Kissing Boys

Chapter 1: Frankie the Queer

I could already tell this summer was going to suck ass.

My mom felt the need to send me down to Seattle because she thought I needed to “bond” more with the relatives. So here I was, on my merry little way down to Aunt Harriet’s house. I can’t even remember when the last time I saw her was, how the hell am I supposed to live with people I don’t remember that well?! Did I mention this was going to suck ass?

Not only was I going to be away from my friends all summer, but I was going to spend the whole 3 months with my Aunt and cousin, whose name, if I remember correctly is Frankie. But who the hell cares?! I didn’t even like bonding with my immediate family, I can only imagine what it’ll be like bonding with relatives who I barely knew.

Hellish torture! That’s what!

Anyways, here I was, sitting helplessly in this cab on my way to Aunt Harriet’s. I had considered just jumping out of the car; there was water below after all. But no—I wasn’t that desperate. If worse comes to worst, I’ll catch the nearest bus back down to Tacoma and stay in my friend’s closet. Yeah, that sounds like a plan.

I sighed apathetically, causing the creepy cab driver to look at me through the rearview mirror. I shifted uncomfortably and moved my attention to the window, suddenly finding the buildings to be excessively interesting. I guess spending 3 months with relatives was better than sitting in a cab with some dude that was most likely a sex offender.

And I had to admit, staying in Seattle was better than being in Tacoma. Only it would be a million times better if I were with my friends.

Well, all I could do now was suck it up and hope these next 3 months would go by fast.

“We’re here, kid” the cab driver’s raspy voice said.

I quickly paid him, gathered my things and glanced down at the paper my mom scribbled their room number on. You would think since I’m the one who came here, they would be waiting for me.

I looked up at the insanely tall building. It must have been 30 stories or more! What were they, rich? I’ve never seen a multi-story condominium as nice as this one. Maybe staying here wouldn’t be so bad after all. Well, once you get passed the whole awkwardness.

I walked into the equally insanely huge lobby and glanced around. There were lots of people walking in and out or going in the elevator. I almost hoped one of them would recognize me and just happen to be my cousin or my Aunt. No such luck.

Well, nothing’s more awkward than showing myself up to their room! But I guess standing here complaining about it isn’t going to help. I looked back at the paper my mom gave me.

So, they were on the 18th floor, room 1180.

Okay then, I guess I’ll get this over with. I gathered what little stuff I had and waited for the elevator.

“I want to press the button!” said some irritating little kid as the elevator doors opened.

“Okay, Andy you can press the button” said who I assumed was his mom. She looked a little young to have a kid around 6 though.

I entered the elevator, pressing the button for 18, earning me a whine from little Andy. Seriously kid, get the fuck over it.

“Mommy, I wanted to press the button!” I could feel my eye twitch at the shrillness of his annoying little voice. He wasn’t seriously going to cry about this was he?!

He was.

“Andy, stop it! You can press the button next time.”

That just made his cries become even shriller and I was sure my ears were bleeding. What the hell was wrong with this kid?! He was acting like it was the end of the God damn world! I don’t remember being that annoying when I was little.

“Okay, go press a button!” his mom said, exasperatedly.

Right away, his tears turned off, just like a faucet! He skipped over to the magical buttons and pressed number 5. Yay, now we can all move on with our lives!

He giggled and pressed another, then another.

Okay kid, that’s enough! Buttons aren’t that fascinating.

Then he just ran his hands over all of the damn buttons and skipped back next to his mom.

Suddenly I was feeling very homicidal . . . see this is why I don’t like kids.

Well, when the doors opened I could just step out and wait for another—and I spoke too soon. This whole mob of business men rushed into the elevator, forcing me up against the cool steel of the wall. Why, this was lovely, only 13 more God damn levels to go! I glared over at the demon child, who only giggled in return.

Kill. Kill. Die. Die.

The doors opened again, and a group of Asians came in, speaking a language I knew nothing of. They must be tourists or something. Heh, I like Asians, but who doesn’t?!

