Apples to Oranges (10 page)
Authors: Xondra Day
Mike smirked. “I bet. Where is Jace, anyway?” They stood in the
school’s parking lot and around them people were leaving. Mike’s parents had
already left to go home and
Jace stopped to talk to some classmates.
“He’s back there chatting to some people. You can go on ahead
and do whatever it is that you’re doing. I’ll wait for him.”
“Sure thing. I guess I’ll see you both when I see you. Have
fun.”
****
Jace felt damned good. For once his life was moving in the right
direction. He’d finally finished school and soon enough he’d start a new
chapter in his life, plus his relationship with
longer felt the need to hide so much.
From behind him a voice called his name and when Jace turned in
the almost empty corridor just outside the gymnasium, he saw
“I wanted to speak to you one-on-one,”
kinda did, but that’s not what I mean.”
“It’s okay,” Jace said. “I know what you’re saying. You looked
good today and just think, no more high school.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be strange not coming back here in the
fall. Life goes on. So, anyway, I just wanted to wish you all the best for the
future. I know you’re with that guy, Brandon, and you don’t have to say
anything. You deserve to be happy. You’re a great guy.”
Jace was a little taken aback, but
do in life, because you’re motivated and grounded.”
should go…my parents are waiting for me outside. I gave them some lame excuse
about having to fetch a book from my locker.”
and squeezed Jace’s shoulder. “I’ll see you around.”
Jace’s mother had already left for home when he explained that
he wanted to stick around to be with friends. Her depression has lessened over
the past month and she was finally getting back into living life. Earlier that
day they’d had a moment, but it was all good and a part of healing.
“Your dad’s proud today,” she’d said. “I know that he’s here
with us and when you walk across that stage to accept your diploma, he’ll be
watching.”
The sentiment made him tear up, but he refused to give into his
emotions. He loved his dad and it hurt not having him there in body, but there
was comfort in knowing that he was there in spirit.
“I’m sure he is. We should get going,” he responded, changing
the topic before things became too heavy. “The ceremony starts in an hour and
we still have to drive there.”
Jace rehashed the conversation in his head and thought about his
dad. He hoped that wherever he was, his dad was at peace.
“There you are. I was waiting for you outside.”
Jace smiled at
“I’m ready to go now.”
“Is there anything wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing. I was thinking about my dad and wishing that
he could be here today.” There was no point in telling
“You still miss him, eh?”
“I do and always will. It’s lessened a bit, but it’s times like
this when I really start thinking about him.”
“That’s totally understandable. You’ve got a big heart, Jace.
You care about others and it shows. You’re something special.”
he questioned. While Mike did know about them, they were hardly out.
“Fuck ‘em,”
give a shit?”
“Point taken and you make a fine one.”
“You know how I feel about you, and I no longer see it as being
wrong. What we have is real and we shouldn’t be ashamed of it. I’ve hidden my
true self for so long that it became normal for me.”
“You’re strong. From the first moment we met I knew there was
more to you than that rough exterior. It makes me smile when I think about it,”
Jace admitted.
“And it was you that brought me out of that shell, that wall
that I’d built around myself to keep everyone out,” Brandon continued. “If you
hadn’t come into my life, I don’t know where I would have ended up.”
Jace looked up and when
real.
The End
Other Books by Xondra Day:
Power Play
Beyond Friends
The Blood Between
Stockings and Suspenders
Under the Boss
Evernight Publishing