Page 57 of Pride High 3: Yellow

Anthony couldn’t wait any longer. His jaw dropped as he read the information printed on the tickets. “Nirvana?” he asked in disbelief.

Cameron squirmed. “I know they don’t make your regular rotation or anything…”

“Hey, I listen to them more than you realize. Nirvana is undeniably good! I just try to hide my appreciation for them because I’m a snob.”

“You’re not,” Cameron said, still appearing vulnerable. “You’re wonderful.”

“These tickets are wonderful!” Anthony said, holding them up. “My first concert is going to be Nirvana! And we get to see them in downtown Kansas City at Memorial Hall? That’s about as cool as it gets!”

Cameron perked up. “Really?”

“Yes!” Anthony said with a laugh. “Thank you.”

“I’m so relieved! I had to stand in line for hours to get those.”

“Totally worth it. Now we have something to look forward to.” The concert wasn’t until October, but that was okay. Anthony would use the opportunity to delve into Nirvana’s music, so he was prepared.

“It doesn’t have to be us,” Cameron said. “If you’d rather go with Silvia, because you both like music so much, then that’s fine. Or with Omar, since he’s your best friend.”

“That’s very generous of you,” Anthony said, leaning closer, “but I’d much rather go with my boyfriend.”

Cameron smiled bashfully before kissing him.

Anthony pulled back and glanced at the backseat again. “Wanna get out of here?” he suggested.

“What about your party?” Cameron asked.

“Right, right,” Anthony said casually. “Although youwillneed a ride home later. And it is my birthday.”

Cameron laughed. “Okay,” he said bravely. “Count on it.”

— — —

Silvia didn’t dislike dancing exactly. But as someone who had spent her life avoiding notice, her first instinct wasn’t to boogie in public spaces. Not like her boyfriend did. Omar was never very inhibited, and it really paid off in situations like these, because he was quite the dancer. And he always made her feel like she was doing well, grinning at her nonstop as if she were the belle of the ball. He certainly wasn’t looking anywhere else.

“Damn,” Omar said as another song ended. He tugged on the front of the black thermal shirt he wore to let more air in. “This is some high energy stuff! I’m gonna switch to a T-shirt. Wanna come with?”

“To your house?” she asked in confusion.

“Nah. I always leave stuff here when staying the night. Anthony practically collects it. He’s bound to have an old shirt of mine in his room.”

She followed him upstairs, grateful for a quiet moment together. Especially with her family’s future so uncertain. If they did move, such opportunities would be rare, if they happened at all.

“Ever been in here?” Omar asked as they entered Anthony’s bedroom.

“Yeah. We’ve hung out a couple times.”

“Is it wrong that I’m jealous? I mean, I know he’s gay, but that’s time we could have spent together instead.”

“No, that’s not weird,” she said, since it echoed her own thoughts. In more than one way. “I felt a little jealous recently.”

“Oh yeah?” Omar asked before ducking into a closet. “How come?”

She waited until he reappeared, wanting to see his face. And his bare chest, as it turned out, since he’d taken off his shirt and found another that he hadn’t put on yet. He had a nice body. From all the skateboarding, she assumed. Silvia wasn’t the only person who had noticed.

“Faith Song,” she said, watching him closely for a reaction.

Omar didn’t seem startled, as if he’d been caught. Instead he groaned. “Yeah, I think she has a thing for me. Wait, who told you about that?”