“Do you think Rebecca will watch the movie?” CK asked.
“Doubtful. He’ll choose the right time and have her watch it, I’m sure. I don’t know that it will help though. She’s pretty set in her ways. I can’t understand why he married her.”
“How about we watch it tonight? With our parents?”
“I’d love to,” Skyler said. Then you’ll understand how crazy my life became over the past few weeks.
* * *
Skyler smiled and sat back on the couch as CK pushed play on the DVD player. It had been about a month since he last watched Prayers for Bobby with Stephen, Grace, and Noah. This time however, the movie viewing was not enshrouded in sadness. Tonight, his whole family wanted to watch the movie with him because they wanted to understand him and cherish him as an important part of their life.
Dale and Liara snuggled together on a dark brown two-seater couch, while Skyler sat comfortably on the left side of a three-seater recliner couch. CK joined him on the right side and extended the legs, settling in as the movie started.
As he had done with Stephen and the kids, he glanced over at his new family’s reactions to different moments throughout the movie. When the grandmother said the queers should be lined up and shot, Liara gasped and covered her mouth in surprise. When Bobby jumped, CK folded his arms tightly across his chest. When Mary washed her hands after shaking David’s hands, both Dale and Liara shook their heads. When Mary saw her son Bobby’s image in the young man at the pride parade, they all cried with Skyler.
When the credits rolled, CK clicked stop on the remote. Dale sat back and exhaled a deep breath and Liara rested her face in her hand. A sadness filled the room, but Skyler noticed how different this emotion felt in comparison to the despondency of watching the movie with Stephen and his siblings.
CK sighed and shifted across the couch toward Skyler. Then he wrapped his arms around him and rested his head on Skyler’s right shoulder. Neither CK nor Skyler bothered to hide the tears that covered their cheeks. Dale and Liara wiped their eyes and looked at each other, stunned into silence.
Skyler broke the silence. “This is when Noah asked Stephen what would have happened if he was the one who was gay.”
“I can’t even imagine,” CK said softly.
“You’re lucky you never will,” Skyler whispered back.
“Neither will you,” Liara said. “Neither will you.”
I hope you’re right.
12 | Kal-El
THE NEXT FRIDAY WAS THE day prior to Independence Day and the official day off from work for most Americans. That day, the family worked through a list of chores to prepare for Saturday’s party. CK mowed the lawn while Dale and Liara tidied up the yard and swept the decking. Although they had a robot to clean the pool, Dale had taught Skyler how to vacuum the pool—something he discovered he enjoyed doing. He liked helping with chores because the Kelleys had gone out of their way to help him feel welcome, and though he still felt conflicted with the events that led him here, he had begun to feel comfortable with the Kelleys as a foster family.
After hanging patriotic decorations and cleaning themselves up, they headed to a steak house for dinner. Then they swung by the grocery store to pick up a bunch of burgers, hotdogs, buns, chips, corn on the cob, and other food for the party.
Saturday morning rolled around and after making sure there were no chores left to do, Skyler headed out on his bike to get lost in his thoughts and explore the lush, green countryside. He pedaled past farm lands and orchards and enjoyed the unique street names like Running Creek Road, Spartan Drive, Maple Lane, and Hollow Road. Two hours later, he returned to the house. After a quick swim in the pool to cool off, he headed upstairs to shower away his workout.
Skyler’s welcoming festivities began promptly at 1:00 when Cody and Tracy arrived first. Shortly thereafter, more teens arrived to celebrate, welcome, and party with Skyler. Most of CK’s buddies were from the various athletic teams and they provided some fine eye candy in the pool for Skyler. Although he hadn’t come out to anyone yet, he figured he would let it happen naturally, if it came up at all.
After swimming with some of his peers, Skyler pulled himself out of the pool and toweled off. He walked over to CK and joined in the conversation he was having with Daren and Tracy. That’s when he met Tommy Brinn, a skinny sophomore with bright, fire-red shaggy hair and emerald green eyes who set off Skyler’s gaydar. On the other side of the pool, some of the guys and gals played Frisbee and jovially teased each other. Up near the house, most of the parents who stayed at the Kelley’s party congregated near the patio table and chatted. Dale and some of the other dads had just fired up the grill when a female voice yelled across the yard.