Though, they did make those older business men back up against me! Not only was I starting to feel claustrophobic, but also disgusted! I hated parts of old men touching me in any way! I was probably making a big deal out of nothing, but who doesn’t like their space?! This guy right in front of me was seriously popping the personal space bubble.

And—oh God, who is stepping on my foot and not bothering to move it?!

The doors opened again, but nobody else came in. I don’t see how there would be any room, but I imagine they wouldn’t have cared. The doors stayed opened, and I was beginning to wonder why in the hell no one was pressing the button to close the damn doors!!

How many more levels now? Oh, 11 . . .

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Note to self:

Never go into elevators with children again! The little hell spawns!

Anyway, I finally made it to the 18th floor, so now I just had to find room 1180 and let the awkward family bonding begin. I really wasn’t looking forward to this, and why the hell does this hall way have to be so long?!

You know, it still wasn’t too late for me to catch that bus back to Tacoma. They didn’t even know I was here yet. But I didn’t really want to take the chance of running into a kid with a button obsession in the elevator again.

“Hey!”

Uh, was that guy talking to me? I looked around, confused at who this dude was talking to. And—why the hell is he running over here? What does he think he’s—

“Gabieeeee!!” he shouted, jumping on me, causing us to fall on the floor.

Okay, what the hell?! First I have to deal with annoying children and now there’s some emo kid lying on top of me, calling me Gabie.

“And you are?” I asked breathlessly, due to him crushing my air supply.

He looked completely offended, as if I should know who the hell he is.

“Are you kidding?” he asked.

“Uh, no! Now would you kindly get the fuck off me?” I said, giving him a little push and standing up.

Emo boy pouted and crossed his arms. “How can you not remember your own cousin?!”

What the flying fuck?! He’s my cousin?! Well how in the hell am I supposed to remember him? The last time I saw him I was, what, 7? 8? I don’t even know! And it’s not like I could have recognized him anyway! He was extremely emo, his hair was black with streaks of red with the bangs swept over the left eye and spiked in the back. He wore eyeliner and had snakebites. I didn’t know someone that shares my blood was capable of being so emo.

He stood and brushed off invisible dust from his freakishly skinny jeans. They must be girl pants . . .

“Well, it has been a while since we’ve seen each other, so I forgive you! Come on, my mom is waiting!” he linked his arm with mine, grabbing my precious bags and prancing over to the door he had left open before he attacked me.

“Mama, he’s here!” he said closing the door behind him.

My first impression of their house? Abso-fucking-lutely amazing!! The living room was good sized, with two white couches and a matching coffee table in front of the equally amazing view of the city. The floor was a dark marble and there was a grand piano off to the side. The kitchen was separated by a wall that served as a bar table with a few stools in front. They had the biggest TV I’ve ever seen in my life and a PS3 hooked up to it. The lucky little bastard!

So basically, their house was a million times better than my dinky little one-story out in the suburbs of Tacoma. And I had only seen their living room/kitchen.

“Oh my God, Gabriel, I haven’t seen you in such a long time!” Harriet said, wrapping her arms around me in a suffocating embrace. I didn’t really know what to do, since I hadn’t seen her in years. It felt weird hugging someone you haven’t seen much since childhood.

I was glad she released me before I lost consciousness.

“Aw, I remember when you were this big!” she said, using her hand to measure how tall I used to be. Which, according to her was just above her ankle . . .

“Where does time go?” she asked, rhetorically.

My Aunt Harriet still looked pretty young, especially for being 40. Her hair was long and dark, and she had it in a low pony tail draped over her shoulder. She had nicely tan skin, the complete opposite of my mom. It was weird that they were full sisters. Her eyes were a unique shade of dark green, and I didn’t even see one wrinkle on her face! My mom was constantly freaking out about aging, and I never told her that she indeed, had wrinkles. But despite that my mom looked pretty young too, just not as young as Harriet, though I’d never tell her that.

“Frankie, why don’t you take Gabriel’s things to the guest room?” Harriet asked.

“Okay, mama!” Frankie sang happily as he pranced down the hall.

Yeah, I think my gaydar is about to break.

Harriet turned to me smiling. “Frankie was so glad that you agreed to come spend summer with us.”

