Page 120 of Pride High

“And you want me alone?”

“Yup. So I can give you this.” Anthony pulled out the mixtape and handed it to him. “It’s a very late birthday present.”

“Oh, nice!” Cameron said, turning it over and reading the silly little things he wrote. “I take it this is the sort of music I should be listening to?”

“No. Well, yes. But that’s not how I chose the songs. Each one makes me think of you.”

“Really?” Cameron slowed so he could open it and see the track listing. “Some of these are my bands!”

“Yeah. You have good taste. And even when you don’t, it still makes me think of you.”

“Wow, even Richard Marx is on there,” Cameron said with a laugh. “Thanks. I can’t wait to listen to it.” He pocketed the tape and turned a lopsided smile on him. “You were in my thoughts as well.”

“Before I showed up?”

“Yeah.”

Anthony nudged him with his shoulder. “Were you doing anything else while thinking about me?”

“No,” Cameron said with a dry chuckle. “But I have before.”

That was thrilling! So far they had kissed a bunch, but neither one of them had dared to take it any further. They hadn’t even discussed the possibility.

“I wasn’t in the mood tonight,” Cameron continued. “Just before I came home from school, I had an awkward conversation with Keisha Hart. She wanted to know—or actually, was asked to find out—if I’m interested in Mindy.”

“My former fiancée?”

“One and the same.”

Anthony digested this news. “Mindy has uncanny gaydar.”

“She has a type, it seems.” Cameron sounded exasperated. “She’s coming with us tomorrow. And bringing Whitney, so it’s definitely not a date. But she’s interested. That’s why I think we should come out.”

Anthony stared at him in shock. “Come out to who?”

“Our friends,” Cameron said. “The people we can trust. Maybe even our families, so we don’t have to keep this a secret anymore.”

Anthony exhaled while considering the possibility and began to feel anxious. “What’s the rush?”

“People are starting to notice that we never date anyone. And they’re getting suspicious.”

“Why? I bet most sophomores have never been on a date.”

“Yeah, but when you’re a guy, and there are multiple girls who are interested… Silvia was hinting that she likes you, right?”

“Who knows,” Anthony said, preferring not to think about it. “And Ihavebeen on a date with a girl. Hey, that’s what you should do!”

“What?” Cameron asked. “You want me to go out with Mindy?”

“Not for real. Just be a total bore like I was and she’ll lose interest.”

Cameron was already shaking his head. “That doesn’t seem fair to her.”

“We had fun,” Anthony countered. “I wasn’tusingher. It wasn’t even my choice. But we tried anyway, and the chemistry wasn’t there. It’ll be the same with you.”

Cameron was quiet as they continued walking.

“I don’t actually want you to go out with anyone else,” Anthony said. “I’d rather make it official.”

---