More Meanderings

This was on Naldo’s mind all day. He didn’t know why he was so shocked, he had his suspicions. Admittedly, he’d gone through Harrison’s Facebook pictures, and they were just too carefree for a straight guy. He thought.

He went home that afternoon and turned on the drag race. He’d never seen an episode, and after a few minutes he knew why. That show was stupid. He turned the t.v. off and went to Facebook. Maybe that would give him the information he wanted. He logged on and searched for his profile. When he went to the information tab, his relationship status was single, but his “interested in” was missing. “Well, that got me a whole lot of nothing,” he muttered. He clicked the photos tab and saw a new one. When he clicked the thumbnail, he saw that it was Harrison at a party. He was off to the side laughing with some girl, but the focus of the picture was a group of guys surrounding what appeared to be a chick fight. He was, literally, the only guy not watching two girls rip the clothes off of each other. He has to be gay, Naldo thought. Unless that’s his girlfriend, another thought persisted. The uncertainty was irritating him. He went back to the information tab. His luck turned because he found Harrison’s cell number there. It’s not weird that I got this number. I mean, this is a public forum. He spent thirty minutes trying to think of what to send until he finally settled on a text asking about the Anatomy homework. After he explained who he was and how he got the number, they were able to have a real conversation.

So wyd, Naldo asked Harrison.

Drag Race Marathon, Harrison replied. Naldo wondered why every show was having a marathon. Do you ever watch that show? Harrison sent a new message without giving Naldo a chance to respond to the first.

I tried once, but it was stupid xP haha, he sent that message and was waiting for a reply when his brother Jeremy came in.

“Hey, Stonewall. Who are you texting?” Naldo’s brother Jeremy came in and snatched his phone. He tried to run away with it, but Naldo was too quick and clotheslined him.

“Stop calling me that.” He plucked his phone from Jeremy’s hands and stepped over his body to his room. When he closed his door, his phone vibrated again.

What?? Well, that’s fair I guess. it’s not for everyone xD

There’s that, plus my brother already calls me Stonewall. I’m not giving him anymore fuel.

Stonewall? That doesn’t offend you?

Why does he call you that? Are you gay? Naldo was taken aback. He didn’t know how to respond to such a bold question. “Are you gay?” it replayed in his head over and over. He’d never been asked that before. His brother had just assumed and he never offered any corrections. Sure, he had thoughts, but didn’t everybody? He just had to wait for the right girl to come along and make him forget about those thoughts. Right? He put his phone down and left the room. He got a glass of water to try to clear his head. He drank his water while thinking of ways to respond. He wanted Harrison to like him. He wanted that a lot. But how much did he want him to? He decided to go with honesty.

He went back to his room and picked up his phone. There was another message. Sorry. That came out wrong. It wasn’t supposed to be so brazen.

No, he replied. It’s fine. Um I don’t know about that question. I don’t have an answer. He waited for a reply.

He waited five minutes for a reply.

He waited ten minutes for a reply.

When twenty minutes rolled by and he regret the very day eighteen years ago that his parents procreated to make him, he got his reply.

Sorry about that. I didn’t know how to respond. Still don’t. Naldo waited for more to come. When it didn’t immediately, he started to type a reply but was interrupted. It’s cute the way you don’t know. I’d like to help you find out, though. If you want. Once again, Naldo’s mouth fell open. Now he was completely dumbstruck. What in the world did Harrison mean by that? He got up and started to pace around his room. His pulse quickened and he was having trouble breathing. Oh my god, he thought. I think I’m dying. What do heart attacks feel like? Okay, what are the facts? Harrison Daley just said that. But what does it mean! There’s only one way to find out. He went back to his bed and carefully sat. He read and reread the message. Then he typed his reply.

What do you mean by that? He sat back and waited.

Wanna know a secret? Harrison asked.

Sure.

I’m gay.

Okay.

Okay? Naldo wondered what he was supposed to say. What he was expected to say. He was just asked out. By a boy. He thought.

Okay I want to. I think.Had he really typed that? He was being controlled by someone else. he must have been.

Really?? I’m sorry if I shocked you. I just thought you were cute since freshman year and when you said that thing about being unsure, I thought that was my only opportunity. Naldo took a moment to be flattered by being admired from afar and having exceptional “gaydar”.

I am shocked. I’ll see you in class tomorrow. Naldo looked at his clock. It was almost five and he was exhausted. He went to bed, but stayed awake in it for at least another hour. He finally went to bed and didn’t wake up until his alarm rang the next morning.