halloween party Colby called me.

	"Hey Oliver! What you up to?"

	"Not too much, just shootin' the shit, watching TV. Having a cup of
homo milk."

	"Homo milk? They make special milk for gay people now?" he asked,
sounding genuinely confused. I couldn't help but burst out into
laughter. "What? That's what it is isn't it?"

	"No. Ha ha ha. It's homogenized milk. I think you Americans call it
whole milk."

	"Ah.ha ha ha, I'm gonna call it that when I'm at home now. Anyways
I was wondering if you had any plans tomorrow before your get together. I
was thinking maybe I could take you out to dinner? And then we can head
back to your place to party. What do you think?"

	"Yeah! That sounds great! Um.what time?" geez I hope I didn't sound
too excited.

	"Well we have reservations for 6:30 so how about I come pick you up
at around 6?"

	"Yeah 6 is good. Where are we going?" I was definitely
curious. It's not very often that a straight guy asks a gay guy out to
dinner, just the two of them.

	"Well that's a surprise." he said in an incredibly alluring
voice. He be a good phone sex operator! "But dress semi-formally."

	"Ok well that's a clue, I'm guessing it's a pretty upscale
restaurant then?"

	"I'm not gonna say anything."

	"Fine. Oh what are you doing tonight?"

	"Oh c'mon Oliver, you're the only friend I hang out with at school,
other than my football buddies, but I don't like hanging out with them too
often. Too rowdy. So to answer your question, hanging out with you?"

	You bet! My extended family is coming over for dinner. We usually
have a dinner like this on the day of my birthday but I made plans for a
get together so we're doing it tonight. You get to meet my parents and my
wonderful sister." Everyone was always at work when studied here.

	"Cool. What time should I be there?"

	"Well dinner is at seven so be here for, say, 6:30?"

	"Great! Well I'll see you in a few hours then."

	"Sounds good! See you then."

	"Yeah see you then. Bye."

	"Bye."

	I got up after saying goodbye and went downstairs to help my mom
and sister start dinner and tell her Colby was coming over for dinner.

	"Hey mom, hey sis, you guys need help?"

	"Of course!" she said as she kissed me on the cheek. "Why don't you
start chopping the carrots, celery and onions and throw them into this pot
when you're done."

	"Sure. Oh mom I invited a friend over for dinner tonight. I hope
that's ok."

	"It's your birthday dinner honey, of course it's ok."

	"Cool."

	"Which friend is it Oli?" my sister Stefania asked. "Is it the one
that you can't stop talking about?"

	"As a matter of fact, yes."

	"Oli, please be careful, I don't want to what happened to you in
high school happen again."

	"It's ok sis, no need to worry. He knows I'm gay." My whole family
knows I'm gay. I can happily say that they took it better than I
expected. I came out to them after the incident at school. My mom and
sister were really accepting once they let it sink in. My dad took much
longer. He really did his best to understand what being gay meant. Now he
supports like he did before.

	"Oooooohhh!" my sister and mom pretty much squeeled. "Does that
mean he's your boyfriend?" my sis asked.

	"Ha! I wish. No he's as straight as an arrow."

	"I'm sure you'll be able to bend that straight arrow." my mom
countered while my sister giggled.

	"Mom!"

	"I'm just saying." my mom said in her Filipino accent. I always
liked to copy it when I was a kid. I still do sometimes!

	"Please don't embarrass me guys, please? He's my friend and I don't
want him to feel uncomfortable."

	"Ok promise. Just be careful baby okay?" she said reaching up and
holding my face in her hands. "I know you're a big boy now," she said
before my sis interrupted by giggling. It's cuz I used to copy the kids in
the huggies commecials when I two. I was an early talker. "just don't fall
in love with him. It'll just lead to heartbreak and I don't like seeing my
baby boy get hurt." Well too late for that. I'm pretty much crippled in
love by Colby now.

	"Okay okay, promise." I said. She smiled at me at went back to
work.

	"Don't worry about it bro, mom was the same way with me when I met
Kevin."

	"Where is Kevin by the way?" I asked.

	"He went with dad to pick up your cake." they chose at that moment
to return with the cake.

	"Ooh ooh ooh! Can I see it? Can I see it? Can I see it?" I said
while jumping up and down. I was such a kid when it came to my birthday.

	"You've been doing this since you were able to walk and talk. And
now that you're 18, well almost 18, the answer is still no." my dad said
grabbing me into a hug. "You'll always be my little boy." I loved my
parents. He did this every year to make me forget about wanting to see my
cake.

	"Happy birthday little bro!" my brother-in-law hugged me next. "I
got you some Belvedere for your get together tomorrow. Your sister and I
got you something else to but you'll have to wait till after dinner."

	"Thanks Kevin."

	Over the next hour the rest of my extended family arrived. I said
hi to my aunts, uncles and cousins. Colby arrived at 6:30 on the dot.

