Page 6 of In the Middle of No(ah)where
His response comes instantly.
Caleb:LOL. Is that even a word?
Caleb:I think so 2.
Me:It's when 'bestest' isn't big enough.
Me: Can I ask…how old are you?
Caleb:17. I start my senior year in August. U?
Me:Cool. 18 here. I just graduated.
Caleb:Going to college?
I groan. Of course, Caleb would ask. Everyone does it out of curiosity, and I can't fault him for it. Is he planning on going to college? Perhaps he's seeking some advice.
Me:No. Just working for now.
I leave out the part about needing to look for a place to live soon. He doesn't need to know my family drama. My parents taught me well how to present a perfect image. Who cares that I'm falling apart on the inside.
Caleb:I don't know you well yet, but I'm glad UR sticking around for a bit.
Me:Yeah. Me 2. I need to do some chores around the house. C U in the morning.
Caleb:C U
My brief conversation with Caleb helped me relax a bit. At least I might have a new friend. If nothing else, I have someone to talk to.
I pull up my banking app to check my funds. I'm grateful to my family and neighbors who gave me money for graduation. With what I was able to save over the years, plus graduation funds, I should be okay for a while, especially with my job at Steamed. I can also take on a second job at night if needed.
I can do this. I think.
Waking up my laptop, I lean against the headboard and typeplaces for rent near meinto the search bar. I inhale deeply and let it out slowly as I search the listings of what will hopefully become my new home.
3
Noah
"Noah! Hey!" Kai greets me with a tote bag draped over one shoulder as I pace back and forth on the sidewalk.
"Hey, Kai." I return the greeting and feel my cheeks warm.
"Fancy running into you here. Are you going in?" His tone is hopeful as he motions to the LGBTQ+ center's door with his chin.
I look up and stare at Kai. If I say yes, I potentially out myself as someone interested in age play. The truth is, I have no idea if I'm interested. Right now, I'm curious. The only sure things in my life right now are that I have a new self-proclaimed best friend named Caleb, who is still in high school; my parents have been fighting non-stop all week; and I avoid everyone by hanging out on Purin Island while listening to music through my oversized headphones.
"I'm not sure. I saw the flier on the bulletin board at work and thought I would check it out. You know, expand my horizons a bit. I'm not really sure if it's my thing." I tell him honestly.
"Well, there is no judgment in there, and everyone is great. I've been participating in several youth programs over the past year and have met some wonderful people." He glances around, but we're alone on the sidewalk. "I'm fairly new to age play. I discovered it online about six months ago, and it resonated with me. It's a way for me to escape life right now and the stress of my family. They have put a great deal of pressure on me. I want to attend law school, not medical school, to emulate them. I want tocarve my own path. Did you know my mom actually clutched her pearls when I told her I was deferring my acceptance to Berkeley and taking some classes at the community college? Clutched. Her. Pearls." He says dramatically, laughing as he clutches the collar of his T-shirt.
"No, she didn't." I laugh along with him.
"She totally did." He continues to laugh, and it's a nice sound.
Before I know it, I'm following him into the building.
"How did…you know…you were into this?" I motion around the building as if my question is self-explanatory.
