Empty Spaces : Chapter Three

Lauren and Kyle had never seen eye-to-eye. It just seemed as though she had lost a best friend when they started dating. They used to hang out all the time, and then it just started becoming less and less often. Corey would always be with Kyle. It got so bad that Lauren almost had to schedule times to see her best friend. She couldn’t believe the position she had been put in. She was happy for him that he found someone that loved him, and that he loved back, but at what cost did it come to her? She was only partially sincere when she told him how sorry she was that Kyle had to leave him to go to Halifax. She was kind of glad that she was getting her friend back. And at first he was just moping around, and wouldn’t even leave the house, but eventually with the help of her boyfriend Matthew, they managed to get him back to normal. She was worried that if Kyle came back, it would all happen all over again. She didn’t want to sound like she was being jealous or unfair, but in reality, she really wasn’t.

Corey hadn’t seemed to notice that he was seeing less and less of his best friend. He also hadn’t noticed that she was becoming more and more upset. All he saw was this beautiful man that he had fallen in love with. When Kyle had moved, Corey didn’t realize that he was seeing a lot more of Lauren, which was a really big difference...he only knew that he was seeing nothing of Kyle.

“Ok, so he wants you to see him today?” Lauren was a little upset that Kyle was springing this on her best friend a little bit too quickly. “Please tell me you couldn’t see him until at least the weekend...” Corey looked up into her face. He noticed the concern, but he couldn’t see the hints of anger “Well...haha...actually I told him that I had spare last period, and I could leave early to see him for a late lunch kind of thing.” Lauren’s eyes widened to the verge of popping out of their sockets. “You told him what? You haven’t seen an inch of this guy in two years, and you’re about to just see him on a whim? Jesus Corey, he still has you whipped!” Thinking it was a joke, Corey laughed. “Oh Lauren, you remember the way he would smile at me? It was as if every problem that I ever had just melted away. I wasn’t whipped, I just did whatever he told me to do whenever he told me to do it...there is a difference, I swear!” Lauren laughed, trying to push her anger aside. “Ok, well do you want me to blow off class to come with you? Cuz I will, I love you enough that as a friend, I am willing to give up the pleasure of another 75-minute calculus lecture from Mrs. Kilburn, just so that I can back you up if you need me.” Corey laughed, “Haha, no, don’t worry about it. I got this. I’m sure it’s just going to be us catching each other up on our lives. It’s going to be awkward probably, but I want to see him. And, there’s always the idea that he wants to get back together. I know it’s been two years, but I haven’t moved on. And if he’s moving back for good, then he probably hasn’t either. We were perfect for each other, the only reason we broke up is cuz of the move. Actually, I’m kind of hoping that’s what he’s going to say. I really don’t think he wants to meet me right now just so that he can ask me how school’s going. And he has to be single; I mean we both know he doesn’t do long distance. What else could it possibly be?”

“Yah, I guess...but just promise me you won’t do something stupid like fall head-over-Prada-heels for him again if he isn’t single. You’ll only end up getting hurt. But good luck, and if he fucks with you, then I fuck with him, but I’m sure it’ll be fine” Lauren said this with a smile, but behind her back were both her hands, fingers crossed.

“Ok, well thanks Lauren, I’m going to head over now then, I’ll see you tonight for our sups date, Artruro’s, right? God I love Italian food...and boys haha! Alright, ciao bella!”

Corey gave Lauren a quick hug and walked out towards the parking lot; Lauren shook her head, gave a small smile, and walked to class.

As Corey hopped into his metallic blue Jeep, he couldn’t help but get a little nervous. The thought of seeing Kyle after all this time was giving him goose bumps. He put his favourite CD into his stereo and blasted his favourite car-bumping song. “Fire” by Joe Budden was his favourite for several reasons. First because as a gay guy no one would ever think that he listened to rap music. Second, because this well dressed prep was no fool when it came to driving, and he knew exactly how to roll to his beats. The loud music and awesome beat, mixed with the wind through his hair as he drove 20 over the speed limit made him feel a little calmer. He had to cross town to get to the coffee shop where he was meeting Kyle, and the drive gave him time to clear his head.