	"Hey Oliver, happy early birthday!" he said as he reached in to hug
me. Well.that's a first. I never asked for any gifts for my birthday yet I
always get some. If that hug was his present to me, then I would give up
any gifts I got this year and any future gifts I'll ever get as long as I
live. Oh god I felt like I was in heaven. We held each longer than a man
hug should last. This time I knew I wasn't just fabricating it. I wasn't
gonna let go until he did. We didn't separate until my sister coughed. We
both let go and looked at her. She smiled.

	"Oh Colby this is my sister Stefania, Stef this is my friend
Colby."

	"It's a pleasure to meet you Colby. My brother talks about you
non-stop. If I didn't know better I'd think you were his boyfriend!" she
said giggling. Oh my god, is she trying to kill me with embarrassment.

	"Ha ha ha. Well I can tell you Oliver and I are really good friends
and that I probably talk more about him to my brother than he does about me
to you." he said as he looked at me and smiled. I must have blushed ten
shades of red. His smile was so goddamn sexy!

	"Well come in, let me take your coat. Oliver, why don't bring your
friend around and introduce him." she said taking his coat. Damn. I was
getting more and more flustered by the moment. He was wearing a cerulean
blue polo shirt tucked into dark washed jeans. It all fit him
perfectly. Even with clothes on, his hot body permeated through. And that
damn cologne that was so fricking, amazingly sexy. Knowing that my family
was there was the only thing that kept me from jumping him right then and
there. "Damn he is gorgeous!" Stef whispered in my ear.

	I quickly took Colbyhim by the hand, hoping he didn't hear her and
introduced him to everyone. I must have been so flustered that I didn't
notice I was still holding his hand until I was introducing him to me
parents. "Mom, dad, this is my friend Colby, Colby this is my mom Isabel
and my dad Martijn." My dad's name is pronounced Mar-tayn. My mom looked at
our clasped hands. I followed her gaze and realised what she was looking
at. I quickly dropped his hand and looked at him. He smiled at me
again. Damn that smile!

	"Nice to meet you Mr. De Koning, Mrs. De Koning."

	"It's finally nice to meet you too Colby. I was beginning to think
he was making you up. He used to do that as a child you know. I forgot what
he named him. Oh and call me Sabelle."

	"Yes it is nice to meet you Colby. Call me Martijn. And I think his
imaginary friend's name was Mortimer."

	"Oh yes that was his name." she laughed.

	"Mom, dad! What is this? Embarrass Oliver night?"

	"Oh c'mon, we're just reminiscing about our baby boy." my mom said
as the three of them had a laugh at my expense. "C'mon boys," my mom said
ushering us out of the kitchen "you go chat with Oliver's cousins, dinner
will be ready soon."

	Dinner with Colby and my family went well. I had a few of my
cousins whispering to me asking if Colby was my boyfriend. I just shook my
head and said 'I wish.' When we finished dinner we all went to the living
room where everyone gave me there gifts. I really made a big fuss over
people not getting me gifts when they asked what I wanted. I wonder why I
even do make a fuss since they get me gifts anyways. I thanked everyone for
them and gave each one of them a hug. I gave Colby a hug last.

	"I did get you a gift but I'll give it to you tomorrow at dinner
ok?" he whispered in my ear as he hugged. His soft cherry lips brushing
against my earlobe. The simple act sent involuntary shivers down my back as
he rubbed it. I could only nod back.

	Everyone was gone by 10. It was only Colby and I left. My parents
already gone to bed. "Well I really had fun tonight. Thanks for inviting
me. I take it everyone knows about you. I mean I'm pretty sure everyone
thought I was your boyfriend." I flushed with embarrassment.

	"Yeah, I'm sorry about that."

	"It's fine. I guess I sorta feel lucky. The guy that ends up
stealing your heart is going to be one luck fella. Even people thinking I'm
your boyfriend makes me feel special. I can see that your family really
loves you and just being your friend, I know that you're a great guy." he
said, my eyes not leaving his gaze. "I really am lucky to have found you as
a friend." we stared at each other for what seemed like minutes when in
reality it as only a fraction of that time. "Anyways, I should get going."

	"Yeah. Um.let me get your coat." I went to the closet and grabbed
his coat. "Here you go."

	"Thanks." I walked him to the door. "Thanks again for inviting me."
he said as he reached in for a hug.

	"Thanks for coming." I said as a inhaled his scent one more time
before he left. I'd like to say that sparks were flying, but they weren't,
but I still knew there was a connection. Sometimes you just know.

	He gave me a final kiss on the cheek before whispering "I really
hope you find that special someone." then he looked at me with an almost
sad smile. I smiled a sad smile back. And then he left. God, he really
doesn't know that it's him. That it's him that's special. That it's him
that stole my heart.



Okay guys so this one is a tad bit longer. I'm trying to get used to
writing longer chapter so bare with me. Please email me if you have any
comments, concerns, or critiques especially. It'll help me catch mistakes
and plus I love hearing what you guys think, be it good or bad. Anyways,
till the next chapter!

Much love,
Oliver