Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:13:22 -0400
From: K J <writenowin@gmail.com>
Subject: Finding Another Like Me: Chapter 17

This story is fiction.  Any similarity to any persons living or dead is
merely a coincidence.  If you are not allowed by law to view this material,
please do not do so. If you are under 18 years of age, please leave now.
This is a love story between two barely under the age of 18 year old boys
in high school.  If that offends you, I apologize and ask that you not read
any further.  Otherwise, enjoy.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: So I'm back! Well not for long just this update. I was
definetly right about my scheduling being to crazy for writing. I hate how
I never have time to write. I miss the story so much. (haha) well enough
ranting so I hope you enjoy! Once again I want to thank two people. The
first is my bud VAPORLIT3 (Rich Boy) and then my new proofreader Buggs4990!
Also keep the emails coming! I may not have time to write but I still enjoy
reading readers thoughts! writenowin@gmail.com

Chapter 17

Christmas was a hassle and a half. I worked almost all day Christmas Eve
and once I got home my mom had me rushing around doing everything possible
for my family. Finally I was able to sit down and relax. Around me were my
cousins Sarah, Joe, Anthony, Jena, and Stephen, they were all older than me
but all younger than 30. In the kitchen, our parents were sitting laughing
and joking.

My cousins were all talking about some night they went to the bar. I
started to listen.

"Yeah that kid Jess is so gay," My cousin Joe said.

Sounded like a normal conversation, but I hated how they used the word gay.

"That queer. I almost kicked his ass the other day. He spilt his beer on
me," Steve through in.

I could feel my fist clench with that word.

"The fucking faggot ..." Jena began.

At that point, I couldn't take it anymore and whipped my head to get into
their conversation. "Stop using those fucking words!" I growled.

I hate that word!

My cousins all stared at me shocked at what I said.

"Why?" My cousin Sarah asked staring at me.

"Because there's no reason to call someone that if you're trying to say
something mean about them."

"What the fuck does it matter? Why do you care who I call a faggot?" Joe
barked.

I jumped off the couch and towards him. "Because I'm a fucking faggot!"

My cousin's ass just stared at me. No one had anything too say. I heard the
parents come to the doorway staring at the scene.

"You're fucking a queer!" My cousin Stephen finally said.

I felt myself lunge at him. I felt my fist connect with his face as his
arms locked my head. I felt my self being pulled from behind, while I felt
Stephen's fist connect with my side.

"Awe!!!" I exclaimed finally allowing myself to be pulled backwards. My ass
hit the floor and stared across from me at Stephen. He was on his feet and
his mouth was bleeding.

He just stared at me with his eyes narrow. I watched him as he stepped
forward but around me towards the door. Right before he passed me I heard a
"pshh" sound and felt something wet hit the side of my face. He spit on me!

I jumped to my feet, but was caught by my dad. I struggled in his arm, but
he was gone. I looked at the rest of my cousins who hadn't really moved
besides Joe who had gotten of the couch to pull me back.

They all just stared at me so I growled at them. "Get the fuck out now! All
of you! Unless you have no problem with me being gay!"

I watched as Jena, Stephen's sister, and one cousin I had always been close
to stand up and walk to the door. Before she left she turned to me and
said, "You disgust me! Never! I mean never will you be part of my family!"
Then she walked out.

Joe proceeded after her but no one else moved.

I finally relaxed.  "Thanks." I said. I turned and walked to my room. I
stripped off my clothes and cuddled up in my blankets. I looked at my phone
and saw Chris had text me.

***I love you baby and miss you. Colorado is nothing without you. This will
always be a Christmas to remember though.***

I chuckled. He was right. This Christmas was going to be one to remember. I
answered him slightly and then cuddled up and felt myself fall asleep.


Christmas Day went by a little easier. The side of the family that had
walked out on me didn't come over. My mom explained that it wasn't because
of me really. All my aunts and uncles were okay with it, but they knew they
needed to be around their families for the holidays. They said my cousins
would come around eventually. They were just young and stupid. I hoped for
this. Overall, Christmas Day was great. I had gotten tons of good gifts
from Santa such as clothes, gift cards, and a Mac. I was so pumped! I spent
so much of my day playing around with it.

The next few days were kind of lonely without Chris to hang out with. I
finished all my school work within the first two days after Christmas.  It
was during this time I decided I wanted to make a few more changes in my
life. I wanted to change my look a little. I decided to go get my haircut a
little shorter and spikier so that I could either flip it up in the front
or spike the whole thing up.

I decided to try a new salon my mom went to instead of my usually
barbershop haircut. I walked in and the place smelled of citrus and
fruit. The whole place was decked out in black leather sheik uppity class
look. I liked it. I felt high class going in there. Something I had always
wanted to be. (I know a funny idea for a high school kid.)

As I walked up to the young blonde at the counter I heard a shot from the
right of me. "Oh my God!!!"

