Page 5 of The Note
“Go on,” Alex challenged. “Ask me if I mean it platonically.”
Gus floundered uncertainly for a moment, but it wasn’t Alex he looked to for confirmation, it was me.
I bit my lip, unsure what to say.
He wrote me this note, Gus… In two seconds, everything changed.
“Well,” Gus said again, dusting his hands on the legs of his jeans and nodding like an insane robot. He smiled with the brightness of a thousand suns. It was… odd. “I guess Iwasright, huh? You did have something to tell me!” He winked broadly. “I’m glad you two pulled your heads out of your asses. Tyler, be patient with my brother, he’s like an over-sized, hyperactive preschooler. Alex, don’t ever get between Tyler and a table. And both of you, look sharp, because once they know, Mom and Dad are gonna hurry you to the altar and Alex is too ugly to be a child bride.”
“Oh, shit,” Alex said ruefully as Gus slapped him on the shoulder. “I have to tell Mom and Dad.”
Gus snorted and shoved his hands back in his pockets. “Yeah, well. If that’s the worst thing you have to deal with, you’re a lucky bastard,” he said.
“Um. Gus?” I said, grabbing his forearm as he walked past me. “I accept your apology. Friends again? Gonna tutor me in math still?”
Gus nodded. “Of course, Tyler. Friends always.”
I smiled and walked home, thinking about the note and about how much brighter the future seemed with the promise ofalwaysto look forward to.
But I was going to learn that always wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
