Page 88 of Cemetery Boys

“What?” Julian frowned. “Why?”

Sometimes, Julian surprised Yadriel by how knowledgeable he was.

Other times, not so much.

“Several reasons,” Yadriel said, crossing his arms. “Including, but not limited to: people harassing me, calling me names, pushing me around, general humiliation,” he listed off. Truthfully, he’d never worked up the nerve to use the boys’ bathroom. In public, he always tried to find a gender-neutral stall, which was difficult. They didn’t have those at school, so Yadriel just held it for as long as he could before forcing himself to use the girls’, and only during class, when it was less likely he’d run into someone.

“Oh.” Julian expression softened for a moment, which Yadriel hated, but then it contorted into anger, which was much less humiliating. “People are assholes.”

A surprised laugh leaped in Yadriel’s throat. “People are assholes,” he agreed.

“Well, there’s no one around right now,” Julian pointed out. He went up to the metal door to the boys’ bathroom and literally stuck his head through it, earning another laugh from Yadriel. “And nobody inside!” Julian’s voice echoed from inside. He straightened and turned to Yadriel. “I mean, if you wanna see what all the fuss is about, now’s your chance,” he said with a grin.

Yadriel scoffed, not sure if Julian was making fun of him, but … his humor did make the whole thing less … scary. He would make himself an anxious mess, loitering outside the boys’ bathroom and trying to work up the nerve to go inside, and he always ended up flaking out.

But Julian’s bad jokes, easy smile, and nonchalance seemed to suck all the stress out of the situation. Or at the very least, dilute it.

“Fine,” Yadriel huffed, as if he were doing Julian a favor. He headed for the bathroom, and Julian moved to follow him. “What are you doing?” Yadriel demanded.

“What?”

“You can’t go in there with me!” Yadriel balked.

“It’s not like I’m gonna watch you!”

Yadriel spluttered. “I—I have a shy bladder!”

Julian threw his head back, letting out a deep belly laugh. “Oh my God!”

“I can’t go if I know you can hear me!”

“Okay, okay, okay!” Julian laughed, a big grin on his face. “I’ll stand guard,” he said, tapping two fingers to his temple like a salute. “Should I cover my ears? Sing a song?”

“Shut up!” With that, Yadriel stomped inside before he could change his mind.

And suddenly, he was standing in the boys’ bathroom for the first time in his life. Yadriel looked around. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but after all the buildup it was a little … lackluster. And smelly.

But he was a boy, and if this was what their bathrooms were like, then he’d get used to it.

When Yadriel walked back out, Julian was leaning against the wall, still looking far too amused.

“You’re not covering your ears.” Yadriel glared. “And I didn’t hear you singing.”

“My singing voice is too sexy,” Julian said with a solemn shake of his head. “You’d fall in love with me, like, immediately.”

Yadriel rolled his eyes and started back toward class.

Julian fell into step next to him. “Was it everything you’d dreamed it would be?” he asked.

“Truly magical,” Yadriel drawled in response, but he was grinning, despite his best efforts. Excitement tingled up and down his arms. He’d officially used the men’s restroom for the first time, and at school! Sure, there wasn’t anyone else around, other than Julian, but it still felt like a huge step closer to being himself. Yadriel glanced to Julian from the corner of his eye. “Thanks.”

Julian smiled. “Any time, patrón.”

When school was over, they met Maritza by the parking lot before heading to the cemetery.

“That was the most fun I’ve ever had at school, ever,” Julian said, walking backward down the sidewalk.

“Oh, really?” Maritza asked, patting at her braids and wincing. “Did you learn a lot?”