“Hey CK, where’s the new beefcake?”
Skyler saw CK cringe at the sound of the voice. Daren smirked and Tommy rolled his eyes. CK’s shoulders tensed and his face hardened as he turned to look toward the voice. “Aw, crap! What in the hell is she doing here?” he whined as his eyes narrowed with anger.
“Uh, your ex?” Skyler asked, trying to be sympathetic. Daren squinted at Skyler but didn’t speak.
“The one and only, unfortunately. Thankfully, you won’t have to be her next piece of meat,” CK said. Daren and Tommy looked at CK with curiosity on their faces.
“She’s so mean,” Tommy said softly. “You’ll see.”
“I think she’s a hoot,” Daren said.
“You would,” Tommy retorted. That was brave of him.
“Guys, this is about to get really awkward,” Tracy said matter-of-factly.
Almost everyone at the party turned to watch a blond girl wearing a short white skirt and a light blue bikini top wave her hand as if commanding everyone’s attention. She strolled across the backyard, the sound of jingling keys accompanying her footsteps. Skyler noticed most of the guys rolled their eyes with apparent disdain. Most turned back to their conversations and ignored her.
Skyler chuckled and looked past her, his eyes suddenly captivated by the incredibly sexy brown eyes of the guy who followed CK’s ex. His sun-bleached, dirty-blond styled hair complemented his smooth, tanned skin. The bright blue tank top and red swim trunks he wore hinted at a toned physique that impressed Skyler and reminded him of Superman’s costume. Skyler felt himself crush on the guy as one of his brown eyes winked back at him.
Caught off-guard, Skyler broke his gaze and focused on the bedazzled pink iPhone case in the girl’s hand. Skyler felt her eyes lasciviously look up and down his body. So, I guess that’s what that feels like.
CK rolled his eyes and barked at her. “Annika! What the hell are you doing here? You were not invited for obvious reasons.”
Annika glared at him as she walked up to them and stopped. She shifted her weight on to one foot and rested her iPhone laden hand on her hip. She pulled her sunglasses down her nose with the other.
“Duh, Colton,” she said flatly.
CK glared at her with fire in his eyes.
“Oh no,” Tracy said. “Nobody got time for this mess.” She walked over to the patio table and spoke with Liara in hushed voices.
Annika rolled her eyes at CK and then addressed Skyler. “Hi,” she said, peering over her sunglasses and extending her semi-free hand. “I’m Annika. You’re really cute.”
Skyler smiled at her and said, “Hi, I’m Skyler.” He politely shook her hand, unsure of how to grasp it since she still held her keys in her hand.
CK folded his arms and yelled at her, “You’re barking up the wrong tree, Annika.” Daren raised an eyebrow at CK’s comment.
Annika pursed her lips calmly, cocked her head to one side, and dramatically pulled her sunglasses away from her face, pivoting at the same time to square off with CK. “Any tree is mine to climb. You should know that, CK.”
CK folded his arms in frustration. “Fine. Good luck.”
Hey, don’t you dare out me!
She turned back to Skyler. “What do you say we go for a walk?”
Skyler’s eyes o
pened wide with surprise. He uttered, “Um…” and looked at the guy behind her.
“Oh, he won’t mind, will you babe?” Annika said, barely glancing at the guy. “Skyler, this is Kalin. Kalin, this is Skyler.”
“Hi,” Kalin said. “Call me Kal. And, Annika? I might mind.”
“Kal-El,” Skyler said, pointing at Kalin’s outfit. “Blue shirt, red trunks.”
Kalin looked down at his shirt and looked up at Skyler, smiling. “Kal-El, I get it,” he said, and extended his hand to Skyler.
Behind them, Tommy chuckled. “That’s funny,” he said.
“Whatever, nerds,” she interjected, and turned back to Skyler, blocking Kalin’s gesture. Skyler raised his eyebrow. Around him, he sensed an awkward silence as most of his classmates turned their attention to the drama that unfolded, anticipation brimming on their faces.
“Shall we go?”
“You want me to leave my own welcome party?” Skyler asked with surprise. Wow, you really are a bitch.