I turned to see my mom's hair dresser standing there. He was wearing a
white shirt with black pants and had his hair tipped with blonde
highlights. He was about late 30s early 40s. He had a high pitched voice as
he spoke. "Kyle Kelly!!!" He walked over and gave me a huge hug. "You are
so grown up! I haven't seen you since you were this tall!" He motioned with
his hand at his knee.

"Hey Blake. How have you been?" I asked.

"I'm fab-u-lous!" He held out the last part.

I chuckled.

"So you have finally decided to get a quality haircut like your
mother. Thank God! A cute boy like you needs to be looking sharp for all
those ladies."

I looked at him and laughed. "Guys...actually."

"Oh really? Wow! Well congratulations! You sound confident about it?"

"I am. I'm in love. I know who I am. I'm good."

He laughed and grabbed my arm leading me to his chair. "Do tell, do tell!!!
First though, does he have a brother?"

I chuckled. "Nah. He's an only child."

I then went on to tell Blake all about Chris. How we met, our first date,
how we broke up, everything. It was the first time I had really talked to
another openly gay guy about everything. It felt kind of good. He was cool
even though I found him a little too flamboyant.

Eventually we got on the subject of my coming out and who knew. I explained
to him what had happened with the pictures and my family. I told him that I
hadn't confirmed or denied it to my friends yet, but I planned on doing it
soon. I just wasn't sure how.

"Have a dinner party my friend!" He exclaimed.

"What?" I questioned.

"Do like a formal dinner party like the celebs do or the upper class
do. Show that you're grown up, changed and how you want them to be about
this issue. Show them this new side of you. You said earlier how much you
liked how we modernized the shop. Well modern is high class. It's time for
you to be classy!" He explained.

I thought about it for a second. I was kind of still confused about what he
meant, but I think I could figure out it. I decided that might be a cool
way to do it.

We talked about different concepts I could do and finally had a pretty good
plan in place. I was going to do my party two nights before new years which
was the night before Chris came home. I figured if I had come out to my
family then I should be strong enough to come out to my friends.

Once we finished, I finally looked in the mirror and noticed the haircut he
had given me. It was amazing. It wasn't to short, but it spiked up
perfectly. He had done something with the cutting to make it look different
lengths but in a cool way. I loved it. I stood up and felt the hair fall
that was on my covered lap. I felt like an old layer of me was falling off
and this was just another step towards finding a new me.

I went to grab my wallet to pay him and he stopped my arm. "Don't you dare!
It was my pleasure. Your mom is one of my favorite clients and I had an
amazing time helping you plan your event. It is on me... Consider it a
coming out present!"

I looked at him puzzled. "You sure?"

"Yes!" He gave me a hug and walked me to the waiting room.

"Thank you again." He gave me one last hug and I slipped a $20 in his
pocket for a tip.

I walked out and headed home. Once I got home I talked my plan over with my
mom and she agreed that she and the family would go out and allow me to
have my friends over for this party. I went upstairs to facebook and picked
out the people I wanted to be there. Conor (obviously), Britt, Shannon,
Jake, Rick, Bren, Becca, Kayleen, and part of me wanted to ask Lauren
because I felt I owed her an explanation for everything, but I decided that
probably should be done one on one.

I sent all of them a message telling them about my "Black and White"
party. I told them it was formal attire and to come ready for the "big"
night. I knew they would all make assumptions of what that meant, but
that's what I wanted them to do. I put the date and time and was all set.

Within the next three hours I had gotten a response from all of them and
then messages from two of my friends from school asking if they could come
too. I gladly agree. I was figuring the more there were the less I'd have
to deal with next time. So that was the cut off the 10 of them plus me.

That night I called Chris and told him about my plan.

"Wow when you have your mind set on something you're going to do it..."

"Yup that's me." I responded.

"Well I wish I could be there for support."

"You know what honey. I'm kind of glad you aren't"

"Oh?" I could hear the hurt in his voice.

"Not like that. I love you. I just feel like this is something I have to do
on my own. Their my friends, so it's like my time to tell them. You had
your time."

"I guess your right."

"I am. Well I'll talk to you tomorrow. I am going to bed. I love you
Christopher."

"I love you too Kyle. Night."


The next few days passed quickly. I went shopping got all white and black
table clothes and silverware. I got these fake, but close to realistic wine
glasses and a bunch of other things, such a center piece and flowers. I
went to the supermarket and picked up cracker and dips. I decided to have
the meal catered by my work.

Everything was all set up so when my guests arrived sharply at 7 o'clock we
were ready to party. All the girls were decked out in black and white
cocktail dresses and the guys had white button downs and black dress
pants. The music was blaring. We were dancing and having a good
time. Finally dinner happened at 8 o'clock and we all sat down facing each
other at my dining room table.

I stood up at the beginning of dinner and held up my glass. "I would like
to make a toast. To a night of fun, friends, and the truth!"

With that I sat down and begin eating. Everyone followed my lead. They
began to eat, talk, and laugh. Finally the main meal was finished and we
were all just sitting at the table.

