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“Okay.” Cameron started walking in that direction while staying focused on him. “I’m friends with Anthony. I figure that already explains a lot.”

“Not really. How come you never talk to me anymore? Your profile says you haven’t been on Side Streets for weeks.”

“I haven’t had much free time,” Cameron said. “I stay late almost every day for theater.”

“Okay, but why do you always ignore me?”

“Because of Anthony.” Cameron watched his reaction to this, as if wanting to see if he understood. “We were both surprised to learn that we go to the same school, right?”

Ricky nodded. “Yes.”

“That changed everything, because I realized that we know some of the same people. And when you’re still in the closet…”

“I wouldn’t have told him,” Ricky said. “I can keep a secret. None of them know about me.”

“Good,” Cameron said. “I wasn’t sure. You haven’t always been honest with me.”

“Because of my parents’ dumb rules!”

“I know,” Cameron said. “That wasn’t your fault, but it made everything more complicated.”

“It doesn’t have to be. Not anymore. If I was going to tell people about you, I would’ve already. You can trust me.”

“I believe you,” Cameron said with a nod.

Ricky’s pulse picked up. He waited until they had passed a group of students before saying, “Then we can try again?”

Cameron was quiet. Not a good sign.

“This is my class,” Ricky said, stopping near the door.

Cameron turned to face him. “I’d like to get to know you better,” he said, “but only as friends. I’m not looking to date anyone new at the moment.”

“I can wait,” Ricky said. “We would be great. I know it.”

“We haven’t spent much time together.”

“Whose fault is that?” Ricky said playfully. Standing this close to Cameron brought back how good it had felt to chat with him. Like a lifeline out of the lonely confusion his life had become since moving here. Not to mention that he was incredibly attractive. There were hotter guys in the school, for sure, but Cameron was different. Not simply because he was gay and available. Ricky had felt a connection to him when chatting online. He hadn’t even known what Cameron looked like then, but the chemistry between them was undeniable. Or so he’d thought. “I really like you. I hate that I messed things up.”

“I like you too,” Cameron said. “But we need to get to know each other better. As friends.”

“Is it because you don’t find me attractive?”

Cameron’s cheeks flushed. He was even handsomer when he blushed. After glancing around, he leaned forward. “I think you’re cute. So it’s not that, I promise.”

“Do you want to meet on the BBS tonight?” Ricky suggested.

“I’m taking a break from chat rooms,” Cameron said. “I’ve realized how confusing they can make things. I’ll come sit with you guys at lunch more often. We can get to know each other that way. No expectations though. Like I said, I’m not looking to date anyone new.” He checked his watch. “Gotta run or I’ll be tardy. I’m glad we finally got a chance to talk.”

“Yeah,” Ricky said. “You’ve turned my day around.” And he meant it, because now he knew they still had potential. Even if Cameron wasn’t interested in dating, they could mess around together. Although he hoped it would become much more than that. Ricky needed a friend, but a boyfriend would be even better.

— ——

Anthony glanced over at his best friend. They hadn’t spent a Saturday together like this in a month, if not longer. Which was crazy, because it used to be a given that the weekend belonged to them. Maybe now things would get back to normal. Although he was starting to have his doubts. Currently they were in Omar’s room playing Mario Kart, which usually involved trash-talking each other. That was impossible at the moment. The television volume had been turned all the way down so they could listen to music. Omar was the DJ, and he was hellbent on playing nothing but heavy metal with the volume cranked up super high. His parents had already knocked on the door—twice—to complain.

So far Anthony had suffered through Megadeth’s latest album, a mixtape of Metallica’s greatest hits, and worst of all, a scuzzy rock group called Skid Row. Neither GWAR nor Mr. Bungle—two bands that Silvia had turned him onto—were invited to take the stage. That was a definite theme, like Omar wanted to reassert his tastes prior to meeting her. Anthony approved, although his friend was far from over it, judging from the way he turned up the volume even higher when a song called ‘I Don’t Believe in Love’ began to play.

A minute later, the door to his bedroom swung open. This time it was his grandma. Mamani fixed a stern expression on Omar and didn’t say a word until he turned the volume all the way down. Then she merely sniffed in satisfaction and closed the door again.