Page 121 of This is Me

“Really, Roy?”

“I thought it was funny.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“Well, I want to be your idiot.” Leroy stopped swaying and pulled away from me.

It was only at that moment that I realised the music wasn’t playing anymore. How long had we been swaying to silence for? Looking around Leroy, I saw the firework workers finishing setting up, and I turned back to Leroy.

“As much as I want to know what you mean by that, the fireworks are going to start soon, and this field is going to be full of students.”

“Oh, I’ll get to see who won Peer of the Year.”

“You already have,” I mumbled, rolling my eyes, and Leroy raised his eyes brows at me.

“You? Where’s your sash?” Leroy asked with a bright smile.

“I left before I could get it. Kind of made a scene. Thinking back, I’ve made a few of those.”

I laughed, and Leroy’s smile grew brighter, and I thought I could stay there and stare at him all night.

“Well, I guess everyone would want to come out and surround the Peer of the Year to watch the fireworks.”

“Never call me that again,” I said, shaking my head.

“I’m sure you’ll look amazing with the sash on.”

“Leroy,” I started, but stopped as I heard voices coming from behind me. Turning around, I saw the shadows of students poking out from around the building, dancing in the light. “You should go.”

“Why?” Leroy asked, and I turned to face him again.

“You don’t want them to see us like this, do you?”

“Didn’t you listen to what I said? I don’t care, Pete.”

“I just thought—”

“No,” Leroy whispered, pulling me close again. Our foreheads almost touching. “This is me. I don’t care who sees that. Not anymore.”

“Who’s that with Peter?”

“Is that Leroy?”

“What’s Peter and Leroy doing?”

“I didn’t think he was meant to be here?”

The voices of other students reached my ears as they got closer to us, filling up the field in preparation of the fireworks. However, instead of everyone’s eyes being on the sky, it felt like they were all on Leroy and me.

“Roy, you’re shaking,” I muttered, trying not to focus on the students who were now standing around us.

“Well, I want to ask you something, and I’m nervous.” Leroy gave me a small smile—which was hard to see considering our foreheads were now touching, which sent shivers down my spine.

“I didn’t know Leroy was gay?” I heard someone say, and I felt Leroy take a deep breath.

“Leroy—” I began, but he cut me off.

“Can I kiss you?”