It wasn't long before guests filled the house. It seemed like everyone with whom I'd ever had any kind of connection came to wish me farewell. That got me emotional. To think that any of them cared enough to show up for me.
Although not everyone was there for me. Mr. Hill's appearance surprised me more than anyone. I invited Derek's parents, but I really didn't expect them to come. Mrs. Hill was not with him, though.
Mr. Hill found Derek and pulled him off to the side.
I wanted to pay attention in case Derek needed an escape strategy. But Mr. and Mrs. Meeks found me, and I couldn't be rude to them. Mrs. Meeks held a Tupperware container filled with my favorite cookies. "I made these with extra chocolate chips, just like you like them." She gave me a hug. "I'm going to miss you, sweetheart."
I pulled away and looked between them. "I'll miss you both so much. You guys have been like my own grandparents."
"We feel the same way." Mrs. Meeks rubbed my cheek. "You're so grown up."
Mr. Meeks reached into his coat and pulled out an envelope. "That's for you."
I pushed at his hand, trying to refuse it, shaking my head. "You don't have to give me anything."
"It's for an emergency fund. Never know what you'll run into in a new place."
"I can't accept that."
"Just think of it as severance pay." Mr. Meeks put the envelope into my hand and folded my fingers over it. "You've been the best employee we could've asked for, Steven. I doubt we'll find another like you."
"Thank you." I hugged them both, trying not to cry.
Once I got away, I checked on Derek. Things with his dad seemed to be winding down. Derek smiled, nodded, and hugged his father. Now that really made me want to cry.
Mr. Hill left as soon as he and Derek parted. Derek rushed over to me and threw his arms around me, squeezing way too tight. "Your plan worked."
He lost me with that. I pulled back to look him in the eye. "What plan?"
"Last night, I told my dad that if I didn't see progress in my music career in a year's time, I'd go back and finish school. I didn't mean a word of it, obviously, but it got to him. He said he was proud of me for being pragmatic about this. And he agreed that this was a fantastic opportunity. He even told me I'm a good singer and I show promise, which he's never done before."
"That's amazing, D." I said. "Do you think your mom will ever come around?"
"Maybe after my first album goes platinum."
"I mean, how could it not? With a name like Roadkill On The Mind. That just screams instant hit-makers."
Derek slugged my chest. "Now you're just being a dick."
"I'm just keeping you humble." I clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Your ego is already out of hand. Somebody's gotta make sure you stay grounded. Who better than your best friend?"
"I think this calls for a celebration."
"Isn't that what this is?" I waved my hand around the room.
"I was thinking more along the lines of me and Brittany back at her place sans clothing. Do you mind if I cut out early?"
"Go ahead." I hugged him. "I'm really happy for you."
"I'm happy for you, too, dude. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy."
"Back at ya."
After Derek ran off, Michael and Terrence approached me. They each offered me a hug.
"We can't believe you're leaving." Michael said.
"But we get it." Terrence added. He glanced over at Elian. "No one could blame you for following a man like that across the country."
"Terrence!" Michael nudged him.
"Michael!" Terrence replied, mimicking Michael's outrage.
"I feel like I should confess something to you guys." I said.
"Ooh!" Terrence clapped his hands together. "I love a good reveal."
Michael rolled his eyes. Now that I wasn't idealizing them, they seemed less robotic, more real. I knew they loved each other, anyone could see that, but it was nice to see them get annoyed by one another. It showed that they were actual people. They weren't some mythic gay standard that I had to achieve. They were just two men who happened to be in love.
I picked at my nails, surely chipping the polish I'd just put on earlier that day. "I kind of hated you guys. For, like, a really long time."
Michael and Terrence shared a concerned look. Terrence spoke up first. "Did we do something to upset you? Michael can be a little curt sometimes, but he means well."
"And you don't respect personal space." Michael fired back. "Just because someone greets you, that doesn't mean they want a hug."
"No. Please, don't fight." I shook my head. "It wasn't really you. Either of you."
They shared a look and laughed. Terrence laid a hand on my shoulder. "Sweetheart, you think that's a fight?"
"That's just the way we are, Steven." Michael said. "We bicker. It's our thing. We've been doing it since high school."
"I've never noticed before."
"Really?" they chorused. Both of them seemed surprised.
"I always saw you as like one person, split into two bodies. A perfect couple with no problems."
This made them laugh again.
"That's why I hated you." I said. "You guys had everything I wanted."
"Aw," they both said. So, they may not have a mind meld, but they certainly had impeccable timing.
They pulled me into a group hug. Terrence said, "You are just the sweetest guy, Steven."
"We're really going to miss you." Michael added.
I pulled away and took a deep breath. It surprised me to realize that I was going to miss them, too. Whether they knew it or not, they were a huge part of my life. "I'll try to get back for next year's barbecue."
"We'll save a seat for you and that sexy man of yours." Terrence patted my shoulder.
"Terrence." Michael sounded exasperated with his boyfriend.
"I think you need to eat, honey. You're extra grumpy today." Terrence slipped his arm through Michael's and steered him toward the food.
I looked over at Elian, talking to Mom and Cathy. As if sensing my gaze, his eyes found mine across the crowded room. He smiled.
Elian excused himself and walked over to put an arm around my waist, giving my cheek a kiss. "You seem happy, baby."
"I am." I leaned my head against his, watching everyone I knew enjoying themselves. Even Carl showed up with his girlfriend. He made a crack when he arrived, about having to work more hours now that I was leaving them in the lurch. I think I would even miss him and his shameless identity fraud.
"I can't wait to get you home so I can show you off to all of my friends. They're going to love you." Elian hugged me tighter. "Maybe we could even stop off in Houston, and I can introduce my family to the man I love."
"I'd like that." I smiled at him and gave him a brief kiss.
I couldn't believe how much my entire life had changed in a matter of weeks.
I had so many firsts this summer. My first real kiss. My first date. My first lover, who became my first boyfriend, and ultimately my first love. Now I was about to leave home for the first time, setting out on my ownâthough not alone, since I had Elian by my side, to support me and make me feel brave.
The one first that I didn't have that I expected more than some of the others was my first heartbreak. I knew going into this that Elian wouldn't be here forever; I thought it was just a summer fling that would play itself out. The most I expected to get out of this were some wonderful memories I could cherish for the rest of my life. I waited for the heartbreak to come, but it never did. We stayed strong, our affection continuing to grow.
Even for the days to come, I had faith in it. In us. Maybe sometimes a first love could last.
This wasn't the end for us, we had so much left in store, and I looked forward to a whole new set of firsts to explore with Elian at my side.
But that's a story for another time.
A/N: I can't believe I actually completed another one! After I finished writing Milo & Judah, I really struggled to find another idea that really grabbed my attention. I started and stopped about five different stories, but none of them got me excited to keep going until this popped into my head one day back in mid-April. This is the first time I've posted a story in first person, so I was really nervous about that. I really did try to change it into third person a couple times, but ultimately Steven kind of made that decision for me, because I kept hearing everything in his voice with his commentary. Once I accepted that, it kind of just came to me. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading Steven and Elian's story as much as I enjoyed writing it. I want to thank everyone who's read this. I can't say it enough. I'm truly grateful for each and every one of you.