He returned with a gift bag, “Happy birthday!” he said. “Oh hey! I forgot to give you this last week,” he said, paused the game went into the kitchen. I wasn’t necessarily out yet, even though it was very obvious to everyone that I was (mostly people just assumed) and Joe was straight, but I knew deep down he was Bi but hadn’t discovered it yet. We didn’t talk about sex, which Joe and I often didn’t discuss. We mostly just talked about school, which was going to be wrapping up soon, and about what our summer plans were. I picked up the controller that sat next to him and started playing.

I sat on the corner of the couch next to him. “Dude! Wassup!” Joe said, as he high fived me. I didn’t even bother to knock since I had been to his house so many times before. I would have driven myself but my car was getting an oil change. I waved goodbye to my Mom who quickly sped off to go to her meeting. It was a warm summer day as I walked up the driveway to my best friend Joe’s house.