Follow Carmen, a young and deeply closeted gay teenager as he navigates the 1980's and 1990's yearning for love and trying to find where he fits in.
This story is rated M because it contains elements of death (including children), homophobia, religi...
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Troy and I went out to get something to eat. My truck was still broken so we took his car, but he insisted that I drive because I knew my way around the city. We went to the Harvey's and got some burgers, then went on a short sight seeing drive through Dartmouth. I decided I owed him this much, since all he had seen of Dartmouth before was the seedy parts. We went for a little walk along the waterfront, then returned to my apartment, where I immediately logged in to IRC again.
Within seconds I started getting messages of congratulations. How could everyone have known already? Gerry was online too, and messaged me:
Ger-Bear: Congratulations, Carmen. I'm really happy for you.
Asterixx: Thanks. But how does everyone know?
Ger-Bear: Look at the channel topic.
Asterixx: /topic #gay_halifax
Server Message: #gay_halifax topic "Sorry, girls, Asterixx is now off the market"
Server Message: #gay_halifax topic was set by ^James at 12:45 PM Saturday July 10 1999
Asterixx: Oh, for God's sake. I'll kill him.
Asterixx: /topic #hay_halifax [^James is a twat]
Server notice: Asterixx has changed the channel topic to ^James is a Twat
Asterixx: There, that fixes that. And thanks, Gerry. I'm really happy. Troy is actually here right now.
Ger-Bear: Hi Troy!
Asterixx: He says Hi
Just then I got a private message notification from James.
^James: Hey! What's with that channel topic? You wound me!"
Asterixx: /slap ^James
Server Message: Asterixx slaps ^James around a bit with a large trout
^James: Ok, I guess I deserved that. So, what are you doing tonight?
Asterixx: Haven't decided. Troy is here
^James: Really? He must have it bad for you.
Asterixx: Like, right here. He just read what you typed.
^James: Hi Troy. So you must really have it bad for Carmen
Asterixx: *readies another trout
^James: LOL, enough with the trout! Anyway, why don't you come out with me and Derrick?
I looked at Troy. "I'd love to go out", he said. "It's been a while since I've been to the bar on a Saturday night."
