Rainbow High by Alex Sanchez

Author:Alex Sanchez [Sanchez, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Social Issues, Dating & Sex, Social Science, Gay, Juvenile Fiction, Homosexuality, Fiction, Gay Studies
ISBN: 9781439115374
Google: -kqVHadEr88C
Amazon: 0689854781
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2004-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

chapter 13

jason nelson kyle

After school Nelson’s friend Amy dropped him off at the mal ’s music store. He wanted to buy Jeremy a CD—to help smooth things over when Nelson related his mom’s going mental over the HIV.

He was flipping through country music discs when his cel phone rang, displaying Kyle’s number. “Whoa, dude,” Nelson answered. “Some of these cowboys are severely cute.”

“He did it,” Kyle responded. “Jason came out to the team. He just cal ed to tel me.”

“Omigod!” Nelson shouted, snapping his fingers. “I’ve got to congratulate him. What’s his number?” When Jason answered the phone, Nelson yel ed, “Woo-hoo! Congrats, girl! How’s it feel?”

“Um . . .” Jason gave a nervous laugh. “Okay, I guess.”

They talked for several minutes. Actual y Nelson did most of the talking, until Jason’s cal waiting clicked and he said he had to go.

When Nelson arrived home, his mom had already set the table for dinner. Next to his place setting lay a newspaper clipping headlined: HALF OF

ALL NEW AMERICAN HIV INFECTIONS OCCUR IN YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 13-24.

Slowly Nelson lifted his gaze from the paper. “Mom?” he uttered through clenched teeth. “Are you whacked?”

“Are you?” she retorted, and careful y spread her napkin on her lap.

Not another word passed Nelson’s lips during dinner. Under his breath he swore he’d never speak to her again.

When the phone rang during dessert, Nelson leaped for it, grateful for the distraction. “City Loony Bin.”

“Nelson?” It was his father’s voice. Great. Just what Nelson didn’t need.

“Hold on.” He extended the receiver out to his mom.

“Who is it?” she asked.

Instead of answering, Nelson started clearing the table.

“Hel o?” his mom said, taking the phone. She talked with his dad for a minute, then said, “Nelson! He wants to talk to you.”

“As if,” Nelson replied. Nevertheless, he took the receiver back. “Yeah?”

“Your mother cal ed me about this boy you’re seeing. Why do you have to upset her like this?” As usual, his dad never bothered to ask Nelson’s side of it.

“I’m not doing this to upset her,” Nelson protested.

“Wel ,” his dad retorted, “that’s what you’re doing, whether you mean to or not.”

“Yeah?” Nelson glared at his mom. “Did she also tel you how much she enjoyed meeting him? How she said she thinks he’s ‘wonderful’?

Her exact words. ‘Very mature.’ Thinks he’s going to be very good for me.”

His mom frowned, even though every word he’d said was true.

“She told me the boy’s sick,” Nelson’s dad growled.

“He has HIV,” Nelson corrected. “That doesn’t mean he’s sick. He’s healthier than I am.” His mom crossed her arms, her jaw clenched.

“She wants you to stop going out with him,” his dad insisted. “I want you to listen to her.”

“Like you ever listened to her,” Nelson snapped back. He wasn’t sure what prompted him to say that. Divorce residue, no doubt. He tossed the receiver back to his mom. “I’m going out.

“Going out where?” his mom demanded. “Nelson, wait!”

But he’d already grabbed his jacket and was out the front door, CD in hand.

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