23. Clayton
Clayton
Graduation day being here feels surreal.
Bittersweet. It gives me a moment of wishing that I could go back to the beginning when I thought I had everything figured out.
But when I really think about it, I wouldn’t go back.
Every road I took, every turn I made, it led me here.
It led me to a life filled with love, dates, jokes, and so many laughs to the point I’m borderline going to piss my pants.
Max has been life-changing in the best way possible.
It’s been two weeks since he had to meet my parents, but we called them up for a redo. Another nice dinner was made and this time we made it through with no hiccups. We even had dinner with them, Maverick, and Dax.
Everything that’s happened between Max and I isn’t gone, but it’s morphed us into something stronger than we once were.
I don’t think about what was or what could have been had he not hurt me that day at the park.
I don’t think about how things could have progressed sooner because at this point, I’m a firm believer that everything happened for a reason.
Max that day had said maybe it was fate and maybe he was right.
Our future is still undecided, but we have the summer to think about that. This is going to be the last one we have that's filled with fun and adventure before everything turns into real life. Before it turns into working all the time and barely having a moment of peace for yourself.
“Look at you with your gold cord,” Max says walking into the hallway. We are beginning to line up before heading outside for the ceremony.
“Look at you with your white cord,” I smile.
“Gold is better,” Max grins back at me, wide and free. I love how himself he is around me.
“Yeah, my red one is sick,” Maverick interjects, running his finger down his cord.
“Fuck off,” Max laughs, shoving at Maverick’s shoulder.
“Well, I didn’t even get a cord,” Dax complains to us.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have spent so much time with my sister, asshole!” Maverick jests.
“I’ll take your sister over a cord any day, baby cakes,” Dax mocks, pissing Maverick off. Not even kidding, I think I saw him stomp his foot. I chuckle under my breath.
The line starts moving.
“It’s timeeeee,” Maverick sings like Mariah Carey.
Well, here goes nothing.
We are sitting in plastic foldable seats. It takes ages for them to go down the list of students, all of us talking among ourselves, but Max is tensed up besides me.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“My father is here,” he says. I grip at my gown, my knuckles turning white. Max puts his hand over mine.
“He doesn’t know about us. I can’t tell him today. I just want this to be a good day and I’m afraid telling him will ruin it?”
“Admitting you’re with me will ruin your day?” I ask, trying to understand what he is saying.
“No! I have no shame in being with you, I’d scream it from roof tops, but I don’t think he’s going to be pleased. I think he might hate it and I don’t want that drama today.”
I nod my head, understanding what he means. I’ve been there before. My parents not knowing I was gay and having to tell them for the first time was terrifying. Guys had left me for being too afraid to tell my parents. I understand exactly where he is coming from.
“You don’t have to tell him today, but are you going to at all?”
“Yeah. I don’t care if I have to tell him tomorrow, but I just want this day to be good. We’re graduating. We deserve good.”
“We do,” I agree.
The names being called switch to our row. We are setting closer to beginning of our next chapter.
“Daxton Richards,” is called out. Mav, Max, and I all cheer way too loud, piercing each other's eardrums.
“Let’s fucking go!” Max cheers.
“Maverick Boast.” The same screams follow.
“Maxwell Levine.”
“Clayton Reeves.”
Walking behind Max, I watch his every step. As students exit the stage, we are allowed to go off to our loved ones. The stage of students getting more and more empty by the moment. My mom and dad find the four of us before anyone has a chance to go find their families.
“Boys! All of you, squish in together. Let me get a picture!” Mom squeals, pure joy over her face. Dad smiles at her, watching over her shoulder.
She takes a photo and smiles. “Perfect. You all look so happy!”
“Happy to be free. Hell yeah!” Maverick cheers.
“Language!” Mom calls out.
“Sorry, Mrs. Reeves,” he mutters.
Randall Levine comes up behind my parents, pushing past and walking right up to Max.
A woman next to him, their hands together.
Her hair is long and dark, waves cascading over her shoulders.
Dark eyes, a sharp and skinny nose, and full lips.
She lights up the second she sees Max. I’m assuming it’s his mother.
He opens up his arms, taking her in. “Oh, it’s so good to see you, honey,” she says to him. Max smiles.
“It’s good to see you too, Mom.”
She turns and looks at Maverick and Dax. “Bring it in, boys,” she opens her arms and they both take turns hugging her.
“Mom, this is my friend, Clayton,” he emphasizes the word friend. My mom looks at me with a raised eyebrow but I shake my head.
“Congratulations,” Randall says to Max, clapping a hand on his shoulder. It makes my entire body clench seeing his hand on him, even if it’s something so mundane.
All I picture is the bruise along Max’s face. I watch the way his body stills at the contact.
“You too, boys,” he says, holding a hand out to Maverick then Daxton.
“Thanks, Mr. Levine,” Dax and Maverick say in unison.
Mae comes over, wrapping her arms around her brother and squealing with joy. “You did it!”
“Thank god, right?” He chuckles. A man came up behind her. It must be Maverick’s dad because he looks like his twin.
If you took Maverick and aged him, you get his father. Copy and paste.
Several minutes go by and no one comes over to Dax. Max sees me staring with a curious face. “His parents have passed. All he has is us and our families. Don’t say anything because it doesn’t bother him if it isn’t talked about.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Not really my thing to tell, but you have questions written all over your face. Let him be and act normal, okay, pretty boy?”
I nod, agreeing, but feeling a little sad for him. We all stand here talking and chitchatting with each other's families. At this moment, under the hot Florida sun, in the beginning of June, I know that this is my corner. My family. This is where I belong.
And I’m so happy that I’ve found it.