Chapter Four
Joel
I stoodon the pavement outside the café waiting for David to finish so we could walk home. Breathing in the crisp evening air, I couldn’t help but shiver a little. The contrast of the warm days and colder nights in Portugal at this time of year meant I was underdressed in just a short-sleeve shirt.
Of course, seeing David threw me into such a spin I didn’t know whether I was coming or going. “God, I am such a loser,” I muttered to myself while shaking my head.
Throwing myself at David the moment I saw him earlier was probably the most ridiculous thing I’d done in years. I couldn’t regret it though, even if David may have thought I was a little strange then. In that split moment, I’d needed to hug my friend and show more than tell how much I’d missed him. Once that instant was over, though, I realized I was pressing against a very much grown-up, beautiful, and firmly muscled version of my childhood best friend.
I’d felt an instant attraction to David, my body betraying me as it never had before, and all I could do was smile to avoid giving away how I was truly feeling. I couldn’t begin to work through the emotions swirling through my mind. And let's face it. I wasn’t even sure if David was gay, not to mention that I couldn’t even go there if he were. First and foremost, I could only hope we would be friends again.
All evening my eyes kept finding their way toward David. I’d had to work very hard to look at other people, too, but damn, it was so hard. I almost wished I’d seen David before this evening to acclimate myself to the presence of his dark brown eyes, which looked so warm and sincere, even if I could detect a little bit of sadness hidden beneath those long eyelashes.
I’d have to make sure we could spend some time together.
I needed to get to know David again.
Wondering if the years of separation had done irreparable damage to our friendship, I hoped that whatever bridges I had burned by being away would be able to be rebuilt over the next few weeks.
I’d lost my grandmother a few years ago, and now I’d lost both of my parents on the same day. I needed more people I cared about in my life, and there was no doubt that I still cared about David.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t even hear David’s approach until he touched my arm.
“Earth to Joel,” David said, smiling and leaning in a tad more than my fast-beating heart could handle, his fingers leaving my skin tingling.
“Sorry, I was... um... just in a different world. Are you ready to go?”
“You looked like you were in another world. And yes, I’m all set,” he said, and we started walking toward our street.
“So,” David asked, “what had your head in the clouds?”
“Oh, um... nothing. Just thinking what a dork you must think I am. We haven’t seen each other for years, and then I threw myself at you.” I looked down, hoping that my sudden shyness wasn’t too visible. And then with a shaky voice that was almost a whisper, I continued. “I um...I was also hoping that we could be friends again.”
“You’re not a dork, and I’m sure we can sort something out about the friendship. I mean, I have conditions—”
“Conditions?”
“Well, for starters, you’ll have to return my Superman doll and—”
“Wait!” I interrupted. “Superman was mine!” I said, a tad more emphatically than I intended.
“I’m afraid you are wrong, my potential future friend. Let me enlighten you. Superman was a present from you on my fifth birthday. Therefore, he belongs to me.” David said playfully, and instantly, old memories began to play in my head like a film.
“Oh my God, I remember. Laura from school slapped me because I didn’t want to kiss her. I came over to your place, and you let me borrow Superman to make me feel better.”
I felt a little embarrassed at my admission. Okay, a lot embarrassed. “I’m sure there is some statute of limitations on surrendering property that old?” It was apparent I've seen too many crime and law shows, and I wasn’t quite ready to admit I had no idea where the doll was. I hadn’t seen it in years.
“I’ll consult my solicitor and will get back to you in due course,” David said with a wink. “Anyway, tell me about your life. What are you doing these days?”
“Oh...I, well I still live in New York and own my apartment thanks to my grandmother. It’s not big, but it’s centrally located and a short walk to my school and the hospital. I graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Studies because I wanted to teach. I love working with younger children, so I teach elementary school classes and also a few other extracurricular ones.”
“What sort of extracurricular? Like art and stuff?”
“Oh God, no, I... um teach Portuguese to some of the older students. It’s not part of the formal curriculum yet, but there was a group of students last year who were interested in learning, so I started a club that ran after school a couple of times a week. I’m hoping it will become part of the curriculum this year. I love teaching Portuguese. It allows me to continue to practice, especially now that I don’t get to speak it as often.” And I missed speaking my mother tongue regularly.
“I’m so sorry, Joel?” he said, and I knew he meant more than just not speaking my language.
“Thank you,” I said. “Well, Max speaks it too, but I don’t see him all the time because of his shifts at the hospital.”
