𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔹𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕣𝕤

𝕤𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕪-𝕗𝕚𝕧𝕖

I don't think there was a single day of summer vacation where I wasn't doing something with the people I love. Whether it was going to the beach with my friends, game nights with Medda, Charlie, Jack, Davey, and Les, or watching the sunset with Spot and Albert, I was always doing something. Which is good, I hate being bored.

The summer went by so fast, and it was amazing. l became even closer to my friend group, and they showed me their favorite places to go during the summer. We helped Les figure out his true identity, and you could see the weight being lifted off his shoulders once we covered the term "bisexual." We offered Sarah the opportunity to move in with us, along with her brothers, but she denied since she'll be going off to college soon anyway.

But soon, August came back around. Jack, Davey, Sarah, all of my friends that were going off to college we're going to move into their dorms. I didn't want them to go, which sounds selfish of me, but it's true. Especially Jack. I think back to when he first gave me a tour around the house. I tried so hard to avoid Medda, Jack, and Charlie. Now, I wish I had spent more time with them.

The night before he leaves, Jack takes me up to the roof.

"Remember when you first came," He started. "and you found me painting up here?" I nod. "You started ranting about space condoms or something like that." We both chuckle at that. "Well, I wanted to give something to you." He reaches behind him and pulls out a canvas. It's a beautiful scene of the stars.

It's the painting that he was working on that night. I throw him into a hug, tears spilling down my face.

"I don't want you to go..."

"I know, Toni, I know." He rubs circles on my back. "I won't be far, right? You can always text me or call me. And don't think that I'm not gonna visit you." He pulls away, wiping tears from my cheeks. "Hell, I'm not even an hour away. I'll probably come home to visit every damn weekend." I nod.

That night, I hung the painting on my wall, right over my bed.

The next day, as I watch Jack put his final suitcase in his car, I begin to tear up again. Nothing in the world could've prepared me for how I was feeling right now. Instead of getting in the car and driving off, he comes over to us. He wants to get some final words in.

He starts with Charlie, then Les, then Medda, and then he comes to me.

"Antonio," I choke back a sob. He rarely calls me my full name. "God, what do I even say? We've only known each other for about a year and a half, but I think we've grown closer than ever. I mean, I can talk to you about anything." He ruffles my hair with a soft smile. "Remember when I first ranted to you about my feelings for Davey?" I nod, remembering that dumb grin on his face. He gives me a whole speech before moving onto Davey.

And it was heartbreaking to watch them say their final goodbyes.

As much as they wanted to linger, they had to leave soon. We had to stop Les from jumping in the passenger seat of Davey's car. I notice Jack taking a few deep breaths, looking at the house in front of him. The place where he made so many memories. The place he spent so many years of his life in. I can see a single tear fall down his face as he pulls out of the driveway, Davey right behind him. The four of us wave the two boys goodbye with tears in our eyes. We stand there until we can no longer see their cars. As soon as they're gone, we all get together in a warm embrace.