Escaping Perfect

The afternoon sun mad the pond in Westlaw park golden as the gentle waves oscillated from shore to shore. Ducks paddled across; their goal and destination was a mystery to Warren, who simply tried to concentrate on their movement than think of his own problems.

The last few days had left his home a cold and quiet place. His father was resolute as was he. Peter Brick had done nearly everything in his power to keep Warren home and away from Jace. Lucky for him, they still had text messaging and e-mail. His dad had an uncanny ability to turn up whenever Warren felt ready to pour out his heart or express any serious affection to either his boyfriend or his best friend.

Then, there were the chores. He’d cleaned the garage, mowed the lawn, pruned his mother’s garden, painted the backyard fence, organized the attic; he’d done everything his father had prescribed to keep his mind and body from straying. It was as if his father believed that manual labor would change Warren’s sexual orientation.

“Fat chance, old man.” Warren said to no one in particular.

Sitting on top of a picnic bench with all the open space full of trees, bushes, and flowers, he never felt so alone. So minimal in the grand scheme of things in the universe. Just like his desires….

They didn’t matter to his dad. And Jace…

As much as Warren loved him, Jace couldn’t understand how all this was weighing on him. Dr. Howard had always been supportive of her son. It didn’t matter if Jace like girls, guys, or in between, as it should have been. But then, Jace didn’t have the same opportunity that Warren had. This wasn’t just about a simple game—a sport; it was all about his life.

He loved football, but couldn’t live a lie.

There was being ‘out’ if he wanted to continue to play professionally.

There was no way of having both. It hurt to give up either. Sighing to himself, he let his head dropped between his slumped shoulders. He jolted out of his depression as a heavy hand landed on his back.

He turned around half expecting his dad to be standing there, only to find J.D. grinning down at him.

“Hey man, you gotta stay sharp.” His best friend teased.

It was obvious that J.D. had been on a run. The tank top he wore was a grey, but all the sweat from his exercising had turned some areas a steady summertime thunder storm grey-black color.

Warren issued up his best imitation of a genuine smile. Trust that when he didn’t want to see anyone, he would encounter the one person in his life that was completely in the dark.

He lowly chuckled. “Yeah, I know. Just thinking about stuff.”

J.D.slipped his earbuds into the collar of his undershirt. He pursed his thick lips and nodded in solemn understanding. “I totally get you, man…” He leaned his hip against the picnic table with his arms folded across his chest. “I hadn’t expected it to be over so soon. In a coupled of weeks…we’ll be free men. On our way to college. The thoughts of the girls alone are just…” He trailed off.

Warren laughed in earnest. Leave it to J.D.’s horndog streak to pop up just thinking about college.

“Then, the ball. Man, we are going to kick so much ass at Stateson Tech.”

Again, Warren was reminded of how much J.D. didn’t know. “J.D.--” He began.

“Your dad told me a while ago. I totally agree with you on keeping your choice quiet. But Dude, I’m your best friend…You probably told Sara.”

J.D.was like everyone else kicking Warren while he was down. Of course, he’d bring up the sore point that Sara was also his best friend and probably knew more, because she lived next door to Warren. He also suspected that there was jealousy, because J.D. had been after Sara since forever. Being that they each came from one of the few black families in Westlaw, it had always seemed to Warren that J.D. felt there was some sort of divine reason for them to be together. If J.D. only knew that Sara would never be with him, then that flaming torch he’d been carrying for years would have a long way to fall.

J.D. continued. “—All the schools and dinners, my parents are loving it. I’m just happy we’ll be at Stateson together. Your dad said you’d been really hung up about some stuff, but you worked it out. I’m glad, ‘cause the Dynamic Duo can’t be separated.”

Warren gave J.D. five automatically. “If I’m Batman, I guess that makes you Robin, homeboy.”

“Whatever,” J.D. replied jokingly. “I know we haven’t talked all that much lately, but we can catch up before we head off. Maybe, some fishing, taking a trip to the beach or something. We gotta sick together.”

Warren nodded. They bumped fists to seal the deal in an entirely platonic red-blooded male fashion. He couldn’t help but to feel bad. “Sure.”

J.D. pushed off the side of the table and slipped his headphones back into his ears. “We’ll catch up later. I gotta finish this run.” As J.D. ran off, Warren wondered if he’d lose J.D.’s friendship if he came to know every about him.

Yeah, they’d passed their fair share of fag jokes in the locker room like all the other guys, but it was completely different when your best bud admitted he was a fag.

He needed to check some other things out. If his dad told J.D. he was going to Stateson Tech, what had he told the coach?

TBC/?