about face

Roger wasn't sure what to expect the next day. He wasn't even sure he wanted to go to school. It was all so discouraging.

He'd felt so empowered going to that meeting. Of course, he wasn't so sure how motivated Cory was afterwards. But it was so refreshing and exhilarating. He felt good about so many things. He was gay and proud.

But then to be practically bullied by a pastor out in the cold handing out flyers that said Jesus hated gays. It was cut throat. Roger had been furious, especially, when this old dude poked him in the chest with his finger, spouting off scriptures that he was definitely in the wrong. It just wasn't right.

And it had all been caught in a photograph for the city paper. Front page news for their little mid-west town. It didn't really matter if he had his picture taken or not, but the fact that Cory had been there trying to break up the argument really bothered Roger now. It was such a defining moment. Crazy and spontaneous. And yeah, Roger had tossed out a few F words in the process and even told the reporter that Cory was his boyfriend.

He wasn't sure he even wanted to go to school now. Everyone would know about Cory. Only he'd felt so proud at the time talking about Cory, and now he felt like a stupid punk who didn't know any better.

What had he done? Would Cory even speak to him? What if he made things worse and he'd be bullied all the time then?.

Finally his doorbell rang. It was a relief to find out it was only Cory.

"Are you OK?" Roger let him in.

"I think so." Cory nodded.

"Have you seen the paper?"

"Oh yeah," Cory nodded. Roger guessed his mother knew.

"Is your Mom OK?" Roger cringed. This was not the way he wanted her to find out.

"She's OK. I guess. I don't know, she's just afraid for me, you know." Cory shrugged.

"I totally should not have done that," Roger shook his head. "I don't know what I was thinking. I'm sorry. And I understand if you want to break up with me."

"We never were officially going out, were we?" Cory winced.

Roger felt a lump lodged in his throat then.

"I guess not." Roger didn't know what else to say.

Cory took Roger's skully then off his head and he handed him over his scarf.

"Its official now." Cory smiled, "Plus our picture is in the paper. That has to count for something."