Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey

minute?”
“Sure.”
    Cliff motioned behind one of the barns, and Len followed, wondering what Cliff could want. “I wanted to ask you something.” Cliff shifted from foot to foot, his nervousness apparent. “The other day—” He stopped and then started over. “During dress rehearsal, when I knocked you over….” Len was ready for the earth to swallow him whole. Cliff had felt him. How in the world was he going to explain it away? “Listen, Cliff, it was an accident….” He began to stammer and look around, trying to determine the best way to disappear.
    “I know. I didn’t mean to knock you over. I felt bad that I might have hurt you. Mr. Stevens reamed me a good one the next day.” Len slowly released the breath he’d been holding. “No, I just got the wind knocked out of me, but that didn’t last long.” He heard his normal tone return to his voice.
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Andrew Grey
Cliff leaned close, his face near Len’s. “I’m glad. I thought I might have damaged something important, if you know what I mean.” Len’s first and only instinct was to play dumb. “Huh?”
    “I felt you.” Cliff’s eyes rose to meet his, and Len was surprised at what he didn’t see. There was no disgust, no condemnation, and no world coming to an end. Len swallowed and waited to see what Cliff would do. He braced himself for the worst.
    Instead, he saw Cliff looking at him, their eyes locked onto each others’. Len thought he saw Cliff getting closer and wondered if he was going to kiss him. Len’s lips parted, and he saw Cliff tilt his head just slightly. He closed his eyes and felt a light touch on his lips. Damn, he was kissing Cliff Laughton, or Cliff was kissing him.
    It didn’t really matter; this was like a dream come true.

    “Cliff!” Sheila’s voice cut through the night like a knife. They pulled away and straightened up just as she rounded the corner of the barn. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” At that point she noticed Len. “Hey, Len.”

    God damn it! Why’d she have to show up now? Len wanted to scream. He composed himself quickly, wiping the disappointment from his face. “Hi, Sheila.”
    She latched onto Cliff’s arm and began walking him away, obviously unaware of what had almost happened, and what she’d almost seen. Cliff tried to take control of the conversation. “Sheila, we need to talk.”
    “I’ll say we do. There are some things we definitely need to get settled for after graduation.” The girl was driven; you had to give her credit for that. She knew what she wanted and went for it, no holds barred.
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Love Means Courage
    Len watched as they walked away, and he again saw Cliff turn to look at him. And this time, there was nothing in the way. What he saw surprised him, because it looked like disappointment.
    Len got a hold of himself again and walked from behind the barn to rejoin the party. Ruby and Brad were still sitting together talking. He checked his watch; their ride wouldn’t be there for another half hour, so he sat quietly around the fire, making small talk with other people he knew. One of the girls whispered in his ear, “Are you okay with Ruby and Brad?” Len turned and smiled. “Ruby and I are good friends.” He heard a car pull into the driveway and realized it was his ride. He’d been hoping to see Cliff again before he left, but he was nowhere to be seen, although Sheila had returned to the party, definitely looking subdued. Len said his good-byes and got Ruby, and the two of them climbed in the car.
    His mother asked all about the party, and Ruby told her everything that happened. As they pulled out of the drive, Len craned his head, trying to see Cliff, until the farm disappeared into the night.

    10

    Andrew Grey
LEN woke slowly from his doze, Tim’s arms holding him, their shared warmth taking away the slight chill from the air conditioning.
    He liked it here, right where he was, right now. No pressure, no expectations, no hiding, just a few hours of what felt like stolen happiness. He started to get out of bed, but Tim’s arms tightened around him slightly. “Why the rush, Lenny?” He didn’t know what to say, other than it just felt like the right thing to do. “I don’t know.” It was their usual behavior.
    Tim shifted on his bed, looking down at him. “I do.” Len was surprised but wasn’t sure how to react. “You don’t want me to get the wrong idea,” Tim said.
    “And what idea is that?” Len looked at the older