Billy sat on the single bed in what was now his new bedroom in his grandparent's house. The bed creaked under the strain of his bulk. He tried to assimilate of all that had happened that day.
His mom had just accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 3 years for check fraud. The money wasn't even for the family's needs. It was for Frank, her latest attempt at a boyfriend. She gave the funds to Frank so he could buy his drugs. Billy knew Frank was another in a long line of losers and told her so, but she wouldn't listen to him, again.
He tried to push all that out of his mind and contemplate an immediate future without his mom around. He laid back on the bed and pondered. The first thought that came to him was "David!" He fished through his wallet to check. Yes, he still had his home number. His finger lingered over the last number to complete the call from his grandparent's landline.
David had been Billy's best friend from 9th grade through 12th. Best friend didn't cover it. David was devoted to Billy, as well as to his little brother Nathan and his mom, even buying them groceries when his mom couldn't manage it. When David finally confessed his romantic love for him, Billy had told him that he still wanted David to be his best friend but wasn't sure about anything else. Billy wasn't gay, but did love David as the best friend he had ever had, maybe more. He wasn't sure. When Billy tried to explain all this to his mother, she immediately forbade Billy from having any further contact with David.
Billy gulped and pressed the last digit to start the call. David's mom answered.
"Hi, this is Billy, David's old friend?"
"Yes, I remember you." Her voice sounded stern.
"I was hoping to speak with David."
"He doesn't live here anymore. Your mom called and told us he tried to seduce you."
"It wasn't like that. I swear. He was just honest with me about his feelings, that's all."
"Well, his father really went off on him and David left home with only the clothes on his back."
"Do...do you know how I can contact David?"
"He's probably still working at Burger King on 3rd and University. You could try there. I have no idea otherwise."
Billy ended the call with, "Thank you for your help, ma'am."
Grabbing the phone book, he looked up the number and dialed.
"Thanks for calling Burger King. This is David. How may I help you?"
Billy sounded emotionally overwhelmed, "It's really good to hear your voice again."
"Billy! I can't believe it. I've missed you so much. Does your mom know we're talking?"
"She's out of the picture for a while at least. I'm so sorry for what she did."
"Don't be. I was going to be tossed out no matter how Dad found out. Besides, I'm a Manager now and I have my own little place. I'm doing fine, although it's a little lonely."
"I've got to see you. We need to talk."
"I'm off in...2 hours. Where are you?"
"Nathan and I are staying at Gran and Gramps, for now at least. I'll take the bus and be there when you get off. See you soon."
"Cool. I can't believe were talking again. You made my day, Billy."
The bus's brakes whistled and the doors opened with a hydraulic whoosh. Billy stepped out into the mid-afternoon sun and headed down the block toward the Burger King. He had dressed his best wearing a western wear shirt, his tightest 501's and his newest boots. He glanced down over his barrel chest at his substantial belly and wondered again what had attracted David to him in the first place. No one else, boy or girl, had ever said those 3 magical words to him.
As he entered, he looked for David but couldn't see him. So, he ordered a small Diet Coke and sat near the back of the dining room where he could watch the door to the kitchen. 20 minutes later, David emerged in his white dress shirt and tie with a beaming smile on his face. Billy noticed that David had apparently bulked up his upper body and arms since he had last seen him, augmenting his prior 'swimmer's' build. David now appeared more like a 6' gymnast. David's brown hair was longer and styled in a blow wave and he sported a mustache and a 'soul patch' now. Billy stood and accepted David's 2-handed shake.
David opened with, "I can't believe this. I thought I'd never see you again."
Billy's had a serious look, "We've got to talk, but not here."
They headed out to the parking lot to load into David's humble old beater of a car. David set the passenger seat fully back and half reclined to accommodate Billy's 6'2", 300 lb. frame into his compact car. Once inside, Billy began, "Can you forgive me?" as he clouded up and began to shake.
David caressed his shoulder, "For what, Billy?"
Billy sobbed, "I should have talked about my feelings with you and not my Mom. It didn't need to end the way it did. I've regretted it ever since."
"Of course, I forgive you. I still love you and always will. What do you need to tell me about your feelings?"
"After Mom forced me to break off our friendship, I felt so lonely. I never realized how much I took our relationship and your company for granted. You were always there, not just for me but for all 3 of us. I've never had a friend like you, either before or since. When I thought about the feelings you expressed for me, I remembered the few times we ever hugged and how much it actually meant to me. I don't think of myself as gay. I'm not attracted to any other guys, but I do love you. I should have told you that I just needed time to adjust to the idea of being with you that way. It could have worked out. I was just too scared to admit it then."
"Really? I assumed I had pissed you off. The things your Mom said...I thought they came from you."
"No way, man. She went ballistic all on her own. I never told her you tried to 'seduce' me. Have you found someone else since then?"
"No, Billy. I didn't even try. I couldn't imagine loving someone else as much as I love you. I think of you as my soulmate. I knew I could never replace you in my heart."
"You said you have a place. Can we go there? I really need to be alone with you now."
David started his aged Mazda ProtΓ©gΓ©. "Buckle up! It's only 10 blocks away." The seat belt barely reached to click over Billy's prodigious bulk.
On the way, Billy asked, "What attracted you to me in the first place? I know I'm no prize. You remember how I got shot down every time I tried to talk to a girl back in school. They all laughed at me for even trying."
"I knew I was gay and wanted someone your size even before puberty. I can't explain why, but I knew it for certain. When you sat in front of me in World History, I could feel you were the one for me. The way you carry your weight, your soft smile and cherub cheeks, those dreamy blue-green eyes, your manly bearing and deep voice all had me enthralled. When you agreed to hang out after school, my heart raced. Then, when we got to your place and you pulled out your guitar and sang to me, that was it. I knew I loved you that first day. I didn't have any previous experience then or any strategy, so I just made sure we would be together. If it was only going to be a friendship, so be it. I'd make it the closest friendship ever. It took almost 4 years for me to build up the courage to tell you how I really felt."
David parked beside his tiny converted garage apartment. Billy struggled slightly disembarking from the compact 4 door. As they entered the meager dwelling, Billy pulled David into a warm bear hug and whispered, "I've needed to do this for so long." David wrapped his arms around Billy's barrel chest, his fingers barely touching. He laid his head on Billy's shoulder and they swayed together for a couple of minutes.
Billy broke the silence, "You said you had no experience when we met. Is that still the case now?"
"Well, I did meet this older big guy at the Convention Center and we had a brief session together while he was in town. I knew it wasn't going to lead to a relationship, but I was happy to least have the experiences he provided, even if he wasn't totally gentle or safe about it. I got tested afterward and everything came back negative."
"Good. At least one of us has an idea where to start."
"You mean you're ready to try it now?"