Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:51:18 -0600 From: John K. Perkins Jr. Subject: Imperfection (Chapter 1) Imperfection by John K. Perkins Jr. Edited by Zeke Sitkoff Always open to comments/criticism (constructive/otherwise) Email me! jokerpajamas@gmail.com Or add me on MSN! john@randomnet.org Please don't post this anywhere without my permission! I promise I don't bite, and I'll give you permission to post it if you ask! :) ------------------- Ch. 1: The Antidote ------------------- Sometimes, I wonder... I wonder if he notices how I look at him. A look that only someone who was hopelessly in love would give. Aiden has been my best friend since 7th grade, and it's the summer before our senior year now. It didn't happen right away. At first I didn't feel anything for him. But then they developed... the feelings. To me, he's gorgeous; he's short, kinda stocky, longish black hair, and has the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen. He's not perfect, or in shape. But that just makes me love him more. Imperfection is a wonderful thing. The only catch-22, the definite downfall of my entire teenage love life, is the fact that he's straight. I happen to be madly in love with him, but I don't think he realizes it. Every once in a while, I'll look at him, and our eyes will meet, and I think I see some recognition in his eyes... But then I just tell myself I'm thinking too much, it can't be true. "You know, it's funny," Aiden said, pacing my front lawn. "I've always wondered what it would be like to be gay." I wanted so badly to respond, 'If you'd like, I can show you,' but that would've been too obvious. "It's not all that much fun," I said instead. "It kinda sucks." "Yeah, I guess it would," he responded, as he sat down next to me on the steps. "There's always that, 'Is he straight?' factor." "Indeed..." and then my thoughts trailed off. It must've showed. "Whatcha thinking about?" "Oh, nothing." "Aw, c'mon, I'm your best friend in the world, you can tell me anything." "Well..." At that very moment, his phone rang - causing me to die a little more inside. Every time I thought I'd had enough courage to just tell him, it got interrupted. "Hello? Oh, hey sweetie!" It sounded like he was speaking to his girlfriend, Mica. "Yeah, that sounds fine! Alright, bye... Love you too." "What'd she want?" I asked casually. "Oh, she just wanted to know if I could come over in a few." "Oh," I said, trying to hide my disappointment. "Okay." "Yeah, I suppose I should head out, then. Thanks for letting me crash at your place last night." "Oh, no problem, anytime." He stayed with me a lot. His mom was a raging alcoholic, and I had my suspicions that she was physically abusive. The thought of anyone laying a hand on Aiden made me angry...