I watched as I saw Conor slowly begin to get up.

I stood up and looked at him. "Conor can you sit down again for a second?"

Everyone looked at me as Conor sat back down in his seat.

"Guys I finally realized it's no longer time to run. I have been fighting
you guys and everyone else off for the last few weeks. I have been fighting
off all those rumors and finally I just feel I need to come clean." I
gulped. "Guys I'm gay. I have a boyfriend. You all have met him. His name
is Chris. He makes me so happy." I felt myself start to tear up. "I am the
happiest I have ever been in my life when I am with him. I just hope that
all of you can see that and accept me for me. Because I'm still Kyle. My
attraction to the same sex doesn't define the person I am. It's just who I
am." I ended with that and just stared out into my friend blank faces
through my tear filled eyes.

Nobody moved. Nobody showed any change they all just stared at me. Besides
Conor he was just sitting there with a huge shit eating grin on his face. I
had to put on a smile after that. I couldn't help myself.

"Wow dude. I never knew," said Rick. "It doesn't matter to me."

"Me either!" added Jake. Bren nodded in agreement.

The two guys from school didn't say anything at first then one of them
added, "It's cool you just can't have me."

I chuckled. "Don't worry I'm fine with who I'm with."

"Yeah you are you lucky bastard," Conor added.

"Oh shut up you! You already knew," I laughed.

"Yeah I know," he responded.

"What! You did?" Shannon looked at him shocked. "And you never told me?"

"Honey I couldn't come on. It's not my secret to tell." He put on a puppy
dog face.

"Awe true..." she responded.

"So I'm taking it your okay with it?" I asked and she responded with a
nod. I turned to my last two Rachel and Britt. "What about you two?"

Rachel stared up at me and stated, "I'm jealous."

I laughed. "What?"

"He is so god damn fine!!! Why do you get him and not me?"

I burst out laughing. "Sorry I just I got what he wants and you don't" I
smiled.

"Well I'll get over it I guess. You know this wouldn't change anything Ky
Ky!" She stood up and gave me hug. She added a pinch to my cheek as she
said Ky Ky.

My face went red as I smiled. I turned back to look at Britt who still
hadn't moved at all.

I knew I was home free. "So B what about you?"

She just stared out in front of her not even showing a sign she heard me.

"B?" I repeated.

She turned her head and for the first time I saw she was holding back
tears. "I fucking hate you!" She jumped up and ran out of the room. I
watched as she went down the hallway and walked in to my bedroom slamming
the door.

"What?" I was so confused. I looked at everyone else and they had the same
reaction.


Finally after a few minutes I moved from the table and headed towards my
room. I wasn't letting my best friend walk out on me. I knocked.

There was no response. I opened the door slowly to reveal her lying curled
up on my bed cuddling with the stuffed dog she had bought be me for the
past Christmas. It was a husky. The type of dog I loved.

I just stood in the door and watched her. I then moved in the room and
closed the door.  I laid my body down on the bed and put my arms around her
from her back. I felt her try to push me off, but I clung harder.

I moved my head to her ear and whispered, "I'm so sorry Britt. I never
meant to hurt you."

I heard her sniffle. "I love you. I'm totally in love with you Kyle. I have
been since the first day we met during 8th grade. You sat a desk away from
me and I asked to borrow your markers. I have always loved you."

I felt my eyes begin to water. "I love you too Britt. I always have and I
always will. You will always be a huge part of my life. I never want that
to change. I'm just sorry. I can't be in love with you."

"But Kyle..."

"Britt there's no buts...I like guys. I always have. Yeah I went through a
period of time where I thought I could make myself like girls but I never
could truly. I have always loved guys. And now I have met my guy. The guy I
am utterly and truly in love with."

She turned in my arms so she was facing me. "So I never had a chance?"

"No not really. I'm sorry if I lead you on..."

"You never did Kyle. You always made it clear we were just friends, but I
just always hopped things would change."

"I'm sor..."

"Kyle you couldn't have known. I tried to make sure you never knew how much
I loved you."

"But... I always did."

"Yeah you might have but it's not your fault. You know I'm happy for
you. Seeing how happy you are and how confident you are, just shows me I
was never right for you. You never were this happy with me. Not in this way
at least. Will you always be my best friend?"

"I would never dream of not being..." I hugged her tighter in my arms.

She laughed. "So all those girls I suffered through were all for nothing?"

I laughed remembering all the times she hated the girls I would
like. "Yup. Kind of. But you can't hate Chris. I love him!"

"I'll try but I can't promise anything. I guess I'm happy though. I didn't
lose you to a girl. I lost you to a hot guy. I can't compete against that."

I laughed harder as I pulled her tighter. We then started to get up from my
bed. I wiped her eyes with my hand and then she grabbed it. We held hands
walking out to the kitchen with everyone else.

"It's all good!" I said to everyone.


AUTHOR'S END NOTE: Hey! If any new readers want to be part of the update
list just email me at writenowin@gmail.com