“Duh,” she impatiently retorted. “We’ll have more fun, I promise. I’m way more fun than any of this.” She gestured her hand around the yard, keys jingling.
OMG! That’s so rude! “Sorry, I won’t do that.”
She shifted her gaze from Skyler’s eyes to Skyler’s swim trunks and then back to his eyes. “Pity,” she said, glancing over at CK. “I can tell you’ve got…so much more to work with.” She purposefully looked down at his trunks again and smiled, her eyes slowly moving up his shirtless body. “Yep, much more.”
“Bitch,” CK snarled.
You did not just overtly check me out, did you? Skyler became furious at the way she used him to wind up CK. He stepped back and pointed his finger in her face. “Hey, I said I’m not interested, so knock it off!”
“Everyone’s interested in me, Skyler,” she said. Suddenly, her face become cold. “Unless,” she said menacingly, “you’re a faggot?”
Really? Skyler clenched his fists.
“Hey,” Tommy sputtered, clearly offended.
He felt his anger join with Tommy’s. CK’s jaw dropped open in shock. Kalin’s head snapped toward Annika and his eyes narrowed with anger. Daren folded his arms across his chest and glared at Skyler.
A sharp, angry voice cut through the increasing tension in the air. “What did you say?”
Skyler recognized the voice immediately. Everyone turned to see Cody lift himself out of the pool, his face ablaze with fury. Water splashed and dripped off him as he walked toward Annika with his finger pointing at her.
“It’s time for you to go,” Cody barked. “You’ve outstayed your welcome. No one calls anyone that word around me, period!” He stepped between Annika and Skyler.
Annika rolled her eyes and chastised him. “Jesus, Cody, get back in your cage, or you’ll never see me again.”
Cody’s eyes opened wide and he smiled. “Fine with me. I bet he’s better in bed than you are anyway.”
Daren’s jaw dropped.
Annika didn’t flinch. “What?” she asked with great annoyance, “Did you join the faggot team, too?”
“Annika!” Liara snapped from the deck. The sound of her agitated footsteps echoed in the yard.
“Ooh, shit’s going down,” someone in the pool said.
Finally, someone who can rattle her. Clearly they’ve fooled around together. Wait, what did Cody say about me in bed? Double wait, if that’s CK’s ex, did Cody sleep with her? They both slept with her? That’s strange.
Cody shoved his finger directly in front of Annika’s face, making her blink. “Do not say that word ever again.” Everyone could feel the anger brimming in the calm, flat tone of his voice. He paused for effect before continuing. “And who knows,” he said, becoming cheery and wrapping his left arm around Skyler. “Maybe I am.” With one smooth motion, he pulled Skyler in and planted a kiss on his lips.
Oh, wow, okay, this is happening now. He’s kissing me! Isn’t this supposed to be weird or something? Oh, who cares?
Surprised, Skyler didn’t pull away, not that he would have necessarily fought him off. Cody’s lips felt great, and although there was no tongue, he decided he didn’t mind the kiss. Skyler felt Cody’s wet muscles squeeze him tight as his future classmates started cheering and clapping.
Woof.
Cody released his lip lock and winked at Skyler, who smiled back. I uh, oh, I think I’m blushing.
Cody smiled and looked over at Annika. “He’s definitely a better kisser than you are, Annika.”
“You’re a good kisser, too.” Skyler said to Cody. Whoops, did I say that out loud?
“Thanks.”
Kalin looked at CK and mouthed “Oh my god.” CK shrugged his shoulders. Tommy’s mouth fell agape.
“Gross,” Daren said.
“Now,” Cody snarled at Annika, “Get lost, before I say something rude.”
Liara and Tracy suddenly appeared at Skyler’s side. “I’m sorry, Annika, but you can leave now,” she said. Anger punctuated her voice. “You will not come to my home and treat my family and our friends with such disrespect.”
“Or our friends,” Tracy added, snapping and gesturing angrily with her hand.
Annika blinked and stepped back. “Whatever,” she said, and turned to leave. “Let’s go, Kalin. If I’m not going to have fun here, neither are you.” She turned and started walking across the yard.
Ouch. Really? Please stay.
Kalin turned halfway but didn’t follow her. “Oh, hell no, I’m not going with you!” he said. “Not after what you just said!”