While Corey was parking his car, he looked around the almost empty lot. He noticed that Kyle’s orange Pontiac Sunfire was not yet there. He wasn’t sure if this was good, because it meant that he had more time to calm himself, or bad because he had more time to panic. He walked in, and decided to get a coffee while waiting. He ordered his usual Iced Cafe Latte, and sat down at his regular table. He noticed two girls at the next table looking over at him. Corey was used to fans of the show blatantly staring at him without realising, so he just smiled and waved. One of the girl’s faces went bright cherry red and she had to turn around. The other girl waved so violently that she toppled over her drink, and she yelped as the hot coffee burnt her skin. Corey laughed a little as she ran off to the bathroom, and he walked over to the table and helped the other girl clean up.

As Corey walked back over to his table, he looked up and saw the orange car come bounding into the parking spot right beside his Jeep. Getting a little nervous now, Corey sat down quickly and tried to calm himself down again. He practically stared as Kyle got out of the car. No one could deny that Kyle was one of the best looking guys that had ever graced this town. At 6’2” tall, with a medium build that was all muscle; his physique had most girls, and many straight guys doing a double-take. Today he had decided to go really classy and wear a white wife beater and his favourite A&F jeans. He completed the look with his D&G flip-flops (which Corey had bought him for Christmas their first year together), his Versace sunglasses, and a white LaCoste ball cap (backwards). He looked nothing less than right out of the pages of Vogue’s summer issue. Corey might as well have started gasping for breath as he watched Kyle walk in, order a coffee (black), turn, walk towards him, and sit down.

“Wow, Corey, you look amazing! I can still never get over how good you look. Television usually makes people look better than in person, and although you never look anything less than hot on the show, you could stop traffic!” Kyle smiled showing his brilliant white teeth. “Th-thanks Kyle. Wow, you too though, you look awesome. I thought Halifax had cooler summers than we did, but you look dressed for Cali!” Kyle looked at his outfit and laughed, “Yeah, well it HAS been awhile since the last time that I went surfing; Halifax harbour is disgusting, I advise you never to even dip your toe into it, but yah, it’s been too long!” Corey laughed a little, and his mind wandered around aimlessly, he couldn’t concentrate. Kyle looked just too damn hot for words. “So...listen, I know it’s been a long time, and this is probably like, mind-blowing, but I really wanted to see you as soon as I got back. I’ve missed you so much. We were...are...perfect for each other. I don’t know why I ever left, but I’m so glad I came back. I know that it’s not really fair to you to put you into this position. I mean, how have you been the last two years? Clearly your acting has taken off, I love the show by the way, but I mean, how have you actually been?” Corey looked down. He didn’t want to admit that when Kyle left, he had been devastated, but he wanted him to know how badly he wanted Kyle back. “Well...I guess I’ve been good. Like you said, the show has sort-of taken off. Lauren and I both wrote our ACT’s, and we’re going off to university in California next year...I can’t really complain. The only part of my life that hasn’t really gone too well is...well...dating. I haven’t been able to even look at other guys since you left. I still have feelings for you. I mean, it’s stupid, I should have moved on, but I couldn’t. Everyone that I met, I compared to you. No one has anything on you. It’s not just because you’re ridiculously good looking, and I know that sounds corny, but you just understood me. You always made me feel good, and we never had any fights or anything because we got along so well. I fell in love with you that day that our soccer teams were playing each other and we both kicked the ball at exactly the same time, making us both fall on our asses. Haha, it was so funny, I remember being covered in mud and looking up at you as you helped me up. You had this look in your eyes that just said “be mine”...and I was. I was yours. In every possible meaning of the words, I was completely yours. I haven’t exactly moved on. As you can probably tell, you always could, I still quiver at the sight of you. You send this shockwave through every nerve in my body, and I can feel when you’re close to me. I need that back. I haven’t felt complete since that day you left. I don’t...I don’t think I’m able to love anyone other than you.”

Corey sighed as he let his words wash over Kyle. Kyle looked shocked to find out that his ex-boyfriend still wanted him. He knew that it was the hardest thing of his life when he left Corey that day two years ago, but he had always thought that a man as good looking and intelligent and kind and funny and...well...perfect as Corey, would have moved on. To find out that Corey had remained single after he left was a shocker. “Corey...I never knew you felt like that. I guess I’m glad you never told me, it would have made it harder to leave, and I had to get out of this town. But I’m back now, so...I guess we can start over.” Corey was more relieved than he could imagine. He finally felt comfortable with himself. He was going to be back with Kyle. They started really talking about how things have been, and Corey hadn’t felt this good in so long.