Chapter 20 Sincerely, Your Pajamas
Sincerely, Your Pajamas
“Mags, oh my sweet, sweet, Mags, so much has happened in the last few days. I can’t believe it! It’s so crazy! I can’t wait for you to meet PJ tomorrow. I’m pulling into school now, so I’m gonna go. I don’t need you making me late for school…again.”
“Don’t blame me for being late and skipping school,” Mags yells over the phone.
“Gotta go! See ya tomorrow. Love you,” I holler back.
I turn off the car, grab my backpack, and skip toward the front door of the school. Everything that has transpired since PJ put his hand out to me in front of the entire GSA is a scene straight from a cheesy Hallmark movie. Except in this Hallmark movie, the stars are two gay teens.
PJ and I have been talking on the phone late into the night for the past two days.
We decided that our bubble tea outing, even though it ended badly, was still a great first date.
Tonight is our second date, and tomorrow he gets to meet Mags and Neel.
Unfortunately, PJ and I have different schedules, so we can’t have lunch together, but we meet up between classes for brief moments whenever possible.
Sometimes, we even pass notes like grade-school kids with a secret.
It’s a bit syrupy, I know, but it’s a budding romance and I’m going with it.
I head to my locker before first period and discover a piece of paper has been pushed through the vent.
The note must be from PJ even though he hasn’t left one in my locker before.
I tuck the note in my shirt pocket—next to my heart—and wait until second period before excusing myself to the bathroom to open it.
My nemesis, the alien, stirs. Scratch, scratch, scratch.
“Come on, come on. Why?” I say out loud. I pace the empty restroom and attempt to beat the alien into submission. When the scratching subsides, and only then, do I head into a stall and open my note.
Dear Simon,
Surprise! I know we have been talking on the phone a lot the past two nights and we have already covered so many different topics getting to know each other.
I’ve even enjoyed the notes we’ve passed back and forth.
But I wanted to surprise you today with this letter since I’ve learned you’re an old-school kind of guy and what’s more old school than pen and paper?
I also wanted to tell you something I was too embarrassed to say on the phone.
I think you are cute too! Really, really cute!
When you announced to the GSA that you thought I was cute and that I gave you butterflies, my heart soared!
You were so brave and I couldn’t help but be brave too!
I couldn’t help myself; I had to walk right over to you.
When you took my hand and everyone cheered when our fingers intertwined, it was total bliss!
Well, almost everyone cheered. Now, I don’t want you to worry about Suz.
She will come around, I promise. She has been a loner and an outcast for much of her life.
She’s been brutally picked on and made fun of since she was a little kid.
But she has had my full attention and friendship, and I don’t think she wants to go back to being the loner girl anymore.
Truthfully, I think she is just afraid of losing me.
I know she will come to adore you as I have.
Speaking of adoring you. Here are a few things I want you to know that I especially like about you.
1. Your brown curls and brown eyes
2. The way you bite your nails when you get nervous
3. The way you talk about your friends and family
This last one is so important. It shows you are a true and loyal friend to Mags and Neel, and I can’t wait to meet them tomorrow.
As for your family, I don’t want you to skip your Friday Movie Night with your moms. I know it’s important to you and I also know you said it would be okay, but how do you feel about making movie night our second date?
Here’s what I propose: a hybrid date. We can go out to dinner, just the two of us, and then we go back to your house for movie night with your family.
Win, win! Let me know what you think in drama class.
If it’s too soon to meet your moms, I totally get that, and that’s fine with me.
I just thought this was a way you could do both.
Either way, I’m looking forward to our second date tonight. Counting down the hours…
Sincerely,
Your Pajamas
Your Pajamas? Your Pajamas! Are you freaking kidding me?
I could die right now! Come on, alien. Come on, 11:22.
Take me; it’s fine. I don’t care. PJ just called himself my pajamas!
Everything is right with the world. Oh, wait…
Crap, there is one little problem with this perfect scenario.
I still haven’t come out to Mom and Carole yet.
I bite my nails and remember PJ likes the way I bite my nails…
When I get back to my desk, I take out a piece of paper and write back.
Dear Pajamas,
Yes! To dinner and movie night! It’s a date!
Your Simon xxx ooo