Annika simply flipped him the bird over her shoulder and continued walking across the yard. “Good thing I drove. Find your own way home.”
“I’ll come with,” Daren said. “Apparently this party is full of queers.”
“Fine,” Annika said.
What the heck?
“Tarquin,” Cody growled at Daren.
“You can most certainly leave, Daren, if you’re going to talk like that,” Liara said sharply.
Tracy marched forward and stepped up to Daren, invading his personal bubble. She looked up at him and put her finger in his face. “You know better than to speak with such hate in front of any of us.”
Daren swallowed nervously. Kalin sighed and shook his head.
Skyler guessed Kalin was not one of Annika’s groupies, and without thinking he reached out and gently touched Kalin’s shoulder. His fingers felt the sexy firmness of Kalin’s muscles.
Double woof.
“Kal, you can stay,” he said, suddenly feeling a little awkward. His heart skipped a beat. “I’d like you to stay.”
“Thanks,” Kalin said, smiling at him. Skyler snapped his gaze away from Kalin’s beautiful brown eyes before his eyes betrayed him.
Cody leaned over to Kalin and said, “One piece of advice with her, bro: don’t.”
Kalin looked up at Cody and winked. “Haven’t, and never will. You know that.”
Cody clapped Kalin’s shoulder in friendship and turned to look at CK, then at Skyler. He smiled. “Nice lips, dude.”
Skyler blushed and mumbled, “Thanks.”
Cody and CK fist-bumped.
“Come on, Tommy, let’s go swimming.”
“Okay, Cody,” he said. Tommy smiled and practically melted into the arm Cody wrapped around him. He turned his head to Skyler and mouthed, “You’re so lucky.”
Cody yelled something about getting back to the party and although a little gossip ensued, everyone returned to their previous conversations. Liara turned to Skyler with a worried look on her face and took him into her arms. “I’m sorry you had to experience that.”
“I didn’t come out yet,” Skyler whispered back, alarmed and tense.
“Oh, right,” Liara said. “Sorry.” She let go and stepped back. “I didn’t mean to smother you. Go have fun. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“I am, thanks.”
Liara nodded at him and made her way back to the pati
o table. CK smiled and winked at Skyler before turning back to his friends, leaving him alone with Kalin.
Skyler chuckled to himself. Wow, Rebecca would have never done that. This family is just…
“Nice lips, huh?” Kalin asked, interrupting Skyler’s thoughts.
“Apparently so.”
“Good to know.”
“So,” Skyler said hesitantly, “Are you and her, uh…” he paused, unsure of what word to choose.
“No, not at all,” Kalin answered. “Definitely not.”
“Good,” Skyler said quickly.
“Ha, yeah. She’s not my type anyway.”
“Oh,” Skyler said. Skyler sensed something familiar about Kalin. Is my gaydar going off?
“I’m not sure why I hang out with her. Sometimes I’m bored and need a laugh. Sometimes she crosses the line, but today she went way over the line.”
Skyler laughed and found new courage. “Then what is your type, Kal-El?”
Kalin looked at him for a moment and smiled. “Someone nice, thoughtful, cute, caring, and intelligent. The best qualities in myself that I want to share with someone, I want shared back, ya know?”
Skyler nodded.
Kalin turned and looked at the pool, “Wanna jump in?”
“Definitely,” Skyler said. Are we flirting?
* * *
Later that night, most of the party-goers and the Kelleys made their way to the school’s athletic fields. Hundreds of people from town gathered and staked out their spot with lawn chairs, blankets, and coolers to watch the fireworks that would begin shortly. Near the school, some of the sports teams and extracurricular groups sold baked goods, soft drinks, burgers, hot dogs, and glow sticks at booths. Skyler’s eyes focused on a white tent that had been decorated with rainbow flags and multicolored streamers. Across the front of it, a banner announced Gay-Straight Alliance.
Tracy approached from behind him and threaded her left arm through his right arm. “When the time is right—meaning when I come back from vacation—we’re going to talk about that and why it’s important.” She spoke softly so that only CK, who was on Skyler’s left would hear him. CK chuckled and then sipped his soft drink.
The Climb Page 19
