One Voice 02 - Here Without You by Mia Kerick

Author:Mia Kerick [Kerick, Mia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2015-01-21T00:00:00+00:00

WE TOOK Nate to breakfast at the student cafeteria, where we met up with Anna and Claire. Nate seemed to be more relaxed in their presence than last time, and I was also becoming more and more relaxed with them. They didn’t seem like “regular” young women, or at all like the stereotype I had developed of them during my years at Benjamin Franklin High School. They were more like real people to me, like my mom, my sisters, and Nate’s sister, Cindy, when she was on good behavior.

“Nate, I was thinking about you the other day when I saw this amazing mixed-breed puppy—lab and golden retriever, I think. A student was walking her in the quad.” Claire seemed eager to talk to Nate.

“And let me tell you, Claire was all over that puppy as soon as the owner said it was okay to pat her. I couldn’t separate her from little Beyoncé for maybe thirty minutes,” Anna chimed in.

“Beyoncé? The student named the dog Beyoncé?” I had to laugh and wonder what the real Beyoncé would think of that.

“Yeah,” Claire replied. “The dog’s owner is a big fan.”

We all ate our bacon, egg, and cheese bagel sandwiches, which were on special, and talked about puppies, movies, and favorite flavors of ice cream. Nothing heavy, and that was just perfect.

“So, how long are you staying? Monday’s a holiday, but Tuesday is One Voice’s big event—the National Coming Out Day rally in the quad. Is there any way you can stay for it?” Claire seemed to really like Nate.

But at her question, Nate’s eyes got wide, and he immediately shook his head. “Uh… no. That ain’t a possibility.”

“Why not? Do you have to work?”

Nate had already informed Zander and me that he didn’t have to work until Tuesday night, but still he nodded.

“Can’t you call in sick?” Claire apparently had a persistent side.

So I stepped in to rescue him. “He can’t miss a single day of work. They give him most weekends off, so they expect him to have excellent attendance on weekdays.”

Claire nodded sympathetically, but none of us missed the way Zander hung his head in apparent disappointment. And I didn’t miss that Nate stared at him, taking in Zander’s crestfallen posture.

“There will be other events I’m sure you’ll be able to attend,” Anna offered by way of consolation.

Zander kept his eyes fixed on the floor, and Nate kept his eyes fixed on Zander.

“Um… these bagel sandwiches sure are good. How about if we go get you another one, Nate? You’re so big—you must need two.” Claire stood up and snagged Nate by the sleeve. “Come on.” She dragged him toward the service counter, in an effort to snap him out of his unhappy trance.

I reached for Zander and squeezed his knee. I didn’t need to say that Nate would stay here for the rally if he could. We both knew it.

He lifted his shoulders and said in a low tone, “Yeah, I know.” Then he got up and headed to the men’s room.

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