Agreed? No—more like forced.

“Yeah . . . I thought it’d be nice to see you guys again.” I guess that was almost, kind of, sort of true.

“We’ve really wanted to see you too! But it was hard because Thomas had to move around for the military, so we were traveling with him for a while. But I couldn’t do that anymore, I just had to come back to Washington. You might think it sounds crazy, but I missed the cold rainy weather we get here.” She laughed, and I forced one too.

Yes, I did think it was crazy! I hate the rain! I’d gladly live anywhere but here!

Frankie came skipping back down the hall. “Gabie, I want to introduce you to my friends!” he said, giddily as he draped an arm around my shoulder.

Ugh . . . if they were as emo as him, I think I’ll pass.

“Well Frankie, don’t you think that can wait? He just got here.”

Yes! It can wait!

“But I already told them he was here!” he whined.

Harriet crossed her arms. “Okay, why don’t you just invite them over here then?”

Damn!

“Nathan is already on his way . . .”

“Uh oh . . . you might want to distance your boyfriend from Gabriel, he might like him a little too much.”

What?! Boyfriend?! Well, it’s not like I wasn’t suspecting it, but to hear Harriet actually say it was just . . . I don’t know! But she was seriously okay with her only son being a queer?!

Frankie rolled his eyes. “Nathan is not my boyfriend, mama! He’s my best friend!”

She shrugged, “well you know how he is around cute boys.”

Oh God . . . please don’t let this gay boy do anything to me. I must have been noticeably tense, because Harriet put a hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t worry, he’s not that bad. He doesn’t hit on straight boys.”

I felt a pinch of relief, until the doorbell rang.

“That must be him!” Frankie said, rushing to the door.

I waited for another emo, eyeliner wearing, girl pants stealing kid to come through the door, but I was actually surprised. Nathan wasn’t emo at all! He was a Hollister and Abercrombie type guy, though you could tell he was gay. His hair was sandy blonde and kind of shaggy and he had tan skin and light brown eyes. He even had a sliver stud in the middle of his lip. It was weird that he was friends with Frankie! Best friends!

“Nathan, this is my cousin Gabriel! Isn’t he a cutie?” Frankie gushed.

Eh, dude, you’re my cousin . . . cousins don’t call each other cute.

“Cute? He’s gorgeous!”

Guy . . . complimenting . . . me . . . no!

Harriet giggled and I felt my eye twitch for the second time that day. Frankie rolled his eyes again.

“Mamaaaa!” he said, crossing his arms like a stubborn child.

“Oh! Right, sorry! I’ll be in my room, watching Lifetime!”

Nathan gasped, “I love that channel!”

Oh God! Harriet, please don’t leave me alone with them! What if they . . . do something?!

Harriet just smiled. “Well, you all have fun.” And then she was gone . . . and I was alone . . . with them. God help me.

“Is your hair naturally that dark?!” Nathan asked, stoking my hair!

No touching! “Yeah, it is.” I said, taking a step back.

“That’s so weird, because your skin is like . . . so pale!” he said this as if it were the most unbelievable thing in the world.

“Uh, yeah?” Why the hell was he staring at me like that? It made me very uncomfortable.

“I know, his skin is like porcelain! How do you keep it so clear? What do you use?!” Frankie asked.

“Uh . . . I don’t know, skin stuff?”

Nathan laughed and I wondered why the fuck that was so funny.

“Frankie, he’s so cute. Too bad he’s straight.” He winked at me and I almost retched.

Frankie smirked, “Naw—I guarantee by the end of summer, I will have him completely de-heteroed!”

De-heteroed?! What the fuck?! Suddenly I was scared shitless.

He once again draped his queer little arm around me, and I wanted to dabble it off with disinfectant spray.

“This summer will be the best you ever had, Gabie.”

Okay, now I know staying here would be like going to hell, realizing Satan is gay, then getting anally raped for eternity. Oh God—I just made myself retch.

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A/N: xD

Please R&R and tell me what you think. I have lovely pictures of Gabriel and Frankie on my profile if you are interested : )